NOW that the growing season is past, we can collect whatever items of interest or profit that may have been presented to our view, and store them away for future reference. Nothing is so beneficial to the horticulturist as experience; and by a comparison of the experiments of others in various sections, we gain much to assist us in our labors, so that it may not be in vain.

It is a fact, clearly proven, that all varieties of fruit will not succeed in all localities, and it will be only by the untiring efforts of the earnest friends of the cause that a select list for each section will be collected.

The year in Indiana has been one of unprecedented drouth. From April till the present, the soil for a great depth has been dry, and it has been a very difficult task to keep our pets alive; but doubtless many good results have had their origin from this drouth, as for instance, all grapes have been very healthy in foliage, fruit very good, but growth only an average.

Grapes

Out of my list of 150 varieties, including the Utah hybrids, Eumelan and Walter, not one has been mildewed, though formerly the two latter were always touched.

Mr. Thompson's Carpenter and Grant grew finely; wood, short-jointed and mature; foliage, very healthy. While Dr. Parker regards them doubtful for his section, I regard them as certain of success here, as I do the Delaware or Hartford, and I have great hope of their ultimate success as two of our choicest table grapes.

Croton and Senasqua arc both very excellent grapes; growth, good; foliage, very healthy. The Croton is the finest white grape I ever saw. Should Mr. Underbill's "Irving" prove still superior (as he claims for it), it will be truly a treasure.

I have two black grapes, the Worden and Paxton, which are very superior; the former as an early grape, the latter as a late; both are very strong growers, hardy as the Concord, and equally as productive; from the fruit of two years, I should place their chance of success very high.

Arnold's Hybrids are very fine in quality, yet the size of berry and bunch will be a serious drawback to their popularity.

Mr. Caywood's Hudson and Duchess are both very fine grapes, similar in growth to Concord, and fruit quite superior, Perry's Siglar, a white grape of large size and early, delicious flavor, good grower and quite hardy. This list includes all that have as yet shown their merits, while I have a large number which have not fruited sufficient to judge them.

Pears

Pears have been only moderate in quality of fruit, and have ripened much before the proper season, owing, no doubt, to the excessive heat and drouth, but no blight has manifested itself this year. The growth has been short but mature.

Quite a number of new varieties have fruited for me this year, of which some are very promising, and if in the next two years they show as many good qualities in tree and fruit as they have the past few years, they will prove great acquisitions to the list of hardy pears for Indiana.

The Mt. Vernon is an excellent pear, but from every indication now will prove a late fall rather than a winter pear.

Souvenir du Congres and Assumption are equal in quality to Bartlett, and quite superior in size, and both ripen a few days before it. They are remarkable growers, and this season have retained their foliage till frost.

The Goodale is a favorite of mine, not only for. its beauty and symmetry of tree and its healthfulness, but also for the uniform size and perfect form of fruit. It will seldom require thinning, as it sets just about sufficient fruit to mature right.

Beurre Baltet, Barrone Leroy, Marshal Wilder, Notaine Minot and Doyenne Janvier have borne sufficient to give a foretaste of their great excellence, while their general habits of tree are all that is required to show that they are adapted to this climate.

There may not be much profit (if dollars is the object), in having so many varieties, but there is great pleasure in learning the habits of these different fruits, and when we find them a success, we feel amply repaid, even if only one of five prove so.

What horticulture wants is active, earnest men, who will labor for the benefit of horticulture, as well as for the almighty dollar.

Delphi, Indiana.