of the Fastolf, a bright scarlet berry, which 
were being called Franconia, and we think 
Mr. Fuller as likely to be mistaken as to 
the true Franconia as ourselves. Out of the 
great number of persons who have visited 
our grounds and inspected our Franconia, 
he is the only one that raised the question as 
to their genuineness. Purdy & Johnston. 
Palmyra, N. Y., August 17,1869. 
P. S.—Since writing the above we have 
read over John J. Thomas’ description of 
our raspberry plantation in the Country 
Gentleman, and find the following: — “No 
distinct difference can be observed in the 
fruit of the old Franconia and the new Na¬ 
omi, but the growth of the plants slightly 
differ, and the latter proves the hardier.” 
The same view was held by F. L. Perry of 
Canandaigua; Maxwells, Herkndeens, 
Bronson, Dr. Merkell, and others from 
Geneva, while on our grounds, and the same 
opinion we express — the difference being 
more in the plant than the fruit. Not one 
of these gentlemen raised the question as to 
our Franconia not being genuine, and we 
consider either one of them as competent to 
judge as to the genuineness of that old, well- 
known sort, Franconia, as Andrew 8. Ful¬ 
ler. Not one of these good judges of fruit 
could distinguish scarcely any difference in 
the fruit, and yet A. 8. Fuller “readily 
recognized” the Naomi, but could not recog¬ 
nize our Franconia. The fact is, we believe 
that Fuller has got a little " mixed,” and 
don’t know the true Franconia when lie sees 
it. We think it would be well for him to lie 
satisfied that he knows the true Franconia 
before being quite so fast to intimate that we 
arc growing a spurious sort, and compliment 
another person for not selling that sort for 
Franconia. We believe the party he refers 
to has the Franconia and Fastolf, and that 
he claims the lust named as the first, and is 
selling It as such. p. & J. 
and made available which, in their hard 
green and wormy condition, are fit for only 
this—fit not to feed raw: they are almost 
worthless then,—but cooked they make a 
palatable food, and contain considerable nu¬ 
tritive matter. A little meal, of any kind, 
mixed with it, makes ail excellent feed for 
anything, any kind of stock almost, especial¬ 
ly pigs,—and, if 9weet fruit, good for fatten¬ 
ing. We let much sugar go to waste in our 
early fallen and discarded fruit. But it must 
be cooked, cooked; otherwise it is compara¬ 
tively of little use. Why throw away what 
we already have that is of use, simply be¬ 
cause it is a little trouble to cook It ? 0 . 
ETRUGE NECTARINE. 
Synonyms .—Common Etnige, Anderson’s, 
Oatlaud’s, Claremont, Temple, Spring Grove, 
Peterborough, (incorrectly.) 
Fruit .—Size medium to large; form round¬ 
ish, inclining to oval; suture deepest toward 
the apex ; skin smooth, of a pale greenish 
ground, becoming, when well ripened in the 
sun, nearly covered with a deep violet or 
blood rod, distinctly dotted with minute 
brownish specks; flesh greenish white, 
slightly stained with pale red next the stone, 
from winch it separates freely, very juicy, 
melting, rich, and high flavored ; stone me¬ 
dium size, oval, slightly pointed, quite rough 
and of a pale color; season early in Sep¬ 
tember. 
Tree .—The tree is a vigorous, hardy and 
healthy grower, with crenated leaves having 
uniform glandsflowers small and of a pale 
dull red; of English origin. 
The nectarine is one of the choicest of our 
stone fruits, and the trees are as easily grown 
and more hardy than the peach, while to in¬ 
sure the crop of fruit no more care is requi¬ 
site than to insure that of the plum—the cur- 
culio being the only obstacle to success. The 
variety figured and described here is one of 
the voiy best and hardiest.—F. It. Elliott, 
POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP 
Grapes — Mildew , dr.— A correspondent 
(Rural Aug. 21) speaks of the mildew 7 on 
grapes, appearing the middle of July, and 
passing off without injury. This is the case 
here (southern Herkimer Co., N. Y.,) with 
the Clinton. The Isabella is also affected. 
The Concord, which ailed in the spring, is 
perfect now. Vines thinned iu their 
bunches last year are overcrowded this year, 
and with the largest and fullest of clusters,— 
and what is mysterious, the berry is full as 
large (or larger) as at the same time last year, 
though the spring was very unfavorable and 
backward. All hopes had been given up of 
ripening; but there is a prospect now. The 
vine is perfect as well as the fruit. It is very 
close-pruned, bringing the grapes all together 
close before you. But they are thinned out, 
half or more. This matures and fills out 
perfectly both wood and fruit. No new 
canes are permitted save the tips of the 
bearing shoots. Hence there is little work 
on the vine. 
Cultivating the Wilson Strawberry. — Plant 
iu a vegetable mold the latter part of Au¬ 
gust or first of September, and water well if 
dry — Hot often but thoroughly, copiously, 
when watered — and give good cultivation 
the spring following,—and, our word for it, 
you will have a good crop the same season. 
Cover iu winter with hemlock boughs. 
Keep out grass; stir the soil well; and 
mulch with light-colored litter; straw 7 is 
good. The second crop will be the best; 
and there will be a fair third crop. But then 
take up aud plant elsewlvere. Plant in rows 
two to two and a half feet apart, eighteen 
inches in the row, and keep oil' nil runners. 
If the ground is worked deeply or drained 
all the better. 
Packing the Clinton Grape- —In answer to 
L. A. L.; w 7 e pick aud put where there is air, 
under shelter; a room with open windows 
will do. Keep there, spread out, a few 
weeks, till the stems are dry. This will pre¬ 
vent mold. Pitclc in layers, tvvo or three 
in a box,—not crowding the fruit, and with 
dried leaves or cotton at the bottom and be¬ 
tween the layers. Cover the box aud keep 
where cool and of uniform temperature. 
The cellar may be made such a place. Avoid 
the extremes of dampness and dryness.— 
F. G., Starkville, N. Y, 1800. 
Raspberries — Committees' Reports — Native 
and Foreign — “ Under which King*" —Much 
mischief results from the prolixity of self- 
constituted committees, or “fruit tasters,” 
who eulogize new fruits because “ thy friend 
wishes thee to do so.” Recently, a commit¬ 
tee, or as we may style this one, “ Ye Com¬ 
mittee,” states that native raspberries are the 
most to be depended on. An “ Old Fruit 
Grower,” said to mean Chas. Downing, 
says the very opposite of this. Now 7 , is it 
not well known to men of taste and judg¬ 
ment that Brinckle’s Orange, Franconia, the 
old true red Antwerp, Hornet, Souchet, and 
others, are of high flavor and large size, 
while the Bagley, Stoever, Philadelphia, or 
properly the indigenous Rubus strigosus of 
Guay, of which these latter are but cultiva¬ 
ted sports, are flat, (though profitable.) Let 
us be just, though trade interests languish a 
little for a time. —R. R. s. 
La Constants Strawberry. —T nos. Mehan, 
in Gardener’s Monthly, says“ At Wind¬ 
sor in Canada, at Mr. Dougall’s, w T e saw 7 
La Constants iu better perfection than w 7 c 
have ever seen, and could not help thinking 
how glorious would be the sight if they 
w r ere grown on an intelligent hill plan. As 
they were, they were little inferior to Knox’s 
Jucundas in size, though on account of the 
runners beiug allowed to grow on the bed 
system, there was not half the fruit there 
might be. Mr. D. says Wonderful is often 
sold for La Con9tante. Tlte Wonderful is 
easily distinguished from the true La Con- 
stante, as it lias a slightly purple tinge to the 
runners; La Consulate being green, like 
Triomplic de Gaud. 
The Starr Apple l—A late Practical Fanner 
describes a new seedling apple produced by 
John Starr, Woodbury, N. J., as follow’s: 
- It is a yellow apple, like the Early Harvest, 
but much larger size, and handsome appear¬ 
ance, and is recommended as fully equal to 
Maiden’s Blush for baking, which it precedes 
in ripening some three weeks—its usual time 
for use being the last of July. Its fine size 
and appearance looks promising as a market 
fruit, together with oarliness.” 
MAMMOTH CLUSTER RASPBERRY. 
Answer lo Andrew 8. Fuller. 
We propose, in as few words as possible, 
to give our side of this question, and desire 
all papers that print his article, or the sub¬ 
stance of it, to do us the justice to print this 
in reply; and we desire here to say that we 
shall expect just as much room in the col¬ 
umns of the Rural New-Yorker to defend 
ourselves and our reputation, as is given to 
those who attack us,* especially when that 
privilege Is given to a person or a clique who 
are engaged in the same business, thus giv¬ 
ing them an opportunity to build up a repu¬ 
tation by attacking that of others. We shall 
expect, too, the privilege, if the necessity oc¬ 
curs, to show wlmt the position has been, by 
correspondence aud facts in our hands, of 
certain editors, regarding our naming, ad¬ 
vertising aud selling the Mammoth Cluster. 
In the first place, Mr. Fuller says: 
“ There has been for many years at the West 
two distinct varieties of black raspberries, 
both of which were known among nursery¬ 
men at the West as Miami.” So there baa, 
and we have seen them both — in fact, three 
distinct sorts, one of them a small, black 
sort, very prolific, but no larger than the 
best bushes among wild sorts; one, the true 
Miami; large size, bush strong aud very pro¬ 
ductive, fruit black, with a slight brownish 
tinge, and the other a brownish black, large 
size, but a shy bearer, neither of them like 
our Mammoth Cluster, and all of them pur¬ 
chased for the Miami. 
2d. A. 8. Fuller says:—“ When Eastern 
nurserymen sent their orders West for Mi¬ 
ami, they sometimes received one kind and 
sometimes another; consequently were at a 
loss to know which was the true Miami.” 
Now, we simply do not believe that any 
nurseryman of any intelligence would have 
fruited our Mammoth Cluster and made no 
noise about It—judging from the expressions 
of surprise and praise that have been lav¬ 
ished upon it by every person who has seen 
it on our grounds, and in this opinion we are 
sustained by a letter we have iu our posses¬ 
sion from Andrew 8. Fuller, and by ex¬ 
pressions made tons by Charles Downing, 
and other prominent horticulturists who 
have seen it. 
3d. He says:—“The Miami generally 
known among us was not as large, or at 
least no larger, than the Doolittle, although 
a few days later, and in this respect only did 
it agree with its Western reputation." If 
he refers to the Miami we are cultivating and 
have fruited for yearn past, and so highly 
recommended in our Catalogue, we beg 
leave to differ with him, as it lias proven 
with us superior to the Doolittle in produc¬ 
tiveness, in long continued bearing, in stock- 
mess and hardiness of bush, and with far 
less thorns, and the fruit holding out larger 
and better up to the last picking. 
4th. He says he wrote to Pcrdt & Johns¬ 
ton of Month Bend, ImL, for a few plants of 
the true or large Miami. To show how loose 
his statements are, we would say that no 
such Jinn ever existed at South Bend, Ind. 
If he received the Mammoth Cluster for 
Miami from Purdy, it was sent by mistake, 
as Purdy had never seen it in fruit up to the 
time he claims to have ordered it from South 
Bend. 
5th. He admits that Charles Downing 
had acknowledged the variety he saw on 
* The expression of such an " expectation ” is quite 
superfluous, until you ure refused fair piny, lr we 
were to plve you “ Just us much room " us was occu¬ 
pied by Mr. Vt'LLKK, your present communication i 
we that our Mammoth Cluster is not the 
“ McCormick ” that we will make the fol¬ 
lowing proposition t — He to have sent to T. 
C. Maxwell of Geneva, N. Y., twelve plants 
of the McCormick, from Combs, of Illinois, 
(who, it is claimed, has the simon-pure Mc¬ 
Cormick,) and we to semi the same party 
twelve plants of our Mammoth Cluster. If 
he, Maxwell, or any other person Fuller 
may choose, to decide it with him, (Max¬ 
well,) agree that they are the same, we will 
present to the Fruit Growers’ Society of 
Western New York one hundred dollars. 
If they docide that they are not the same, 
Fuller to present to that Society that 
amount, through the hands of the Treasurer. 
' 2d- He speaks of seeing the Mammoth 
Cluster at Van Duzen’s and Potter’s, and 
that they bought them for Miami. We 
' would state that both of those parties had 
their plants of A M. Purdy, aud that they 
were sent to them by mistake for Miami, 
and which mistake we have explained time 
and again to Andrew 8. Fuller and others, 
aud which we are willing to explain through 
the columns of the Rural if it is deemed 
desirable. 
8d. We thank Mr. Fuller for the com¬ 
pliment he has paid us for sending out the 
Mammoth Cluster, and the praise he bestows 
upon it, while at the same time we desire to 
say that his charges that we “ re-named” an 
old sort, and intimation that we have done 
so knowingly, are untrue and unjust. We 
simply never saw it before it fruited on our 
grounds, and never knew any name to it; 
neither did Andrew 8. Fuller, (which we 
can prove by his letter to us;) neither did 
Chas. Downing, or any person who visited 
our grounds, among whom were intelligent 
parties who had lived and traveled through 
the West, aud who had seen the McCormick 
in fruiting. 
4th, After yve had “ christened” it, and, as 
he claims, Chas. Downing had objected to 
our naming it, he, Andrew 8. Duller, ob¬ 
tained of us one thousand pKuts to offer 
among his “ new and rare plants " as a pre¬ 
mium to the subscribers of the New York 
Sun, aud also went so far as to get up a col¬ 
ored plate of it to induce persons to subscribe, 
and all this, remember, after the correspond¬ 
ence he speaks of between Ciias. Downing, 
hini9elf and us relative to its identity. " Oh, 
consistency, thou art a jewel!” If it was 
inconsistent in us to name a sort that he 
knew there had been a question raised as to 
its being formerly named, but which we be¬ 
lieved had no name, was it not more incon¬ 
sistent in him to offer that sort and sell it by 
the mime we /uid given ilt Therefore, we 
deny the right of such a party to arraign us 
before the public in the manner he has. 
“ First remove the beam from thine own 
eye,” &e. 
In closing this answer, we desire to say 
that what we have done in naming and dis¬ 
seminating this most valuable raspberry, we 
are, and ever shall be, proud of, and are truly 
glad that we have scattered broadcast over 
the land eighty thousand plants, (which was 
partly owing to our advertising them through 
the columns of the Rural New-Yorker as 
extensively as we did, through the advice of 
D. D. T. Moore and Wilcox.) 
A word as io the Franconia, and we are 
done. We have known this sort for nearly 
twenty years, and we simply know that the 
variety we have is the same as is grown at 
Lockport aud Rochester largely, and we 
further know that we have seen plantations 
* We cannot answer for Mr. Wilcox, (who is at 
£ resent too fur from our office to be consulted,) but 
Lr. Moore has no recollection of ever offering any 
“ advice " whatever on the subject.and certulcly did 
not unless his opinion was solicited.—K d. 
RASPBERRIES, NATIVE OR 
FOREIGN. 
This is a very unpleasant issue to raise, 
as it savors much of that political proscrip¬ 
tion which some years ago caused so much 
bitterness of feeling among certain sections 
of our Citizens. We discard the term native , 
and would discuss the question whether for¬ 
eign or indigenous raspberries are to be pre¬ 
ferred for flavor, size aud quality? In taking 
up this inquiry we are influenced by the fact 
that just at a time when the exertions of 
certain venders in pushing upon the cultiva¬ 
tors and amateurs of the country a poor, 
watery fruit like the “Philadelphia” have 
begun lo be understood; a committee of a 
society claiming to be of long standing and 
influence, iu an unauthorized report, pub¬ 
lished before being adopted, or as they term 
it "ad interim," boldly aver that we must 
rely on native varieties of the raspberry 
rather than foreign varieties. The article in 
the Rural signed “ An Old Fruit Grower,” 
whoever may be the writer, will at least 
counteract this attempt to mislead. It is 
well known that our indigenous raspberry 
(Rubus strigosus,) is without any flavor; at 
least is not to be compared to the European 
varieties obtained from Rubus Idceus. 
We have in this connection to refer tooue 
or two additional errors which are current 
among partially informed amateurs. It has 
been stated by an amateur of the Pennsyl¬ 
vania Horticultural Society, who claims to 
know as much about raspberries ns any 
other amateur, that the Allen (?) Raspberry, a 
native sort, is of high flavor. Now the 
Allen (?) Raspberry is not the fruit to be 
quoted as an example to settle any disputed 
point, for the vender of that hydra never 
could identify bis own fruit by its own 
name. The Allen (?) Raspberry, Red Pro¬ 
lific and Red Cane are three raspberries, and 
not one. They were picked up in an old 
garden for one distinct variety, and it re¬ 
mained for deluded purchasers to sift out 
the truth. One of the Allen (?) Raspberries, 
the one possessing flavor, is the true Red 
Antwerp, as we clearly proved years ago. 
Whether the writer in the Rural of Aug. 
14th, over the signature, “An Old Fruit 
Grower,” is or is not Charles Downing, 
the fact remains the same, namely, that 
the European varieties of the raspberry 
originating from Rubus Idceus are of high 
flavor generally, while those from our in¬ 
digenous species, as Dr. Gray states, are 
“ mawkish.” Never condemn a fruit because 
it is a “ foreigner,” no more than you would 
a railroad navvy who is willing to do his 
work, or a Chinaman, or even a negro be¬ 
cause he is a little higher colored and smells 
stronger than our indigenous brother. 
Philadelphia, Pa., 1869. R. R. s. 
SAVE THE REFUSE FRUIT 
The time has come for apples, potatoes, 
and other fruit, and people are apt to feed 
of these rather largely at this time of year 
and along till pretty late. By all means, 
and at all times, cook your food, of whatever 
kind. Have a large kettle or caldron ready 
to cook whatever you use. How many 
apples, early-fallen fruit, may thus be saved 
