I conceive that with the substitution of a hose of cloth (as recommended in one of the early volumes) for the net, which possesses several important disadvantages, this instrument would be more effective than any that have yet been described. In my younger days, when my pomological taste was rapidly developing itself, I, having discovered that the finest apples and pears usually grew out of convenient reach, converted a fishing-pole and a broken table-fork into an apparatus for the better securing such specimens. It operated well, so far as detaching the fruit from the tree; but as its safety then depended upon my dexterity in catching it before reaching the ground, I sometimes found that a failure in this particular had made of a very ripe apple a complete squash - a "transmutation of varieties" by no means to be desired.

The net is unwieldy if partially filled with fruit, and terribly awkward and inconvenient to reverse and unload each specimen singly, besides the length of time required by the operation. With a low-headed tree, and a ten foot standing-ladder, such contrivances are rarely required, very few specimens escaping the hand of the operator.

[We think "a Buffalonian" might continue his remarks profitably, and we should be glad to have him do so. - ED].