COOPER APPLE. the summer's growth. The form of the tree is peculiar, and its appearance beautiful; if there were a dozen scattered promiscuously through a large orchard, you would have to be shown but one specimen to recognize all the rest. It comes into bearing, I think, as early as most large kinds, and never fails to bear well, except when killed by the frost. The fruit is uniformly fair, and seldom rots or is otherwise affected except by birds and insects, who appear to appreciate its merits. In more than twenty years' acquaintance with it, I do not remember ever seeing one water-cored, or otherwise sickly. They cook well from the beginning of July, and will mellow without wilting, if picked in the early part of August, though little more than half grown. Their color is a beautiful pale green, striped with red where ex MYERS' NONPAREIL. tasted it. Mr. Elliot thought it would not under some other name. rank with the Fall Pippin and Porter. us? 215 Who can inform The following remarks were presented in At the next convention, 1848, it was also a letter from Dr. Barker, of McConnelsville: presented by Erastus Bowe, of Fort Ball, -"This is another of the apples embraced Seneca county. It has occasionally made its in the original list of scions sent by Israel appearance upon the tables of the CincinPutnam to Wm. R. Putnam, of Marietta, nati Horticultural Society, generally from in 1796. It has been half a century trav-F. G. Carey, of College Hill, and is seen eling one hundred miles up the Muskingum annually in the market, but almost excluvalley and developing its superior qualities. sively in the wagon of Mr. Herron, from It is common in this vicinity, but matures the Whitewater valley, Franklin county, too rapidly to be much sought after by Indiana; and now, as the above letter sets those acquainted with it." forth, from Auglaize county, Ohio. In the report of the North-western FruitGrowers' Convention, held at Dixon, Illinois, the Cooper also appears in the list of fruits I have it from the best authority that Mr. Israel Putnam procured the scions sent by him from Judge Cooper, of, New Jersey: hence the name, and hence I infer that exhibited.-ED. it is or has been cultivated in New Jersey MYERS' NONPARIEL. DR. WARDER: I received your note some days ago, and not being able to go to Columbus, I will try and send you some grafts. I send you specimens of the fruit. History. The apple had its origin near Massillon, in this state. The tree is one of the best of growers, being straight, stout and compact, forming a top in such a manner as never to break down with a crop. It has been bearing D MYERS' NONPAREIL. on this place for twenty years, and in that | bearer-that is, it bears a crop of apples time has proved to be a good and regular almost uniformly of one size, nearly every year. It is more productive than the Ram- brings together those interested in fruits, bo, Pennock, and most other kinds. with their specimens, to the mutual imDescription. The fruit may be termed a provement and advantage of all, resulting red apple mixed with yellow, making it one in the diffusion of the best varieties and the of the most handsome apples we have. An exclusion or rejection of the worst; by average specimen will measure about ten which, not only the parties expending their inches in circumference. In quality it is the time and their energies are benefited, but best, and to any man who may produce me every member of the community also. I an apple of its season (which is from the am so anxious to extend a knowledge of a first of September to the first of December) very good variety, that this imperfect sketch better in all respects than this, I will give and an outline are presented to the reader, five hundred apple-trees, at his own selec- rather than wait until I may have had furtion, from my nursery. ther opportunity for its examination. In the meantime, all inclined to investigate for themselves are referred to Mr. Myers, as above, for trees.-ED. I have several other seedlings, raised in this county, which I think of rare merit. Among them are the Blue Rambo and Sweet Rambo, being seedlings from the common Rambo, Culp's Red, Bellefleur, and others. REMARKS. The above description was very kindly furnished, with a few grafts, in reply to a letter of inquiry directed to the writer, an extensive nurseryman in Columbiana county, Ohio. Having seen and tasted the fruit once, the impression upon the palate was such as to induce further inquiry. From my notes taken at the time, the apple was examined by the fruit commit some. Large Romanite, of Kentucky. DR. WARDER:-Do you know the apple called in Kentucky the Large Romanite? I have not been able to find it by that name in any of the books. Also the Blackburn ? The latter is a fall apple, large and superior; it grows upright and vigorous. The former is of very vigorous growth; the fruit very large and rather coarse, but admired by Can you or some of your correstee of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, pondents say whether these are merely local it appears that the tables were then well synonyms, or local fruits. If you do not covered with specimens of the finest varie- know them, I will send you specimens of ties-the Fall Wine, Fall Pippin, Rambo, the Romanite. The Blackburn, I think is out of season. But if not known with you, Hawley, and other first-rate fruits. Opposite to the outline of the latter, Hawley, I it deserves to be, and should we live I will find a note to this effect: The best apple of send you specimens next fall. the season; on the same page, beside the Nonpareil," is entered "Better than the best," which I believe was the united testimony of the whole committee. REMARKS.-I suppose what you call Large Romanite, is the same fruit often called Big Romanite, which is the Pennock's Red Winter of the books; a large coarse winter apple, of second quality; a thrifty tree and good bearer. The fruit keeps well when not affected with the bitter speck at the surface, which is a very common fault in many only be recommended as a Although, in the present It is remarkable that this variety should not have been more widely disseminated, except that we have observed the same thing in the history of many other choice fruits. But the modern progressive idea of places. It can Fairs, Pomological Societies and Congresses, cooking apple. state of public taste, and lack of correct in- The Blackburn apple is not recognized formation respecting the quality of fruits, it from your very brief mention of it, nor is sells well, I should not advise any one to the name familiar. The specimens have plant this variety, because we confidently not arrived, but shall be welcomed and furtrust that the next generation will have ther noticed on receipt. more correct tastes. The Garden. MANAGEMENT OF ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS. In ORCHIDS are a class of plants which are should agree as much as possible to the among the loveliest productions that Flora corresponding seasons of those parts of the has furnished us. When we look upon globe to which they belong. Now in India some of these beautiful genera from the there are three seasons: the hot or dry East Indies such as the Dendrobiums, season, which is succeeded by the rainy Vandas, Saccolabiums, Sarcanthus, and season, and the cold or winter season. Phalaenopsis amabile or Indian Butterfly the hot season these plants produce their plant-we shall all agree to this proposition. flowers, in the rainy season they make their And then turn to the Western natives-shoots, and in the cold season they are in a such as the Cattleyas, Lolias, Angulonas, a state of rest; so that the different periods Leptoles, Stanhopeas, some of the Oncidi- being known, it is easy to imitate them in ums and Catasetums; and one or two from Western Africa, as the Angreacums, and Ansellia africana. On the latter I have seen thirteen panicles of flowers open at one time, and on each panicle from forty to fifty large blooms. We feel bound to say that they are beautiful. Orchidaceous plants are found scattered over various parts of the temperate and tropical regions. In the former they are found growing in the ground, and in the latter on the stems and branches of trees in shady, damp forests. These plants require to have a season of growth, a season of rest, and a season of flowering-all of which our stoves. All the Vandas, Arides, Saccolabiums, Octomerias, Larcanthus, some of the Oncidiums, Phalaenopsis, some Dendrobiums, Dendrochilums, Lepanthis, Schomburghias, Cyrtochylums, Cirrhopetalums, Masdevallia, and some others, do well on pieces of oak wood. Commence by sawing a piece of wood the size wanted, place upon it the plant, spreading out the roots, and lay upon them a little decayed spaghnum moss, just sufficient to keep the roots from being cut by the wire which, with some taeks, make it fast to the block. Some of the Dendrobiums, Leptotes, all the Stanhopeas, Acinetas, Angulonas, some eighty-five degrees by day, during the growof the Epidendrons, Brassias, Batemania, ing season, and from sixty-five to seventy Camarotis, Fernandezias, and others, do degrees by night, and in fine sunny days. well in rustic baskets, with moss placed admit a little air by the top lights, watering about the roots, and suspended to the raft- down the house previously. In syringing, ers of the house. care should be taken not to wet the flowers, nor to let the water get into the young buds, as it has a tendency to cause them to rot, especially the Cattleyas and Stanhopeas. The kind of house that I should recommend for the growing of Orchids in, is a neat little span-roofed structure, say ten feet high, thirty feet long by fifteen wide, facing Others as the Lolias, Cattleyas, Cymbidiums, Lycastes, Maxiliarias, Tricopilias, some Dendrobiums, Catasetum, Tygopetalums, Lobralias, and a great many othersdo well in pots or flat pans, furnished with a three inch pot inverted over the hole, filled up all round with broken pieces of pot, over which should be placed a quantity to east and west, heated on the hot water of fibrous peat and moss broken in pieces system, allowing the pipes to run round the the size of a walnut, then some decayed house parallel to the outside wall, with a hot leaves so placed as to leave a passage for water chamber along the center. Allowing the escape of water; to do this more effect- the house to be fifteen feet wide, there would ually introduce some pieces of broken pots, be a table two feet wide round the house, between every layer. Continue this the walk two and a half feet wide, and the process to six inches above the rim of the pot, fasten water tank six feet wide, allowing it to be it down by means of pegs about six inches flat on the top so as to form a table; this long, and upon this place the plant, let the I should cover with coal ashes, tan-bark, or roots be carefully laid out and covered up leaves; the latter I should recommend.— to the pseudo bulbs with the pieces of peat This being done, I should commence by and sphagnum moss, fasten the peat and placing all the largest plants that are in moss as before described until the whole is pots on the center table, stuffing a quanfinished. tity of moss between the pots up to the rim, All the East Indian plants like a strong, and by keeping this tolerably moist from moist heat during the growing season, which the rose of a watering-pot, would create a should commence about the beginning of nice, humid atmosphere among the plants, June and continue to the end of September, which is the very thing that they delight from which time they should be kept cool and dry until the beginning of March.They should then be placed in a strong, dry heat to induce them to flower. Treated in this manner they bloom profusely, whereas if they are kept continually in a moist atmosphere they do nothing but grow, and of course produce little or no flowers, because they are not allowed a proper season to perfect their flower buds. Those from the vicinity of Guatemala and Mexico require the coolest part of the house. in. Place then all the small plants in pots on the side table, stuffing them with moss in the same way. All the plants on pieces of wood, and that are in baskets, suspend to the rafters in such a manner that they deprive the others of as little light as possible. It is an important thing, I always think, to allow them plenty of light, without exposing them to the rays of the sun, so that even when shading is used it should be of such a material as will Let the temperature range from eighty to admit a tolerable degree of light. I always |