- 5 - 
CAUCASUS, MR. PRANK N. MEYER, AGRICULTURAL EXPLORER . Writes 
from Tiflis, April 1, that he has heard of three new varie- 
ties of grapes, two of them white table grapes that will keep 
for a year, and the third from the Erivan district, which 
stands more alkali than any other variety. Among the speci- 
mens sent with this letter were three varieties of hazelnuts, 
and a fine sample of dried fruits of Prunus insititia; also 
samples of a Caucasian sweetmeat made from condensed grape 
juice, flour and nuts. Writes from Piatigorsk, May 8, that he 
has found a plant collector who has been all through Central 
Asia, Russian and Chinese Turkestan, parts of Mongolia, of 
Persia and nearly the whole of the Caucasus. He is arranging 
to have him accompany him on his trip. On his journey from 
Tiflis to Piatigorsk he found wild pears, apples, plums and 
cherries in full bloom in the x^alleys, while the higher plat- 
eaus were still covered with snow. Has heard of several new 
things, among them a very hardy variety of black currant 
(Ribes nigrum caucasicum) , growing in high mountain regions 
in Northwestern Caucasus, where the cold is extreme; also a 
wonderful variety of sweet table grape in a mountain valley 
near the northeast coast, having berries as large as Reine 
Claude plums. There are also quinces in that section, weigh- 
ing as much as 2 lbs. apiece, which can be eaten like apples 
after they have lain a couple of months. There is a native 
species of Asparagus, A. vert icillatus , the thin, green young 
shoots of which make an excellent vegetable with a much more 
piquant taste than our ordinary asparagus. 
