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Stetson's Seedling.-A variety of great beauty and excel· lence, with a white skin, beautifully suffused with pale blush : of rather oval form, terminating in a distinct mamelon at the apex: flesh very juicy, melting and delicious. Ripens early in September. Raised by N. Stetson, Esq., of Bridgewater.

Hovey's Cambridge Belle.-One of the most beautiful peaches we have ever seen, with a clear waxen skin, tinted with a glowing blush on the exposed side, and of a rich, brisk and delicious flavor. Ripens early in September. Specimens were exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in September last, and the Committee stated it to be "of good flavor, and worthy of cultivation."

White Ball. This is an early variety, very beautiful and excellent, a constant bearer, of good size and high flavored. An accidental seedling in our collection. It is superior to Morris's White, though not quite so large. Ripens early in September.

GRAPES. Some very superior varieties have lately been added to our rather limited list of good grapes: a few of which have been fruited here, and others recommended by Mr. Thompson, of the London Horticultural Society. The cultivation of the grape is rapidly extending, and, as amateurs are anxious to make a trial of all that have obtained a good reputation, we embrace an early opportunity to briefly note the characters of some of the recently introduced varieties which promise well. Another season we shall be enabled to describe more particularly such as have not yet fruited, in this country, from vines in our own collection which will bear the present year.

Muscat Blanc Hatif.-A new and superior Muscat grape, very early, ripening just after the Chasselas; with good sized, handsomely shouldered, bunches, and round berries of a clear amber color, full of a rich muscat juice. The berries set well, and appear perfectly free from shanking, a defect of the White Frontignan, which we noticed in vines planted nearly side by side and in the same border. It is a most valuable grape. Mr. Buist informs us he received the variety from the south of France, about five years ago. The Pennsylvanian Horticultural Society awarded him a handsome prize for fine specimens. A few clusters exhibited by us last autumn were highly esteemed.

New Black Hamburgh, (No. 16.)—When in London in the autumn of 1844, we made several visits to the extensive establishment of Mr. Wilmot, of Isleworth, well known for his superior cultivation of the grape, for Covent Garden market. Among the grapes which he recommended to us, as the very best in his collection, was one which he designated as the New Black Hamburgh, (No. 16,) to prevent confusion with Wilmot's New Black Hamburgh. The variety, we believe, did not originate with him, but, from its superior excellence, was adopted, as one among a select list which he had found the most profitable for cultivation. Mr. Allen has briefly noticed it at p. 44, after having fruited it in his collection, and has spoken in just terms of its value. It is very similar in appearance to the Black Hamburgh, but the foliage is quite distinct, and the flavor is even more brisk and vinous than that variety. It should be in every collection.

Macready's Early White.-This is the name under which we have cultivated a very early and fine variety, received from Mr. Rivers, near London. We have never seen the name, in the catalogue, of any other nurseryman, and of its origin we have no knowledge. It is a white grape, with oval transparent berries, medium-sized bunches, and a remarkably sweet and delicious juice. It ripened the earliest in our collection last season, and hangs for some time.

Prince Albert.-This is the name of a new and fine grape, which we saw in great perfection at the Royal Gardens, at Frogmore, under the charge of Mr. Ingram, the Queen's Gardener; and a brief notice of it will be found in our account of that place (XII. p. 81). There were only two vines in the house, but each of these had three or four bunches of superb grapes, although the vines had been only eighteen months planted. Previous to this, Mr. Wilmot had also recommended the variety, but he had no young plants to dispose of: a variety of such fine appearance, with bunches weighing about 3lbs., we were anxious to possess; and Mr. Ingram kindly promised us some of the cuttings; last season, we had the pleasure of receiving them safely, and in good condition, and now have a few vines which we hope are sufficiently strong to ripen a few clusters of the fruit. The variety originated, we believe, in Jersey. Its general appearance is similar to the Black Hamburgh.

Josling's St. Alban's.—This is a new seedling grape, described by Mr. Thompson, in the last number of the Journal of the London Horticultural Society. It was raised by Mr. Josling, seedsman, &c., St. Albans, about six years ago. The last season, fruit of it was exhibited before the London Horticultural Society, September 1, and a certificate of merit was awarded. The bunch, supported by a strong footstalk, is very long and tapering, with strong diverging shoulders. The berries are about the size of the White Frontignan, round, greenish white, acquiring a tinge of yellow, when well ripened. Flesh rather firmer than that of the Frontignan grapes, but not so firm as that of the Muscat of Alexandria, very rich and sugary, with a Frontignan flavor. The leaves in their general outline are tolerably round, their lobes not deep, but the serratures are tolerably sharp; both the upper and under surfaces are remarkably glabrous, and slightly tinged with red. On the whole, the leaves bear considerable resemblance to that of the White Muscat of Alexandria; the berries, however, differ in being decidedly round, like those of the Frontignans; but the leaves of the latter are not glabrous, being furnished with bristly hair, at and near the axils of the veins beneath. It is perfectly distinct from any other variety known. Mr. Josling states, that about six years ago he sowed seeds of several kinds of grapes, which had been disfigured by wasps, among which were the White Muscat, White Nice, White Muscadine, and White Sweetwater. The seeds were gathered promiscuously, but he thinks it is between the White Muscat and White Nice, as they grew side by side. It differs most distinctly from the White Frontignan, from the time of showing the fruit, until, and when, ripe. In showing its fruit, the branches are very long on amazingly stout footstalks, which start diagonally from the vine, in a manner very different from any I grow. At this stage, they are very conspicuous throughout the house. After this the berries assume a dark green color, the Frontignan is of a pale green; it shoulders, the Frontignan does not; the bunch tapers to a point, the Frontignan is more cylindrical; the footstalk throughout the bunch is very stiff, the Frontignan hangs loosely. In flavor, it approaches the Frontignan more than any other grape; but even in this respect it differs materially, the berry in the mouth

having more substance, and being more sugary and sweetmeat like; when ripe, it assumes a dark gold color. It does not require much thinning. It is late in ripening, and does not shank or shrivel, like the Frontignan. Its habit of growth is strong and robust. Mr. Thompson concurs in the opinion that it is a valuable variety.

[This description answers exceedingly well for the Muscat blanc hatif.]

Calabrian Raisin.-In the 2d No. of the Journal of the Horticultural Society, Mr. Thompson describes a variety under this name, which had fruited in the Society's garden. He states that it was obtained from the nursery of the Messrs. Baumann of Bolwiller, who have a fine collection of grapes. In their catalogue, it is called the Raisin de Calabre. The bunch is large, slightly shouldered, long and tapering. The berries are large, quite round, white, transparent, so that the seeds can be perceived. The flesh is moderately firm, with a rich sugary juice. It is a late grape, possessing likewise the property of hanging long after it is ripe; and it will keep for a considerable time after it is cut. With good management, it may be preserved for months, in a fresh state, fit for the dessert. The vine grows vigorously, and is likely to be a good bearer. From what has already been observed of its disposition to form large bunches, those who make the production of them a principal object, will doubtless grow bunches of this variety half a yard or more in length, as has been done in the case of the Black St. Peters, comparatively with which, grown under similar circumstances, the Calabrian Raisin appears the larger of the two.

On account of its long keeping, it is exceedingly suitable for being planted with the Black St. Peters, which is the best, often hanging till February. But a variety that would keep equally long, and afford a contrast as regards color, was wanted. This desideratum is admirably supplied by the introduction of the Calabrian Raisin. Mr. Thompson states that it seems perfectly distinct from any hitherto cultivated or described. The berries of the White Nice are smaller, and of a greenish color: those of the Syrian are a little oval, and less transparent. Its greatest resemblance is to the White Malvasia, but this is a rather early grape, and of smaller size. It will prove a valuable acquisition.

ARR. VII. Remarks and General Hints, on Some Few Varieties of the Pear. By S. WALKER, Roxbury, Mass.

MUCH has been written, and much more said, on the merits and cultivation of the pear, and still, Mr. Editor, we want that light and information which experience alone can give us on this subject.

We do not expect to add much, if any thing, to the stock of information already acquired; but, if any remarks which may fall from our pen, or our lips, on this subject, shall elicit remarks from others, either to establish our own views, or to present to the fruit-growing community the best mode, or a better mode, of cultivating this delicious fruit, and the varieties that deserved the most extensive cultivation, we shall then consider that something further has been done; but, until we find others, and many there are, more competent than ourself to take up this interesting subject, we shall probably, at times, presume to trespass on your kind indulgence, and solicit a place for such remarks as opportunity may present, or our poor ability may enable us to furnish.

Although specimens of some of the new varieties were presented, during the past season, (1846,) at the Hall of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, yet nothing of surpassing excellence was brought forward in the new class; that is to say, the new pears which were shown, for the first time, did not fully sustain their foreign reputation, while others which have been shown for several years, and among these we found several native varieties, rather exceeded their representation and our expectations. We shall mention those new varieties only that we consider as worthy, in every respect, of extensive cultivation. But, before we proceed to do so, we wish to state briefly that the first, second, or indeed the third, and sometimes the fourth trial of new foreign or native pears is oftentimes insufficient to enable us to give an unequivocal and decided opinion as to their true character and merits. We ground our remarks, and form our opinion, from specimens presented at the Hall of the Massachusetts Horticultural So

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