The fruits and fruit trees of America : or, The culture, propagation, and management, in the garden and orchard, of fruit trees generally : with descriptions of all the finest varieties of fruit, native and foreign, cultivated in this country

Front matter

I ( LQMAOmrU

■ m

JHHHH B fill flHHBHl ■

Preface

A im N born on the banks of one of the noblest and most fruitful rivers in America, and whose best days have been spent in gardens and orchards, may perhaps be pardoned for talking ahoul 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 full of soft foliage ; blossoms fresh with spring beauty ; and, finally,— fruit, rich, bloom-dusted, melting, and luscious — such are the treasures of the orchard and the garden, temptingly offered to every landholder in this bright and sunny, tnough 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 baskev of fine summer fruit, 1 should think there was some proportion between the labour and the reward."

1 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 honied Seckels, and Beurres, our melting Rareripes. At any rate, the science of mod »rn horticulture has restored almost everything that can be desir d to give a paradisiacal richness to our fruit-gardens. Yet tnere 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 if J

VI TEEFACE.

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. W hen 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 1 might be obliged to repeat the advice of Dr. Johnson to one of his friends. " If possible," said he, " have a good orchard. 1 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 ihat 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 may be selected which are highly valuable forevery part of the country. But opinions differ much as to the mer. its of some sorts. Those which succeed perfectly in one section, are sometimes ill-adapted to another. And, finally, ona

PREFACE. VU

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 the number 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 fruitdepartment, 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 ou/ native and local fruits especial care has also been devoted. Not only have most of the noted sorts been proved in the gar rill PREFACE.

dens here, but I have had specimens before me for comparison, thf growth of no less than fourteen cf the different States. Tlicrtare still many sorts, nominally fine, which remain to be collected, compared, and proved ; some of which will undoubtedly deserve a place in future editions. To the kindness of pomolo. gists 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 descriptions of fruit, some explanation may be necessary. First, is given the standard name in capitjls, fol. lowed 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 386, is the follow ing:

117. Flemish Beauty. § Lind. Thomp.

Belle de Flandres.

Bouche Nouvelle.

Bosch.

Bosc Sire. Fondante Du Bois. 5 of some

Imperatrice de France.

Boschpeer.

Josephine. > incorrectly

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 two latter names — Josephine, and Fondante DuBois — it is incorrectly known in some collections ; these two names really belonging to other distinct pears.

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 different

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

PREFAUli. 1JC

catalogues issued here and abroad, suppose that all nine of the above are different varieties — when they are really all diffeienl names for a single pear. In this record of synonymes, I have therefore availed myself of the valuable experience of the Lon 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. Cushing, 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 Dennison, of Albany; Alexander Walsh, of Lansingburgh ; T. II. Hyatt, of Rochester ; R. L. Pell, of Pelham ; C Downing, of New burgh; and Wm. II. Aspinwall, of Staten Island.

X PREFACE.

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. II. 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,

ffemturgk, Jf. T., .May, 1M&

ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED.

Arboretum Britannicum, or the Trees and Shrubs of Britain, pictoriall/

and botanically delineated, and scientifically and popularly described

Ly J C. Loudon London, 1S45, 8 vols. Svo. Annates de la Sociite a" Horticulture de Paris. — Paris. In monthlv

Nob. Svo. from 1S27 to 1S45.

Paris, Svo. 1829 to 1S34, f> vol3.

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

best mode of making Wine. By John Adlum. 12mo. Washington, 1S2S.

Bon Jard. Le Bon Jardinier, pour l'Annee 1S44. Contenant des prin-

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

Paris 12mo. — yearly volume.

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

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

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

Tenth ed. New York, 1S44, 8vo.

I'Etablissement des Freres 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, Svo., 1817.

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

tal. American ed., 12mo. Boston, 1S3").

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

12mo.

Coleman. Reports on the Agriculture of Massachusetts. By Henry Coleman. Boston, Svo. 1840-41.

Dom. Gard. The Domestic Gardener's Manual. By John Towers. London, 1S39, Svo.

Duhamel. 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, Svo. Diet. Versuch ein Systematischen Beschreibung in Deutschland vorhan-

dener Kernobstsorten. Von Dr. Aug. Fieidr. Ad. Diel. 12mo. 24

vols. 1799 — 1823.

Or Candolle, Physiologie Vegetale, ou Exposition des Forces et des Fonc

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

3 vols. Svo.

Xll ABBREVIATIONS ANL BOOKS QUOTED.

1830, -I veils, Svo.

UAlbret. Corns Tlieorique ct Pratique de la Taille des Arbres Fruitiers.

Par D'Albret. Paris, 1S40, 8vo.

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

William Forsyth, 7th ed. London, 1824, Svo. Floy, Lindley's Guide to the Orchard. American ed. with addition* uj

Michael Floy. New York, 1833, l2mo.

Fesscnden. New American Gardener, containing practical direction? foi the culture of Fruits and Vegetables. By Thos. E. Fessenden. Boston, 1S28, 12mo.

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

monthly nos. 8vo., 19 vols, to 1844., London. Gard. Chron. 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 Vine 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. Hooker Pomona Londonensis. By William Hooker. London, 1813,

4to.

Huyward. The Science of Horticulture. By Joseph Hay ward. London,

1824, Svo.

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. 1&34 to the present time.

Jonnston. 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 art : cles 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, 1S40, 12mo.

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

London, 1 72 ( J, 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

T0l. SVO.

■ Au Encyclopedia of Agriculture. By the same. London, 1931, 1

thick vol. Svo.

ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED. X1U

Loudon Hortus Britannicus. A Catalogue of all the plants in Britain, by

the same. London, 8vo.

— — . The Suburban Hoi ticulturist By the same. London, 1842, 8vo. • . The Suburban Gardener and Villa Companion. By the same Lon«

don, 1838, 1842, 8vo.

— ■ . Arboretum et Fruticetura Britannicum. By the same, 3 vols.

London, 1838, 8vo.

Liebig. Organic Chemistry in its applications to Agriculture and Physiology. By Justus Liebig. American ed., Cambridge, 1844, 12ino. Lind A Guide to the Orchard and Kitchen Garden, or an account of the

Fruits and Vegetables cultivated in Great Britain. By George Lind-

ley. London, 1S31, 8vo.

Lindlty. An Int oduction to Botany. By John Lindley. London, 1832,

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

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

— — . British Fruits. See Pomological Magazine — it is the same work. — . The Theory of Horticulture, or an attempt to explain the Opera

tion of Gardening upon Physiological Principles. By John Lindley.

London, Svo. 1840.

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

New York, 1841, 12mo.

L. or Linnaus. Species Plantarum, 5th. ed. Berlin, 1810, 5 vols. 8vo. lAilitur. La Pomone Francaise, ou Traite de la Culture Fran^aisc, ei de

la Taille des Arbres Fruitiers. Parle Compte Lelieur. Paris, 1811,

bro.

Man. The New England Fruit Book. By R. Manning, 2d ed. enlarged by John M. Ives, Salem, 1SJ<1, 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 Marty n. London, IS 19, 2 vols. 8vo. Michanx. The North American Sylva, or Descriptions of the Forest

Trees of the United States, Canada, &.c. By A. F. Michaux. Paris-

1S19, 3 vols Svo Mlntosh. The Orchard and Fruit Garden. By Charles Mcintosh. London, IS19, 12mo.

JV. Dxih. (The New Duhamel) Traite des Arbres Fruitiers de Duhamel.

Nouvelle edition augmentec, etc. Par MM. Poiteau et Turpin,

Paris. 5 vols. Folio, 1SUS et seq.

JVois. See Jardin Fruitier.

JVew England Fanner. A weekly periodical, devoted to Agriculture,

Horticulture, &c. Boston, 4to. continued to the present time. O Dvh. 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, IS28, 3 vols 8vo.

Pom. Man. The Pomological Manual. By William R. Prince. New

York, 1 S3 1,2 vols. Svo.

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

8vo.

XIV ABBREVIATIONS AND BOOKS QUOTED.

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

Phillips. Pomarium Britannicum ; — an Historical and Botanical Account of the Fruits known in Great Britain. By Henry Phillips, London, 1S20, 8vo.

Pott, or Poiteau. Pomologie Fran^aise. Recueil dts plus beaux Fruits, cultives en France. Par Poiteau. Paris, 1838, and continued in 4to. noa,

Rivers. A Descriptive Catalogue of Pears, cultivated by T. Rivers. Sawbridgeworth, 1S43-44, pamphlet, 8vo.

Son. or Ronalds. Pyrus Malus Brentfordienses, or a concise description of Selected Apples, with a figure of each sort. By Hugh Ronalds, London, 1S31, 4to.

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

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

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

Torrey &f Gray. A Flora of North America, containing abridged descriptions of all the known plants growing North of the Gulf of Mexico By John Torrey, M.D ,and Asa Gray, M.D., New York, vol. lst,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, 1S42. [Prepared with great care by Robert Thompson, the head of the Fruit Department J

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

Van Mons. Arbres Fruitiers, ou Pomologie Beige Experimentale et Raisonnee, Par J. R. Van Mons. Louvain, 1835 — 1S36, 2 vols. 12mo.

. Catalogue des Arbres Fruitiers, Descriptif, Abrege. Par J. B. Van

Mons, Louvain, 1823.

Wildet, MSS. Manuscript notes on Fruits, by M. P. Wilder, Esq., Freai dert of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.

FUUITS 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 the 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 surprising luxuriance of vegetation of that great natural hothouse, nature offers to man, almost without care, the most refreshing, the most delicious, and the most nutritive fruits. The Plantain and Bananna, 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 fruits, 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 warmer 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 flavourless 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 midst of thorns and sloes, that man the gardener arises and forces nature to yield to his art.

t IMtODlTCTlON' OF NEW VARIETIES.

Those improved sorts of fruit wnich man everywhere causes jo share his civilization, bear, almost equally with himself, the mpress of an existence removed from the natural state. When •eared from seeds they always show a tendency to return to a vilder form, and it seems only chance when a new seedling is >qual to. or surpasses its parent. Removed from their natuial form, these artificially created sorts are also much more liable to .iiseases 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 rarden, there is nothing more truly interesting than the producion of new varieties of fruit. It is not, indeed, by sowing the eeds that the lover of good fruit usually undertakes to stock his garden and orchard with fine fruit trees. Raising new varieties s always a slow, and, as generally understood, a most uncertain node of bringing about this result. The novice, plants and carefully watches his hundred seedling pippins, to find at last, perhaps, ninety-nine worthless or indifferent 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, whose merits tempt us to fresh 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.

Beside this, all the fine new fruits, which, of late, figure so conspicuously in the catalogues of the nurseries and fruit gardens, have not been originated at random and by chance efforts. Some of the most distinguished pomologists have devoted years To the subject of the improvement of fruit trees by seeds, and lave attained if not certain results, at least some general

BY SEED. 3

laws, which greatly assist us in this process of amelioration. Let us therefore examine the subject a little more in detail.

In the wild state, every genus of trees consist of one or more species, or strongly marked individual sorts ; as, lor example, the white birch and the black birch; or, to confine ourselves n or? strictly to the matter in hand, the different species of cherry, the wild or bird cherry, the sour cherry, the mazzard cherry, <fec. These species, in their natural state, exactly reproduce themselves ; to use a common phrase, they - 1 come the same" from seed. This they have done for centuries, raid doubtless will do forever, so long as they exist under natural circumstances only.

On the other hand, suppose we select one of these species of fruit-trees, and adopt it into our gardens. So long as we cultivate that individual tree, or any part of it, in tho shape of sucker, graft, or bud, its nature will not be materially altered. It may, indeed, through cultivation, be stimulated into a more luxuriant growth ; it will probably produce larger leaves and fruit ; but we shall neither alter its fruit in texture, color or taste. It will always be identically the same.

The process of amelioration begins with a new generation, an,\ by sowing the seeds. Some species of tree, indeed, seem to re fuse to yield their wild nature, never producing any variatior by seed ; but all fruit-trees and many others, are easily domesticated, and more readily take the impress of culture.

If we sow a quantity of seed in garden soil of the common black mazzard cherry, (Cerasits avium,) we shall rind that, in the leaves and habit of growth, many of the seedlings do not entirely resemble the original species. When they come into bearing. it is probable we shall also find as great a diversity in the size, color and flavor of the fruit. Each of these individual plants. differing from the original type, (the mazzard,) constitutes ? new variety ; though only a few, perhaps only one, may be superiour to the original species.

It is worthy of remark, that exactly in proportion as this reproduction is frequently repeated, is the change to a great variety of forms, or new sorts increased. It is likely indeed, tha' to gather the seeds from a wild mazzard in the woods, the instances of departure from the form of the original species wnuld be very few ; while if gathered from a garden tree, itself soma time cultivated, or several removes from a wild state, though still a mazzard, the seedlings will show great variety of character.

Once in the possession of a variety, which has moved out of the natural into a more domesticated form, we have in our hanJs the best material for the improving process. The fixed original habit of the species is broken in upon, and this variety which we have created, has always afterwards some tendency to

4 PBODUCTION OF NEW VARIETIES.

make further departures from the original form. It is true that all or most of its seedlings will still retain a likeness to the parent, hut a few will differ in some respects, and it is hy seizing upon those which show symptoms of variation, that the improver of v sgetable races founds his hojes.

We have said that it is a part of the character of a species to produce the same from seed. This characteristic is retained even where the sport, fas gardeners term it) into numberless varieties is greatest. Thus, to return to cherries, the Kentish or common pie-cherry is one species, an 1 the small black mv/.zard another, and although a great number of varieties of each of these species have been produced, yet there is always the likeness of the species retained. From the first we may have the large and rich Mayduke, and from the last the sweet and luscious Black- Hearts ; but a glance will show us that the duke cherries retain the distinct dark foliage, an 1, in the fruit, something of the same flavor, shape an 1 color of the original species ; and the heart cherries the broad leaves and lofty growth of the mazzard. So too, the currant and gooseberry are different species of the same genus; but. though the English goosebi rry growers have raised thousands of new varieties of this fruit, and shown them as large as hen's c^>, and of every variety of form and color, yet their efforts with the gooseberry have not produced any thing resembling the common currant.

Why do not varieties produce the same from seed ? Why if we plant the stone of a Green Gage plum, will it not always produce a Green Gage ? This is often a puzzling question to the practical gardener, while his every day experience forces him to assent to the fact.