fill the season, from earliest to latest, and 
which will give better satisfaction than a 
larger list within a district of twenty milea 
bordering on the coast. 
It is but little use to give a list for the mar¬ 
ket fruit growers Ik- cause climate and soil 
make such a very great difference with some 
varieties. Time of ripening is the most im¬ 
portant point that should determine the se¬ 
lection for a particular locality. 
that both these varieties were propagated 
from the same tree. Mr. Prince always 
claimed, we believe, that the green Newtown 
pippin was a better grower than the yellow ; 
but Mr. Downing gave it no such distinction 
in his works.” 
HORTICULTURAL NOVELTIES IN 1873 
OUR FUR-BEARING ANIMALS-X, 
It is a long time since we have experienced 
a year so barren of novelties in horticulture 
as tho one just brought to a close. Perhaps 
there have been as many rare fruits and flow¬ 
ers produced as in any former year; but we 
have missed the usiutl excitement attending 
their introduction to the public, either be- 
oausc the producers did not hapfjen to be the 
kind of men who command the ear of the 
public, or the financial conditions of the agri¬ 
cultural and horticultural port ion of our peo¬ 
ple were not such as to warrant any great 
amount of advertising. 
In veal's past we have had grand announce¬ 
ments of wonderful strawberries, raspberries, 
blackberries and grapes, each having a great 
sale for a time, to the eminent satisfact ion of 
all parties concerned. Then we had a grand 
rush for new potatoes, Norway and other 
new varieties of oat*, not omitting the furor 
about Conover's Colossal Asparagus; but 
the year 1873 .seems to have passed without 
special excitement in regard to any particular 
variety of grain, fruit or vegetable. 
This state of things does not prove that 
there is a stagnation in business nor that 
there is a cessation of experiments for the 
purpose of producing novelties ; but it may 
show that our people aro well satisfied with 
the tilings they already possess, or are willing 
to wait until new things are fully tested be¬ 
fore purchasing largely or indiscriminately. 
Undue excitement over any particular class 
of plants usually cuds d isostrously to a por¬ 
tion of those who engage in their culture, and 
it is far better for all concerned to move slowly 
and surely than to engage in creating a fever 
or mania, in regard to their supposed intrinsic 
value. 
We have seen no new varieties of tho small 
fruits which arc likely to supersede those in 
general cultivation. Tho same is true in re¬ 
gard to apples, pears, peaches and other 
large frn its, and we may safely predict that 
it will be a long time before our best sorts 
will have c. successful rival Among grapes 
there are several new varieties of promise, 
winch have not, as yet, been disseminated. 
Mr. Rickets of Newburgh, New York, has 
produced quite a number of hybrids posses¬ 
sing very superior merits, and we think vino- 
yardists generally will be pleased to have an 
opportunity of giving them a trial. Mr. A. 
P. Wylie, of South Carolina, is also at work 
in tho same field and tho results of his labors 
so far as known appear to be quite creditable 
to his skill as a producer of new sorts. 
A few new evergreens are being dissemi¬ 
nated. A golden variety of the American 
Arbor-vita?, the “George Peabody” is be¬ 
ing scait out by T. C. Maxwell & Bro. , 
Geneva, N. Y. ; also a new silver-tipped sort 
is offered by tho same firm. They ure 
both elegant plants and decided aequisi 
tions to our list of variegated-leaved ever¬ 
greens. The “ George Peabody” was first 
made known to the public through the Rural 
NEW-YORKER, Nov. 30, 1809, Some few other 
novelties of this class are in course of propa¬ 
gation, and will probably bo sent out next 
Spring ; but. of their particular merits we 
have not been informed nor had an oppor 
tunity of personal examination. 
The florists offer but few novelties. The 
usual number of new Geraniums, Fuchsias, 
Coleus, and similar plants, were offered to 
their customers, and gave very general satis¬ 
faction. The new weeping amaranth (A ma~ 
ran thus salicifolius) appears to have pleased 
those who admire this class of plants; and 
the new bedding plant, AmorphophaUus 
Rivert was highly prized by the few who 
were so fortunate as to obtain tubers of this 
novelty. 
Upon t he whole we think t he year of 1872 
lias been one of very general prosperity 
among horticulturists, and although fortunes 
may not have been made, few or none have 
been lost 
In the year just commenced we hope to 
hear from all of our horticulturists as well as 
others interested in rural affairs. The col¬ 
umns of the Rural New-Yorker will al¬ 
ways be open to those who have new things 
of value. 
PINE MARTEN 
A VIRGINIA APPLE 
Muetela martes.— LINN. 
The Pine Marten, or Sable, as it is univer¬ 
sally called by our trappers, inhabits the 
wooded dirtrics of the Northern parts of 
America. Richardson says it i- especially 
abundant where trees have been killed by 
fire, but are left standing. Tins animal’s 
body is about eighteen inches long—its tail, 
nine. The head is long and pointed ; ears, 
broad; legs, rather long; tail, round and 
bushy; hair of two kinds—the outer long 
and rigid, the inner soft and woolly ; it is 
darkest and glossiest in Winter ; that on the 
tail is longer, coarser, and darker than on the 
body. The general color varies in individ¬ 
uals and with the season from a bright fulvus 
to a brownish black ; tip of the nose, flesh- 
colored ; eyes, black ; tip of ears, light, yel¬ 
lowish white markings on the throat; the 
feet darker colored than the hair on the 
body. 
The name, Pine Marten, was probably gi veil 
this animal because it shows a preference for 
pine trees, in the tops of which it. often re¬ 
sides, having taken possession of t he nest of 
some squirrel, after killing and eating the 
rightful owner. Tt frequently has its nest in 
hollows of trees or holes in rocks, and, at 
times, in the ground. It exhibits cunning, 
cruelty, and activity in its pursuit of game. 
It will ascend trees and rob birds’ nests of 
their eggs or young ; it catches various kinds 
of insects, of birds, mice, and hares, and is 
especially destructive to many lands of squir¬ 
rels. The young, six to eight in number, are 
generally brought forth in April or May, 
either in a burrow, or fallen hollow log, or 
a hole under rocks. 
The Sable is commonly caught in dead¬ 
falls, “lines” of which are set for miles in 
length. These traps are placed thirty or fori y 
rods apart, baited with meat of any kind— 
a putridge’s head with the feathers on, rab¬ 
bits t.r squirrels. About every sixth dead¬ 
fall or so, a strong steel-trap is set to catch 
the Fisher, because he tears the wooden traps 
to pieces and steals the bait. 
The flesh is rank and coarse, but is some¬ 
times oaten by Indian*, The skins are valu¬ 
able, and will bring from two to ten dollars, 
according to the color of the fur, the darkest 
being worth most, as it is fine and glossy and 
not much inferior to the European Sable, for 
which it is often sold, and often tho light 
skins are colored and sold under various 
names. 
Audubon says of this little animal, “Let 
us take a share of the cunning and sneaking 
character of the fox, as much of the wide¬ 
awake and cautious habits of the weazel, a 
similar proportion of the voracity and a little 
of the fetid odor of the mink, and add there¬ 
to some of the climbing properties of the rac¬ 
coon, and we have a tolerable idea of its 
attributes.” R. 
I -end you samples of an apple by express, 
PINT K MARTEN 
Amateur list :—Red Astmchau, Benoni, 
Gravenstein, King of Tompkins Co. ? R. I. 
Greening, Yellow Bellflower, EsopusHpitzen- 
burgh, Wagoner, Monmouth Pippin, New¬ 
town Pippin. The varieties ripen in succes¬ 
sion as given in tho list. 
Additional list :—Early Harvest, for the 
coast section, Carolina Rod June, for t he in¬ 
terior, American Summer Pearmain, Melon, 
Lowell, Canada Reinotte, Fall Pippin, Rox, 
Russet 1, Baldwin, Ortlev, White Winter Pear- 
main. 
A {election of ft0 trees for family use, to 
ripen in succession: 4 Red Astrachan, 2 Beno¬ 
ni, 5 Gravenstein, G King of T. C., ft R. 1. 
Greening, G Yellow Bellflower, G Esopus Spit- 
zenbergh, 4 Wagener, 12 Newtown Pippin 
(yellow). 
The market orchard should contain but 
very few varieties, the less the number the 
greater the profit, provided the best only are 
selected. 
Mustcila uiju'l<o-— I,I '*■ _N . 
which please examine, it is supposed to bo 
a seedling: if so, perhaps it is worthy of no¬ 
tice, The original tree is still living, and 
benrfa annual crops, though apparently quite 
an old tree—perhaps 7ft or 100 years 'old. I 
have known it for more than'thirty years, 
and do not remember that it failed' having 
apples a single year in that time The tree is 
a very vigorous grower. No nurseryman in 
this section knows anything about the origin 
of the apple. Please’let me know whether 
the apple is mi old, well-known variety, or 
something new, Its season is October to 
April.—K. Carson Bowers, Harrisonburg, 
Wk do not recognize this fruit as an old va¬ 
riety. We scut two of the specimens to Mr. 
Charles Downlvg, who writes us:—“Tho 
apple I do not recognize, it is of very good 
flavor, although a little over-ripe; or possibly 
it may have been frosted, ns it is lacking a 
little in lively juice. To my taste, it is a very 
mild sub-acid, or almost sweet, and pleasant 
to eat. Then: have been several new apples 
introduced from Virginia the past two or 
three years, some of which will, no doubt, 
prove native sorts and other synonyms. 
Some that T have seen are of excellent quali¬ 
ty; but I find it hard work to learn whether 
they aro old or new kinds. If you should 
find out the origin, history, etc., of the apple, 
from Mr. Bowers, I will thank you to tell me.” 
The apple forwarded is of good form, solid, 
and, as Mr. Downing says, mild sub-acid. 
Cannot Mr. Bowers trace the origin of the 
tree, and learn when it was planted, who by, 
and whether it is a seedling or not? It seems 
to us to be an apple worthy a place among 
the better class of apples. 
GREEN NEWTOWN PIPPIN AGAIN 
BIRD PETS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT. 
I have quite a lot of nice birds which I 
think can’t be beat. In the first place I have 
a parrot. 1 don’t know what species it is it 
is a small green parrot, white on top of i. 
head and a bright red under his chin. the 
tips of his wing feathers are bice. Can Any¬ 
body tell me whether this kind learns to talk 
as well as larger ones? Mine don't talk very 
much. 
1 have an imported goldfinch which is a 
beautj r . He is a nice singer. Can they be 
mated with canaries? 1 wish some one who 
has tried to cross them would tell me through 
the Rural how they succeeded. 
1 have a fine young mocking bird which I 
raised by hand. 1 feed him scalded meal 
and the yolk of hard boiled eggs mixed to¬ 
gether thoroughly 1 give this fresh every 
morning in Winter, twice a day in Summer. 
Give him sand, fresh water and fresh beef. 
Ever}' day give him apples, figs and every 
kind of fruit. No doubt others, like myself, 
want to learn more about the care of such 
grand pets; the only way 1 know'of which 
to find out is to ask through the Rural.— 
E. K., Ohio. 
By some mishap tho Rural New-Yorker 
of Dec. 7th was not received until Satur¬ 
day, in which I notice your correspond¬ 
ent A. B, thinks I am mistaken as to their 
being a Green Newtown pippin, “and that I 
will find it out so, too,” It is true wo all 
make mistakes; but in this matter I have 
had over fifty years experience, and am 
quite sure I am right; if not, I wish to be 
corrected, and if A. B. can prove that there 
is no Green Newtown pippin I will givo it up ; 
but as I am getting old—on the wrong side of 
seventy—I hope he will not delay his proof 
too long. Chas. Downing. 
Since receiving the foregoing we notice the 
following answer to an inquiry in the New 
York World : 
“ Your inquiry concerning our opinion of 
Mr. Charles Downing’s statement that there 
are two Newton pippins is thus answered: 
We do not agree with Mr. Downing. Mr. 
Downing doubts if any regular catalogues of 
fruits were published so early as this green 
Newtown pippin was discovered, and states 
thatCoxe. in bis work in 18t7,give? description 
and outline of it. The catalogue of William 
Robert Prince, the great-grandfather of the 
present generation of Princes, and father of 
William Prince, the proprietor of the Liunean 
Nurseries, Flushing, Long Island, in 1817, the 
days of Coxe. issued a catalogue, so long ago 
as 1732. which we have seen. Coxe was a 
contemporary of William Prince, grandson 
of the William Robert Prince named above ; 
and he is the 1 an who thought he discovered 
two varieties of the Newtown pippin ; at 
least be was the first man who sent them out 
as such , and we have satisfactory testimony 
THE KISSENA STRAWBERRY. 
Dr. IIexamer says this is a very prolific 
strawberry, produced by Prof. Huntsman, 
Flushing, L. I., by crossing Myatt' Eliza and 
British Queen with native varieties. Tho 
plant is us hardy as Triomphe de Gaud. Ev¬ 
er} little plant produces fruit, it is firm and 
cuts solid; sweet, and an excellent dessert 
variety. 
SEEDLING OF SECKEL PEAR 
The specimen of pear said to be a seedling 
of the Seckei, sent us by J. H. Lasher, Ger¬ 
mantown. N. Y., was so much decayed when 
received that wo could not tell anything about 
its quality. In appearance it is somewhat 
like tho Seckei, but is apparently longer and 
larger. We shall be glad to receive perfect 
specimens when in season next year. 
INQUIRIES FOR ANSWERS 
Will some of your readers tell me how old 
Canaries should be before they are paired for 
breeding?—J. H.. Worcester, Mass. 
How shall : prepare food for mocking birds 
in Winter to take the place of spiders, bugs 
and lleas that we can get for them in Sum¬ 
mer? How shall 1 breed meal worms to feed 
mocking birds in Winter? Perhaps some of 
your readers can tell me.— e. k. 
APPLES IN CALIFORNIA 
W. H. Pepper, Petaluma, Sonoma Co., Cal., 
writes the Rural Press in answer to a request 
for a list of the best twenty varieties of apples 
for an amateur garden or orchard, as follows: 
In the first place, I think the number much 
too large for the amateur or market grower. 
After going t hrough with the 130 or 140 varie- 
t es that I have fruited here, I select ten that 
THE POND PEAR 
is the name given a new pear by Dr. S. A. 
Shutleff, Brookline, Mass., and i- described 
as of medium size, with a rich, sugaryflavor; 
no sub-acid or vinous characteristics. 
