The western fruit book

Front matter

4DO

^^ Ui\ITED STATES OF AMERICA. S

1 11) ""^

Preface

It was my original intention to prepare only a small work, giving descriptions of new Western fruits, or those only that succeeded in the West. As I progressed, my friends urged me to extend it, and make a work for the whole Union ; at the same time, it was desired to have the work issued previous to the Spring of 1854, consequently, I was compelled to jDrepare some of it hastily. The first Edition was, therefore, sent out under circumstances very unfavorable to its successful reception by the public ; but, as it has been generally Avell received, I have thought it due to myself, as well as to the public, to revise and correct it ; and, so far as possible, make it the most complete of its kind. In doing this, I have availed myself of liberal and generous notes and comments made for me by a large number of the best pomologists in the United States ; of the published transactions of all large pomological conventions, public journals, etc., and of an extensive and careful examination of trees and fruits.

The present Edition has had a careful revision, and the addition of all important knowledge relating to cultivation, diseases, insects, &c. ; revision of synonyms ; notes of adaptation to locaUties, embodied in the text descriptive of varieties, and descriptions of over one hundred additional varieties. I have endeavored to add all new sorts worthy of notice. I may have omitted some, but not intentionally.

From what has been previously written upon the subject of fruits and their culture, it may be said to be nearly impossible to embody much of originality with correct teachings. It has not, therefore, been so much my aim to be original, as to present, in a comprehensive and practical form, the entire knowledge of fruits and their culture, from the earliest writers down to the present

V

VI PREFACE.

day. My designs and illustrations of fruits, with their cores and seeds, concentric lines, etc., have been very generally approved by horticulturists throughout the Union. I have ever considered these features essential to a scientific description, and my only regret is, that the public, as yet, are unwilling to pay a sum warranting the publication of a work wherein every variety of fruit should be fully figured and described.

It will be found, on examination, that I have credited every author Avith whatever I have extracted from his works : that all descrij)tions of fruits, made by others, have attached thereto the initials of the author's name, or abbreviations of the title of the work from which they were taken.

I have continued my classification mainly as in previous Editions, simply changing the terms designating their classes. Of the descriptions of fruit, some exjDlanation may be necessary. First, is given the standard name in capitals. Below this are placed, in smaller type, the various synonyms, or local names, by which the same fruit is known in various countries, or parts of the country.

The text, descriptive of nearly every valuable variety, will be found to explain in what section of country, and in what soil, it succeeds best. Having given more attention to Southern fruits, and their seasons, than formerly, and finding many to siicceed well South, that have l^een superseded North and East, I have introduced them throughout the work ; hence, I think it will be found as well adapted to that as to other portions of the United States.

It would have given me satisfaction to append to each and every variety its habit of growth, color of wood, form of buds, leaf, &c., &c., but I have been compelled to omit this, except with the most jDopular sorts, from the fact that such additional matter would swell the volume beyond the intended limits of the work.

F. R. E.

St. Louis, Mo., Jan. 18.59.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

In the difficult task of obtaining correct and adequate specimens of fruit to correspond with the varieties named and described — in preparing my texts of the value of fruits, as modified by localities and soils — in supplying descriptions and specimens of new varieties — I have been greatly assisted by, and my thanks are due to, various pomologists, nurserymen, &c., especially to Charles Downing, Esq., Newburg, N. Y. (from whom I received descriptions of many new kinds of fruit) ; also Hon. M. P. Wilder, Boston ; W. D. Brinckle, Phila. ; Robt. Buchanan, Esq., A. H. Ernst, Esq., W. Heaver, Esq., and Prof J. A. "Warder, Cincinnati ; C. H. Havens, St. Louis ; M. B. Bateham, Esq., Columbus ; Chag. Carpenter, Esq., Kelly Island ; J. P. Kirtland, and Thos. Brown, Esq., Cleveland; Jno. C. Teas, Raysville, Ind. ; Doct. J. A. Kennicott, West Northfield. Cook Co., 111.

Of these, we enumerate here those only that we have used most fi-eely, either by extract, or as serving for authority to our decisions.

Allen. A Practical Treatise on the Culture and Treatment of the Grape Vine. By J. Fisk

Allen. 1852.

Ariorettmi Brittanimmi ; or, the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, pictorially and botanically

delineated, and scientifically and popularly described. By J. C. Loudon. London.

1845.

Annales de la Socicte cP fforticuUure de Paris. Paris. In monthly numbers, 8vo., from

1827 to 1845.

Adlum. A Memoir on the Cultivation of the Vine in America, and the best Mode of Making

Wine. By John Adlum. Washington, 1828.

Berckmaiis' Cat. Catalogue of L. C. Berckmans & Son. Buchanan. A Treatise on the Grape. By E. Buchanan. Cincinnati, 1S54. Bon Jard. Le Bon Jardinier, pour I'Annee 1844. Contenant des principes generaux de culture, etc. Par A. Polteau et M. Vilmorin. Yearly volume. Paris. Bridgeman. The Young Gardener's Assistant. By Thomas Bridgeman. Tenth ed. New

York, 1S44.

Freres, a Bolvriller, 1842.

Cole. American Fruit-Book. By S. W. Cole, 1S51.

Coxe. A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees in the United States, and of the Management

of Orchards and Cider. By William Cose. Philadelphia, 1817. Cliaptal. Chemistry Applied to Agriculture. By John Anthony Chaptal. American ed.

Boston, 1835.

Cohhcit. The American Gardener. By Wm. Cobbett. London, 1821. Coleman. Eeports on the Agriculture of Massachusetts. By Henry Coleman. Boston,

1840-41.

Cultivator. The Cultivator, a monthly Journal of Agriculture, &c., edited by Luther Tucker.

Albany ; continued to the present time.

Downing. Downing's Fruit and Fruit Trees of America. 1845. Dom. Card. The Domestic Gardener's Manual. By John Towers. London, 1839. Duhamel. Traite des Arbres Fruitiers, par M. Duhamel Dumonceau. 2 vols., Paris, 176S. Deo. Physiologic vegetale, ou E.xposition des Forces et des Fonctions vitales des VegiStau-x.

Par A. P. De Candolle. 3 vols., Paris, 1832.

Ernst Mans. Manuscript Notes on Fruits. By A. H. Ernst, Esq. Cincinnati. 'Forsyth. A Treatise on the Culture and Management of Fruit Trees. By William Forsyth,

7th ed. London, 1824.

Tloy. Lindley's Guide to the Orchard. American ed., with additions by Michael Floy.

New York, 1845.

Fessenden. New American Gardener; containing Practical Directions for the Culture of

Fruits and Vegetables. By Thos. E. Fessenden. Boston, 1828. Gard. Mag. The Gardener's Magazine, conducted by J. C. Loudon, in monthly numbers.

19 vols., to 1844. London.

X ABBREVIATIONS, ETC.

Ga. Pom. 8. Rej). Eeport of Pomological Society of Georgia.

Hort. The Horticulturist, a monthly Journal of Horticulture, Etc. Published by Luther

Tucker, and edited by A. J. Downing, from 1846 to 1852, and continued to the present

time. J. Jay Smith, editor. lloare. A Practical Treatise on the Cultivation of the Grrape Vine on open -walls. By

Clement Hoare. London, 1840.

Ilort. Soc. Cat. See Thompson.

Harris. A Eeport on the Insects of Massachusetts injurious to Vegetiition. By Dr. T. "W.

Harris. Cambridge, 1852.

Ilbv. Mag. or II. M. The Magazine of Horticulture, Botany, and Eural Affairs. Conducted

by C. M. Hovey. Boston, 8vo., monthly numbers, 1834 to the present time. Johnston. Lectures on Agiicultural Chemistry and Geology. By James W. F. Johnston

American ed. 2 vols., New York, 1842.

Jard. Fruit. Le Jardin Fruitier, par Louis Noisette, 2 ed. 2 vols., Paris, 1839. Knight, Various Articles in the London Horticultural Society's Transactions. By Thomas

Andrew Knight, its late President.

Kenriek or 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. 12mo., London, 1840. Loudon. An Encyclopedia of Gardening. By J. C. Loudon. One thick vol., London, 1835. — An Encyclopedia of Plants. By the Same. 1 thick vol., London, 1836.

An Encyclopedia of Agriculture. By the Same. 1 thick vol., London, 1831.

' Ilortus Brittanicus. A Catalogue of all the Plants in Britain. By the same.

London.

The Suburban Horticulturist. By the Same. London, 1812.

The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion. By the same. London, 1838 to

Arboretum et Fruticetum Britannicum. By the same. London, 1838.

Liebig. Organic Chemistry, in its Application to Agriculture and Physiology. By Justus Liebig. American ed., Cambridge, 1844.

Lind. A Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden; or, an Account of the Fruits and Vegetables Cultivated in Great Britain. By George Lindley. London, 1831.

Lindley. An Introduction to Botany. By John Lindley. London, 1832.

An Introduction to the Natural System of Botany. By John Lindley. Loudon,

British Fruits. See Pomological Magazine ; it is the same work.

The Theory of Horticulture ; or, an Attempt to Explain the Operation of Gardening upon Physiological Principles. By John Lindley. London, 1840. — The same work, with Notes, by A, Gray, and A. J. Downing. New York, 1841.

L. or Zinnwus. Species Plantarum, 5th ed. Berlin, ISIO, 5 vols.

JIass. Hort. Society. Transactions of thu Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 1842 to the

present time.

Man. The New England Fruit Book. By E. Manning, 2d ed., enlarged by John M. Ives.

Salem, 1844.

Man. in H. M. Manning's articles in Ilovey's Magazine. Me. P. S. li. Maine Pomological Society's Eeport Micliaiix. The Nortii American Sylva, or Descriptions of the Forest Trees of the United

States, Canada, &c. By A. F. Miohaux. Paris, new edition. Philadelphia, 1852. M'^Intosh. The Orchard and Fruit Garden. By Charles M'Intosh. London, 1S19. N. Y. Trans. Transactions of the .JJew York State Agricultural Society, from 1S42 to the

present time.

Kois. See Jardin Fruitier. i^ew England Farmer. A weekly periodical, devoted to Agriculture, Horticulture, &c

Boston, continued to the present time. 0. Bull. See Duhamel. :

ABBKEVIATIONS, ETC. XI

l*om.. Mag. or P. M. The Pomological Magazine ; or, Figures and Descriptions of the most

Important Varieties of Fruit cultivated in Great Britain. London, 1828. Pom. Man. The Pomological Manual. Ey 'William E. Prince. 2 vols.. New York, 1831. Prince. A Treatise on the Vine. By William E. Prince. New Tork, 1830. Prince. A short Treatise on Horticulture. By William Prince. New Tork, 1828. Pcrit. or Poiteau. Pomologie Francaise. Eecueil des plus beaux Fruits, cultives en Franco.

Par Poiteau. Paris, 1838, and continued in 4to numbers. Eivers. A Descriptive Catalogue of Pears, cultivated by T. Eivers. Sawbridgeworth. Bon. or Ronalds. Pyrus Mains Brentfordienses ; or, a Concise Description of Selected

Apples, with a figure of each sort. By Hugh Eonalds. London, 1831. Pevue Horticole. Journal des Jardiniers et Amateurs. Audot, Editeur. Paris, 1S44, et

chaque mois.

Torrey cfc Gray. A Flora of North America : containing abridged deseriptions of all the

known plants gi'owing North of the Gulf of Mexico. By John Torrey, M.D., and Asa

Gray, M. D. New York.

Thomp. A Catalogue of the Fruits Cultivated in the Garden of the Horticultural Society of

London. 3d ed., London, 1845. [Prepared with great care, by Robert Thompson, the

head of the Fruit Department.] ThacJier. The American Orchardist. By James Thacher, M. D. Boston, 1822. Wilder, MSS. Manuscript Notes on Fruits. By M. P. Wilder, Esq.

W. P. B, Doct. W. D. Brinckle, in ad interim Eeports of Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. IT. B. P. Articles and Descriptions, by Wm. E. Prince, in various Horticultural Journals. Warder Beview. Western Horticultural Eeview. J. A. Warder, editor and publisher. A

Monthly Journal of Horticulture, &c. Cincinnati, 1850, to the present time. Wilder in Eort. Articles and Descriptions written by Hon. M. P. Wilder, and published in

Horticulturist.

CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORr REMARKS HISTORY AND ADVANCEMENT OF FRUITS

IN OHIO AND THE WEST VALUE AS FOOD.

In almost every country, fruits are regarded as necessaries of life, and have been gradually transferred from the wilds of nature to the cultivated portions of the earth, ai'ound the dwellings of man.

Many of the original fruits were unpalatable, but, in the course of cultivation, they have become ameliorated. Superior varieties have been obtained from time to time, to requite the industry and care of the cultivator, until domesticated fruits are not only improved in size and flavor, but increased in number almost innumerable.

In their cultivation, they are affected by soil, situation, and seasons. The Winter of 185.5—56 destroyed, by extreme cold, nearly every variety of fruit, the apple only excepted, throughout the entire Western States.

When a fruit tree is to be planted, the object is, to enable it to grow up a healthy and, at the same time, a fruitful tree ; and, whether planted in an orchard or in a garden, as a standard or as a d#arf, a certain space is contemplated, that it will, in its maturity, occupy. In order that this may be apportioned properly, the natural habit of the kind must be considered ; also, Avhether it is worked on a free or dwarf-growing stock, whether it is a delicate or hai-dy sort, and what aspect will be most favorable. All these circumstances must be duly weighed by the fruit-grower, in order to ensure success.

A tree may have too much or too little space. If too much, a part of the intended space is lost ; and, if too little, the branches soon interfere, and the trees become crowded, to the manifest injury of each other.

Aspect is a very material circumstance, and should be modified by the climate and the variety of fruit to be grown. But the nature of the soil, its composition, and depth, requires far the greatest share of the planter's attention. According as this is adapted to the growth of the variety planted, will be his success. Many cultivators imagine that if they can make their trees grow luxuriantly, they will certainly be fruitful. This is a mistake, to prove which, we have only to consider where the most prolific orchards are found, and what are the circumstances which render them so. We find a light, dry, sandy loam, reposing on a subsoil of gravel or rock, invariably

M INTRODUCTORY EEMAKKS.

most congenial to the kindly growth and fruiffuhiess of the trees. Perfectly thorough drainage is, in all cases, absolutely essential to productiveness.

Some of the most valuable orchards we have ever seen, stood on a thin, light, loamy soil, on a basis of rock, and constantly pastured. An elevated situation, with a light, loamy soil, will produce the most healthy and fruitful trees, as all fruit trees are more prolific when their growth is moderate ; but it will not grow trees as rapidly as the more level, deeper, and richer soils, and would, therefore, be unsuited to the commercial nurseryman.

The increase of the curculio, asgeria, codling moth, and other insects, which are treated of under their appropriate heads, is a subject which has called forth more of ingenuity, practical tact, and scientific experiment, than perhaps any other connected with fruit-growing. The early settlements of the Western States wei'e comparatively exempt for a few years, but the transit of insects is so rapid, that they are soon overrun. This may, perhaps, be termed the " dark side," in fruit culture, and is to be met only by a genei-al diffusion of knowledge.

The Eastern States being possessed of great advantages and facilities for obtaining trees, with various treatises upon fruits, and numerous journals, devoted, in part, to this branch of horticulture, have, until within a few years, been looked to by the South and West for such information and knowledge as was requisite to the successful culture of fruit trees. Experience has proved that such knowledge was often erroneous, when applied in a different climate and soil. It is presumed that this has induced, in the new States, much more attention and discussion than would have occurred under other circumstances.

At this time, horticulturists number in their ranks some of the most intelligent and devoted men from nearly every State in the Union, and their annual and biennial assemblings are diffusing the knowledge acquired by the practice of skillful persons, rendering it accessible to all.

Previous to 1796, there was very little other than the natural fruit of the soil cultivated in Ohio ; and not until about 1820 or '22 was there any considerable introduction and planting of " grafted fruits" in the north part of the State. At that time, the nursery of William Coxe, Esq., Burlington, New Jersey, seemed the nearest from which to obtain trees, and, therefore, from thence came most of the first plantations of good fruits. Later, the nurseries of Prince, Kenrick, and Buel, supplied our Northern pioneers; and from these, with the liberal hand wliich always characterises a fruit-culturist, grafts were distributed freely to whoever would. As early as 1796, or 1797, Israel Putnam introduced and propagated many of the older and best Eastern varieties on the borders of the Ohio river, and

ADVANCEMENT OF FRUITS, ETC. 15

there cultivated both trees and fruits, from whence most of the older orchards of southern Ohio, and probably Indiana, were procured. Governor Worthington, at an early day, 1803, or previous, introduced many fine varieties of fruits into central Ohio. In 1824, Prof Kirtland imported, from New Jersey to Trumbull County, Ohio, some two hundred sorts of the best fruits then known ; and in 1827, or '28, George Hoadley, Esq., sent about one hundred kinds to Cleveland. Alfred Kelly also introduced many fine Eastern varieties ; and, as before mentioned, grafts from all these wx^re liberally distributed, followed by additional introductions of new varieties in succeeding years. Add to these, that nearly evei-y pioneer brought with him seeds of the best fruits known in the vicinity of his former residence East, which he planted and grew with care, and we have the heads of the principal introduction of varieties up to about 1832. Since that period, not only have importations of extended varieties been largely made from Eastei'n nurseries, but the nurseries of trees grown for sale have so multipled in the whole West, that millions of trees are now annually grown and planted. __J

For the history that follows, relating to Illinois and Wisconsin, we are indebted to the zeal, enthusiasm, and courtesy of Doctor J. A. Kennicott :

" The first permanent settlements in Illinois were made by the '^*- French about 1682, in and about Kaskaskio and Cahokia ; and it is said, that ' the first generation of fruit trees, there planted, had done good service, and gone the way of all the living,' long before the advent of the present race who people ' Lower Egypt.' The liev. John M. Peck (whom I quote from memory) affirms, that he ate most luscious fruits, some twenty or thirty years ago, the product of the second generation of these old French trees, even then of almost forest size.

" From many sources I gather the fact, that among these old trees were, and still are, perhaps, individuals producing very desirable fruit ; all, doubtless, of mature growth, though some may have been brought from Canada, whence the seeds very evidently came, in their route from the old world.

" From this you perceive that Illinois is one of the oldest fruit-growing states ; and it is very certain, that our seedling trees generally yield better fruit than the mass of chance varieties in the East ; though, good sooth, I have been unable to trace any of our celebrated varieties in cultivation, to these glorious old trees, so graphically described by the Rev. Mr. Peck ; and yet, I am by no means certain, that some of our most valuable local varieties did not originate in that classic fruit-land of Southern Illionois.

" It is very probable, also, that, in Central and Northern Illinois there may now be native varieties, surpassing in value, for local cultivation, at least, a large majority of the sorts named in the books.

16 INTKODUCTOKY REMARKS.

Analogy would lead to such a conclusion ; for, as a general rule here, of fifty seedling trees, in almost any orchard, at least five will be found worthy of notice, and Avorth preserving in their natural state, though not desirable for propagation.

" From personal observation, you are already aware that some fruits of high repute East, are nearly worthless here ; and that others are wonderfully improved by the peculiarities of our soil and climate. It is thought, too, that many old fruits have become so changed as to be no longer easily recognized ; and, as their history has been lost, and several local synonyms have been used to designate them, much difficulty and doubt attend our Western nomenclature.

" Perhaps these difficulties will soon be removed, and the doubts cleared up, as in Ohio, by the re-fruiting of our celebrated varieties at the East, from scions obtained here, or by further observation on the fructification here, under the true names.

" Many of our varieties, of the first trees transplanted in "Western Illinois, and Southern Wisconsin, were disseminated by tree pedlars from the region of the Wabash, in Indiana, and central-eastei'n Illinois ; and I am only aware that some of their sorts came from Ohio, and others from Kentucky, Yirginia, Tennessee, and North Carolina, and a few, doubtless, from the Eastern States ; though what proportion, or what varieties of those brought us by these tree pedlars, I am unable to determine. Very few were sold under eastern names, however, and, now and then, a variety is, doubtless, of native origin. " Among these pedlars' trees, the Red June is decidedly the most valuable, and the ^Iilam the most abundant.

" Here-away, I know the origin of four-fifths of the trees planted out in the last ten or twelve years, apart from the pedlars' trees, which continued to arrive up to three or four years ago. The BuflTalo nurseries, and the Cleveland dealers, have furnished the most. The nurseries of Chatauque County sent some early, and the Rochester establishments a great many more recently, and a few ten or twelve years ago. The Flushing nurseries ai"e also represented in our orchards, and, quite lately, those of Michigan and Northern Indiana ; and, in I'act, there is scarce an eastern establishment which has not Bent trees to the lake region of Illinois and Wisconsin."

Similar to those named, is that of most Western States, in the historic introduction and origin of fruits. Chance seedlings, of value ' sufiScient to retaining of the original tree, are abundant, while those meriting a first place are rare. The character of " very good " will apply to probably one-tenth of the fi'uit, while that of "best" will liardly apply to one-thousandth.

Of the value of fruits as food, and the tendency to promote health of system and morality of character, much has been written ; but the following, by Doctor Kennicott, sums up all in few words :

ORIGINATING OF VAEIETIES. 17

"The free use of ripe fruits not only prei'e7i(s disease, hnt their regulated enjoyment helps to remove that which already exists. All ripe fruits are, also, more or less nutritious. Professor Salisbury i has clearly demonstrated that the apple is superior to the potato, j in the principles that go to increase the muscle and the brain of man, ' and in fattening properties, it is nearly equal, when cooked, for swine, j or fed raw to other domestic animals." X

Ripe grapes have cured epidemic dysentery. Physicians have, occasionally, advised the use of " cooling acid fruits ;" and the earliest writers have directed the sugai'y ones, as " figs," for food in convalescence. Families, where fruits are most plentiful and good, and prized as an article of daily food, are most free from disease of all kinds, and more especially from fevers and " bowel complaints." Most fruits aid digestion, some directly, some indirectly, and lessen the desire for alcoholic or stimulating drinks. The juicy ones act as " diluents," and all as " diuretics ;" the free acids neutralizing, or rendering soluble the earthy matters in the blood, and carrying tliem off rapidly through the natural channels.

Chapter II. Originating Of Varieties Their Propagation, By Budding

GRAFTING, LAYERS, CUTTINGS, RUNNERS, AND SUCKERS.

" Our garden varieties of fruits are not natural forms. They are the artificial productions of culture. Seedlings from them have always a tendency to improve, but they have also another and a stronger tendency to return to a natural or wild stale." Of this, we have a strong evidence, in the production of seedling cherries by Prof. Kirtland, where from several hundred grown from seed gathered from the same tree, only about one-tenth have surpassed, and two-tenths equaled, the parent ; the remainder mostly falling back toward the original Mazzard.

Most of our choice varieties cultivated, are from seeds of chance cross-impregnation ; few have been the result of artificial skill and care ; cross breeding and hybridizing are too often confounded, and while we are constantly in the production of new varieties from cross breeding, none are known in fruits from hybridizing. Lindley says :

18 PEOPAGATING OF VARIETIES.

" If the pistils of one species be fertilized by the pollen of another species, which may take place in the same genus, or if two distinct varieties of the same species be in like manner intermixed, the seed which results from the operation will be intermediate between its parents, partaking of the qualities of both. In the first case, the progeny is hybrid or male ; in the second, it is simply cross-bred." Although of the same genus, no hybrid has ever yet been created between the apple and the pear, or the gooseberry and currant. These cross-breds, when closely resembling the female parent are termed sub-varieties.

This practice of producing new varieties by cross fertilization was advocated by Thomas Andrew Knight, a distinguished horticulturist of England : while that of Dr. Van Mons, of Belgium, was the re-production of seedlings from seedlings in succession ; selecting each time those of the seedlings to procure the seed, which proved the best in the fruit. At the eighth generation, in growing from the pear, his seedlings produced fruit at four years old, while at the commencement it required twelve to fifteen years. This he regarded as the correct course to pursue in the amelioration of varieties. The Frederic, of Wurtemburg, originated by him in this way, it is well known, produces its fruit often in the nursery at two years from the bud ; while the Dix, a seedling from we know not what variety, requires twelve or fifteen years. This process, however, if taken, as by Van Mons, from the commencement, i. e., a wildling, would require a life-time ; but our people have all around them seedlings which at an early age are producing fruit ; if, therefore, seed be taken from the best of them, and the choicest again selected, it is not probable that more than ten years would elapse without producing something very superior.

On the other hand, the process of Mr. Knight, of producing by crossing, gives the grower the choice of selecting and growing to whatever form, size, or character he may desire, and this with an almost absolute certainty of success. This process being fully described by Thomas, in his Fruit Culturist, we extract tht'refrom :

" A familiar instance of cross-impregnation in plants occurs in the Indian corn. The pistillate, or seed-bearing fiowers, coverino^ the young e;ir, are remotely situated on the plant from the staminate, or fertilizing flowers, on the summits, or tassels. Hence, from this remote position, the pollen, or fertilizing dust, from the summits may not certainly fall on the ear ; and, if different sorts grow near, a mixture will probably result. It is well known to farmers, that if different sorts, as white, yellow, and purple, are planted in the same field ; or, if common and sweet corn are planted togethei-, each sort no longer remains distinct, but each ear, the second year, is speckled with a promiscuous assemblage of white, yellow, and purple, and of common and sweet corn, of various grades. In fruit trees, the riiOPAGATION BY BUDDING, GEAFTING, ETC stamens and pistils are in the same flower, and the chances of accidental mixture from other trees, become very small unless atfected by insects, which, becoming thickly dusted Avith powder from one flower, plunge into the recesses of another, and affect a cross fertilization. Where many varieties grow^ in one garden, in close proximity, cases of promiscuous intermixture are constantly occurring, which can be developed only by raising fruit from the seedlings.

"In the annexed figure of the pear blossom (Fig. 1), the five cena tral organs a, are the pistils ; the upper extre-

mity of each is the stigma. The surrounding .^ thread-like organs, b, are the stamens, surmounted by the anthers. The anthers are little bags or cases, filled with the pollen, or fertilizing dust. When the flowers open, the anthers burst, and discharge the pollen on the stigma, which operates on the embryo fruit at its base.

" The production of new varieties is greatly facilitated by cross-impregnation, or by fertilizing the pistil of one variety with the pollen of another. This was performed with great success by Knight. Selecting two varieties, while yet early in flower, and before the anthers had bui'st and discharged the pollen, he cutout with a fine pair of scissors all the stamens, leaving the pistils untouched (fig. 2). When the stigma became sufficiently mature, which was indicated by its glutinous surface, he transferred the pollen of the other sort on the point of a camel'shair pencil. The fruit, thus yielded, was unseeds partook variously of the nature of both parents, and the trees growing from them bore new and intermediate vai'ieties.