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PROCEEDINGS 


OF  THE 


SECOND   SESSION 


OF  THE 


AMERICAN  POIOLOGICAL  CONGRESS. 


HELD  IN  THE  CITY  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


ON   THE 


13th  and  14th  of  September,  1852. 


REPORTED  BY 


ARTHUR  CANNON,  OF  PHILADELPHIA, 


PHONOGRAPHIC     REPORTER. 


PHILADELPHIA; 
FEINTED  BY  STAYELY  &  McCALLA; 

No.  12  Pear  Street. 

1852. 


PROCEEDINGS 


In  compliance  with  a  resolution  passed  at  the  first  session  of  the 
American  Pomological  Congress,  held  at  Cincinnati  on  the  2d,  3d, 
and  4th  of  October,  1850,  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  the  President,  is- 
sued a  circular  announcing  that  the  second  session  would  take 
place  at  the  Museum  Building,  in  Philadelphia,  at  10  o'clock, 
A.  M.,  on  the  13th  of  September,  1852. 

Before  the  appointed  hour  had  arrived,  the  delegates  began  to 
assemble,  and  unpack  their  several  collections.  These  being  very 
numerous  and  extensive,  some  little  delay  was  occasioned  in  ar- 
ranging them  on  the  tables. 

MORNING  SESSION. 

At  11  o'clock,  the  President,  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, took  the  chair,  and  called  the  Congress  to  order.  The  Sec- 
retaries, Messrs.  F.  R.  Elliott  and  Dr.  John  A.  Warder,  of  Ohio, 
and  P.  Barry,  of  New  York,  being  present,  took  their  seats.  The 
credentials  of  the  delegates  having  been  called  for,  were  handed 
in  to  the  Secretaries. 

The  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusetts,  moved  that  all 
gentlemen  present,  who  are  not  delegates  from  any  Society,  but 
who  take  an  interest  in  the  science  we  are  desirous  of  promoting, 
be  invited  to  take  seats  as  members  of  this  Congress;  which 
motion,  being  seconded,  was  unanimously  adopted. 


ADDRESS. 

The  President  then  rose  and  delivered  the  following 
Address : — 

Gentlemen, — 

The  American  Pomological  Congress  being  now 
fully  organized,  the  first  business  that  will  engage  your  attention 
is  the  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  biennial  term.  Highly  as 
I  appreciate  the  honor  of  presiding  over  the  deliberations  of  our 
National  Society,  and  flattering  as  is  such  an  evidence  of  confi- 
dence and  regard,  I  nevertheless  wish  it  to  be  explicitly  under- 
stood that  I  decline  being  a  candidate  for  re-election  to  this  ex- 
alted station. 

Before,  however,  vacating  the  chair  to  which  your  kind  partiali- 
ty so  unexpectedly  elevated  me,  you  will,  I  trust,  indulge  me  with 
the  privilege  of  making  a  few  remarks  ;  especially  inviting  your 
attention  to  some  suggestions  that  appear  to  me,  if  carried  into 
operation,  calculated  to  render  our  proceedings  more  interesting 
and  efficient,  and  our  exertions  to  advance  the  Science  of  Pomol- 
ogy productive  of  greater  practical  utility. 

Most  of  you  are  aware  that  in  1848,  two  National  Pomological 
Institutions  almost  simultaneously  sprung  into  existence.  The 
manifest  incompatibility  of  more  than  one  body  of  this  kind,  was 
soon  perceived  ;  and  a  hope  was  entertained  by  prominent  mem- 
bers of  each,  that,  by  a  mutual  understanding,  a  consolidation  of 
the  two  might  be  brought  about ;  so  as  to  concentrate  the  ener- 
gies of  Fruit-Culturists  in  a  single  organization.  The  first  move- 
ment towards  the  accomplishment  of  this  object,  was  made  in  the 
"  North  American  Pomological  Convention"  of  1849,  by  delegat- 
ing from  that  body  a  committee  of  conference,  invested  with 
plenary  powers.  A  reciprocal  impulse  prompted  the  "  National 
Congress  of  Fruit-Growers"  cordially  to  respond  to  this  procedure, 


by  the  appointment  of  a  similar  committee.  The  two  delegations 
met ;  the  kindliest  feeling  prevailed ;  and  a  coalition  of  these, 
in  some  measure  rival  Institutions,  was  happily,  and  with  entire 
unanimity,  consummated.  The  new  Society  thus  created,  was 
named  the  "  American  Pomological  Congress ;"  and  assembled, 
for  the  first  time,  in  the  autumn  of  1850,  at  Cincinnati.  By  some 
fortuitous  inadvertence,  however,  no  provision  was  made,  at  that 
meeting,  for  the  adoption  of  a  Constitution  and  By-Laws  for  our 
government.  The  necessary  action  on  this  subject  will  now, 
therefore,  commend  itself  to  your  consideration. 

Your  attention  is  also  respectfully  solicited  to  the  expediency 
of  requiring  a  Pomological  Address  or  message  from  the  President, 
at  the  opening  of  every  Congressional  Session.  The  well-known 
intelligence  and  ability  of  many  of  the  members  of  the  Congress, 
give  ample  assurance  that  the  obligation  would  be  discharged,  in 
a  manner  eminently  instructive  and  profitable.  Among  the  many 
interesting  and  important  Pomological  topics,  that  would  come 
within  the  legitimate  scope  of  such  an  Address,  may  be  mention- 
ed : — A  condensed  view  of  the  progress  of  our  science  during  the 
preceding  biennial  cycle  ;  suggestions  and  recommendations  de- 
signed to  increase  the  efficiency  of  our  combined  efforts  to  promote 
the  great  objects  of  our  Association  ;  obituary  notices  of  distin- 
guished Pomologists  ;  observations  on  manures — the  proper  period 
and  most  advantageous  mode  of  applying  them — the  kinds  best 
adapted  to  the  different  species  of  fruit — and  the  circumstances  and 
requirements  necessary  to  enable  plants  to  take  up  and  assimilate 
the  elementary  principles  that  are  essential  to  their  vitality  and 
growth  ;  researches  into  the  science  of  Vegetable  Histology,  of  late 
so  abundantly  enriched  by  the  wonderful  developments  of  the 
microscope ;  remarks  on  the  offices  and  functions  of  the  various 
organic  structures  of  plants,  and  the  pathological  appearances  at- 
tending their  abnormal  condition  ;  an  investigation  into  the  decline 
and  even  entire  extinction  of  certain  fruits  once  renowned  for 
their  excellence,  in  order  to  determine,  if  practicable,  how  far 
this  deterioration  is  justly  attributable  to  the  several  causes  usually 
assigned  in  explanation  of  the  fact,  especially  those  which  refer 
it  to  an  exhaustion  from  the  soil  of  one  or  more  of  the  inorganic 
elements  indispensable  to  their  physical  perfection — to  the  agency 


of  thermometric  or  other  meteorological  phenomena — and  to  the 
existence  of  an  innate  constitutional  tendency  in  all  varieties,  soon- 
er or  later,  to  decay. 

The  timely  appointment  of  a  Standing  Committee  on  Seedling 
Fruits,  clothed  with  some  special  powers,  is  also  worthy  of  your 
consideration.  The  National  Congress  of  Fruit-Growers  and  the 
North  American  Pomological  Convention,  severally  called  into 
requisition  a  temporary  or  provisional  committee  on  this  subject. 
But,  in  more  than  one  instance,  it  was  not  constituted  till  near  the 
close  of  the  proceedings  of  those  bodies.  Even  under  the  most 
favorable  circumstances,  the  time  allotted  was  not  sufficient  for 
it  to  make  a  thoroughly  satisfactory  examination  of  the  specimens 
placed  on  the  tables.  An  early  organization  of  the  committee,  by 
enabling  it  to  enter  on  its  appropriate  duties  at  the  opening  of  the 
Session,  would  insure  a  more  complete  and  accurate  report.  But, 
as  occasionally  happens  at  other  Horticultural  Displays,  Seedling 
Fruits  may  be  exhibited  before  they  have  attained  their  perfect 
maturity.  Concerning  the  merits  of  these,  however  intrinsically 
valuable  they  may  be,  no  definite  judgment  can  be  formed  by  the 
committee,  unless  invested  with  a  more  permanent  and  extended 
jurisdiction.  By  conferring  on  it  authority  to  act,  not  only  while 
the  Congress  is  in  session,  but  also  during  its  vacation,  such  seed- 
lings, and  others  that  might  be  forwarded  for  examination  or  come 
in  any  way  under  the  cognizance  of  the  committee,  could  be  sub- 
jected to  a  careful  scrutiny,  and  a  record  made  of  the  result  in  an 
ad  interim  Report.  Native  fruits  of  merit  would,  probably,  in  this 
way,  be  brought  into  notice,  that  otherwise  might  long  remain  in 
obscurity,  or  perhaps  be  permitted  to  perish  unrecognized  and  un- 
revealed. 

In  order  that  the  Reports  of  the  State  Fruit  Committees  may 
possess  greater  interest  and  value,  and  convey  a  true  and  just 
conception  of  the  Horticultural  condition  of  their  respective  Dis- 
tricts, I  would  suggest  to  every  Pomologist  the  propriety  of  co- 
operating with  the  committee,  within  whose  bounds  he  may  re- 
side, by  communicating  to  it  such  important  facts  as  are  in  his 
possession.  These  facts  may  embrace  information  in  regard  to 
the  kinds  of  fruit  cultivated  in  his  vicinity,  and  their  period  of  ma- 
turity ;  the  varieties  that  succeed  well  with  him  ;  those  that,  on  a 


partial  trial,  are  promising  ;  the  kinds  not  adapted  to  his  locality  ; 
the  diseases  and  casualties  to  which  they  are  peculiarly  liable ; 
the  qualities  of  his  soil ;  his  mode  of  culture  ;  the  destructive 
insects  prevalent  in  his  region,  and  the  most  effectual  means  known 
to  him  of  counteracting  their  depredations  ;  the  best  mode  of  ma- 
turing fruits  and  preserving  them  from  decay  ;  interesting  Pomo- 
logical  reminiscences  ;  meteorological  observations,  &c. 

A  thorough  examination  of  the  Horticultural  resources  of  each 
State,  chiefly  with  the  view  of  developing  its  native  Pomology,  is 
earnestly  recommended  to  the  several  State  Committees.  Various 
portions  of  our  widely  extended  domain  have  given  origin  to  many 
fine  fruits,  possessing,  for  the  most  part,  a  greater  constitutional 
adaptation  to  the  peculiar  exigencies  of  our  climate  than  those  that 
are  exotic.  Some  have  long  been  familiar  to  us,  and  are  now  ex- 
tensively disseminated  at  home  and  abroad.  Explorations  of  a 
recent  date  have  also  revealed  to  us  other  indigenous  varieties 
equally  valuable,  which  were  previously  wholly  unknown,  except 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their  original  locality.  These  inves- 
tigations, however,  have  hitherto  been  prosecuted  only  to  a  very 
limited  extent.  Indeed,  so  little  has  been  done,  in  this  respect, 
in  many  parts  of  the  country,  that  some  of  the  States  of  our  Con- 
federacy, so  far  as  their  native  Pomology  is  concerned,  are  virtu 
ally  lands  unknown. 

And  now,  gentlemen,  with  painful  emotions  I  advert  to  a  recent 
appalling  and  heart-rending  catastrophe,  which  terminated  so  sor- 
rowfully the  earthly  career  of  one  of  our  ablest  and  most  efficient 
members.  The  overwhelming  announcement,  that  A.  J.  Downing 
was  among  the  victims  of  the  lamentable  disaster  to  the  Henry 
Clay,  on  the  28th  of  July,  startled  the  country  with  a  sudden  and 
affecting  appreciation  of  his  rare  abilities,  and  great  services  in  the 
expansion  and  elevation  of  those  pursuits  most  immediately  connect- 
ed with  the  happiness  of  the  human  race ;  and  impressed  all  in- 
telligent classes,  and  in  an  especial  manner  those  devoted  to  hor- 
ticulture, with  a  profound  and  melancholy  sense  of  the  calamity 
which  the  community  has,  in  this  afflictive  dispensation,  sustained. 
Suavity,  sincerity,  magnanimity,  and  kindness,  were  among  the  prom- 
inent traits  of  Mr.  Downing's  character  that  endeared  him  to  those 
with  whom  he  was  on  terms  of  intimacy.    He  possessed,  as  you  all 


8 

know,  a  classically  moulded  intellect  of  a  high  order — an  imagination 
vivid  and  brilliant — a  taste  pre-eminently  characterised  by  purity, 
elegance,  and  refinement — a  judgment  sound  and  discriminating — 
and  a  thoroughly  practical  and  philosophic  acquaintance  with  all 
subjects  connected  directly  or  collaterally  with  horticulture.  His 
vigorous  and  comprehensive  mind  was  richly  stored  with  varied  and 

//  useful  knowledge,  drawn  from  every  department  of  the  physical 
sciences,  and  highly  embellished  with  the  choicest  treasures  of 
/        literature.     His   views  and  feelings  were  ever  truly  American  ; 
\        and  triumphantly  have  his  writings  vindicated  the  horticultural 
I         claims  of  his  countrymen.     The  numerous  and  able  productions 
I         of  his  pen  have  also  largely  contributed  to  the  advancement  of 
I         Pomology  in  the  United   States,   and  materially  aided  in  diffu- 
sing  among   us   a   refined   and   elevated   taste  for  horticultural 
avocations,  rural  architecture,  and  landscape  gardening.     During 
the  course  of  Mr.   Downing's  useful   career,   we   watched   his 
labors  with  interest  and  his  triumphs  with  pride,   and  honored 
the   diversified    abilities   and    genial  enthusiasm  that  conferred 
benefits  so  inestimable  on  rural  life  ;  that  elevated  and  improved 
every  branch  of  its  economy,  and  gave  an  ampler  affluence,  and  a 
more  luxurious  value  to  the  bounties  of  nature ;  that  imparted  varie- 
ty to  abundance,  added  elegance  to  comfort,  and  threw  a  new  and 
m-agie"  charm  over  country  enjoyment,  by  refining  its  occupations 
into  grace,  and  softening  its  aspect  into  beauty.     In  his  death,  we 
mourn  a  bereavement  that  has  torn  from  us  a  valued  friend,  an 
able  colleague,  a  diligent  and  honored  associate;  that  has  de- 
prived horticulture  of  its  brightest  ornament,  and  the  country  at 
large  of  one  of  its  least  obtrusive  but  most  efficient  benefactors. 

The  national  reputation  of  our  deceased  fellow-member,  his  ex- 
alted position,  rare  attainments,  sterling  integrity,  and  many  vir- 
tues, not  only  demand  this  brief  tribute  to  his  memory,  but  require 
from  a  far  abler  pen,  a  worthier  and  more  eloquent  commemora- 
tion. Believing  that  I  acted  in  full  accordance  with  your  wishes, 
although  it  involved  an  assumption  of  authority  not  delegated  to 
me,  but  which,  I  trust,  will  receive  your  approval,  I  extended  to 
his  intimate  friend,  the  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  an  official  invi- 
tation to  prepare,  and  deliver  before  the  Congress,  an  Eulogy  on  the 
life,  character,  and  services  of  our  lamented  colleague.     The  invi- 


9 

tation  was  promptly  and  kindly  accepted,  as  you  will  perceive  by 
the  accompanying  documents  containing  the  correspondence  that 
passed  between  us. 

'  Other  melancholy  intelligence  has  also  reached  us.  The  Hon. 
Isaac  Hill,  late  Governor  of  New  Hampshire,  and  chairman  of  the 
Fruit  Committee  of  that  State,  Dr.  Samuel  A.  Barker,  a  well- 
known,  zealous,  and  successful  fruit  cultivator,  and  member  of  the 
State  Fruit  Committee  of  Ohio,  and  Dr.  Virgil  M.  Dow,  an  active 
and  prominent  member  and  officer  of  the  New  Haven  County  Hor- 
ticultural, and  the  New  Haven  Pomological  Societies,  as  well  as 
chairman  of  the  State  Fruit  Committee  of  Connecticut,  have  gone 
to  their  final  resting  place,  since  the  last  meeting  of  the  American 
Pomological  Congress. 

Afflictive  dispensations  must  necessarily  be  encountered  by  usj 
in  our  passage  through  life.  An  ever  kind  and  beneficent  Provi- 
dence, however,  is  unceasingly  smoothing  their  asperities,  by  dis- 
pensing to  us,  individually  and  socially,  innumerable  blessings. — 
Although  our  sorrowful  feelings  and  human  sympathies  constrain 
us  deeply  to  lament  and  deplore  the  irreparable  loss  of  such  able 
co-laborers  as  Downing,  Hill,  Barker,  and  Dow,  yet  have  we 
abundant  cause  for  an  expression  of  gratitude,  on  account  of 
another  circumstance  which  we  all  anxiously  and  ardently  de- 
sired. A  propitious  season  has  supplied  us  with  a  profusion  of 
choice  fruits  from  all  parts  of  our  country.  Some  of  these  are 
now  seen,  by  many  of  us,  for  the  first  time.  With  unfeigned 
pleasure,  therefore,  I  tender  to  you  my  sincere  and  cordial  con- 
gratulations, on  our  being  pefmitted  to  assemble,  on  this  occa- 
sion, under  circumstances  peculiarly  favorable  to  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  purposes  for  which  we  are  convened. 

In  conclusion,  allow  me  to  express  an  earnest  and  fervent  hope 
that  our  discussions  may  be  carried  on  harmoniously;  and  our  de- 
liberations be  so  imbued  with  wisdom,  science,  and  enlightened 
experience,  as  necessarily  to  exercise  a  marked  and  controlling 
agency  in  promoting  the  onward  career  of  Pomology. 


2 


10 

The  President's  Address  was  received  with  enthusiastic  ap- 
plause. 

The  Hon.  B.  V.  French,  of  Massachusetts,  then  obtained  the 
floor  and  said — Mr.  President,  up  to  Saturday,  the  time  I  arrived 
in  this  city,  I  had  received  no  intimation  that  it  was  your  intention 
to  decline  a  re-election  to  the  Presidency  of  this  Institution  ;  but, 
on  the  other  hand,  gentlemen  in  every  quarter  looked  to  you,  as 
the  individual  of  all  others,  who  should  receive  this  distinguished 
honor.  And  it  was  with  sincere  regret,  sir,  the  announcement 
came  to  me,  and  all  around  me,  that  you  were  sincere  in  your  de- 
termination to  retire  from  the  presidential  chair.  After  an  inter- 
view with  you,  I  ascertained  for  a  certainty  that  it  would  be  in- 
compatible with  your  professional  duties  to  serve  another  term. 
And,  gentlemen  of  this  Convention,  while  Dr.  Brinckle  declines 
being  a  candidate  for  our  highest  office,  you  will  have  the  best 
services  he  can  bestow  on  the  cause  in  which  we  are  at  present 
engaged. 

In  order  to  facilitate  business,  Mr.  President,  I  move  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  committee  of  five  to  report  a  list  of  officers  for  the 
ensuing  biennial  term.  The  motion  was  seconded  and  unani- 
mously carried. 

The  President  asked,  how  shall  your  committee  be  constituted  ? 

Voices — by  the  chair. 

The  following  gentlemen  were  then  announced  as  composing 
the  committee  : 

Hon.  B.  V.  French,  Massachusetts  ;  P.  Barry,  New  York ;  A. 
H.  Ernst,  Ohio;  General  Patterson, Pennsylvania;  E.  Tatnall,jr., 
Delaware. 

During  the  absence  of  the  committee  appointed  to  nominate 
officers,  the  President  requested  the  Secretaries  to  read  the  list  of 
delegates,  and  desired  those  that  were  present  to  answer  to  their 
names.     The  gentlemen  present  responded  ; 

Maine. — Fruit  Committee. — Steph.  E.  Goodale,  Ezek.  Holmes^ 
Benjamin  F.  Nourse,  Alexander  Johnson,  jr. 

Massachusetts. — Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society. — Hon, 
J.  S.  Cabot,  Hon.  Samuel  Walker,  Hon.  B.  V.  French,  Hon.  M, 
P.  Wilder,  C.  M.  Hovey,  Cheever  Newhall,  A.  D.  WilUams. 

Connecticut. — Mew  Haven  County  Horticultural  Society. — 0, 
F.  Winchester,  E.  E.  Clarke. 


11 

New  York. — JVem  York  State  Agricultural  Society. — Benjamin 
Hodge,  A.  Saul.  Buffalo  Horticultural  Society.  Jno.  B.  Eaton, 
Isaac  F.  Bryant,  Wm.  R.  Coppuck,  Wm.  R.  Manley,  Benjamin 
Hodge,  Lewis  F.  Allen,  Charles  Taintor.  Flushing.  Wm.  R. 
Prince.  Columbia  County  Agricultural  Society.  E.  G.  Studley, 
S.  K.  Hogeboom.  Albany  and  Renssalaer  Horticultural  Society. 
Louis  Menand,  C.  P.  Williams.  Staten  Island.  Frederick  01m- 
stead.  JVew  York  Horticultural  Society.  Wm.  Reid,  S.  B.  Par- 
sons, R.  B.  Parsons,  Townend  Glover,  Thomas  Hogg,  jr.,  J.  E. 
Ranch,  Alfred  Bridgeman,  Francis  Briell.  Genesee  Valley  Horti- 
cultural Society.  J.  J.  Thomas,  H.  P.  Norton,  A.  Frost,  Joseph 
Frost,  George  H.  Cherry,  James  H.  Watts,  Zera  Burr,  P.  Barry. 
JYiagara  County  Horticultural  Society.  William  P.  Townsend. 
JYewburgh.     Charles  Downing. 

New  Jersey. — JYew  Jersey  Horticultural  Society. — H.  W.  S. 
Cleveland,  R.  S.  Field,  Thomas  Lavender,  J.  J.  Mapes,  J.  W. 
Hayes,  George  B.  Deacon,  David  Petitt.  JYewark.  Samuel  J. 
Gusiin.  Salem  Agricultural  and  Hoi'ticultural  Society.  Dr.  Q. 
Gibbon,  R.  P.  Thompson,  Samuel  Abbott,  Dr.  J.  H.  Thompson, 
Wm.  B.  Otis,  Thomas  Shourds,  James  M.  Hannah,  Emmor  Reeve, 
J.  Ingham,  Thomas  Sinnickson,  Benjamin  Acton,  jr.  Burlington 
County  Agricultural  Society.  Peter  V.  Coppuck,  Samuel  Burtis, 
Benjamin  B.  Woodward,  Dr.  Charles  Ridgway,  George  B. 
Deacon. 

Pennsylvania. —  State  Fruit  Committee. — Thomas  P.  James; 
Dr.  J.  K.  Eshleman,  Chester  county;  A.  W.  Corson,  Montgomery 
county;  Wm.  G.  Waring,  Centre  county,  and  David  Miller,  jr., 
Cumberland  county.  Chester  County  Horticultural  Society.  J. 
C.  Baldwin,  Paschal  Morris,  Thomas  Harvey,  Rev.  J.  B.  Clemson, 
Alexander  Marshall,  David  Townsend,  Joshua  Embree,  Dr.  Geo. 
Thomas.  Chester  county.  Jno.  J.  Monaghan.  Catawissa^  Columbia 
County.  Wm.  J.  Eyer.  Berks  County  Agricultural  Society.  Dr. 
J.  P.  Heister,  David  Schall,  A.  F.  Boas,  Thomas  Penrose, 
Charles  Kessler,  Gen.  W.  H.  Keim,  Henry  S.  Kupp,  Adam  Leize, 
Solomon  Kirby,  Wm.  D.  Hains,  Dr.  P.  G.  Bartolett,  Wm.  Knabb, 
Samuel  Zieber,  J.  T.  James,  Jacob  S.  Ebling,  Ezra  Griesemer, 
Herman  Beard.  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society.  General 
Patterson,  Caleb  Cope,  Thomas  Hancock,  David  Landreth,  E. 
W.  Keyser,  P.   Mackenzie,  Dr.  Robert  Hare,  Isaac  B.  Baxter, 


12 

Robert  Buist,  T.  P.  James,  J.  E.  Mitchell,  James  D.  Fulton,  Dr. 
Thomas  McEuen,  J.  R.  Brinckle,  Edward  Harris,  John  Perkins, 
Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle.  Lancaster  County  Fruit  Committee.  J.  B. 
Garber,  Jacob  Frantz,  Daniel  Rhoads,  Casper  Hiller,  A.  M.  Span- 
gler,  Frederick  Hiller.  Philadelphia  Society  for  Promoting  Jlgri- 
culture.  Anthony  T.  Newbold,  George  Blight,  A.  L.  Kennedy, 
Jno.  S.  Haines.  Montgomery  County  Agricultural  Society.  Alan 
W.  Corson,  H.  N.  Wickersham,  Peter  Weaver,  Robert  Iredell, 
Peter  Kuser,  Samuel  W.  Gumbes,  Peter  C.  Evans,  Wm.  Barton. 
Delaware  County  Institute.  John  Evans,  Jacob  Painter,  J.  Hewes, 
Thomas  Pratt,  James  Andrews. 

Delaware. — Delaware  Horticultural  Society. — E.  Tatnall,  jr., 
Dr.  H.  F.  Askew,  E.  Bringhurst,  George  Sayers,  Thomas  Stapler, 
Jno.  Gorgas,  Wm.  Canby,  Dr.  J.  F.  Wilson,  Ashton  Richardson. 

Maryland. — Horticultural  Society  of  Maryland. — Samuel 
Feast,  Sr.,  E.  Rusling,  Wm.  C.  Wilson,  Wm.  Corse,  N.  Popplien. 

District  of  Columbia. — Joshua  Pierce,  W.  D.  Brackenridge, 
J.  P.  Klingle,  Jno.  F.  Callan,  Thomas  Blagden,  Jno.  A.  Smith. 

Virginia. — Loudon  County  Agricultural  Society. — Oliver  Tay- 
lor.    Fredericksburg.     H.  R.  Robey. 

Ohio. —  Ohio  State  Pomological  Society. — A.  H.  Ernst,  Dr.  J. 
G.  Jones,  Dr.  J.  A.  Warder,  M.  Kelley,F.  R.  Elliott.  Cincinnati 
Horticultural  Society.  A.  H.  Ernst,  Stephen  Mosher,  Michael 
Kelley,  Dr.  J.  A.  W^arder.  Columbus  Horticultural  Society.  John 
Miller,  Dr.  J.  G.  Jones,  Lucien  Buttles. 

Kentucky. — Kentucky  Horticultural  Society. — Lawrence  Young, 
Ormsby  Hite,  H.  P.  Byram,  Arthur  Peter,  Jno.  P.  Morton. 

Georgia. — Southern  Central  Agricultural  Society. — Richard 
Peters,  Atalanta. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  nominate  officers,  now  made  the 
following  Report : 

President. — Honorable  M.  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusetts. 

Vice-Presidents. — Caleb  Cope,  of  Pennsylvania ;  A.  H.  Ernst, 
of  Ohio;  S.  L.  Goodale,  of  Maine;  Col.  B.  Hodge,  New  York; 
Lawrence  Young,  Kentucky. 

Corresponding  Secretary. — Thomas  P.  James,  Philadelphia. 

Recording  Secretaries. — F.  R.  Elliott,  Ohio*  James  H. 
Watts,  New  York. 


13 

Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle. — Gentlemen,  you  have  heard  the  Report 
of  the  Committee,  what  order  will  you  take  on  it. 

A  motion  was  made  and  seconded,  that  it  be  adopted,  which 
was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

The  President-elect,  on  being  conducted  to  the  chair  by  the 
Hon.  B.  V.  French,  of  Massachusetts,  and  General  Robert  Patter- 
son, of  Pennsylvania,  was  warmly  received  and  cordially  con- 
gratulated by  the  ex-President. 

The  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  on  assuming  the  duties  of  the 
Presidency,  made  the  following  remarks : 

Gentlemen  :  Before  we  proceed  further,  permit  me  to  tender  to 
you  my  grateful  acknowledgments  and  thanks  for  the  distinction 
you  have  conferred  upon  me,  in  electing  me  as  your  presiding 
officer.  It  was  my  fortune,  in  connection  with  gentlemen  whom 
I  see  around  me,  to  have  taken  a  leading  part  in  the  organization 
of  the  "  National  Convention  of  Fruit  Growers."  I  had  the 
honor,  also,  to  preside  at  its  first  and  second  sessions,  and  I  did 
not  expect  that  the  present  high  office  would  be  tendered  to  me 
again. 

Your  favor  and  regard  has  placed  me  in  this  chair,  a  position 
worthy  of  the  ambition  of  a  man  much  better  qualified  than  my- 
self to  take  charge  of  the  deliberations  of  this  intelligent  and 
enlightened  assembly.  I  therefore  feel  deeply  sensible  of  the  ob- 
ligations which  rest  upon  me,  and  for  these  renewed  manifestations 
of  your  confidence  and  respect ;  and  I  assure  you  of  my  earnest 
desire  to  discharge  the  duties  of  this  office  with  impartiality  and 
fidelity.  I  much  regret  that  the  distinguished  gentleman  who 
has  just  vacated  this  chair,  could  not  be  prevailed  on  to  occupy  it 
for  a  longer  term,  and  to  discharge  those  important  offices  which 
he  has  so  appropriately  laid  down  as  relevant  to  the  duties  of 
President. 

Gentlemen,  permit  me  to  tender  to  you  my  thanks  again,  and  to 
say  that  I  will  serve  you  with  as  much  ability  as  I  possess.  It  is 
not  proper  for  me  at  this  moment  to  proceed  with  further  remarks. 
I  beg,  however,  your  indulgence  in  the  discharge  of  the  duties  of 
the  chair,  and  I  ask  your  permission  to  join  in  the  discussion  of 
any  topic  that  may  present  itself. 

The  gentleman's  remarks,  and  acceptance  of  the  office  of  Presi- 
dent, were  received  with  enthusiasm  and  applause. 


14 

Mr.  Newall,  of  Mass. — I  beg  leave  to  offer  the  following  reso- 
tion : 

Resolved,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Association  be  presented  to 
Dr.  Wm.  D.  Brinckle,  for  the  satisfactory  and  able  manner  he  has 
discharged  the  duties  of  President  for  the  past  two  years,  and  also 
for  the  interest  he  has  taken  in  providing  ample  accommodation 
for  the  present  session. 

The  resolution  was  seconded  and  unanimously  adopted. 

Hon.  J.  S.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  It  seems  to  me,  Mr.  Pre- 
sident, that  in  view  of  a  recent  occurrence,  a  duty  has  devolved  upon 
this  Convention  that  though  not  wholly  foreign  from  its  purposes, 
is  yet  somewhat  out  of  the  usual  routine  of  its  business.  This 
duty  is  of  a  somewhat  melancholy  character  because  it  must  ne- 
cessarily awaken  a  sad  recollection  ;  but  it  is  one  that  I  feel  cer- 
tain this  assembly  will  readily  fulfil,  as  it  requires  but  a  merited 
tribute  of  respect  to  the  memory  of  one  to  whom  we  must  all  feel 
ourselves  under  obligation. 

We  are,  sir,  all  aware  of  the  recent  catastrophe  on  the  Hudson 
River,  when  the  Steamer  H.  Clay  was  destroyed  by  fire,  and  many 
valuable  lives  sacrificed.  And  we,  too,  are  all  aw^are  that  among 
those  who  then  perished  was  one  who  had  done  much  to  promote 
the  objects  that  have  now  called  us  together.  Cut  off* in  the  midst 
of  his  usefulness,  in  the  full  vigor  of  manhood — with  his  faculties 
not  having  yet  even  approached  their  culminating  point — sur- 
rounded by  his  friends,  and  almost  in  sight  of  the  home  that  he 
loved.     I  need  not  say  that  I  refer  to  A.  J.  Downing. 

It  is  not  for  me  here,  sir,  to  pronounce  the  Eulogy  of  Mr.  Down- 
ing. Suifice  it  to  say  that  he  was  a  man  who  to  strong  natural 
powers,  brought  the  aid  of  a  highly  cultivated  intellect,  and  to  a 
genuine  appreciation  of  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art — that  of  a 
taste  refined  by  the  study  of  the  most  classic  models.  These  high 
endowments  and  attainments  enabled  Mr.  D.  to  do  more  towards 
moulding  the  public  taste — to  encourage  the  love  of  Horticultural 
pursuits,  and  disseminate  a  knowledge  of  Horticultural  Science, 
than  almost  any  other  individual.  And  although  upon  that  ill-fated 
ship  many  perished  whose  loss  made  many  a  happy  home  sorrow- 
ful, many  a  hearth  desolate,  who  themselves  were  centres  around 
which  all  the  kindly  and  gentle  affections  clustered  ;  who  were  the 
stay  and  support  of  those  bound  to  them  by  domestic  ties,  and 


15 

who,  in  the  communities  among  whom  they  dwelt,  were  objects  of 
affection  and  respect ;  yet  still  I  feel,  sir,  that  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  among  those  who  thus  perished  there  was  no  one  who 
will  be  more  sincerely  mourned — no  one  whose  loss  will  be  more 
widely  felt,  than  A.  J.  Downing. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society,  held 
soon  after  the  occurrence  of  this  catastrophe,  resolutions  were 
passed  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  loss  entertained  by  its  mem- 
bers, and  also  that  at  some  fitting  time  and  place  an  Eulogy  should 
be  delivered  on  Mr.  Downing.  The  Society  having  passed  these 
resolutions,  as  its  organ  I  addressed  your  late  President,  Dr.  Brinc- 
kle,  in  relation  to  them,  suggesting  to  him,  should  it  meet  with 
his  concurrence,  that  this  service  to  the  memory  of  Mr.  D.  should 
be  performed  at  this  time  and  place ;  and  he  has,  I  believe,  taken 
measures  to  carry  this  into  effect ;  and  now,  sir,  I  would  move  you 
that  a  committee  be  appointed  to  prepare  resolutions  expressive  of 
the  sense  of  the  members  of  this  Convention  at  the  loss  that  they 
have  sustained,  and  adopt  such  measures  in  relation  thereto  as  they 
may  think  proper. 

The  motion,  being  seconded,  was  unanimously  carried ;  and  the 
following  gentlemen  were  appointed  on  the  committees  Messrs. 
Cabot,  Massachusetts  ;  Hancock,  New  Jersey  ;  Cope,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  Warder,  Ohio ;  and  Hodge,  New  York. 

The  President — Will  you  allow  the  chair  to  suggest  that  the 
appointment  of  a  Business  Committee  is  important;  and  if  it  meets 
your  views  you  take  measures  to  have  such  a  committee  appointed. 

The  suggestion  was  adopted,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were 
chosen  to  constitute  the  committee  :  Messrs.  J.  J.  Thomas,  New 
York ;  Samuel  Walker,  Massachusetts ;  A.  H.  Ernst,  Ohio ;  H. 
W.  S.  Cleveland,  New  Jersey ;  and  J.  Pierce,  District  Columbia. 

The  Business  Committee  reported  for  the  action  of  the  Congress 
the  following  subjects : 

1.  To  revise  the  list,  recommended  by  the  former  session  of  the 
Congress,  for  general  cultivation. 

2.  To  revise  the  list  of  rejected  varieties. 

3.  To  recommend  such  varieties  as  are  worthy  of  general  cul- 
tivation, or  adapted  to  particular  localities. 

4.  To  add  to  the  rejected  list  such  as  are  unworthy  of  cultiva- 
tion. 


16 

5.  To  appoint  a  temporary  committee  of  seven  on  synonyms, 
who  shall  sit  during  the  Convention. 

The  report  of  the  Business  Committee  was  unanimously  adopted, 
and  the  following  gentlemen  were  appointed  to  constitute  the 
Committee  on  Synonyms :  Messrs.  Walker,  Massachusetts  ;  Hovey, 
Massachusetts ;  Barry,  New  York ;  Young,  Kentucky ;  Downing, 
New  York ;  Saul,  New  York ;  and  Ernst,  Ohio. 

The  President. — Those  gentlemen  who  have  not  presented  to 
the  secretaries  a  list  of  their  fruits,  will  be  kind  enough  to  do  so. 

Hon.  Samuel  Walker,  Massachusetts ; — The  Committee  on  Sy- 
nonyms, have  considered  the  subject  referred  to  them,  and  would 
report  (in  part),  that  they  recommend,  in  order  to  facilitate  their 
duties  for  further  action,  that  the  members  be  requested  to  place 
in  the  committee-room  specimens  of  all  fruits  of  which  they  have 
any  doubts  as  to  their  true  name. 

Mr.  Thomas  Hancock,  of  Burlington,  New  Jersey,  submitted 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

Resolved,  That  a  committee  of  five  be  appointed  to  report  a 
Constitution  and  By-Laws  for  our  government. 

The  following  named  gentlemen  were  constituted  the  committee: 
Messrs.  Hancock,  New  Jersey  ;  Dr.  Brinckle,  Pennsylvania;  Pe- 
ers, Georgia  ;  Barry,  New  York ;  Young,  Kentucky. 

CONSTITUTION  AND  BY-LAWS  OF  THE  NATIONAL 
POMOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

,     CONSTIUTION. 

Article  1.  The  name  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  National 
Pomologicol  Society. 

2.  Its  object  shall  be  the  advancement  of  the  Science  of  Po- 
mology. 

3.  It  shall  consist  of  Delegates  appointed  by  Horticultural,  Ag- 
ricultural, and  kindred  Societies  in  the  United  States  and  British 
America,  and  of  such  other  persons  as  take  an  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Association,  and  are  desirous  of  promoting  its  aims. 

4.  The  meetings  shall  be  held  biennially,  at  such  time  and  place 
as  may  be  designated  by  the  Society ;  and  special  meetings  may 
be  convened  at  any  time  on  the  call  of  the  President. 


17 

5.  The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  President,  one  Vice-President 
from  every  State,  Territory  and  Province  represented,  a  Treasurer 
and  a  Secretary ;  and  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  or  otherwise  at 
every  biennial  meeting. 

BY-LAWS. 

1.  The  President  shall  have  a  general  superintendence  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Society  during  its  vacation ;  giye  due  public  notice 
of  the  time  and  place  of  meeting;  preside  at  its  deliberations; 
deliver  an  address  on  some  subject  relating  to  Pomology,  at  every 
biennial  meeting ;  and  appoint  all  committees,  unless  otherwise 
directed. 

2.  In  case  of  the  death,  sickness,  or  inability  of  the  President, 
his  official  duties  shall  devolve  on  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  in  which  they  stand  on  the  minutes. 

3.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  belonging  to  the  So- 
ciety, and  pay  over  the  same  on  the  wTitten  orders  of  the  Pre- 
sident. 

4.  The  Secretary  shall,  w^ith  the  assistance  of  a  reporter  ap- 
pointed by  him,  keep  a  record  of  the  transactions  of  the  Society 
for  publication. 

5.  There  shall  be  an  executive  committee  of  five  members,  who 
shall  confer  wdth  the  President  and  assist  him  in  conducting  the 
affiiirs  of  the  Society  daring  its  vacation. 

6.  State  Fruit  Committees,  consisting  of  five  members  each,  for 
every  State,  Territory  and  Province  represented,  and  a  general 
chairman  over  all,  shall  be  appointed  biennially ;  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  several  State  Fruit  Committees  to  forward  to  the  gen- 
eral chairman,  one  month  before  every  biennial  meeting.  State  Po- 
mological  Reports,  to  be  condensed  by  him  for  publication. 

7.  A  Standing  Committee  on  Native  Fruits,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  immediately  after 
his  election.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  report  an- 
nually on  Native  Fruits,  and  also  to  examine,  and,  before  the  close 
of  the  session,  report  on  all  new  seedling  varieties  that  may  be 
exhibited,  and  to  make  an  ad  interim  report  on  those  that  were 
exhibited  in  an  unripe  condition  at  the  meeting  of  the  Society  ;  but 
had  subsequendy  attained  a  state  of  maturity ;  and  on  such  other 


18 

seedlings  as  may  have  been  submitted  to  their  inspection  during 
the  Society's  vacation. 

8.  A  standing  committee  on  Foreign  Fruits,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  shall  be  appointed,  whose  duties  shall  be  similar  to  the 
committee  in  by-law  seven. 

9.  A  standing  committee  on  synonyms,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  shall  be  appointed  biennially. 

10.  Vacancies  occurring  in  committees  shall  be  filled  by  the 
chairman  of  each,  and  in  case  of  his  death  or  inability  to  serve, 
his  place  shall  be  supplied  by  the  President  of  the  Society. 

11.  The  members  of  this  Society  shall  pay  two  dollars  bien- 
nially, and  twenty  dollars  paid  at  one  time  shall  constitute  one 
life-membership. 

12 — ORDER  OF  BUSINESS. 

1.  Credentials  of  Delegates  presented. 

2.  Address  of  the  President. 

3.  Election  of  Officers. 

4.  Reports  of  State  Fruit  Committees. 

5.  New  Business. 

13.  The  Constitution  and  By-Laws  may  be  altered  or  amended 
at  any  regular  biennial  meeting,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present. 

By  order  of  the  Committee. 

THOMAS  HANCOCK,  Chairman. 

Honorable  Mr.  French,  from  Massachusetts.  It  is  now  almost 
the  dining  hour,  and  I  suggest  whether  it  would  not  be  better  to 
leave  the  adoption  of  the  Constitution,  &c.  until  the  afternoon  ses- 
sion, when  it  can  be  read  once  more,  and  we  shall  then  under- 
stand more  fully  what  action  we  are  taking;  though,  for  my  own 
part,  I  see  nothing  in  it  whatever  that  is  at  all  objectionable. 

Honorable  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  chair  fully  concurs  with  the 
gentleman's  remarks,  and  further  suggests  that  the  Report  be  re- 
committed into  the  custody  of  the  Committee,  to  be  submitted 
again  for  more  due  consideration ;  which  course,  on  motion,  was 
adopted. 

The  President,     I  am  requested,  gentlemen,  to  give  notice  that 


19 

appropriate  ceremonies  in  relation  to  the  death  of  Mr.  Downing, 
will  take  place  this  evening,  at  the  Musical  Fund  Hall,  in  Locust 
street,  at  8  o'clock.  The  room  will  be  open  for  the  members  of 
the  Convention.  I  have  also  to  present  to  you  the  compliments 
of  the  ex-President,  Dr.  Brinckle,  who  authorizes  me  to  invite 
you  to  honor  him  with  your  company  at  his  residence,  335  Chest- 
nut street,  to-morrow  evening,  at  8  o'clock. 

Caleb  Cope,  Esq.  I  beg  leave,  also,  to  add,  that  all  members 
of  this  Convention  are  invited  to  pay  me  a  visit  at  my  place,  where 
they  will  find  a  table  provided  for  them,  with  a  full  opportunity  to 
see  the  grounds  connected  with  my  house,  in  my  absence  as  well 
as  when  I  am  present. 

Dr.  Brinckle  moved  an  adjournment  of  the  Convention  until 
4  o'clock,  P.  M.,  which  was  unanimously  carried. 

afternoon  session. 

The  President  called  the  meeting  to  order  at  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 

The  Constitution  and  By-Laws  of  the  National  Pomological 
Society  were  again  reported  by  the  Committee. 

Mr.  S.  B.  Parsons,  of  Long  Island.  I  will  move  that  the  adop- 
tion of  that  Constitution  be  deferred  until  to-morrow  afternoon, 
and  that  the  Printing  Committee  be  requested  to  have  it  put  in 
type  in  order  that  each  member  may  have  a  copy  of  the  same,  and 
thereby  be  the  better  enabled  to  express  his  opinion  upon  its  vari- 
ous points,  understandingly.  My  reason  is  that  the  adoption  of 
the  Constitution  of  a  Society,  which  is  to  accomplish  such  vast 
results  as  this,  is  an  important  act,  and  I  see  no  reason  why  the 
business  of  the  Society  cannot  go  on  now  as  well  without  its 
adoption  as  with  it ;  and  members  will  then  have  a  better  oppor- 
tunity of  ascertaining  what  they  are  passing  upon. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  If  I  had  a  week  to  spare.  Sir, 
and  the  proposed  Constitution  could  be  printed  and  laid  upon  the 
table,  I  probably  should  consent  to  it,  but  as  we  have  a  great  deal 
of  business  before  us,  and  many  members  will,  I  have  no  doubt, 
wish  to  leave  the  city  to-morrow  morning  or  afternoon,  I  think  it 
will  be  better  to  take  the  question  now. 

Mr.  Hancock,  Burhngton,  New  Jersey.  As  far  as  I  am  con- 
cerned, I  think  we  had  better  adopt  the  Constitution  now.     For  if, 


20 

at  the  expiration  of  two  years,  it  does  not  coincide  with  our  views, 
it  can  be  altered,  and,  for  my  part,  I  am  willing  to  live  under  it 
during  that  space  of  time. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.     I  have  a  great  deal  of  faith  in 
the  Committee,  and  trust  the  gentleman  will  withdraw  his  motion. 
The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  would  move,  instead  of 
adopting  the  title  of  "  National  Pomological  Society,"  that  the 
caption  '^American  Pomological  Society,"  be  substituted. 

The  motion  was  seconded  and  unanimously  adopted.  The 
Constitution  and  By-Laws  were  then  adopted  with  the  alteration 
of  the  name. 

Honorable  Samuel  Walker,  Massachusetts.  In  relation  to  the 
first,  second,  third  and  fourth  articles  reported  by  the  Business 
Committee,  I  shall  make  no  motion,  but  shall  suggest,  merely,  that 
there  may  be  some  alteration  made  in  the  list  adopted  for  general 
cultivation.  I  will  suggest  the  propriety  of  cancelling  from  that 
list  the  "  Dearborn  Seedling."  I  am  ready  to  admit  that  when 
you  have  a  fine  large  specimen,  well  ripened,  it  has  very  few 
equals,  and  I  was  almost  about  to  say,  has  no  superiors.  I  have 
found  it,  however,  to  be  a  very  small  pear  as  regards  the  average 
crop,  and  not  well  fitted  for  the  market.  My  next  reason  is  that 
it  is  a  very  poor  grower,  and  in  order  to  get  fine  specimens  of  it, 
the  grafts  must  be  put  into  large  stocks,  say  from  twelve  to  twenty 
years  old,  then  it  must  be  very  well  cultivated.  I  make  these 
remarks  to  ascertain  the  experience  of  other  gentlemen  in  regard 
to  this  pear. 

Mr.  S.  B.  Parsons,  Flushing,  Long  Island.  I  am  sorry  the 
"  Dearborn  Seedling"  proves  so  bad  near  Boston.  With  us,  on 
Long  Island,  it  is  the  best  pear  of  the  season,  although  not  very 
large. 

Mr.  Hancock,  Burlington,  New  Jersey.  It  has  done  very  well 
with  me  for  the  last  six  years  ;  but  I  find  one  objection  to  it,  and 
that  is,  if  you  have  a  large  crop  the  pears  are  inferior.  For  my 
own  section  of  the  country,  I  hope  it  will  not  be  stricken  out ;  I 
speak  of  New  Jersey. 

Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  have  known  this  pear  six  or 
eight  years,  and  have  made  up  my  mind  to  strike  it  out  frorii  my  own 


21 

collection  for  two  years  past,  and  for  myself  move  it  be  stricken 
from  the  list. 

Mr.  Hayes,  of  New  Jersey.  I  have  found,  from  actual  experi- 
ence, that  it  has  been  more  profitable  to  raise  it  for  the  market,  this 
season,  than  any  other  early  pear,  and  I  am  very  much  opposed  to 
striking  out  pears  and  other  fruit  until  they  have  been  thoroughly 
tried.     I  trust  it  will  not  be  stricken  out. 

Mr.  EsHLEMAN,  of  Pennsylvania.  With  me  the  ^'  Dearborn 
Seedling"  in  the  interior  of  this  state  is  prolific  to  a  fault  and 
small,  but  as  good  as  anything  we  have  of  its  season. 

Honorable  B.  V.  French,  Massachusetts.  When  that  pear  first 
made  its  appearance  in  our  horticultural  rooms  I  thought  it  un- 
worthy, but  I  believe  I  shall  now  do  something  with  it.  How- 
ever, I  don't  think  much  of  any  early  pear  ;  but  notwithstanding, 
thouo^h  I  voted  against  its  admission,  I  shall  let  it  remain  in. 

Mr.  Ernst,  from  Ohio,  thought  little  of  the  pear,  and  said  that 
for  worse  pears,  in  his  estimation,  he  had  obtained  a  better  price. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  I  am  quite  surprised  to  hear,  that 
the  Honorable  gentleman  from  Massachusetts  recommends  that 
Dearborn  Seedling  should  be  stricken  out,  for  in  New  York  it  is 
a  good  pear. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I,  for  one,  am  opposed  to  going 
back,  and  taking  out  anything  we  have  already  recommended ; 
and  I  trust  we  shall  not,  during  this  Convention,  adopt  any  one 
fruit  for  general  cultivation  in  regard  to  which  there  is  the  slightest 
doubt.  I  always  am  opposed  to  retrograde  motion.  The  Dear- 
born Seedling  is  one  of  the  best  small  pears,  and  I  feel  it  my  duty 
to  say  a  word  in  favor  of  it.  It  is  a  full  medium-sized  pear,  and 
I  have  seen  specimens  from  Western  New  York  and  Massachu- 
setts, from  Utica  and  Rochester,  as  large  as  the  average  Seckels 
that  we  see.  We  had  better  let  it  remain  just  where  it  is.  It 
ripens  on  the  tree,  and  does  not  rot  at  the  core,  I  therefore,  trust 
it  will  not  be  removed  from  this  list. 

Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  am  glad  to  hear  good  reports 
of  it  from  diflferent  parts  of  the  country,  but  with  me  it  has  proved 
quite  indifferent,  and  I  w^as  glad  to  hear  the  Hon.  Mr.  Walker 
make  the  remarks  he  did  in  regard  to  it.  However,  seeing  so 
much  opposition,  I  withdraw  the  motion. 


22 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I  move  that  the  Duchess  D'Or- 
leans  be  added  to  the  List  for  general  cultivation.  I  know  it  is  a 
good  pear,  and  will  do  well  every  where.  The  pear  is  well  known 
around  Boston,  and  came  from  France,  with  a  high  reputation.  It 
is  large  in  size  and  delicious  in  flavor.  It  is  precisely  the  same  as 
the  Beurre  St.  Nicholas,  and  Mr.  Rivers  says  he  considers  it  fully 
equal  in  flavor  to  the  Bergamot. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  This  pear  has  proved  very  good  in 
our  locality,  but  we  hardly  know  enough  of  it,  to  recommend  that 
it  should  be  brought  into  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  had  the  Duchess 
D'Orleans  in  my  collection  for  three  or  four  years,  and  think  it 
should  be  annexed  to  the  List  of  pears  that  promise  well,  but  I 
have  no  doubt  it  will  find  its  way  upon  the  List  for  general  culti- 
vation when  better  known. 

The  President,  Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusetts.  On 
the  quince  it  is  not  a  good  grower  with  me ;  but  on  the  pear,  it  is, 
and  produces  a  fine  and  handsome  fruit.  It  has  not  been  with  me 
a  great  bearer,  although  I  have  a  pretty  fair  crop  this  year,  and 
perhaps  enough  for  the  tree.  I  should  judge  my  experience  does 
not  agree  with  that  of  Mr.  Manning,  who  has  called  it  great  bearer. 
But  as  regards  the  quality  and  beauty  of  the  fruit,  I  think  there 
can  be  no  doubt. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  We  have  tested  it  on  the  quince 
and  pear,  and  its  quality  is  very  fine,  and  I  believe  it  is  going  to 
be  one  of  the  finest  pears  for  cultivation.  I  think,  however,  it 
would  not  be  doing  the  pear  justice  at  the  present  time  to  put  it 
on  the  List  for  general  cultivation,  as  it  is  not  sufficiently  well 
known,  for  many  to  vote  understandingly  in  regard  to  it. 

It  was  agreed  that  the  Duchess  D'Orleans  remain  on  the  List  as 
promising  well. 

Mr.  Saul.  I  move  that  the  Brandywine  and  Chancellor  stand 
on  the  List  as  giving  promise  of  being  worthy. 

This  motion  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Harvey.  I  move  that  the  Doyenne  d'Ete,  be  placed  on 
the  List  for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  It  has  proved  to  be  an  exceedingly  beau- 
tiful fruit,  and  I  can  cheerfully  vote  for  it  as  far  as  my  experience 
goes. 


23 

Mr.  S.  B.  Parsons.  We  consider  it  in  Flushing  the  first  good 
pear. 

Mr.  Saul.     It  has  proved  to  be  one  of  the  very  best  small  pears. 

The  President.  I  enter  into  the  views  of  those  who  have 
already  spoken,  but  think  it  will  be  better  on  the  pear  than  on  the 
quince. 

Mr.  Hancock,  of  New  Jersey.  I  think  it  is  better  on  the  pear 
than  on  the  quince. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  It  don't  make  that  vigorous 
tree  on  the  quince  that  it  does  on  the  pear. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  From  such  a  mass  of  evi- 
dence in  favor  of  this  pear,  I  would  hardly  venture  to  say  that  I 
differ,  but  yet  I  cannot  be  silent.  It  does  not  strike  me  as  being 
so  delicious  as  represented,  and  on  the  quince  stock  it  is  decidedly 
a  poor  grower.  It  drops  its  fruit,  and  it  bears  rather  the  reverse 
character  to  a  first  rate  grower  with  me.  On  its  own  stock  it  does 
better  and  the  fruit  is  larger,  but  I  think  the  gentlemen  overrate 
the  pear ;  if  my  specimens  are  a  fair  sample  of  the  fruit,  I  venture 
to  say  that  in  two  or  three  years  hence  they  will  change  their  views 
of  the  matter.     I  hope  the  chair  will  give  his  opinion,  in  full. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  already  ex- 
pressed an  opinion,  that  on  the  pear  stock  it  is  a  desirable  variety, 
and  the  remarks  that  have  been  made  in  regard  to  it,  on  the 
quince,  correspond  with  my  own  experience.  It  should  be  picked 
before  the  season  of  its  ripening.  It  comes  at  a  period  when  there 
is  nothing  so  beautiful.  We  have  the  Madeleine  at  nearly  the 
same  time,  but  I  still  think  it  a  desirable  variety  in  rich  soils. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  The  impression  we  have  got  is, 
that  is  decidedly  the  best  early  pear.  At  Utica,  the  other  evening, 
there  was  a  small  Convention  of  fruit  growers,  and  they  decided, 
unanimously,  that  this  was  the  best  early  pear.  It  ripens  with  us 
before  the  Madeleine,  and  is  decidedly  better.  It  is  a  splendid 
grower  on  the  quince,  and  so  it  is  on  the  pear,  and  when  it  comes 
off  the  tree  it  is  full  of  juice  and  luscious. 

Mr.  Nourse,  of  Maine.     We  have  had  but  little  opportunity  to 
test  in  Maine,  but  it  is  there  regarded  as  the  best  pear,  and  is  con- 
sidered better  than  the  Madeleine.     It  ripens  about  the  same  time. 
It  was  decided  that  the  Doyenne  d'Ete  is  worthy  of  general 
cultivation. 


24 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  As  the  chair  intimated  he  might  join  in 
the  debate,  he  would  now  express  the  views  he  entertains  in  re- 
gard to  the  Beurre  d'Anjou  ;  and  there  will  be,  he  thinks,  a  unani- 
mous opinion  in  favor  of  recommending  it  for  general  cultivation. 
It  is  the  best  pear  I  have  imported  for  ten  years ;  it  grows  freer, 
and  grows  equally  well  on  the  quince  and  pear  stock,  and  is  a 
remarkably  hardy  and  delicious  fruit.  It  ripens  in  November,  and 
we  keep  it  until  January  and  February  of  the  next  year. 

Mr.  Hancock,  of  New  Jersey.  It  ripens  with  me  in  October ; 
I  think  it  is  a  most  valuable  pear,  and  a  strong  grower.  The  fruit 
is  very  fair,  and  is  distributed  throughout  the  tree  very  regularly. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I  agree  with  the  remarks  which 
have  been  made  in  relation  to  the  merits  of  this  pear.  With  me 
it  does  well  in  any  soil.  It  might  be  called  with  us  a  November 
pear,  and  it  may  be  kept  until  the  next  year. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  I  must  bear  testimony  to 
what  has  bt^en  said  in  favor  of  this  Pear,  and  it  has,  in  my  estima- 
tion, all  the  qualifications  of  a  first-rate  Pear. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.  If  any  gentleman  saw  it  grow- 
ing in  your  garden,  Mr.  President,  or  in  mine,  they  would  say 
that  it  was  the  very  tree  they,  would  like  to  have. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  What  has  been  said  in  regard  to  this 
Pear,  entirely  coincides  with  my  experience. 

The  Beurre  D'Anjou,  it  was  unanimously  agreed,  should  be 
placed  upon  the  list  as  worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Hovey,  of  Massachusetts.  I  would  propose  the  Man- 
ning's Elizabeth  as  worthy  of  general  cultivation.  It  is  a  great 
bearer  and  perfectly  delicious,  and  only  to  be  objected  to,  if  at  all, 
on  account  of  its  size. 

Mr.  Elliot,  of  Ohio.     I  would  ask  if  it  is  a  tardy  grower. 

Mr.  Hovey,  of  Massachusetts.     Yes,  Sir. 

Mr.  Hancock,  of  New  Jersey.  I  have  tried  it  for  four  or  five 
years.  It  is  a  great  grower,  and  is  considered  among  the  best 
pears  in  our  locality,  though  not  very  large. 

Mr.  Hovey,  of  Massachusetts.  I  had  no  idea  it  was  so  exten- 
sively grown. 

It  was  agreed,  that  Manning's  Elizabeth  remain  where  it  is, 
among  those  that  promise  well. 


25 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  1  call  on  Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts, 
for  his  opinion  of  the  Brande's  St.  Germaine. 

Mr.  Cabot.  I  don't  think  it  is  one  worthy  of  cultivation,  gen- 
erally ;  last  year  I  had  not  one  on  my  trees,  but  the  year  before 
they  were  very  good. 

This  pear  it  was  voted  should  remain  on  the  list  of  those  that 
promise  well.     The  same  disposition  was  made  of  the  Pratt  pear. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  the  Ott  pear  be  placed 
on  the  list  of  those  worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  of  Philadelphia.  The  Ott  pear  is  at  this 
meeting.  Having  had  an  opportunity  of  tasting  it  for  four  succes- 
sive years,  I  have  no  hesitation  in  stating  that  I  consider  it  the  best 
summer  pear  known.  It  has  the  full  seckel  flavor,  and  ripens  one 
month  earlier  than  that  variety.  The  specimens  now  before  you 
have  been  kept  in  the  fruit-preserver,  to  give  you  a  correct  idea  of 
its  size,  form,  and  color.  Its  period  of  maturity  is  the  middle  of 
August. 

Mr.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  Some  pears  that  Dr.  Brinckle 
showed  me  last  season  in  Philadelphia  that  were  fine,  do  not  suc- 
ceed at  all  in  Western  New  York ;  and  there  are  some  pears  here 
that  we  know  nothing  about  there.  The  Ott  has  not  yet  fruited 
with  me.  The  question  was  then  put,  and  the  motion  decided 
affirmatively,  by  a  majority  of  two  votes. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  I  move  a  reconsideration  of  the 
vote.  I  think  it  better  to  let  it  continue  among  those  that  promise 
well,  than  to  have  it  placed,  by  so  close  a  vote,  in  the  list  of  those 
worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

The  question  was  reconsidered,  and  it  was  decided  unanimously 
that  the  Ott  pear  should  remain  where  it  was  before  the  discussion, 
until  it  is  more  extensively  known. 

Mr.  HovEY.  I  move  the  Ananas  d'Ete  remain  where  it  now 
is,  as  promising  well. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  consider  it  one  of  the  best  pears 
of  the  season.  It  ripens  about  the  same  time  with  the  Bartlett, 
though  its  texture  is  finer,  I  would  prefer  it  for  eating,  and  I  think 
it  worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Elliott,  of  Ohio.  I  wish  to  say  a  word  in  favor  of  this 
pear,  and  am  so  partial  to  it,  that  I  am  willing  it  should  go  upon 
the  list  for  general  cultivation. 


26 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  It  is  one  of  the  very  best  growers 
on  quince  stock. 

Mr.  HovEY.     Let  it  stand  where  it  is. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  I  think  it  promises  well,  and  should 
be  glad  to  let  it  remain  where  it  is. 

Mr.  Olmstead,  of  Staten  Island.  I  find  it  cracks  with  me 
very  much. 

Mr.  Elliott,  of  Ohio.  I  would  ask  if  it  is  not  disposed  to 
overbear,  and  the  tree  become  thick  and  stunted. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  My  estimate  of  its  value  would  not  be 
satisfactory,  perhaps,  when  compared  with  that  of  gentlemen  from 
the  west. 

Mr.  Walker,  or  Massachusetts.  I  find  it  cracks  somewhat, 
but  many  things  may  be  said  in  favor  of  it. 

Mr.  Saul's  motion  prevailed,  and  the  Ananas  d'Ete  was  placed 
on  the  list  for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  I  move  that  the  Van  Assene  pear  remain 
w^here  it  is. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I  would  say,  for  the  informa- 
tion of  gentlemen  who  do  not  know  the  fact,  that  the  present  year 
I  have  seen  it  under  two  different  names,  the  Vanaees  and  Van 
Asshe.  It  is  of  good  size  and  beautifully  spotted,  and  I  know  of 
few  varieties  that  surpass  it  in  delicious  flavor.  It  ripens  about 
the  middle  of  October.  I  think  it  promises  well,  and  ought  to 
remain  where  it  is. 

Mr.  Hancock,  of  New  Jersey.  It  has  cracked  with  me  every 
year  ;  I  have  grown  it  on  the  pear  stock. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.     I  have  had  some  five  speci- 
mens,  and  the  tree  is  a  fair  grower.     I  think  it  ought  to  remain. 
.  On  the  vote  being  taken,  it  was  unanimously  agreed  that  it 
remain  where  it  is  for  the  present,  viz :  as  promising  well. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I  move  that  the  Doyenne  Gou- 
bault  be  added  to  the  list  for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  a  very  large,  handsome 
pear,  and  very  juicy,  but  in  my  experience  Tacks  flavor ;  though  I 
think  it  is  worthy  of  cultivation.  It  is  a  pretty  good  bearer,  and 
a  great  grower. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  My  experience  is  the  same  ; 
and  I  think  it  will  become  a  very  valuable  pear. 


i 


27 


Mr.  tiovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  fruited  it  several  years-, 
^nd  I  think  it  is  one  of  the  best  that  has  been  introduced  for  ten 
years;  I  don't  except  the  Beurre  d'Anjou.  It  possesses  every 
quality  a  good  pear  ought  to  possess.  The  Massachusetts  Horti- 
tjultural  Society  have  awarded  the  premium  for  it,  as  being  the  best 
pear  presented  at  their  annual  Exhibition  ;  and  it  ranks  among  the 
highest  though  not  at  the  top  of  the  list.  In  flavor  it  cannot  com- 
pare with  the  Seckel,  but  is  much  superior  to  many  other  pears ; 
and  I  know  of  no  one  that  will  be  so  much  grown  among  ama^ 
teurs,  and  market  gardeners. 

Mr.  Walker,  from  Massachusetts.  I  fully  agree  with  what 
has  been  said,  but  I  think  it  is  not  good  enough  for  general  culti- 
vation. It  has  been  known  as  the  ''  Chapen"  pear,  of  Providence. 

Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  of  Philadelphia.  The  Doyenne  Bous*- 
sock  has  been  disseminated  under  two  other  names,  the  "  Provi- 
dence" and  the  "  Plymouth."  It  possesses  a  combination  of  fine 
qualities,  and  is  eminently  worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

After  these  remarks  it  was  agreed  the  pear  should  be  placed  in 
the  list  for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Robert  B.  Parsons,  of  Flushing  Long  Island.  I  move-, 
that  the  "  Lawrence"  pear  be  placed  upon  the  list  for  general 
-cultivation.  Taking  all  its  qualities  into  consideration,  we  think 
it  is  as  good  as  any  pear.  It  never  cracks  or  wilts,  and  I  have 
planted  out  four  acres  for  marketing. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  I  must  bear  testimony  to  the  correctness 
of  what  Mr.  Parsons  has  said  of  the  Lawrence.  It  is  a  good 
keeper,  and  has  a  remarkably  fine  flavor ;  and  I  should  be  in 
favor  of  putting  it  on  the  list  for  trial. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  I,  also,  fully  agree  with  what 
Mr.  Parsons  has  said  in  regard  to  this  variety,  and  I  am  cultivat- 
ing it  more  extensively  than  any  other  pear.  I  am  perfectly  wil- 
ling it  should  be  placed  on  the  list  that  promises  well.  It  has 
been  generally  introduced,  is  handsome  and  bears  young.  I  would 
be  glad  to  have  it  on  either  the  first  or  second  list. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York,  I  have  never  fruited  this  pear, 
but  I  think  it  is  a  very  beautiful  one,  and  Robert  Manning  told  m6 
he  considered  it  one  of  the  most  valuable  of  all  pears.  Never- 
theless I  think  we  should  be  exceedingly  cautious  in  recommend- 


28 

ing  pears  for  general  cultivation,  and  for  my  part  1  am  in  faVOf  of 
its  being  placed  on  the  list  of  those  that  promise  well. 

On  the  question  being  put,  it  was  decided,  that  it  should  be 
placed  on  the  list  of  pears  that  promise  well. 

Mr.  Hancock.  I  move  that  we  now  adjourn  to  assemble  this 
evening,  at  8  o'clock,  in  the  Musical  Fund  Hall,  to  join  in  the 
solemnities  in  commemoration  of  our  lamented  colleague,  the  late 
A.  J.  Downing,  Esq.,  and  to  meet  in  this  place,  at  9  o'clock,  to* 
morrow  morning,  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

The  motion  was  unanimously  adopted. 

SECOND  DAY. 

An  able  and  eloquent  Eulogy  on  the  life  and  character  of  our 
lamented  colleague,  the  late  A.  J.  Downing,  Esq.,  was  delivered^ 
last  evening,  by  the  Hon.  M.  P.  "Wilder,  before  the  Pomological 
Congress,  and  in  the  presence  of  a  large  and  attentive  audience. 
On  this  occasion  the  Right^Rev.  Alonzo  Potter,  of  Pennsylvania, 
offered  up  an  appropriate,  feeling,  and  impressive  prayer. 

The  Congress  re-assembled  at  9  o'clock,  A.  M.,  for  the  trans-' 
action  of  business. 

The  President,  on  taking  the  chair,  proceeded  in  accordance 
with  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution  and  By-Laws,  to  appoint 
the  following  gentlemen  on  the  several  standing  committees. 

Committee  on  Foreign  Fruits. — C.  M.  Hovey,  Massachusetts  ; 
P.  Barry,  New  York ;  Charles  Downing,  New  York  ;  J.  P.  Kirt-' 
land,  New  York;  R.  Buist," Pennsylvania ;  S.  L.  Goodale,  Maine; 
C.  B.  Lines,  Connecticut. 

Committee  on  JYative  Fruits, — Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  Pennsyl- 
vania ;  F.  R.  EUiotty  Ohio ;  E.  Tatnall,  jr.,  Delaware ;  Thomas  Han- 
cock, New  Jersey ;  Colonel  Hodge,  New  York ;  H.  P.  Byram, 
Kentucky ;  Robert  Manning,  Massachusetts. 

Committee  on  Synonyms. — Hon.  J.  S.  Cabot,  Massachusetts  ; 
J.  J.  Thomas,  New  York;  A.  H.  Ernst^  Ohio;  Dr.  J.  A.  Kenni- 
cott,  Illinois ;  S,  D.  Pardee,  Connecticut ;  A.  Saul,  New  York ; 
J.  D.  Fulton,  Pennsylvania. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  commemorative 
of  the  death  of  Mr.  A.  J^  Downing,  report  the  following  resolu* 
tion : 

Resolvedy  That  this  Congress  sincerely  lament  the  death  of  the 


^9 

lale  A.  J.  Downing,  of  Newburgh,  and,  in  view  of  his  taleiits  and 
acquirements — his  labors  and  services  in  forming  a  correct  public 
taste  in  all  matters  appertaining  to  high  art — in  promoting  a  love 
of  Horticultural  and  rural  pursuits^  and  in  extending  a  knowledge 
of  Horticultural  science,  that  his  loss  cannot  but  be  deemed  a 
public  calamity ;  and,  as  expressive  of  the  sense  of  the  members 
of  this  Congress  at  this  melancholy  bereavement,  that  the  resolu- 
tions passed  by  the  various  societies  in  relation  to  that  event,  be 
adopted  by  this  Congress,  and  published  with  its  procedings. 

Resolved,  That  this  Congress  heartily  approve  of  the  action  of 
its  late  President,  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckl*,  in  taking  measures  for  the 
delivery  of  an  Eulogy  on  Mr.  Downing. 

Mr.  Cleveland,  of  New  Jersey,  made  a  motion  that  a  committee 
be  appointed  to  present  a  list  of  olficers,  authorized  by  the  Consti- 
tution, and  who  have  not  already  been  chosen,  which  was  unani- 
monsly  carried,  and  the  following  gentlemen  were  named  to  carry 
out  the  motion. 

Messrs.  Cleveland,  New  Jersey  ;  Jones,  Ohio;  Nourse,  Maine; 
Townsend,  Pennsylvania  ;  and  Parsons,  of  Nelv  York. 

The  following  report  was  submitted  and  accepted  : 

The  Committee  appointed  to  complete  the  list  of  officers  required 
by  the  Constitution,  report  the  following : 

Vice-Presidents. — New  Hampshire  (Meredith)^  H.  J.  French  j 
Vermont,  Frederick  Holbrook;  Massachusetts  (Roxbury),  Samuel 
Wjdker  ;  Rhode  Island  (Providence,  Stephen  H.  Smith  ;  Connec- 
ticut (New  Haven),  Dr.  A.  S.  Munson  ;  New  Jersey  (Burlington);, 
Thomas  Hancock  ;  Delaware  (Wilmington),  Edward  Tatnall,  jr. ; 
Maryland  (Baltimore),  John  Feast;    Virginia,  (PencelPs   Store^ 
Loudon  county,)  Yardley  Taylor ;  District  of  Columbia,  (Wash- 
ington) Joshua  Pierce ;  North  Carolina,  Joshua  Lindley ;  South 
Carolina,  (Beaufort)  Robert  Chisholm ;  Georgia,  (Atalanta)  Rich- 
ard Peters  ;  Alabama,  (Mobile)  George  G.  Coster  ;  Florida,  (Apa- 
lachicola)  Benjamin  F.  Nourse ;  Mississippi,  (Washington)  Thos. 
Afflick  ;  Louisiana,  (New  Orleans)  Henry  E.  Lawrence ;  Arkan- 
sas, (Choctaw  Mission)  Rev.  C.  H.  Byington ;  Missouri,  (St.  Louis) 
Thomas  Allen ;  Iowa,  (Davenport)  James  Grant ;  Wisconsin,  N. 
P.  Talmadge ;  Illinois,  (The  Grove)  Dr.  Kennicott ;  Indiana,  (Ver- 
sailles) S.  S.  Connett;  Tennessee,  (Nashville)  D.  W.  Yandell; 
California,  (San  Francisco)  Dr.  Henry  Gibbons;  Utah,  (Great  Salt 


3D 

Lake)  Edward  Hunter;  Upper  Canada,  (Sandwich  Post-Oi!iCd| 
address  Detroit,  Mn.)  James  Dougal ;  Lower  Canada,  (Montreal) 
Hugh  Allen. 

For  Secretary — H;  W.  S.  Cleveland,  Burlington,  New  Jersey^ 

For  Treasurer — Thomas  P.  James,  Philadelphia. 

H.  W.  S.  CLEVELAND,  Chairman, 

Mr.  Williams,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  Mr.  Elliott  be  Trea- 
surer pro  tem.,  and  be  assisted  by  Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York) 
in  obtaining  the  names  of  those  wishing  to  become  members. 

A  number  of  gentlemen  then  came  forward,  subscribed  their 
names,  and  w^ere  enrolled  as  members  of  the  "American  Porno- 
logical  Society." 

On  a  motion,  originating  with  Mr.  Buist,  the  President)  nomi- 
nated the  following  gentlemen,  with  power  to  add  to  their  numberj 
if  desirable,  to  procure  subscriptions  from  one  dollar  and  upwards, 
in  order  that  a  suitable  testimonial  should  be  presented  to  the 
widow  of  the  late  Mr.  A.  J.  Downing :  Messrs.  Wilder,  Buist, 
Cope,  Cleveland,  Hodge,  Elliott,  Young,  Breckenridge,  and  Ken- 
nicott. 

The  chair  then  announced  the  following  gentlemen  as  constitut- 
ing the  Executive  Committee  :  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  Pennsylvania* 
Hon.  B.  V.  French,  Massachusetts.  Richard  Peters,  Esq.,  Georgia^ 
Dr.  Herman  Wendell,  New  York.     Dr.  John  A.  Warder,  Ohio. 

Mr.  Elliot.  I  move  that  the  President  and  Vice-Presidents  be 
ex-officio  members  of  this  Committee,  and  that  five  members  con^ 
stitute  a  quorum. 

The  above  motion  was  unanimously  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Elliott,  the  printing  of  the  proceedings  of  this 
Society  was  referred  to  the  delegation  of  the  "Pennsylvania  Hor- 
ticultural Society,"  v/ho,  it  is  understood}  have  already  commenced 
the  work. 

The  Committee  appointed  to  select  the  Chairman  of  the  State 
Fruit  Committees,  presented  the  following  report : 

General  Chairman— Samuel  Walker,  Roxbury,  Massachusetts. 
Chairman  for  New  York — P.  Barry,  Rochester.  Pennsylvania — 
Thos.  P.  James,  Philadelphia.  Delaware — Dr.  Lewis  P.  Bush,  Wil- 
mington. Dist.  of  Columbia — Joshua  Pierce,  Washington.  Geor- 
gia—-Rt.  Rev.  Stephen  Elliott,  Jr.,  Savannah.  Virginia— Yardley 
Taylor,  Purcell's  Store,  Loudon  Co.     Maine==^H.  Little,  Bangor. 


31 

New  Hampshire — H.  F.  French,  Exeter.  Massachusetts — Ebene- 
zer  Wight,  Boston.  Vermont — C.  Goodrich,  Burlington.  Rhode 
Island — Stephen  H.  Smith,  Providence.  Connecticut — George 
Gabriel,  New  Haven.  New  Jersey — Wm.  Reed,  Elizabethtown. 
Maryland — Samuel  Feast,  Baltimore.  South  Carolina,  Wm. 
Sumner,  Pomaria.  North  Carolina — Henry  K.  Burgwyn,  Jack- 
son. Ohio — R.  Buchanan,  Cincinnati.  Illinois — J.  A.  Kenni- 
cott,  Northfield.  Indiana — J.  D.  G.  Nelson,  Fort  Wayne.  Cali- 
fornia— Captain  F.  W.  Macondray,  San  Francisco.  Alabama — 
Charles  A.  Peabody,  Gerard.  Florida — A.  G.  Sems,  Quincy, 
Gadsden  Co..  Kentucky— E.  D.  Hobbs,  Louisville.  Mississippi 
— Thomas  Affleck,  Washington.  Iowa — James  Grant,  Davenport. 
Missouri — Thomas  Allen,  St.  Louis. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Walker,  but  afterwards  amended,  it  was 
unanimously  resolved  that  no  Fruit  should  be  placed  on  the  list 
for  general  cultivation,  unless  two-thirds  of  the  members  voted  in 
the  affirmative. 

Mr.  Saul.  I  move  we  proceed  with  the  unfinished  business 
of  yesterday. 

This  motion  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Elliott,  from  Ohio.  I  propose  that  the  Kirtland  Pear  be 
put  upon  the  list  of  those  promising  well.  I  can  say  but  little 
more  than  what  has  already  been  published,  in  regard  to  it,  and  I 
would  ask  if  any  gentleman  has  grown  it  on  the  Quince  stock. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.     It  succeeds  very  well  on  the  Quince. 

Mr.  Hancock,  of  New  Jersey.  I  have  grown  it  one  year  on 
the  Quince,  and  it  answers  very  well. 

The  President.     That  is  my  own  experience. 

Mr,  TowNSEND,  of  New  York.  I  have  seen  some  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  and  they  have  grown  very  well. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  I  have  grown  it  on  its  own  stock,  and  on 
the  Quince,  and  it  grows  very  finely  on  both ;  but  I  have  not  yet 
fruited  it. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.  I  hope  the  motion  will  be 
adopted. 

Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  have  seen  it  frequently,  and 
think  very  well  of  it. 

The  question  being  taken,  the  Kirtland  Pear  was  unanimously 
placed  on  the  list  as  promising  well. 


32 

Mr.  Reid,  of  New  Jersey.  I  move  that  the  Duchesse  d'Angou- 
leme  be  placed  upon  the  list  as  being  worthy  of  general  cultiva- 
tion. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.  The  Duchesse  d'Angouleme  is 
a  very  excellent  Pear  of  its  size,  but  in  other  respects  not  w^orthy 
of  cultivation. 

Mr.  Hayes,  of  New"  Jersey.  In  New  Jersey  it  is  not  a  good 
Pear. 

Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York.  With  us  it  succeeds  very  well 
on  the  Quince,  and  I  think  very  well  of  it.  It  is,  however,  rather 
a  coarse  Pear,  but  all  things  combined  places  it  in  the  estimation 
of  many  as  a  desirable  variety. 

Mr.  Baxter,  of  Pennsylvania,  I  can  confirm  what  has  been 
already  said  in  favor  of  it.  I  have  grown  it  four  or  five  years,  and 
a  better  Pear  I  don't  think  I  know. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder,  of  Massachusettss.  The  chair  would 
state  that  the  fruit  is  difficult  in  New  England  to  set,  and  it  very 
often  fails  in  bearing  a  crop.  I  could  never  see  any  difference 
in  it  whether  grown  on  the  Pear  or  Quince  stock. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  Pennsylvania.  On  the  Quince,  I  think  it  is 
a  very  desirable  variety.  I  never  got  more  than  two  Pears  on  a 
single  tree,  and  what  may  be  the  cause,  I  cannot  tell ;  I  give  my 
experience  as  it  is. 

The  question  being  taken,  and  two-thirds  not  voting  affirma- 
tively, it  was  lost;  and  the  Duchesse  d'Angouleme  was  not  placed 
on  the  list  for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  the  Beurre  Giffard  be 
put  on  the  list  of  Pears  that  promise  well.  This  year  I  have  had 
very  good  specimens.  I  consider  it  one  of  great  excellence.  It 
is  an  abundant  bearer,  and  will  be  a  great  addition  to  our  early 
Pears. 

Mr.  Norton,  of  New  York.  I  have  seen  a  specimen  in  Western 
New  York,  and  I  believe  it  is  a  good  Pear. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  chair  will  state  that  it  is  a  new  Pear 
from  France.  I  have  fruited  it  for  two  years.  It  is  of  good  size, 
and  acute  pyri  form  in  shape ;  and  my  impression  is,  that  if  picked 
before  ripe,  it  will  be  a  valuable  Pear.  It  is  rather  a  poor  grower, 
as  far  as  my  experience  goes,  on  the  Quince. 

Mr.  Baxter,  of  Pennsylvania.     I  have  found  it  an  excellent 


33 

« 

Pear,  and  for  an  early  Pear,  there  is  no  better,  as  regards  its  beauty 
and  growth. 

Dr.  EsHLEMAN,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have  found  it  a  most  excel- 
lent Pear.  It  has  fruited  in  our  County,  and  has  proved  with  us 
decidedly  the  best  early  Pear  we  have. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.     I  have  fruited  it  two  years  on 
the  Quince,  and  I  coincide  entirely  with  the  preceding  remarks. 
The  vote  being  taken,  it  was  decided  unanimously,  that  the 
Beurre  GifTard  be  placed  on  the  list  of  Pears  that  promise  well. 

Mr.  Hogg,  of  New  York,  proposes  that  the  Compte  de  Lamy 
be  put  on  the  list  of  Pears  that  promise  well. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  raised  it  for  the  last  ten 
years;  it  is  a  medium  sized  Pear,  and  of  a  pleasant  flavor ;  a  great 
bearer,  and  I  think  it  an  excellent  variety.  It  is  larger  than  the 
Dearborn's  Seedling. 

Dr.  EsHLEMAN,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have  fruited  it  for  three 
years,  and  with  me  it  grows  vigorously,  and  bears  well.  The 
fruit  is  of  a  medium  size,  and  the  quality  I  consider  good. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  was  opposed  to  placing  this  Pear  on  the  list 
of  those  that  promise  well. 
The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Olmstead,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  the  Soldat  Labour- 
eur  be  placed  on  the  list  of  Pears  that  promise  well. 

Mr.  Hogg,  of  New  York.  It  has  proved  with  us  a  pretty  good 
Pear. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  It  seems  to  me  we  had  better 
pass  it  by  for  the  present. 

The  President.  The  tree  is  of  remarkably  fine  growth,  but 
the  fruit  is  spotted. 

Mr.  TowNSEND,  of  New  York.  I  fruited  it  last  year,  for  the 
first  time,  and  this  year  it  is  spotted. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  think  it  is  too  often  too  small 
to  be  valuable. 

Mr.  Olmstead  withdrew  his  motion. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.     I  should  like  to  introduce  the 

Paradise  d'Automne,  one  of  the  strongest  growers  in  the  catalogue, 

a  pretty  good  bearer,  and  certainly  one  of  the  best  pears  in  No- 

vember. 
5 


34 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  My  experience  is  the  same  as  that  of 
the  gentleman  who  has  just  spoken. 

The  Chair  coincides  with  the  remarks  that  have  been  made. 

Colonel  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  think  it  is  among  our  very 
best  pears,  and  superior  to  the  Beurre  Bosc. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  grown  it  some  years,  and 
have  found  it  a  handsome  pear,  but  a  little  smaller  than  the 
Beurre  Bosc.  For  some  cause  or  other,  it  was  not  so  good  one  sea- 
son as  I  have  known  it. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  have  conversed  with  a 
number  of  persons  who  have  fruited  it  for  many  years,  and  they 
all  agree  that  ,it  is  a  pear  of  first-rate  quality. 

Mr.  Hayes,  of  New  Jersey.  I  have  tasted  the  Beurre  Bosc 
and  the  Paradise  d'Automne,  both  at  once,  and  could  not  discover 
any  perceptible  difference. 

Messrs.  Walker  and  French  stated  that  the  trees  were  entirely 
different. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  have  observed  a  slight 
degree  of  astringency  in  the  Paradise  d'Automne,  which  the  othei 
does  not  possess. 

Mr.  GooDALE,  of  Maine.  I  have  fruited  them  two  years,  and 
they  have  done  very  well. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  astringency  is  owing  to  the  soil. — 
Near  New  Bedford,  it  has  not  that  flavor,  and  I  have  found  that 
to  be  the  case  generally  with  pears  grown  in  that  vicinity. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  On  account  of  its  extensive 
circulation,  I  move  that  it  be  recommended  for  general  cultivation. 

This  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  I  move  that  the  Duchesse  de 
Berri,  be  placed  on  the  list  of  pears  that  promise  well. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  It  is  a  pretty  Summer  Pear,  and  of  good 
size.     I  have  fruited  it  for  two  years. 

Mr.  Townsend,  of  New  York.  I  can  certainly  coincide  with 
the  chair  in  the  opinion  just  given. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  Chair  can  answer  for  Mr.  Hovey  of 
Massachusetts,  who  has  fruited  it,  and  who  thinks  it  a  good  pear. 

The  motion  was  carried,  and  the  Duchesse  de  Berri  was  ad- 
mitted into  the  list  of  those  that  promise  well. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  I  propose  to  place  on  the 
list  for  trial  the  Limon,  a  pear  which  has  been  cultivated  under 


35 

the  name  of  Beurre  Haggerston.  It  is  a  fine  summer  pear,  and 
its  size  only  prevents  its  going  on  the  list  for  general  culture.  It 
is  one  of  the  best  pears  I  have  tasted  this  season,  and  am  satisfied 
it  will  find  many  friends.  I  think  it  is  larger  than  the  Dearborn's 
Seedling  on  an  average,  and  much  more  uniform. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  The  Beurre  Haggerston  is  a  good 
grower,  but  the  Limon  is  not — if  they  prove  the  same,  I  go  for 
putting  it  on  the  list  of  pears  for  trial. 

Mr.  Reed,  of  New  Jersey.  I  know  the  pear,  and  am  in  favor 
of  it. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  have  seen  specimens  of  this 
pear,  and  accord  fully  with  the  high  commendation  awarded  it. 
They  are  of  rather  a  small  size,  but  I  do  not  consider  that  an 
objection. 

The  question  was  decided  affirmatively,  and  the  pear  placed  on 
the  list  of  those  that  promise  w^ell. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  I  would  propose  the  "  Belle 
Lucrative"  for  discussion. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  Seigneur  d'Esperin  is  the  same. 
I  have  received  it  from  many  sources,  and  it  has  always  proved 
similar. 

Mr,  Cleveland,  from  New  Jersey.  I  move  that  the  St.  Michel 
Archange  be  placed  on  the  list  of  pears  that  promise  well.  It 
has  proved  a  very  excellent  pear  with  me.  I  have  had  some  as 
large  as  the  largest  sized  Bartlett,  and  it  is  one  of  the  most  deli- 
cious fruits  of  the  season.  It  ripens  about  the  last  of  September 
and  first  of  October.  The  two  trees  which  I  first  had  w^ere  im- 
ported by  Mr.  Perkins  of  Boston. 

Mr.  Cabot,  of  Massachusetts.  It  is  a  pretty  good  pear.  The 
tree  is  an  upright  grower,  and  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  So- 
ciety for  two  or  three  years  have  awarded  it  a  premium. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  At  New  Bedford  it  was  considered  the 
best  pear  exhibited,  and  I  should  be  in  favor  of  putting  it  on  the 
list  for  further  trial. 

On  the  vote  being  taken,  it  was  placed  on  the  list  of  those  that 
promise  well. 

Mr.  Saul  proposed  the  Sterling  pear,  but  afterwards  withdrew 
his  motion,  merely  stating  that  it  was  a  first  rate  grower,  and  a 
good  early  pear,  w^hich  was  corroborated  by  the  chair. 


36 

Dr.  EsHLEMAN,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  move  that  the  Diller  pear 
be  placed  on  the  list  as  worthy  of  trial.  Report  says  it  was  im- 
ported from  Germany  by  the  Diller  family  many  years  ago,  and 
the  tree  is  still  standing. 

Mr.  Walkek,  of  Massachusetts.  A  sight  of  it  is  enough  to 
make  your  mouth  water  ;  I  am  ready  to  state  it  is  one  of  the  very 
best  pears  I  ever  tasted ;  and  am  also  pleased  to  state  that  it  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  That  was  the  unanimous  opinion  of 
the  whole  Committee,  and  several  other  gentlemen  who  were 
present. 

The  question  being  put,  the  affirmative  vote  was  unanimous. 

Mr.  Saul.  I  move  we  pass  from  the  subject  of  Pears,  and 
discuss  the  Plums. 

This  motion  was  agreed  to. 

Mr.  NouRSE,  of  Maine.  I  move  that  the  McLaughlin  be  taken 
from  the  list  of  plums  that  promise  well,  and  be  inserted  among 
those  worthy  of  general  cultivation.  It  is  almost  an  improvement 
on  the  Green  Gage,  larger  in  size,  but  perhaps  lacking  in  delicacy 
of  flavor.  The  flesh  is  a  little  coarser  as  it  naturally  would  be  in 
a  larger  fruit.  It  is  easily  raised,  and  is  a  thrifty  and  regular 
grower.     It  is  a  profitable  plum,  and  one  of  the  very  best. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.  I  have  not  fruited  it,  but  have 
tasted  it,  and  can  confirm  all  that  Mr.  Nourse  says  about  the  plum. 
I  understand  that  many  spurious  scions  have  been  disseminated. 

Mr.  Nourse.  It  originated  in  the  grounds  of  an  amateur,  and 
its  propagation  was  not  attended  to  with  proper  care. 

Mr.  GooDALE,  of  Maine.  It  is  very  good,  and  we  hardly  think 
it  worth  w^hile  to  cultivate  anything  else. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.     The  chair  suggests  whether  it  had  not 
better  remain  where  it  is. 
The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

The  Penobscot  plum  was  mentioned,  and  without  discussion 
was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  Prince's  Yellow  Gage 
be  placed  on  the  list  with  those  plums  that  are  worthy  of  general 
cultivation.  It  is  an  early,  large  and  sweet  plum,  although  not  a 
very  juicy  one.  With  that  exception,  I  think  it  as  good  as  any 
other  on  the  list. 


37 

Mr.  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  perfectly  coincide  with  the  re-, 
marks  of  Mr.  Sauh 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.     The  chair  entertains  the  same  opinion. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  We  have  cultivated  the  plum,  and  there 
is  something  peculiar  about  it ;  we  don't  consider  it  first  rate. 

The  question  was  taken  on  Mr.  Saul's  motion,  and  decided  in 
the  affirmative. 

Mr.  Nourse,  of  Maine.  I  propose  the  Lawrence's  Favorite  for 
general  cultivation.  It  is  closely  allied  to  the  Green  Gage.  The 
tree  bears  well,  and  the  fruit  is  equally  distributed  over  the  tree. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  We  have  known  it  since  it  origina- 
ted ;  it  is  a  plum  of  the  very  best  flavor,  is  a  great  bearer,  a  good 
grower,  and  I  think  worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.     We  think  very  favorably  of  it. 

Mr.  Wilder.     It  stands  very  high  in  my  estimation. 

The  motion  was  adopted. 

Mr.  French.  I  don't  like  to  name  a  plum,  without  having  had 
personal  experience  in  regard  to  it,  but  I  merely  mention  the  Early 
Morocco ;  it  is  an  early  plum,  and  has  a  fine  flavor. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  I  have  found  it  to  be  a  pretty  good 
plum ;  it  is  not,  however,  with  me,  a  good  bearer,  and  not  quite 
juicy  enough,  but  considering  its  season,  there  is  no  variety  so 
large. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York,  recommends  the  Imperial  Ottoman, 
the  Hudson  Gage,  Coe's  late  Red,  and  the  Blue  Imperatrice. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder  recommends  the  Reine  Claude  de  Bevay. 

Mr.  Robert  Parsons,  Flushing,  Long  Island.  I  propose  for 
general  cultivation  the  Belle  de  Choisy.  It  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  delicious  cherries  in  the  catalogue. 

Mr.  Hodge,  of  New  York.  It  is  a  sweet,  delicious  and  good 
cherry. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  We  have  fruited  it  pretty  extensively,  and 
think  it  deserving  that  position,  not  so  much  for  its  intrinsic  merits 
as  for  the  hardiness  of  the  tree,  and  the  beautiful  appearance  it 
presents. 

Mr.  Embree,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  believe  it  is  a  good  cherry, 
but  am  not  in  favor  of  it  for  general  cultivation. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.     It  has  proved  with  me  a  shy  bearer. 

Mr.  Miller.     I  have  never  seen  more  than  half  a  crop  on  a 


38 

tree,  so  that  I  think  we  should  be  careful  of  putting  it  on  the  list 
for  general  cultivation. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  think  everything  has  been  said  of 
it  that  can  be  said.  It  is  handsome,  and  of  a  good  flavor,  but 
whether  it  is  advisable  to  put  it  on  the  list  for  general  cultivation, 
is  rather  doubtful. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.     That  is  the  opinion  of  the  Chair. 

The  motion  was  withdrawn. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  I  would  suggest  that  the  Bi- 
garreau  Monstreuse  de  Mezel  be  put  on  the  list  for  trial. 

Hon.  M.  P.  W^ilder,  of  Massachusetts.  In  relation  to  the 
cherry  in  question,  I  have  found  it  to  be  synonymous  with  the 
Waterloo  ;  it  is  a  desirable  cherry,  and  I  think  worthy  of  cultiva- 
tion.    It  is  an  old  cherry  and  may  be  American. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  I  think  it  a  desirable  cherry,  and 
that  there  would  be  no  impropriety  in  placing  it  on  the  proba- 
tionary list. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  I  think  Mr.  Knight  raised  the  Water- 
loo forty  years  ago. 

The  vote  was  unanimous  to  place  it  on  the  list  of  those  that  are 
promising. 

Mr.  Robert  Parsons,  Flushing,  Long  Island.  I  propose  that 
the  early  Richmond,  or  old  Kentish,  be  placed  upon  the  list  for 
general  cultivation  ;  it  is  a  very  excellent  preserving  cherry. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  With  us  the  cherry  is  difficult  of  cultiva- 
tion, owing,  probably,  to  the  changes  in  our  climate.  It  is  a  great 
and  uniform  bearer,  and  answers  a  very  good  purpose  for  a  table 
cherry,  though  I  cannot  speak  with  confidence  of  its  flavor.  I 
should  be  glad  to  see  it  recommended  for  general  cultivation.  It 
is  a  good  cooking  cherry. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  There  are  many  others  I  should  prefer  to 
it  in  point  of  appearance  and  flavor. 

Mr.  Reed,  of  New  Jersey.  I  think  it  is  worthy  of  cultivation 
for  culinary  purposes. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  Several  of  my  neighbors  have 
recommenced  its  cultivation,  and  they  have  come  to  the  conclu- 
sion it  is  one  of  the  best  for  cooking  purposes. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  I  will  vote  for  it  for  cooking 
purposes. 


39 

The  Early  Richmond  was  voted  in,  as  worthy  of  general  culti- 
vation, for  cooking  purposes. 

Mr.  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  move  that  the  Heine  Hortense 
be  placed  on  the  list  for  trial.  It  is  a  large  cherry,  of  a  light  red 
color,  and  very  excellent. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  I  have  fruited  it  for  four  years,  and 
believe  it  to  be  a  first-rate  variety.  It  bears  very  regular  crops, 
and  I  think  particularly  desirable. 

It  was  voted  into  the  list  of  those  that  are  promising. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  would  like  to  have  the 
Governor  Wood  placed  on  the  list  for  trial.  I  think  it  ripens 
earlier  than  the  Black  Tartarian. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  I  would  suggest  Kirtland's  Mary  be  placed 
with  it.  We  believe  them  both  worthy  of  very  extensive  tiial,  if  not 
of  general  cultivation ;  they  are  both  very  desirable  varieties,  and 
I  feel  confident  w^ill  take  the  place  of  some  already  approved. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  I  believe  it  is  one  of  the  best  Cherries 
we  can  have,  and  it  immediately  succeeds  the  Cleveland  Bigarreau 
in  ripening. 

Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder.  The  chair  would  remark  that  it  is  hardly 
desirable,  with  the  experience  of  one  section  of  the  country,  to  put 
them  on  the  list  for  trial.  I  have  no  doubt  that  they  are  very  de- 
sirable varieties,  but  the  question  is,  whether  we  had  not  better 
take  the  expressions  of  opinion,  by  the  gentlemen,  and  let  them 
stand  for  what  they  are  worth.     This  course  was  adopted. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  I  should  like  to  introduce  the  Early  Purple 
Guigne  as  worthy  of  trial.  It  is  ten  days  earlier  than  any  other 
grown,  according  to  the  late  Mr.  Downing,  and  many  other  fruit 
growers.  It  has  ripened  with  me,  uniformly,  about  the  10th  "of 
May.  It  isa  heart  Cherry,  full  medium  size,  and  nearly  black, 
when  matured.     I  consider  it  equal  to  the  Black  Tartarian. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  have  cultivated  it  for 
many  years.  I  regard  it  as  beyond  comparison,  a  most  valua- 
ble early  Cherry,  ripe  nearly  ten  days  before  any  other  kind. 

Mr.  Hodge,  of  New  York.  This  Cherry  is  pretty  generally 
known,  and  I  think  well  of  it. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have  fruited  it  a  good  many 
years,  and  the  only  fault  I  find,  is  that  it  comes  too  early. 

It  was  voted  to  place  it  on  the  list  of  those  that  promise  well. 


40 

Mr.  Spanglek,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  move  that  the  Cumberland 
Seedling  be  placed  on  the  list,  as  worthy  of  trial,  and  call  on  Mr. 
Miller  for  information. 

Mr.  Miller.  It  vi^as  first  called  the  "Cumberland  Seedling," 
afterwards  the  "Triumph  of  Cumberland,"  and  as  to  the  Cherry, 
when  I  tell  you  it  is  one  of  the  best  Cherries  we  have  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, it  is  all  that  I  know  about  it.  It  is  supposed  to  be  a  native  of 
this  State,  ripens  with  the  Black  Tartarian,  is  larger  in  the  average, 
and  when  ripe  is  nearly  black,  or  a  very  dark  purple. 

Mr.  Spangler,  of  Pennsylvania.  In  our  vicinity,  it  is  con- 
sidered the  finest  Cherry  we  have.  I  have  had  them  measure 
nearly  three  and  a  half  inches  in  circumference,  and  is  a  very  pro- 
lific bearer. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  I  would  like  to  know  from  Mr.  Elliott 
what  Cherry  I  got  from  him  or  Dr.  Kirtland  under  that  name. 

Mr.  Elliott,  of  Ohio.  The  Cumberland  Seedling,  which  we 
received,  proved  to  be  a  Cherry  well  known  ;  we  got  it  first  from 
Lancaster  County,  Pa.  The  one  you  got  from  us  is  the  '*  Elk- 
horn." 

Mr.  Elliott  then  moved  an  adjournment  till  4  o'clock,  P.  M., 
which  was  unanimously  agreed  to. 

SECOND  DAY. 
afternoon  session. 

The  President  called  the  Society  to  order  at  4  o'clock. 

Dr.  Eshleman,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  propose  to  put  on  the  list 
for  trial,  the  Smoke-house  Apple.  It  originated  in  Lancaster  Co., 
and  is  like  the  Vandervere  in  its  general  appearance.  It  is  very 
excellent  for  cooking,  and  it  will  keep  until  April.  If  I  were  con- 
fined to  one  variety  it  should  be  the  Smoke-house. 

Mr.  Hewes,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have  known  it  for  eleven 
years. 

Mr.  Taylor,  of  Virginia.  I  am  acquainted  with  it,  and  think 
it  the  most  crooked  growing  tree  I  ever  saw. 

Mr.  Peirce,  of  Washington,  D.  C.     It  is  very  crooked  in  grow- 
ing, but  has  fruited  very  well  with  me.     It  was  highly  recom 
mended  to  us,  and  I  have  known  it  for  twenty  years. 

"Mr.  Corson,  of  Pennsylvania.     I  have  known  it  for  forty-eight 


41 

years.     It  is  a  constant  bearer,  in  the  section  of  country  where  it 
originated,  and  no  one  should  start  an  orchard  without  it. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  Pennsylvania.  So  far  as  I  have  seen  the  Smoke" 
house  tested  on  every  class  of  soils,  I  have  never  seen  it  otherwise 
than  a  good  Apple. 

Mr.  Spangler,  of  Pennsylvania.  In  relation  to  that  Apple,  I 
have  it  growing,  and  consider  it  unsurpassed  for  culinary  purposes. 

The  question  was  taken,  and  decided  in  the  affirmative. 

Mr.  Walker,  chairman  of  the  Committee  on  Synonymes,  re* 
marked  that,  on  account  of  some  papers  having  been  mislaid,  he 
was  compelled  to  report  verbally  that  all  the  Fruits  placed  before 
the  Committee,  and  which  were  supposed  to  be  synonymes,  had 
been  attended  to,  and  the  names  handed  over  to  the  applicants ; 
he  said  the  few  memorandums  made  were  not  at  all  necessary, 
and  asked  for  a  discharge  on  behalf  of  the  Committee,  which  was 
unanimously  agreed  to. 

Mr.  Ernst,  of  Ohio.  I  move  that  the  Melon  Apple  be  placed 
on  the  list  for  trial, 

Mr.  Barrv,  of  New  York.  I  think  it  should  be  placed  on  that 
list ;  it  is  a  good  bearer. 

Mr.  Saul,  of  New  York.  It  is  a  remarkably  poor  grower,  so 
far  as  I  have  seen  it ;  otherwise  I  think  there  is  no  better  Apple, 

Mr,  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  Last  winter,  at  Rochester, 
there  was  an  informal  vote  taken  on  the  flavor  of  this  Apple,  com= 
pared  with  others,  and  it  received  the  largest  vote. 

The  motion  to  admit  this  Apple  on  the  list  of  those  promising 
well  was  carried. 

Mr.  Watts,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  I  would  propose  the  Hawley 
Apple,  for  trial,  and  call  on  Mr.  Barry  for  his  opinion. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York.  It  is  very  highly  esteemed,  and  I 
think  worthy  to  be  placed  on  the  list  for  trial.  It  is  productive, 
the  tree  is  a  good  grower,  and  the  quality  is  very  good,  though 
perhaps  not  firstrate. 

Mr.  HovEY,  of  Massachusetts.  From  the  specimens  I  have 
seen,  I  should  class  it  among  the  very  best  apples  we  have.  It  is 
tender  and  refreshing,  with  an  agreeable  mixture  of  acid  and 
sweet. 

Col.  Hodge,  of  New  York.  I  think  very  well  of  this  Apple, 
and  have  never  heard  any  thing  disparaging  said  in  relation  to  it 


42 

Mr.  Hooker,  of  New  York.  I  have  known  it  for  some  years, 
and  there  is  but  one  opinion  expressed  in  our  vicinity,  with  regard 
to  it.     It  is  considered  firstrate. 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  I  have  known  this  Apple  a 
great  many  years,  growing  on  old  and  young  trees,  on  light  and 
lieavy  soils,  and  the  fruit  is  uniformly  good  and  fair. 

The  vote  being  taken  on  Mr.  Watts'  motion,  it  was  decided 
that  the  Hawley  Apple  be  admitted  in  the  list  of  those  promising 
well. 

Mr,  Watts,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  I  propose  the  Canada  Red, 
which  is  the  Massachusetts  Nonesuch,  for  general  cultivation, 

Mr.  J.  J.  Thomas,  of  New  York.  It  has  been  widely  cultivaled^ 
and  I  think  it  is  almost  worthy  of  it.  It  has  proved  good  in  Ohioj 
and  in  New  York,  but  whether  or  not  far  south  I  am  unable  to 

say. 

Mr.  Watts,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  At  Rochester,  it  is  consider-^' 
ed  one  of  our  best  Western  growing  Apples,  and  is  particularly 
fine  as  a  desert  fruit.  (Mr.  Watts  here  presented  a  painting  of  the 
Apple  beautifully  colored.) 

Mr.  Robert  Parsons,  of  Long  Island.  On  Long  Island,  we 
think  it  is  one  of  the  best  we  have. 

Mr.  Barry,  of  New  York,  It  has  been  tried  a  long  time,  and 
is  an  excellent  Apple. 

Mr,  Walker,  of  Massachusetts,  All  I  have  heard  has  been 
favorable  to  it.     It  is  very  excellent,  but  overbears  itself. 

Mr.  GooDALE,  of  Maine.  It  is  well  known  in  our  markets,  and 
it  is  almost  uniformly  spotted,  and  is  the  last  fruit  we  should  want 
there. 

Mr.  Downing,  of  N'ew  York.  I  am  told  that  is  the  case  through 
the  State  of  Connecticut. 

Mr.  Hooker,  of  New  York.  In  Western  New  York,  three- 
fourths  of  the  crops  have  been  worthless,  but  under  good  cultivation 
it  is  excellent. 

The  motion  was  amended  so  as  to  read  that  it  be  recommended 
for  general  cultivation,  in  certain  localities,  and  then  unanimously 
adopted. 

Mr,  Saul,  of  New  York,  I  would  suggest  the  Northern  Spy 
as  worthy  of  trial. 

CoL  HapGE,  of  New  York-.    There  is  but  oi^e  opiniou  In  regard. 


43 

to  that  Apple  with  us.  We  consider  it  one  of  the  very  best  win- 
ter varieties.  It  has  been  said  to  be  spotted,  but  with  us  it  is  not 
so.  I  esteem  it  so  highly  that  for  two  or  three  years,  I  have  been 
planting  out  large  orchards  of  it. 

Mr.  Miller.  It  has  been  fruited  in  Pennsylvania,  and  has  be- 
come knurly. 

Mr.  Walker,  of  Massachusetts.  It  has  not  proved  in  the 
neighborhood  of  Boston  what  we  expected  of  it.  When  I  first 
saw  it,  I  thought  it  the  best  Apple  I  had  ever  eaten,  but  now  I 
think  it  suited  only  to  certain  localities.  I  hold  it  in  the  highest 
estimation,  but  think  it  wants  the  warm  generous  soil  of  Western 
New  York. 

Mr.  GooDALE,  of  Maine.  My  father  has  it,  and  it  is  pretty 
fair. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio.  It  has  with  us  all  the  reputation  given  it 
in  regard  to  quality,  though  it  is  not  so  great  a  bearer  as  I  supposed 
it  to  be. 

Mr.  Watts,  of  Rochester,  N.  Y.  One  day  previous  to  my 
coming  from  home,  I  went  ten  miles  from  Rochester,  where  there 
were  twenty-three  trees  growing.  I  found  the  trees  full  of  fruit 
about  half-grown.  It  generally  bears  well,  and  is  a  thrifty  grower. 
Those  that  do  not  grow  on  the  end  of  the  limbs  of  the  tree,  or  where 
the  sun  cannot  get  at  them  are  often  inferior.  About  Rochester, 
they  are  commencing  to  cultivate  it  very  extensively,  and  orchards 
in  the  vicinity  of  Lockport,  have  been  all  grafted  with  this  fruit. 
They  have  been  known  ten  or  fifteen  years  with  us,  and  the  price 
farmers  receive  in  market  for  them  is  two  dollars  and  a  half  per  bushel, 
— and  they  will  sell  sometimes  for  five  dollars, — in  the  spring  some 
sent  to  New  York,  brought  nine  dollars.  The  reputation  in  Wes= 
tern  New  York  is  high,  and  if  the  gentlemen  saw  it  growing,  they 
would  be  perfectly  satisfied  with  it. 

It  was  voted  that  it  be  recommended  for  general  cultivation  in 
certain  localities. 

Mr.  Cabot,  in  behalf  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural  So- 
ciety, invited  the  members  of  the  American  Pomological  Society 
to  meet  in  their  rooms  in  A.  D.  1854,  which  invitation  was  ac= 
cepted,  by  a  resolution  offered  by  Mr.  Elliott,  of  Ohio,  which  was 
unanimously  adopted,  namely : 

Resolved,  That  the  next  session  of  the  American  Pomological 


44 

Society  be  held  in  the  city  of  Boston  on  the  day  designated  by 
the  Executive  Committee,  in  A.  D.  1854. 

Mr.  Robert  Parsons,  Long  Island.  I  should  like  to  recom- 
mend for  trial  the  Autumn  Bough,  We  find  it  one  of  the  very  best 
of  apples. 

Mr.  Downing,  of  New  York,  I  consider  it  one  of  the  finest 
apples  eaten  in  October, 

On  motion,  it  was  decided  to  place  it  on  the  list  with  those  that 
promise  well. 

The  Committee  on  Native  Fruits,  through  Mr.  Elliott,  made  the 
following  Report,  which  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Committee  on  JYative  Fruits 

Have  examined  and  report  on  the  following : 
Apples. — Jeffries — Roundish,  flattened,  yellow  ground,  striped 
with  red  ;    sprightly,  tender,  juicy  and  pleasant.     Regarded  as 
"best" — ripe  Septeuiber. 

Brennaman — Regarded  as  "  good."  September. 
Willis'^  Sweetirig — Regarded  as  "  very  good."  September. 
Autumn  Sweet  Bough — Regarded  as  "very  good."  September^ 
Cox^s  Seedling — From  Joshua  Embree.  N&t  worthy  attention. 
Red  Grove — From  Joshua  Embree.  Regarded  as  "  very  good." 
Myers"*  ^pple — Imperfect  specimens.  Worthy  further  attention. 
Carter  Apple — From  Virginia — passed  as  in  too  imperfect  a  state 
to  decide  upon  it. 

Zimmerman — Regarded  not  worth  attention. 
Seedling,  No.  3 — From  H.  R.  Roby,Virginia — passed  as  "good." 
.•  Greenes  Choice — From  Mrs.  M.  A.  Fulton ;  a  handsome  fruit- 
red  striped,  sweet;  passed  as  "very  good." 

Howard — From  G.  P.  Howard  ;  regarded  as  "  very  good." 
Richards — From  E.  G.  Studley  ;  regarded  as  "  best." 
Melt'in-the-Mouth^— From  Paschall  Morris  &  Co. ;  regarded  as 
"  very  good." 

Rohy'^s  Seedling — From  H.  R.  Roby ;  passed  as  "very  good." 
White  Cain — From  Joshua  Embree  ;  passed  as  "  good." 
White  Queen — From  Joshua  Embree  ;  (not  the  White  Queen  of 
Cumberland  Co.,)  regarded  as  valueless. 

Birmingham — From  Joshua  Embree  ;  regarded  as  "  good." 
Summer  Cheese — From  H.  R.  Roby ;  passed  as  unworthy. 


45 

Virginia  Cat  Head — A  red  apple,  unworthy  culture. 

CornelVs  Favorite — From  Joshua  Embree  ;  regarded  as  "  very 
good." 

Peaches. — MuJilenherg  Cling — From  A.M.  Spangler;  regarded 
as  "  very  good." 

Pettit — From  David  Pettit ;  large,  yellow,  irregular,  yellow  flesh, 
sweet  and  fine.     Passed  as  "  very  good." 

Seedlings  No.  1 — From  I.  B.  Baxter ;  white  flesh,  dull  whitish 
green  skin,  juicy  and  fine.     Passed  ''  very  good." 

Susquehanna — From  H.  Randall;  very  large,  yellow.  Regarded 
as  "  best." 

Pears. — Moyamensing — Regarded  as  "  best." 

Howell — From  E.  E.  Clarke;  regarded  as  "  very  good." 

Styer — From  A.  W.  Corson ;  resembles  somewhat  the  Gan- 
sell's  Bergamotte  in  appearance.     Regarded  as  "  best." 

Henrietta — Regarded  as  "very  good." 

Wiest — From  Charles  Kessler  ;  regarded  as  "  good." 

Citron — Regarded  as  "  good." 

Edwards^  Elizabeth— Regarded  as  "  best." 

Seedling  from  the  garden  of  the  late  Gov.  Edwards  ;  presented  by 
E.  E.  Clarke.  Regarded  as  "best,"  and  recommended  by  Com- 
mittee to  be  named  the  Quinipiac. 

Grapes. — Seedling  from  Dr.  Valk ;  bunches  fine,  large,  com- 
pact, but  too  unripe  to  allow  the  Committee  to  decide  on  its  merits. 

The  subjoined  communication  was  received  from  Dr.  Valk. 

To  the  Coramittee  on  Fruits  of  the  Pomological  Congress. 

Gentlemen  : — As  my  engagements  do  not  permit  me  to  visit 
Philadelphia  during  the  sitting  of  the  present  Congress,  I  send  for 
your  examination,  by  the  hands  of  my  friend,  Mr.  Samuel  Par- 
sons, several  bunches  of  the  fruit  from  my  seedling  grape.  I  sub- 
mit them  to  your  inspection  and  impartial  judgment,  and  furnish 
you  with  a  brief  history  of  their  origin.  You  will  find  on  page 
444,  vol.  6,  of  the  late  Mr.  Downing's  Horticulturist,  some  re- 
marks by  myself  on  the  present  subject,  and  his  notice  of  a  speci- 
men of  the  fruit  sent  him  last  year. 

Directing  your  attention  to  those  remarks,  it  becomes  only  ne- 
cessary to  say  here,  that,  with  all  possible  precaution,  a  vine  of  the 


46 

Black  Hamburgh  grape  was  in  1845  fertilized  with  the  pollen  of 
the  Isabella.  From  the  seed  there  came  fourteen  plants,  and  these 
were  kept  in  pots  for  two  years,  at  the  end  of  which  time  there 
remained  but  two  alive ;  for,  from  being  absent  from  liomc;  the 
young  plants  had  been  very  much  neglected.  In  the  spring  of 
1847  both  these  seedlings  were  planted  at  the  north  end  of  my 
garden,  one  having  an  eastern  exposure,  the  other  a  western.  The 
soil  was  not  in  any  way  prepared  for  their  reception,  nor  have  they 
received  the  least  attention  by  cultivation.  On  the  contrary,  I 
have  suffered  them  to  grow  wild,  and  to  take  their  chances  in 
summer  and  winter,  and  in  all  kinds  of  weather,  without  any  sort 
of  care  or  looking  after.  In  1850  they  fruited  for  the  first  time, 
and  had  then  been  exposed  to  the  frosts  and  snow  of  four  winters. 
Before  I  could  give  it  a  thought  the  poultry  ate  all  the  fruit,  and 
much  to  my  regret,  for  it  was  of  good  size  and  appearance.  In 
1851  they  bore  still  more  fruit,  but  during  my  absence  in  Septem- 
ber last,  all  of  the  best  fruit,  but  one  bunch  was  stolen,  the  thieves 
only  leaving  a  few  bunches  on  one  of  the  vines,  because  I  sup- 
pose they  were  a  little  mildewed.  This  one  bunch  I  sent  to  Mr. 
Downing,  and  he  spoke  of  it  thus  : 

"  At  first  sight  the  bunch  resembles  that  of  the  Isabella,  the 
grapes  being  hung  somewhat  loosely  upon  it.  But  the  berries  are 
round — blacker  than  the  Isabella,  and  totally  distinct  in  flavor 
from  our  native  grapes,  resembling  the  dark  colored  foreign 
grapes.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  this  is  the  first  genuine  cross 
between  the  foreign  grapes  and  our  natives,  and  if  the  cross  real- 
izes the  promise  of  this  single  bunch — evidently  a  poor  sample  of 
the  product  of  the  vine— this  new  seedling  of  Dr.  Valk's  will 
soon  become  widely  sought  Rftev.'^'^— Horticulturist,  October, 
1851,  page  445. 

Last  fall  I  removed  the  vine  having  a  western  aspect  to  the  front 
of  my  house,  (facing  S.  E.)  and  had  to  cut  it  back  severely  ;  con- 
sequently, this  year  it  has  not  fruited.  The  other  vine  has  upon 
it  eighteen  bunches :  and  it  is  from  this  I  cut  the  fruit  now  trans- 
mitted.  It  is,  as  you  will  perceive,  in  a  purely  natural  state,  for 
I  have  purposely  left  it  to  grow  as  it  would.  The  vine  has  not 
been  manured,  nor  the  branches  thinned  ;  consequently,  they  do 
not  look  as  well  as  I  might  have  made  them  ;  but  I  chose  to  submit 
them  just  as  they  are,  and  you  will  judge  them  accordingly. 


41 

For  five  years  have  these  plants  stood  unprotected,  and  last 
winter  gave  them  a  trial  as  to  the  quality  of  hai'dmess.  The  vines 
grow  strong,  ripen  their  wood  well,  and  the  foilage  is  *'very 
deeply  serrated."  Of  their  true  worth  I  give  now  no  opinion. 
They  are  submitted  to  the  Congress  for  approval  or  condemnation, 
as  shall  be  deemed  most  proper.  You  will,  of  course,  take  a  just 
view  of  the  circumstances  I  have  narrated,  and  announce  your 
verdict.  Let  it  be  what  it  will,  I  shall  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that  I  have  done  all  I  could  to  improve  a  valuable  and 
delicious  fruit. 

I  remain,  gentlemen,  your  obed't  servant, 

WM.  W.  VALKj  M,  D. 

Flushing,  L.  I.,  Sept.  12,  1852. 

N.  B.  The  fruit  is  not  fully  ripe.  Its  time  of  ripening  is  about 
1st  October.     I  have  to  send  it  as  it  is. 

On  motion  of  Mr.  Lines,  of  Connecticut,  the  subject  of  Straw- 
berries was  introduced. 

Mr.  French,  of  Massachusetts.  I  move  that  the  Jenney  seed- 
ling be  admitted  into  the  list  for  general  cultivation.  It  is  a  large, 
hardy  strawberry,  a  great  bearer,  and  thrifty  grower.  It  is  a  litile 
too  acid  for  some,  but  not  for  me.  It  will  bear  carriage  very  well, 
and  the  vine  keeps  the  fruit  concealed  from  the  birds. 

Mr.  Lines,  of  Connecticut.  It  is  a  very  solid  fruit,  and  much 
esteemed.     It  is  acid,  but  when  quite  ripe  Very  delicious. 

Mr.  R.  Parsons,  of  Long  Island.  We  think  none  can  super» 
sede  it. 

Mr.  Miller,  of  Pennsylvania.  I  have  found  it  very  fine,  and  I 
believe  it  can  be  eaten  even  without  sugar. 

The  motion  of  Mr.  French  to  admit  it  into  the  list  for  general 
cultivation  was  agreed  to. 

Dr.  Jones,  of  Ohio,  moved  that  Burr's  New  Pine  be  recom- 
mended for  general  cultivation,  which  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  French,  from  Massachusetts.  I  propose  the  Willie.  It  is 
a  first  rate  strawberry,  and  all  in  my  vicinity,  who  have  grown  it, 
speak  in  the  highest  praise  of  it  with  one  exception. 

Mr.  Lines,  of  Connecticut.  I  find  when  the  vine  has  been  stand- 
ing three  years,  it  is  difficult  to  get  it  as  large  as  it  was  before,  how- 
ever it  is  a  fine  fruit  and  enormous  bearer.  It  has  a  decided  ten- 
dency to  get  small,  .^ 


Two-thirds  of  the  members  not  voting  in  the  affirmative,  the 
motion  was  lost. 

Mr.  Robert  Parsons  asked  for  information  in  regard  to  the 
Crescent  seedling,  and  said,  that  the  White  Bicton  Pine  was  a 
large  strawberry,  of  a  high  flavor  and  beautiful  color. 

Mr.  Lines  said  he  would  like  to  know  something  about  the  Mc» 
Avoy  seedling* 

Dr.  Jones  said,  it  has  a  fair  reputation  in  Cincinnati,  though 
not  yet  much  cultivated. 

Mr.  R.  Parsons  said  he  knew  very  little  about  it,  but  thought 
it  was  better  than  the  English  strawberries  generally. 

Dr.  Peirce,  of  Washington,  D.  C,  said  he  had  cultivated  the 
Princess  Alice  Maud,  an  English  strawberry,  and  had  written  to 
Mr.  Slater  in  order  to  obtain  some  information  in  regard  to  it,  and 
from  whom  he  received  a  letter,  which  was  read,  and  will  be 
found  in  the  Report  of  the  State  Fruit  Committee  for  the  District 
of  Columbia. 

Mr.  French  said  he  found  it  too  tender  for  his  part  of  the 
country. 

Mr.  Young,  of  Kentucky,  next  proposed  for  the  consideration  of 
the  meeting  the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted  without 
dissent : 

Resolved,  That  this  Society  tender  to  the  officers  and  members 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticultural  Society,  and  to  the  citizens  of 
Philadelphia,  unfeigned  thanks,  for  the  generous  and  hospitable 
provisions  which  have  been  made  for  their  wants,  and  for  the  kind 
and  cordial  feeling  with  which  they  have  been  received  and  enter- 
tained during  their  session,  now  coming  to  a  close. 

Mr.  S.  B.  Parsons  said  he  thought  that  the  use  of  lime  was 
highly  desirable  for  the  purpose  of  killing  the  curculio. 

Mr.  Young,  of  Kentucky,  stated  that  he  had  used  it  success- 
fully. 

Mr.  Mines,  of  Connecticut,  said  that  several  gentlemen  had 
used  it  with  entire  success. 

Mr.  Saul,  said  that  sulphur  used  with  lime  was  better  than  the 
lime  itself. 

Mr.  Thomas,  of  New  York,  said  he  had  not  been  so  successful 
in  the  use  of  it,  and  he  thought  it  less  trouble  to  send  his  man  to 
kill  them,  and  less  diifguring  to  a  rural  lands-z^pe. 


49 

General  Patterson,  speaking  for  the  Pennsylvania  Horticul- 
tural Society,  of  which  he  is  President,  invited  the  Delegates, 
with  their  families,  to  attend  their  Exhibition  on  Wednesday, 
Thursday  and  Friday  of  this  week.  He  stated  they  could  receive 
tickets  gratis  of  Mr.  James,  of  this  city,  and  Treasurer  of  the 
American  Pomological  Society ;  and  also  that  they  would  be  re- 
ceived and  treated  with  the  utmost  kindness  and  consideration. 
The  General  then  offered  the  following  resolution,  which  was 
most  enthusiastically  received  and  agreed  to. 

Resolved,  That  the  cordial  thanks  of  this  Association  be  ten- 
dered to  the  Hon.  M.  P.  Wilder,  for  the  impartial  and  dignified 
manner  in  which  he  presided  over  our  deliberations ;  and  for  his 
able  and  eloquent  Eulogy  on  our  lamented  colleague,  the  late 
A.  J.  Downing,  Esq. 

Also,  Resolved,  That  we  tender  to  the  Secretaries  our  hearty- 
thanks  for  the  very  efficient  services  they  have  rendered  the  So- 
ciety. 

The  Hon.  Marshall  P.  W^ilder  said :  Gentlemen — I  will  not 
detain  you  at  this  late  hour,  except  to  express  my  obligations  for 
the  esteem  in  which  you  have  held  my  services.  Your  uniform 
courtesy  and  indulgence  have  afforded  me  great  facilities  in  dis- 
charging the  arduous  duties  of  the  Chair.  If  I  have  aided  in  the 
despatch  of  business,  or  have  advanced  in  any  way  the  objects  of 
the  Institution,  I  am  amply  repaid  for  all  my  labor.  The  consoli- 
dation of  the  two  national  associations  so  ably  referred  to  by  the 
ex-President  of  this  Society,  has  increased  the  interest  of  our  de- 
liberations, and  it  no  longer  remains  a  problem  whether  success 
shall  crown  our  efforts.  Our  commencement  was  begun  with  a 
determination  to  succeed ;  and,  gentlemen,  you  have  well  re- 
deemed the  pledge.  To  whatever  scenes  of  duty  I  may  hereafter 
be  called,  I  shall  ever  entertain  a  lively  sense  of  gratitude  for  the 
confidence  and  support  I  have  received  at  your  hands ;  and,  I 
shall  never  cease  to  cherish  a  most  sincere  desire  for  your  health 
and  happiness,  and  for  the  prosperity  of  this  Association.  [En- 
thusiastic applause.] 

Mr.  James  then  moved  an  adjournment  till  the  year  A.  D., 
1854,  in  Boston,  which  was  unanimously  carried. 


50 

LIST  OF  THE  CONTRIBUTORS  OF  FRUITS, 

The  subjoined  is  a  List  of  the  Contributors  of  Fruit,  with  the 
number  of  varieties  exhibited  by  each  at  the  present  Congress  :— - 

Jonathan  C.  Baldwin,  Downingtown,  Chester  Co.,  Pa. : — Ap- 
ples, 25  varieties. 

Isaac  B.  Baxter,  Philadelphia : — Pears,  32  varieties, — Grapes,  11 
varieties — Plums,  2  varieties — Seedling,  2  var. — Quinces,  2  var. 

Robert  Buist,  Rosedale  Nursery,  Philadelphia : — Pears,  40  var. 

Thomas  Blagden,  Washington,  D.  C. : — Pears,  12  varieties- 
Grapes,  8  varieties. 

John  Briell,  Newark,  N.  J.  :■ — Pears,  22  varieties. 

Francis  Briell,  Astoria,  Long  Island,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  1  variety, 
Newtown  Pippin. 

E.  E.  Clark,  New  Haven,  Ct. : — Grapes,  3  varieties. 

Wm.  R.  Coppock,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  6  varieties. 

Hon.  Joseph  S.  Cabot,  Salem,  Mass. : — Pears,  122  varieties. 

H.  W.  S.  Cleveland,  Burlington,  N.  J. : — Pears,  20  varieties — 
Grapes,  1  variety.  Black  Hamburg. 

George  B.  Deacon: — Apples,  62  varieties — Pears,  33  varieties. 

Charles  Downing,  Newburgh,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  120  varieties — 
Pears,  40  varieties — Plums,  5  varieties. 

A.  Emerson,  Bangor,  Maine : — Plums,  19  varieties. 

J.  Embree,  Chester  Co.,  Pa. : — Apples,  15  varieties — Pears,  3 
varieties. 

Dr.  J.  K.  Eshleman,  Downingtown,  Chester  Co.  Pa. : — Apples, 
4  varieties — Pears,  26  varieties. 

Lewis  Eaton,  Buffalo,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  10  varieties — Pears,  15 
varieties. 

A.  H.  Ernst,  Cincinnati,Ohio  : — Apples,  43  varieties — Pears,  39. 

Ellwanger  &  Barry,  Rochester,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  30  varieties — 
Pears,  140  varieties — Plums,  2  varieties. 

Hon.  B.  V.  French,  Braintree,  Mass. : — Apples,  154  varieties — 
Pears,  128  varieties. 

A.  Frost  &  Co.,  Rochester,  N.  Y. :— Apples,  42  varieties- 
Pears,  45  varieties. 

Townend  Glover,  Byrnesville,  Fishkill  Landing,  N.  Y. : — Col- 
lection of  model  Fruity  embracing — Apples^  26  varieties — PearSj 
50  varieties. 


51 

Samuel  J.  Gustin,  Newark,  N,  J. : — Pears,  42  varieties. 
Thomas  Hancock,  Ashton  Nursery,  Burlington,  N,  J.  : — Pears, 
108  varieties. 

Thomas  Harvey,  Jennerville,  Chester  Co.,  Pa.  : — Apples,  10 
varieties — Pears,  36  varieties — Peaches,  1  variety. 

Henry  Harbold,  Reading,  Pa. : — Apples,  1  variety,  the  Keim. 

N.  Holeman,  gardener  to  Charles  Bispham,  Mount  Holly,  N.  J. : 
Apples,  23  varieties. 

Jacob  Hewes,  Leiperville,  Delaware  Co.  Pa. : — Pears,  11  va- 
rieties. 

Thomas  Hogg  &  Son,  New  York : — Apples,  4  varieties — Pears, 
37  varieties — Plums,  1  variety. 

Hovey  &  Co.,  Boston,  Mass. : — Pears,  66  varieties. 
Thomas  P.  James,  Philadelphia : — Pears,  13  varieties. 
Charles  Kessler,  Reading,  Pa. : — Apples,  3  varieties — Pears,  5 
varieties. 

C.  B.  Lines  &  E.  E.  Clark,  New  Haven,  Ct. : — Pears,  9  native 
varieties. 

A.  Marshall,  &  Co.,  Westchester,  Pa. : — Apples,  18  varieties — = 
Pears,  3  varieties. 

Paschall  Morris  &  Co.,  Westchester,  Pa. : — Apples,  3  varieties 
— Pears,  43  varieties. 

Mahlon  Moon,  Bucks  Co.,  Pa. : — Pears,  33  varieties. 

Frederick  L.  Olmsted,  Staten  Island,  N.  Y. : — Apples,  1  va- 
riety, Imperial — Pears,  28  varieties. 

D.  Miller,  Jr.,  Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa.: — Apples, 
154  varieties. 

Parsons  &  Co.,  Flushing,  Long  Island  ; — Apples,  78  varieties — - 
Pears,  133 — Grapes,  foreign,  8. 

Joshua  Peirce,  Washington,  District  of  Columbia  ; — Apples,  16 
varieties ; — Pears,  21 — Madeira  nuts — Butternuts — and  specimens 
of  a  seedling  walnut,  said  to  have  originated  from  an  English 
Walnut,  but  evidently  a  cross  between  the  English  Walnut  and 
the  Butternut,  partaking  of  the  character  of  both. 

John  Perkins,  Moorestown,  New  Jersey  : — Apples,  92  varieties. 

William  Reid,  Elizabethtown,  N.  Jersey: — -Pears,  95  varieties. 

A.  Saul  &  Co.,  Newburgh,  New  York: — Pears,  73  varieties- 
Plums,  11. 


52 

A.  M.  Spangler,  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania : — Pears,  Doyenne 
Blanc — Peaches,  1,  a  Seedling. 

E.  G.  Studley,  Claverack,  Columbia  county,  New  York :— Ap- 
ples, 17  varieties — Pears,  10 — Plums,  1. 

E.  Tatnall,  jr.,  Wilmington,  Delaware  : — -Apples,  18  varieties — 
Pears,  46. 

Oliver  Taylor,  Loudon  county,  Virginia: — Apples,  12  varieties 
— Pears,  5 — Peach  1,  Forney's  Free  Stone. 

W.  P.  Townsend,  Lockport,  New  York : — Pears,  16  varieties. 

Dr.  W.  W.  Valk,  Flushing,  Long  Island : — Grape,  1  variety — 
a  seedling  hybrid. 

Peter  Weaver,  Montgomery  county,  Pennsylvania : — Apples,  2 
varieties — Pears,  2 — Plums,  2 — Grape,  1. 

J.  H.  Watts,  Rochester,  New  York : — Apples,  3  varieties — 
Pears,  1 — Paintings  of  Northern  Spy,  St.  Lawrence,  Oswego, 
Beurre  and  Yellow  Spanish  Cherry. 

Hon.  Samuel  Walker,*  Roxbury,  Massachusetts  :■ — Pears,  67 
varieties. 

Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder,  Boston,  Massachusetts : — Pears,  200 
varieties. 

Lawrence  Young,  Louisville,  Kentucky : — Lemon,  1  variety, 
the  Picola. 

Several  other  collections,  some  quite  large,  were  exhibited,  but 
the  contributors  neglected  to  hand  in  a  list  of  them.  And  several 
lists  were  handed  in  without  the  name  of  the  contributor. 

FRUIT  CATALOGUE  OF  THE  AMERICAN   POMOLOGI- 

CAL  SOCIETY. 

FRUITS  WORTHY  OF  GENERAL  CULTIVATION. 

APPLES. 

American  Summer  Pearmain,         Gravenstein, 

Baldwin,  Hubbardston  Nonsuch. 

Bullock's  Pippin,  Large  Yellow  Bough, 

Dan  vers  Winter  Sweet,  Lady  Apple, 

Early  Harvest,  Porter, 

Early  Strawberry,  Red  Astrachan, 

Fall  Pippin,  Rhode  Island  Greening? 

Fameuse,  Roxbury  Russet, 


53 


Summer  Rose, 

And  for  particular  localities. 

Swaar, 

Canada  Red, 

Vandervere, 

Esopus  Spitzenburg, 

White  Seek-no-Further, 

Newtown  Pippin, 

Wine  Apple,  or  Hays, 

Northern  Spy, 

Winesap, 

Yellow  Belle  Fleur. 

PEARS. 

Ananas  d'Ete, 

Madeleine. 

Andrews, 

Paradise  d'Automne, 

Belle  Lucrative  or  Fondante         Rostiezer, 

d'Automne, 

Seckel, 

Beurre  d'Anjou, 

Tyson, 

Beurre  d'Aremberg, 

Urbaniste, 

Beurre  Bosc, 

Uvedale's   St.    Germain,   for 

Bloodgood, 

baking, 

Buffum, 

Vicar  of  Winkfield, 

Dearborn's  Seedling, 

Williams'  Boncretien  or  Bart- 

Doyenne  d'Ete, 

lett. 

Flemish  Beauty, 

Winter  Nelis, 

Fulton, 

And  for  particular  localities. 

Golden  Beurre  of  Bilboa, 

,               Grey  Doyenne, 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey, 

W^hite  Doyenne. 

APRICOTS. 

Breda, 

Moorpark. 

Large  Early, 

NECTARINES. 

Downton, 

Elruge. 

Early  Violet, 

PEACHES. 

Bergen's  Yellow, 

Grosse  Mignonne, 

Cooledge's  Favorite, 

Morris  White, 

Crawford's  Late, 

Old  Mixon  Free, 

Early  York,  serrated^ 

And  for  particular  localities;. 

Early  York,  large, 

Heath  Cling. 

George  the  IVth, 

54 


PLUMS. 


Bieecker^s  Gage, 
Coe's  Golden  Drop, 
Frost  Gage, 
Green  Gage, 
Jefferson, 
Lawrence's  Favorite, 


Belle  Magnifique, 
Black  Eagle, 
Black  Tartarian, 
Downer's  Late, 
Downton, 


Purple  Gage, 

Purple  Favorite, 

Washington, 

And  for  particular  localities. 

Imperial  Gage. 


CHERRIES. 


Elton, 

Early  Richmond,  for  cooking, 
Graffion  or  Bigarreau,] 
Knight's  Early  Black, 
May  Duke. 


GRAPES. 


Under  Glass. 
Black  Hamburg, 
Black  Prince, 
Black  Frontignan, 
Chasselas  de  Fontainebleau, 
Grizzly  Frontignan, 


White  Frontignan, ' 

White  Muscat  of  Alexandria, 

Open  culture^ 
Catawba, 
Isabella. 


Fastolf, 
Franconia, 

Boston  Pine, 
Hovey's  Seedling, 


Black  Naples, 
May's  Victoria, 
Red  Dutch. 


RASPBERRIES. 

Red  Antwerp, 
Yellow  Antwerp. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

Jenney's  Seedling. 
Large  Early  Scarlet. 


CURRANTS. 


White  Dutch, 
White  Grape. 


Crown  Bob, 
Early  Sulphur, 
Green  Gage, 


GpOSEBERRIES. 


Green  Walnut, 
Houghton's  Seedling, 
Iron-monger, 


55 


Laurel  5 

Red  ChampagnCj 


Warrington. 

Woodward's  White  Smith. 


NEW  VARIETIES  WHICH  PROMISE  WELL, 

APPLES. 

Mother, 
Northern  Spy, 


Autumn  Bough 

Hawley, 

Melon, 


Smoke-house. 


PEARS. 


Brandywine, 

Brande's  St.  Germain, 

Beurre  GifTard, 

Chancellor, 

Doyenne  Boussock, 

Doyenne  Goubault, 

Duchesse  d'Orleans, 

Duchesse  de  Berri, 

Dilier, 

Jalousie  de  Fontenay  Vendee, 

Kirtland, 


Limon, 

Manning's  Elizabeth:, 

Nouveau  Poiteau, 

Onondaga, 

Ott, 

Pratt, 

Paradise  d'Automne, 

St.  Michel  Archange^ 

Stevens'  Genessee, 

Striped  Madeleine^ 

Van  Assene. 


PLUMS. 


McLaughlin, 
Prince's  Yellow  Gage, 


Rivers'  Favorite, 
St.  Martin's  Quetche, 


CHERRIES. 


Bigarreau  Monstreuse  de  Bavay,       Reine  Hortense. 
Early  Purple  Guigne. 


Diana. 


Knevett's  Giant. 


GRAPES. 


-RASPBERRIES. 


STRAWBERBIES, 


Burr's  New  Pine.. 


56 


REJECTED   FRUITS< 


APPLES. 


Beachemwell, 

Gheeseboro'  Russet, 

Caroline  (English), 

Cathead, 

Dodge's  Early  Red, 

Egg  Topp, 

Fenouillet  Rouge, 

Gloucester  White, 

Golden  Reinette, 

Gray  French  Reinette 

Grand  Sachem, 

Henry's  Weeping  Pippin, 

Hoary  Morning, 

Irish  Peach, 

Kirke's  Lord  Nelson, 


Large  Red  Sweeting, 

Marmalade  Pippin, 

Muscovia, 

Pennock, 

Priestly, 

Pigeonette, 

Red  Ingestrie, 

Red  Doctor, 

Red  or  Royal  Russet, 

Rowland's  Red  Streak, 

Salina, 

White  Ingestrie, 

Woolston's  Red  Streak. 

Woolston's  White  Sweet. 


PEARSt 


Admiral, 

Aston  Town, 

Angers, 

Autumn  Bergamot, 

Alexander  of  Russia, 

Ah !  Mon  Dieu, 

Bon  Chretien,  Spanish, 

Bon  Chretien,  Brussells, 

Bergamotte  Sylvange, 

Bergamotte  Fortunee, 

Beauty  of  Winter, 

Belmont, 

Beurre  d'Angleterre, 

Beurre  Seutin, 

Beurre  of  Bolwiller, 

Beurre  Knox. 

Bezi  Vaet, 

Bruno  de  Bosco, 


Blanquet  a  Longue  Queue, 

Burgomaster, 

Bleecker's  Meadow, 

Citron  of  Bohemia, 

Cuvelier, 

Chat  Bruce, 

Chair  a  Dame, 

Charles  Van  Mons,  (Old), 

Cassolette, 

Compte  de  Fresnel, 

Copea, 

Caillot  Rosat, 

Clara, 

Clinton, 

Clapp, 

Citron  de  Sierenz, 

Croft  Castle, 

Crassane, 


Dearborn  of  Van  Mons, 

Downton, 

Duquesne  d'Ete, 

Doyenne  Mons, 

Deschamp's  New  Late, 

Dumbarton, 

Doyenn6  Dore, 

D'Amour, 

Elton, 

Endicott, 

Famenga, 

Frederick  of  Prussia, 

Forme  Urbaniste, 

Fantasie  Van  Mons, 

Forme  des  Delices, 

French  Iron, 

Franc  Real  d'Hiver, 

Green  Yair, 

Grise  Bonne, 

Garnstone, 

Green  Catherine, 

Green  Sugar, 

Gros  Blanquet, 

Green  Chisel, 

Hays, 

Hawthorne's  Seedling, 

Horticulture, 

Hastiveau, 

Hessell, 

Huguenot, 

Ipswich  Holland, 

Jargonelle  (of  the  French), 

Kramelsbirne, 

Lederbirue, 

Louise  Bonne, 

Lansac, 

Lincoln, 

Louis  of  Bologne, 


Madotte, 

Madame  Vert, 

Miller's  Seedling, 

Marquise, 

Marcellis, 

Michaux, 

Navet, 

Orange, 

Orange  Tulipee, 

Petit  Muscat, 

Princess  of  Orange, 

Piatt's  Bergamotte, 

Passe  Long  Bras, 

Prince's  Portugal, 

Pope's  Scarlet  Major, 

Phillips, 

Pitfour, 

Pitt's  Marie  Louise, 

Rousselet  de  Rheims, 

Rousselette  St.  Vincent, 

Royale  d'Hiver, 

Swuss  Bergamotte, 

Souvereine, 

Swan's  Egg, 

St.  Bruno, 

Sans  Pepins, 

Surpasse  Meuris, 

Summer  Rose, 

Thompson  of  New  Hampshire, 

Tucker's  Seedling, 

Trubcherdy  Dulle, 

True  Gold  of  Summer, 

Whitfield, 

Winter  Orange, 

Wurzer  d'Automne, 

Winter  Crassane, 

Yutte. 


68 
KEPORTS  OF   STATE    FRUIT  COMMITTEES. 

REPORT   FROM    MAINE. 

Although  a  portion  of  the  State  of  Maine  has  been  permanently 
settled  since  A.  D.  1630,  and  apples,  pears,  and  other  fruits  were 
early  planted  in  some  sections,  yet  the  systematic  cultivation  of  such 
fruits,  and  of  improved  varieties,  has,  comparatively  speaking,  but 
recently  begun  to  attract  attention  among  our  people  generally. 

It  is  true,  that  in  some  towns  you  will  find  the  good  effects  pro- 
duced by  the  zeal  and  taste  of  some  enterprising  person  or  persons, 
who  planted  orchards,  and  took  pains  to  introduce  the  select  and 
choice  fruits  of  their  time  many  years  ago.  But  these  were  the 
exceptions,  and  their  exertions  were  isolated,  in  a  certain  degree, 
and  confined  mainly  to  their  immediate  neighborhood.  Among 
the  fruit  pioneers  were  the  late  Hon.  Dr.  Vaughan,  of  Hallowell, 
and  the  Hon.  Ephraim  Goodale,  of  Orrington,  still  living  at  an 
advanced  age. 

The  Territory  of  Maine  is  large,  extending  about  300  miles 
from  east  to  west,  or  through  more  than  four  degrees  of  longitude, 
and  from  south  to  north  through  nearly  five  degrees  of  latitude. — 
This  extent  of  surface  would,  of  itself,  cause  quite  a  diversity  of 
climate.  The  peculiar  location,  and  the  face  of  the  country  also, 
adds  to  this  diversity.  In  the  first  place  we  have  more  than  300 
miles  of  sea-coast,  with  all  its  incidents  of  creek,  and  bay,  and 
cape,  and  promontory,  and  islands.  In  the  next  place,  we  have 
extending,  far  into  the  interior,  plains  and  mountains,  lakes  and 
rivers,  with  all  the  accompanying  changes  of  soil,  from  primitive 
upward,  and  from  rich  alluvion  to  barren  heath.  From  these 
causes  there  must,  inevitably,  be  quite  a  difference  of  climate  in 
diflferent  localities,  sufficient  to  vary  essentially  the  times  of  ripen- 
ing of  many  kinds  of  fruit — we  can  introduce  you  to  a  portion  of 
the  State,  where  most  of  the  choice  varieties  of  the  apple  grow 
and  mature  in  perfection,  and  without  traveUing  beyond  our  boun- 
daries also  introduce  you  to  the  very  northern  limit  of  the  apple 
region,  or  at  least  where  it  is  difficult  to  mature  more  than  a  very 
few  varieties  of  that  fruit.  In  one  section,  extending  from  the 
western  boundary  to  the  central  portions  and  along  most  of  the 
sea-board,  the  well-known  Roxbury  Russet  grows  and  matures  in 
abundance  and  perfection,  while  in  the  north-eastern  section  the 


59 

a  utumnal  season  is  not  long  enough  or  warm  enough  to  allow  it  to 
mature ;  yet  some  of  the  earlier  varieties  of  northern  origin,  such 
as  the  Red  Astrachan,  Duchesse  d' Oldenburg,  and  also  the  Fara- 
euse  and  Ribstone  Pippin,  exhibit  a  condition  of  growth  and  flavor 
deemed  by  many  to  be  superior  to  any  raised  in  other  parts  of 
New  England. 

It  will,  therefore,  be  borne  in  mind  that  the  notes  on  fruits  here- 
with  submitted  as  fl^ourishing  and  ripening  in  Maine,  have  refer- 
ence to  the  first  named  portions  of  the  State,  and  not  to  the  north- 
easterly part  on  the  valley  of  the  St.  John.  The  latter  is  as  yet  but 
sparsely  settled,  though  it  has  a  fertile  soil,  and  is  still  a  region 
where  the  hardy  pioneer  is  making  way  for  future  improvements 
in  the  culture  of  field  and  garden  products.  During  the  first  25 
years  of  the  present  century,  almost  every  farmer  planted  an  or- 
chard, and  some  of  them  very  large  ones.  The  trees  were  mostly 
seedlings,  and  the  principal  object  in  view  was  the  manufacture 
of  cider,  which  then  commanded  a  ready  market  and  high  price. 
In  process  of  time  the  supply  o£  this  article  far  exceeded  the 
demand,  and  consequently  attention  is  now  turned  to  engrafting 
these  trees  into  varieties  of  established  reputation  in  the  market  as 
table  fruits.  Those  who  now  plant  orchards  are  careful  to  select 
the  best  varieties.  From  the  immense  number  of  seedling  trees 
which  compose  the  older  orchards  among  us,  some  very  excellent 
varieties  have  been  found,  and  are  worthy  of  propagation,  and 
though  they  may  not  yet  be  widely  known  or  fully  proved  in  other 
localities  are  nevertheless  highly  valued  in  the  vicinity  of  their 
origin. 

The  present  season  has  been  a  fruitful  one,  and  marked  by  some 
peculiarities.  Very  little  rain  fell  from  the  middle  of  May  until 
the  latter  part  of  August — in  some  parts  of  the  State,  the  drought 
was  severe  and  crops  suffered.  The  value  of  mulching  has  been 
seen  in  an  eminent  degree  in  the  case  of  newly  planted  trees, 
which  have  made  a  fine  growth,  while  of  those  not  so  treated 
many  failed  and  others  barely  survived.  The  heat  and  drought 
combined  have  caused  some  fruits  to  ripen  prematurely,  and  we 
notice  considerable  variation  from  the  usual  period  of  ripening  in 
pears,  especially  Doyenne  d'Ete  and  Madeleine  ripened  as  usual 
the  first  half  of  August — we  have  now  (Sept.  1st)  Dearborn's 
Seedling,  Rosdezer  Bartlett,  Beurre  d^Amalis,  Belle  Lucrative, 


60 

Flemish  Beauty,  Marie  Louise,  and  others,  which  usually  furnish 
a  supply  during  two  months,  all  ripening  together.  The  later  sorts, 
as  Aremburg,  Vicar  of  Winkfield,  Napoleon,  &c.,  which  just  be- 
fore the  late  heavy  rains  parted  readily  from  the  tree  and  seemed 
on  the  point  of  ripening,  are  now  firmly  attached  and  rapidly 
swelling,  and  bid  fair  to  mature  at  the  usual  period. 

The  crop  of  Apples  is  large.  Of  fine  Pears  more  will  be 
grown  than  in  any  previous  year,  and  so  of  choice  Plums  in  the 
central  and  Eastern  parts  of  the  State,  particularly  in  the  vicinity 
of  Bangor,  where  the  Curculio  seems  to  have  suspended  opera- 
tions for  this  season  at  least.  In  the  Western  part  of  the  State 
the  blossom  buds,  which  were  never  more  abundant,  shrivelled 
and  fell  in  spring,  from  some  cause,  without  opening.  [Query^ 
What  was  the  cause  ?] 

APPLES. 

BelPs  Early^similar  to,  if  not  identical  with,  Sopsavine  or  Sops 
of  Wine — best — productive  and  highly  esteemed. 

Early  Sweet  Bough — best. 

Red  Astrachan — good— productive  and  profitable. 

Dutchess  of  Oldenburg- — good — productive  and  profitable. 

Williams'  Favorite— very  good — ^needs  high  culture. 

Porter — best — productive  and  fine. 

Vermont — very  like  the  Porter  in  form  and  color,  flesh  more 
tender,  of  milder  flavor,  and  a  week  or  ten  days  earlier — probably 
same  as  the  apple  more  recently  known  as  Walworth,  and  also  by 
other  names — has  been  cultivated  here  upwards  of  forty  years, 
and  considered  highly  valuable. 

Gravenstein — best — productive,  excellent. 

Golden  or  Orange  Sv»reet — best — productive — tree  of  moderate 
growth. 

Fameuse — ^very  good — hardy  and  bears  well. 

Nodhead  or  Jewett's  fine  Red — best — delicate  flavor,  skin  thin, 
and  liable  to  the  curculio,  its  only  fault. 

Winthrop  Greening — very  good,  if  not  best — originated  in 
Winthrop — large,  tender,  crisp,  and  sprightly  flavor. 

Hubbardston  Nonsuch — best — of  rapidly  increasing  popularity. 

Minister — very  good — productive. 


61 

Baldwin — best,  productive  and  fine — young  trees  very  liable  to 
be  winter-killed. 

Rhode  Island  Greening — very  good,  and  reliable — best  cooking 
apple. 

Roxbury  Russet — very  good — profitable  for  its  long  keeping. 

Ribstone  Pippin — best — fully  sustains  its  English  reputation. 

Vandervere — best — -beautiful'  and  fine. 
V  Golden  Ball — very  good — tree  hardy  and  a  good  grower,  but 
not  an  early  or  great  bearer — often  supposed  to  be  a  native  of 
Maine,  but  is  not — some  fifty  years  ago  the  scions  were  brought 
from  Connecticut  without  name,  and  for  thirty  years  or  more 
known  only  as  the  "  Connecticut  Apple." 

Danvers  Winter  Sweet — very  good,  long  keeping. 

Talman's  Sweet — -good,  profitable. 

Blue  Pearmain — very  good,  fair  and  fine. 

Mother — best — moderate  grower  and  bearer. 

Northern  Spy — rapid  grower  and  very  hardy,  has  fruited  but 
two  years — specimens  not  uniform,  the  well  grown  ones  only  be- 
ing, very  fine — is  likely  to  be  well  proved,  as  large  numbers  of 
young  trees  have  been  planted. 

PEARS. 

The  cultivation  of  this  fine  fruit  is  rapidly  extending  in  this 
State,  a  great  impetus  having  been  imparted  by  the  introduction 
of  the  Quince  stock,  it  being  found  by  the  use  of  the  Angers  variety, 
and  the  careful  selection  of  sorts  adapted  to  it,  many  varieties  can 
be  grown  in  the  highest  perfection,  which  either  entirely  failed  on 
the  pear  root,  or  would  not  repay  the  trouble  and  cost  of  cultiva- 
tion. 

Doyenne  d'Ete — best  early  pear — -tree  of  feeble  growth  and 
overbears. 

Dearborn's  Seedling — very  good,  productive. 

Bartlett — best — but  on  pear  root  trees  very  tender — hardier  on 
quince. 

Beurre  d'AmaUs — good,  often  very  good — perfectly  hardy,  and 
a  prodigious  grower  and  bearer  on  quince. 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey— best— hardy  and  productive—on 
quince  only. 


62 

Belle  Lucrative  or  Fondante  d'Automne — best— productive  and 
delicious- — pear  or  quince. 

Marie  Louise — -usually  very  good— somewhat  variable — pear 
root  only. 

Beurre  Bosc— best— so  far  as  proved — pear  only. 

Flemish  Beauty — best — combines  more  good  qualities  than  any 
other  pear — -grown  so  far  mostly  on  pear  stock. 

Rostiezer — best- — small  but  fine. 

Seckel — The  cultivation  of  this  popular  fruit  is  in  this  state  in 
four  cases  out  of  five,  a  complete  failure — the  trees  neither  grow 
nor  bear— double  worked  on  the  quince  it  has  succeeded  tolerably 
in  some  instances. 

Fulton — best,  a  native  of  Maine,  and  is  here  what  the  Seckel  is 
in  Pennsylvania. 

Jalousie  de  Fontenay  Vendee — so  far  as  two  years'  trial  goes  we 
think  very  highly  of. 

White  Do^'enne — best,  on  quince  in  most  localities  as  good  as 
in  olden  time. 

Urbaniste— very  good— pear  or  quince. 

Napoleon  do.  do. 

McLaughlin— a  native  of  Maine,  very  good  on  pear  only. 

Duchesse  d'Angouleme — very  good,  hardy  and  fine,  on  quince 
only. 

Glout  Morceau— very  good,  more  productive  on  quince  than 
on  pear. 

Passe  Colmar — -very  good,  best  on  quince,  very  hardy  and  de- 
sirable— liable  to  overbear. 

Winter  Nelis — best— productive  and  equally  good  on  pear  and 
quince. 

Beurre  d'Aremb erg— several  varieties  are  cultivated  under  this 
name,  two  of  which  are  similar,  yet  we  think  distinct,  and  answer 
to  the  description  in  standard  works — best— very  productive  on 
quince,  high  flavor  and  much  esteemed. 

Vicar  of  W^inkfield— good- — often  very  good— improves  with 
age  of  tree— most  productive  and  profitable— a  good  cooking  pear 
also,  and  can  be  grown  cheaper  per  bushel,  for  this  purpose,  than 
any  other. 


63 

QUINCES. 

Fine  crops  of  the  apple  or  orange  variety  have  been  grown  in 
the  Western  part  of  the  State,  and  in  the  valley  of  the  Kenne- 
bec ;  but  in  other  portions  the  winter  is  too  severe,  and  they 
generally  fail. 

GRAPES. 

The  finer  foreign  grapes,  as  Hamburg,  Chasselas,  Muscat,  &c. 
ripen  as  well  under  glass  in  cold  houses  as  in  any  other  state;  but 
for  open  culture  we  greatly  need  a  good  variety  at  least  a  month 
earlier  than  the  Isabella,  which  rarely  matures  perfectly,  and  the 
Catawba  never — such  an  one  we  are  not  without  hope  of  obtain- 
ing from  among  the  many  seedlings  now  on  trial. 

PLUMS. 

Great  quantities  of  this  fruit  are  raised  in  Maine,  but  most  suc- 
cessfully on  the  Penobscot  river,  in  Bangor  and  vicinity,  where 
plums  meet  a  ready  sale,  at  prices  from  three  to  five  dollars  per 
bushel.     The  following  are  most  cultivated  : 

McLaughlin — we  consider  this  the  best,  and  is  faultless. 

Washington — first  rate,  and  a  good  bearer  in  Maine. 

Jefferson — first  rate,  and  a  great  bearer. 

Green  Gage — first  rate — w^ell  known  where  the  plum  is  culti- 
vated. 

Imperial  Gage — first  rate — very  productive  and  profitable. 

Bleecker's  Gage — first  rate — hardy  and  a  good  bearer. 

Columbia — good;  showy,  and  a  great  bearer — large  and  hand- 
some. 

Royal  Hative — first  rate — early  plum,  preferred  here  to  the 
Purple  Gage. 

Purple  Favorite — first  rate,  productive  and  fine  flavor. 

Corse's  Nota  Bene — first  rate — one  of  the  best  purple  plums — 
and  hardy. 

Lombard,  or  Bleecker's  Scarlet — good  in  all  soils,  and  produc- 
tive. 

White  Magnum  Bonum,  or  Yellow  Egg — second  rate,  large 
plum — very  popular  for  preserves. 

Among  other  plums  highly  esteemed  are  the  Imperial  Ottoman, 


64 

Drap  d^Of;  Lawrence's  Favorite,  Smith's  Orleans,  Yellow  Gage, 
Hudson  Gage,  and  Apricot. 

CHERRIES. 

This  fruit  is  not  extensively  cultivated  in  Maine,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  Kentish.  This  is  the  hardiest  and  most  reliable  in 
this  State,  as  it  will  thrive  farther  north  than  any  other — add  to 
this  May  Duke,  Belle  de  Choisy,  Black  Eagle,  Downer's  Late, 
Elton  and  Downton. 

From  experiments  in  progress  we  hope  that  the  Mahaleb  stock 
may  do  for  us  with  this  fruit,  what  the  quince  stock  has  done  for 
the  pear. 

GOOSEBERRIES. 

This  fruit  is  cultivated  by  many  persons  in  the  State  somewhat 
extensively,  and  thousands  of  plants  have  been  imported  from 
England,  and  most  of  the  fine  English  varieties  succeed  well  in 
many  localities.  They  grow  to  a  very  large  size,  but  for  quality 
and  productiveness  the  Houghton's  Seedling,  an  American  hybrid 
sort,  surpasses  them  all,  and  as  it  has  never  been  known  to  mildew 
in  any  situation,  it  is  deservedly  held  in  high  esteem. 

Joseph  Sinclair,  of  Levant,  in  1848,  purchased  one  plant  of 
this  variety,  paying  therefor  twenty-five  cents.  He  has  sold  from 
layers  and  slips,  which  he  has  multiplied  from  the  said  plant,  over 
fifty  dollars  worth,  and  has  one  hundred  plants  on  hand  at  the  date 
of  this  report.  It  would  be  safe  to  say  he  has  received  a  profit  of 
vsixty  dollars  on  his  outlay  of  twenty-five  cents. 

RASPBERRIES. 

Fastolf,  Franconia  and  Knevet's  Giant  are  uniformly  fine,  and 
give  satisfaction.  Antwerps  often  fail.  River's  large  fruited 
monthly  promises  well. 

STRAWBERRIES 

Are  not  extensively  cultivated  in  Maine.  Our  fields  abound 
with  the  wild  ones,  which  are  mostly  used.  Among  those  mostly 
cultivated  are 

Hovey's  Seedling. 

Early  Virginia. 

Jenny's  Seedling. 

Boston  Pine. 


A 


65 

To  conclude,  we  believe  that  it  is  only  necessary  for  us,  in 
order  to  produce  an  ample  supply  of  the  most  delicious  fruit,  to 
understand  what  varieties  best  suit  our  climate,  combining  in  the 
greatest  degree  the  requisites  of  hardihood,  vigor  of  growth,  pro- 
ductiveness and  high  quality,  and  to  act  accordingly. 
All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

HENRY  LITTLE,  of  Bangor, 
EZEKIEL  HOLMES,  of  Winthrop, 
S.  L.  GOODALE,  of  Saco, 
B.  F.  NOURSE,  of  Bangor, 
ALEX.  JOHNSON,  Jr.,  of  Wiscasset. 

REPORT  FROM  VERMONT. 

The  season  the  past  year  in  Vermont,  has  been  a  peculiar  one 
for  fruit  culture.  The  winter  commenced  at  least  three  weeks 
earlier  than  usual,  suddenly,  and  when  trees  had  scarcely  stopped 
growing ;  consequently,  trees  were  much  winter-killed  by  the  most 
severe  winter  in  Vermont  for  many  years.  Nurserymen  suffered 
severely,  particularly  in  Seedling  Pears  ;  many,  in  fact  most  of 
them,  were  lost  by  "heaving  out,"  which  I  had  never  before 
known  to  any  extent. 

The  spring  was  cold,  late,  and  very  dry — very  little  rain  in 
March  and  April — less  than  f  of  an  inch  in  May ;  so  that  as  a 
w^hole  it  may  be  noted  as  one  of  the  worst  season  ever  known  for 
planting  trees  of  every  description. 

The  season  was  about  ten  days  later  than  an  average—apple 
trees  not  in  bloom  until  the  last  of  May. 

APPLES 

Are  the  fruit  of  Vermont,  a  large  portion  of  the  inhabitants  out 
of  villages  having  no  other,  excepting  the  most  common  Plums. 
The  crop  this  season  is  perhaps  less  than  half  an  average.  The 
early  part  of  June  was  cold  and  wet,  and  although  they  flowered 
very  full,  the  cold  wet  weather  caused  a  large  portion  to  drop 
when  the  size  of  peas. 


PEARS. 


The  same  as  Apples. 
9 


66 


PLUMS. 

Very  abundant.  From  the  most  delicate  sorts  down  to  the 
Canada  or  native  Plum  of  many  parts  of  the  state,  the  trees  are 
literally  breaking  under  their  loads  of  fruit. 

GRAPES. 

Same  as  Plums^ — no  mildew. 

Diseases. —  The  Apple  under  ordinary  culture  is  healthy,  no 
special  diseases.  The  borer  in  some  places  is  troublesome  to 
young  trees,  but  not  generally. 

Pears — Old  trees  uniformly  healthy.  Young  trees  sometimes 
injured  by  blight.  This  is,  however,  very  little  known,  but  in- 
creasing.    No  remedy  but  cutting  off. 

Plums — Generally  healthy.  In  some  parts  of  the  state  there  is 
some  complaint  of  black  knots,  but  in  Burlington  and  north  in  the 
Valley  of  the  Lake,  all  diseases  of  Plum  trees  are  unknown. 

Varieties. — The  state  having  Apples  introduced  from  Canada 
by  Merchants  in  the  lumber  trade — and  by  settlers  from  Massa- 
chusetts, Rhode  Island,  and  Connecticut,  without  names,  has  many 
sorts  cultivated  extensively  wdth  only  local  names.  Among  well= 
known  varieties,  the 

Rhode  Island  Greening  is  most  extensively  cultivated.  Har- 
dy and  productive  in  all  parts  of  the  state* 

Baldwin — Hardy  and  productive.  Were  I  limited  to  one  sort, 
it  should  be  the  Baldwin. 

Roxbury  Russet — Hardy,  good  bearer,  but  not  as  great  a  bearer 
as  the  Baldwin.  ^ 

Esopus  Spitzenberg — Much  cultivated,  is  apt  to  be  spotted ; 
too  tender  for  all  parts  of  the  state. 

Newtown  Pippin — Too  tender  excepting  for  the  most  favorable 
locations.     Some  seasons  good,  others  worthless. 

Northern  Spy — ^Not  yet  fully  proved,  no  Apple  grows  better,  or 
appears  more  hardy.  Fruit  this  season  fair  and  looks  as  well  as 
any  sort  whatever — ^has  not  before  fruited  in  the  state,  excepting  a 
few  specimens. 

Summer  Apples. — Early  Harvest  and  Bough  are  among  the 
most  common  old  sorts,  and  good  in  perfection. 


•       67 

Red  Astrachan — Hardy  and  very  fair. 

Duchess  of  Oldenburgh — Same. 

Autumn. — Gravenstein — Hardy  and  one  of  the  best,  if  not  the 
best;  autumn  Apple. 

Porter — Hardy  and  productive. 

Many  new  sorts  are  in  course  of  trial.  Some  cultivators  can 
exhibit  more  than  100  named  varieties,  but  their  culture  has  not 
been  extensive  enough  to  speak  with  much  confidence.  Of  Seed- 
lings there  are  many  on  trial  in  various  parts  of  the  state,  and  some 
believed  to  be  fully  equal  to  any  known  sorts. 

PEARS. 

The  White  Doyenne  is  the  most  common  of  old  sorts,  and  is 
healthy  in  all  parts  of  the  state.     Fruit  fair. 

Dearborn's  Seedling — Very  hardy  and  productive. 

Bartlett — Grows  well  near  the  Lake  and  warm  parts  of  the 
state.     Too  tender  for  the  colder  portions. 

Vicar  of  Winkfield — Hardy,  but  requires  too  long  a  season  for 
all  parts  of  the  state. 

Seckel — Very  hardy. 

Pears  on  Quince — have  only  been  cultivated  a  few  years.  Many 
are  now  planted  yearly.  They,  so  far,  promise  well,  and  have  not 
been  injured  by  winter.  The  various  sorts  of  pears  have  not  been 
sufficiently  cultivated  to  speak  with  confidence  of  their  compara- 
tive merits.  Large  collections  of  both  foreign  and  native  sorts 
have  been  made,  and  many  are  bearing ;  and  in  a  few  years  relia- 
ble notes  may  be  taken.  In  no  part  of  the  country  do  they 
promise  better  than  in  many  parts  of  this  State,  and  generally  so 
far  no  disease  among  them. 

PLUMS. 

Many  parts  of  the  State  are  the  natural  places  for  plums.  I  have 
succeeded  in  growing  every  variety  tried  (more  than  50)  excepting 
the  Peach  plum,  which  so  far  has  proved  too  delicate  for  our  climate. 

GRAPES. 

Miller'' s  Burgundy  and  White  Sweet  Water  are  the  most  common 
foreign  sorts  and  ripen  well.  The  Isabella  requires  favorable  loca- 
tions. Catawba^  hardy  but  too  late.  The  native  grapes  of  New 
England  are  generally  cultivated,  and  seedlings  are  every  year  in- 
creasing, some  of  which  promise  well. 


68 

There  have  been  introduced,  within  a  few  years,  pears  and  apples 
from  every  portion  of  the  United  States,  which  with  many  seed- 
lings are  in  course  of  trial.  Before  another  Convention,  reliable 
notes  of  a  long  number  of  pears  and  apples  may  be  made  which 
with  notes  of  climate,  will  be  of  general  interest. 

Burlington,  Aug.  26,  1852.  C.  Goodrich. 

REPORT  FROM  NEW  YORK. 

A  long  residence  in  what  is  known  as  Western  New  York,  (at 
Rochester,)  enables  me  to  give  some  of  the  early  impressions  rela- 
tive to  Fruit  Trees,  as  well  as  the  numerous  Fruits  grown  there, 
within  35  years  last  past  in  that  location. 

Coming  from  New  Hampshire,  a  State  which  had  hardly  grown 
peaches,  I  remember  with  what  zest  I  ate  the  first  peach  I  ever 
saw  at  Rochester,  and  it  is  a  fact  worth  remembrance  that  35  years 
ago,  the  Royal  Kensington  Peach  was  grown  in  the  virgin  soil  of 
Monroe,  then  Genessee  county. 

My  father,  in  the  year  1817,  purchased  the  first  dozen  of  peache^ 
which  he  saw  there,  and  as  he  had  just  located  what  he  deemed 
his  home  lot,  he  with  great  care  kept  and  planted  the  pits  of  the 
peaches  mentioned. 

From  them  seven  fine  thrifty  trees  sprung  up  which  at  their  bear- 
ing proved  identical  with  the  peaches  he  bought,  and  which  were 
the  Royal  Kensington  Variety. 

Those  Trees  w^ere  moved  to  another  lot,  and  most  of  them  lived 
25  years,  fine  bearing  trees,  and  the  variety  was  very  generally 
propagated  from  them. 

It  is  also  within  my  recollection  that  a  tree  of  the  Yellow  Me- 
lacoton  variety  was  grown  in  a  neighbor's  yard,  which  produced 
the  best  fruit  of  that  kind  I  have  ever  seen. 

That  was  also  a  seedling  tree. 

It  is  also  well  remembered  that  so  spontaneously  did  the  peach 
tree  grow  there,  and  so  plenty  was  the  fruit  as  early  as  1821  to 
1825,  that  growers  many  times  have  thrown  their  peaches  from 
their  market  wagons  into  the  river,  sooner  than  sell  them  less  than 
twenty  cents  per  bushel. 

It  maybe  asked  why  peaches  now  command  in  ordinary  seasons 
at  this  point  from  two  to  three  dollars  per  basket. 


69 

It  is  because  a  second  planting  of  trees  did  not  take  place  till 
very  recently,  and  that  the  trees  are  more  or  less  affected  by  the 
disease  known  as  the  Yellows ^  and  by  the  depredations  of  the  Boiler ^ 
which  all  growers  should  know  and  exterminate  from  the  roots. 

The  Curculio,  not  satisfied  with  taking  the  cherries  to  some  ex- 
tent, as  well  as  the  Apricots  and  Plums,  does  not  mind  the  rough 
coat  of  the  Peach,  but  with  the  daring  of  a  dastardly  enemy  punc- 
tures the  Peach,  determined  to  keep  himself  alive  to  all  genera- 
tions. 

A  great  deal  has  been  said  of  him,  but  he  is  fearless  of  every- 
thing but  being  drummed  off' the  trees ^  and  having  his  head  decapi^ 
tated,  which  is  the  only  way  to  get  rid  of  him,  including  the  des- 
truction of  all  the  fruit  which  falls  to  the  ground,  in  which  he  seeks 
to  perpetuate  himself, 

I  have  cited  the  Peach  first  because  it  was  one  of  the  fruits  most 
easily  grown,  and  the  trees  come  into  bearing  earlier  than  the 
Apple. 

To  this  day  no  fruit  is  more  highly  prized.  And  in  no  clime 
or  latitude  do  better  ones  grow  both  for  size,  beauty  and  flavor. 

Our  seasons  vary  so  much,  and  the  country  has  been  cleared  of 
the  forests  to  such  an  extent  (except  in  some  locations),  that  a 
good  crop  cannot  at  all  times  be  depended  upon.  Near  Lake 
Ontario,  within  a  few  miles  of  Rochester,  in  the  light  soil  of  that 
region,  the  best  Peaches  are  grown.  This  season,  from  the  late 
spring  and  inclemency  of  the  Weather  in  cold  rains,  &c.,  &c.,  the 
crop  will  prove  a  failure.  The  heading  in  System  for  the  renewal 
of  the  trees,  as  recommended,  is  highly  approved  by  all  attentive 
observers,  and  carried  out  to  a  great  extent. 

■I  subjoin  a  list  of  varieties  grown  there  for  market  as  well  as 
home  purposes : 

Early  Ann,  Large  Early  York,  George  the  Fourth,  Lemon 
Cling,  Yellow  Alberge,  Crawford's  Early,  Royal  Kensington, 
Grosse  Mignonne,  Morris'  White,  Old  Mixon  Free  Stone,  Red 
Cheek  Melacoton,  Snow  Peach,  Crawford's  Late  Melacoton, 
Druid  Hill. 

Crawford's  Late  is  raised  mostly  for  market,  and  large  quanti- 
ties are  sent  to  the  Canadas,  and  both  east  and  west  of  us. 

N.  B. — It  is  notorious  that  the  Yellows  mentioned  was  first  in- 
troduced there  in  trees  imported  from  New  Jersey. 


70 

Hard  winters  often  injure  the  trees,  and  from  different  causes 
they  are  short-lived  now,  in  the  latitude  of  Rochester,  43°. 

CURRANTS. 

All  the  different  kinds  of  Currants  have  been  introduced  by  the 
Nurserymen,  and  are  generally  cultivated. 

Varieties  grown. — Red  Dutch,  Red  Knight's  Sweet,  Victoria, 
Cherry  (very  large),  White  Dutch,  White  Grape,  Black  English. 
Currant  Wine  is  extensively  made  with  it, 

GOOSEBERRIES. 

Red  Varieties. —Albion,  Crown  Bob,  Echo,  Haughton's  Boggart, 
Iron-monger,  Roaring  Lion. 

White.— Chonster,  Queen  Caroline,  Smiling  Beauty,  White 
Murlin. 

Green. — Chippendale,  Green  Mountain,  Green  W^illow. 

Houghton's  Seedling,  Green  and  Red  prove  the  best  bearers, 
and  free  from  mildew. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

I  feel  assured  that  in  no  portion  of  our  common  country  is  more 
attention  paid  to  the  good  qualities  of  this  choice  and  valuable 
berry.  It  has  been  found  that  a  light  loam,  well  enriched,  pro- 
duces the  best  crop,  and  the  fruit  does  not  throw  out  the  roots, 
causing  their  destruction  in  the  spring.  The  placing  litter  of  straw 
or  leaves  over  the  vines  in  the  winter  is  a  sure  and  necessary  pro- 
tection, an(L  while  growing  the  fruit  the  plan  of  placing  straw  un- 
der the  vines  not  only  answers  the  purpose  of  mulching,  but  keeps 
the  fruit  clean  for  market. 

We  have  noticed  this  particularly  this  season  in  quantities 
brought  for  sale — the  fruit  was  free  from  sand,  and  had  a  lustre 
upon  it  which  the  sun  produces  on  well  ripened  berries.  The 
kinds  mostly  grown  are. 

Large  Early  Scarlet— very  productive. 

Boston  Pine — ^a  tolerable  bearer  and  of  fine  flavor. 

Burr's  New  Pine — esteemed  as  the  best  berry  grown,  and  very 
prolific. 

Hovey's  Seedling — -grows  large  in  size,  but  not  always  juicy, 
and  not  to  be  depended  upon  as  a  bearer,  but  should  be  in  all 
collections. 


71 

Burr's  Rival  Hudson — much  esteemed  for  preserving — bears 
"well,  and  keeps  well  when  preserved. 

Bishop's  Orange,  Black  Prince,  Jenney's  Seedling,  and  Gush- 
ing are  grown  somewhat,  but  not  extensively. 

A  judicious  committee  have  recommended — Burros  Mew  Pine^ 
Large  Early  Scarlet,  Hovey^s  Seedling,  Rival  Hudson,  [late  sorts), 
and  Crimson  Cone.  I  would  add  Boston  Pine  and  Cushing. 
Several  new  Seedlings  have  been  shown,  but  time  will  determine 
their  merits. 

It  is  conceded,  and  so  acknowledged  here,  that  Burros  JYew 
Pine,  for  all  purposes,  is  the  best — and  it  is  the  only  berry  sweet 
enough  without  the  addition  of  sugar — a  very  extensive  cultiva- 
tion of  them  is  being  commenced,  so  that  when  fully  in  the  field, 
consumers  can  be  satisfied  with  this  great  delicacy  of  the  season. 

CHERRIES. 

Perhaps  no  country  has  ever  produced  the  cherry  in  greater 
perfection,  and  I  believe  the  tree  is  free  from  disease,  and  is  never 
known  to  be  bark-bound  or  to  crack. 

A  great  number,  as  many  as  forty  varieties,  were  shown  at  the 
Horticultural  Society's  Exhibition.     In  class  No  1,  are  the 

Belle  Magnifique,  Downer's  Late  Red, 

Belle  de  Choisy,  Elton, 

Black  Tartarian,  Elk  Horn, 

"     Eagle,  Napoleon  Bigarreau, 

"     Heart,  May  Duke, 

Burr's  Seedling,  Reine  Hortense. 
Bigarreau,  or  Yellow  Spanish,      Sparhawk's  Honey, 
Carnation, 

The  last  named  with  Belle  de  Choisy,  and  Belle  Magnifique, 
may  be  put  down  as  the  very  choicest. 

Professor  Kirtland's  Seedlings  will,  by  the  next  season,  be  far 
enough  advanced  to  be  tested. 

The  Belle  Magnifique,  I  saw  in  large  quantities  on  a  tree  at  Ell- 
wanger  and  Barry's  this  day,  August  10.  The  cherry  tree  dwarfed 
is  one  of  the  most  ornamental  for  borders,  and  is  the  true  way  to 
cultivate  them  where  a  family  supply  only  is  wanted,  and  but  a 
small  piece  of  ground  is  cultivated. 


72 

Morello  (English) — for  preserving,  is  one  of  the  most  desirable 
grown. 

APRICOTS. 

This  fine  fruit  when  perfected  there  is  superior,  and  the  trees 
thrive  well  under  the  same  culture  as  the  Peach. 

Trained  to  a  wall  or  on  the  south  side  of  a  house,  is  the  most 
preferable  way.  The  curculio  is  its  enemy,  and  very  much  of  the 
fruit  is  stung.     Varieties  grown : 

Breda.  Orange. 

Early  Golden.  Peach. 

Large  Early,  Purple  or  Black, 

Moorpark. 

PLUMS. 

The  Plum  tree  has  been  affected  to  a  great  extent  by  a  black 
Fungus,  which  is  evidently  a  disease  and  certain  death  to  the  tree, 
although  the  trees  sometimes  live  a  long  time  after  an  attack.  It 
destroys  in  a  great  measure  the  bearing  properties.  Otherwise 
the  Plum  does  well,  except  some  varieties  which  are  subject  to  rot 
while  the  fruit  is  maturing. 

Varieties  grown  with  us : 

Bleecker's  Gage.  Jefferson. 

Bolmar's  Washington.  Reine  Claude  De  Bavay. 

Duane's  Purple.  Red  and  Yellow  Magnum  Bo- 

Emerald  Drop.  num. 

Early  Orleans.  Smith's  Orleans. 

Green  Gage.  Winter  or  Late  Damson. 

Huling's  Superb.  Yellow  Gage. 

Imperial  Gage. 

The  curculio  is  particularly  partial  to  the  Plum,  and  a  half  crop 
is  as  much  as  can  ever  be  expected  in  consequence  of  its  ravages. 

PEARS. 

This  delicious  fruit  is  being  extensively  cultivated.  Large  Or- 
chards are  being  planted,  extending  from  what  is  known  as  Cayu- 
ga County  to  the  extreme  western  part  of  the  state — great  attention 
is  bestowed  upon  the  tree. 

Over  culture  is  of  more  danger  to  the  tree  than  neglect,  as  it  nas 


73 

been  shown  conclusively  that  a  too  rapid  growth  in  the  young 
branches  makes  the  tree  susceptible  to  blight. 

When  possible,  trees  should  be  planted  running  east  and  west, 
giving  a  free  circulation  of  air.  Mulching  has  been  recommended, 
and  all  who  have  tried  the  plan  agree  in  its  utility.  In  garden 
culture  the  Pear  tree  dwarfed  is  one  of  ornament,  and  we  know  of 
no  more  beautiful  sight  than  long  borders  of  Dwarf  Pear  Trees 
hanging  with  fruit. 

Perhaps  no  one  subject  has  baffled  cultivators  so  much  as  the 
cause  and  remedy  for  the  blight.  Mr.  Downing  has  stated  that 
our  soil,  when  too  much  enriched,  gives  the  trees  too  rapid  growth, 
and  that  the  extreme  heat  of  the  sun  during  the  season  of  growth 
produces  the  blight  in  its  worst  form.  Mr.  Barry  is  sanguine  that 
it  is  disappearing.  An  inspection  of  E.  Barry's  Pear  trees,  Avell 
fruited,  has  been  to  me  a  most  interesting  sight. 

The  foreign  varieties  found  to  thrive  with  us,  have  been  culti- 
vated extensively,  and  to  the  nurserymen  are  all  classes  indebted 
for  their  introduction.  While  we  claim  that  our  native  Pears  are 
not  excelled  (if  equalled)  by  foreign  ones,  we  think  much  interest 
and  sometimes  profit  results  from  the  growth  of  foreign  kinds.  The 
Seckel  and  Doyenne,  the  Bartlett  and  Swan's  Orange,  with  the 
Oswego  Beurre,  ought  to  satisfy  all,  as  they  generally  do. 

PEARS. 

Summer  varieties— gYown  with  us. 

Bloodgood,  Madeleine, 

Canandaigua.  Osband's  Summer, 

Dearborn's  Seedling,  Tyson, 

Doyenne  d'Ete, 

The  Canandaigua  is  a  New  York  Pear  similar  to  the  Bartlett^ 
and  nearly  as  large — ripens  early.  Osband^s  Summer^  also  a  New 
York  fruit,  is  kin  to  the  Virgalieu  or  White  Doyenne,  a  delicious 
and  handsome  fruit,  and  very  juicy,  ripens  by  20th  August. 


AUTUMN 

PEARS. 

BufTum, 

Duchesse  d'Angouleme, 

Beurre  Bosc,    ^ 

Flemish  Beauty, 

Beurre  Diel, 

Henry  IV., 

Dix, 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey, 

Napoleon,  Seckel, 

Onondaga  or  Swan's  Orange,      Oswego  Beurre, 
Stevens'  Genessee,  Van  Mons  Leon  Le  Clerc. 

Oswego  Beurre,  a  New"  York  fruit,  of  medium  size,  juicy  and 

fine  flavored,  one  of  the  very  best,  of  a  Russett  brown  Color' — 

productive. 

Onondaga  or  Swan'^s  Osage— di  New  York  fruit,  large.  Vinous 

in  flavor  J  melting,  one  of  the  best.     Trees  productive. 

Bartlett — Tree  produces  well,  fruit  highly  prized — tree  is  one 

of  the  most  thrifty  in  its  growth,  as  well  as  beautiful  in  shape. 

White  Doyenne,  Virgalieu  of  New  York,  Butter  of  Philadelphia, 
St.  Michael's,  of  Boston,  is  grown  in  large  quantities  for  market — 
tree  prolific — -no  pear  ranks  higher. 


APPLES, 


•  This  important  and  useful  fruit  is  extensively  grown  with  us 
and  is  exported  in  large  quantities  to  the  Eastern  States.  Perhaps 
it  is  safe  to  say  that  Monroe,  Ontario,  Livingston,  and  Orleans 
counties  produce  two  hundred  to  two  hundred  and  fifty  thousand 
barrels  annually.  Since  Horticulture  has  been  made  a  study  by 
the  farmer,  as  it  has  more  or  less  been — and  by  the  influence  ex- 
erted over  the  public  by  the  aid  of  Horticultural  Societies,  the  pro- 
ducers have  found  that  consumers  have  become  more  particular 
about  kinds.  Now  when  orchards  are  to  be  planted  the  choicest 
kinds  of  trees  are  required  and  for  market  the 

Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Baldwin,  Roxbury  Russet,  Rhode  Islane 
Greening,  Swaar,  Talman  Sweeting,  Seek-no-further,  Pearmain 
Twenty-ounce  Apple,  and  Vandevere  are  sought  for. 

Within  a  few  years  others  than  some  of  the  old  varieties  have 
been  originated,  and  a  demand  follows  the  growth  of  them.  Of 
the  new  kinds,  the  Northern  Spy,  and  Norton's  Melon,  (winter 
varieties)  have  been  extensively  introduced.  The  Northern  Spy 
is  a  most  important  variety.  The  tree  is  a  thrifty  grower,  and  later 
by  two  weeks  in  its  blossoming,  than  all  other  but  the  "  Russet" 
apples,  and  thus  escapes  late  frosts  in  spring.  It  bears  well,  needs 
good  cultivation,  and  worthy  in  all  particulars  of  all  the  attention 
bestowed  upon  it.  The  fruit  attains  good  size — is  a  beautiful 
striped  apple,  high  colored,  and  keeps  as  late  as  15th  June,  in  per- 


75 

fection — commences  to  ripen  in  April,  and  first  rate  for  cooking 
as  well  as  dessert.  Gentlemen  who  know  the  fruit,  have  planted 
large  quantities  of  the  trees.  Mr.  Allen  and  Mr.  Hodge,  of  Black 
Rock,  have  each  put  out  six  hundred  of  the  trees,  and  are 
sanguine  of  success.  When  I  tell  this  Congress  that  it  com- 
mands from  three  to  five  dollars  where  the  apple  is  produced  in 
considerable  quantities,  and  has  been  sold  by  the  barrel,  this 
season,  in  the  commercial  emporium  of  our  country,  at  nine  dollars 
per  barrel,  for  the  use  of  the  good  livers  at  the  '*  Astor  House," 
it  will  not  be  disputed  that  there  is  some  virtue  in  the  apple. 

When  the  fruit  becomes  plenty,  as  it  probably  will,  within  two 
years  more,  as  large  orchards  have  been  grafted  with  the  kind,  and 
when  it,  with  the  Canada  Red,  or  Nonsuch,  Norton's  Melon, 
Pomme  Grise,  and  Waggener  can  be  had  plentifully,  a  new  era  will 
have  arrived  in  apple  culture  and  production — everything  de- 
sirable will  then  be  attained.  I  subjoin  a  list  of  the  different  kinds 
in  their  season,  as  grown  with  us. 

Summer  Kinds. — Early  Harvest,  Williams'  Favorite,  Red  As- 
trachan,  Early  Joe,  Early  Strawberry,  Summer  Rose. 

Autumn  varieties. — Alexander,  Autumn  Strawberry,  Dyer,  Fall 
Pippin,  Hawley  or  Dowse,  Maiden's  Blush,  Porter,  Lowell,  St. 
Lawrence,  Gravenstein,  Holland  Pippin. 

The  Hawley  and  St.  Lawrence  are  two  of  the  best  fall  apples, 
and  should  be  in  all  collections. 

Winter  Varieties. — Baldwin,  Vandervere,  Yellow  Bell  Flower, 
Blue  Pearmain,  Peck's  Pleasant,  Esopus  Spitzenberg,  Twenty 
ounce  Apple,  Swaar,  Fameuse,  Canada  Red,  Pomme  Grise,  Rhode 
Island  Greening,  Norton's  Melon,  Northern  Spy,  Winter  Pearmain, 
Golden  Russet,  Newtown  Pippin,  Jonathan,  Wagener,  Cornish 
Gilliflower,  Hubbardston  Nonsuch,  Rambo,  Domine,  Canada 
Reinette,  and  Roxbury  Russet. 

Sweet  Apples. — Bailey  Sweeting,  Green  Sweeting,  Talman 
Sweeting,  Golden  Sweet,  and  Early  Sweet  Bough. 

The  wheat  lands,  as  well  as  the  lighter  soils  near  the  lake  shore, 
produce  the  Apple  in  perfection.  Disease  seldom  attacks  the 
trees.  Some  seasons  black  blotches  are  seen  upon  the  fruit,  but 
generally  it  is  fair. 


?6 


QUINCES. 


The  Apple  or  Orange,  and  Portugal,  are  grown.  Blight  affects 
the  trees  occasionally,  but  good  crops  are  had  generally. 

GRAPES. 

In  ordinary  seasons  the  Isabella  Grapes  with  us  ripen,  but  not 
so  with  the  Catawba ;  both  varieties  when  well  ripened  will  com- 
pare with  the  best  we  have  seen  from  Croton  Point. 

The  Clinton  is  earlier  than  the  others,  and  usually  ripens  here, 
dark  in  color,  and  highly  flavored. 

The  Sweet-water  grows  finely  likewise. 

Our  nurserymen  succeed  well  in  cultivating  the  foreign  varieties, 
and  could  have  presented  them  vieing  with  those  on  the  tables  to- 
day. 

In  closing  my  report  (which  I  have  deemed  a  most  important 
task  to  complete  acceptably  to  the  Congress),  I  trust  that  any  errors 
made  may  be  attributed  to  inadvertence.  If  the  cause  of  fruit 
culture  shall  in  any  way  be  promoted  by  my  efforts  my  ambition 
will  be  fully  satisfied. 

JAMES  H.  WATTS. 

REPORT  FROM  NEW  JERSEY. 

To  the  President  and  members  of  the  American  Pomological 
Congress.  The  Committee  for  the  State  of  New  Jersey  beg 
leave  to  report  the  following  list  of  fruits  that  have  been  tested 
by  us,  or  under  our  immediate  notice,  and  have  produced  well, 
are  good  varieties  of  their  several  classes,  and  are  worthy  of  general 
cultivation  in  our  State. 

APPLES. 

Bough,  large  yellow,  Newtown  Pippin, 

Early  Harvest,  Rhode  Island  Greening, 

Fall  Pippin,  Sheepnose, 

Hagloe,  2d  rate  for  table,  fine  for  Striped  Harvest, 

cooking,  Tewksbury  Winter  Blush,  for 
Juneating,  red  long  keeping. 

Monmouth  Pippin,  White  Seek-no- Further, 

Maidens'  Blush,  2d  rate  for  table,  Woolman's  or  Summer  Rose. 

fine  for  cooking. 


77 


APRICOTS. 

Burlington, 
Moorpark, 

Peach. 

CURRANTS. 

Black  Naples, 
Large  Red,  Knight's 
Large  Red,  Wilmot's 

Sweet  Red,  Knight's 
White  Dutch. 

GRAPES NATIVE. 

Catawba, 
Isabella, 

Elsinborough. 

PEACHES. 

Alberge, 

Early  Tillotson, 

Early  Red,  Troth's 

Early  York  (serrate). 

Large  Early  York, 

Late  Free,  Ward's 

Late  Heath,  C. 

Late  Melacoton,  Crawford's 

Andrews,  [American) 
Bartlett, 
Beurre  Bosc, 
Beurre  d'Anjou, 
Beurre  d'Aremberg, 
Beurre  Easter, 
Beurre,  Golden  of  Bilboa 
Bloodgood,  [American) 
Doyenne  d'Ete, 
Duchesse  d'Augouleme, 
Elizabeth,  Manning's 

Drap  d'Or, 
Golden  Drop,  Coe's 
Green  Gage, 
Imperial  Blue, 


Morris  White, 

New  York  Rare  Ripe, 

Old  Mixon,  C. 

Old  Mixon,  Free, 

Red  Cheek  Melacoton, 

Seedling,  Barker's 

Tippecanoe,  C 

White  Melacoton,  Cole's. 


PEARS. 


Flemish  Beauty, 

Fondante  d'Automne, 

Glout  Morceau, 

Lawrence,  [American) 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey, 

Nelis,  Winter 

Seedling,  Dearborn's,  [American) 

Seckel,  [American) 

Tyson,  [American) 

Urbaniste, 

Washington,  [American) 

PLUMS. 

Large  Yellow  Gage, 
Orleans,  Smith's, 
Washington. 


78 


QUINCES. 

Apple  Shaped, 
Pear         do. 

Portugal. 

RASPBERRIES. 

Antwerp,  yellow 
Antwerp,  red 

Fastolff, 
Franconia. 

STRAWBERRIES. 

Late  Pine,  Turner's 
Methven  Scarlet, 

Seedling,  Hovey's. 

All  which  is  respectfully  submitted. 

THOMAS  HANCOCK, 
DAVID  PETTIT, 
WILLIAM  REID, 
H.  W.  S.  CLEVELAND, 
JABEZ  W.  HAYES. 

Philadelphia,  Pa., 

Sept.  14,  1852. 

REPORT  FROM  PENNSYLVANIA. 

The  State  Fruit  Committee  of  Pennsylvania,  respectfully  submit 
the  following  Report. 

The  Chairman  believing  that  the  best  course  to  pursue  would 
be  to  obtain  statistics  of  fruit  and  fruit  culture  from  the  different 
sections  of  the  state,  appointed  gentlemen  in  the  Counties  of  Mont- 
gomery, Chester,  Cumberland,  Centre,  and  Allegheny ;  from  the 
last  named  no  response  has  been  received. 

For  the  better  to  estimate  the  value  of  these  reports  they  will  be 
inserted  under  the  heading  of  those  districts. 

BoALSBURG,  Centre  Co.,  Pa.  ) 
August  23,  1852.  ] 

Thomas  P.  James,  Esq.: 

Dear  Sir, — At  the  eleventh  hour  I  render  such  a  report  of  the 
fruits  and  fruit  culture  of  this  region  as  I  can  readily  call  to  mind 
and  arrange. 

And  first,  of  our  soil  and  most  suitable  situation  for  fruit  growing. 
The  heavy  limestone  soils  of  the  larger  vallies  are  not  so  fully 
favorable  to  the  health  and  bearing  of  fruit  trees  as  the  superin- 


79 

cumbent  shaly  strata  (Hi.  to  v.  of  Prof.  Rogers).  The  limestone 
clay — most  productive  as  it  is  of  grain — seems  too  strong  and  rich 
to  exactly  suit  the  simpler  tastes  of  fruit  trees.  Wild  fruits  of  supe- 
rior flavor  are  abundant  on  the  debris  of  shales  and  slates  around 
the  vallies,  while  in  the  limestone  floor  they  are  sparse.  In  the 
lap  of  the  mountains  too,  some  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the 
vallies,  frosts  do  not  occur  so  late  in  spring  or  so  early  in  autumn  ; 
the  steep  mountain  in  close  proximity  seems  to  radiate  warmth 
enough  to  repel  moderate  frosts.  Yet  many  sorts  of  Apple  and 
Pear,  and  most  Plums  and  Grapes — fruits  that  will  bear  high  feed- 
ing— are  of  superior  quality  in  the  valley  grounds.  On  rocky  hills 
and  ridges  in  the  valley  where  the  soil  is  naturally  well  drained  by 
the  cavernous  limestone  beneath.  Cherries  and  Peaches  do  well — 
yielding  finer  specimens  of  fruit  than  on  the  mountain  slopes,  where 
the  trees  are  exhausted  by  constant  bearing, 

SUPPLY    OF   FRUIT. 

Within  ten  years  many  apple  orchards  have  been  planted,  and 
much  grafting  has  been  done.  Previously  most  of  the  orchards 
consisted  of  seedling  fruits,  and  among  the  thousands  of  these 
seedlings  we  find  one  here  and  there  of  fine  quality.  Of  the  best 
of  these  I  will  send  specimens  with  descriptions  ;  also  of  the  graft- 
ed fruits  that  may  be  in  season. 

Apples  do  well— yielding  I  should  say,  two  full  crops,  and  fail- 
ing entirely  once  in  every  five  years. 

Pears  bear  whenever  apples  do. 

Cherries  and  Plums  very  seldom  fail. 

Peaches  average  a  failure  every  other  year. 

Grapes  are  very  certain. 

A  family  of  eight  persons,  having  free  use  of  fruits  during  the 
entire  season,  consumes  three  bushels  of  apples  to  one  of  wheat, 
and  in  proportion  of  other  fruits,  'and  with  the  greatest  advantage 
to  their  health.  But  we  have  scarcely  an  approach  to  such  a  sup- 
ply. It  would  be  a  vast  benefit  to  the  county,  morally  and  socially, 
if  we  had. 

We  all  have  strong  appetites  for  fruit,  and  plenty  of  it  we  all 
need ;  but  begging  and  plundering  violate  the  conscience,  and 
irregular,  hurried  gorgings  of  unripe  and  green  fruit  fret  the 
stomach. 


80 

DIFFICULTIES  OF  FRUIT  CULTURE. 

We  have  a  moderate  share  of  the  insects,  diseases,  &c.,  which 
prey  upon  fruit  trees,  and  which  it  is  man's  present  lot  to  C(l)ntend 
against— yet  we  are  exempt  from  many  that  are  very  injurious  in 
other  places. 

Apple  orchards  grow  well  everywhere,  the  worst  enemies  to  the 
trees  is  the  plough^  crushing  through  and  shearing  off  the  roots,  in 
the  frequent  process  of  summer  fallowing  for  grain ;  and  the  axe 
used  to  hack  off  the  dead  limbs  produced  by  the  process  just  spo- 
ken of,  and  usually  leaving  the  stumps  split  and  chipped  up  suita- 
bly for  receiving  and  retaining  the  water  of  rains.  Caterpillars 
are  not  numerous,  and  easily  destroyed.  Aphides  seldom  injure 
any  shoots  but  the  over-luxuriant  and  crowded  Ones  that  follow 
the  severe  use  of  the  pruning  knife  and  grafting  saw.  Canker- 
worms  and  borers  are  unknown  here.  Sawyer  worms,  however, 
sometimes  cut  off  young  trees,  especially  where  raw  chip-dirt  has 
been  used.  I  think  the  most  obnoxious  pest  we  have  in  apple 
culture  is  the  worm  at  the  core ;  in  some  seasons  but  very  few 
summer  or  fall  apples  are  clear  of  it. 

Pears — are  scarce,  but  grow  well  when  they  are  allowed  to 
grow  naturally.  There  has  been  no  blight  (but  of  rank  young 
shoots)  for  many  years.  Trees  trained  to  long  unshaded  stems 
do  not  grow  well ;  the  stem  dries,  and  growth  gradually  ceases. 
Raw  m.anure,  and  especially  strong  animal  manure,  I  have  found 
to  be  very  prejudicial  to  the  growth  and  health  of  the  pear  tree. 
I  buried  a  dead  hog  near  a  fine  healthy  Pound  Pear  tree,  and  the 
next  season  it  was  badly  blighted,  apparently  surfeited. 

Plums — are  much  planted  and  are  very  fine.  The  larger  kinds 
rot  in  wet  seasons  ;  the  smaller  ones  do  not — -per  contra— the  lar- 
ger kinds  (which  usually  have  large  leaves)  do  not  suffer  from  leaf- 
blight,  while  smaller  ones  do  to  a  very  wide  extent.  The  leaves 
blight  and  fall  off  before  the  fruit  ripens,  often  leaving  nothing  at 
all  on  the  branches  but  the  fruit.  During  the  growing  weather  of 
August  and  September  the  trees  commence  a  new  growth,  blos- 
soming as  in  spring ;  but  this  growth  is  arrested  in  its  midst  by 
frost,  which,  acting  on  the  trees  in  this  unprepared  state,  full  of 
watery  sap,  destroys  them  by  thousands. 

The  black  knots  are  occasionally  seen  on  trees  brought  from 
counties  north  or  east  of  Centre.     It  has  broken  out  for  me  at  in- 


81 

tervals  during  ten  years,  but  I  have  always  cut  it  away  promptly, 
and  it  has  never  spread  ;  but  I  have  seen  sprouts  or  seedlings  from 
diseased  trees,  in  which  it  appeared  to  be  too  deeply  seated  for 
eradication.  The  curculio,  (or  '  Sir  Kulio,'  as  I  have  him  styled 
in  a  letter)  is  as  destructive  here  as  in  other  places,  seldom  leav- 
ing a  plum,  if  suffered  to  work  unmolested.  The  plan  of  keeping 
small  swine,  in  the  plum  yard,  has  been  tried  here  for  five  years, 
and  wath'  entire  success.  The  insects  are  not  entirely  driven  off, 
but  they  are  reduced  so  much  that  they  hardly  thin  out  the  fruit  as 
much  as  is  desirable. 

Peaches  have  done  but  ill  with  us  for  some  years  past.  The 
yellows  have  swept  off  thousands  of  trees,  and  those  remaining  are 
weakened  so  much  by  the  curled  leaf  in  spring  (as  plums  are  by 
leaf-blight)  that  we  rarely  enjcy  good  peaches.  We  have  some 
hope  that  w^e  are  through  the  w^orst  in  regard  to  these  diseases. 

Grapes  and  Cherries  do  extremely  well. 

NOTES  ON  PARTICULAR  VARIETIES. 

Slimmer  Apples. — American  Summer  Pearmain  is  not  so  fine 
here  as  described — but  good.  Bough  and  Blush  and  Summer 
Rose  are  very  fine,  fair,  and  productive.  The  latter  is  the  best  apple 
betw^een  Yellow  Harvest  and  Summer  Queen  (both  of  which  are 
excellent  here),  and  with  us  at  least  it  proves  to  be  an  excellent 
bearer.  English  Codlin  coddles  here  as  well  fis  in  its  native  land, 
w^here  it  has  passed  into  a  proverb  for  its  supreme  excellence  as  a 
stewing  apple,  but  it  is  often  blotched  and  knotty.  Summer  ap- 
ples of  the  best  English  sorts  invariably  become  too  acid  under 
our  sun.     Red  Astrachan  (from  North  of  Europe)  is  acid  and  dry. 

Autumn  Apples. — We  have  a  Butter  Apple  here  that  is  valuable 
in  its  season,  for  cider  and  apple  butter.  Sweet  Russet  is  an  ex- 
cellent apple  for  cooking  in  cider — both  fair  and  great  bearers. 
The  Rambo  and  Smoke-house,  and  Fall  Pippin,  are  preferred  to  all 
others  of  the  season,  for  the  table  (so  far  as  varieties  have  been 
proved  here).  Republican  Pippin  seems  to  bear  but  poorly,  and 
the  first  fruits  at  least  are  not  fair. 

Winter  Apples. — Newtown  Pippin  is  often  inferior.  If  the  stem 
of  this  tree  is  trimmed  up  to  full  standard  height,  the  bark  be- 
comes very  dry  and  rough,  and  the  top  seems  to  starve  even  in 
strong  soil.  Rhode  Island  Greening,  Bellflo\ver,  Spitzenberg,  are 
11 


82 

fally  up  to  their  characters  here.  Fallen-walder  is  a  great  bearer  of 
very  fair  large  apples,  wanting  flavor.  The  Winter  Strawberry 
and  American  Golden  Russet  are  fine  bearers  and  excellent  fruits. 
Michael  Henry  Pippin,  Sweet  Vandervere,  and  Carthouse,  and 
Golden  Russett  (so  called),  are  extraordinary  bearers.  Michael 
Henry  is  a  fine,  mild,  rich,  sweet,  not  high  flavored,  as  Ladies' 
Sweet.  Carthouse  or  Romanite  keeps  very  well,  but  it  has  more 
juice  than  flavor,  and  is  of  small  size,  yet  it  is  a  valuable  apple. 

I  will  endeavor  to  forward  specimens  of  some  of  the  above,  and 
of  some  native  sorts,  of  merit,  with  descriptions. 

Cherries. — I  note  little  diflerence  in  our  experience  from  the 
general  appreciation  of  particular  varieties.  Black  Tartarian  bears 
here  even  better  than  Black  Eagle,  and  Elton  seems  as  hardy  as 
any. 

Plums. — lit  does  not  answer,  by  any  means,  to  judge  these  by- 
one  or  two  years  exhibit  of  their  fruit,  some  sorts  vary  so  greatly : 
among  these  Lawrence  Gage  and  Red  Gage.  Washington  main- 
tain its  character  pretty  well,  provided  it  does  not  rot.  Green  Gage 
varies.  So  does  the  Apricot  plum,  which  is  always  too  acid,  and 
is  not  fit  for  culinary  use,  being  a  cling. 

Grapes. — The  Catawba  is  often  too  late  in  ripening.  The 
rank  growth  of  the  Isabella  does  not  always  mature,  and  is  some- 
times winter-killed.  York  Madeira  is  fully  equal  to  either  in  flavor 
(though  differing),  and  is  earlier,  very  hardy  and  prolific. 

I  hope  the  Congress  will  sanction  some  substitutes  for  the  worst 
of  the  unmouthable  foreign  names.  The  pronunciation  of  these 
is  so  diverse,  and  generally  so  ludicrous  and  incomprehensible, 
that  it  is  greatly  to  be  desired  that  this  source  of  difficulty  and 
mortification  could  be  avoided. 

I  am,  dear  sir,  yours  very  respectfully, 

WM.  G.  WARING. 


Cumberland  Nurseries,  Carlisle,  Pa.,    ^ 
September  8th,  1852.      I 

Sir, — In  submitting  a  report  upon  the  various  fruits  of  this  dis- 
trict, I  would  remark  that  owing  to  the  past  unusually  severe  win- 
ter, followed  by  a  cold  and  frosty  spring,  many  of  our  fruits  have 
been  injured,  and  therefore  a  satisfactory  report  on  many  Peaches, 
Pears,  and  other  fruits  new  to  this  section,  must  be  postponed  for 


i 


S3 

another  season*  I  will  endeavor  to  collect  such  facts  with  regard" 
to  the  fruits  of  this  district,  as  my  limited  experience  and  observa- 
tions may  furnish ;  and  should  I,  from  a  sincere  desire  to  have  the 
course  of  Pomology  pursued  honestly,  discard  or  take  exceptions 
to  varieties  which  other  pomologists  have  spoken  more  favorably 
of,  and  who  from  partiality  or  some  peculiar  character,  consider 
them  worthy  of  cultivation  ;  I  would  respectfully  claim  the  indul- 
gence of  such  and  beg  them  to  believe  that  my  remarks  are  given 
from  strictly  honest  motives.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that  such  a  course 
will  govern  all  the  Committees  of  the  Pomological  Congress,  and 
if  pursued,  a  mass  of  facts  will  be  made  public  which  will  promote 
the  cause  and  inspire  confidence,  especially  in  those  who  will  not 
be  present  to  participate  in  the  proceedings. 

I  will  commence  with  some  of  our  Seedling  Apples,  and  such 
as  are  confined  to  the  central  portion  of  the  State. 

1.  Rule's  Summer  Sweeting— origin  on  the  farm  of  Jesse  Rule, 
of  Cumberland  County,  Pa. — much  boasted  of  by  some— size, 
medium- — color,  yellow^-^form,  oblong— season,  August— tree,  fine 
grower,  in  which  I  presume  some  of  its  merits  consist.  Consider 
it  third  rate,  and  would  not  plant  it  at  all. 

2.  White  Spice. — This  noble  summer  apple  I  have  not  been  able 
to  trace  farther  than  the  orchard  of  H.  H.  Bowman,  of  Cumber- 
land County,  Pa. — size,large,  regular,  round,  some  what  flattened, 
sub-acid  with  a  peculiar  spicy  and  agreeable  flavor,  coming  in  as 
almost  first  rate — season,  September — would  plant  a  tree  of  it  in 
an  orchard  of  25  trees  for  home  use,  and  for  market,  many  more. 

3.  Lancaster  Queen. — I  am  led  to  believe  that  this  originated 
in  Lancaster  County,  of  this  State.  It  is  much  like  Summer 
Queen  in  flavor^  season,  and  general  character,  but  has  a  longer 
stem,  is  not  quite  so  large,  and  the  tree  grows  very  differently  ;  it 
has  also  a  peculiar  spicy  flavor  which  the  Summer  Queen  has  not,  ^ 
in  consequence  of  which  some  prefer  it.  It  may  yet  prove  synony- 
mous with  some  other. 

4.  Early  Red  Sweeting. — This  I  find  throughout  the  central  part 
of  this  State,  and  have  not  yet  been  able  to  ascertain  its  origin. 
It  is  rather  a  fair  second  rate  sweet  apple,  very  early  and  prolific, 
of  medium  size  ;  do  not  consider  it  w^orthy  a  place  in  a  small  col- 
lection. 

5.  Red  Ox  Apple — of  MiflSin  County,  this  State — much  praised 


84 

by  some  ;  but  as  it  comes  at  the  same  time  with  the  Queen  Ap« 
pleSj  and  is  inferior  to  them  ;  further  remarks  are  unnecessary. 

6.  Cumberland  Seedhng— cannot  trace  it  farther  than  the  or- 
chard of  Mr.  Hull,  Cumberland  County,  Pa.,  where  I  now  think 
the  original  tree  stands ;  fruit,  second  rate,  always  perfect,  very 
handsome,  great  bearer,  sub-acid,  form  rather  flat,  but  uniform  in 
size — October  to  December- — tree,  fine  grower- — would  consider 
it  an  acquisition  for  market. 

7.  Pink  Sv/eeting — -quite  a  small  apple,  but  unsurpassed  for 
perfect  form  and  prodigious  crops  ;  w4th  beautiful  red  and  pink 
stripes— of  a  pleasant  spicy,  sweet  flavor,  perhaps  only  second  rate, 
yet  from  its  perfect  and  uniform  size,  together  with  its  great  bear- 
ing qualities,  it  might  be  considered  worth  planting  as  an  autumn 
sweet  apple,  and  for  stock  feeding  it  is  certainly  one  of  the  best. 
Originated  with  William  Keller,  of  this  County — -season,  Septem- 
ber and  October. 

8.  Imperial  Vandervere — of  Adams  County,  Pa.— no  doubt  a 
seedling  of  the  Smoke-house,  and  as  the  season  is  much  the  same, 
also  in  resemblance  and  flavor,  I  therefore  do  not  think  that  I 
would  be  justifiable  in  giving  a  preference  to  that  old  and  fa- 
vorite Pennsylvania  Apple.  If  there  be  any  difference  it  is  rather  a 
coarser  apple  M^ith  me. 

9.  Better  than  Good-^evidently  one  of  the  very  best  early  win- 
ter, sub-acid)  table  apples  now  under  cultivation  in  central  Penn- 
sylvania—size, medium— color,  white — form,  regularly  round, 
with  a  slight  taper  towards  the  calyx—tree,  rather  slim,  and  some- 
what irregular  in  growth,  but  forms  a  fine  and  spreading  tree  which 
produces  (if  it  has  a  fault)  too  great  a  crop  to  give  them  the  flavor 
they  generally  have,  yet  by  judicious  pruning  this  can  easily  be 
obviated  ;  I  first  received  it  from  Lancaster  County,  but  cannot 
trace  it  to  its  true  origin,  but  once  received  the  description  of  an 
apple  called  Juicy  Bite^  which  strongly  corresponded  with  this, 
and  which  would  certainly  be  an  appropriate  name. 

10th.  Lancaster  Greening. — ^This  fine,  hardy,  vigorous  and 
prodigious  bearing  variety,  was  fruiting  for  years  in  the  orchard  of 
David  Longenecker,  of  Lampeter  Township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa., 
and  from  its  green  and  long  holding  (in  spite  of  frost)  character  in 
autumn,  it  was  never  gathered,  until  on  an  occasion  when  apples 
were  extremely  rare,  they  were  gathered  (by  permission  of  D.  L.) 


i 


85 

by  my  father  for  the  purpose  of  trying  them.  The  result  was  that 
when  April  and  May  came  around  again,  these  apples  were  prime, 
and  I  need  only  say,  by  way  of  compliment^  that  a  like  privilege 
w^as  withheld  ever  afterwards.  Size  medium,  very  regular  and 
fair,  tapering  considerably  to  the  calyx;  color  green,  with  numer- 
ous spots  and  blotches;  flesh  green,  juicy,  sub-acid  v/ith  quite  a 
a  pleasant  second  rate  flavor;  fruits  very  well  even  when  young, 
and  wnll  keep  till  April  and  May  with  ease. 

11.  Heterich.— Raised  from  seed  by  a  Mrs.  Heterich,  of  this 
county,  about  tw^enty  years  ago,  and  is  considered  by  those  of  their 
friends,  w^ho  have  been  propagating  them  since,  as  a  decided  fa- 
vorite, but  Ij  for  my  part,  cannot  put  it  over  second  rate,  yet  as  it  is 
of  medium  to  large  size,  fine  bearer,  always  perfect,  and  of  fine 
yellow  color,  it  might  be  worthy  of  note  as  a  market  apple  ;  form 
regular  round,  a  little  flattened,  flavor  slightly  acid,  and  in  use 
from  November  to  January.  Tree  an  irregular  growler  but  fine 
bearer. 

12.  Pittsburg  Pippin. — Said  to  have  been  introduced  about 
Pittsburg,  about  fifty  years  ago,  by  an  old  Swiss  grafter,  who  stated 
that  he  brouorht  it  from  his  father-land.  However,  all  that  I  can 
trace  in  this  vicinity,  and  a  few  counties  in  Maryland,  adjacent  to 
this  State,  seem  to  be  about  the  boundary  line  of  Lancaster  and 
Dauphin  Counties,  where  it  has  been  in  cultivation  about  thirty- 
five  years,  and  the  probability  is,  that  the  old  Swiss  is  right,  and 
Was  sent  from  Pittsburg  many  years  ago,  to  some  of  the  enterpris- 
ins:  old  German  Pomoloo;ists.  Its  character  seems  at  times  to  be- 
token  a  foreign  origin  here,  from  the  fact  that  it  is  less  productive 
than  some  others,  as  well  as  a  deficiency  in  its  core ;  yet  its  fine 
size,  and  high  pleasant  sub-acid  flavor,  makes  it  a  great  favorite 
for  early  winter  ;  and  were  it  as  prolific  as  the  Rhode  Island  Green- 
ing, it  would  supersede  that  variety.  Size  large,  form  flat  taper- 
ing to  the  calyx,  color  greenish  %vhite,  becoming  yellow  at  maturi- 
ty, flesh  before  ripe  breaking,  but  becoming  very  tender,  juicy  and 
pleasant ;  season  November  to  February. 

13.  Cut  Pippin. — Named  from  a  peculiar  mark  running  round 
the  fruit,  as  if  a  line  were  drawn  round  the  apple,  and  had  been 
overgrown,  leaving  a  distinct  seam.  Considered  by  many  here 
as  first  rate ;  but  I  do  not,  I  never  got  it  over  second  rate,  and 
sometimes  only  third  rate.     Size  medium   io  large,  color  green, 


8(i 

flesh  juicy,  sub-Bcid,  and  of  quite  a  green  cast,  fruit  always  perfect, 
tree  very  vigorous  and  productive,  season  December  to  April.  It 
is  here  known  as  West's  Spitzenberg,  Honemaker  Pippin,  Hay- 
maker, &c.,.  &c.,  and  by  the  old  German  farmers  of  this  section, 
Hommacher  apfel.  I  cannot  trace  its  origin— all  I  can  learn  is 
that'  a  man  of  the  name  of  Hommacher,  raised  it ;  yet  where  this 
person  lives,  or  did  live,  I  cannot  ascertain. 

14.  Fallen-walder. — -One  of  the  largest,  most  prolific,  showy 
market  apples  we  now  have ;  although  but  second  rate  in  flavor,  it 
is  well  worthy  of  culture  ;  and  this  apple,  having  originated  in  Berks 
county,  on  the  border  of  a  fallen  forest  (hence  its  name),  is  stated 
by  an  eminent  pomologist  to  have  originated  at  Columbia,  in  this 
State,  and  to  be  of  medium  size,  which  is  erroneous,  and  yet  I 
would  not  have  this  editor  to  take  umbrage  at  this  correction. 

15.  White  Catlin — -Originated,  I  believe,  in  Baltimore  county, 
Maryland,  yet  there  is  no  doubt  the  subject,  notwithstanding  it 
is  an  apple,  which,  with  them,  is  evidently  as  fine  an  early  winter 
or  late  fall  table  apple  as  can  possibly  be  produced.  Size  small, 
color  pure  white,  form  oblong,  flesh  tender,  breaking  and  abound- 
ing with  a  rich  pleasant  sub-acid  juice.  Tree,  a  fine  grower  and 
great  bearer,  fruit  always  perfect. 

16.  Shipley  Green. — Origin  so  far  as  ascertained,  Frederick 
county,  Maryland.  A  medium  sized,  oblong,  red  and  rusty  winter 
apple,  sour  to  excess,  yet  it  has  its  friends,  and  perhaps  when  we 
consider  that  it  will  keep  as  long  as  wished^  and  whfen  fully  mel- 
low can  be  eaten  with  some  satisfaction,  as  well  as  baking  quite 
well,  which  with  the  perfect  growth  of  the  tree  and  great  bearing 
qualities,  it  may  still  find  a  place  among  the  long  keepers. 

17.  Herman.— Originated  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Herman, 
of  Silver  Spring  Township,  Cumberland  county,  Pa.  Size  me- 
dium, color  fine,  red  striped,  on  green  gro-.md,  form  oblong.  Tree 
fair  grower  and  very  prolific,  producing  uniform  fruit,  always  per- 
fect. Flesh  rather  greenish,  tender,  juicy  and  of  high  flavor.  By 
some  it  is  considered  first  rate,  but  I  do  not  so  estimate  it ;  yet  I 
think  it  deserving  of  wider  dissemination.  Season,  December  to 
April. 

18.  Autumn  Romanite. — Originated  on  the  farm  of  Jacob  Nicely, 
Cumberland  Co.,  Pa. — size,  medium— color,  a  beautiful  red — flesh, 
yellov7— quite  pleasant,  but  not  fully  first-rate—form,  round,  some- 


87 

what  flattened — tree,  very  prolific — season,  September.  1  do  not 
think,  as  it  comes  at  ihis  season,  that  it  is  likely  to  become  a  gen- 
eral favorite. 

18.  Red  Favorite. — A  fine  red  flat  apple,  of  medium  size,  and 
such  a  pleasant  juicy  sub-acid  flavor  as  to  gain  general  favor,  but 
ripens  at  same  time  as  the  Catlin,  Better  than  Good,  Rambo,  &c., 
so  that  I  do  not  think  it  any  better,  and  not  quite  so  uniform  in  its 
growth,  consequently  cannot  suppose  it  will  be  much  wilder  dissem- 
inated.    Origin  on  my  father's  farm. 

20.  Mifflin  Kino;. — Originated  on  the  farm  of  Mr.  Koflman,  of 
Kishacoquilis  Valley,  Mifflin  Co.,  Pa.  From  the  flavor,  appear- 
ance of  the  tree,  &c.,  it  is  evidently  a  seedling  of  the  Rambo,  but 
ripens  a  trifle  earlier,  is  not  quite  so  large,  oblong  in  form  and  to 
my  judgment  a  better  and  more  pleasant  apple  than  its  parent.  I 
do  not  know  of  its  being  tested  out  of  its  original  section,  my  trees 
not  yet  being  of  a  fruiting  age.  Size,  small — color  of  the  Rambo, 
perhaps  a  trifle  more  red — fruit,  oblong — flesh,  remarkably  tender, 
juicy,  and  pleasant — first-rate;  I  will  venture  this,  and  stand  the 
criticism  of  others  who  have  eaten  it.  Season,  October  to  De- 
cember. 

21.  Gully  Apple. — A  highly  boasted  apple,  which  originated  in 
a  field  of  Mr.  Millner,  of  Lancaster  Co.,  by  the  side  of  a  deep  pully 
— thus  its  name.  I  have  lost  the  description  given  me.  This 
season  I  had  a  few  apples,  but  being  so  imperfect  that  I  cannot 
give  the  form.  Size,  small  to  medium — color,  white,  with  fine 
blush — flesh,  juicy  and  white.  I  have  no  doubt  it  will  prove  a 
good  apple.     Season,  August. 

22.  Fronclin. — The  original  tree  is  yet  standing  in  Lampeter 
township,  Lancaster  Co.,  Pa.  I  know  it  to  be  over  one  hundred 
years  old,  and  a  few  years  ago  was  yet  sound,  and  in  full  bearing. 
About  six  years  ago  I  cultivated  it  for  sale,  but  considered  it  rath- 
er acid  for  a  September  apple,  and  stopped  its  culture ;  for 
the  last  few  years  I  find  the  young  trees  planted,  bending  with  the 
perfect  crop,  until  the  whole  tree  is  made  conspicuous  by  the  red 
beauties.  I  believe  I  have  never  yet  seen  an  imperfect  apple  of 
this  kind.  Size,  medium — form,  regular,  round — color,  a  pure 
bright  red — flesh,  yellowish,  rather  acid  until  fully  ripe,  but  of  a 
rich  vinous  flavor — fruit  always  perfect,  smooth  and  fair — trees 


88 

very  prolific,  even  when  young,  as  well  as  a  rapid  and  fine  grow- 
er— season,  September. 

23.  Goodyear's  Seedling. — Original  tree  stands  at  the  door  of  a 
gentleman  of  this  name,  and  produces  heavy  crops  of  a  fine,  perfect 
growing  apple,  of  medium  size — fine  red  color — firm,  juicy  flesh, 
of  second-rate  flavor,  but  will  keep  until  April,  which  is  a  good 
quality,  and  in  this  section  is  much  esteemed.  I  do  not  know  but 
that  it  combines  as  many  good  qualities  as  some  others.  The  tree 
is  one  of  the  finest  growers  now  under  cultivation.  It  has  not  yet 
been  fully  tested  from  its  original  stand. 

Cherries. — I  will  here  give  you  the  history  of  the  great  Triumph 
of  Cumberland  Cherry. 

About  thirty  years  ago,  or  probably  a  trifle  longer,  (as  the  origi- 
nator is  not  now  living,)  Henry  Lechler  raised  a  few  young  cherry 
trees  from  some  choice  seeds,  which  trees  he  gave  to  Mr.  Stiles, 
who  owned  a  country  seat  near  Carlisle  ;  Mr.  Stiles  carefully  rear- 
ed the  trees,  and  afterwards  sold  the  property  to  the  County  of 
Cumberland  for  an  Almshouse.  These  trees  still  exist,  and  in  the 
garden  now  stands  the  original  tree  of  this  great  and  noted  cherry. 
It  is  disseminated  throughout  this  county  under  the  names  of  Mon- 
strous May,  Brenn^eman's  May,  Steret's  May,  &c.,  &c.,  and  some 
years  ago,  it  was  named  by  a  nurseryman,  Cumberland  Seedling, 
but  as  he  saw  we  were  in  an  age  of  humbug,  and  felt  a  disposi- 
tion to  move  with  the  age,  he  paid  it  a  higher  compliment  by  call- 
ing it  Triumph  of  Cumberland,  which  name  I  shall  recognise  it 
under  hereafter,  as  it  has  been  most  disseminated  under  the  lat- 
ter. Yours,  truly, 

DAVID  MILLER,  Jr. 


DOWNINGTOWN,    ChESTER    Co.,     ^ 

September  i5th,  1852.      S 

Having  returned  from  a  short  pomological  tour  through  this  and 
the  adjoining  county  of  Lancaster,  it  becomes  my  pleasant  duty  to 
fulfil  my  promise. 

Armed  with  a  basket  of  the  best  Dearborn's  Seedling  and  Bart- 
letts,  I  was  ready  for  a  comparison,  whenever  that  oft-repeated 
expression  "  I  have  one  of  the  best  pears,"  was  heard.  But  one 
man  was  found  who  did  not  acknovv^ledge,  after  tasting  these,  that 


89 

his  were  inferior  to  one  or  the  other.  You  will  at  once  infer  from 
this,  that  to  find  pears  in  this  section,  as  well  perhaps  as  else- 
where, better  than  those  mentioned,  in  their  season,  is  extremely 
difficult.  Even  he  who  contended  that  his  was  ^'  the  best  ever 
grown,"  had  one  much  inferior  in  my  estimation.  It  was  no  doubt, 
from  its  appearance,  growth  of  tree,  and  wood,  identical  with  the 
Schenck's.     Specimens  of  both  will  be  at  the  Congress. 

More  than  a  dozen  varieties  of  reputable  Pears,  several  of 
Peaches,  and  Plums  innumerable,  were  examined.  Nothing 
found  better  than  Bartlett,  Hains'  Early  Red,  and  Green  Gage. 

It  may  be  of  some  interest  to  you  to  know  the  estimate  of  va- 
rieties fruited  here.  The  Meynard  Pear,  ripening  early  in  July, 
is  good,  but  its  fine  size,  fruitfulness,  and  earliness  make  it  worthy 
of  culture.  Madeleine — very  good.  Beurre  Giffard — fruited  by 
Thomas  Harvey — best.  Should  this  continue  to  prove  so  fine  in 
quality,  its  fine  size  and  beautiful  appearance  will  give  it  the 
highest  rank  among  July  Pears.  Amire  Joannet — fruited  by  Dr. 
Thomas — good.  Julienne — variable — this  season  only  good.  Skin- 
less— good.  Bloodgood  and  Dearborn's  Seedling — best.  Belle 
of  Brussels — if  eaten  at  the  right  time — good.  Summer  Franc  Real 
— very  good.  Stevens"  Genesee — now  ripening — very  good. 
Bartlett — best — its  fine  size,  delicious  perfumed  flavor,  rapid,  vig- 
orous, symmetrical  growth,  early  bearing,  and  prolificacy,  make  it 
the  ne  plus  ultra  of  pears  in  its  season.  Lodge — now  ripening 
— good.     St.  Ghislain — best — many  prefer  it  to  Bartlett. 

Any  items  in  this  communication  that  you  deem  worthy  a  place, 
you  are  at  liberty  to  incorporate  in  your  report. 

J.  K.  ESHLEMAN. 

MAHLON  MOON,  of  Bucks  County,  remarks,  in  a  communica- 
tion to  the  late  President  on  the  subject  of  Apples,  that  the  Ridge  or 
Ridged  Pippin  (probably  so  called  from  its  uneven  surface)  is  ex- 
tensively cultivated  in  that  county — of  third  quality,  appreciated 
only  in  seasons  of  scarcity ;  its  chief  merit  consists  in  the  produc- 
tiveness of  the  tree.  Its  origin  not  known — ^possibly  a  native  of 
that  section. 

Knowles'  Early. — A  small  apple  of  second  or  third  quality — 
ripening  with  Prince's  Early  Harvest — tree  productive  every  sea- 
son.    In  1851  it  failed  for  the  first  time  with  him. 
12 


90 

The  Maiden's  Blush  does  well  and  is  a  good  market  fruit. 

Long  Island  Russet  is  an  enormous  bearer,  and  a  late  keeping 
variety,  on  which  account  profitable. 

Roman  Stem  is  unquestionably  a  very  valuable  variety  for 
Pennsylvania — is  very  productive,  and  larger  and  finer,  even  than 
in  its  native  soil. 

Smoke-house  succeeds  well  in  this  section. 

Smith's  Cider — fair  and  productive. 

The  following  are  well  suited  to  our  soil  and  climate,  viz  : — 

Early  Harvest — Early  Strawberry — Summer  Rose — American 
Golden  Russet  (Sheepnose) — Fallenwalder — Fall  Pippin — Town- 
send — Wine  Sap — Jersey  Greening  (Winter  Bellflower  Greasy 
Pippin  Hollow  Core  Pippin) — and  Kaighn's  Spitzenberg.  The 
last  is  large  and  productive. 

The  fruits  of  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Philadelphia  being  fully 
reported  upon  at  the  former  sessions  of  the  Congress,  need  no 
comment  on  this  occasion,  and  thus  terminates  the  report  from 
Pennsylvania.  Very  respectfully, 

September  13th,  1852.  THOMAS  P.  JAMES. 

REPORT  FROM  DELAWARE. 

To  the  Chairman  of  the  General  Fruit  Committee  of  the  Po- 
mological  Congress : 

In  accordance  with  the  resolution  of  the  Pomological  Congress, 
at  the  meedng,  held  in  the  city  of  Cincinnati,  on  the  4th,  5th  and 
6th  of  October,  1850,  and  my  appointment  as  Chairman  of  the 
State  Fruit  Committee,  for  Delaware,  I  selected  John  Diehl,  Rich- 
ard Jackson,  Daniel  Corbit,  and  Thomas  Stapler,  to  fill  that  Com- 
mittee. And  presuming  that  we  could  arrive  at  more  just  conclu- 
sions, and  more  practical  truths,  by  a  division  of  the  labor,  added 
to  which,  the  fact  that  our  being  remote  from  each  other,  would 
render  it  impossible  to  meet  as  frequently  as  would  be  necessary, 
to  act  in  a  bodily  capacity,  we  each  took  a  department,  and  now 
humbly  submit  our  several  reports. 

To  John  Diehl  w^as  awarded  the  Apples :  his  report  follows.— 
See  report. 

Next  in  importance  to  apples,  and,  indeed,  first  in  importance, 
of  late  years,  since  we  have  received,  and  originated,  so  many 


91 

fine  winter  varieties,  are  the  Pears,  which  constitute  my  depart- 
ment. 

It  is  proper  to  state  that  the  report  is  based  principally  on  my 
own  experience,  and  on  that  of  persons  in  my  immediate  vicinity, 
perhaps  more  than  it  should  have  been,  but  I  have  found  so  few 
persons  who  were  willing  to  trouble  themselves  so  much  as  to  put 
their  experience  in  writing,  that  I  have  only  consulted  with  those 
with  "whom  I  have  been  in  almost  daily  intercourse. 

I  would  further  state,  that  the  remarks  in  the  following  report 
are  intended  to  apply  chiefly  to  pears  grown  on  quince  bottoms, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  few  persons  cultivate  any  other  on  account 
of  the  blight,  and  other  diseases  to  which  standard  Pears  are 
more  particularly  subject. 

SUMMER  PEARS. 

Bloodgood.— The  best  pear  of  its  season.  Tree  thrifty,  and 
tolerably  productive. 

Bartlett — the  most  popular  summer  pear — ^is  always  large,  fair, 
handsome  and  very  good.  Ti*ee  vigorous  and  productive,  even 
when  quite  young,  on  both  pear  and  quince. 

Dearborn's  Seedling  is  a  vigorous,  rapid  grower,  more  espe- 
cially on  the  pear  stock,  but  has  not  yet  fruited. 

Julienne — is  cultivated  to  some  extent  for  market,  and  succeeds 
well  on  the  pear  stock :  it  has  not  been  tried  on  quince  that  I  am 
aware  of.     Fruit  of  second  quality. 

Madeleine  has  fruited  two  years  on  quince,  not  yet  on  pear 
stock;  on  light  rich  soils  it  is  very  juicy,  rich  and  fine,  but  on 
those  of  an  opposite  character  it  is  small,  knotty,  cracked  and 
very  astringent.     Tree  very  vigorous  and  liable  to  blight. 

Early  Catharine  is  the  most  abundant  pear  in  our  market ;  and 
is  very  productive,  but  of  second  or  third  quality  and  scarcely 
worthy  of  cultivation.     Not  yet  fruited  on  quince. 

Summer  Bon  Chretien — in  some  localities  is  a  pear  of  good 
quality,  but  is  so  variable  that  it  cannot  be  depended  upon  out  of 
the  influence  of  town  walls. 

It  is  not  much  cultivated,  and  has  not  been  tried  on  quince  that 
I  know  of. 

Brandywine — (so  called  from  having  originated  on  the  Brandy- 
wine  battle-ground,  at  Chadd's  Ford,  in  Delaware  county,  Pa.)  is 


92 

a  large,  handsome,  and  productive  pear,  juicy  and  rich,  with 
sometimes  a  little  astringency,  not  sufficient,  however,  to  make  it 
unpalatable.  Not  yet  fruited  on  quince  with  me,  but  very  vigor- 
ous on  either  stock. 

Souvraine  d'Ete  is  a  small  russetty  pear,  lasting  but  a  short  time 
in  perfection  ;  tree  a  poor  grower  on  quince.  Not  tested  on  pear 
stock. 

Bonne  de  Zees— a  medium  sized,  handsome,  pear^  much  re- 
sembling  the  Washington  in  appearance,  but  of  rather  poor  flavor, 
much  inferior  to  the  latter  variety,  and  with  a  tendency  to  crack- 
tree  not  very  vigorous,  but  very  productive. 

Osband's  Summer,  Rostiezer,  Manning's  Elizabethj  Ott,  Doy- 
enne d'Ete,  and  Tyson  not  yet  fruited. 

AUTUMN  PEARS. 

Ananas  is  a  medium-sized  pear,  of  a  roundish  form,  and  un- 
attractive in  appearance,  but  very  juicy,  rich  and  fine.  Rather 
slow  growth  on  quince,  but  apparently  healthy.  Not  fruited  on 
pear. 

Feaster — said  to  be  synonymous  with  Bleecker's  Meadow,  is  in 
some  localities  a  pear  of  the  best  quality— it  is  below  medium,  and 
not  very  attractive,  but  specimens  from  near  Nottingham,  Mary- 
land, were  last  year  pronounced  by  competent  judges  to  be  nearly 
equal  to  the  Seckel. 

Beurre  Capiaumont  is  a  most  productive  and  handsome  variety 
and  a  vigorous  grower  on  quince,  but  is  often  too  astringent  to  be 
recommended  for  all  situations. 

Beurre  d'Amalis — is  nearly  first  rate  with  us — very  productive 
on  quince,  and  quite  large.  Tree  thrifty,  but  with  heavy,  strag- 
gling side-branches.     Ripe  in  August. 

Beurre  d'Anjou  is  a  pear  of  the  first  order,  fully  equal  to  the 
Doyenne  Blanc,  and  nearly  double  the  size — it  is  but  a  moderate 
grower  on  the  quince,  and  does  not  appear  to  be  very  productive. 
Not  tried  on  pear. 

Beurre  Diel — a  stout,  vigorous  tree,  very  productive.  The 
fruit  though  large  and  fair  is,  so  far,  (trees  young)  too  astringent 
for  the  dessert,  although  standing  on  a  rich,  dry  bank.  Not  tested 
on  pear  stock. 

Golden  Beurre  of  Bilboa — does  not  seem  to  succeed  with  us  on 


93 

quince,  grows  none,  and  the  fruit,  though  handsome  in  color,  is 
knotty  and  astringent. 

Bergamotte  Cadette — (double  worked  on  quince),  hardly  attains 
the  character  given  to  it  in  the  books :  it  is  tolerably  juicy  and 
buttery,  but  not  very  rich.     Tree  productive,  but  not  very  thrifty. 

Bezi  de  la  Motte — is  scarcely  worth  cultivating,  certainly  not  in 
a  small  collection. 

Doyenne  Blanc — on  pear  stock  is  an  entire  failure,  cracking 
before  half  grown,  and  becoming  entirely  worthless ;  whilst  the 
tree  is  more  subject  to  blight  than  any  other.  On  quince  stock 
in  wet  or  cold  soils  it  is  much  the  same  ;  but  on  high,  dry,- rich 
soils,  it  is  almost  entirely  free  from  crack  or  blight  and  grows 
vigorously. 

I  suspect  the  lamented  Downing  was  in  error  in  attributing  this 
cracking  to  a  diseased  stock,  since  every  tree  on  pear  stock  (one 
excepted),  let  it  come  from  where  it  may,  is  subject  to  the  same 
disease,  and  I  have  seen  trees  on  quince,  all  from  the  same  nur- 
sery, some  of  which  bore  excellent  crops  of  smooth,  fine  fruit, 
while  that  on  others  was  more  or  less  cracked  and  disfigured,  ow- 
ing  to  the  soil  in  which  they  were  planted. 

Doyenne  Gray  is  very  much  the  same  as  the  last  on  pear  stock. 
It  has  not  yet  fruited  on  quince,  that  I  am  aware  of. 

Delices  d'Hardenpont — is  not  remarkably  thrifty  on  quince,  nor 
very  productive.     Fruit  immature. 

Duchesse  d'Angouleme — seems  to  be  well  adapted  to  our  local- 
ity, bearing  large  crops  of  large  and  perfect  fruit,  of  superior  qual- 
ity, especially  on  dry  rich  soil.  It  is  a  very  thrifty,  upright  grower, 
and  is  altogether  a  very  valuable  pear. 

Duchesse  d'Orleans — on  quince  is  a  pear  of  the  first  quality ; 
it  is  juicy,  buttery,  and  very  rich,  with  a  peculiar  aromatic  flavor. 
The  tree  is  rather  a  poor  grower,  but  hardy  and  productive. 

Fulton — on  pear,  is  a  small  round  russet  pear,  which  is  preyed 
upon  by  ants  before  fully  grown,  and  almost  demolished,  which 
circumstance  prevents  a  report  of  its  quality  this  season. 

Hewes — is  a  seedling  from  the  Doyenne  Blanc,  w^hich  it  much 
resembles  except  in  size,  being  smaller.  The  core  was  planted 
by  an  elderly  lady  named  Wollaston,  and  subsequently  came  into 
the  possession  of  Aaron  Hewes,  who  first  brought  it  into  notice. 
It  has  been  in  bearing  about  twenty-eight  years.     It  grows  well  on 


94 

quince — ripe  in  September.     The  original  tree  is  still  standing — 
bearing  abundantly  every  season. 

Jalousie  de  Fontenay  Vendee — bears  young  and  abundantly. 
Tree  hardy,  but  a  moderate  grower.  Fruit  not  yet  mature.  On 
quince. 

Louise  Bonne  de  Jersey — is  a  very  productive  and  popular  pear. 
Large,  and  nearly  always  fair  and  handsome,  but  falling  a  little 
short  of  the  character  it  has  elsewhere  obtained,  being  somewhat 
astringent  and  coarse  grained,  owing  perhaps  to  the  trees  being 
young. 

Beurre  Goubault— a  medium  sized,  nearly  round,  pear ;  of  good 
flavor,  gritty  at  the  core.  Tree  vigorous  and  productive.  Fruit 
yellowish  green  at  maturity. 

St.  Andre — A  productive  thrifty  tree,  bearing  quite  young  and 
abundantly.  Fruit,  a  dull  green,  without  a  shade  of  yellow,  un-^ 
attractive — flesh,  exceedingly  buttery,  and  of  excellent  flavor — > 
not  fruited  on  pear. 

Stevens'  Genesee- — A  productive,  thrifty  variety ;  fruit  not  yet 
mature. 

Seckel — is  too  well  known  to  claim  one  word. 

Washington — a  native  of  Delaware,  near  the  line  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Succeeds  admirably  on  pear  stock,  fails  on  quince-^— bears 
regularly  and  profusely — is  quite  vigorous  when  young.  Flesh, 
very  buttery  when  fully  ripe,  and  remarkably  sugary. 

Wollaston — a  wilding,  originated  at  Wilmington,  in  this  state. 
Dug  from  a  hedge  row,  by  Samuel  Wollaston,  and  removed  from 
garden  in  the  city,  where  it  now  stands.  It  is  a  late  variety,  ripe 
in  November,  and  bears  a  strong  resemblance  to  the  Glout  Mor- 
ceau. 

Colmar  d'Aremberg — is  a  very  poor  grower  on  quince,  but  tol- 
erably productive.  Fruit  quite  large,  and  about  equal  in  quality 
to  Beurre  Diel. 

Triomphe  de  Jodoigne — is  a  large  showy  fruit  when  mature,  of 
nearly  or  quite  first  quality,  very  juicy  and  melting,  and  very  rich. 
Tree  very  productive,  though  not  vigorous  with  us. 

Doyenne  Boussock — is  a  beautiful  pear  of  the  largest  size — of  a 
clear  lemon  yellow,  with  a  red  cheek.  Flesh  buttery,  melting, 
and  very  juicy,  with  a  flavor  nearly  or  quite  equal  to  D.  Blanc. 
Tree  productive,  but  not  very  vigorous. 


95 

Belle  Epine  Dumas — said  to  be  synonymous  with  Due  de  Bor- 
deaux, is  a  thrifty  and  very  productive  variety.  Fruit,  medium 
size,  not  yet  mature. 

A  large  number  of  autumn  varieties  have  not  yet  fruited,  and 
some  others  which  have  fruited,  I  find  to  be  incorrect. 

WINTER  PEARS. 

Beurre  d'Aremberg — maintains  its  high  reputation  as  a  first-rate 
winter  variety,  but  does  not  appear  to  be  very  vigorous  on  quince 
stock. 

Beurre  Easter — ^is  one  of  the  best,  perhaps  the  best,  pear  of  its 
season — requires  more  care  than  some  others  to  ripen  it  in  perfec- 
tion— tree  quite  vigorous,  and  tolerably  productive,  on  quince. 

Beurre  Gris  d'Hiver  Nouveau — has  been  recently  introduced, 
and  has  not  since  matured  its  fruit,  which  is  of  good  size,  and  fine 
appearance.     Not  fruited  on  pear. 

Glout  Morceau — is  a  vigorous  grower,  and  a  most  abundant 
bearer,  on  quince,  w^ith  us ;  a  tree  not  exceeding  five  feet  in  height 
and  three  years  planted,  produced  twelve  hundred  and  sixty-nine 
blossoms,  and  set  two  hundred  and  eighty- two  pears,  which  were, 
however,  mostly  destroyed  by  a  late  frost,  when  about  the  size  of 
filberts. 

St.  Germain — is  a  large,  green,  rough  skinned  pear,  which  if 
well  kept,  becomes  a  dull  yellow,  and  is  nearly  equal  to  the  Easter 
Beurre  in  flavor — but  its  liability  to  drop  prematurely,  renders  it 
scarcely  worthy  of  a  place  in  the  fruit  garden.  On  quince  it  is 
very  vigorous  and  productive,  and,  from  present  appearance,  bids 
fair  to  overcome  the  objection  just  mentioned. 

Josephine  de  Malines — ^has  fruited  this  season  for  the  first  with 
us.      Tree  very  vigorous  on  quince. 

Soldat  Laboureur — is  by  far  the  handsomest  and  most  promising 
of  all  our  winter  pears.  It  has  fruited  for  the  first  time  this  season. 
Tree  very  healthy  and  thrifty. 

Suzette  de  Bavay — seems  better  suited  to  the  quince  stock 
than  almost  any  other ;  it  forms,  without  any  care,  a  handsome 
pyramid,  and  grows  quite  vigorously.  The  fruit  is  rather  small 
and  nearly  round.  Skin  somewhat  russeted.  First  fruited  this 
season. 


96 

Vicar  of  Winkfield — on  quince  stock,  is  the  most  vigorous,  as 
well  as  the  most  productive  of  winter  pears,  and  were  the  pear  fit 
for  kitchen  alone,  it  is  worthy  of  a  place  in  every  garden,  merely 
as  a  curiosity ;  it  is,  however,  tolerable  for  the  dessert,  and  is  oc- 
casionally very  fine. 

Winter  Nelis — succeeds  admirably  in  our  soil.  On  pear  stock 
the  fruit  is  large  and  fair,  and  quite  abundant — on  quince  it  is 
neither  so  large,  or  fine  in  appearance ;  it  is,  however,  very  pro- 
ductive, and  quite  vigorous,  on  either  stock.  It  is  the  best  early 
winter  pear. 

In  addition  to  the  blight,  slugs,  caterpillars,  leaf-blight,  and  oth- 
er diseases  to  which  the  pear  is  subject,  we  are  much  annoyed  by 
a  species  of  borer,  which,  unlike  the  apple  or  quince  borer,  makes 
its  way  between  the  bark  and  wood  of  young  trees,  and  thus  gir- 
'dles  and  destroys  them.  I  have  never  yet  observed  its  depreda- 
tions on  trees  worked  on  quince,  which  may  be  owing  to  their  be- 
ing yet  too  young  and  destitute  of  rough  bark,  which  greatly  facil- 
itates their  operations.  It  is  most  commonly  found  in  the  forks  of 
the  lower  branches,  and  very  seldom  near  the  ground.  I  have 
never  been  able  to  detect  the  perfect  insect. 

We  are  also  much  troubled  with  the  Curculio,  which,  not  find- 
ing a  sufficiency  of  plums  and  other  smooth-stoned  fruit,  to  answer 
their  purpose  of  reproduction  (plums,  &c.,  being  much  neglected 
on  account  of  the  ravages  of  that  insect),  descend  on  the  pears, 
apples  and  peaches,  making  sad  havoc  and  causing  great  disap- 
pointment and  vexation  to  the  cultivator. 

Since  penning  the  above  remarks  on  the  Doyenne  Gray,  I  have 
seen  very  fine  large  specimens  grown  on  quince  stock,  on  warm 
rich  soils,  and  others  not  so  fine  from  clay  soils. 

In  addition  to  the  notice  made  of  Bonne  de  Zees,  I  can  now  say 
that  when  fully  ripe,  it  is  a  pear  of  nearly  first  quality. 

I  have  also  learned  from  the  owner  of  the  original  Wollaston 
pear  tree,  that  it  has  recently  been  much  injured  by  blight. 

Having  at  this  late  day  (Sept.  10)  received  no  report  from 
Richard  Jackson,  whose  department  comprised  the  peaches,  apri- 
cots and  nectarines,  I  have,  through  the  instrumentality  of  John 
S.  Hilles,  who  kindly  volunteered  to  the  service,  endeavored  to 
collect  such  information  as  could  be  obtained  on  the  spur  of  the 
moment  to  supply  the  deficiency. 


97 

It  is  by  no  means  such  a  report  as  ought  to  be  expected  from  the 
peach  state,  but  it  is  all  that  can  be  accomplished  under  the  cir- 
cumstances. 

Thomas  Stapler's  Report  is  as  follows,  on 

CHERRIES    AND    PLUMS. 

(See  Report.) 
Daniel  Corbit,  whose  department  includes  the  smaller  fruits,  as 
Grapes,   Currants,   Gooseberries,   Strawberries  and    Raspberries, 
has  also  failed  to  supply  his  quota  of  facts ;  but  through  the  cour- 
tesy of  Dr.  L.  P.  Bush,  we  have  been  favored  with  the  following  report : 
All  of  which  is  humbly  submitted  not  without  much  hesitation. 
EDWARD  TATNALL,  Jr.,  Chairman, 

State  Fruit  Committee  for  Delaware. 

August  30,  1852. 

Dear  Sir, — I  shall  deem  it  incumbent  upon  myself  to  be  brief 
in  the  report  I  shall  make,  on  account  of  the  prolixity  your  gene- 
ral report  may  assume,  when  they  are  all  incorporated  into  one. 
Being  very  little  accustomed  to  the  use  of  the  pen,  I  feel  myself 
inadequate  to  the  task  of  doing  justice  to  the  subject,  or  of  realiz- 
ing the  expectation  that  may  be  excited.  I  take  it  for  granted 
though  that  in  making  up  your  general  report  you  will  make  such 
alteration  in  the  several  reports  as  may  seem  to  you  necessary  and 
proper. 

The  varieties  of  apples,  to  which  I  shall  have  reference  in  the 
following  report,  are  mainly  grown  on  my  own  farm,  or  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity.  The  soil  of  my  orchard  is  rather  a  light  loam, 
well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  either  wheat  or  Indian  corn.  I  have 
a  great  many  of  the  recently  introduced  sorts,  but  of  the  most  of 
them  I  cannot  express  any  decided  opinion.  Of  summer  apples, 
the  Yellow  Harvest  or  Prince's  Early  Harvest  stands  foremost ;  it 
is  a  good  bearer,  and  the  fruit  is  large  and  fine  ;  it  is  more  flat 
with  us  than  as  described  by  Downing. 

The  Early  Lippincott  or  Summer  Rose,  of  Downing,  I  consider 
the  next  best,  or  if  anything,  rather  a  better  dessert  apple,  being 
more  tender  and  sprightly. 

.  The  Large  Yellow  Bough  is  a  fine  dessert  apple,  but  too  sweet 
to  be  esteemed  for  the  kitchen. 

The  Early  Red  Margareti.   likewise  highly  esteemed  both  for 

the  dessert  and  kitchen. 
13 


98 

American  Summer  Pearmain,  ripening  later,  is  a  fruit  not  to  be 
dispensed  with. 

We  have  the  Early  Red  Streak,  White  Juneating,  Summer 
Queen  and  Summer  Golden  Pippin,  but  the  preceding  five,  we 
deem  the  best  summer  apples. 

Among  autumn  apples,  the  Fall  Pippin  has  hardly  its  compeer ; 
it  seems  to  be  rather  a  shy  bearer,  while  the  tree  is  yet  young. 
Rambo,  universally  known  and  highly  esteemed,  bears  early  and 
abundantly.  .  The  Gregson,  keeping  into  winter,  is  an  apple  very 
highly  esteemed  especially  in  the  lower  section  of  the  State. 

Maidens'  Blush. — This  handsome  apple  is  pretty  generally 
known,  and  is  in  high  estimation  both  as  a  dessert  and  kitchen 
apple. 

The  Smoke-house— a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  keeping 
into  winter,  is  a  first  rate  apple  in  all  respects.  The  tree  is  a 
rapid  grower,  and  an  early  and  abundant  bearer,  resembling 
somewhat  the  Rambo,  fine  for  either  dessert  or  kitchen  use. 

The  Caleb  Apple — a  native  likewise  of  Pennsylvania,  we  deem 
a  fine,  sweet,  early  fall  variety,  and  a  great  bearer,  which  I  think 
might  be  planted  with  advantage  for  the  feeding  of  stock. 

The  Newtown  Pippin — is  pretty  generally  acknowledged  to  be 
the  first  late  winter  apple  that  is  cultivated  in  our  State.  It  is  true 
the  tree  is  a  poor  grower,  and  requires  extra  cultivation,  but  once 
grown  the  tree  is  a  fine  and  abundant  bearer. 

The  Bellefleur — generally  does  fine  with  us ;  the  soil  that  seems 
most  congenial  to  it  is  a  sandy  loam.  I  have  heard  complaints  of 
its  not  succeeding  so  well  on  soils  of  an  opposite  quality ;  it  is  a 
sort  that  is  very  much  inclined  to  droop  in  its  branches  and  there- 
fore requires  to  be  trimmed  high. 

Danvers  Winter  Sweet — we  esteem  a  fine  fruit,  a  good  keeper, 
and  very  clear  of  imperfections — also  a  rapid  grower. 

The  Roman  Stem — is  an  apple  that  we  have  known  from  our 
infancy,  and  always  esteemed  it  among  the  best. 

The  Fallen walder — a  variety  but  recently  introduced  from  Penn- 
sylvania, promises  to  become  a  valuable  apple.  In  flavor  it  some- 
what resembles  the  Bellefleur,  but  in  the  size  of  the  fruit  it  is  much 
larger. 

Herefordshire  Pearmain,  (called  here  erroneously  Winter  Pear- 
main) — is  a  fine  fruit  that  does  well. 


99 

We  have  an  apple  obtained  under  the  name  of  the  Long  Island 
Russett,  a  name  not  to  be  found  in  the  books.  As  far  as  I  have 
seen  this  sort  seems  to  agree  very  much  with  the  description  of  the 
English  Russett,  of  Downing,  and  may  prove  to  be  identical  with 
that  variety.  It  is  the  finest  long  keeping  Russett  apple  that  I  am 
acquainted  with. 

The  Greening— is  a  fruit  that  is  much  esteemed.  It  is  a  great 
bearer  and  the  fruit  very  perfect. 

The  Baldwin — ^is  an  apple  that  seems  to  be  but  of  recent  intro- 
duction among  us,  and  if  it  is  not  subject  to  the  bitter  rot  like  the 
Pennock  is,  in  this  region,  will  undoubtedly  prove  a  valuable  ac- 
quisition. We  have  grafts  on  large  trees  of  this  variety,  bending 
under  their  burden  of  large,  perfect  and  fine  looking  fruit. 

The  Gilpin — is  an  apple  that  some  years  ago  was  greatly  esteemed, 
but  it  has  now  become  so  small,  knotty  and  defective,  that  it  can- 
not be  recommended  for  general  cultivation  in  this  part  of  the 
country. 

The  Wine  Sap— is  an  apple  that  has  several  fine  qualities,  that 
entitles  it  to  our  notice.  It  is  a  good  keeper,  fruit  very  perfect, 
and  fine  for  kitchen  use. 

The  Lady  Apple — ^as  elsewhere,  gives  satisfaction ^ 

The  Borer  is  the  most  troublesome  insect  that  we  have  to  con- 
tend against;  there  seems  to  be  two  varieties,  one  that  works  at 
the  surface  of  the  ground,  and  the  other  confined  in  its  operations 
to  parts  of  the  tree,  above  the  surface,  in  the  forks  of  the  tree  and 
branches — the  latter  seems  to  be  rather  a  smaller  insect  and  making 
in  its  boring  operation  a  more  oval  hole. 

Yours  Respectfully, 

JOHN   DIEHL. 

In  addition  to  the  above,  I  would  remark  that  the  soil  best 
adapted  to  the  apple,  is  the  red  or  yellow  gravel,  which  is  more 
or  less  impregnated  with  iron.  The  most  thrifty  trees  I  have  ever 
seen,  are  now  growing  near  Wilmington,  in  a  soil  completely 
covered  with  small  pebbles,  so  that  a  person  walking  across  the 
orchard  would  not  touch  the  soil  with  his  foot.  The  Gilpin  or 
Carthouse  apple,  which  has  so  entirely  failed  in  most  soils,  is  still 
in  perfection,  even  on  very  old  trees,  when  grown  on  the  red 
gravel  hills  of  the  upper  portion  of  the  State. 


100 

The  Ferris  Apple — a  seedling  raised  by  Benjamin  Ferris,  of 
Wilmington,  is  an  apple  of  great  merit.  It  is  medium  to  large 
size — same  size  and  shape  as  Newtown  Pippin — is  a  beautiful 
red,  and  is  a  first  rate  kitchen  apple,  not  equal  to  Baldwin  for  eating, 
and  a  long  keeper.     Bears  every  year,  one  half  the  tree  at  a  time. 

The  culture  of  the  Grape  in  Delaware  is  as  yet  in  its  infancy. 
Until  recently  very  few  vines  could  be  found  in  a  state  of  cultiva- 
tion, although  our  woods  abounded  with  the  Fox  and  Frost 
Grapes,  showing  that  our  soil  is  not  naturally  unfriendly  to  this 
fruit.  Within  ten  years,  however,  the  attention  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Wilmington  and  its  vicinity  have  been  directed  to  this  subject 
in  some  degree,  and  the  Isabella  and  Catawba  are  cultivated  for 
family  use  in  many  instances. 

Besides  these,  the  Elsinborough  and  the  Alexander  are  occa- 
sionally found,  and  more  rarely  the  Bland.  Of  the  above-named 
varieties,  the  Isabella,  Catawba,  and  Elsinborough  are  most  wor- 
thy of  culture  among  us,  especially  for  their  superior  flavor.  They 
seem  to  thrive  best,  and  ripen  their  fruit  with  less  injury  from 
mildew  and  rot,  when  on  light  soil  with  open  subsoil,  than  when 
the  latter  is  clayey.  The  same  result,  in  part  at  least,  seems  to 
be  attained  by  carrying  their  branches  some  distance  from  the 
ground,  under  the  edge  of  a  porch,  or  on  a  high  trellis,  where, 
removed  from  the  dampness  of  the  ground,  and  enjoying  an  ex- 
emption from  excessive  rains;,  they  ripen  their  fruit  in  much  great- 
er perfection.  Under  these  circumstances,  the  Isabella,  when  al- 
lowed to  become  fully  ripe,  attains  a  degree  of  perfection  which 
is  enhanced  by  its  rich  muskiness,  and  of  which  very  few  among 
us  are  aware,  as  it  is  generally  plucked  before  it  attains  maturity. 

The  Alexander  we  do  not  find  fit  for  culture,  as  when  fully  ripe 
its  hard,  acid  pulp  overbalances  the  morsel  of  sweet  juice  which 
surrounds  it. 

The  Bland  is  almost  as  uncertain  as  the  foreign  varieties.  In 
almost  all  seasons  it  is  attacked  either  in  its  fruit  or  its  leaf  by 
mildew,  and  the  fruit  brought  to  an  untimely  end. 

A  few  varieties  native  to  this  neighborhood  have  been  discov- 
ered, but  have  not  been  sufficiently  cultivated  to  enable  us  to  as- 
certain their  value. 

A  very  valuable  variety  has  been  introduced    here  from  the 


101 

neighborhood  of  Kennet  Square.  The  appearance  of  the  vine  is 
very  similar  to  the  Isabella,  and  equally  hardy.  The  fruit  is  of 
the  same  color,  but  of  smaller  berry  and  closer  set ;  musky,  but 
little  pulp  when  ripe,  and  ready  for  use  two  or  three  weeks  before 
the  Isabella — so  that  it  is  gone  when  the  latter  ripens.  It  was  first 
brought  to  public  notice  by  Charles  Canby,  of  Wilmington,  al- 
though a  vine  was  at  the  same  time  in  bearing  in  the  yard  of  an- 
other friend. 

The  Ohio  and  Missouri  have  been  cultivated  but  in  a  few 
instances.     The  former  is  quite  acid,  the  latter  sweet. 

The  foreign  varieties,  such  as  the  Black  Hamburgh,  the  Chas- 
selas,  and  the  Sweet  Water  and  Black  St.  Peter's  have  been  tried 
among  us,  but  have  shown  themselves  entirely  unworthy  of  an 
effort  at  culture  in  the  open  air.  Occasionally  a  rich  crop  may  be 
obtained  from  a  young  vine  in  a  favorable  exposure,  but  generally 
they  disappoint  the  hopes. 

There  has  been,  as  yet,  but  little  attempt  to  cultivate  them  under 
glass.  But  one  or  two  successful  attempts  are  known  of,  in  the 
state.  Of  course  they  have  been  productive  according  to  the  skill 
in  cultivating  them,  in  that  mode.  The  mildew  and  rot  are  both 
liable  to  injure  them,  and  especially,  where  there  is  not  a  perfect 
control  of  moisture,  heat  and  air.  The  most  perfect  house  yet 
erected  in  our  state,  has  just  been  finished  in  Brandywine  Hundred, 
in  a  most  favorable  situation  for  perfect  cultivation,  by  Mr.  Joseph 
Shipley. 

The  sandier  soil  of  Kent  County,  Delaware,  would  doubtless 
favor  the  growth  of  the  foreign  kinds,  but  it  is  not  probable  that 
they  could  be  grown  to  advantage  in  open  culture. 

But  two  vineyards  are  known  in  Delaware,  both  in  New  Castle 
County ;  one  on  the  farm  recently  belonging  to  Wm.  Tatnall,  and 
the  other  on  that  of  C.  P.  Holcomb  ;  the  former,  four  miles  w^est  of 
Wilmington,  on  a  clay  sub-soil — the  latter,  the  same  distance  south, 
on  a  gravel  sub-soil.     Both  are  flourishing. 

GOOSEBERRIES. 

As  to  the  Gooseberry,  it  fails  from  mildew  and  blight,  more  fre- 
quently than  it  succeeds. 


102 


CURRANTS. 

The  red  and  white  Dutch  Currants  are  the  most  common  among 
us,  and  they  grow  and  produce  readily. 

RASPBERRIES. 

A  native  kind,  red  and  sweet,  is  commonly  cultivated  ;  but  the 
varieties  recently  introduced  by  Dr.  Brinckle,  surpass  it  greatly. 

STRAWBERRIES, 

The  Virginia  Scarlet  is  the  prevailing  variety  of  the  Strawberry 
among  us,  though  the  Hautboy^  both  the  broad  and  long  kinds,  are 
met  with. 

The  Hovey's  Seedling  is  seen  in  our  market,  having  been  intro- 
duced several  years  ago,  and  is  a  noble  variety.  It  is  always 
grown  in  the  vicinity,  or  among,  the  Scarlet,  for  the  purpose  of 
fructification,  but  will  be  rooted  out  by  the  more  vigorous  Scarlet, 
if  planted  together. 

CHERRIES  AND  PLUMS. 

In  reply  to  the  call  made  on  me  for  a  report  on  Cherries  and 
Plums,  I  make  the  following  remarks : 

May  Duke — the  earliest  and  best  cherry  in  common  cultiva- 
tion. It  can  be  relied  on  as  a  sure  bearer,  and  not  so  liable  as 
others  to  injury  from  late  spring  frosts  and  snows* 

Belle  de  Choissy — a  newly  introduced  variety,  and  not  yet 
extensively  cultivated ;  but  as  far  as  tested,  recommends  itself  as 
a  cherry  of  superior  qualities.  Tree,  a  free  grower,  bearing  when 
young. 

Amber  Heart— is  also  a  cherry  of  recent  introduction,  and  has 
so  far  proved  a  valuable  acquisition  to  the  list  of  early  cherries. 

Black  Heart—the  most  common  cherry  of  the  northern  part  of 
the  state,  and  generally  esteemed  for  its  vigor  and  productiveness, 
growing  and  producing  bountiful  crops,  whether  on  high  or  low 
situations,  and  is  more  generally  used  for  family  purposes,  than  any 
other. 

Black  Tartarian — this  saperb  fruit  is  not  yet  much  known  with 
us,  but  so  far  as  our  observation  goes,  it  fully  sustains  the  high 
character  that  Pomologists  have  led  us  to  expect. 

Yellow  Bigarreau—a  fruit  well  known  in  our  markets,  making 


i 


103 

a  showy  appearance,  and  is  of  ready  sale  ;  it  is  one  of  the  hardiest 
of  cherries,  a  very  free  grower,  making  a  strong  head. 

White  Bigarreau — in  vigor,  productiveness,  and  the  general 
appearance,  is  similar  to  the  last  named,  and,  like  it,  is  a  favorite 
market  fruit. 

Elton — ^not  extensively  known,  but  where  cultivated,  has  given 
entire  satisfaction,  and  will,  at  any  time,  command  nearly  double 
price  in  the  market. 

Carnation — is  a  general  favorite  wherever  known,  either  as  a 
market  fruit,  or  for  family  use  in  town  or  country.  The  tree  makes 
a  tolerably  free  growth,  and  a  round,  even,  spreading,  handsome 
head,  and  bears  good  crops  annually. 

English  Morello — is  the  most  admired  of  all  that  class, 
which  are  in  common  cultivation,  for  its  many  good  qualities. — 
The  tree  is  a  free  grower  for  a  Morello,  and  not  subject  to  the 
black  knot,  which  has  almost  exterminated  other  Morellos.  The 
fruit  is  large  and  fine,  and  eagerly  sought  for  in  our  markets  for 
preserving  purposes. 

Common  Morello — ^by  its  facility  for  self-propagation,  is,  or  has 
been,  almost  indigenous  to  the  upper  portion  of  the  state.  It  is  a 
good  market  fruit.  The  tree  is  a  poor  grower,  and  for  the  last 
twenty  years,  has  been  almost  destroyed  by  the  black  knot,  to 
which  it  is  particularly  subject. 

Red  Pie  Cherry — is,  next  to  the  Black  Heart,  the  most  abun- 
dant in  our  markets,'  and  commands  good  prices.  The  tree  bears 
regularly  almost  every  year,  and  is  perfectly  hardy — attaining  the 
age  of  50  years,  and  even  more. 

Owing  to  the  ravages  of  the  curculio,  the  cultivation  of  Plums 
is  almost  entirely  neglected.  Unless  the  trees  are  planted  in  a 
pavement  (as  by  the  side  of  a  house,  or,  if  exposed  in  the  garden, 
paved  as  far  as  the  branches  extend),  there  is  scarcely  a  probability 
of  getting  a  crop. 

The  Common  Damson — is  more  generally  known  than  any  other, 
throughout  the  state.  Owing  to  its  exemption  from  the  attacks  of 
the  curculio,  it  is  a  sure  bearer  almost  every  year,  and  enormous 
crops  are  often  obtained  by  attention  to  its  cultivation,  in  favorable 
situations.  It  seems  better  adapted  to  light  soils  than  other  varie- 
ties, succeeding  best  in  a  gravelly  or  sandy  loam.  It  is,  however, 
unfortunately,  like  the  Morello  Cherries,  very  subject  to  the  black 


104 

knot,  which  destroys  it  in  a  few  years,  unless  prevented  by  the 
timely  application,  and  vigorous  use  of  the  pruning  knife. 

Prune  Plum — a  favorite  variety  of  the  blue  plum,  is  a  valuable 
market  fruit,  which,  like  the  Damson,  is  exempt  from  the  curculio, 
and  frequently  bears  enormous  crops.  It  is  easy  of  cultivation, 
producing  suckers  of  the  same. 

THOMAS  STAPLER. 

Besides  the  cherries  above  named,  we  have  in  partial  cultiva- 
tion— Early  Purple  Guigne,  May  Bigarreau,  Knight's  Early  Black, 
Black  Eagle,  Downer's  Late,  Downton,  Tradescant's  Black  Heart, 
Florence,  Late  Duke,  Rumsey's  Late  Morello,  and  some  other 
varieties,  w^hich  so  nearly  agree  with  the  descriptions  given  of 
them  in  the  books,  that  it  is  scarcely  necessary  to  write  more  than 
their  names. 

Of  Plums,  the  Green  Gage  succeeds  better  than  any  other  of  the 
finer  kinds. 

The  Washington — where  paved,  produces  moderate  crops  of  large 
fruit,  much  inferior  to  the  Green  Gage. 

Coe's  Golden  Drop — in  similar  situations,  produces  large  crops 
but  the  flavor  is  quite  inferior,  and  the  fruit  rots  very  much  before 
mature. 

The  cultivation  of  the  plum  is  altogether  the  most  unprofitable 
pursuit  one  can  engage  in,  and  has  no  inducements  as  a  pastime, 
it  is  consequently  entirely  neglected,  and  the  ground  occupied  with 
dwarf  pears,  which  give  more  general  satisfaction. 


REPORT  FROM  DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

The  undersigned,  chairman  of  the  Fruit  Committee  for  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia,  submits  the  following  Report : 

Your  Committee  have  great  pleasure  in  assuring  your  honorable 
body,  that  in  the  District  of  Columbia,  the  spirit  of  Pomological 
improvement  has  taken  a  deep  hold,  as  is  plainly  evinced  by  the 
increase  of  fruits  of  all  kinds,  both  in  quantity  and  quality,  in  our 
markets  ;  by  the  beautiful  and  enticing  display  everywhere  exhib- 
ited at  our  fruit  stores,  and  by  the  general  disposition  to  encour- 
age its  growth  and  production,  by  its  becoming  an  indispensable 
requisite  at  the  tables  of  our  public  hotels  and  private  families. 


105 

As  an  item  of  profit  to  the  Agriculturist  generally,  our  commu- 
nity seem  to  be  wide  awake  ;  the  demand  for  fruit  trees  is  evidently 
on  the  increase.  The  enterprising  and  public  spirited  are  making 
continual  improvement  of  rare  and  valuable  stock,  by  importa- 
tions from  abroad,  and  by  an  attentive  investigation  of  the  quali- 
ties adapted  to  our  soil  and  climate. 

First  in  importance,  in  point  of  economy  and  profit  to  the  Agri- 
culturist generally,  stand  the  apple  and  the  peach ;  in  the  latter  it 
was  thought  by  your  Committee  we  are  but  little  behind  any  sec- 
tion of  our  country  ;  great  additions  have  lately  been  made  to  the 
Pear,  the  Plum,  the  Cherry,  and  the  Strawberry,  and  our  cultiva- 
tors look  to  the  Pomological  Congress  with  a  deep  and  confiding 
interest.  They  hail  its  formation  as  the  source  from  which  light 
is  to  be  derived  to  aid  them  in  making  proper  and  useful  selec- 
tions adapted  to  the  peculiar  soil  and  locality  of  each  individual, 
and  best  method  of  cultivation,  also  the  character  of  the  diseases 
to  which  the  different  fruits  are  subject,  with  the  best  preventives 
and  cures. 

With  a  view  to  aid  these  objects  your  Committee  have  made  a 
call  upon  our  community  for  communications,  and  hope  at  no  dis- 
tant day  to  add  something  to  the  stock  of  general  information. 

The  Pear  begins  to  attract  much  attention.  Our  cultivators  are 
beginning  to  plant  largely,  both  on  pear  and  quince  bottoms,  and 
the  success  of  the  present  season  is  well  calculated  to  stimulate  to 
further  enlargement.  The  cultivation  on  quince  may  be  said  to 
have  only  commenced  here  (but  your  committee  are  prepared  to 
say  that  it  has  successfully  commenced.)  The  same  may  be  said 
of  the  grape  in  houses,  several  houses  of  some  extent  are  already 
in  operation,  and  more  are  in  contemplation. 

As  regards  the  general  fruit  crop  of  the  present  season  with  us, 
your  Committee  are  well  satisfied  of  the  following  facts : 

That  of  the  Strawberry  was  abundant  and  fine,  though  some- 
what affected  by  the  early  drought  (particularly  the  later  kinds). 
The  Raspberry  crop  was  short,  owing  in  part  to  the  destruction  of 
the  canes  by  the  unusually  severe  winter. 

The  Cherry  crop,  with  the  exception  of  the  Morello,  was  almost 

a  total  failure,  occasioned  by  frost  in  winter  and  in   the  blooming 

season. 

The  Peach  crop   is  below  an  average.     This  failure  is  io  he 
14 


106 

attributed,  in  part,  to  the  destruction  df  the  buds  in  winter,  partly 
to  spring  frosts,  and  partly  to  the  excess  of  wet  weather  during  a 
portion  of  July  and  the  whole  of  August  (a  statement  of  the  quan^ 
tity  of  rain  for  each  of  the  last  six  months  accompanies  this  report), 
causing  many  to  rot  and  fall,  and  though  it  added  much  to  the  size 
of  the  fruit  there  was  evidently  a  great  deterioration  in  the  quality, 
showing  plainly  the  importance  of  hot  sunshine  in  perfecting  the 
juices  and  flavor. 

The  Plum,  as  usual,  suffered  much  from  the  curculio,  and  the 
crop,  except  against  walls,  was  almost  a  total  failure  ;  we  do  not 
mean  to  include  the  Chichasaw  Plum,  and  the  common  Damson, 
which  were  abundantly  prolific. 

Grapes,  though  in  some  places  thought  to  be  injured  by  the 
wet,  are,  upon  the  whole,  most  abundant,  and  thought  not  yet  fully 
ripe,  we  think  we  are  safe  in  saj'ing,  will  be  much  better  than 
usual.  And  as  to  the  Apple,  Pear  and  Quince,  the  crop  in  the 
District  of  Columbia  is  decidedly  abundant  and  fine. 

Appended  to  this  report  is  a  copy  of  a  letter  addressed  to  Mr. 
John  Slater,  of  Alexandria.  His  success  in  the  cultivation  of  the 
Alice  Maud  Strawberry  having  come  under  the  immediate  notice 
of  your  Committee,  both  by  personal  examination  of  his  fruit  in 
market  and  of  his  crop  on  his  grounds,  induced  them  to  call  on 
him  for  a  statement  of  facts,  which  he  has  promptly  complied  with. 
Your  Committee,  from  their  own  observation,  and  the  well  known 
character  of  Mr.  Slater,  are  well  satisfied  with  the  accuracy  of  his 
statements,  and  we  will  add,  that  we  can  safely  and  confidently 
recommend  this  variety  for  a  fair  trial,  to  every  cultivator.  Here, 
in  our  soil  and  climate,  for  its  particular  time  of  ripening,  it  is 
certainly  '*  the  Strawberry.^^ 

In  reference  to  the  num_ber  of  quarts  gathered  by  Mr.  Slater, 
we  think  it  proper  to  state,  that  the  measure  used  by  him  was  the 
liquid,  or  wine  measure,  the  same  as  is  used  for  everything  in  our 
market,  being  forty  quarts  to  the  bushel. 

JOSHUA  PEIRCE. 

Nursery  at  Linnean  Hill,  near  Washington,,    ^^ 

August  31st,  1852.      ^ 

Mr.  John  Seater, — At  a  meeting  of  the  Committee  of  the 
Pomological  Congress  held  yesterday,  I  was  directed  by  them  to 


107 

request  of  you  any  facts  with  regard  to  your  Alice  Maud  Straw- 
berry that  it  may  be  convenient  for  you  to  furnish.  You  will 
please  to  mention  the  time  it  was  imported,  and  where  from — 
your  general  success  in  cultivation — how  many  days  in  advance 
of  Hovey's  Seedling  it  is  generally,  in  the  same  soil  and  exposure 
— what  is  the  difference  in  size  of  your  best  specimens  of  each — 
how  many  berries  to  the  quart  from  you  best  crops — w^hat  has 
been  the  best  yield  to  any  given  quantity  of  ground — how  have 
your  plants  stood  the  climate — how  affected  by  the  hot  suns  of 
summer  and  the  severe  frost  of  winter  ?  To  this  you  will  add 
your  method  of  cultivation.  Yours,  truly, 

JOSHUA  PIERCE. 


Bella vuE,  near  Alexmidria^  Va.,    ) 
September  5th,  1852.      \ 

Mr.  Joshua  Pierce  : — 

Dear  Sir, — Your  note  was  duly  received.  In  answer  to  your 
inquiries  concerning  my  Alice  Maud  Strawberry — first,  you  wished 
me  to  mention  its  faults.  I  answer,  none  to  my  knowledge.  2d. 
When  imported,  and  who  from  ?  Mr.  William  Barrat,  of  Wake- 
field, Yorkshire,  England,  in  the  fall  of  '45  and  spring  of  '46. 
3d.  How  many  days  it  ripens  earlier  than  Hovey's  Seedling,  on 
the  same  soil  and  exposure  ?  On  an  average  of  8  days.  4th.  My 
success  in  cultivation  ?  I  have  missed  no  crop  since  I  have  been 
cultivating  it ;  I  believe  it  to  be  a  surer  croper  than  any  variety 
I  am  acquainted  with.  '  5th.  The  difference  in  size  ?  I  cannot 
say  I  am  satisfied  ;  for  size  and  quantity  Alice  will  beat  Hovey's 
Seedling  or  any  other  variety  I  have  seen,  two  to  one.  Note,  I 
do  not  say  but  that  a  few  fruit  might  be  picked  out  of  Hovey's 
Seedling  as  large  as  Alice  Maud  ;  I  speak  of  the  crop  in  general. 
6th.  Given  quantity  ?  I  do  not  know  that  my  crop  was  much 
superior  the  past  season  than  formerly  ;  from  a  piece  of  ground 
measuring  60  feet  by  135,  w^e  picked,  on  May  26th,  about  25 
quarts  ;  on  the  28th,  150  quarts  ;  May  31st,  400  quarts  ;  June 
2d,  250  quarts  ;  June  4th,  about  200  ;  June  6th,  about  the  same 
quantity;  at  this  time  we  suffered  with  drought  which  I  should 
think  cut  the  crop  one-fourth  short  to  what  might  have  been  ex- 
pected. From  beginning  to  end  we  picked  fruit  from  the  same 
ground  for  three  weeks ;  from  30  to  40  quarts  was  the  last  pick- 


108 

ing.  7th.  How  it  stands  the  climate  ?  I  have  never  seen  Alice 
injured  in  the  least  by  winter  frosts,  and  I  know  of  no  strawberry 
that  stands  the  heat  and  drought  as  well.  8th.  Mode. of  cultiva- 
tion ?  When  convenient,  I  prefer  spring  planting.  I  plant  my 
plants  from  8  to  12  inches  in  the  rows,  and  24  inches  between  the 
rows,  r  often  plant  between  crops  of  early  cabbage.  I  hoe 
through  them  the  following  summer,  keep  them  clear  of  weeds, 
and  crop  off  the  runners  as  fast  as  they  make  ;  the  following  spring 
I  throw  in  some  kind  of  trash  to  keep  the  fruit  from  the  ground. 
Tanners'  bark  is  the  most  convenient  thing  that  I  can  procure  ; 
it  appears  to  answer  the  purpose  very  well. 
Yours,  with  respect, 

JOHN  SLATER. 

N,  B. — The  above  is  a  true  statement  to  the  best  of  my  knowl- 
edge ;  you  can  make  what  use  of  it  you  please. 

To  Joshua  Pierce.  J.  S. 

Statement  of  the  amount  of  rain  in  Washington  for  the  last  six 
months,  taken  from  a  register  kept  at  the  Smithsonian  Institute  : — 


1852. 

March, 

3.50 

inches,  ] 

April, 

May, 
June, 

6.00 
1.50 
3.00 

>  Approximation. 

July, 

August, 

4.75 
9.30 

u          ( 
cc          ( 

> 

>  Real. 

28.10       "     total,  for  six  months. 


4.68       ''     average. 

Statement  of  temperature  of  some  of  the  coldest  days  at  Wash- 
ington in  January  1852,  taken  at  the  Observatory  : — 

January  19th,  At  noon,  in  the  shade,  16° 

in  the  sun,  34° 

20th,  Before  sunrise,  10J°  below  zero. 
At  12  o'clock,  in  the  sun,    35°  above  zero. 

At  2  o'clock,  40°  '^ 

21st,  Lowest,  13°  " 

22d,         "  1°  below  zero. 

23d,         "  5°  " 

24th,       "  1° 


109 
REPORT   FROM    VIRGINIA. 

TO  THE  PRESIDENT  OF  THE  POMOLOGICAL  CONGRESS,  PHILADELPHIil, 

In  my  report  to  the  second  Congress  of  fruit  growers,  held  at 
New  York  city,  in  1849,  I  alluded  to  the  nature  of  the  soil  and 
its  adaption  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit,  of  this  part  of  Virginia.  I 
may  now  add  that  the  culture  of  the  improved  varieties  of  fruit 
is  steadily  advancing.  Much  less  rapidly,  however,  than  would 
be  the  case,  if  we  had  a  market  for  fresh  fruit.  Of  apples  we 
are  more  and  more  confirmed,  that  for  late  keeping  varieties  we 
had  better  look  to  the  south,  than  to  get  them  from  the  north. — 
Our  summers  here  are  longer  than  at  the  north,  and  fruit  from  there 
ripens  here  before  the  commencement  of  cold  weather,  conse- 
quently does  not  keep  here  equally  well.  We  are  endeavoring  to 
obtain  late  keeping  fruit  from  the  south,  and  expect  our  delegate 
to  present  some  specimens  as  samples  to  the  approaching  Pomo- 
logical  Congress,  w'hich  originated  south  of  James'  River,  Vir- 
ginia, Such  samples  cannot  be  expected  to  exhibit  their  quality  in 
their  premature  state,  and  I  would  suggest  whether  it  would  not 
be  to  the  interest  of  the  Congress,  to  appoint  a  committee,  to  ex- 
amine and  report  upon  all  fruit  presented  by  members  of  the  Con- 
gress or  others,  at  any  season  of  the  year.  The  comparative 
quality,  and  value  of  different  varieties,  as  keeping  fruits,  cannot 
be  so  well  ascertained,  by  the  Congress,  at  any  one  time  of  the 
year,  as  if  the  different  varieties  were  carefully  examined  as  they 
become  ripe.  Should  there  be  a  committee  appointed  by  the 
approaching  Congress,  composed  of  the  ablest  pomologists  of  the 
neighborhood  of  Philadelphia,  and  they  requested  to  examine  and 
report  upon  all  fruit  presented  to  them,  and  particularly  state  its 
quality,  much  might  be  done  to  establish  the  true  character  of  new 
varieties. 

It  often  happens  that  persons  who  have  originated,  or  who  wish 
to  bring  into  notice,  new  varieties  of  fruit,  praise  it  beyond  its 
true  merits.  This  may  be  attributed  in  part,  at  least,  to  ignorance 
of  what  in  reality  good  fruit  consists.  Many  who  are  but  partially 
acquainted  with  fruit,  suppose,  when  they  meet  with  something  rather 
better  than  they  have  been  used  to,  that  such  must  be  truly  excellent, 
when  the  mistake  may  originate  in  a  want  of  knowledge  of  the 
qualities  of  other  choice  kinds. 


110 

Pears — there  has  not  been  experience  long  enough  to  speak 
with  certainty,  but  from  what  we  have  seen  we  may  confidently 
anticipate  a  rich  reward  for  those  who  engage  in  their  cultivation. 
We  occasionally  see  the  blight  on  trees  here,  but  rcldom  to  the 
extent  that  we  hear  of  in  other  places.  Some  y(>  ry  aged  and 
thrifty  trees  are  met  with,  the  mostly  seedhng,  as  but  few  trees 
were  grafted  here  formerly. 

Peaches — we  have  great  abundance  in  most  seasons,  as  the 
trees  have  succeeded  here  well — many  of  them  30  to  40  years 
old.  The  yellows  appear  in  some  places,  and  where  no  means 
are  used  to  check  its  progress,  it  has  destroyed  some  orchards 
entirely,  but  where  proper  measures  are  resorted  to,  it  has  been 
checked  altogether,  and  no  doubt  but  that  a  simultaneous  exertion 
on  the  part  of  all,  would  effectually  remove  the  disease  from 
amongst  us.  The  past  winter  here  was  one  of  unusual  severity, 
the  thermometer  indicating  from  10°  to  14°  below  zero,  and  at 
least  one-half  of  our  peach  buds  were  killed  in  the  winter,  and 
the  crop  consequently  light  this  season.  Of  apples  we  have  a 
fair  supply ;  cherries  but  few  this  season,  and  of  plums,  the  Cur- 
culio  uses  up  the  larger  portion. 

From  the  interest  that  is  beginning  to  be  taken  in  Virginia,  in 
the  cultivation  of  fruit,  there  is  reason  to  believe  that  other  por- 
tions of  the  State  will  be  represented  in  the  approaching  Con- 
o-ress — and  that  the  time  is  not  far  distant  when  we  may  vie 
with  our  sister  States,  in  the  quality  if  not  quantity  of  summer 
fruits  at  least.  In  this,  at  least,  we  indulge  in  a  spirit  of  emu- 
lation without  envy,  in  which  all  may  feel  interested  and  be  bene- 
fitted. 

«  YARDLEY    TAYLOR, 

Loudon  County,  Virginia. 

P.  S.  In  consequence  of  the  decease  of  the  much  lamented 
A.  J.  Downing,  Chairman  of  the  General  Fruit  Committee,  I 
have  addressed  this  to  the  President  of  the  Congress. 

Y.  T. 


Mr.  Robey,  of  Fredericksburg,  reports  the  following,  viz.: 
No.  1.  Carter  Apple- — long  known  in  this  country,  and  culti- 


ill 

Vated  by  almost  every  farmer.     Bears  enormous  crops.     Speci-' 
mens  about  two-thirds  grown  only     Aug.  and  September. 

2.  Summer  Cheese — ^specimens  not  more  than  half  grown — - 
drought  and  overcrop.     September. 

3.  Roberson  White— specimens  of  this  also,  not  more  than 
half  their  usual  size.     September  and  October.     Blooms  very  late. 

4.  W*ntei  Cheese — when  grown,  full  medium  size.  December 
to  Febrnaiy. 

5.  Gloucester  White — two-thirds  grown— nearly  'yellow  at 
maturity.     November  to  January.     Rich  aromatic. 

6.  Red  Cathead — not  grown — -bears  regular  and  heavy  crops 
— fruit  always  perfect — -fine  for  table  and  culinary.  October  to 
December. 

7.  Ladies'  Favorite — bears  large  and  regular  crops— fruit  al- 
ways fair— keeps  till  January. 

8.  Limber  Twig— specimens  about  half-  grown—dull  red- 
keeps  till  May— regular  bearer. 

9.  Abram — keeps  till  May-='regular  bearer. 

10.  Prior's  Red— keeps  till  March. 

11.  Rawles'  Jannetting- — ^^keeps  till  March. 

12.  Garden  Apple — -bears  young.     October^ 

13.  Hollady's  Seedling— raised  by  John  Hollady,  of  this  county. 
When  grown,  large  fine  yellow,  with  russet  spots — very  "rich — ■ 
highly  perfumed— keeps  till  April — regular  and  good  bearer. 

14.  Strawn's  Seedling — -rather  large— flesh  yellowish,  rich,  crisp 
and  juicy — bears  large  and  regular  crops— fruit  always  perfect — 
keeps  till  April. 

15.  Leather  Coat — -winter. 

16.  Bowling's  Sweet.— Specimens  not  half  grown— when  ripe, 
very  rich.  October  to  December,  Bears  large  crops— fruit  al- 
ways fair. 

17.  Milam — -dark  red  when  ripe— ^keeps  till  March— frtiit  al- 
ways fair. 

18.  Spice  Apple- — not  hcilf  their  usual  size  owing  ta  the  tree 
being  over-loaded. 

18.  Ogleby — raised  by  an  old  man  (colored)  from  seed  of  a 
red  fall  apple.  The  original  tree  has  borne  this  the  third  year. 
Specimens  not  yet  grown — when   ripe,  fine  yellow — very  rich — a 


112 

little  spicy.     Specimens  have  been  kept  till  February,  and  I  sup- 
pose they  would  keep  longer. 

20.  Summer  Golden  Pippin — the  specimens  are  not  so  large 
as  they  usually  grow — fruit  always  fair — bears  well. 

21.  Green  Newtown  Pippin. 

22.  Waugh's  Crab' — the  specimens  are  not  half  the  size  of 
this  apple  when  grown — bears  very  heavy  crops — have  been  left 
on  the  trees  until  Christmas,  to  freeze  anu  thaw,  without  much  in- 
jury;  if  crushed  in  January  it  makes  the  finest  white  cider,  fully 
equal  to  Hewes'  Crab — from  March  to  June  it  is  a  fine  rich  table 
apple,  nearly  sweet. 

23.  Wine  Sap — bears  regular  and  fine  crops,  and  keeps  well 
till  March. 

24.  Baltimore  Pippin — bears  well,  and  the  fruit  good.  Septem- 
ber and  October. 

25.  Vandervere — juicy  and  good — bears  well — keeps  till 
March. 

26.  Russet — -variety  not  known — a  good  winter  fruit. 

27.  Brooke's  Pippin. — The  tree  from  which  this  apple  was 
taken,  was  found  upon  the  farm  when  Mr,  B.  purchased  it,  about 
forty  years  ago  ;  it  was  then  about  the  size  of  a  coach  whip.  He 
thinks  it  is  a  seedling.  The  tree  is  now  very  large — bears  regular 
and  large  crops  of  fruit,  always  fair — of  the  largest  size — keeps 
well  till  May — fine,  yellow  flesh,  juicy  and  rich,  and  of  the  finest 
flavor  ;  the  tree  grows  in  a  warm,  sandy  soil.  Mr.  B.  has  nearly 
all  the  known  varieties  of  the  Pippin,  which  very  rarely  come  to 
perfection  ;  young  trees  in  the  nursery  grow  very  thrifty.  I  re- 
gret that  specimens  of  this  apple,  from  Mr.  B.,  did  not  reach  me 
before  I  left  home. 

28.  Winter  Queen. — Bears  large  and  regular  crops — keeps  till 
February — fruit  always  fair. 

29.  This  is  a  Pear  that  I  present  for  a  name  ;  it  is  a  grafted 
fruit,  grown  extensively  in  the  lower  counties ;  said  to  have  been 
imported  from  France  about  seventy  years  ago.  .No  doubt  it  will 
be  readily  recognised  by  the  Committee  in  this  State.  It  bears 
regular  and  very  large  crops,  and  very  rarely  an  imperfect  fruit  is 
seen  on  the  tree  ;  it  is  sometimes  in   eating   1st  November — will 


113 

keep  with  very  little  care  until  February,  and  specimens  have  been 
kept  until  April.     It  is  known  here  by  the  Taylor  Pear. 

I  have  put  in  three  kinds  of  seedlings,  Nos.  1,  3,  and  4,  and  one 
marked  Robey's  Seedling  ;  the  latter  promises  to  be  a  fine  winter 
apple. 

I  would  here  state  that  the  specimens  of  fruit  are  not  near  their 
usual  size  at  this  season  of  the  year,  owing  to  the  very  dry  sum- 
mer ;  until  recently  we  have  had  very  little  rain,  and  a  good  many 
kinds  are  from  trees  growing  in  old  fields,  very  poor,  and  not 
been  cultivated  for  many  years. 

Respectfully,  H.  R.  ROBEY, 

Hopewell  Nurseries, 

Fredericksburg,  Va. 


REPORT  FROM  SOUTH  CAROLINA. 

Mr.  William  Summer  writes  to  the  late  President  from  Pomaria, 
Sept.  6th,  1852  :— 

The  fruit  season  has  been  a  fine  one  ;  we  were  favored  with  a 
great  abundance  of  all  kinds.  The  Cherries  bore  very  heavy 
crops — the  fruit  large  and  fine.  The  mature  Apricot  trees  bore 
immense  crops.  The  Plums,  too,  were  fine  on  heavy  clay  soils. 
I  have  never  had  any  difficulty  in  growing  good  crops  with  a  little 
attention  to  guard  against  the  ravages  of  the  Curculio,  and  for  this 
purpose  I  mainly  depend  upon  the  pigs  picking  up  the  waste  fruit. 
The  new  Seedling  Plum  maintains  its  character,  and  I  think  is 
worthy  of  general  cultivation. 

Pears. — The  trees  of  the  Petit  Muscat  were  loaded  until  the 
limbs  bent  down  like  an  umbrella.  The  Julienne  and  Seckel 
were  of  fine  size,  and  the  flavor  very  superior,  while  the  Bartlett, 
Doyenne  Blanc,  Duchesse  d'Angouleme  were  of  larger  size  than 
usual.  The  B.  Capiaumont  bore  very  heavy  crops.  The  Fulton 
is  with  us  one  of  the  finest  Pears  ;  and  the  Croft  Castle  eaten  to- 
day, proves  to  be  a  pear  in  our  soil  and  ctimate  worthy  of  cul- 
tivation. I  think  in  our  warm,  deep  soils  that  many  varieties  of  the 
Pear  are  improved  in  flavor. 

We  have  had  a  bountiful  supply  of  Apptes  and  Peaches.     They 
15 


114 

were  everything  that  could  be  desired,  but  as  I  have  not  time  to 
particularize,  I  must  bring  this  hasty  note  to  a  close. 
With  sentiments  of  esteem, 

I  am  yours,  sincerely, 

WILLIAM  SUMMER. 

REPORT  FROM  KENTUCKY. 

The  Committee  on  Fruits  for  the  State  of  Kentucky  respectfully 
beg  leave  to  report  that  a  loss  of  the  fruit  crop  in  the  West  for 
two  consecutive  seasons  having  cut  off  all  facilities  for  personal 
observation  and  for  comparison,  they  are  thereby  deprived  of  the 
power  of  rendering  aid  to  the  great  enterprise  of  classifying  the 
fruits  of  the  country  with  a  view  to  discard  what  are  worthless, 
and  to  place  in  their  proper  order  in  the  calendar  of  suggestion, 
such  as  deserve  to  be  retained,  marking  out  at  the  same  time  all 
untenanted  spaces  in  such  calendar — an  enterprise  which,  while 
it  is  calculated  to  save  the  inexperienced  from  being  seduced  by 
sounding  names  and  glowing  descriptions  into  a  profitless  waste 
of  both  time  and  money,  gives  also  direction  to  the  efforts  of  the 
enlightened  originator  of  new  sorts,  by  enabling  him  to  recognise 
the  neighbors  on  either  side  of  any  vacant  point  in  the  circle  of 
succession,  and  to  secure  its  occupancy  by  a  common  offspring, 
the  result  of  his  skill  at  cross  impregnation.  Important,  however, 
as  these  subjects  are,  the  committee  have  not  thought  for  a  mo- 
ment that  there  are  none  others  worthy  the  attention  of  pomolo- 
gists ;  on  the  contrary,  they  believe  the  "  name  of  such  subjects 
is  legion."  In  casting  about,  however,  they  have  deemed  none 
more  appropriate  for  the  basis  of  their  present  report,  though 
touched  upon  in  their  last,  than  climate,  elevation,  and  aspects  in 
their  effects  upon  orchard  culture.  Correct  knowledge  on  these 
subjects  lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  successful  and  profitable 
efforts  at  fruit  culture,  and  the  committee  believe  can  never  be 
acquired  too  soon. 

Climate. — -By  the  books,  climate  is  defined  to  mean  a  distribu- 
tion of  heat  over  the  earth's  surface,  and  that  heat  is  made  to 
attain  under  the  equator  84  degrees  of  temperature  (Fahrenheit) 
as  its  mean  annual  maximum,  diminishing  as  is  supposed  in  the 
direction  of  the  poles  by  a  fixed  ratio ;  yet  by  reason  of  the  dif- 
ference  in  radiative  force  between  water  and  land  and  of  other 


115 

causes,  the  lines  which  constitute  the  boundaries  of  cUmates  are 
not  parallels  to  the  equator,  and,  if  the  line  which  marks  any  given 
degree  of  mean  temperature  upon  the  water  be  extended  in  the 
direction  of  land  it  will  on  striking  it  show  a  rise  in  the  mercury 
greater  by  day,  and  a  fall  as  much  lower  by  night,  than  upon  the 
water,  and  this  difference  in  the  diurnal  range  of  the  thermometer 
increases  as  the  line  extends  inward  upon  the  land  until  we  pass 
the  point  to  which  the  modifying  influence  of  the  water  reaches. 
Hence  it  follows  that  all  vast  districts  of  country,  like  the  valley  of 
the  Mississippi,  have  riveted  upon  them  by  the  action  of  fixed 
laws  those  features  of  a  climate  which  are  termed  fickle,  great 
diurnal  ranges  of  the  mercury,  and  great  and  sudden  changes  of 
temperature  in  the  seasons.  In  studying  such  a  climate  the  pro- 
per inquiry  for  the  pomologist  is  this — Does  disaster  follow  the 
action  of  those  periods  of  intense  cold  w^hich  occur  only  occa- 
sionally in  a  series  of  years  ?  or  does  it  result  from  those  sudden 
blasts  of  hyperborean  cold,  which  in  such  a  climate  follow  not 
unfrequently  after  vegetable  life  has  been  excited  by  genial 
warmth  into  a  state  of  growth  more  or  less  active.  After  some 
personal  investigation  upon  this  subject,  and  the  collation  of  many 
communicated  facts,  the  committee  are  strongly  inclined  to  believe 
that  although  intense  cold  of  long  duration  may  sometimes  de- 
stroy even  the  life  of  a  tree  by  rupture  of  its  tissues  from  the  ex- 
pansive force  of  congelation,  yet  far  the  greater  number  of  injuries 
experienced  by  the  cultivator,  either  in  health  of  its  trees  or  in 
the  thrift  of  his  crops,  are  traceable  to  the  agency  of  compara- 
tively moderate  cold  brought  to  bear  upon  vegetable  life  in  a  state 
highly  susceptible  of  harm  by  reason  of  the  presence  of  fluids 
in  a  state  of  circulation,  or  of  fluids  upon  the  surface  of  the  leaves 
and  branches,  or  of  fluids  in  a  state  of  saturation  in  the  soil  con- 
taining the  roots.  In  confirmation  of  this  opinion,  they  refer  to 
the  following  facts,  viz :  the  winter  just  passed  has  been  one  of 
marked  severity  in  the  West,  and  the  character  of  the  past  spring 
too  was  distinguished  by  some  of  the  most  peculiar  features  of  a 
changeable  climate,  aflbrding  thus  a  good  opportunity  for  a  com- 
parison of  the  destructive  force  of  intense  cold  and  that  of  unsea- 
sonable cold.  The  committee  find  it  difficult  to  refer  some  casual- 
ties reported  to  the  cause  of  harm,  whilst  in  regard  to  others  there 
seems  not  a  shade  of  doubt  in  fixing  upon  the  destroying  agency. 


116 

Thus  one  gentleman  had  a  large  peach  orchard  which  in  the 
spring  he  found  dead;  each  tree  alive  in  its  roots  and  for  a  space 
up  the  trunk  about  as  high  as  the  surface  of  the  snow  at  the  time 
the  mercury  went  to  eighteen  degrees  below  zero.  This  destruc- 
tion would  seem  like  the  work  of  intense  cold,  but  many  other 
orchards  stood  the  same  degree  of  cold,  receiving  but  little  injury 
other  than  the  loss  of  the  crop,  which  evidently  occurred  at  this  time. 
Whether  in  this  case  there  was  present  the  condition  of  a  wet  soil 
to  aggravate  the  force  of  cold  or  such  a  conformation  of  the  earth 
as  to  generate  a  more  intense  degree  of  cold  than  elsewhere,  the 
committee  are  unable  to  say.  In  regard  to  the  efiects  of  the  spring 
upon  vegetable  life,  proofs  are  more  numerous  and  far  less  equivo- 
cal. On  the  l8th  of  March,  the  fruit  crop,  except  peaches,  was 
fast  coming  forward  ;  apricots  had  partially  bloomed  ;  some  apples 
and  pears  had  in  their  fruit  buds  made  considerable  development, 
leaves  being  formed ;  the  blossom  buds  of  the  plum  were  very 
vigorous  and  healthy,  and  the  latest  had  swollen  till  the  coiled 
petals  were  visible.  At  this  time  the  thermometer  sank  to  thir- 
teen degrees  above  zero,  a  temperature  thirty-one  degrees  warmer 
than  that  of  January  ;  yet  the  harm  resulting  from  the  temperature 
at  thirteen  above  zero  has  been  ten  fold  greater,  the  committee 
think,  than  that  which  w^as  caused  in  January  by  eighteen  below. 
Bolmar's  Washington  and  Duane's  Purple  plums  in  some  places, 
although  swelling  to  bloom,  were  so  effectually  killed  as  to  show 
no  more  signs  of  growth  ;  many  varieties  of  the  plum  on  the  same 
grounds  bloomed  but  cast  their  fruit ;  some  pears  and  apples  had 
every  fruit  and  wood  bud  killed  so  as  to  slough  off,  the  same  trees 
afterward  pushing  forth  adventitious  buds  and  making  a  new  coat 
of  leaves.  The  hardy  \villow,  which  had  remained  unhurt  after 
the  zero  spell  in  January,  and  was  pushing  into  leaf  even  to  the 
points  of  the  branches  in  March,  lost  in  some  places  every  wood 
bud  in  the  system,  together  with  the  extremities  of  the  branches 
for  full  six  feet  in  from  the  points.  As  for  Heart  Cherries,  although 
almost  ready  to  bloom,  they  were  literally  swept  out  of  existence  ; 
one  gentleman  with  an  orchard  containing  sixteen  varieties  had 
only  the  Ox  Heart  and  two  other  sorts  left,  whilst,  as  if  to  prove 
there  was  no  security  in  sorts,  his  neighbor  lost  all  his  Ox  Hearts 
at  the  same  time.  Again  on  the  1st  of  May,  1851,  the  fruit  crop 
from  the  lakes  as  far  south  as  we  have  heard  was  one  of  the  most 


k 


117 

abundant  and  most  promising  ever  looked  upon.  At  this  time  a 
fall  of  the  mercury  to  a  temperature  ranging  from  20  to  26  degrees, 
carried  off  the  whole  fruit  crop  except  in  a  few  places  peculiarly 
located,  where  we  believe  local  causes  always  exist  capable  of 
preventing  this  wide  range  of  the  thermometer,  unless  in  very  rare 
cases,  when  (as  Dr.  Kirtland  has  said  in  one  of  the  best  articles 
on  this  subject  which  has  yet  been  printed)  the  general  cold  pre- 
vails over  the  local  warmth,  as  was  the  case  in  January  last,  when 
the  mercury  could  not  rise  on  the  noon  of  a  bright  sunny  day. 
Such  favored  situations,  the  committee  believe,  are  found  in  belts 
of  land  around  bays  and  lakes,  on  small  islands,  and  upon  elevated 
points. 

Elevation. — Elevation,  like  northing  or  southing  from  the 
equator,  diminishes  temperature,  and  by  the  same  book  authority 
already  quoted  (the  Encyclopsedia  Brittannica,)  at  a  point 
under  the  equator  where  the  mean  annual  temperature  is  84°,  by 
ascending  some  6,000  yards  one  reaches  the  point  of  perpetual 
congelation,  or  the  mean  annual  temperature  is  one  degree  lower 
for  each  400  feet  of  ascent ;  the  decrease  in  this  case  also  progressing 
by  a  fixed  ratio. 

An  elevation  of  400  feet,  according  to  Loudon,  will  retard  the 
season  of  vegetation  three  or  four  days,  and  is  therefore  from  this 
cause  favorable  to  fruit  culture,  inasmuch  as  during  this  delay  the 
season  is  advancing  to  settled  warmth.  But  in  cases  like  that  of 
May,  1851,  where  vegetation  had  made  such  advances  that  no 
difference  seemed  to  exist  between  the  foliage  of  the  heights  and 
that  upon  the  plains,  a  different  and  far  more  powerful  cause 
is  required  to  work  that  salvation  of  the  fruit  crop  upon  the  hills, 
which  was  no  where  else  witnessed  in  the  West  except  upon  belts 
of  land  around  the  lakes,  and  those  belts  very  narrow,  observes 
an  eye  witness,  the  very  respectable  editor  of  the  Western  Horti- 
cultural Review.  What  this  more  powerful  force  may  be,  remains 
to  be  settled.  The  committee,  however,  deem  it  a  matter  of  no 
small  moment,  in  a  climate  where  fruit  culture  is  uncertain,  to 
establish  it  as  a  truth  that  hills  at  a  certain  elevation  enjoy  a  climate 
where  the  thermometer  never  rises  so  high  by  day  as  upon  the 
plains  below,  and  yet  never  sinks  so  low  at  night,  that  they  possess 
a  climate  nearly  as  uniform  as  countries  surrounded  by  water  and 
are  nearly  as  well  suited  to  fruit  culture.     For  a  plausible  theory 


118 

on  this  subject  the  committee  refer  to  an  article  which  appeared 
last  year  in  the  columns  of  the  Louisville  Journal  from  the  pen 
of  a  member  of  this  committee.  The  author  supposes  this  uni- 
versal agency  to  be  that  volume  of  the  atmosphere  which  is  daily 
heated  by  conduction  from  being  in  contact  with  the  earth's  surface, 
and  that  this  volume  of  air,  like  other  heated  masses,  giving  out 
its  caloric  mainly  from  the  surface  in  contact  with  the  earth,  may 
and  does,  at  an  elevation  of  some  hundred  feet  maintain  a  large 
portion  of  its  heat  when  no  wind  blows  to  mingle  it  with  other 
strata,  during  a  whole  night  and  until  the  sun's  action  again  re- 
plenishes  the  stock. 

Aspect. — Aspect,  the  commitee  consider  in  this  climate  of  little 
importance,  except  that  a  southern  one  aggravates  the  evils  of  a 
fickle  climate  by  increasing  the  power  of  the  sun;  and  one  which 
shuts  out  the  noon-tide  sun,  on  the  other  hand,  modifies  the  tem- 
perature, and  thereby  betters  the  climate. 

In  conclusion,  the  committee  remark  that  they  feel  assured  that 
every  pomologist  entering  upon  the  business  of  fruit  culture  in  a 
climate  like  that  of  the  West,  ought  to  consider  himself  engaged 
in  an  employment  rendered  uncertain  by  the  action  of  natural 
causes,  and  that  this  uncertainty  can  be  nowhere  escaped  except 
in  the  few  favored  positions  protected  by  "  local  warmth^''''  such 
as  the  margins  of  large  bodies  of  water,  the  summits  of  hills,  or 
points  sheltered  from  cold  winds.  Moreover,  they  are  constrained 
to  think  that  it  is  hoping  against  hope  to  expect  success  in  efforts 
to  cultivate  any  of  the  tender  fruit  trees  which  die  after  losing  the 
young  shoots  and  their  system  of  leaves  under  action  of  those 
spring  frosts  spoken  of  under  the  head  of  climate,  such  as  the 
Heart  Cherry,  English  Walnut,  &c.,  unless  in  cities  or  at  some 
point  not  having  too  wide  a  range  for  the  mercury. 

L.  YOUNG,  Chairman. 


119 

REPORT  FROM  MICHIGAN. 

Detroit,  Michigan,  August,  1852, 
To  the  President  of  the  Pomological  Congress  : 

Sir, — As  our  State  Committee  consists  of  four  members,  each 
residing  at  different  and  distant  points  from  the  others,  we  have 
thought  it  would  be  well  for  each  to  report  respecting  his  own 
locality.  We  therefore  present  reports  from  different  portions  of 
our  state.  My  own  time  being  very  fully  occupied  in  attending 
to  my  duties  as  Secretary  of  the  Michigan  State  Agricultural  Soci- 
ety, which,  at  this  time  of  the  year,  are  very  arduous,  and  requir- 
ing  my  undivided  attention,  it  will  be  impossible  for  me  to  write 
full  a  pomological  report  as  I  would  desire. 

You  will  herewith  receive  a  report  from  Mr.  Scott,  of  Lenawee 
County,  Mr.  Prouty,  of  Kalamazoo  County,  Mr.  Cone,  of  Oakland 
County,  and  my  own  residence  being  at  Detroit,  I  shall  speak 
more  particularly  of  the  County  in  which  I  reside,  viz.:  Wayne 
County. 

Nearly  the  whole  of  Wayne  County  is  included  within  that  por- 
tion of  the  peninsula,  constituting  its  eastern  border,  in  which  no 
considerable  prominences  occur,  and  the  descent  to  the  coast  is 
gradual  and  uniform.  In  this  county,  consequently,  if  we  except 
the  township  in  the  north-west  corner  (Plymouth),  the  general 
level  is  varied  only  by  gentle  undulations,  or  isolated  sand  ridges 
forming  no  continuous  ranges,  and  seldom  exceeding  the  relative 
height  of  twenty  feet.  The  greatest  elevation  of  coast  from  Milk 
river  point  on  the  St.  Clair,  down  to  the  Rouge,  is  about  tw^enty 
feet ;  from  the  Rouge  to  the  mouth  of  the  Straits,  ten  feet. 

Along  the  whole  eastern  border  of  the  county,  the  altitude  at- 
tained at  a  distance  of  six  miles  from  the  coast,  varies  but  little  from 
33  to  36  feet.  At  a  single  point  only,  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit, 
it  attains  to  45  feet  above  the  river  ;  the  general  level  of  the  table 
land  at  this  place,  being  about  26  feet.  Beyond  this  belt  the  land 
rises  more  rapidly,  attaining,  at  the  western  line  of  the  county,  to 
about  140  feet  above  the  Straits. 

Two-thirds  of  the  county  are  flat,  heavily  timbered  lands,  pro- 
ducing a  stout  growth  of  oak,  elm,  white  wood,  maple,  beech, 


120 

bass,  ash,  hickory,  butternut,  black  walnut,  &c.  Chestnut  is 
found  on  sandy  ridges  in  the  towns  of  Dearborn  and  Van  Buren. 
The  remaining  third  is  undulating  oak  openings,  or  plains  inter- 
spersed with  wet,  grassy  prairies  ;  the  latter  obtaining  a  proportion 
of  about  one-fifth. 

Clay  and  sand  loams  constitute  the  soils  of  the  timbered  land. 
These  occupy  nearly  equal  portions  of  surface  and  often  alternate 
within  short  distances.  The  former  derives  its  character  from  a 
bed  of  yellow  or  brown  friable  clay,  which  reposes  upon  the  ex- 
tensive blue  clay  deposite  immediately  overlaying  the  lime-rock. 
Clay  is  reached  throughout  the  portions  characterized  by  sandy 
soil  at  a  depth  of  from  5  to  12  feet. 

The  upper  clay  has  an  average  thickness  of  5  feet.  The  lower 
clay  is  of  a  variegated  blue  color,  gravelly,  and  intersected  by 
layers  or  strata  of  quicksand  and  gravel.  This  clay  sometimes 
approaches  the  surface,  as  in  the  vicinity  of  Detroit.  Its  average 
thickness  must  exceed  100  feet. 

These  soils  are  excellently  adapted  to  agriculture.  Silex  enters 
largely  into  their  composition.  Both  clays  generally  contain  a 
large  portion  of  lime,  which  add  to  their  fertility. 

An  analysis  of  100  grains  of  the  clays,  taken  at  random,  shew- 
ed— 

Upper  Brown  Clay.         Lower  Blue  Clay* 

27.50 

52.30 

18.98 

1.22 


Sand  and  silicious  matter, 

51.50 

Alumine, 

29.95 

Carb.  lime. 

18.55 

Oxide  iron, 

.00 

100.00  100.00 

The  sandy  oak  openings  and  plains  are  generally  productive. 
This  soil  contains  only  a  minute  proportion  of  lime.  The  town- 
ship of  Plymouth,  situated  in  the  north-west  corner  of  the  county, 
presents  a  surface  more  rolling,  and  broken  into  frequent  ridges. 
They  rise  often  from  60  to  80  feet  from  the  plain,  with  a  steep 
declivity,  and  have  no  apparent  uniform  direction.  They  are 
composed  of  gravel  associated  at  the  surface  with  a  clav  loam. 


121 


Deposites  of  bog  iron  occur  in  limited  quantities  at  numerous 
places.  One  hundred  grains  subjected  to  a  rough  analysis,  gave — 
Silicious  and  aluminous  matter,  26.50 

Per-oxid  of  iron,  72.50 


100.00 


The  above  extracts  are  from  the  report  of  the  assistant  State 
Geologist,  Bela  Hubbard,  Esq.,  made  to  the  legislature  in  Janu- 
ary, 1839.  This  report  shows  that  a  heavy  clay  soil  predominates 
in  our  county.  It  is  hard  to  work,  but  by  ploughing  and  manur- 
ing, may  be  rendered  light  and  friable.  Upon  my  own  premises 
I  have  almost  every  variety  of  soil,  and  in  planting  my  trees  have 
endeavored  to  take  all  possible  advantage  of  this  fact.  I  will 
state  somewhat  in  detail  the  result  of  my  experiments.  A  few 
years  since  I  laid  out  a  semi-circular  road,  beginning  at  the  north- 
west corner  of  my  land,  and  continuing  around  to  the  north-east- 
ern corner.  On  the  west  border  of  this  road  I  commenced  plant- 
ing cherry  trees,  twenty  feet  apart ;  and  as  1  received  new  varie- 
ties, continued  the  planting  around  the  border  of  the  road  until  I 
had  planted  fifty-four  varieties,  viz  : — 


*American  Amber, 

Arch  Duke, 

*Bigarreau, 

*Black  Heart, 

*Black  Eagle, 

*Black  Tartarian, 

Black  Mazzard, 

Baumann's  May, 

Belle  Magnifique, 

Belle  de  Prusse, 

Belle  d'Orleans, 

Bigarreau  Wellington, 

Burr's  Seedling, 

Belle  de  Choisy, 

Butner's  Yellow, 

Cerasus  Mahaleb, 

Carnation, 

China  Bigarreau, 
16 


Coe's  Transparent, 

^'Davenport's  Early, 

Downton, 

De  16  a  la  livre, 

De  Holstein, 

Downer's  Late, 

Early  Purple  Guigne, 

Elingeur, 

Early  White  Heart, 

Elton, 

English  Gaskin, 

Flesh-colored  Bigarreau. 

Gridley, 

Holman's  Duke, 

Knight's  Early  Black, 

Late  May  Duke, 

Louis  Phillippe, 

May  Duke, 


122 

Montmorency,  Sweet  Montmorency, 

Manning's  Mottled,  Tardif  d'Argental, 

Merveille  de  Septembre,  *Tradescant's  Black  Heart, 

*Napoleon  Bigarreau,  White  Tartarian, 

Ox  Heart,  Wilkinson, 

Roberts'  Red  Heart,  Waterloo, 

Rockport  Bigarreau,  W^hite  French  Guigne, 

Reine  Hortense,  White  Bigarreau.         % 
Sparhawk's  Honey, 

Those  marked  thus  *,  of  this  line  of  trees,  were  planted  in  sand  ; 
the  line  then  crosses  a  ridge  of  gravel  and  clay,  then  clay,  then  a 
mixture  of  clay  and  gravel,  then  gravel,  then  a  heavy  sandy  loam, 
and  ending  in  clay.  Some  of  these  trees  came  into  bearing  in 
1850,  others  in  1851  and  1852,  while  others  are  not  yet  in  bear- 
ing. The  spring  of  1851,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  very  w^et, 
cold,  and  backward.  In  that  season,  all  my  cherry  trees  of  a 
bearing  age  were  loaded  with  blossoms,  but  immediately  after  the 
blossoms  fell,  of  the  eight  trees  standing  in  the  sand,  I  lost  the 
American  Amber,  Bigarreau,  Davenport's  Early,  Black  Tartarian, 
and  Napoleon  Bigarreau.  I  attribute  the  loss  of  these  trees  to  the 
water  standing  beneath  the  surface,  for  at  a  distance  of  about  forty 
feet  I  had  other  trees  of  the  same  age  and  varieties,  that  not  only 
blossomed  well  but  remained  uninjured,  and  boie  heavy  crops. 
The  land  beneath  the  latter  was  well  underdrained ;  beneath  the 
former  it  was  not. 

My  cherry  trees  were  in  full  blossom,  in 

1850,  May  12th. 

1851,  ''     13th. 

1852,  "     12th. 
Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  the  last  winter,  I  lost  none  of 

my  bearing  cherry  trees,  although  in  the  nursery  rows  L  lost  seve- 
ral that  were  one  and  two  years  old  from  the  bud. 

The  cherry  trees  bore  remarkably  heavy  crops  this  season,  and 
matured  their  fruit  well. 

The  Early  Purple  Guigne  and  Baumann's  May  were  ripe  on  the 
25th  of  June. 

The  China  Bigarreau,  American  Heart,  Early  W^hite  Heart  and 
American  Amber  were  ripe  on  the  29th  of  June. 


123 

The  Mer^eille  de  Septembre — is  a  very  good  fruit,  ripening,  this 
season,  the  last  of  August. 

The  slug  troubles  us  some,  but  the  birds  do  us  the  most  injure- 
by  taking  our  cherries  before  they  are  quite  ripe.  I  protect  my 
fruit  from  birds  by  covering  the  trees  with  mosquito  netting. 

The  Late  Kentish — is  the  principal  cherry  found  in  our  market, 
the  finer  sorts  not  yet  being  raised  to  any  great  extent. 

PEACHES. 

Some  attention  has  been  given  to  the  cultivation  of  the  peach, 
but  not  so  much  to  the  finer  sorts  as  we  could  wish.  We  have 
often  seen  in  our  markets,  wagon  loads  of  poor  peaches  selling  at  50 
and  75  cents  a  bushel,  while  the  very  few  fine  peaches  were  sel- 
ling at  $1.50  and  $2.00  a  bushel. 

Peach  trees  do  not  grow  so  rapidly  on  our  clay  soil  as  upon  the 
sand,  but  they  are  more  hardy,  bear  heavier  crops,  and  are  less 
liable  to  injury  by  worms  at  the  roots. 

Peach  trees  in  this  vicinity  were  somewhat  injured  by  the  se- 
verity of  the  last  winter,  but  the  theory  that  peach  trees  will  not 
blossom  when  the  mercury  falls  to  12°  below  zero,  we  think  is 
now  proved  to  be  incorrect,  for  during  the  last  winter  the  thermo- 
meter several  times  indicated  a  greater  degree  of  cold  than  12° 
below  zero,  yet  we  never  saw  the  peach,  apricot  and  nectarine 
trees  blossom  more  profusely  than  they  did  the  last  spring.  It  is 
true,  that  in  some  instances,  not  only  the  blossoms  fell,  but  the 
trees  themselves  soon  dropped  their  leaves,  withered  and  died. — 
In  the  nursery,  the  peach  stocks  that  were  budded  last  fall  looked 
very  promising  early  in  the  spring,  but  they  did  not  start,  and  we 
were  obliged  to  cut  down  several  thousand  and  bud  them  again 
this  season.  All  our  young  peach  trees  are  perfectly  healthy,  and 
never  grew  more  vigorously  than  they  do  the  present  season. 

We  have  never  known  a  peach  tree  in  this  vicinity  to  be  at- 
tacked by  the  yellows,  but  the  leaf  curl  has  been  some  little  an- 
noyance to  us. 

Our  peach  crop  will  not  be  great  this  season,  but  very  fair. 

PLUMS. 

The  only  drawback  we  have  to  the  production  of  an  abundance 
of  plums,  is  the  curculio.     Our  soil  is  admirably  adapted  to  the 


124 

growth  of  this  fruit.  The  trees  grow  as  freely  as  Willows,  blos- 
som full,  and  set  their  fruit  well,  but  the  curculio  steps  in  and  takes 
possession  of  the  crop. 

The  most  effectual  method  that  I  have  tried  for  preserving  my 
plums  from  the  attacks  of  the  curculio,  is,  just  as  the  blossoms  fall, 
to  select  the  limbs  that  have  the  most  fruit  upon  them,  and  draw 
bags  made  of  musquito  netting  over  them,  gathering  the  mouth  of 
the  bag  and  tying  it  tightly  around  the  lower  end  of  the  limb.  In 
this  way  I  have  succeeded  in  ripening  some  very  fine  specimens  of 
choice  fruit,  when  all  other  experiments  failed. 

PEARS. 

In  proof  of  the  adaptation  of  our  soil  and  climate  to  the  suc- 
cessful growing  of  the  pear,  we  have  but  to  point  to  the  magnifi- 
cent old  specimens  now  standing  along  the  banks  of  the  Detroit 
river.  We  do  not  pride  ourselves  so  much  upon  the  quality  of 
the  fruit  of  these  trees  as  their  size,  luxuriant  growth,  and  produc- 
tiveness ;  many  of  them  bearing  their  annual  crops  of  thirty  to 
forty  bushels  each,  not  only  without  the  least  care,  but  often  re- 
ceiving the  roughest  usage. 

The  pear  tree  blight  is  but  little  known  in  the  vicinity  of  De- 
troit. I  have  never  known  it  to  attack  trees  that  were  raised 
here,  but  have  occasionally  lost  trees  that  were  imported.  From 
this  fact  I  think  it  quite  obvious  that  whatever  the  nature  of  this 
disease  may  be,  it  does  not  originate  here,  but  the  tree  is  diseased 
when  received.  I  have  sometimes  received  pear  trees  in  the  fall, 
apparently  perfectly  healthy,  planted  them  out,  and  the  next 
spring  some  of  them  show  signs  of  blight ;  if  the  disease  does  not 
extend  below  the  graft,  I  cut  it  off  below  the  injury,  and  gener- 
ally save  the  tree,  as  it  will  soon  throw  up  new  and  vigorous 
shoots.  In  the  spring  of  1851,  I  received  some  trees  on  quince 
stocks,  and  planted  them  among  my  specimen  trees,  and  they 
grew  well  during  the  season  of  1851.  This  spring  I  noticed  a 
few  of  them  were  injured  by  the  blight ;  I  cut  them  down  even 
with  the  surface  of  the  ground ;  they  are  now  throwing  up  strong 
shoots,  and  bid  fair  to  do  well. 

I  have  about  fifty  varieties  of  pears  now  in  bearing,  mostly  on 
quince  stocks,  but  the  drought  has  been  so  severe  this  summer, 
that  I  fear  my  specimens  will  not  be  of  suitable  size  to  place  upon 


125 


the  tables  of  the  Pomological  Congress.  My  Dearborn's  Seed- 
ling, Skinless,  Madeleine,  a;  d  Early  Catharine  are  now  ripe,  Au- 
gust 20th,  but  not  more  than  two-thirds  grown.  Should  the 
drought  continue,  we  will  not  be  able  to  place  before  the  Con- 
gress fair  specimens  of  fall  and  winter  fruit. 


APPLES. 


Apples  have  been  cultivated  with  us  to  a  greater  extent  than 
any  other  fruit. 

There  are  several  old  orchaids  on  the  banks  of  the  Detroit 
river,  raised  mostly  from  seed.  We  occasionally  find  an  engrafted 
tree  in  the  old  French  orchards,  the  principal  varieties  of  grafts 
being  the  Pomme  de  Neige,  Calville,  Pomme  Oris,  and  Bourassa, 
Seedlings  in  any  quantity,  of  bitter,  sweet,  sour  and  mixed. 
Yankee  taste  and  enterprise  are  now  at  work,  and  rapidly  chang- 
ing the  face  of  things  in  this  regard.  We  are  now  cultivating, 
pretty  extensively,  many  of  the  best  varieties  of  apples,  and  we 
are  unwilling  to  yield  the  palm  to  any  other  State  for  size,  beauty 
or  flavor.  I  have  never  seen  so  fine  specimens  of  the  Green  New- 
town Pippin,  Yellow  Bellefleur,  Swaar,  Baldwin,  or  Fall  Pippin, 
as  we  usually  raise  in  this  vicinity.  Had  the  season  been  such  as 
to  bring  our  fruit  to  its  usual  size  and  beauty,  we  would  forward 
specimens  for  your  consideration  ;  but  the  drought  has  been  so 
great  that  our  fruit  is  small,  and  we  think  we  would  be  doing 
injustice  to  ourselves  as  well  as  to  the  Congress  by  forwarding 
specimens  of  firuit  this  season. 

GRAPES. 

The  Isabella  and  Catawba  are  the  principal  varieties  grown 
in  Michigan,  and  these  we  ripen  without  any  trouble.  We 
usually  gather  the  Isabella  about  the  25th  September,  and  the 
Catawba  a  few  days  later.  I  have  had  the  Clinton  in  bearing 
three  years,  but  do  not  think  it  of  much  value.  It  is  said  to  ripen 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  two  weeks  earlier  than  the  Isabella, 
but  at  the  time  my  Isabellas  are  fully  ripe,  the  Clinton  is  fit 
only  for  those  who  are  fond  of  sour  Grapes;  but  let  it  remain  on 
the  vine  until  the  1st  or  2d  week  in  October,  it  will  then  be  ripe, 
and  is  a  pretty  good  Grape,  but  will  not  compare  in  flavor  witl: 
either  the  Catawba  or  Isabella. 


/         126 

The  Clinton  is  a  rampant  grower  and  abundant  bearer. 

We  ripen  the  Black  Hamburg,  White  Sweet  Water,  Golden 
Chasselas,  Black  Prince,  and  some  other  foreign  varieties,  in  the 
open  air,  but  when  the  vines  are  five  or  six  years  old  the  fruit  is 
so  liable  to  mildew,  that  we  do  not  grow  them  to  any  great  extent. 
A  very  few  are  grown  under  glass  with  good  success. 

J.  C.  HOLMES. 


J.  C.  Holmes,  Esq.,  Chairman  of  the  Committee  for  Michigan 
to  the  American  Pomological  Congress  : 

In  compliance  with  your  request  that  I  would  join  the  Commit- 
tee, and  report  for  the  northern  part  of  this  peninsula,  I  submit  for 
consideration  the  following  report.  As  I  am  a  farmer  by  profes- 
sion, and  have  been  engaged  in  the  cultivation  of  fruit  only  as  one  of 
the  branches  of  common  farm  husbandry  it  will  not  be  expected 
that  I  shall  be  able  to  enter  into  minute  details,  as  those  would 
who  have  made  fruit  growing  their  only  business  and  study. 

The  facts  here  set  forth  have  been  gained  from  my  own  obser- 
vation and  experience,  and  from  that  of  others  in  different  sections 
where  fruit  has  been  longest  cultivated. 

Most  of  this  peninsula  lying  north  of  the  base  line  has  been  re- 
cently settled,  and  fruit  culture  has  been  but  little  attended  to. — 
There  are  only  a  few  counties  settled  a  sufficient  length 
of  time  for  the  inhabitants  yet  to  pay  much  attention  to  the 
subject.  It  is  about  thirty  years  since  even  the  oldest  coun- 
ties were  a  wilderness,  and  long  after  the  settlement  was  com- 
menced the  settlers  had  to  attend  to  the  more  pressing  duties  of 
providing  the  necessaries  of  life,  which  prevented  their  devoting 
much  time  to  the  cultivation  of  fruit.  But  as  they  were  mostly 
emigrants  from  New  York  and  New  England,  and  knew  the  value 
of  fruit,  as  soon  as  other  duties  would  permit,  many  obtained  from 
the  places  where  they  had  formerly  resided,  those  fruits  they  most 
highly  esteemed.  This  gave  us  a  good  selection,  especially  of 
apples,  and  the  result  proved  that  most  varieties  succeeded  well 
here,  and  that  several  did  even  better  here  than  they  had  done  in 
places  from  whence  they  were  taken.  The  fact  was  soon  estab- 
lished that  nearly  all  the  fruits  cultivated  in  New  York,  New 
England,  and  Northern  Ohio,  were  adapted  to  the  soil  and  climate 


127 

of  this  part  of  Michigan.  The  difficulties  that  had  to  be  encoun- 
tered in  obtaining  trees  or  stocks  to  engraft,  and  the  limited  know- 
ledge of  fruit  culture  we  then  possessed,  rendered  our  progress 
slow. 

Few  at  that  day,  knew  how  to  set  a  scion,  or  take  proper  care 
of  a  tree.  Within  a  few  years,  however,  an  interest  has  been 
aw^akened,  and  knowledge  has  been  rapidly  extending,  which 
promises  to  work  thoroughly,  and  make  this  section  one  that  will 
not  be  excelled  for  the  quality  and  abundance  of  its  fruits,  by  any 
part  of  the  west. 

The  profits  of  fruit  culture  have  been  greatly  diminished  by  the 
ignorance  that  has  prevailed  in  regard  to  the  proner  treatment  of 
the  trees,  and  the  little  judgment  that  has  been  exercised  in  mak- 
ing a  selection,  either  for  domestic  purposes  or  for  market.  Our 
markets  are  abundantly  supplied  with  fall  and  early  winter  fruit, 
but  there  is  a  scarcity  of  early  fruits  of  all  kinds,  and  of  late  keep- 
ing apples  particularly.  Early  apples  are  seldom  worth  less  than 
one  dollar  per  bushel,  and  late  keeping  kinds  from  one  to  two 
dollars.  Few  farmers  have  apples  for  family  use  more  than  half 
the  year,  when  they  might  easily  obtain  those  kinds  that  would 
ripen  in  succession  during  the  entire  year. 

The  rage  for  extending  the  lists  of  even  untried  varieties,  is  an- 
other serious  evil.  The  extended  lists  heretofore  offered  for  sale 
by  our  nurserymen  have  induced  many  to  cultivate  those  kinds 
that  were  not  first-rate,  or  were  not  adapted  to  their  market. — 
This  evil  is  now  being  corrected,  as  the  list  of  trees  offered  for  sale 
has  lately  been  much  curtailed  and  improved. 

Our  fruit  trees  have  been  nearly  exempt  from  disease,  and  our 
fruit  almost  without  an  enemy,  until  within  a  few  years.  The 
curculio  first  attacked  the  plums  with  such  effect  that  their  cul- 
tivation was  soon  abandoned,  as  no  remedy  had  been  found  that 
was  sufficiently  simple  and  expeditious  for  common  application. 

Some  varieties  of  pears  (the  Summer  Bon  Chretien  in  particu- 
lar), began  to  diminish  in  size  and  crack  some  years  since,  and 
two  or  three  years  the  fruit  became  worthless.  From  a  single 
experiment  tried  two  years  ago,  it  was  ascertained  that  a  thorough 
thinning  out  of  the  small  branches,  and  heavy  manuring,  con- 
sisting of  the  sweepings  of  a  blacksmith  shop,  where  horses  have 


128 

been  shod,  would  restore  the  fruit  to  its  original  size  and  flavor, 
and  increase  the  productiveness  of  the  trees. 

The  greatest  enemy  by  far  that  has  yet  appeared,  is  the  apple 
worm.  It  was  first  noticed  here  three  years  ago;  it  did  not 
then  cause  any  alarm,  but  last  year  it  destroyed,  or  greatly  injured, 
much  of  the  small  crop  of  both  apples  and  pears. 

This  season  it  is  doing  great  injury  to  what  promised,  in  the 
early  part  of  the  season,  to  be  an  abundaut  crop  of  fair  fruit.  As 
the  habits  of  this  worm  are  different  this  season  from  what  it  has 
heretofore  been,  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that  two  broods  have 
been  produced  this  season,  and  the  last  commenced  their  attack 
on  the  fruit  only  a  short  time  since.  The  reasons  for  my  opinion 
are,  that  nearly  all  the  fruit  that  was  stung  early,  dropped  before 
coming  to  maturity.  All  the  early  fruit  that  came  to  maturity  was 
untouched,  and  but  four  weeks  ago,  few  specimens  of  the  later 
fruits  on  the  trees  showed  any  appearance  of  the  worm ;  but  now, 
(Sept.  7,)  a  large  part  of  the  fruit  is  stung  not  only  in  the  eye,  but 
in  many  places  on  the  surface,  and  I  have  taken  six  or  eight  worms 
from  a  single  apple,  from  an  eighth  to  a  quarter  of  an  inch  long, 
making  their  way  from  the  surface  towards  the  centre. 

Is  the  common  theory  in  regard  to  the  habits  of  the  apple-worm 
correct,  or  is  there  not  some  other  place  than  the  crevices  in  the 
bark  of  the  tree  where  they  remain  during  the  winter  ?  I  am 
inclined  to  think  there  is,  for  my  own  trees  have  been  annually 
scraped  and  washed  with  lye ;  the  trunks  and  branches  have  been 
kept  smooth,  the  ground  has  been  well  cultivated  around  them, 
the  young  trees,  and  sometimes  the  old  ones,  have  been  mulched 
with  partly  rotted  straw,  removed  or  dug  in  the  fall,  and  yet  the 
worm  has  injured  my  fruit  much  more  than  it  has  that  of  others  in 
this  vicinity  who  have  entirely  neglected  their  trees. 

Has  not  the  mulch  been  a  harbor  for  the  worm  ? 

The  limits  of  this  report  will  not  allow  me  to  name  the  different 
varieties  that  have  been  fully  tested  and  pronounced  first  rate,  or  those 
that  have  not  succeeded  well.  If  I  should,  I  would,  no  doubt,  make 
many  mistakes  in  regard  to  names.  There  are  many  varieties  that 
are  cultivated  under  many  different  names,  and  it  is  in  some  cases 
extremely  difficult  to  ascertain  the  true  name.  Many  do  not  at  all 
RS[ree  with  the  description  we  find  in  the  books.     The  Esopus 


129 

Spitzenberg  is  not  like  that  grown  in  New  York.  With  us  it  is 
larger ;  flesh  not  so  firm,  and  much  less  acid.  The  Early  Joe, 
which  has  been  fruited  here  for  two  seasons,  does  not  at  all  agree 
with  the  description  given  by  Barry.  Here  it  is  of  medium  size ; 
some  specimens  now  before  me  measuring  nine  and  a  half  inches 
in  circumference.  In  color  they  are  not  deep  red,  but  rather 
striped  with  red,  spotted  with  yellow  slightly  russetted  spots,  and 
resembling  in  color  the  Westfield  Seek-no-further.  The  specimens 
that  I  have  of  the  Early  Joe  are  true,  the  scions  having  been  ob- 
tained from  the  original  tree. 

I  would,  in  conclusion,  remark  that  we  have  been  visited  with 
the  most  severe  and  protracted  drought  that  was  ever  known  here, 
and  our  fruit  has  suffered  materially  in  consequence.  In  some  or- 
chards, in  which  grain  has  been  grown,  the  fruit  has  withered  when 
half  grown  upon  the  tree,  and  the  trees  now  have  the  appearance  of 
being  nearly  dead. 

Regretting  that  this  duty  had  not  been  assigned  to  one  better 
qualified  to  perform  the  task,  I  subscribe  myself 

Yours,  truly, 

LINUS  CONE. 

Troy,  Oakland  Co.,  Michigan,  Sept.  7,  1852. 

REPORT  FROM  ILLINOIS. 

The  greatest  evils  which  fruit  growers  are  called  to  confeM  with 
in  central  Illinois  are,  severe  and  changeable  winters,  late  frosts  in 
spring,  and  the  various  forms  of  blight  and  rot. 

The  severe  cold  in  winter  is  supposed  often  to  kill  both  fruit  and 
trees,  especially  the  Pears  and  Peaches,  while,  if  they  escape  this 
trial,  the  spring  frosts  often  take  them.  The  soil  is  surpassingly 
rich,  and  the  trees  never  fail  to  do  the  very  best  the  frosts,  insects, 
and  blights  will  allow.  Their  growth,  and  the  abundance  and  fine 
quality  of  the  fruit  is  almost  incredible,  when  not  interrupted  by 
any  of  these  casualties. 

The  last  winter  was  severe  ;  however,  the  trees  generally  es- 
caped injury,  but  the  fruit  did  not.  There  are  no  peaches,  few 
pears  and  cherries,  and  but  a  moderate  crop  of  apples. 

The  plums  are  far  more  abundant  than  they  have  been  for  years 

before.     Those  kinds  that  escaped  the  frost  have  generally  ma- 
17 


130 

tured  their  fruit  well ;  having  been  totally  destroyed  by  frosts  in 
the  bloom  the  year  before,  but  few  of  the  progeny  of  the  Grand 
Turk  survived  the  famine  to  continue  their  work  of  destruction 
this  year.  However,  there  is  evidence  that  enough  of  them  sur- 
vived to  perpetuate  the  race  by  some  means,  and  shew  us  that 
there  can  be  no  final  remission  of  the  crusade  against  him.  The 
few  that  have  survived,  will  doubtless  obey  the  command  to  in- 
crease and  multiply,  and  will  not  forget  in  future  years  to  act  wor- 
thily of  the  renown  of  their  ancestors,  as  many  people  do. 

But  the  seasons  in  which  all  our  fruit  is  destroyed  by  cold  are 
comparatively  so  rare  that  we  could  get  along  with  hat  well 
enough,  and  with  the  periodical  destruction  of  the  Grand  Turk 
also,  were  it  not  for  those  appalling  forms  of  disease  that  attack 
our  full  grown  apple  and  pear  trees,  especially  the  latter —  general- 
ly, though  very  indiscriminately,  called  the  blight.  We  think  we 
have  had  several  forms  of  this  disease  ;  but  its  present  form  is  far 
worse  than  any  other. 

It  first  appears  to  the  careless  observer  on  the  terminal  shoots 
which  turn  black  and  perish  for  several  inches  on  the'  apple,  and 
sometimes  for  several  feet  even  on  the  pear,  in  a  very  few  hours. 

This  is  generally  attributed  to  the  soil  or  climate,  but  I  am  fully 
satisfied  that  this  is  not  the  cause  ;  for,  as  a  writer  in  the  Prairie 
Farmer  has  truly  remarked,  it  appeared  last  year  on  our  native 
crab-apples  and  forest  trees,  especially  the  hickories  and  elms  and 
oaks  in  this  vicinity,  as  well  as  on  cultivated  trees,  and  on  my 
grounds  it  was  generally  worse  on  Native  Seedling  Pears  raised 
from  the  seed  for  two  generations  on  the  spot,  than  on  any  others ; 
and  much  worse  on  the  Native  Crab-Apples  than  on  trees  more 
cared  for.  Besides,  this  form  of  blight  is  beginning  to  appear  in 
all  soils  and  cUmates,  from  Maine  to  Georgia,  and  also  in  Europe  ; 
and  is  it  true  that  no  soil  and  no  climate  suits  the  Pear  at  this  par- 
ticular crisis — not  even  crab-apples,  oaks,  and  elms  ?  I  cannot 
believe  it. 

I  was  compelled  to  believe  that  it  was  some  change  or  casual- 
ty totally  irrespective  of  both  soil  and  climate,  before  I  discovered 
what  I  think  to  be  the  true  cause. 

That  there  is  a  blight  caused  by  heat  or  by  cold,  by  soil  or  by 
climate,  and  also  by  the  Scolytus  Pyri,  and  by  several  other  in- 
sects which  infest  the  pear  and  apple,  I  am  constrained  to  admit. 


131 

from  the  testimony  of  gentlemen  of  undoubted  capacity  in  these 
matters,  and  several  of  these  forms  of  blight  I  have  myself  seen  on 
my  own  grounds. 

But  there  is  a  form  of  blight  here  more  fatal  to  the  pear  tree 
especially,  than  all  these  combined,  ss  scores  of  practical  men  in 
this  vicinity  would  readily  testify.  We  all  now  unitedly  believe 
it  to  be  the  work  of  a  microscopic  insect,  and  notwithstanding  the 
strictures  in  the  Journals  on  my  hasty  article  in  the  Horticulturist, 
I  do  not  know  of  a  single  man  in  this  county,  who  has  changed 
his  opinion  in  the  matter,  or  is  likely  to  do  so.  We  think  w^e  know 
what  we  see  here  with  our  own  eyes ;  whether  it  exists  elsewhere  or 
not,  is  for  others  to  say.  This  insect  is  not  a  bark-louse  of  any 
form,  nor  is  it  anything  described  in  the  books  or  horticultural  re- 
ports, or  any  more  like  any  of  these  than  a  pig  is  like  an  alligator 
or  a  rhinoceros.  Its  habits  are  still  unknown,  and  are  likely  to 
be  for  some  time  to  come.  But  that  it  is  so  small  as  to  be  invisi- 
ble through  ordinary  microscopes,  and  seen  fairly  only  under  a 
powerful  solar  microscope,  is  well  known  to  many  ;  also,  that  it 
infests  the  neck,  trunk,  crotches,  and  larger  limbs  of  trees,  upon 
the  outer  bark,  and  diffuses  its  poison  there,  long  time  before  the 
sudden  perishing  of  the  terminal  shoots,  is  perfectly  apparent  to 
any  man  who  has  a  jack-knife  and  a  pair  of  eyes  ;  hundreds  have 
examined  and  testified  to  this  fact.  Even  before  it  was  suspected 
to  be  the  work  of  an  insect,  though  the  casual  or  careless  exam- 
iner finds  no  symptoms  of  disease  until  the  final,  sudden  death  of 
the  terminal  shoot  warns  him  of  the  danger.  Now,  in  the  case 
of  the  Scolytus  Pyri  and  one  or  two  other  unknown  insects,  this 
sudden  death  of  the  terminal  shoot  is  all  there  is  about  it;  and 
generally,  at  least  on  the  apple,  it  is  all  that  ensues — though  the 
poison  sometimes,  even  in  these  cases,  will  run  down  on  the  pear. 

But  in  the  case  of  this  new  form  of  insect,  or  microscopic  insect 
blight,  it  is  far  otherwise.  I  have  myself  examined  hundreds  of 
trees,  and  I  never  yet  saw  a  terminal  shoot  aflfected  with  it,  when 
I  could  not  find  obvious  evidences  of  the  fatal  poison  below — 
sometimes  quite  down  to  the  ground  ;  and  in  such  cases  the  tree 
will  invariably  die  to  the  ground,  unless  something  is  done  to 
vent  it,  though  there  may  be  many  feet  of  perfectly  sound 
wood,  apparently,  between  the  fatal  spot  and  the  withering  shoot 
or  twig. 


132 

The  experience  of  this  year  not  only  convinces  us  that  this  is 
the  work  of  the  insect   described  in  the  Horticulturist,  but  also 
encourages  us  to  hope  (and  only  to  hope)  that  we  have  hit  upon 
the  right  remedy  ;  for  the  trees  on  my  own  grounds  promptly 
treated  with  soap  and  tobacco  water,  spirits  of  turpentine,  and 
lampblack,  are  thoroughly  restored  ;  while  a  single  row,  omitted  for 
want  of  time  until  the  insects  had  hatched  and  gone  into  the  bark, 
is  still  as  badly  diseased  as  ever,  or  almost  as  badly,  the  late  care 
probably  having  done  some  good.  On  the  contrary,  one  gentleman, 
one  mile  from  me,  omitted  all  care  of  his  trees  ;  they  were  about 
ten  or  twelve  inches  through,  and  the  finest  in  the  county.     But 
they  are  all  now  dead  or  worse  than  dead.     Another  gentleman,, 
two  miles  distant,  sceptical  at  first,  finally,  after  a  personal  ex- 
amination, became   convinced,  and   applied  whale  oil  soap  to 
the  blighted  trees,  with  a  caustic  alkali    to    dissolve  it  after- 
wards, and  all  his  trees  are  now,  as  he  informs  me,  perfectly  free 
from  blight,  and  in  fine  order.     Another  gentleman  washed  his 
apple  orchard  in  simple  soap-suds,  and  I  am  told  it  can  now  be 
seen  to  the  very  tree  to  what  extent  he  applied  it,  as  all  trees 
so  washed  are  healthy,  and  all  others  blighted.     Another  stilly 
applied  a  rope  covered  with  tar,  to  some  of  his  trees,  and  says 
that  on  those  so  treated  there  is  no  blight,  while  it  is  on  all  the 
others.     This  last  case,  however,  I  think  will  be  found  to  be  a 
case  of  blight  that  comes  from  a  larger  insect  perforating  the  ter- 
minal bud,  and  not  from  the  microscopic  insect,  so  fatal  to  pears. 
Another  gentleman  from  Massachusetts,   quite  unknown  to  me, 
wrote  me  in  the  spring,  that  he  had  discovered  the  same  micro- 
scopic insect  mentioned  in  the  Horticulturist,  on  his  pear  trees, 
and  had  applied  oil  paint  with  entire  success. 

Another  still,  writes  from  the  South,  that  he  has  found  the 
same  insect  there.  So  that  I  am  induced  to  believe  that  this 
form  of  blight  is  not  exclusively  local.  All  the  above  cases,  of 
course,  did  not  come  under  my  own  notice,  and  I  can  only  give 
the  report  as  given  to  me.  That  every  apple  and  pear  tree,  on 
my  own  place,  was  last  year  hopelessly  diseased,  as  I  thought — 
that  all  my  Privet  bushes  and  hedges  were,  in  midsummer,  killed 
quite  to  the  ground  is  quite  certain,  and  that  I  have  now  totally 
eradicated  the  evil  from  my  premises,  except  on  the  neglected 
trees  above  specified,  and  that  several  of  my  neighbors  have  done 


133 

the  same  is  quite  as  certain  ;  while  those  who  did  nothing  last 
year  have  found  the  disease  to  steadily  progress  toward  death,  is 
equally  sure.  It  may  be  thought  that  this  insect  follows  the 
disease  instead  of  producing  it ;  but  I  think  the  evidence  con- 
clusive the  other  way,  and  wrote  for  the  Horticulturist  only  in 
order  that  others  might  observe  and  be  convinced  of  the  fact — for 
it  would  be  difficult,  and  perhaps  impossible,  to  convince  any  man 
on  this  point,  who  had  not  examined,  thoroughly,  for  himself,  or 
at  least  received  the  testimony  of  a  great  many  corroborating  wit- 
nesses who  had  so  examined  ;  and  it  is  not  reasonable  to  expect 
or  ask  conviction  from  sensible  men  on  any  other  ground — there 
is  so  great  a  liability  to  mistakes  in  matters  so  exceedingly  small. 

I  can,  however,  state  that  so  far  as  I  know,  every  person  whose 
attention  was  seasonably  called  to  the  phenomena,  was  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  cause  of  the  evil — and  all  the  remedies  adapted  to 
that  view,  have  in  every  case,  so  far  as  I  know,  proved  successful 
and  satisfactory,  while  all  other  known  remedies  have  failed. 

After  the  writer  in  the  Prairie  Farmer  spoke  of  the  blight  on 
the  forest  trees,  I  found  the  larvae  of  this  insect  on  the  elms  and 
hickories  in  my  own  yard. 

It  is  barely  possible  that  this  blight  will  be  found  at  last  to  he, 
not  the  result,  but  the  cause  of  the  spread  of  this  insect ;  but  I 
do  not  think  any  such  result  probable,  nor  am  I  aware  of  any  one 
who  has  had  any  fair  opportunity  to  examine  the  case  in  all  its 
bearings,  who  anticipates  any  such  result.  The  assumption  that 
this  insect  causes  the  blight,  fully  explains  all  the  known  phe- 
nomena so  far — no  other  supposition  does — while  that  there  are 
other  forms  of  blight  caused  by  insects  and  other  causes  wholly 
different,  there  can  be  no  reasonable  doubt ;  but  they  have  never 
proved  so  serious  and  fatal  with  us  as  this  last  form. 

I  found  an  apparently  similar  disease  in  almost  every  one  of  my 
Newtown  Pippin  apple  trees,  in  an  orchard  of  about  twenty-five 
acres,  on  my  farm  ten  miles  from  this  place.  Most  of  these  trees 
are  of  this  kind,  say  about  eight  or  nine  hundred  in  number,  the 
rest  of  the  orchard  standing,  mixed  promiscuously  together  with 
these,  are  of  other  choice  varieties,  all  set  out  at  the  same  time, 
and  in  the  same  manner. 

This  disease  appears  most  fully  on  the  rough  bark,  two  or  three 
feet  from  the  ground,  where  the  scion  was  united  to  the  seed  stock, 


134 

or  in  the  crotches,  or  in  any  place  where  there  is  any  roughness  of 
bark,  and  when  this  bark  is  cut  or  pared  off  with  a  sharp  knife, 
there  the  disease  more  fully  appears. 

There  will  be  found  dead  gangrened  blotches  of  bark  extending 
sometimes  quite  down  to  the  sap-wood,  even  where  the  outer  bark 
looked  sound  and  healthy. 

These  trees  are  some  seven  or  eight  years  old,  and  of  fine  and 
healthy  growth  and  appearance,  and  just  coming  into  bearing — 
say  with  trunks  from  nine  to  eighteen  inches  in  circumference. 
Now  every  one  of  the  Newtown  Pippin  trees  in  this  orchard  have 
this  plague-spot  on  them,  more  or  less,  while  not  one  of  any  other 
kind  is  so  affected,  so  far  as  I  could  find.  What  is  the  cause  of 
this,  will  any  gentleman  explain  ? 

The  trees  all  look  as  healthy  and  fine  as  ever,  and  as  the  dis- 
ease is  so  latent  that  it  was  not  discovered  till  July,  quite  too  late 
to  do  anything  for  their  good  this  year,  the  probability  is  that  the 
disease  will  extend  and  cause  their  sudden  death,  as  several  have 
already  died  at  short  notice,  while  in  apparently  full  leaf  and 
growth.  I  cannot  say  what  ails  these  trees,  but  I  strongly  sus- 
pect it  is  the  same  insect,  as  is  found  here  at  home  on  the  Pear ; 
and  I  also  suspect  that  it  has  been  the  cause  of  so  numerous  deaths 
among  the  Newtown  Pippins,  elsewhere  ascribed  to  soil  and  cli- 
mate ;  and  it  is  said  lime  cures  or  prevents  their  death  in  these 
cases  by  its  action  on  the  soil ;  but  may  it  not  be  its  action  on  this 
insect  after  all,  about  the  roots  of  the  tree.  I  throw  out  these 
hints  merely  as  suggestive,  and  would  advise  all  my  friends  who 
find  that  their  soil  or  climate  does  not  agree  with  Pear  and 
Newtown  Pippin  apple  trees,  to  look  well  to  the  rough  bark  of 
these  trees,  especially  spring  and  fall,  and  examine  carefully  with 
a  knife,  and  if  they  find  symptoms  of  disease  there,  or  any  unnat- 
ural rustiness  or  scurviness  or  dead  blotches,  to  cleanse  them  well 
with  a  knife,  removing  all  the  dead  parts,  and  wash  the  whole 
tree  in  a  decoction  of  strong  tobacco  water,  mixed  with  about  one 
fourth  strong  soap,  and  enough  finely  sifted  air-slacked  lime  to 
make  it  slightly  thick  and  adhesive.  This  done  in  the  fall,  will 
also  keep  rabbits  from  young  trees,  and  in  July,  will  kill  off 
or  keep  off  most  of  the  young  borers.  It  should  also  be  done,  in 
March  or  April,  for  this  blight  insect,  as  well  as  in  summer  and  fall, 
so  as  to  destroy  the  larvse. 


135 

Of  all  the  things  applied  to  the  roots  of  the  trees,  I  have  found 
the  following  mixture  did  the  best  on  our  soil,  the  last  year  : — half 
peck  of  lime,  half  peck  of  ashes,  two  quarts  of  salt,  one  peck  of 
powdered  charcoal,  dug  in  about  the  roots  and  piled  against  the 
stem,  in  the  fall  or  early  winter.  Trees  so  treated,  in  addition  to 
their  washing,  gave  a  more  healthy  and  vigorous  growth  than 
from  any  other  application  to  the  root. 

As  to  Grapes  we  find  no  remedy  for  the  rot,  as  yet,  though  it  is 
far  less  fatal  this  year  than  last.  I  have  dug  a  pit,  20  feet  square, 
and  bricked  it  and  cemented  it  over  top,  bottom  and  sides,  making 
arched  vaults  for  suds  and  other  liquid  manure  under  the  whole, 
filling  the  pit  wholly  with  artificial  soils — and  so  constructed 
as  to  have  at  all  times  from  the  pits  an  abundant  and  regular  supply 
of  moisture  without  any  excess.  I  shall  have  here  a  full  opportu- 
nity to  test  the  various  effects  of  soil  aloney  and  will  report  to  the 
public  in  due  time. 

I  have  also  other  experiments  in  progress  for  testing  the  various 
effects  of  atmosphere  and  moisture  on  other  vines,  and  I  hope  we 
shall  all  labor  till  the  true  cause  of  this  deplorable  rot  is  fully 
searched  out. 

My  ow-n  present  opinion  coincides  with  that  of  Mr.  Longworth, 
as  I  understand  him  ;  but  I  am  not,  after  all,  fully  satisfied,  that 
this  also  will  not  be  found  the  work  of  an  insect,  at  the  root  of  the 
vines,  for  the  vines,  10  years  old,  which  I  took  pains  to  dig  out 
whole,  though  running  over  some  20  feet  square  of  earth  and  some 
three  or  four  feet  deep  last  spring — presented  to  me  appearances 
which  I  could  not  fully  account  for  on  any  other  supposition.  But 
as  I  have  these  now  in  the  pits  above  named,  I  shall  subject  them 
to  future  examination. 

It  should  be  noted  in  this  connexion  that  I  received  this  day, 
(Aug.  25,)  from  S.  Francis,  Esq.,  an  editor  and  horticulturist  of 
Springfield,  of  well  known  and  deserved  repute  in  the  west,  a 
box  of  fully  ripe  Fox  Grapes,  which  mature  well  in  Springfield, 
111.,  in  Mr.  Francis'  garden,  every  year,  even  when  all  other  sorts 
rot  entireJy.  They  are  a  fine,  large,  greenish  red  Grape,  of  a 
round  shape,  larger  than  the  Catawba ;  skin  rather  thick,  and  not 
so  spirited  and  high  flavored,  though  quite  good  ;  to  my  taste  in- 
ferior to  either  the  Isabella  or  Catawba ;  but  those  more   accus- 


136 

tomed  to  them,  think  them  even  better.  This  vine  originated 
from  the  north-western  part  of  Connecticut,  and  is  there  cultivated 
for  its  superior  qualities.  This  Grape  is  worthy  of  serious  atten- 
tion in  Illinois  though  probably  not  fit  for  wine. 

Perhaps  I  ought  to  remark  that  I  washed  two  Plum  trees  with 
strong  soap  and  tobacco  water,  trunk  and  limbs,  late  in  the  fall, 
and  again  when  in  bloom,  to  improve  their  bark  and  growth. — 
Sometime  in  March,  also,  I  covered  the  ground  under  these  trees 
w4th  tobacco  stems,  about  one  inch  thick,  as  far  out  as  the  limbs 
extended.  Now  these  two  trees  are  so  loaded  with  ripe  plums, 
that  I  was  obliged  to  prop  up  all  the  limbs,  to  prevent  breaking; 
and  there  are  twice  as  many  plums  on  them  as  on  any  others  in 
the  row,  and  few  or  no  marks  of  the  curculio.  I  mention  the  fact 
to  pass  for  what  it  is  worth.  This  year  I  do  not  consider  that 
any  such  experiment  proves  any  thing  for  reasons  above  stated, 
though  attention  should  be  called  to  every  fact  of  the  kind. 

May  not  the  soap  and  tobacco  water  have  killed  all  the  insects 
or  larvae,  on  or  about  the  trunk  and  limbs  ?  and  the  tobacco  stems 
those  under  the  tree — or  at  least  driven  them  away  ^ 

Some  twelve  years  ago,  I  selected  a  quite  famous  wild  Plum, 
from  the  forests  in  this  county,  which  was  noted  for  its  fine  flavor 
and  for  its  tendency  to  resist  the  curculio,  when  all  others  failed. 
It  is  of  good  size — rich  and  sweet — and  a  gentleman  from  New 
York  remarked  last  evening,  that  he  had  seldom  found  so  good  a 
Plum  in  that  market,  to  his  taste,  as  this.  The  skin  is  rather  thick, 
and  the  color  reddish  yellow,  with  rusty  spots,  quite  rich  and 
agreeable.  From  the  trees  I  have  propagated  from  this  sort,  we 
almost  always  have  plenty  of  Plums,  without  care,  even  when 
they  fail  on  all  others.  What  the  cause  is,  unless  it  be  the  pecu- 
liarity of  the  skin,  I  cannot  say.  I  intend  to  improve  this  Plum 
still  further,  by  cultivation,  as  a  last  hope  for  the  west,  till  the 
'^  turk"  capitulates. 

Gooseberries  w^ith  me  do  well,  when  well  pruned,  manured, 
salted  and  mulched,  in  early  spring,  never  without. 

Currants  are  alwa^/s  abundant. 

Cherry  trees,  in  this  region,  of  the  finer  sorts,  generally  die  about 
the  time  of  the  change  of  the  outer  bark,  if  not  particularly  at- 
tended to. 


137 

I  enclose  a  rough  draft  and  description  of  our  most  famous 
August  apple  in  these  parts.  It  was  introduced  here  by  Timothy 
Chamberlain,  Esq.,  and  named  by  him  the  Orange  Apple.  He 
says  that  the  same  has  been  called  in  Ohio,  the  Tallow  Apple, 
and  in  the  South,  the  Hoase  or  Horse  Apple,  but  this  I  think 
somewhat  doubtful.  The  apple  I  have  seen  as  the  Horse  Apple^ 
is  an  earlier  and  far  inferior  fruit.  This  apple  now  brings  readily 
one  dollar  per  bushel  in  our  market,  while  plenty  of  common  ap- 
ples can  be  had  from  twenty  to  forty  cents  per  bushel. 

I  regret  exceedingl}^  that  I  shall  not  be  able  to  attend  the  Con- 
gress ;  and  I  do  not  know  that  this  hasty  and  ill-digested  report 
can  do  any  good,  but  I  feel  confident  that  under  the  inspection  of 
such  minds  as  will  be  there  assembled,  it  can  do  no  real  harm, 
and  may  be  the  occasion  of  eliciting  from  others,  more  valuable 
thoughts  and  observations  in  future,  on  the  same  topics.  It  iSj 
therefore,  respectfully  submitted  as  it  is,  by 

Yours,  truly,  J.  B.  TURNER, 


(Orange  Apple,  now  in  full  prime,  August  20,  1852.) 

Tree — a  fine  grower  and  bearer,  with  a  regular  open  top,  shap- 
ed much  like  the  figure  of  the  apple  itself. 

18 


138 

Apple—size,  and  shape,  as  noted  from  a  real  specimen  now  m 
hand. 

Co/or— yellowish  green.  Bat  the  shape  is  sometimes  a  little 
more,  and  sometimes  a  little  less,  oval — -sometimes  a  little  larger, 
and  often  smaller,  than  the  outline  given. 

Calyx — not  deep,  but  small  and  closed — stem  three-fourths  of 
an  inch  long,  and  curved,  as  in  drawing — a  few  spots  or  specks 
of  rusty  green  sprinkled  about  the  stem. 

Flavor — -sub-acid,  tender,  juicy,  sparkling  and  crisp — breaks 
easily  in  falling,  and  also  before  the  teeth  or  knife. 

I  have  never  found  a  person  who  did  not  consider  this  fruit  al- 
together superior  to  any  other  apple  of  the  season,  ift  all  respects. 
Mr.  Chamberlain  introduced  it  here  from  his  nursery,  and  named 
it  the  Orange  Apple.  He  procured  the  scions  from  an  orchard 
brought  from  the  east  or  south — the  labels  and  history  of  which 
have  never  been  preserved,  and  whether  this  tree  is  from  that 
source  or  not,  is  still  unknown. 

Can  any  one  give  us  its  true  name,  if  it  is  not  Fall  Orange  ? 


The  subjoined  letter  was  handed  to  the  Secretaries  by  Thomas 
P.  James,  the  Recording  Secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania  Horticul- 
tural Society  (by-request,)  and  read. 

LETTER  FROM  ANDRE  LEROY,  NURSERIES  AT  ANGERS,  FRANCE, 

Angers,  August  1st,  1852. 
Mr.  Thomas  P.  James,  at  Philadelphia  : — 

I  have  the  honor  to  inform  you  that  I  forwarded  you,  through 
my  agent,  Mr.  Edouard  Bossange,  138  Pearl  Street,  New^  York,  a 
box  containing  pictures  of  new  fruits,  that  I  offer  to  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Horticultural  Society,  to  be  exhibited  to  the  Pomological 
Congress,  which  will  meet  in  your  city  on  September  13th,  which 
please  to  be  kind  enough  to  accept  for  this  object. 
I  am,  very  respectfully,  yours, 

ANDRE  LEROY. 


139 

The  pictures  referred  to  in  the  preceding  letter  are  : 

1.  St.  Catharine  Plum. 

2.  Fastolf  Raspberry,  Double  Bearing  Raspberry,  Yellow  Ant- 

werp Raspberry. 

3.  Rose-fruited  true  service  tree. 

4.  Large  Early  Apricot  of  Alexandria. 

5.  Planchoury  Cherry. 

6.  Cherry  Currant. 

7.  Fertile  Currant  of  Palluau. 

8.  Large  fruited  Mahonia. 

And  another  letter,  from  the  s  ime  source,  accompanying  a 
model  pear  and  apple — the  Poire  Belle  Angevine  (Uvedale's  St. 
Germain  Pear),  and  Pomme  Belle  du  Havre :  and  specimens  of 
the  Syrup  of  Mahonia  and  Preserves  of  Mahonia  and  Currant. 
Also  another,  communicating  interesting  notes  describing  the 
fruits  represented  by  the  paintings  and  models  and  the  preserves 
sent — with  useful  remarks  on  synonyms  ;  after  being  partially  trans- 
lated, it  was  found  that  portions  of  these  letters  had  already  been 
given  to  the  public  through  an  extensively  disseminated  periodical 
of  this  country,  and  other  portions  in  Mr.  Leroy's  Catalogue.  And 
it  was  inferred  that  the  remainder  would  thus  appear,  on  w^hich 
account  their  publication  in  these  transactions  was  not  deemed 
necessary. 

The  thanks  of  the  American  Pomological  Society  are  justly  due 
to  Mr.  Leroy  for  having  had  the  gratification  of  seeing  the  beau- 
tiful paintings,  models  and  preserves  of  objects  so  interesting. 


140 


CONSTITUTION   AND   BY-LAWS   OF   THE   AMERICAN 
POMOLOGICAL   SOCIETY. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Article  I.  The  name  of  this  Association  shall  be  the  American 
Pomological  Society. 

2.  Its  object  shall  be  the  advancement  of  the  Science  of  Po- 
mology. 

3.  It  shall  consist  of  Delegates  appointed  by  Horticultural,  Ag- 
ricultural, and  kindred  Societies  in  the  United  Stales  and  British 
America,  and  of  such  other  persons  as  take  an  interest  in  the  wel- 
fare of  the  Association,  and  are  desirous  of  promoting  its  aims. 

4.  The  meetings  shall  be  held  biennially,  at  such  time  and  place 
as  may  be  designated  by  the  Society  ;  and  special  meetings  may 
be  convened  at  any  time  on  the  call  of  the  President. 

5.  The  officers  shall  consist  of  a  President,  one  Vice-President 
from  every  State,  Territory  and  Province  represented,  a  Treasurer 
and  a  Secretary ;  and  shall  be  elected  by  ballot  or  otherwise  at 
every  biennial  meeting. 

BY-LAWS. 

1 .  The  President  shall  have  a  general  superintendence  of  the 
affairs  of  the  Society  during  its  vacation ;  give  due  public  notice 
of  the  time  and  place  of  meeting;  preside  at  its  deliberations; 
deliver  an  address  on  some  subject  relating  to  Pomology,  at  every 
biennial  meeting;  and  appoint  all  committees,  unless  otherwise 
directed. 

2.  In  case  of  the  death,  sickness,  or  inability  of  the  President, 
his  official  duties  shall  devolve  on  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  in  which  they  stand  on  the  minutes. 

3.  The  Treasurer  shall  receive  all  moneys  belonging  to  the  So- 
ciety, and  pay  over  the  same  on  the  written  orders  of  the  Presi- 
dent. 


141 

4.  The  Secretary  shall,  with  the  assistance  of  a  reporter  ap- 
pointed by  him,  keep  a  record  of  the  transactions  of  the  Society 
for  publication. 

5.  There  shall  be  an  executive  committee  consisting  of  five 
members,  together  with  the  President  and  Vice-Presidents  ex- 
officio,  five  of  whom  shall  constitute  a  quorum,  who  shall  manage 
the  affairs  of  the  Society  during  its  vacation. 

6.  State  Fruit  Committees,  consisting  of  five  members  each, 
for  every  State,  Territory  and  Province  represented,  and  a  general 
chairman  over  all,  shall  be  appointed  biennially ;  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  several  State  Fruit  C6mmittees  to  forward  to  the  gen- 
eral chairman,  one  month  before  every  biennial  meeting,  State 
Pomological  Reports,  to  be  condensed  by  him  for  publication. 

7.  A  Standing  Committee  on  Native  Fruits,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  shall  be  appointed  by  the  President  immediately  after 
his  election.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  this  committee  to  report  an- 
nually on  Native  Fruits,  and  also  to  examine,  and,  before  the  close 
of  the  session,  report  on  all  new  seedling  varieties  that  may  be 
exhibiled ;  and  to  make  an  ad  interim  report  on  those  that  were 
exhibited  in  .an  unripe  condition  at  the  meeting  of  the  Society, 
but  ^haid  -subsequently  attained  a  state  of  maturity ;  and  on  such 
other  seedlings  as  may  have  been  submitted  to  their  inspection 
during  the  Society's  vacation. 

8.  A  standing  committee  on  Foreign  Fruits,  consisting  of  seven 
members,  shall  be  appointed,  whose  duties  shall  be  similar  to  those  - 
of  the  committee  in  by-law  seven. 

9.  A  standing  committee  on  synonyms,  consisting  of  seven, 
members,  shall  be  appointed  biennially.  ^ 

10.  Vacancies  occurring  in  committees  shall  be  filled  by  the 
chairman  of  each,  and  in  case  of  his  death  or  inabihty  to  serve,  \ 
his  place  shall  be  supplied  by  the  President  of  the  Society.  \ 

11.  The  members  of  this  Society  shall  pay  two  dollars  biennially,  .^ 
and^wenty  dolldrgspaid  at  one  time  shall  constitute  one  life-mem-* 
bership.  , 


12 ORDER    OF    BUSINESS. 

1.  Credentials  of  Delegates  presented. 

2.  Address  of  the  President. 


i 


142 

3.  Election  of  Officers. 

4.  Reports  of  State  Fruit  Committees. 

5.  New  business. 

13.  The  Constitution  and  By-Laws  may  be  altered  or  amended 
at  any  regular  biennial  meeting,  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the 
members  present. 


^<^-Caleb  Cope, 
/--<  A.  H.  Ernst, 
L/"""  S.  L.  Goodale, 
■.y-  Col.  B.  Hodge, 
i;^"  Lawrence  Young, 
y^H.  J.  French, 
\/^  Frederick  Holbrook, 
/..i^  Samuel  Walker, 
l^^  Stephen  H.  Smith, 
ly—  Dr.  A.  S.  Munson, 
/'<^-' Thomas  Hancock, 
l^^.  Tatnall,  Jr., 
l^John  Feast, 
/--^Yardley  Taylor, 
^Joshua  Peirce, 
l/^  Joshua  Lindley, 

/-HR,obert  Chisholm, 
K^i.  Richard  Peters, 
^^George  G.  Coster, 
^B.  F.  Nourse, 
^  Thomas  Afflick, 
^>-  Henry  E.  Lawrence, 
//^Rev.  C.  H.  Byington, 
^^-^ Thomas  Allen, 


OFFICERS  ELECTED  IN  1852. 

Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder. 

Vice-  Presidents , 

Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  ^  - 

Maine,  J^"^^ 

New  York;  ^  ^  *y^y^  f"  "^^ 

Kentucky,  ,^^>:^^^^s^!^^^^^^^^^^^^ 

New  Hampshire,         ^^^s^L,^-"^^'^^ 

Vermont, 

Massachusetts, 

Rhode  Island, 

Connecticut, 

New  Jersey, 

Delaware, 

Maryland, 

Virginia, 

District  of  Columbia, 

North  Carolina, 

South  Carolina,  /::^c  /V  ;//*^/"" 

Georgia,     i^^^^ 

Alabama, 

Florida, 

Mississippi,    ^-'Q' \ 

Louisiana,   /O  i  i^  Ss  h  tfHj 
Arkansas,  f  f^  ■<        ■  ,- 
Missouri,     C'^/   "    ^yL, 


'*«^ 


(A^^' 


143 


-ff^'C. 


Iowa, 

Wisconsin, 
Illinois, 
Indiana,     /' 
Tennessee,    ^ 
California, 
Utah, 
Canada  West 


VV'' 


rsCanadaEasl.  Ji/^j-^^^  ;;'  ^<^  ^  J^  , 


y' 


/^ames  Grant, 

/^.  P.  Talmadge, 
^-^•Dr.  Kennicott, 

l/^  S.  S.  Connett^ 

^  D;  W.  Yandeil, 

t^Ui'.  Henry  Gibbons, 

/^Edward  Hunter, 
^^^m  James  Dougall,  ^^-'P^yi^t^-^ 
^  *•  Hugh  Allen,  ^^^'/"v-;-    • ' 

I ,  H.  W^  S.  Cleveland,         New  Jersey. 

Treasurer^ 
/--Thomas  P.  James,  Pennsylvania. 

Executive  Committee, 

-—  The  President  and  Vice-Presidents  ex-officio. 
^:^  Dr.  W.  D.  Brinckle,  Pennsylvania, 

*^Hon.  B.  V.  French,  Massachusetts, 

— Eichard  Peters,  Georgia, 

' — Dr.  John  A.  Warder,  Ohio. 

Committee  on  Foreign  Fruits. 

•^C.  M.  Hovey,  Massachusetts, 

"^P.  Barry,  New^  York, 

— <^harles  Downing,  New  York, 

—Dr.  J.  P.  Kirtland,  Ohio, 


-^R,.  Buist, 
■^;— S.  L.  Goodale. 
— 'C.  B.  Lines, 


Pennsylvania, 

Maine, 

Connecticut. 

Committee  on  Motive  Fruits. 


(TDr.  W.  D.  Brinckle, 
— F.  R.  Elliott, 
t^E.  T^jnall,  Jiv, 
•^j^rhomas  Hancock, 
-^-Col.  B.  Hodge, 
^  H.  P.  Byram, 
Robert  Pvlanning, 


Pennsylvania, 

Ohio, 

Delaware, 

New  Jersey, 

New  York, 

Kentucky,         ^^.^ 

Massachusetts, 


^J^  '^^^/^Z^' 


144 


■Hon.  J.  S.  Cabot, 
J.  J.  Thomas, 
A.  H.  Ernst, 
Dr.  J.  A.  Kennicott, 
S.  D.  Pardee, 
'A.  Saul, 
James  D.  Fulton, 


Committee  on  Synonyms. 

MassachusettSj 

New  York, 

Ohio, 

Illinois, 

Connecticut, 

New  York, 

Pennsylvania. 


State  Fruit  Committees. 


—  Hon.  Samuel  Walker, 


Chairman  for 


—  p.  Barry, 

—  T.  P.  James, 

—  Dr.  Lewis  P.  Bush^     '-' 

—  Joshua  Peirce,  *'         *' 
, —  Rt.  Rev.  Stephen  Elliott,  Jr. 
•— Yardley  Taylor? 
^  Col.  Henry  Little, 

—  H.  F.  French, 
^Dr.  E.  Wight, 

—  C.  Goodrich, 
— Stephen  H.  Smith? 

—  George  Gabriel, 
— William  Reid, 
-^  Samuel  Feast, 

—  William  Summer, 
— Henry  K.  Burgwyn, 
-^R.  Buchanan, 

—  Dr.  J.  A.  Kennicott,  " 
J.  D.  G.  Nelson,         " 

—  Capt.  F.  W.  Macondry,  " 
•**  Charles  A.  Peabody,  " 

A.  G.  Sems,  " 

E.  D.  Hobbs,  " 

"•►-Thomas  Afflick,  " 

James  Grant, 

—   Thomas  Allen, 


ii. 


n 
u 
u 


cc 


cc 


General  Chairman. 

New  York, 

Pennsylvania, 

Delaware, 

District  of  Columbia, 

Georgia,, 

Virginia, 

Maine, 

New  Hampshire, 

Massachusetts, 

Vermont, 

Rhode  Island, 

Connecticut, 

New  Jersey, 

Maryland,  ' 

South  Carolina?    i^^-::?^^  /I  ^-Z^X^ 

North  Carolina? 

Ohio, 

Illinois, 

Indiana, 

California,  ^     ^ 

Alabama,     Er^J^}^  ,    Z^l^ 

Florida,        /       V  ^  $^j.^M^  &H^^[ 

Kentucky, 

Mississippi,      ^7^^^?.^  U.^  / ^ 

Iowa, 

Missouri. 


.^ 


145 


NAMES  AND  RESIDENCES  OF  MEMBERS. 


MAINE. 

S.  L.  Goodale,  Saco, 
Henry  Little,  Bangor,  life. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

B.  V.  French,  Braintree,  life. 
Samuel  Walker,  Roxbury. 
Marshall  P.  Wilder,  Boston,  life, 

CONNECTICUT. 

Elizur  E.  Clarke,  New  Haven. 

C.  B.  Lines, 
0.  F.  Winchester, 


n. 


NEW  YORK. 

■^  P.  Barry,  Rochester. 

Francis  Briel,  Astoria,  L.  I. 
Alfred  Bridgeman,  New  York. 
ZeraBurr,  Perrineton,jMontgom- 

ery  Co. 
A.  P.  Cummings,  New  York. 
Chas.  Downing,  Newburgh. 
A.  Frost  &  Co.,  Rochester. 
-  B.  Hodge,  Buffalo. 

Thomas  Hogg,  New  York. 
H.  E.  Hooker,  Rochester. 
Frederick     Law    Olmstead, 
south  side  Staten  Island. 
^      R.  B.  Parsons,  Flushing,  L.  I. 
^^  S.  B.  Parsons,  '' 

"--      J.  E.  Ranch,  New  York. 
^^     A.  Saul,  Newburgh. 

J.  J.  Thomas,  Macedon,  Wayne 

Co. 
W.  P.  Townsend,  Lockport. 
James  H.  Watts,  Rochester. 
—     C.  P.  WilUams,  Albany. 
19 


NEW  JERSEY. 

H.  W.  S.  Cleveland,  Burlington. 
Geo.  B.  Deacon,  " 

Sam'l  J.  Guestin,  Newark. 
Thos.  Hancock,  Burlington. 
Edward  Harris,  Moorestown. 
Jabez  M.  Hayes,  Newark. 
John  Perkins,  Moorestown. 
Daniel  Pettit,  Salem. 
Wm.  Reid,  Elizabethtown. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Geo.  Blight,  Germantown. 
Dr.  Wm.  D.  Brinckle,  Philad'a. 
Robert  Buist,  " 

Jacob   Cocklin,  Sheppardstown, 

Cumberland  Co. 
Caleb  Cope,  Philadelphia. 
Alan    W.    Corson,    Plymouth, 

Montgomery  Co. 
John  Dick,  Philadelphia. 
Dr.  J.  K.  Eshleman,  Downing'n. 
Jacob  Frantz,  Paradise,  Lan.  Co. 
John  S.  Haines,  Germantown. 
Thos.  P.  James,  Philadelphia. 
Wm.  H.  Keim,  Reading. 
S.  Kerby,  Maiden  C'k,  Berks  Co. 
David  Landreth,  Philadelphia. 
Jas.  S.  McCalla, 
Dr.  Thos.  McEwen,     " 
David  Miller,  Jr.,  Carlisle. 
Anthony  F.  Newbold,  Philadel. 
Thos.    Penrose,  Maiden   Creek, 

Berks  Co. 
Daniel  Rhodes,  Lancaster. 
R.  Robinson  Scott,  Philadelphia. 
John  Zimmerman,  Lancaster. 


146 


DELAWARE. 

Edw.  Tatnall,  Jr.,  Wilmington. 

MAYRLAND. 

Wm.  G.  Baker,  Baltimore. 
Samuel  Feast,         " 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA. 

Thos.  Blagden,  Washington. 
Joshua  Peirce,  Linnean  Hill. 

VIRGINIA. 

H.  R.  Robey,  Fredericksburg. 
Oliver  Taylor,  Loudon  Valley. 


OHIO. 

F.  R.  Elliott,  Cleveland. 

A.  H.  Ernst,  Cincinnati. 
R.  G.  Jones,  Columbus. 

Dr.  J.  A.  Warder,  Cincinnati. 

GEORGIA. 

R.  Peters,  Atalanta. 

FLORIDA. 

B.  F.  Nourse,  Apalachicola. 


147 


EULOGIUM 

ON  THE 

LATE  A.  J.  DOWNING, 

PRONOUNCED  BEFORE  THE 

American  Pomological  Congress,  at  Philadelphia, 

September  13th^  1852, 

BY  HON.  MARSHALL  P.  WILDER. 


The  annual  return  of  the  twenty-eighth  of  July  will  moisten 
the  eyes  and  agonize  the  hearts  df  many  American  citizens. 

On  the  morning  of  that  disastrous  day  two  steamers,  the  Armenia 
and  the  Henry  Clay,  with  numerous  passengers  on  board,  start 
from  the  capital  for  the  chief  commercial  port  of  the  Empire  State. 
Like  "  stately  sailing  swans"  they  glide  swiftly  over  the  smooth 
surface  of  the  Hudson.  The  fire  within  them  waxes  warm;  their 
awful  energies  are  roused  ;  they  run  abreast — anon,  the  "  bird  of 
the  west"  darts  ahead  and  distances  her  Orient  rival.  She  calls 
at  her  landings,  swells  the  number  of  her  passengers,  and  with 
fearful  velocity  bears  them  onward. 

They  admire  the  varied  landscapes,  the  cottages,  villas,  towns, 
cities,  bold  cliffs  and  lofty  mountains,  which  have  given  the  sce- 
nery about  this  majestic  river  a  world-wide  renown. 

They  near  a  city,  which  rises  in  beauty  and  grace  from  its 
western  bank  back  to  the  brow  of  the  distant  hill.     There  is  a 

"  Cottage^  half  embowered 
With  modest  jessamine,  and  there  a  spot 
Of  garden  ground,  where,  ranged  in  neat  array, 
Grow  countless  sweets." 

Its  architecture  is  in  the  most  approved  Elizabethan  style.  Its 
grounds  are  tastefully  laid  out  and  adorned,  and  he  who  named  it 


148 

** Highland  Gardens"  accurately  translated  the  natural  language 
of  the  place.  It  overlooks  the  city  and  the  river^  and  commands 
a  view  of  one  of  the  most  extensive  and  beautiful  landscapes  in 
the  world.  The  very  site  seems  designed  by  nature  for  the  birth- 
place of  genius,  and  for  the  abode  of  comfort,  taste  and  learning. 

Its  proprietor,  with  his  relatives  and  friends,  six  in  all,  take 
passage  in  the  ill-fated  boat.  She  bears  them  on  toward  their  port 
of  destination,  when  suddenly  the  alarm  of  hre  rings  like  a  death 
knell  through  that  floating  sepulchre.  The  passengers  are  ordered 
aft,  and  she  is  headed  for  the  eastern  shore.  In  a  moment  all  is 
consternation  and  horror,  which  no  language  can  describe,  no 
painter's  pencil  sketch.  Her  Whole  centre  is  on  fire*  She  strikes 
the  bank  two  miles  below  the  town  of  Yonkers.  The  wind  en- 
velopes the  multitude  on  her  stern  in  smoke  and  flame.  "With  a 
fearful  odds  in  the  chances  of  escape,  the  Great  Destroyer  offers 
them  their  choice  between  a  death  by  flame,  or  a  death  by  flood. 
Alas!  on  some  he  inflicts  both;  they  are  first  burned  and  then 
drowned ! 

They  are  driven  before  the  devouring  element,  and  entrust 
themselves  to  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  Amidst  the  crowd  at  the 
stern,  stands  a  man  of  tall  and  slender  habit  and  of  thoughtful 
expression,  whose  penetrating  eye  surveys  this  perilous  scene,  and 
seeks  the  most  favorable  chance  of  escape.  His  accustomed  self- 
possession  fails  him  not  in  this  awful  extremity.  He  imparts  wise 
counsels  for  personal  preservation  to  his  friends  and  those  about 
him  ;  then  climbs  to  the  upper  deck  for  articles  from  the  furniture 
of  the  boat,  on  which  they  may  float  to  the  shore.  He  returns, 
but  his  beloved  wife  and  part  of  his  company  have  already  been 
driven  overboard.  He  commits  the  rest,  and  last  of  all  himself, 
also,  to  the  fatal  flood, 

"  Forlorn  of  heart,  and  by  severe  decree 
Compelled  reluctant  to  the  faithless  sea.'* 

They  sink  ;  they  rise.  With  the  grasp  of  death  they  cling  to  him 
and  again  submerge  him  and  themselves  in  the  waves.  He  brings 
them  once  more  to  the  surface,  and  beats  for  the  shore.  Alas ! 
it  is  vain  ;  his  efforts  to  save  others  peril  his  own  life.  Entangled, 
exhausted,  disabled,  he  sinks  to  a  watery  grave ! 

But  the  partner  of  his  life,  her  sister  and  brother,  who   were 


149 

mercifully  rescued  from  the  jaws  of  death,  are  still  unapprized  of 
his  melancholy  fate,  and  search  for  him  in  vain  among  the  agonized 
survivors.  But  the  cry,  she  sinks!  she  sinks!!  fills  their  hearts 
with  direful  apprehensions.  Still  they  cling  to  the  delusive  hope 
that  he  may  be  among  those  rescued  by  the  rival  Armenia,  and 
borne  to  the  city  of  New  York. 

The  object  of  his  conjugal  love  returns  to  her  desolate  home. 
The  tidings  of  this  awful  disaster  fly  upon  the  wings  of  the  wdnd ; 
the  mystic  wires  tremble  at  the  shock ;  the  press  utters  its  loud 
lament ;  the  note  of  woe  rings  through  our  streets,  fills  our  dwel- 
lings, and  convulses  our  hearts  with  grief.  The  nation  mourns — 
minute  guns  are  fired  upon  the  spot,  to  arouse  the  inhabitants  of 
the  surrounding  country,  and  to  start  the  dead  from  their  lowly 
rest.  Multitudes  rush  from  every  quarter  to  the  mournful  scene  5 
they  crowd  around  each  body  as  it  is  raised  and  brought  to  the 
shore,  to  identify  therein  a  relation  or  friend.  Among  them  his 
brother  and  partner  in  business  arrive.  At  length,  another  body 
is  raised.  Its  countenance  is  familiar  ;  it  is  recognized  ;  and  the 
doleful  announcement  is  made  that  Andrew  Jackson  Downing  is 
no  more* 

"  Lot^ely  in  death  the  beauteous  ruin  lay." 

His  precious  remains  are  borne  back  to  their  native  city^  and  to 
his  house  of  mourning,  There  they  meet  his  widowed  wife^ 
whose  ear,  during  the  fourteen  years  of  their  wedded  life,  had 
been  so  quick  to  catch  the  sound  of  his  returning  footsteps,  and 
who  had  been  the  first  to  greet  and  welcome  him.  Alas !  she  is 
suddenly  bereft,  by  one  fatal  blow,  of  friend,  mother,  husband  ! 
The  funeral  rites  are  performed  ;  his  body  is  committed  to  the^ 
tomb,  "  earth  to  earth,"  "  ashes  to  ashes,"  *'  dust  to  dust !" 

Thus  terminated  the  earthly  career  of  our  lamented  brother  and 
associate.  But  his  name  shall  be  perpetuated  by  fragrant  flowers 
and  delicious  fruits  ;  by  gushing  fountains  and  murmuring  streams ; 
by  grateful  shade  and  balmy  breeze,  and  by  many  a  rural  scene^ 
and  many  a  tasteful  home.     He  shall  be  remembered 

^'  Where  cottages,  and  fanes,  and  villas  rise; 
Where  cultur'd  fields  and  gardens  smile  around." 

But  to  he  more  specific,  the  results  of  his  toil  appear  in  the 


150 

forests  which  he  has  preserved  from  the  merciless  axe — in  the 
trees  which  he  has  described  and  made  to  contribute  more  abtm- 
dantly  to  the  taste  and  comfort  of  their  proprietors— in  the  avenues 
which  he  has  adorned — in  the  lawns  and  pleasure-grounds  which 
he  has  laid  out  and  appropriately  embellished— and  in  numberless 
buildings  which  stand  as  monuments  to  his  architectural  skill. 

The  fruits  of  his  labor  are  also  gathered  in  thousands  of  gardens 
and  conservatories.  The  numerous  cottages  and  villas  which 
have  lately  sprung  up  in  the  towns  and  villages  about  our  com- 
mercial cities,  and  throughout  our  happy  land,  evince  his  genius  ; 
and  it  is  due  to  his  worth  to  say  that  few  have  left  a  mark  so  deep 
and  broad  on  the  generation  in  which  they  lived. 

In  responding  to  the  calls  which  have  been  made  upon  me  to 
pronounce  the  Eulogy  of  our  deceased  friend,  I  shall  attempt  no- 
thing more,  and  certainly  can  do  nothing  better,  than  to  articulate 
the  language  of  his  useful  life,  and  to  give  free  utterance  to  your 
own  convictions  of  his  worth. 

Mr.  Downing  was  born  in  Newburgh,  New  York,  on  the  thirty- 
first  day  of  October,  A.  D.  1815.  In  his  boyhood  he  manifested 
a  fondness  for  botany,  mineralogy,  and  other  natural  sciences, 
Xvhich  at  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  he  left  school,  he  was  able  to 
prosecute  without  the  aid  of  an  instructor.  At  that  period,  his 
father  having  died  when  he  was  but  seven  years  of  age,  his 
mother  desired  him  to  become  a  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  store  ;  but 
he,  following  the  native  tendencies  of  his  mind,  preferred  to  re- 
main in  the  nursery  and  garden  with  his  elder  brother,  whose 
accuracy  and  practical  skill  in  horticulture  gave  special  promi- 
nence to  the  same  traits  in  the  deceased,  and  with  whom  he  might 
study  the  theory,  and  perfect  himself  in  the  practice,  of  his  favorite 
arts. 

In  the  formation  of  iiis  character,  we  also  recognize  with  grati- 
tude the  agency  of  Baron  de  Liderer,  the  Austrian  Consul,  whose 
summer  residence  w^as  in  his  native  place,  a  gentleman  of  large 
iendowments  and  attainments,  of  eminent  purity  of  mind,  and  re- 
finement of  manners,  a  mineralogist  and  botanist,  who  discovered 
in  young  Downing  a  mind  of  kindred  taste,  who  made  him  the 
frequent  inmate  of  his  family,  as  well  as  his  own  companion  in 
mimerous  excursions  for  the  scientific  explorRtion  of  the  surround- 
ing country. 


151 

But  his  sensibility  to  artistic  beauty  was  cultivated  and  devel- 
oped by  the  lamented  Raphael  Hoyle,  an  English  artist,  residing 
in  Newburgh,  and  who,  like  himself,  went  down  to  an  early  grave, 
leaving  behind  him  specimens  in  landscape  painting,  true  to  na- 
ture, and  of  remarkable  delicacy  of  coloring.  His  manners  were 
much  improved  and  adorned  by  his  familiar  intercourse  with  his 
neighbor,  Mr.  Edward  Armstrong,  a  gentleman  of  refinement  and 
wealth,  at  whose  fine  country  seat  on  the  Hudson  he  was  intro- 
duced to  the  Hon.  Charles  Augustus  Murray,  an  Englishman, 
w^hose  book  of  travels  in  America  has  been  admired  on  both  sides 
of  the  Atlantic.  There  he  also  made  the  acquaintance  of  many 
other  distinguished  men,  who  subsequently  became  his  correspon- 
dents and  personal  friends. 

These  associations  had,  no  doubt,  much  influence  in  strength- 
ening his  refined  and  generous  nature.  He  devoted  all  the  time 
which  he  could  reclaim  from  physical  labor  to  reading  and  study. 
.In  the  bowers  of  his  garden  he  held  frequent  converse  with  the 
muses,  who  inspired  him  with  the  poetic  fire  which  illumes  his 
pages,  and  imparts  peculiar  vivacity  and  energy  to  his  style. 

At  the  age  of  twenty-two,  on  the  seventh  of  June,  1838,  he 
married  Miss  Caroline  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  J.  P.  De  Wint,  Esq., 
of  Fishkill  Landing,  a  lady  of  congenial  spirit,  of  refinement  and 
intelligence,  to  whom  the  world  is  much  indebted  for  his  useful- 
ness.    In  grateful  return  for  her  valuable  services,  she  now  enjoys 
the  commiseration  and  condolence  of  his  friends  in  America  and 
transatlantic  countries.     But  with  all  these  aids,  still  Mr.  Downing 
was,  in  the  strictest  sense,  self-taught ;  a  fact  which  deserves  to 
be  recorded,  not  only  to  his  praise,  but  as  an  encouragement  to 
thousands  of  aspiring  youth.     If  he  was  never  a  pupil  in  the  stu- 
dio of  an  artist ;  if  he  studied  natural  science  in  the  laboratory  of 
nature  more  than  in  the  school  of  scientific  chemists ;  if  he  enjoyed 
not  the  advantages  of  a  liberal  and  professional  education,  valuable 
and  desirable  as  these  means  of  improvement  certainly  are ;  yet 
he  was  at  all  times  and  everywhere  a  learner ;  and  the  lessons  of 
wisdom  which  he  received,  he  promptly  reduced  to  practice ;  a 
circumstance  which  made  him  eminently  practical  and  national,  a 
man  of  his  own  age  and  country. 

I  will  illustrate  his  habits  of  observation  and  study.     In  a  walk 
he  plucks  from  an  overhanging  bough  a  single  leaf,  examines  its 


152 

color,  form  and  structure  ;  inspects  it  with  his  microscope,  and 
having  recorded  his  observations,  presents  it  to  his  friend,  and  in- 
vites him  to  study  it,  as  suggestive  of  some  of  the  first  principles 
of  Rural  Architecture  and  Economy. 

Does  he  visit  a  beautiful  country  seat,  he  sketches  a  view  of  it, 
and  of  the  grounds  about  it ;  notes  whatever  is  true  to  nature,  ac- 
curate in  taste,  or  excellent  in  design  ;  and  from  his  copy,  a  plate 
is  engraved,  and  in  the  next  number  of  his  Horticulturist  the  whole 
scene,  with  his  valuable  comments,  is  given  to  the  lovers  of  the 
landscape  and  the  garden. 

He  returns  from  the  forest.  A  short  extract  from  his  journal 
will  explain  the  object  of  his  tour,  and  afford  a  fair  specimen  of 
the  beauty  and  force  of  his  style  : 

"  Nature  plants  some  trees,  like  the  fir  and  the  pine,  in  the  fis- 
sures of  the  rock,  and  on  the  edge  of  the  precipice ;  she  twists 
their  boughs,  and  gnarls  their  stems,  by  storms  and  tempests — 
thereby  adding  to  their  picturesque  power  in  sublime  and  grand 
scenery.  But  she  more  often  developes  the  beautiful  in  a  tree  of 
any  kind,  in  a  genial  soil  and  clime,  where  it  stands  quite  alone, 
stretching  its  boughs  upward  freely  to  the  sky,  and  outward  to  the 
breeze,  and  even  downward  to  the  earth,  almost  touching  her  in 
her  graceful  sweep,  till  only  a  glimpse  of  the  fine  trunk  is  to  be 
seen  at  its  spreading  base,  and  the  whole  top  is  one  great  globe  of 
floating  and  waving  luxuriance,  giving  us  as  perfect  an  idea  of 
symmetry  and  proportion  as  can  be  found  short  of  the  Grecian 
Apollo."  "  One  would  no  more  wish  to  touch  it  with  the  prun- 
ing knife,  the  axe  or  the  saw,  (unless  to  remove  a  decayed  branch) 
than  to  give  a  nicer  curve  to  the  rainbow,  or  to  add  freshness  to 
the  dew-drop."  This  description,  for  beauty,  power  of  diction, 
and  for  truthfulness  to  nature,  not  only  harmonizes  with  the  pic- 
tures, but  even  rivals  the  finest  touches  of  the  pencils  of  Claude, 
Poussin,  Salvator  Rosa,  or  any  other  great  master  of  landscape. 

He  makes  the  tour  of  New  England,  and  stops  at  New  Haven, 
that  city  of  elms.  He  walks  out  from  the  Tontine  upon  the  green, 
admires  those  grateful  shades,  their  majestic  form,  their  gracefully 
waving  boughs,  and  they  revive  in  his  mind  the  history  of  the 
elm,  its  varied  use  for  fuel,  timber  and  shade.  He  arrives  at 
Hartford.     The  first  object  of  his  attention  is  the  "  Charter  Oak." 


153 

He  hastens  to  visit  it,  stands  before  it,  and  filled  with  veneration, 
exclaims,  with  the  bard  of  Mantua,  translated  by  Dryden, 

"  Jove's  own  tree, 
That  holds  the  world  in  sovereignty." 

He  sketches  it,  gives  you  a  copy  of  it  in  his  "  Landscape  Gar- 
dening," together  with  his  classical  and  scientific  account  of  this 
king  of  the  American  forest.  He  journeys  up  the  beautiful  valley 
of  the  Connecticut  to  Stockbridge,  Massachusetts,  whose  streets 
are  lined  with  the  sugar  maple,  "clean,  cool,  smooth  and  umbra- 
geous." He  there  increases  his  love  and  admiration  of  the  Amer- 
ican maple,  the  beauty  of  whose  vernal  bloom  is  surpassed  only 
by  the  unrivalled  hues  of  its  autumnal  foliage,  dyed  with  the  tints 
of  departing  day. 

By  scenes  like  these,  and  by  scientific  reflection  thereon,  he 
prepares  himself  to  give  those  last  and  well  directed  blows  at  that 
'^heavenly''''  tree,  the  Ailanthus,  and  also  at  the  Abele  Poplar — 
both  of  which  he  kills  oflf  in  a  most  celestial  manner,  to  make  room 
for  the  more  deserving  and  truly  American  Maples,  Oaks,  Elms 
and  Ashes,  for  the  Magnolia,  the  Tulip,  and  others.  Of  the  latter, 
how  beautifully  he  speaks  in  the  last  leader  from  his  pen,  in  a 
manner  so  easy  and  flowing,  and  so  characteristic  of  the  man. — 
"  We  mean  the  Tulip  Tree,  or  the  Liriodendron.  What  can  be 
more  beautiful  than  its  trunk — finely  proportioned,  and  smooth  as  a 
Grecian  column  ?  What  more  artistic  than  its  leaf,  cut  like  an 
arabesque  in  a  Moorish  palace  ?  W^hat  more  clean  and  lustrous 
than  its  tufts  of  foliage — dark  green  and  rich  as  deepest  emerald? 
What  more  lily-like  and  specious  than  its  blossoms — golden  and 
bronze  shaded  ?  and  what  fairer  and  more  queenly  than  its  whole 
figure,  stately  and  regal  as  that  of  Zenobia.^" 

In  the  progress  of  his  journey,  he  reaches  the  commercial  me- 
tropolis of  New  England.  It  is  the  annual  exhibition  of  the  Mas- 
sachusetts Horticultural  Society  in  that  city.  He  enters  its  hall, 
is  greeted  with  a  cordial  welcome,  and  invited  to  examine  its  col- 
lection, particularly  the  extensive  show  of  pears.  In  a  subsequent 
discussion  with  its  fruit  committee,  he  proposes  to  them  a  question 
in  his  direct,  practical  and  impressive  manner — "Will  each  of  you 
please  to  give  me  the  names  of  the  best  three  varieties  of  the  pear, 
together  with  your  reasons  for  that  preference  ?"  He  obtains  their 
20 


154 

opinions,  and  publishing  the  same,  puts  the  public  at  once  in  pos- 
session of  their  long  and  dear  bought  experience. 

The  same  practical  and  studious  habit  is  remarkably  exemplified 
in  his  foreign  travels.  Unlike  other  tourists,  who  first  visit  the 
tower  of  London  or  Westminster  Abbey,  he  hastens  from  the  parks 
of  that  city  to  Chatsworth,  then  to  Woburn  Abbey,  Warwick  Cas- 
tle, and  other  places  where  agriculture,  horticulture,  architecture, 
and  all  the  fine  arts  have  for  ages  vied  with  each  other  in  whatso- 
ever is  ornamental  in  embellishment  and  princely  in  wealth,  and 
where  are  scenes  of  natural  and  artistic  beauty  and  grandeur,  which 
attract  the  chief  masters  of  the  world.  He  is  received  and  enter- 
tained with  kindness  and  partiality  by  the  Earl  of  Hardwicke,  the 
Dukes  of  Devonshire  and  Bedford,  and  others  with  whom  he 
formed  many  warm  friendships  in  the  mother  country.  From  these 
places,  where  wealth,  art,  nature  and  genius  have  congregated 
whatever  is  most  beautiful  to  the  eye,  most  approved  in  taste,  or 
most  impressive  to  sensibility,  he  prosecutes  his  journey  ;  every- 
where observing,  noting  and  studying  the  objects  and  scenes  about 
him.     To  him, 

"  Not  a  tree, 

A  plant,  a  leaf,  a  blossom,  but  contained 
A  folio  volume." 

We  have  necessarily  amplified  this  part  of  our  subject,  in  order 
to  give  a  correct  view  of  the  manner  and  extent  of  his  education, 
of  the  peculiarities  of  his  style,  and  of  the  formation  of  his  char- 
acter, and  to  furnish  the  materials  for  a  just  appreciation  of  his 
worth,  and  for  a  philosophical  judgment  of  himself  and  of  his 
works. 

Mr.  Downing  was  just  what  we  have  represented,  a  self-taught 
man.  His  name  will  appear  in  all  coming  time,  emblazoned  upon 
the  roll  of  fame,  among  such  worthies  of  that  class  as  Roger  Sher- 
man, Benjamin  Franklin,  David  Rittenhouse,  Benjamin  West,  and 
Nathaniel  Bowditch.  He  was  not,  perhaps,  so  profoundly  scien- 
tific, yet  he  was  well  grounded  in  vegetable  physiology,  and  in  the 
first  principles  of  the  arts  to  which  his  life  was  devoted.  Being 
the  sovereign  of  his  own  powers  and  acquisitions,  he  could  in=- 
stantly  bring  them  to  bear  on  the  subject  of  his  investigation  or 
discourse. 


155 

In  his  character  we  find  that  assemblage  of  virtues  commonly 
called  amiahleness.  On  this  depended  the  suavity  of  his  manners, 
the  sincerity  of  his  friendship,  and  the  freedom  of  his  hospitality. 
His  guests  always  received  a  hearty  welcome,  and  found  at  his 
residence  a  quiet  home.  Here  Miss  Bremer,  whose  fame  in  let- 
ters is  like  that  of  the  Swedish  nightingale  in  song,  wrote  the  in- 
troduction to  one  of  her  works ;  and  in  speaking  of  his  kindness 
and  hospitality,  she  says:  "I  never  shall  forget,  nor  ever  be  able 
fully  to  acknowledge  them,  feeling  as  I  here  do,  at  this  moment, 
all  the  blessings  of  a  perfect  homey 

He  also  possessed,  what  is  rarely  found  in  combination  with 
these  qualities,  keen  perception^  great  energy^  decision  and  boldness. 
Blessed  with  an  almost  intuitive  perception  of  character^  he  read 
men  at  a  grlance.  When  he  was  in  London,  he  desired  an  assis- 
tant,  who  would  return  with  him  to  America  and  aid  him  in  the 
architectural  department  of  his  business.  He  visits  the  architectural 
exhibition  in  that  city,  and  seeks  an  introduction  to  the  Secretary 
of  that  association,  to  whom  he  reveals  his  object,  and  by  whom 
he  is  introduced  to  Mr.  Calvert  Vaux,  as  a  gentleman  well  quali- 
fied for  the  place.  They  exchange  references;  and  so  readily  did 
he  inspire  confidence  m  this  stranger,  and  also  perceive  that  he 
might  safely  repose  the  same  in  him,  that  on  their  interview  the 
next  morning,  he  concludes  a  contract,  agrees  upon  the ,  precise 
time  when  they  will  start  from  Liverpool  for  America,  hastens  to 
Paris  to  complete  his  unfinished  business,  fulfils  his  engagement, 
and  in  two  weeks  they  are  unitedly  prosecuting  their  labors  at 
Newburgh.     Such  was  his  activity,  promptness  and  despatch. 

The  increasing  extent  of  his  business  would  have  employed 
several  common  men ;  his  correspondence  alone  would  have  oc- 
cupied a  private  secretary  ;  yet  the  number  and  urgency  of  his 
duties  never  depressed  him,  never  confused  him,  never  made  him 
in  a  hurry,  because  he  was  always  the  master^  never  the  slave^  of 
his  business. 

Having  once  thoroughly  investigated  a  subject,  he  rested  with 
confidence  in  his  conclusions,  and  published  the  same  with  a  bold- 
ness which  arrested  attention  and  commanded  respect.  Witness 
his  condemnation  of  ''white  hov^es^^  amidst  rural  beauty,  a  color 
which  no  master  of  landscape  would  dare  to  transfer  to  his  can- 
vass, yet  which  is  as  common  in  the  country  as  it  is  opposed  to 


156 

economy  and  good  taste.  Witness  also  his  condemnation  of  the 
impure  air  of  stove-heated  and  unventilated  dwellings,  the  air  of 
which,  with  equal  truth  and  propriety,  he  denominates  "  the  favor^ 
ite  poison  of  America."  This  article,  copied  by  numerous  jour- 
nals, read  by  thousands,  and  commending  itself  to  their  common 
sense,  is  fast  producing  a  reform,  conducive  alike  to  health,  com- 
fort and  long  life.  But  his  kindness  and  magnanimity,  his  free- 
dom from  envy  and  jealousy,  enabled  him  to  admire  and  commend 
whatever  was  excellent  and  praiseworthy,  as  freely  and  decidedly 
as  he  condemned  their  opposites.  These  characteristics  are  ex- 
emplified in  his  monthly  reviews  of  the  press,  and  in  the  notices 
of  the  works  of  other  writers,  which  appear  in  his  volumes. 

In  a  word,  Mr.  Downing  was,  in  manners,  modest,  polite  and 
gentlemanly, — in  perception  of  fitness  and  propriety  intuitive,- — in 
taste,  accurate  and  refined, — in  tact  and  practical  skill,  remark- 
able^— in  love  of  country,  strictly  national,  American^— in  senti- 
ment, pure,— -in  life,  incorrupt, — in  most  respects,  a  model  man — 
in  all,  natureh  own  child.  It  has  been  justly  said  of  him,  "  at 
whatever  point  of  view  we  regard  him,  we  are  compelled  to  ad- 
mire the  symmetry  of  his  character,  the  vigor  of  bis  mind,  the  ver- 
satility  of  his  talents,  and  that  healthful  flow  of  enthusiastic  feeling 
which  marks  his  writings.  There  are  those  w^ho  can  work  out 
beautiful  thoughts  in  marble,  who  can  clothe  them  in  the  touching 
language  of  poetry,  or  bid  them  flow  in  the  rounded  periods  and 
convincing  strains  of  oratory ;  bu*;  few  minds  seem  more  fully  pos- 
sessed of  the  power  to  add  art  to  the  beauty  of  nature,  and  make 
the  desert  blossom  like  the  rose." 

His  writings  are  a  faithful  transcript  of  hivS  own  characteF.  If 
his  diction  sometimes  contains  unusual  and  even  strange  w^ords 
and  phrases,  possibly  ungrateful  to  some  classic  ears,  the  worst 
which  enlightened  criticism  can  say  of  them  is,  that  they  subordi- 
nate elegance  to  originality  and  force.  But  his  language  is  gen- 
erally pure,  chaste  and  refined,  not  unfrequently  beautiful  and 
highly  ornate.  His  style  is  peculiarly  hts  own,  not  rigidly  meth- 
odic, sometimes  abrupt,  but  always  versatile  and  flowing.  It  is 
remarkable  for  that  of  which  he  was  passionately  fond  in  nature, 
and  to  which,  with  some  latitude  of  expression,  we  will  appropri- 
ate the  work  ^^ picturesque.^'^ 

A  single  quotation  will  truly  illustrate  our  meaning,  and  also 


157 

these  qualities  of*  his  style.  We  select  the  words  with  which  he 
introduced  the  Horticulturist  to  his  readers,  with  the  first  breath 
of  summer.  *'  Bright  and  beautiful  June !  embroidered  with 
clusters  of  odorous  roses,  and  laden  with  ruddy  cherries  and  straw- 
berries; rich  with  the  freshness  of  spring,  and  the  luxuriance  of 
summer — leafy  June  !  If  any  one's  heart  does  not  swell  with  the 
unwritten  thoughts  that  belong  to  this  season^  then  is  he  only  fit 
for  '  treasons^  stratagems  and  spoils.'  He  does  not  practically  be- 
lieve that  God  made  the  country.  Flora  and  Pomona,  from  amid 
the  blossoming  gardens  and  orchards  of  June,  smile  graciously  as 
we  write  these  few  introductory  words  to  their  circle  of  devotees, 
*  *  *  *  *  Angry  volumes  of  politics  have  we  w^ritten  none, 
but  only  peaceful  books,  humbly  aiming  to  weave  something  more 
into  the  fair  garland  of  the  beautiful  and  useful,  that  encircles 
this  excellent  old  Earth. ^'  Such  passages  enliven  and  adorn  his 
works. 

Of  these  We  can  give  but  a  brief  accounto 

The  first  is  his  *'  Landscape  Gardening,^'  which  introdticed 
him  to  the  literary  and  scientific  World,  and  gave  him  a  rank 
among  the  distinguished  writers  of  his  age.  For  years  previous 
to  its  publication,  he  seemed  retired  from  the  worlds  abstracted 
and  absorbed,  but  in  reality,  he  was  occupied  in  intense  study  of 
his  subject.  When  he  mastered  it,  and  adapted  its  principles  to 
American  climate,  scenery  and  people,  he  published  it  on  both 
sides  of  the  Atlantic. 

Think  of  this  young  man,  at  twenty-^six  years  of  age,  without 
the  advantage  of  a  liberal  education— with  no  precedents  to  guide 
him,  with  only  a  few  practical  hints  from  such  men  as  Parmentier^ 
seizing  upon  the  first  principles  of  this  science  in  the  works  of 
Repton,  Price,  Loudon,  and  others,  with  a  comprehensiveness  of 
mind,  with  a  power  of  analysis,  an  originality  and  fixedness  of 
purpose,  that  would  have  done  honor  to  the  first  scholars  in  other' 
departments,  popularizing  and  appropriating  them  to  his  own  pe-^ 
riod  and  country,  and  actually  producing  a  book  which  becomes 
at  once  a  standard  universally  acknowledged  by  his  own  country- 
men, and  praised  by  Loudon,  the  editor  of  "  Repton's  Landscape 
Gardening,"  who  pronounced  it  "  a  masterly  work,'^  and  after 
quoting  ten  pages  to  give  his  English  readers  an  idea  of  its  excel- 
lencies, remarks,  '^  We  have  quoted  largely  from  this  W'ork  because, 


15B 

in  so  doing,  we  think  we  shall  give  a  just  idea  of  the  great  merit 
of  the  author."  This  work  the  celebrated  Dr.  Lindley  critically 
reviews,  in  sundry  articles  in  his  Gardener's  Chronicle ;  and  while 
he  dissents  from  it  on  some  minor  points,  yet  in  respect  to  its  car- 
dinal excellencies,  he  thus  remarks*  ^^  On  the  whole,  we  know  of 
no  work  in  which  the  fundamental  principles  of  this  profession 
are  so  ^^ell  or  so  concisely  expressed.''  And  in  regard  to  Mr. 
Downing's  explanation  of  this  science,  and  his  general  definition 
of  it,  he  adds,  what  is  equally  complimentary  to  our  author  and  to 
American  genius,  ^^  no  English  hs-ndsc^ipe  Gardener  has  written 
so  clearly,  or  with  so  much  real  intensity." 

Closely  allied  to  this  science  is  the  subject  of  Architecture,  to 
which  our  author  next  turns  his  attention ;  and  in  the  following 
year  he  publishes  his  "  Cottage  Residences."  Of  this  work 
Mr.  Loudon  also  observes,  "  This  book  is  highly  creditable  to 
him  as  a  man  of  taste  and  an  author,  and  cannot  fail  to  be  of  great 
service."  This  latter  work,  in  time,  creates  occasion  for  his  "Ar- 
chitecture OF  Country  Houses,"  including  designs  for  Cottages, 
Farm  Houses  and  Villas,  with  remarks  on  the  interior's >,  fo>rniture, 
mid  the  best  modes  of  warming  and  ventilating. 

Of  these,  the  English  and  i^-merican  press  offer  remarks  so  simi- 
lar to  those  which  we  have  already  submitted  on  his  Landscape 
Gardening,  as  to  supersede  the  necessity  of  much  amplification. — 
We  select  the  closing  words  of  an  English  Review  of  one  of  these 
works  :  "  We  stretch  our  arm  across  the  '  big  water'  to  tender  our 
Yankee  coadjutor  an  English  shake  and  a  cordial  recognition." 

We  will  add  two  examples  of  the  American  estimate  of  these  pro- 
ductions. Says  a  gentleman  resident  on  the  Atlantic  shore,  who  is 
eminently  qualified  to  form  an  enlightened  judgment:  "  Much  of  the 
improvement  that  has  taken  place  in  this  country,  during  the  last 
twelve  years,  in  Rural  Architecture,  and  in  Ornamental  Gardening 
and  Planting,  may  be  ascribed  to  him."  Another  gentleman, 
•equally  well  qualified  to  judge,  speaking  of  suburban  cottages  in 
the  West,  says :  "  I  asked  the  origin  of  so  much  taste,  and  was 
told  it  might  principally  be  traced  to  Downing's  Cottage  Residences 
and  his  Horticulturist." 

Of  his  remaining  works,  the  "Horticulturist,"  his  monthly 
journal,  which  has  entered  its  seventh  year,  is  extensively  celebrated 
for  its  appropriate,  interesting  and  eloquent  leaders — for  its  numer- 


159 

ous  and  able  correspondents — for  its  varied  learning  and  ripe  ex- 
perience— for  its  just  and  faithful  reviews — and  for  its  tasteful 
embellishments  and  rural  decorations. 

His  "Fhuits  and  Fruit  Trees  of  America,"  a  volume  of  six 
hundred  pages,  was  printed  in  1845,  both  in  New  York  and  Lon- 
don, and  in  two  different  forms — the  duodecimo  with  lineal  draw- 
ings, and  the  royal  octavo,  both  with  these  drawings  and  wdth 
colored  engravings.  It  has  passed  through  thirteen  editions,  and 
originally  combined  his  personal  observation  and  experience  with 
those  of  other  American  fruit  growers  down  to  that  date. 

Besides  these  productions  of  his  pen,  he  edited,  with  notes  and 
emendations,  "  Mrs.  Loudon's  Gardening  for  Ladies ;"  also, 
"  Lindley's  Theory  of  Horticulture;"  delivered  various  addresses, 
submitted  reports  to  public  bodies,  and  contributed  numerous  arti- 
cles to  the  secular,  literary  and  scientific  journals  of  his  day. 

In  addition  to  these  labors,  he  rendered  efficient  services  to  the 
cause  of  agriculture  and  agricultural  education.  He  constantly 
superintended  his  homestead — was  a  corresponding  or  acting  mem- 
ber in  many  horticultural  and  kindred  associations — was  influen- 
tial and  prominent  in  the  establishment  of  this  Congress,  and  from 
its  origin,  chairman  of  its  fruit  committee — the  author  of  the 
''  Rules  of  American  Pomology,"  which,  with  some  modifications, 
have  been  extensively  adopted.  He  advised  and  aided  in  the  lay- 
ing out  of  grounds,  in  the  plans  and  specifications  of  various  pri- 
vate and  public  buildings,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  not  only- 
had  contracts  for  important  professional  services  in  Newburgh, 
Newport,  Georgetown,  Albany,  Boston,  and  other  places,  but  was 
actually  on  his  way  to  "Washington  to  prosecute  the  business  in 
which  he  had  been  engaged  by  the  national  government,  for  the 
laying  out  and  adornment  of  the  public  grounds  in  that  city.  He 
had  also  projected  several  new  volumes  in  the  departments  of  his 
peculiar  studies  and  labors,  as  well  as  the  revision  of  some  of  his 
present  works.  The  last  effort  of  his  pen  was  a  postscript  to  a  set 
of  working  plans  to  illustrate  a  design  for  an  observatory,  proposed 
to  be  erected  in  one  of  our  principal  cities. 

Alas !  that  one  so  eminently  useful,  with  such  brilliant  prospects 
before  him,  and  whose  place  it  is  so  difficult  to  fill,  should  be  so 
suddenly  removed !  Such  is  the  common  exclamation  !  But  this 
general  sorrow  may  find  consolation  in  his  own  devout  words,  in 


160 

a  letter  of  condolence  addressed  to  me  a  few  days  before  his 
death.  They  seem  prophetic  of  this  hour.  "  God  knows  what  is 
best  for  us." 

This  dispensation  is  indeed  mysterious ;  a  w^onder  of  Providence 
such  as  the  All- Wise  and  Infinite  rarely  permits.  He  takes  away 
one  to  whom  we  are  most  attached,  and  that,  too,  when  we  can 
least  afford  to  spare  him.  But  let  us  hope  that  this  melancholy 
event  may  awaken  public  attention,  and  direct  it  from  the  man  to 
his  pursuits  and  to  their  connection  with  the  public  welfare,  and 
thus  become  the  occasion  of  raising  up  a  host  to  carry  out  and 
consummate  his  worthy  enterprises. 

We  have  thus  spoken  of  the  last  hours  of  our  lamented  friend — 
of  the  dreadful  catastrophe  which  terminated  his  earthly  career 
— of  the  circumstances  and  influences  in  which  his  character  was 
formed — of  its  m.ost  prominent  and  commanding  features — of  the 
great  events  of  his  public  life — of  his  published  works — and  of  his 
plans  of  future  usefulness. 

As  your  humble  servant,  appointed  to  speak  of  his  "  life,  char- 
acter and  virtues  ;"  it  is  not  proper  for  me  to  indulge  personal  and 
private  partiality.  It  has  been  my  endeavor  to  form,  such  an  en- 
lightened judgment  of  his  worth,  and  such  an  unbiased  estimate 
of  his  numerous  excellencies,  as  shall  be  in  harmony  with  your 
own  opinion,  and  shall  command  public  confidence  and  respect. 

To  speak  of  his  faults,  if  there  were  any,  was  neither  our  intention 
nor  our  duty.  Frailties  are  incident  to  human  nature  ;  but  happy 
is  it  for  us  all  that  common  benevolence  spreads  the  veil  of  char- 
ity over  the  grave,  and  hides  these  in  its  sacred  trusts  from  public 
observation.  It  is  the  province  of  the  eulogist  to  speak  of  what 
was  worthy  of  honor  and  imitation  in  the  departed,  and  of  w^hat 
may  also  comfort  and  console  the  hearts  of  the  bereaved.  This 
we  have  endeavored  to  do  without  exaggeration  and  without 
abatement.  The  duty  we  perform  is  without  any  expectation  of 
adding  to  the  lustre  of  his  fame.  His  works  are  his  best  eulogy ; 
the  most  enduring  monuments  of  his  worth. 

But  he  has  gone !  His  seat  in  this  Congress  is  vacant.  Another 
will  make  the  report  v/hich  was  expected  from  him  !  We  shall 
much  miss  his  wise  and  leading  counsels  in  our  deliberations  and 
discussions^  his  prompt  and  energetic  action  in  our  endeavors  to 
advance  the  worthy  objects  of  this  association^  in  the  origin  and 


161 

progress  of  which  his  agency  was  so  conspicuous.  He  has  gone  ! 
He  is  numbered  with  those  patrons  and  promoters  of  the  ornamen- 
tal and  useful  arts,  who  rest  from  their  labors^; — with  the  erudite 
and  sage  Pickering,  the  wise  and  laborious  Buel,  the  ardent  and 
scientific  Mease,  the  humorous  and  poetic  Fessenden,  the  practical 
and  enterprising  Lowell,  the  tasteful  and  enthusiastic  Dearborn, 
the  indefatigable  and  versatile  Skinner,  the  scientific  and  volumi- 
nous Loudon,  and  others  of  noble  designs  and  of  enduring  fame. 
These  have  fallen  around  us  like  the  leaves  of  autumn  ;  and  Prov- 
idence now  calls  us  to  inscribe  on  that  star-spangled  roll  the  cher- 
ished name  of  Downing,  struck  down  suddenly,  w^hen  his  sun  was 
at  the  zenith  of  its  glory. 

He  rests  in  the  bosom  of  his  mother  earth,  in  the  city  of  his  birth, 
and  the  sepulchre  of  his  fathers,  on  the  banks  of  that  beautiful 
river  where  his  boyhood  sported,  and  where  the  choicest  scenery 
inspired  his  opening  mind  with  the  love  of  nature — a  spot  which 
will  be  dear  to  the  thousands  of  his  admirers,  and  which  our  love 
to  him  will  constrain  us  to  visit.  We  may  resort  to  his  hospitable 
mansion,  but  he  wnll  no  longer  greet  us  with  his  cordial  salutation, 
nor  extend  to  us  the  right  hand  of  fellowship.  We  may  wend  our 
way  through  his  beautiful  grounds;  but  he  w^ill  not  be  there  to 
accompany  us.  Instead  of  his  pleasant  and  instructive  voice, 
which  once  dropped  words  of  wisdom  and  delight  on  our  ear,  we 
shall  hear  the  trees  mournfully  sighing  in  the  breezes — the  cypress 
moaning  his  funeral  dirge,  and  the  willow  weeping  in  responsive 
grief,  "  because  he  is  not.^^  "  His  mortal  has  put  on  immortal- 
ity." 

When  we  think  of  the  place  which  he  occupied  in  the  hearts 
of  his  countrymen  and  cotemporaries — of  the  expanding  interest 
which  he  has  awakened  in  the  rural  arts,  the  refinements  and  com- 
forts of  society — of  his  unfinished  plans  which  others  inspired  by 
his  genius,  will  unfold  and  consummate — and  of  his  works,  which 
will  be  admired  when  the  tongues  that  now  praise  him  shall  be 
silent  in  death,  our  sense  of  justice  accords  to  him  an  earthly  im- 
mortality— a  fame  which  history  will  cherish,  art  adorn,  and  grate- 
ful posterity  revere. 

He  is  dead  ;  yet  how  little  of  such  men  can  perish  \     The  clayey 
tenement  may  indeed  fall  and  crumble,  but  to  him  who  dwelt  in 
it,  a  place  is  assigned  in  the  firmament  of  American  genius,  far 
21 


162 

above  the  storms  and  convulsions  of  earth — "  in  that  clear  upper 
sky,"  where  he  shall  shine  forever  to  illumine  the  path  of  intelli- 
gence, enterprise  and  virtue,  and  henceforth  to  enkindle  in  the 
human  mind  a  love  of  order,  taste  and  beauty.  We  rank  him 
with  those  who  start  improvements  which  advance  ages  after 
they  are  dead,  and  who  are  justly  entitled  to  the  consideration  and 
gratitude  of  mankind.  Washington  and  his  illustrious  associates 
are  dead ;  but  the  liberty  which  they  achieved  still  lives,  and 
marches  in  triumph  and  glory  through  the  earth.  Franklin  is  dead ; 
but  the  spark  which  his  miraculous  wand  drew  from  heaven,  speaks 
with  tongues  of  fire  and  electrifies  the  globe.  Fulton  is  dead;  but 
he  awoke  the  spirit  of  invention  which  turns  the  machinery  of  man 
— aye,  and  he  awoke  also  the  genius  of  navigation  ; 

"And  heaven  inspired, 
To  love  of  useful  glory  roused  mankind, 
And  in  unbounded  commerce  mixed  the  vs^orld.l' 

Downing  also  is  dead ;  but  the  principles  of  artistic  propriety 
and  ornament,  of  rural  economy  and  domestic  comfort,  which  he 
revealed,  await  a  more  full  and  perfect  development ;  and  as  they 
advance  towards  their  glorious  consummation,  grateful  millions 
shall  honor  and  cherish  his  name.  His  memory  shall  live  for- 
ever. 


163 
TESTIMONIALS  TO  THE  LATE  A.  J.  DOWNING. 

The  Resolutions  submitted  by  Mr.  Cabot  (vide  pao^e  29)  provide 
that  the  testimonials  adopted  by  Horticultural  Societies  in  relation 
to  the  decease  of  the  late  A.  J.  Downing,  shall  be  appended. 

Those  testimonials  are  here  inserted,  viz.: 

MASSACHUSETTS    HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  Massachusetts  Horticultural  Society  have  been  startled  and 
pained  by  the  intelligence  of  the  sudden  death  of  their  co-laborer 
and  friend,  A.  J.  Downing,  of  Newburgh,  N.  Y. — a  passenger  in 
the  ill-fated  steamer,  Henry  Clay. 

Eminent  alike  as  a  Horticulturist,  a  Landscape  Gardener,  and 
an  Architect,  Mr.  Downing  has,  in  each  character,  made  his  mark 
upon  the  age.  Where  the  grateful  gardener  plucks  the  rich  fruit 
from  the  laden  bough,  there  is  his  name  known.  Where  taste  has 
turned  the  unsightly  pasture  into  a  lovely  lawn,  and  adorned  it 
with  gems  of  the  garden  and  the  green  wood,  there  are  his  labors 
felt. 

The  humble  cot  he  has  made  a  picture  of  beauty,  and  the  ele- 
gant mansion,  reared  by  his  genius,  fills  and  satisfies  the  most 
nicely  critical  eye. 

But  he  has  gone  !  In  a  moment,  as  it  were,  and  without  warn- 
ing, he  has  been  called  to  pass  the  gloomy  vale  of  death,  and  now 
rests — 

"Where  rivers  of  pleasure  flow  over  bright  plains, 
And  the  Koon-tide  of  glory  eternally  reigns !" 

In  view  of  this  unexpected  and  terrible  stroke,  by  which  this 
Society  is  deprived  of  one  of  its  members,  and  the  cause  of  Horti- 
culture of  an  eminent  and  earnest  advocate, 

Your  Committee  respectfully  submit  the  following  Resolves : 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Massachusetts  Horticultural 
Society  greatly  deplore  the  loss  of  their  associate,  who  has  done  so 
much  to  advance  and  extend  a  taste  for  the  kindred  arts  of  Agri- 
culture, Horticulture,  Landscape  Gardening,  and  Architecture. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  the  late  Mr.  Downing,  Horticul- 
ture and  Pomolodcal  Science  have  sustained  a  severe  loss ;  dis- 
tinguished  alike  for  his  private  worth  and  public  usefuhiess,  and 
devoted  to  the  pursuits  of  Horticulture,  Landscape  Gardening,  and 


164 

all  that  pertains  to  the  advancement  of  our  Rural  Homes,  his 
memory  will  be  cherished,  and  his  decease  sincerely  lamented. 

Resolved,  That  we  tender  the  sympathies  of  the  Society  to  the 
family,  in  their  afflicting  bereavement,  and  that  the  Correspond- 
ing Secretary  be  directed  to  communicate  the  above  resolutions  to 
his  bereaved  family. 

Further  Resolved,  That  the  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder  be  solici- 
ted to  deliver  an  Eulogy  on  the  Life  and  Character  of  the  late  A. 
J.  Downing,  Esq.,  at  such  time  and  place  as  the  Society  may 
hereafter  designate. 

PENNSYLVANIA  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Resolved,  That  we  deeply  deplore  the  afflictive  providence 
which  involved,  in  the  destruction  of  the  Henry  Clay,  and  the 
tragical  loss  of  many  valuable  lives,  the  removal  of  our  esteemed 
fellow-member.  A,  J.  Downing,  of  Newburgh,  in  the  pride  of 
manhood,  and  in  the  full  maturity  of  his  powers,  from  the  scene 
of  his  useful  and  honorable  exertions,  at  a  time  when  his  services 
were  so  universally  and  highly  appreciated,  and  w^hen  his  efforts 
in  life  were  producing  throughout  the  land,  the  beneficent  and 
beautiful  results  for  which  he  had  so  long  labored,  and  over  which 
his  benevolent  spirit  would  have  so  generously  rejoiced. 

Resolved,  That  we  regard  as  a  national  bereavement  and  affliction 
the  loss  of  one  whose  powers  were  so  diligently  and  successfully 
dediceted  to  the  purest  and  best  interests  of  his  race  and  his  country; 
that  the  deceased  was  endowed  by  nature  w^ith  a  vigorous  intel- 
lect, which  was  elevated  by  liberal  and  practical  cultivation,  and 
directed  by  an  expanded  philanthropy  and  a  glowing  love  of  na- 
ture, to  the  promotion  of  those  pursuits  connected  with  rural  life 
and  rural  happiness,  which,  while  they  contribute  to  the  solid 
power  and  prosperity  of  a  people,  refine  and  elevate  their  tastes 
and  enjoyments ;  that  the  country  will  hold  in  grateful  and  endur- 
ing remembrance  his  valuable  and  popular  contributions  to  the 
literature  of  Horticulture — his  aid  in  the  promotion  of  Landscape 
Gardening — in  the  improvement  of  the  "  Fruits  and  Fruit  Trees 
of  America,''  and  of  Cottage  Residences,  and  his  able  and  assidu- 
ous labors  for  the  general  advancement  of  Pomology  and  rura^ 
economy ;  that  his  efforts  in  these  branches  have  produced  an  im- 


165 

provement  which  is  perceptible  in  the  aspect  of  many  sections  of 
our  country ;  and  that  his  sudden  and  melancholy  death  is  a  be- 
reavement which  will  be  long  and  deeply  deplored,  far  beyond 
the  affectionate  and  afflicted  circle  of  which  he  was  the  ornament 
and  the  pride. 

Resolved,  That  as  the  loss  of  A.  J.  Downing  is  a  national  calam- 
ity, calling  for  an  appropriate  national  commemoration,  we  cor- 
dially approve  of  the  action  of  the  President  of  the  American 
Pomological  Congress,  in  inviting  the  Hon.  Marshall  P.  Wilder, 
an  intimate  friend  of  the  deceased,  to  deliver,  at  the  approaching 
session  of  the  Congress,  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  13th  proximo,  an 
Eulogy  on  the  life,  character,  and  virtues  of  our  lamented  fellow 
member. 

Resolved.,  That  we  deeply  condole  with  his  bereaved  family  upon 
this  afflictive  dispensation  of  an  inscrutable  Providence ;  and  that 
as  a  manifestation  of  our  respect  and  sympathy,  the  Secretary  be 
directed  to  transmit  to  them  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  resolutions. 

NEW  YORK    HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY.        - 

Whereas,  This  Society,  by  a  melancholy  casualty,  has  been 
suddenly  deprived  of  a  valuable  and  esteemed  member ;  and 

Whereas,  It  becomes  our  duty  to  pay  a  proper  tribute  to  the 
memory  of  one  whose  services  in  the  cause  of  Horticulture  have 
given  him  a  lasting  claim  to  our  gratitude ; 

Be  it  therefore  Resolved,  That  in  the  sudden  death  of  our  late 
associate,  A.  J.  Downing,  Esq.,  we  recognize  the  hand  of  an 
overruling  Providence,  and  that  we  deeply  deplore  the  loss  sus- 
tained by  his  family,  by  his  calamitous  death,  and  hereby  tender 
our  sympathies  to  them  in  their  affliction. 

Be  it  further  Resolved,  That,  in  common  with  all  who  take 
pleasure  in  Horticultural  pursuits,  we  feel  that  we  have  sustained 
no  common  loss  in  the  death  of  one  so  eminent  in  his  profession, 
and  whose  labors  in  Rural  Architecture  and  Landscape  Gardening 
will  remain  as  enduring  monuments  of  his  judgment  and  taste. 

On  motion,  it  was 

Resolved,  That  the  Corresponding  Secretary  be  requested  to 
forward  these  Resolutions  to  Mrs.  Downing,  and  also  furnish  co- 
pies of  the  same  for  publication  in  the  Horticultural  Magazines. 


166 

PITTSBURGH    HORTICULTURAL   SOCIETY. 

Resolved^  That  this  Board  has  heard  with  profound  regret,  of 
the  melancholy  death  of  A.  J.  Downing,  Esq.,  by  the  burning  of 
the  steamer  Henry  Clay — That  we  regard  his  death  as  a  National 
loss  to  the  cause  of  Horticulture,  Landscape  Gardening,  and  other 
Rural  Sciences,  not  soon,  we  fear,  to  be  filled  up — his  life  and 
brilliant  talents  having  been  devoted  to  the  advancement  of  these 
his  favorite  pursuits. 

Resolved^  That  this  Resolution  be  published  in  our  daily  papers 
and  a  copy  of  the  same  be  sent  to  the  Editor  of  the  Horticulturist, 
by  our  Corresponding  Secretary. 

GENESSEE   VALLEY  HORTICULTURAL    SOCIETY. 

Whereas^  In  the  death  of  A.  J.  Downing,  American  Horticul- 
ture has  lost  its  noble  and  gifted  standard-bearer,  and  society  one 
of  its  most  amiable,  accomplished,  and  useful  members — who  has 
done  more  than  any  other  to  awaken  among  the  American  people 
an  appreciation  of  their  country's  resources,  and  to  cultivate  and 
diffuse  a  love  for  the  beautiful  in  nature  and  art — whose  waitings 
brilliant  and  powerful  in  style,  and  truly  American  in  sentiment, 
have  o-lven  us  a  Horticultural  Literature  which  commands  the  ad- 
miration of  the  world  ;  therefore 

Resolved^  That  we  regard  his  loss  as  one  of  the  greatest  that 
could  in  this  day  befall  the  American  people  in  the  death  of  any 
one  man — that  we  deeply  sympathize  with  his  afflicted  friends 
and  relatives,  truly  "mourning  with  those  who  mourn"  for  the 
loved  and  lost. 

Resolved^  That  though  Mr.  Downing  is  no  more,  and  his  voice 
is  hushed  in  death,  yet  he  still  speaketh — his  works  will  live  after 
him  and  his  influence  be  felt  while  correct  taste  has  a  disciple  or 
a  home  in  the  earth. 

Resolved^  That  we  recommend  the  Horticultural  Societies  of  this 
country  to  take  some  united  action,  to  testify  in  a  suitable  manner 
their  regard  for  the  memory  of  Mr.  Downing ;  and  that  a  commit- 
tee of  three  be  appointed  to  correspond  with  other  Societies  on  the 
subject. 

P.  Barry,  L.  Wetherell  and  James  H.  Watts,  were  appointed  a 
-committee  in  accordance  with  the  Resolution. 


167 

Resolved,  That  the  proceedings  of  this  meeting  be  furnished  the 
various  Horticultural  papers,  with  a  request  to  publish  the  same, 
and  a  copy  thereof  be  forwarded  by  the  President  of  this  Society 
to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

COLUMBUS  (oHIo)    HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Wliereas,  News  has  been  received  of  the  loss  of  the  steamer 
Henry  Clay,  by  fire,  on  the  Hudson,  and  among  the  lost  we  find 
the  name  of  A.  J.  Downing,  of  Newburgh,  Editor  of  the  Horticul- 
turist; therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  w'hile  w^e  deplore  the  loss  of  so  many  lives,  and 
sympathize  with  those  bereaved,  we  learn  with  feelings  of  sincere 
regret  and  profound  grief,  of  the  death  of  the  distinguished  Horti- 
culturist, A.  J.  Downing,'  That  while  Horticulture  engages  the 
attention,  and  enlists  the  feelings  of  many,  none  have  surpassed 
the  deceased  in  intelligence,  enthusiasm,  industry  and  devotion, 
in  all  things  that  relate  to  "  Rural  Art  and  Rural  Taste,"  none 
have  left  more  enduring  or  more  beautiful  monuments  of  their 
labors,  than  he.  Death  has  surprised  him  in  the  midst  of  his  use- 
fulness and  success,  and  just  as  his  cultivated  taste  was  being 
fully  appreciated  by  the  nation.     Who  can  fill  his  place  ? 

Resolved,  That  as  an  honorary  member  of  our  Society,  we  feel 
that  we  have  lost  a  brother,  whose  writings  and  teachings  have 
been  our  pleasure  and  our  guide,  and  whose  memory  we  will  cher- 
ish as  one  worthy  our  love  and  esteem. 

Resolved,  That  in  this  bereavement,  we  sympathize  with  his 
family,  and  the  friends  of  Horticulture  everywdiere,  and  as  a  token 
of  our  esteem,  w^e  will  place  these  Resolves  on  our  minutes,  and 
forward  them  to  be  published  in  the  journal  which  he  so  ably 
edited. 

CINCINNATI  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

The  sad  intelHgence  of  the  loss  of  the  steamer  Henry  Clay,  on 
"the  Hudson  river,  causing  the  untimely  death  of  a  great  number 
of  our  friends  and  fellow-citizens,  has  been  confirmed.  Among 
the  lost,  we  are  called  upon  to  lament  the  death  of  our  distinguished 
and  zealous  fellow-laborer  in  the  cause  of  Horticultural  science 
and  Rural  taste,  A.  J.  Downing,  of  Newburgh,  N.-  Y.,  Editor  of 


168 

the  Horticulturist,  and  corresponding  member  of  this  Society ; 
therefore, 

Resolved y  By  the  Cincinnati  Horticultural  Society,  that  in  his 
death  we  have  lost  a  most  valuable  friend  and  contributor  to  the 
cause  in  which  we  are  engaged,  and  that  the  country  has  to  de- 
plore one  of  its  most  valuable  promoters  of  refinement  in  Rural 
taste. 

Resolvedj  That  we  sympathize  sincerely  with  his  family  and 
friends  in  the  deep  affliction  and  bereavement  which  it  has  pleased 
the  Almighty  disposer  of  events  to  visit  upon  them  in  so  untimely 
and  unexpected  a  manner. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  the  foregoing  preamble  and  resolutions 
be  forwarded  to  the  bereaved  wafe  and  family  of  the  deceased. 

The  following  resolution  was  offered  by  Richard  Davis,  second- 
ed by  M.  Kelly,  at  a  late  meeting : 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  this  Society  and  Horticulturists 
generally  be  solicited  to  raise  a  subscription  for  the  purpose  of 
erecting  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  A.  J.  Downing,  Esq. 

It  was  next  moved  by  Mr.  Ives,  that  a  committee  of  three  be 
appointed  to  carry  out  the  spirit  of  the  foregoing  resolution. 

Messrs.  Hatch,  Kelly  and  Warder  were  appointed. 

ALBANY  AND  KENSSELAER  HORTICULTURAL  SOCIETY. 

Resolved,  That  the  members  of  the  Albany  and  Rensselaer  Hor- 
ticultural Society,  in  common  with  others  of  the  Pomological, 
Horticultural  and  Agricultural  portions  of  our  citizens,  mourn  sin- 
cerely the  death  of  the  late  A.  J.  Downing,  who  has  been  more 
instrumental  than  any  other  individual,  in  extending  a  taste  for, 
and  promoting  the  love  of,  all  the  branches  of  an  art  which  con- 
duces so  much  to  the  comfort  and  the  pleasure  of  the  community. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  properly  attested, 
be  forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  late  Mr.  Downing,  and  that  they 
be  embodied  in,  and  published  with,  the  records  of  this  Society. 


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