think of setting out one of these varieties; certainly not as long as we have native sorts, such as the Buffum, Heathcot, Swan's Orange, Columbia, Fulton, Hull, Pratt, Tyson, &c. We therefore sincerely hope, with our correspondent, that Mr. Downing will correct his absurd notion about diseased stocks, and admit that the cracking of the Doyenné pear is not attributable to any such cause.-Ed.

ART. III. Descriptions and Engravings of Select Varieties of Apples. By the EDITOR.

WE Continue our descriptive account of the finest varieties of apples; six kinds having been already figured at pp. 70 and 163. During the past autumn, we have had the opportunity to make a large collection of drawings, and in our next volume we shall give an account of several excellent varieties.

The three varieties now described are of very recent introduction to notice, and of superior quality. The two first are supposed to be natives of Western New York, and the last is from Canada. They are each desirable additions to any collection of apples.

VII. HAWLEY.

Dows, of some collections in Western New York.

We have already briefly noticed and described this excellent apple, (p. 112.) Last spring, Gen. E. W. Leavenworth, of Syracuse, to whom we are indebted for our account of it, sent us a few scions, and the past autumn he forwarded some fine specimens of the fruit: our correspondent, J. H. Watts, Esq., of Rochester, also supplied us with a quantity of beautiful apples. We have thus been enabled to complete our description, and accompany it with a correct outline of the fruit.

The Hawley apple, (fig. 50,) originated on the farm of Mr. Matthew Hawley, of New Canaan, N. Y., about a century ago, from seeds carried from Milford, Ct., from whence Mr. Hawley removed at that time. For about forty years it has been considerably cultivated near the locality of its origin; but its ex

cellent qualities having recently become better known, it is now found in numerous orchards in Onondaga and Cayuga counties. Mr. Leavenworth states that Hawley and Dows were the names of the men from whom the scions were obtained by his uncles, and it is from the fact that Mr. Dows' farm, on which it was considerably cultivated, was near that of Mr. Hawley, that it was called by some the Dows apple. The trees grow large and vigorous, and produce good and regular crops.

Fig. 50. Hawley.

Size, large, about three and a half inches broad and three deep: Form, roundish, rather broad, flattened, and somewhat ribbed at the base, and narrowing little towards the crown: Skin, fair, smooth, with an oily surface, pale green, becoming of a rich lemon yellow when mature, and covered with small scattered russet specks: Stem, medium length, about three quarters of an inch, straight, rather slender, and inserted in a deep, broad, and uneven cavity: Eye, medium size, nearly closed, and moderately sunk in a small, slightly furrowed basin: Flesh, yellow, fine, soft, and very tender: Juice,

abundant, pleasantly acid, rich, brisk, high flavored, and delicious: Core, large, rather close: Seeds, medium size, broad. Ripe in September and October.

VIII. MELON.

Norton's Melon,
Watermelon,

}

of some collections in Western New York.

The first account we have of this superior apple, (fig. 51,) is that contained in a letter from our correspondent, J. W. Bissell, of Rochester. In sending us a few scions of Swan's Orange pear, and other fruits, among which were several apples, last spring, he added some of this apple, and writes:-"I send you the Melon, or Norton's Melon, as it is sometimes called." A short time since, some fine specimens of the fruit were

D

Fig. 51. Melon.

sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, by Mr. W. R. Smith, of Macedon, under the name of the "Watermelon," and we were glad to have the opportunity of tasting this variety. One of the apples was given to us by the chairman of the Fruit committee, from which we have drawn up the annexed description, and from which our drawing has

been made. It is, in our opinion, a very superior fruit; with a flesh remarkably tender and juicy, and a flavor strongly partaking of the melon, from whence probably its name. It is a large fruit, and of a peculiarly bright and handsome appearance. It is, in some respects, like the Northern Spy, and comes from the same source, as will be seen by Mr. Smith's letter, which we copy:

"I have taken the liberty of forwarding to thy address, a few specimens of an apple known here as the 'Watermelon,' though noticed in a Rochester Nurseryman's Catalogue as 'Norton's Melon,' for what reason I am not informed. It has been cultivated to a very limited extent in East Bloomfield for perhaps thirty or forty years, having been circulated from the old Chapin orchard, famous for its paternity of the Northern Spy, &c. From a member of the Chapin family, I learn that it is not considered a native of their vicinity, but was brought from Salisbury, Ct. On this point, however, there seems much uncertainty; and I have thought it expedient to send it to your society for exhibition, hoping that it might be recognized. Ordinarily it keeps well until midwinter, frequently several weeks later. The smaller specimens indicate the average size."

No such apple is known to us to exist at the present time in Connecticut, though it may be still confined to some particular locality. It is probable it was raised from seed at or about the same period as the Northern Spy.

Size, large, about three and a half inches broad and nearly three deep Form, roundish, very slightly flattened at each end, little angular, with an uneven and somewhat knobby surface: Skin, fair, smooth, pale yellow in the shade, partially covered with light red, and distinctly striped with vermillion scarlet, russeted around the stem, and covered with large scattered russet specks: Stem, medium length about one inch, rather slender, and deeply inserted in a funnel-shaped cavity : Eye, large, partially closed, and rather deeply sunk in a large, open basin; segments of the calyx broad: Flesh, white, fine, crisp, and very tender: Juice abundant, with a delicious admixture of sweet and acid, and with a rich melon flavor: Core, medium size, nearly close: Seeds, medium size, rather broad. Ripe in October and November.

IX. ST. LAWRENCE.

Montreal, of some collections.

Fine specimens of this handsome apple were forwarded us by J. H. Watts, Esq., of Rochester, accompanied with the following note:-"I send you some samples of the St. Lawrence apple, which I believe the Committee on Fruit [of the Rochester Horticultural Society] gave the premium to this season. The Hawley apple was exhibited at the same time. My ideas would be, that the Hawley is far superior."

Three years ago, we received trees of the St. Lawrence, (fig. 52,) from Messrs. Ellwanger & Barry, of Rochester, who recommended it as a fine variety. This it certainly is, especially when its size and beauty are taken into consideration. We, however, agree with Mr. Watts that it is not equal to the Hawley; indeed, we consider the latter as having few, if any, equals of its season, in texture of flesh, as well as color and flavor. The St. Lawrence bears a great resemblance to the Fameuse, another celebrated Canada apple; but it is much earlier, and nearly twice the size. We do not find it described by any author.

Size, large, about three and a half inches broad, and two