The fruits and fruit-trees of America

Front matter

i LIBRARY OF COMRESS.

I UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.!

-SftfMS,

Preface

A MAN bom on the banks of one of tbo noblest and most fruitful rivers in America, and whose best days have been spent in gardens and orchards, may perhaps be pardoned for talking about fruit-trees.

Indeed the subject deserves not a few, but many words. "Fine fruit is the flower of commodities." It is the most perfect union of the useful and the beautiful that the earth knows. Trees fall of soft foliage; blossoms fresh with spring beauty; and, finally, — fruit, rich, bloom-dusted, melting, and luscious — such arc the treasures of the orchard and the garden, temptingly offered to every landholder in this bright and sunny, though temperate climate.

"If a man," says an acute essayist, "should send for me to come a hundred miles to visit him, and should set before me a basket of fine summer fruit, I should think there was some proportion between the labour and the reward."

I must add a counterpart to this. He who owns a rood of proper land in this country, and, in the face of all the pomonal riches of the day, only raises crabs and choke-pears, deserves to lose the respect of all sensible men. The classical antiquarian must pardon one for doubting if, amid all the wonderful beauty of the golden age, there was anything to equal our delicious modern fruits — our honeyed Seckels, and Beurres, our melting Rareripes. At any rate, the science of modern horticulture has restored almost everything that can be desired to give a paradisiacal richness to our fruit-gardens. Yet there are many in utter ignorance of most of these fruits, who seem to live under some ban of expulsion from all the fair and goodly productions of the garden.

Happily, the number is every day lessening. America is a young orchard, but when the planting of fruit-trees in one of the newest States numbers nearly a quarter of a million in a single year ; when there are more peaches exposed in the markets of New York, annually, than are raised in all France; when American apples, in large quantities, command double prices in European markets ; there is little need for entering into any praises of this soil and climate generally, regarding the culture of fruit. In one part or another of the Union every man may, literally, sit under his own vine and fig tree.

It is fortunate for an author, in this practical age, when his subject requires no explanation to show its downright and direct usefulness. When I say I heartily desire that every man should cultivate an orchard, or at least a tree, of good fruit, it is not necessary that I should point out how much both himself and the public will be, in every sense, the gainers. Otherwise I might be obliged to repeat the advice of Dr. Johnson to one of his friends, "If possible," said he, "have a good orchard. I know a clergyman of small income who brought up a family very reputably, which he chiefly fed on apple dumplings." (!)

The first object, then, of this work is to increase the taste for the planting and cultivation of fruit-trees. The second one is to furnish a manual for those who, already more or less informed upon the subject, desire some work of reference to guide them in the operations of culture, and in the selection of varieties.

If it were only necessary for me to present for the acceptance of my readers a choice garland of fruit, comprising the few sorts that I esteem of the most priceless value, the space and time to be occupied would be very brief.

But this would only imperfectly answer the demand that is at present made by our cultivators. The country abounds with collections of all the finest foreign varieties ; our own soil has produced many native sorts of the highest merit ; and from all these, kinds maybe selected which are highly valuable for every part of the country. But opinions differ much as to the merits of some sorts. Those which succeed perfsctly in one section, are sometimes ill-adapted to another. And, finally, one needs some accurate description to know when a variety comes into bearing, if its fruit is genuine, or even to identify an indifferent kind, in order to avoid procuring it again. Hence tlie numter of varieties of fruit that are admitted here. Little by little I have summoned them into my pleasant and quiet court, tested them as far as possible, and endeavoured to pass the most impartial judgment upon them. The verdicts will be found in the following pages.

From this great accumulation of names, Pomology has become an embarrassing study, and those of our readers who are large collectors will best understand the difficulty — nay, the impossibility of making a work like this perfect.

Towards settling this chaos in nomenclature, the exertions of the Horticultural Society of London have been steadily directed for the last twenty years. That greatest of experimental gardens contains, or has contained, nearly all the varieties of fruit, from all parts of the world, possessing the least celebrity. The vast confusion of names, dozens sometimes meaning the same variety, has been by careful comparison reduced to something like real order. The relative merit of the kinds has been proved and published. In short, the horticultural world owes this Society a heavy debt of gratitude for these labours, and to the science and accuracy of Mr. Robert Thompson, the head of its fruit-department, horticulturists here will gladly join me in bearing the fullest testimony.

To give additional value to these results, I have adopted in nearly all cases, for fruits known abroad, the nomenclature of the London Horticultural Society. By this means I hope to render universal on this side of the Atlantic the same standard names, so that the difficulty and confusion which have always more or less surrounded this part of the subject may be hereafter avoided.

These foreign fruits have now been nearly all proved in this country, and remarks on their value in this climate, deduced from actual experience, are here given to the public. To our native and local fruits especial care has also been devoted. Not only have most of the noted sorts been proved in the gardens here, but I have had specimens before me for comparison, the growth of no less than fourteen of the different States. There are still many sorts, nominally fine, which remain to be collected, compared, and proved ; some of which will undoubtedly de-

VIU PRKFACE.

serve a place in future editions. To the kindness of pcraologists in various sections of the country I must trust for the detection of errors in the present volume, and for information of really valuable new varieties.*

Of the descrijytions of fruit, some explanation may be necessary. First, is given the standard name in capitals, followed by the authorities — that is, the names of authors who have previously given an account of it by this title. Below this are placed, in smaller type, the various synonymes, or local names, by which the same fruit is known in various countries or parts of the country. Thus, on page 429, is the following :

Flemish Beauty. Lind. Thomp.

Belle de Flandres. I Poire Davy.

Bosch Nouvelle. | Imperatrice de France.

Bosch. I Fondant Du Bois.

Bosc Sire. | Boschpeer.

Beurre Spence {erroneously).

By this is signified, first, that Flemish Beauty is the standard name of the pear ; secondly, that it has been previously described by Lindley and Thompson ; thirdly, that the others — synonymes — are various local names by which the Flemish Beauty is also known in various places ; and, lastly, that by the latter name — Beurre Spence — it is incorrectly known in some collections, this name belonging to another distinct pear.

It is at once apparent that one of the chief points of value of a book like this, lies in the accuracy with which these synonymous names are given — since a person might, in looking over difierent catalogues issued here and abroad, suppose that all ten of the above are different varieties — when they are really all different names for a single pear. In this record of synonymes, I have therefore availed myself of the valuable experience of the Lon-

* It is well to remark that many of the so-called new varieties, especially from the "West, prove to be old and well-known kinds, slightly altered in appearance by new soil and different climate. A new variety must possess very superior qualities to entitle it to regard, now that we have so many fine fruits in our collections.

PREFACE. IX

don Horticultural Society, and added all the additional information in my own possession.

Many of the more important varieties of fruit are shown in outline. I have chosen this method as likely to give the most correct idea of the form of a fruit, and because I believe that the mere outline of a fruit, like a profile of the human face, will often be found more characteristic than a highly finished portrait in colour. The outlines have been nearly all traced directly from fruits grown here. They are from specimens mostly below the average size. It has been the custom to choose the largest and finest fruits for illustration — a practice very likely to mislead. I believe the general character is better expressed by specimens of medium size, or rather below it.

It only remains for me to present my acknowledgments to the numerous gentlemen, in various parts of the country, who have kindly furnished information necessary to the completion of the work. The names of many are given in the body of the volume. But to the following I must especially tender my thanks, for notes of their experience, or for specimens of fruits to solve existing doubts.

In Massachusetts, to Messrs. M. P. Wilder, S. G. Perkins, J. P. Gushing, B. V. French, S. Downer, and C. M. Hovey, of Boston ; John C. Lee, J. M. Ives, the late Robert Manning and his son R. Manning, of Salem ; and Otis Johnson, of Lynn.

In Connecticut, to Dr. E. W. Bull, of Hartford ; Mr. S. Lyman, of Manchester; and the Rev. H. S. Ramsdell, of Thompson.

In New York, to Messrs. David Thomas, of Aurora ; J. J. Thomas, of Macedon ; Luther Tucker, and Isaac Denniston, of Albany ; Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh ; T. H. Hyatt, of Rochester : R. L. Pell, of Pelham ; C. Downing, of Newburgh ; and Wm. H. Aspinwall, of Staten Island.

In Ohio, to Professor Kirtland, of Cleveland ; Dr. Hildreth, of Marietta ; and Messrs. N. Longworth, C. W. Elliott, and A. H. Ernst, of Cincinnati.

In Indiana, to the Rev. H. W. Beecher, of Indianapolis. In New Jersey, to Messrs. Thomas Hancock, of Burlington, and J. W. Hayes, of Newark. In Pennsylvania, to Mr. Frederick

Brown, and Col. Carr, of Philadelphia, In Maryland, to Lloyd N. Rogers, Esq., of Baltimore. In Georgia, to James Camak Esq., of Athens.

A. J. D.

Highland Gardens, )

Nmeburgh, N. T., May, 1S46. f

Preface To The Reyised Edition

In preparing this revised and corrected edition of tlie " Fruits and Fruit Trees of America," no alteration has beea made in the general principles of cultivation and propagation, and but little in the descriptions of those varieties that are retained ; but some, after repeated trial, having proved unworthy of general cultivation, have been reduced and put in a class of inferior sorts ; some of which, however, have advocates, and succeed in particular soils and localities.

Many new ones of "very good" and "best" quality have been added ; some well proved, and others partially so, requiring more time to give their true merits ; some giving promise of excellence, others may prove, when fully tested, but of inferior value.

Something has been done towards ascertaining synonymes and identifying disputed varieties, and great numbers of specimens compared from various sources; but it requires much time and long-continued examinations to accomplish even a little by private individuals, where there is so much confusion as now exists. Order and accuracy can only be arrived at when the different varieties are well grown in the same soil and locality, which could only be realized in an experimental garden on a large scale.

To the many persons in various parts of the country who have kindly furnished notes and specimens of numerous fruits, we tender our acknowledgments.

In Massachusetts, to John Milton Earl, Samuel Colton, George A. Chamberlain, and George Jacques, Worcester ; J. C. Stone, Shrewsbury ; F. Burr, Hingham ; Asa Clement, liowell ; Willis P. Sargent, West Amesbury ; O. V. Hills,

XU PREFACE TO TUE REVISED EDITION.

Leominster ; Dr. L. W. Puffer, North Bridgewater ; Joel Knapp, Sutton ; and Joseph Merrill, Danversport.

In Connecticut, to S. D. Pardee and Prof. Eli Ives, New Haven ; Sheldon Moore, Kensington ; George Seymour, Norwalk ; G. W. Gager, Sharon, and P. S. Beers, Southville.

In Vermont, to Chauncey Goodrich and Rev. John Wheeler, Burlington ; J. M. Ketchum, Brandon ; G. W. Harman, Bennington ; Buel Landon, Grand Isle, and Albert Bresee, Hubbardton.

In New York, to Dr. James Fountain, Jefi"erson Valley ; S. P. Carpenter, New Rochelle ; William R. Prince, Flushing ; Dr. C. W. Grant, A. Saul, Newburgh ; J. G. Sickles, Stnyvesant ; Elisha Dorr and Prof. James Hall, Albany ; J. W. Bailey, Plattsburgh ; J. Battey, Keeseville ; J. C. Hastings, Clinton ; Matthew Mackie, Clyde ; Isaac Hildreth, Watkins ; T. C. Maxwell and Brothers, and W. T. & E. Smith, Geneva ; Ellwanger & Barry, H. E. Hooker, A. Frost & Co., and James H. Watts, Rochester ; J. B. Eaton, Buffalo.

In New Jersey, to Louis E. Berckmaus, Plainfield ; William Reid, Elizabethtown ; James McLean, Roadstown.

In Pennsylvania, to Dr. W. D. Brinckle, Philadelphia ; Chas. Kessler and Daniel B. Lorah, Reading ; Dr. J. K. Eshleman and Jonathan Baldwin, Downingtown ; Thomas Harvey, Jennerville ; Wm. G. Waring, Boalsburg ; Samuel Miller, Lebanon ; Samuel Miller, Jun., Cumberland ; D. H. Wakefield, Brownsville ; Josiah Hoopes, Westchester.

In Ohio, to Robert Buchanan, Cincinnati ; D. C. Richmond, Sandusky ; A. Thompson, Delaware ; M. B. Batcham, Columbus, and N. L. Wood, Smithfield.

In Illinois, to Dr. J. A. Kennicott, West Northfield ; F. K. Phoenix and C. R. Overman, Blooming-ton; Arthur Bryant, Princeton.

In Indiana, to Reuben Regan, Nicholsonville ; John C. Teas, Raysville ; Wm. H. Loomis, Fort Wayne.

In Maine, to S. L. Goodall, Saco. In New Hampshire, to Robert Wilson, Keene; and Nathan Norton, Greenland. In Canada West, to James Dougall, Windsor ; and William H. Read, Port Dalhousie. In Michigan, to T. T. Lyon, Plymouth ; Dr. D. K. Underwood, Adrian. In Iowa, to Henry Avery,

PKEFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. Xlll

Burlington. In Delaware, to Edward Tutnall, Wilmington. In Virginia, to H. R. Roby, Fredericksburgh. In Nortb Carolina, to G. W. Johnson, Milton. In Kentucky, to J. S. Downer, Elkton ; and S. J. Lea veil, Trenton. In Missouri, to George Hussman, Herrman. In Washington, to John Saul.

In Georgia, to William N. White and Dr. M. A. Ward, Athens ; Richard C. Peters and Wm. H. Thurmond, Atlanta, and J. Van Beuren, Clarksville.

Charles Downing.

ABBEEVIATIONS AND BOOKS aUOTED.

Arboretum Britnnnicum, or the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, pictorially

and botanically delineated, and scientifically and popularly described

by J. C. Loudon. London, 1845, 8 vols. 8vo. Annales de la Socieie cV Horticulture de Paris. — Paris. In monthly Nos.

8vo. 1827 to 1845.

Adlum. A Memoir on the cultivation of the Vine in America, and the

best mode of making Wine. By John Adlum. 12mo. Washington, 1828.

Bon Jard. Le Bon Jardinier, pour I'Annee 1844. Contenant des priu-

cipes generaux de culture, etc. Par A. Poiteau and M. Vilmorin,

Paris. 12mo. — yearly volume.

Busty. A Visit to the principal Vineyards of France and Spain. By

Jas. Busby. New York, 12mo. 1835.

Bridgeman. The Younsj Gardener's Assistant. By Thomas Bridgeman.

Tenth ed. New^York, 1844, 8vo.

I'Etabhssement des Preres Baumann, a Bolwiller, 1842. Coxe. A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees in the United States, and

of the Management of Orchards and Cider. By William Coxe.

Philadelphia, 8vo., 1817.

Chaptal. Chemistry applied to Agriculture. By John Anthony Chaptal.

American ed., 12mo. Boston, 1835.

Cobbett. The American Gardener. By Wm. Cobbett. London, 1821.

12mo.

Coleman. Eeports on the Agriculture of Massachusetts. By Henry Coleman. Boston, 8vo. 1840-41.

Bom. Card. The Domestic Gardener's Manual. By John Towers. London, 1839, 8vo.

Dohamel. Traite des Arbres Fruitiers, par M. Duhamel Dumonceau. Paris,

1768, 2 vols. 4to.

Cultivator. The Cultivator, a monthly journal of Agriculture, &c., Edited

by Luther Tucker. Albany, continued to the present time, 8vo. Diel. Versuch einer Systeraatischen Beschreibung in Deutschland vor-

handener Kemobstsorten. Von Dr. Aug. Freidr. Ad. Diel. 12mo.

24 vols. 1799—1825.

Be Candolle. Physiologie Vegetale, ou Exposition des Forces et des Fonc-

tions vitales des Vegetaux. Par A. P. De Candolle. Paris, 1832,

3 vols. 8vo. . Prodromus Systema'^is Naturalis Vegetabilis. Paris, 1818 —

1830, 4 vols. 8vo.

B'Albret. Cours Theorique et Pr itique de la Taille des Arbres Fruitiers

Par D'Albret. Paris, 1840 8vo.

Xvi ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED.

Forsyth. A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit-trees. By

William Forsyth, 7th ed. London, 1824, 8vo. Floy. Lindley's Guide to the Orchard. American ed. with additions by

Michael Floy. New York, 1833, 12mo.

Fessenden. New American Gardener, containing practical directions for the culture of Fruits and Vegetables. By Thos. E. Fessenden, Boston, 1828, 12mo.

Gard. Mag. The Gardener's Magazine, conducted by J. C. Loudon, in

monthly nos. 8vo., 19 vols, to 1844, London. Gard. Ghron. The Gardener's Chronicle, and Agricultural Gazette, edited by Professor Lindley, a weekly journal, 4to. 5 vols. 1844 to the

present time.

Hoare. A Practical Treatise on the cultivation of the Grape Yine on

open walls. By Clement Hoare. London, 1840, 12mo. Hort. Soc. Cat. See Thompson.

Hort. Trans. Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London. London, 4to. 1815, and at intervals to the present time. Hoolcer. Pomona Londonensis. By "WiUiam Hooker. London, 1813, 4to. Hayward. The Science of Horticulture. By Joseph Hayward. London,

1824, 8vo.

Harris. A Report on the Insects of Massachusetts injurious to Vegetation. By Dr. T. W. Harris. Cambridge, 1841, 8vo. Hov. Mag. or H. M. The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany and Rural

Affairs. Conducted by C. M. Hovey. Boston, 8vo. monthly nos.

1834 to the present time.

Johnston. Lectures on Agricultural Chemistry and Geology. By Jas. W.

F. Johnston. American ed. New York, 12mo. 2 vols. 1842. Jard. Fruit. Le Jardin Fruitier, par Louis Noisette, 2 ed. Paris, 1839,

2 vols. 8vo.

Knight. Various articles in the London Horticultural Transactions. By

Thomas Andrew Knight, its late President. Knoop. Pomologie, ou description des Arbres Fruitiers. Par Joh. Herm.

Knoop. Amsterdam, 1771, Fol.

Ken. The New American Orchardist. By William Kenrick, Boston,

1844.

Kollar. A Treatise on Insects injurious to Gardeners, Foresters and

Farmers. By Vincent Kollar, Notes by Westwood. London,

1840, 12mo.

Langley. Pomona, or the Fruit Garden Illustrated. By Batty Langley,

London, 1729, Folio.

Loudon. An Encyclopedia of Gardening. By J. C. Loudon. London,

1835, 1 thick vol. 8vo. . An Encyclopedia of Plants. By the same. London, 1836, 1

thick vol. 8vo. . An Encyclopedia of Agriculture. By the same. London, 1831,

1 thick vol. 8vo.

Ilortus Britannicus. A Catalogue of all the plants in Britain,

by the same. London, 8vo. . The Suburban Horticulturist, by the same. London, 1842, 8vo.

■■ The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion. By the same.

London, 1838, 1842, 8vo. . Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum. By the same. 8 vols.

London, 1838, 8vo Liebig. Organic ChemistJy in its applications to Agriculture and Physiology. By Justus Liebig. American ed., Cambridge, 1844, 12mo. lAnd. A Guide to the Oi chard and Kitchen Garden, or an account of the

Fruits and Vegetables cultivated in Great Britain. By George

Lindley. London, 1831, 8vo.

ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED. XVU

lAndky. An latroduction to Botany. By John Lindley. London, 1832, 8vo.

. An Introduction to the Natural System of Botany. By John

Lindley. London, 1835, 2d ed., 8vo.

. British Fruits. See Pomological Magazine — ^it is the samie

work.

. The Theory of Horticulture, or an attempt to explain the Operation of Gardening upon Physiological Principles. By John Lindley. London, 8vo., 1840.

. The same work with Notes by A. Gray and A. J. Downing.

New York, 1841, 12mo.

L. or Linnoius. Species Plantarum, 5th ed. Berlin, 1810, 5 vols. 8vo.

Leliev/r. La Pomone Fran§aise, ou Traite de la Culture Pranjaise, et de la Taille des Arbres Pruitiers. Par le Compte Lelieur. Paris, 1811, 8vo.

Man. The New England Fruit Book. By R. Manrung, 2d ed., enlarged by John M. Ives, Salem, 1844, 12mo.

Man. in H. M. Manning's articles in Hovey's Magazine.

Mill. The Gardener's and Botanist's Dictionary. By Philip Miller. Revised by Professor Martyn. London, 1819, 2 vols. 8vo.

Michaux. The North American Sylva^ or Descriptions of the Forest Trees of the United States, Canada, &c. By A. P. Michaux Paris, 1819, 3 vols. 8vo.

Mcintosh. The Orchard and Fruit Garden. By Charles Mcintosh. London, 1819, 12mo.

N. Duh. (The New Duhamel) Traite dea Arbres Fruitiers de DuhameL Nouvelle edition augment6e, etc. Par MM. Poiteau et Turpm, Paris. 5 vols, folio, 1808, et seq.

Nois. See Jardin Fruitier.

Jfew England Farmer. A weekly periodical, devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, &c. Boston, 4to., continued to the present time.

0. Duh. See DuhameL

Pom. Mag. or P. M. The Pomological Magazine, or Figures and Descriptions of the most important varieties of Fruit cultivated in Great Britain. London, 1828, 3 vols. 8vo.

Pom. Man. The Pomological Manual By WiUiam R. Prince. New York, 1831, 2 vols. 8vo.

Prince. A Treatise on the Vine. By 'William R. Prince. New York, 1830, 8vo.

Prince. A short Treatise on Horticulture. By William Prince. New York, 1828, 12mo.

Phillips. Pomarium Britannicum ; an Historical and Botanical Account of the Fruits known in Great Britain. By Henry Phillips. London, 1820, 8vo.

Poit. or Poiteau. Pomologie Frangaise. Recueil des plus beaux Fruits, cultiv^s en France. Par Poiteau. Paris, 1838, and continued in 4to. numbers.

Rivers. A Descriptive Catalogue of Pears, cultivated by T. Rivers. Sawbridgeworth, 1843-44, pamphlet, 8vo.

Ron. or Ronalds. Pyrus Malus Brentfordienses, or a concise description of Selected Apples, with a figure of each sort. By Hugh Ronalds. London, 1831, 4to.

Ray. Historia Plantarum, a John Ray, M.D. London, 3 vols. foHo, 1636—1704.

Revue Horticole. Journal des Jardiniera et Amateurs. Audot, Editeur. Paris, 1844, et chaque mois, 12mo.

Swiizer. The Practical Fruit Gardener. By Stephen Switzer, 1724^ Svo.

XVin ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED.

Torrey & Gray. A Flora of North America, containing abridged descriptions of all the known plants growing north of the Gulf of Mexico. By John Torrey, i£.D., and Asa Gray, M.D. New York, vol. 1st, 8vo. New York, 1840, and still in progress.

Thomp. A Catalogue of the Fruits Cultivated in the Garden of the Horticultural Society of London, 3d ed., London, 1842. [Prepared with great care by Robert Thompson, the head of the Fruit Department.]

Timelier. The American Orchardist. By James Thacher, M.D. Boston, 1822, 8vo.

Van Mons. Arbres Fruitiers, ou Pomologie Beige Experimentale et Raisonn^e. Par J. R. Van Mons. Louvain, 1835 — 1836, 2 vols. 12mo.

. Catalogue des Arbres Fruitiers, Descriptif, Abr6g6. Par J. B.

Yan Mons. Louvain, 1823.

Wilder, MSS. Manuscript Notes on Fruits. By M. P. "Wilder, Esq., President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

ADDITIONAL AUTHORITIES.

Al. Pom. Album de Pomologie; in which the fruits of Belgium are figured and described.

An. Pom. Annals of Pomology, a periodical published by royal commission, in which choice fruits are figured and described.

C. H. A. Comice of Horticulture of Angers.

Hort. The Horticulturist of Rural Art and Rural Taste, 11 vols.

Coh. American Fruit Book, by S. "W. Cole, Boston, Mass.

Thomas. American Fruit Culturist, by John J. Thomas, Union Springs, New York.

Barry. The Fruit Garden, by P. Barry, Rochester, New York.

Waring. The Fruit Grower's Hand-Book, by "Wui. G. Waring, Boalsburg. Pa.

EUiott. American Fruit Grower's Guide, by F. R. Elliott, Cleveland, 0.

Whitens Gard. Gardening for the South, by Wm. N. White, Athens, Ga.

Hov. Mag. The Magazine of Horticulture, by C. M. Hovey, Boston, Mass. 22 vols.

N. Y. Hort. Rev. New York Horticultural Review, by 0. Reagles, New York.

Ad Int. Rep. Ad Interim Reports of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society.

Inter. Rep. Intermediate native fruit reports of the American Pomological Society.

Ga. Pom. S. Rep. Ad Interim Reports oi" the Georgia Pomological Society.

Me. Pom. S. Rep. Annual Report of the Maine Pomological Society.

Trans. A. Pom. S. Transactions of the American Pomological Society.

Biv. Cat. Catalogue of A. Bivort, Belgium.

Pap. Gat. Catalogue of Ad. Papelen, Belgium.

Leroy^s Cat. Descriptive Catalogue by Andre Leroy, Angers, France.

Pr. Cat. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruits, by Wm. R. Prince, Flushing, New York.

L. E. Berchnan's MS. Manuscript Notes, by Louis E. Berckman, Plainfield, New Jersey.

ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED. XIX

W. D. Brinclde^s MS. Manuscript Notes, by W. D. Brinckle, PhDadel

phia.

R. Manning^s MS. Manuscript Notes, by Robert Manning, Salem, Mass, A. H. Ernst MS. Manuscript Notes, by A. H. Ernst, Cincinnati, Oliio, R. Buchanan MS. Manuscript Notes, by Robert Buchanan, Cincinnati,

Ohio.

Wm. N. White MS. Manuscript Notes, by "Win. N. White, Athens, Ga, J. Van Beuren's MS. Manuscript Notes, by J. Van Beuren, Clarksville,

Georgia, H. R. Rohey MS. Manuscript Notes, by H. R. Robey, Fredericksburg,

Virginia.

Samuel Miller, Jr., MS. Manuscript Notes, by Samuel Miller, Jr., Cum^

berland. Pa.

J. S. Downer MS. Manuscript Notes, by J. S. Downer, ElktoD, Ky.

FRUITS AND FRUIT TREES.

Chapter I. The Production Of New Varieties Of Fruit

In our survey of the culture of fruits let us begin at the beginning. Gradual amelioration, and tlie skilful practice of the cultivator, have so filled our orchards and gardens with good fruits, that it is necessary now to cast a look back at the types from which these delicious products have sprung.

In the tropical zone, amid the surj^rising luxuriance of vegetation of that great natural hothouse, nature ofi'ers to man, almost without care, the most refreshing, the most delicious, and the most nutritive fruits. The Plantain and Banana, excellent either raw or cooked, bearing all the year, and producing upon a rood of ground the sustenance of a family ; the refreshing Guava and Sapodilla ; the nutritious Bread-fruit ; such are the natural fruit trees of those glowing climates. Indolently seated under their shade, and finding a refreshing coolness both from their ever-verdant canopy of leaves, and their juicy fi'uits, it is not here that we must look for the patient and skilful cultivator.

But, in the temperate climates, nature wears a harsher and sterner aspect. Plains bounded by rocky hills, visited not only by genial warmth and sunshine, but by cold winds and seasons of ice and snow ; these are accompanied by sturdy forests, whose outskirts are sprinkled with crabs and wild cherries, and festooned with the clambering branches of the wild grape. These native fruits, which at first offer so little to the eye, or the palate, are nevertheless the types of our garden varieties. Destined in these climates to a perpetual struggle with nature, it is here that we find man ameliorating and transforming her.

Transplanted into a wanner aspect, stimulated by a richer soil, reared from selected seeds, carefully pruned, sheltered and watched, by slow degrees the sour and bitter crab expands into a Golden Pippin, the wild pear loses its thorns and becomes a Bergamotte or a Beurre, the Almond is deprived of its bitterness, and the dry and flavorless Peach is at length a tempting and delicious fruit. It is thus only in the face of obstacles, in a climate where nature is not prodigal of perfections, and in the

2 PRODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES.

midst of thorns and sloes, that man the gardener arises and foi'ces nature to yield to his art.

These improved sorts of fruit which man every where causes to share his civilization, bear, almost equally with himself, the impress of an existence removed from the natural state. When reared from seeds they always show a tendency to return to a wilder form, and it seems only chance when a new seedling is equal to, or surpasses its parent. Removed from their natural form, these artificially created sorts are also much more liable to diseases and to decay. From these facts arises the fruit-garden, with its various processes of grafting, budding and other means of continuing the sort ; with also its sheltered aspects, warm borders, deeper soils, and all its various refinements of art and culture.

In the whole range of cares and pleasures belonging to the garden, there is nothing more truly interesting than the production of new varieties of fruit. It is not, indeed, by sowing the seeds that the lover of good fruit usually undertakes to stock his garden and orchard with fine fruit trees. Raising new varieties is always a slow, and, as generally understood, a most uncertain mode of bringing about this result. The novice plants and carefully watches his hundred seedling pippins, to find at last, perhaps, ninety-nine Avorthless or indifterent apples. It appears to him a lottery, in which there are too many blanks to the prizes. He, therefore, wisely resorts to the more certain mode of grafting from well known and esteemed sorts.

Notwithstanding this, every year, under the influences of garden culture, and often without our design, we find our fruit trees reproducing themselves ; and occasionally, there springs up a new and delicious sort, wliose merits tempt us to iresh trials after perfection.

To a man who is curious in fruit, the pomologist who views with a more than common eye, the crimson cheek of a peach, the delicate bloom of a plum, or understands the epithets, rich, melting, buttery, as applied to a pear, nothing in the circle of culture can give more lively and unmixed pleasure, than thus to produce and to create — for it is a sort of creation — an entirely new sort, which he believes will prove handsomer and better than any thing that has gone before. And still more, as varieties which originate in a certain soil and climate, are found best adapted to that locality, the production of new sorts of fruit, of high merit, may be looked on as a most valuable, as well as interesting result.