Accompanying this you will receive, by mail, two specimens of the fruit of the Pepino or Melon Pear, grown on my place at Point Pleasant, N. J., from plants received last spring from Dr. Gustave Eisen, of Fresno, Cal. - who discovered this plant in Guatemala, Central America, and introduced it.

The samples, I regret to say, are neither ripe nor fully grown, though the plants grew finely and and blossomed most abundantly all summer - the flower resembling closely that of the potato.

But from some cause unknown to me, the fruit failed to " set " until very recently; too late I fear to ripen properly, and then only about two pears to each plant, among literally hundreds of blossoms.

The Orchard and Garden of this month mentions having grown this plant during the past summer on their trial grounds at Little Silver, but failed to set any fruit whatever, but why the O. and G. calls it Solanum Melongena I do not understand. The plant differs materially from the common egg-plant, in leaf, fruit and flower - a difference something more than that of variety according to my observations.

Dr. Eisen calls it Solanum Guatemalense, from its place of origin. It is claimed for this plant that its fruit contains no seed. This I think you will find to be the case on an examination of the fruit sent, immature as they are - this anomaly I don't understand, but look to you for some remarks on the subject.

The fruit differs from that of Solanum Melongena not only in its absence of seed, but in the hollow centre, resembling in that particular the common cantaloupe, which it is said to resemble also in flavor Benson, of Swanwick, 111., who advertises the Melon pear in his catalogue, says the plants can be wintered safely in a dry, warm cellar like potatoes, dahlias, etc, or if properly protected can remain in the ground.

I shall try both ways. Fearing frost a few days ago I had one half of the plants dug up and stored in a cold pit - the others I propose letting remain in ground with proper protection. Should either or both survive, will give them another trial next season. Should no heavy frost intervene for a fortnight, it is possible some of this fruit may ripen even yet - in that event you may hear from me again.

[We suppose it has been regarded as a variety of the egg-plant, Solanum Melongena, through the statement of some of those who first sent it out. Plants sent us by Dr. Eisen in the spring, as well as this note from our correspondent, show that it is quite a distinct species.

Mr. Sereno Watson, of Cambridge, Mass., has been working up the plants of Guatemela. It would be best for those who have good specimens to send them to him, so as to get the exact name.

Many plants perfect their pistils before the stamens are mature, and hence depend for pollen for fertilization from other flowers. Only the later flowers bear fruit. It may be the case here.

Then many plants, as the Banana and Osage orange, will perfect the fleshy part of the fruit without any fertilization at all, though seeds are not produced, and this also may be the case with the Solanum, - and again, after fertilization, there is some difficulty in the power of nutrition, and the ovaries, though fertilized, abort. Just what is the case here, can only be told by careful observation.

The plant evidently requires a long warm season to perfect itself. We fancy in those localities where it has a good chance it will be an admirable plant, and Dr. Eisen deserves much credit for introducing it. - Ed. G. M].