7. EARLY ORLEANS.

8. WILMOT'S NEW EARLY ORLEANS.

9. ITALIAN DAMASK.

10. LAWRENCE'S EARLY.-(of the London Catalogue, not the Lawrence's Favorite of Downing.) These four resemble each other so much as to be hardly worth cultivating as distinct varieties in the same garden. After the most careful comparison of the first two, all the difference I could detect consisted in small russet specks, which, after the bloom was rubbed off, might be seen on the Wilmot's, but not on the other. Whatever difference exists between the others is, I think, more in the tree than the fruit. The Lawrence's Early is, however, much the most productive, and therefore preferable.

They may be described as of medium size, nearly round, inclining a little to oval, flattened at the ends; skin very dark, purplish red under a thick blue bloom; stem half an inch in length; flesh juicy, somewhat fibrous, parting freely from the stone; flavor sprightly and good, but inferior to the English wheat. Ripe from the 15th to the 25th of August.

11. GHISTON'S EARLY.-This proves identical with the Gisborne's of the London Catalogue; it is middle-sized, long oval, pointed at the ends; skin yellow; flesh yellow, coarse, and of poor flavor, too poor for any thing but to go into the rejected list.

12. PEOLY'S EARLY BLUE is a tolerably good plum, but inferior to many others. Medium size; form oblong; skin dark blue, with a light blue bloom; flesh yellow and good. In season about the 20th of August.

13. PRECOCE de Tours.

14. EARLY CROSS.-These two are not as fully proved as the others, but, so far as they are, I think highly of them. Both are among the earliest ripe. The Early Cross is a native of Salem, named for its originator. It is a clingstone, very sweet.

15. JAUNE HATIVE is earlier than any of the others described above but not otherwise valuable.

I may mention, as showing the variation of fruits in different climates, that, in the London Catalogue, the cipher is prefixed to the Cheston, English Wheat, and Lawrence's Early, while here they are of fine quality.

Of all those described, I should recommend as best the Rivers's Early Favorite, English Wheat, and Drap d'Or. They would unite all the good qualities of the others, ripen in proper succession, and give a pleasing variety of color and flavor.

Salem, January 31, 1849.

ART. III. Pomological Notices; or Notices respecting new and superior Fruits, worthy of general Cultivation. By the EDITOR.

THE deep interest, which is felt in the subject of pomological science, is most apparent in the continued introduction of new varieties, notwithstanding the large number already in cultivation. The foreign catalogues abound in names of new sorts, and many native seedlings have been added to the great number which, within a period of twenty years, have swelled up the catalogue of American varieties. To fully and satisfactorily test the qualities of these almost numberless sorts, is a labor of time; many of them will, undoubtedly, after a while, be rejected as worthless; while others will be retained as deserving a place among the choicest which we now possess.

The task of rejecting is a difficult one; especially as some fruits do not show their real character, only under peculiar circumstances of soil, locality, and management; and, without due caution, a variety might be thrown out, which, in reality, may claim a rank with the very best kinds. But, on the other hand, there are others which soon show such good evidence of their excellence, that they deserve to be brought to the notice of cultivators at once. It is our task, in these notices, to enumerate all which promise to become valuable, that they may claim the early attention of zealous cultivators, and become more generally introduced.

PEARS.

We commence with a notice of some American varieties: OTT'S SEEDLING.-A Pennsylvania pear, sent to the Massa

chusetts Horticultural Society, by Dr. Brinkle, of Philadelphia. In size, about as large as Dearborn's Seedling, and of similar form, with a yellowish skin; Flesh melting, juicy, rich, high-flavored, perfumed, and delicious. Ripe the middle of August.

MOYAMENSING.-Beautiful specimens of this excellent pear were sent us by the kindness of J. P. Cushing, Esq., of Watertown, in whose collection it fruited last year. It is a very fine fruit, well worthy of extensive cultivation. Size medium; Form roundish, with a remarkably thick stem; Skin yellowish, russeted; Flesh melting and juicy, with a rich, spicy and delicious flavor. Ripe in September.

BRANDYWINE.-Sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, by Dr. Brinkle. In form obovate, inclining to pyramidal, with a rather thick fleshy stem; Skin yellowish green, traced with russet; Flesh melting, and very juicy; Flavor rich, and sugary, with a fine perfume. Ripe from the middle of August to the 1st of September. It originated on the banks of the Brandywine, from whence its name.

SUMMER ST. GERMAIN.-Another variety, forwarded to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, by Dr. Brinkle, which appears to possess excellent qualities. It is a peculiar shaped pear, being nearly as broad and obtuse at the stem end as at the crown, and contracted in the middle. Skin greenish; Flesh melting, and full of a rich saccharine, high-flavored juice. Ripe in September.

GUSTINE'S SUMMER.-A summer pear, sent to us by J. M. Earle, Esq., President of the Worcester Horticultural Society. In size, about as large as Dearborn's Seedling, and ripe about same time; Skin yellowish; Flesh melting, juicy, saccharine, high-flavored and excellent. It promises to be a fine variety.

DANA'S SEEDLING.-Originated from seed, by Mr. Dana, of Roxbury, and fruited last year, we believe, for the second time. Size rather below medium, with a yellow skin, and a fine melting flesh; Flavor rich, sprightly, and good. Ripe about the first of December, and will probably prove better, as the tree becomes older.

OSBAND'S SUMMER.-Originated in Western New York, and believed to be one of the very best summer pears. Our friends in Rochester praised it very highly. It is of medium

size, with a yellow skin, having a red cheek; Flesh melting, juicy, rich, and high-flavored. Ripe from the first to the middle of August. The tree is a tolerably vigorous and healthy grower.

The following are foreign varieties, which have fruited the past year:

TRIOMPHE DE JODOIGNE.-A very large and fine pear, somewhat of the character of the Beurré Diel, but larger, and of more oblong form, with a greenish skin, changing to pale yellow. The flesh is melting and juicy, with a rich saccharine and perfumed flavor. It ripens in December, and promises to be a great acquisition. Our trees only produced three or four specimens the last season, the first time of its fruiting in the country. The tree is remarkably vigorous, with a spreading habit, and with very large glossy deep green leaves.

ADELE DE ST. DENIS (or SERAS).-A handsome fruit of good size, with a skin as russety as the old Jalousie. Form pyramidal; Flesh melting, with a brisk, vinous and perfumed flavor. Tree vigorous. Ripe in October.

BEURRE BENOIST, (or AUGUSTE BENOIST).-A most inviting figure of this has been given in the Revue Horticole, for 1848, where it is represented as nearly as large as the Duchesse d'Angouleme. Our tree only produced one pear; and, though not large, in quality it more than came up to our expectations. Form obovate, with a yellowish skin, little traced with russet, and tinged with red; Flesh melting, juicy, rich and sugary, with a very high aroma. Ripe in October.

BONNE DES ZEES.-The true variety, which we saw in Paris, (Vol. XI., p. 205,) fruited in our collection last season. The trees were only three years from the bud, on the quince. It is a decided acquisition. The fruit is large, obovate, quite obtuse at the stem, of a deep rich yellow, beautifully shaded with bright red; Flesh melting and juicy; Flavor saccharine, sprightly, pleasantly perfumed and delicious. It succeeds the Williams's Bon Chrétien, and is superior to that variety.

ST. NICHOLAS.-An excellent late fall pear, ripening in November; Size large; Skin green and russet; Flesh coarse, melting, juicy and high-flavored.

BRANDE'S ST. GERMAIN.-This was one of the varieties of which scions were sent to Messrs. Manning and Kenrick, by

Dr. Van Mons, in 1834. It has fruited in the collection of Mr. Cabot, of Salem, for four or five years, and is a very excellent winter pear, keeping till March. Size about medium; Form pyramidal; Skin green and russet; Flesh melting, juicy, sugary and rich, with a peculiarly high-flavored aroma. Ripe from December to March.

GRAPES.

In our volume for 1847, (XIII., p. 114,) we gave some account of several new grapes. The number of new varieties which are annually introduced, is, perhaps, smaller than that of any other fruit. Why this is so, it is not our object to inquire now. But a fruit so important, it seems to us, is as deserving of the attempt to produce new and superior seedlings as the pear, the apple, or the peach.

The London Horticultural Society have recently had some additions to the collection in their garden, principally, however, from French nurseries; and, in the last volume of the Journal, we find the following sorts noticed and described by Mr. Thompson, the superintendent of the fruit department. Some of them appear to possess much merit, and we trust that, ere long, we shall be enabled to give some further account of them from our own personal experience; till then cultivators of the grape must rely upon the opinions of Mr. Thompson, for their excellence :

QUEEN MUSCAT.-A new variety, sent to the garden of the London Horticultural Society, by Mr. Glendenning, of Turnham Green, in the spring of 1848. It was only a young plant, raised from an eye in the previous season. It, however, fruited in an eight-inch pot. The size the bunch would attain, from a well-established vine, could not, therefore, only be estimated comparatively with that of other sorts grown in a pot, under similar circumstances, and accordingly it may be stated to be larger than that of the Royal Muscadine. The berries are also fully as large as those of the latter, but perfectly distinct, being oval. They are yellowish white, semitransparent, so that one seed, which each berry contains, can be seen through the skin. The flesh is firmer than that of the Muscat of Alexandria, rich and sugary. It is an early grape; and as far as can be judged of it, grown as above