UMASS/AMHERS mumm £S2S&5K^:»w-l i LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NO, _4, SOURCE.! SB 354 A47 v.1-2 1848-52 IS5"o/< 52. A /7 f^' ^/ irvC This book may be kept out TWO WEEKS only, and is subject to a fine of TWO CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on the day indicated below. ID nH/i : -' ■" j my 9: 0 !92§ APR 2 19* £UG1 81944 "m PROCEEDINGS OF THE SECOND CONGRESS OF FRUIT GROWERS CONVENED UNDER THE AUSPICES OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE, IN THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, 1849. ALBANY: CHARLES VAN BENTHUYSEN, PRINTER. 1850. FIRST DAY.— Tuesday, October 2, 1849. MORNING SESSION. The Congress was called to order at 11 o'clock, by the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, of Massachusetts, the President, who took the chair. Messrs. S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, P. Barry, of Ro- chester, and George Deacon, of Burlington, N. J., Secretaries, ap- peared in their places. The Chair called upon such of the Vice Presidents as were pre- sent to take seats upon the platform, and then observed, that he believed there were several Presidents and Vice Presidents of Horti- cultural Societies, in attendance, other than the Vice Presidents of this Congress. It was moved and voted that they likewise be invited to assume seats upon the stand. The President then said he was happy to meet, this morning, so many delegates in attendance, with whom he had the pleasure of shaking hands last year, and he was very happy also to meet the new delegates — gentlemen who had come up from various quarters, some of them from the far West, to aid in the deliberations of the Congress, and assist, by their knowledge and experience, in the effort to promote the spread of Pomological Science in the country. The field was a wide one, and no doubt it would be well filled. But he would not take up any more of the time of the Congress by remarks of his own, since it was already past the hour when it should have assembled, and it was important to proceed to business. The Secretaries had in their hands certificates and credentials from various parts of the country, and if there were any not yet handed in, now was the time to present them. And accordingly, numerous certificates and lists of delegates were passed over to the officers. Mr. S. Walker, of Massachusetts, moved that the President and Vice Presidents of the North American Pomological Convention, be requested to take seats and act as members of this Congress. Carried, For the purpose of facilitating business, the Chair desired gentle- men present to answer to their names as one of the Secretaries read the certificates that had been sent in, and,, if they belonged to com- mittees, to state whether their associates, if not already in attendance^ would be present. Mr. S. B. Parsons then read the credentials in Ms possession, and from the responses it appeared that the subjoined States were repre- sented by the following gentlemen, most of whom were delegates from Horticultural Societies: Maine. State Agricultural Committee. — Henry Little, Bangor ; S. L. Goodale, Saco. Bangor Horticultural Society. — Albert Noyes. Vermont. Addison County Agricultural Society. — Solomon W. Jewett, Henry C. Hunt. Bennington County Agricultural Society. — Russell Mattison, Mar- tin Slocum, German Mattison. Massachusetts. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. — Marshall P. Wilder, B. V. French, Samuel Walker, Robert Manning, C. M. Hovey. Essex Institute — Robert Manning. Worcester Horticultural Society. — S. H. Colton, D. W. Lincoln. JVeio Bedford Horticultural Society. — William P. Jenney. Hampden County Horticultural Society. — J. T. Ames, B. K. Bliss^ Titus Ammidon, Rufus Whittier. Berkshire County Horticultural Society. — Asahel Foote. Connecticut. New Haven County Horticultural Society. — George Gabriel, A. S. Monson, M. D., John J. Walter, E. E. Clarke, James T. Gerry, S, D. Pardee, E. H. Bishop, M. D., Charles B. Lines. n Hartford County Horticultural Society. — H. W. Terry. New- York. JVew-York State Agricultural Society. — Herman Wendell, M. D., Luther Tucker, James Wilson, William Thorburn. American Institute.— C . H. Hall, Benjamin Aycrigg, H. Meigs Lewis Morris, J. L. Phelps. Orange County Agricultural Society. — Andrew J. Downing, Charles Downing, Andrew Saul, Charles Hamilton. Buffalo Horticultural Society. — Benjamin Hodge, Lewis Eaton, Hiram Barton. Queens County Agricultural Society. — G. W. Huntsman, R. B. Parsons, S. B. Parsons. Oswego Horticultural Society. — J. W. P. Allen. Genesee Valley Horticultural Society. — P. Barry. Clinton County Agricultural Society. — Jonathan Battey. Greene County Agricultural Society. — T. L. Prevost. Columbia County Agricultural Society. — Elbridge G. Studley. Dutchess County Agricultural Society. — John R. Com stock. Fishkill Landing Farmers'1 and Gardeners^ Club. — Charles Dubois, Daniel Brinkerhoff. New- Jersey. Pomological Society of Jersey City and Vicinity. — John Eltring- ham, M. C. Morgan, Henry Steele, George M. Danforth. Mew-Jersey Horticultural Society. — H. W. S. Cleveland, Ira B. Underhill, John S. Chambers. Essex County Institute. — Jabez W. Hayes, J. M. Ward, J. J. Mapes, William Patterson, William Reid, Moses B. Coe. Burlington County Agricultural Society. — Thomas Hancock, George Dugdale, George Deacon. North American Phalanx Association. — Charles Sears, George B. Arnold. Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. — Thomas Hancock, William D. Brinckle, M. D., Robert Buist, J. E. Mitchell, Robert Hare, M. D., Thomas P, James, Thomas Ridgeway, Gerhard Smidtz. Chester County Horticultural Society. — Paschall Morris, Thomas Harvey. District of Columbia. Washington Horticultural Society.— Joshua Pierce. Georgia. Fruit Growers of Athens,— William N. White. Ohio. Cleveland Horticultural Society. — A. Mcintosh, William Case, L. Henderson j J, F. Jenkins, F. R. Elliott. Toledo Horticultural Society. — F. J. Scott, William Scott. Illinois and Wisconsin. Fruit Growers of Illinois and Wisconsin. — John A. Kennicott, M. D. Iowa. Southern Iowa Horticultural Society. — -Greenleaf C. Neally. It being known that there were several gentlemen in the hall, not regularly appointed delegates from any society, who took great in- terest in Pomology, and whose counsel and assistance would be valua- ble to the Congress, it was unanimously voted, on motion of Mr. Walker of Massachusetts, that all such persons be invited to take seats with the members. The following named gentlemen accepted the invitation, and parti- cipated in the proceedings of the Congress : A. A. Edgarton, Danvers, Mass. F. Trowbridge, New Haven, Conn. L. T. Noble, New-York City, N. Y. D. F. Manice, Hempstead, " J. B. Mantell, New-York Island, " G. P. Disosway, Staten Island, " Edward Smith, Ontario county, " Edward Stevens, Jersey City, N. Jersey, John O. Hughes, Trenton, " David Miller, Jr., Carlisle, Penn. John M. Summay, a Delegates, 96 ; others, 11. Total, 107. A large number of others were present who did not hand in their names. The Congress being now ready to proceed, it was voted to appoint a committee of three, to receive the lists and make a registry of the different collections of fruits presented for consideration. The Chair appointed Messrs. Saul of New-York, Colton, of Massachusetts, and Reid, of New-Jersey. The Chair stated that a number of communications had been ret ceived, bringing to the notice of the Congress the important subject/, of the state of the cultivation of several fruits in certain and different \ localities. He suggested that all these be referred to the chairman of the General Fruit Committee, to be considered and reported upon if necessary, with any suggestions on the subject which might seem desirable. This course was adopted, and the communications referred accordingly. The President next called upon the chairman of the General Committee for a report. In answer to this call, Mr. A. J. Downing, of New- York, chair- man of the committee, offered the subjoined remarks : Mr. President, — I have had placed in my hands a series of reso- lutions passed at the late meeting of the North American Pomological Convention at Syracuse. They were, I believe, passed unanimously by that body ; and, as they have reference to the action of this meet- ing, I will beg your indulgence for asking attention to them. It affords me one of the most striking proofs of general interest in the public mind, on any topic of importance, when the same movement takes place in different parts of the country at the same time, without any concerted action, and simply from a conviction which has arisen, that such a step is demanded by the public good. Such a conviction, sir, gave rise to the formation of two Pomolog- ical Conventions in the year 1848 ; one held at Buffalo, and the other in this city. The bare fact that two spontaneous movements were made to form national associations of this kind, proves, I repeat, that the time had come when cultivators in the country at large felt the necessity of some National Association, which should be able to do, for the whole Union, what the Horticultural societies have done, and are doing for various states. 8 But, sir, this spontaneous movement towards a good and laudable object, while it shows the public zeal in that object, is not, of itself* always sufficient to attain it. It is also necessary that there should be concert of action and unity of purpose, to bring about any entirely satisfactory results, in a body which seeks to perform any useful acts for the country at large. Had the members of these two conven- tions, brought together by two separate calls (issued at about the same time,) all met in one body, there can be no doubt, from the real identity of the interests most important to all of them, that immediate and complete concert of action would have been the result. It needs no demonstration to prove that the information which the public at large expects to derive from a National Convention of Fruit Grow- ers, and the importance which they will attach to the acts and deci- sions of such a body, must depend almost entirely upon its being composed of the aggregate of intelligence and practical knowledge of the whole country. In other words there must be, there can be, but. one National Convention, in order to obtain the confidence and to influence the opinion of the country generally. I confess, sir, entertaining these views, that I am not a little grati- fied to find that the North American Convention, at its late session at Syracuse, has entertained the same opinion; and has accordingly ap- pointed a committee of five gentlemen, most of whom are here pre- sent, to confer with this Congress on the union or consolidation of the two bodies. I am confident that I speak the sentiments of every member of this Congress, when I say that, from the first, no other spirit has actuated it, or any member of it, but a hearty desire to do all, and everything, with a view to the establishment of a truly Na- tional Association, based on no narrow or sectional feeling, but on the broadest spirit of nationality. Whatever fruits may be cherished and recommended for culture by a Convention of Fruit Growers, it is plain to me, sir, that the first fruit on the rejected list should be the " apple of discord." (Ap- plause.) I therefore, confident of the unanimous concurrence of this body, move that a committee of five be appointed to meet the com- mittee sent here by the North American Pomological Convention^ to confer upon some plan of consolidating the two bodies, and to report to this Convention during its present session. This motion was put and unanimously adopted. Dr. Herman Wendell, of New- York, then remarked, that as chairman of the committee of the North American Pomological Con- vention which had been recently in session at Syracuse, he had great pleasure in presenting the preamble and resolution unanimously adopted by that body. But before reading them he would beg leave simply to observe that the feelings of kindness suggested by Mr. Downing, in his remarks, as existing towards that Convention, by this Congress, were fully reciprocated on the part of the members of that assemblage. Dr. W. then read the preamble and resolution, which are as follows: " Whereas the National Pomological Convention held at Buffalo in September of 1848, under the auspices of the New-York State Agricultural Society, composed of delegates from fifteen States and the two Canadas, was the first general Convention of such character ever convened in the United States, and whereas that convention unanimously resolved, that hereafter an annual Convention of like character should be held under the title of the North American Po- mological Convention, that the first meeting with that title should be held in the autumn of '49, at the place where the great Fair of the New-York State Agricultural Society was to be held, and on the day succeeding the close of said Fair, therefore we consider this Conven- tion entitled by courtesy to perpetuate itself, but being aware that a convention of an analogous character, was held in the city of New- York in the Autumn of '48, and that said convention organized itself into a permanent association, under the title of the American Con- gress of Fruit Growers, which is to assemble in said city of New- York on the 10th day of October next, and believing that the advancement of Pomological Science, as wTell as the inclination and interests of Pomologists throughout this continent, will be best pro- moted, by a merging of the two apparent conflicting associations into one general organization for future operations, therefore, be it " Resolved by this Convention, that a committee of five be desig- nated by its President, whose duty it shall be to attend the coming session of the American Congress of Fruit Growers, and confer with the said Congress, or a committee whom they may select, in relation to the meeting of the two associations, and as far as this Convention is interested, the settling of questions of priority of organization, places of next meeting, and title of Association, shall be left to the committees whom the two organizations may appoint, and that we will exert ourselves to induce a general attendance of those interest- ed, wherever the joint committee determine the next Convention 10 shall be held, but we cannot omit giving it as our opinion, that the cause of Pomological Science will be most promoted, and the feel- ings of the great mass of Pomologists best satisfied, if the next meet- ing should be held in Cincinnati, or some other western city." Dr. Wendell then announced to the President, that Dr. Kenni- cott, F. R. Elliott, Charles Downing, James J. Mapes, Benja- min Hodge and himself, the committee of the North American Po- mological Convention, to confer with this Congress, or a committee of it, in relation to the matters referred to, in the preamble and reso- lution which he had just read, were present, and waited the further action of this Congress. The Chair then appointed as the committee under Mr. Downing's motion, Messrs. A. J. Downing, of New- York, Walker, of Massa- chusetts, Brinckle, of Pennsylvania, Monson, of Connecticut, and McIntosh, of Ohio. Dr. Wendell, suggested that as the committee of the North American Convention consisted of six, it would be proper to have the same number from this Congress, and he moved that the Presi- dent be added. Carried unanimously. Mr. A. J. Downing remarked, that several reports had been placed in his hands, of which it was impossible yet to give a digest ; but there was one subject of considerable importance, which had been presented to the last Convention, on which he had something to offer for consideration. He meant the subject of rejected fruits. The committee on the part of Massachusetts, had submitted to the gener- al committee a list of such pears as in their opinion, might be placed upon the rejected list. This list he should be happy to present to the Congress, name by name. If we could, at this session, succeed in rejecting a number of worthless fruits, which were continued in the catalogue only from courtesy, it would be a great step gained. On motion, it was voted that the fruits on the list be taken up, and considered separately. Mr. Downing said the first on the list, were four varieties of pears; the Alexander of Russia, the Admiral, the Aston Town, and the Am- brosia. It was proposed that the Congress should reject them all. The Chair observed that they had been proved in the vicinity of Boston, by the President of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and others, and pronounced far inferior to a vast many other varie- 11 ties. If no other objection was made, they would be considered as rejected. Mr. French, of Massachusetts, was not prepared to proceed in this way. The four pears now named, might be worthless enough, and he was willing they should be superseded ; but he feared the course proposed to be taken, might lead to evil results in the end. It appeared to him, that it would be enough for this Congress to rule fruits in ; for its members to decide among themselves, what they really approved, and leave to the wise in the community, to say whether they would cultivate other varieties or not. He made these remarks because it might happen that a pear, a third rate one perhaps, as the Buffum, would be erased from the list to be cultiva- ted ; and that such subsequent differences of opinion in regard to it might arise, as to make gentlemen sorry for what they had done. Suppose this Congress should rule a fruit out, and the next should rule it in ; what weight could be attached to the decision of either 1 He knew the catalogue was much too large ; in regard to the apple, for instance, instead of the present cumbersome list, one of about thirty good varieties, was as much as any person ought to expect or de- sire ; but there might be a difference of opinion, even in that. He wished the Congress not to decide upon excluding any fruits, but to rule in, and recommend a few of the best, and leave the public to gather from them as they chose. Mr. Walker, of Massachusetts, observed that the list was made out under the directions of the last convention. There did appear to be a large majority of the members last year, that not only wished, but demanded a list of rejected fruits. He thought, then, that we were not ready for it3 but the meeting did request the several State com- mittees, to report to the general committee, a list of worthless fruits, in their respective States. The Massachusetts committee had only obeyed these instructions of the convention ; and in so doing, they had followed the example of the London Horticultural Society, which as every gentleman knew, placed a cipher against the names of worthless fruits in the catalogue. These four pears were among them, and there were about 160 pears rejected, in all, by that Socie- ty, if he rightly remembered. It was undeniable, that there were large numbers of worthless pears and apples, which ought to be ruled out of good company. 12 Mr. Hovey, of Massachusetts, said he was not present when the vote referred to was taken, last year, and did not now know whether he should have opposed it or not. But he agreed with Mr. French, that we ought to act very cautiously indeed, and he should prefer that the Congress restrict itself to recommending such fruits as were really worthy of it, and leaving the public to take its own course. Mr. Walker had said that the London society had rejected many pears. He was aware of it, and that the Ambrosia was one of them. Yet the Ambrosia was by many persons considered first rate. He should not deny that there were many in the catalogue utterly worth- less for cultivation ; neither could it be denied that in this country there was a vast number of seedling pears coming up every day, and it might be that in time we should have an American list, so good that all others would be rejected. But cultivators who wished a large number of varieties would not do so. People differed as to fruits, according to the different objects for which they wanted them. He might instance, as to this, the Old Bell pear, which amateurs might wish to have rejected, but which cultivators would not give up on account of its superior productiveness, and great profitableness as a market pear. He had never fruited the Ambrosia, but he trusted that no fruit would be rejected on hearsay. Again, some on the pro- posed rejected list might be synonyms, and not the true variety. Though in favor of reducing the list, he hoped we should not go too fast, nor reject any except those we knew to be worthless. Mr. Hayes, of .New-Jersey, said that although the convention last year did pass the vote spoken of by Mr. Walker, yet it appeared to many members that it would be much better to select, and make out a list of best fruits in the first place. Massachusetts had sent in this list as being worthless with her ; but in other parts of the country many of these same fruits might prove of excellent quality. A dis- tance of only half a mile in location, sometimes made great differ- ence in quality. The St. Michael pear, for instance, was worthless at Boston, but in western New- York it was one of the best, and it would rule in the market, even though ruled out of it by us. The Chair observed that from an experience of fifteen years there could be no doubt that some varieties, in comparison with other fruits, were worthless all over the United States ; and he believed the com- mittee only intended, in their report, that such had better be extermi- nated. Still he wished to proceed very carefully, and if any gentle- 13 man objected to the rejection of any fruit, he would let it stand. As to these four pears, there were over a hundred others infinitely su- perior to them, and if they could be put out of sight it would be the better for us. Mr. Hancock, of New Jersey, remarked that the Aston Town always cracked badly with him. He had never been able to raise a good crop. Mr. Hovey moved that all the fruits recommended to be placed upon the rejected list should so be done without debate, unless objec- tions were made. Mr. Hayes hoped that the committee would give some reasons for the rejection of the fruits. Mr. Downing replied that if we should calculate ninety per cent, of the millions of fruit trees in this country, to be really not valuable for general cultivation, and if we could supply their places with others unquestionably good, certainly that would be a very desirable result. He was very far from supposing that the present list could be adopt- ed exactly as it stood, but if a congress like this, composed of gen- tlemen from all parts of the country, from Bangor to Illinois and Iowa, could agree upon any thirty varieties, for example, which it was not worth while to cultivate, in that case a great step would as- suredly have been taken. Mr. French said that he likewise was absent last year when the vote spoken of was taken, but he must still continue to think it bet- ter to agree only on a list of such fruits as were worthy of cultivation. He acknowledged these four pears under consideration to be good for nothing, but coming down to the Buffum pear, (which, perhaps, he had marked a step too high before, and which might not be regarded as more than fourth rate,) that was a hardy tree and good bearer. True, there were fifty other varieties whose fruit was far better, but it did appear to him better for the congress to confine itself to a re- commendation of what its members thought best, than to undertake to proscribe any variety. Mr. Walker rejoined that the committee had no wish whatever to strike off a single pear, if it were not desired by the congress. Mem- bers, and the people generally, wanted to know what varieties were in fact worthless on the whole, so as to avoid purchasing them. Every gentleman could judge for himself what suited him, but it was desirable that all should be enabled to profit by the experience of 14 each other. Such was the idea entertained by the Massachusetts por- tion of the committee, and on that principle its report had been made. As to its reliability, he thought that a uniform experience of ten, fif- teen or twenty years, was pretty good authority. If the congress should agree to strike off one in every ten proposed in the report, he should be as satisfied as though it were adopted entire, for he should consider that a large gain had been attained. But if gentlemen were still determined to go through an experiment individually with all varieties of fruits, whether proposed to be rejected or not, why then all the collective experience here would simply go for nothing. Every body could try and judge for himself on each fruit presented ; but it was to afford each one the benefit of the collective experience of the whole mass, that this assemblage of Fruit Growers had come into existence. Mr. Walker said he differed from his friend, (Mr. French,) as to the Buffum pear, and placed it side by side with the St. Michael. Mr Hayes wished to give all parts of the Union the advantage of proving and profiting by the decisions of the Congress. If a list of best fruits were established and published, they would have that ben- efit. Let an approved list be first given out, and then as we went on, wTe might come down to poorer and poorer, till we satisfactorily ar- rived at such as were not wrorthy of any attention at all. Mr. Barry of New-York said that in regard to this list, many gen- tlemen might hear the names of varieties of which they knew abso- lutely nothing, and as to which, of course, they could not judge from experience. He knew nothing of these four pears, but was willing to reject them all on the testimony of those who did. Now, this was a list from Massachusetts ; these fruits were worthless there, and if they should be cast out of cultivation in that State, in consequence of the adoption of the list, some one good purpose at least would be ef- fected. Mr. Hancock thought that Mr. French misapprehended the state of the question. He did not, himself, consider this as a list of fruits rejected by this Congress, but only a list of those rejected so far as cultivation in Massachusetts was concerned. It was prepared for that State, and would, he supposed, be followed up by similar reports from other States in different parts of the land. He conceived this to be the only feasible way of getting at the desired result, and if it were as he imagined, then this was only a rejected list for Massachusetts, 15 and not a general list of rejected pears sent forth under the authority of the Congress. Mr. S. B. Parsons rather regretted to observe an indisposition to establish a list of rejected fruits. The Convention of last year, and the present Congress, had assembled for the purpose of collecting, and afterwards publicly diffusing all the knowledge concerning the cul- ture of fruits, the varieties to be preferred, and those to be avoided, which it was possible to obtain. This body was engaged in laying down a pomological chart, on which it was certainly very desirable, not only to trace a channel for full, good and safe navigation, but also to point out distinctly, all the shoals and quicksands and not oblige mariners to discover them by running upon them. He therefore hoped that the list would be considered and adopted, so far as might be deemed expedient for general information. Dr. Kennicott of Illinois hoped that a rejected list would be de- cided upon ; as otherwise, fruit-growers would never get a settled and approved list. A beginning ought to be made, and if we could begin at both ends, recommending some varieties and rejecting others alto- gether, so much the better. Mr. Underhill, of New-Jersey, said we had so great a variety of country and climate, that it seemed as if rejected fruits should be considered as rejected only for particular localities and conditions. It was impossible to make a list of rejected varieties that should be applicable, in all respects, to the whole country, but each portion must judge for itself. Mr. Hancock moved that the list offered be considered and entered on the records, as from the Massachusetts committee, and applicable only to Massachusetts. The congress must come to that in the end, for every State locality, if the present course was to be pursued ; for it was impossible to frame a list of fruits that ought to be rejected throughout the whole country, from Maine and Massachusetts in the North, to North Carolina and Georgia in the South, and Illinois and Wisconsin in the West. For himself, in regard to the Ambrosia pear, he had fruited that variety, and found it good for two years, and the same had been the case in his neighborhood. Mr. Downing said that if the basis spoken of by the last gentle- man were to be adopted, it would be just as impossible to agree upon a list to be recommended as upon one to be rejected. No one variety could be proposed as being universally or equally good in all sections 16 of the country ; but there were some few plain, obvious principles, which would hold in the decision as to each fruit as it came up. If, for instance, the Jlmbrosia pear should be pronounced good in any considerable region, then it ought not to be rejected. No variety should be placed on the list of rejected fruits, whilst there was any hope that it might prove to be good. Mr. Hovey agreed with the last speaker, and it was because he did so that he had moved that any fruit on the rejected list,, to the prohibition of which any gentleman might except, be retained . Yet, if we could only agree on abandoning ten worthless varieties, some advantage would be gained, and the beginning of a useful result would be reached. Mr. Noble, of New-York, inquired whether the report under con- sideration was a report from the fruit committee of this congress or notl Mr. Walker, in reply, stated that the list of pears proposed to be rejected was made out by the sub-committee on the part of Massa- chusetts, and reported by them to the general committee, which body now laid it before the congress as its own report. Massachusetts had nothing more to do with it. Mr. Downing informed the congress that the statement of Mr. Walker was entirely correct, and that, moreover, before submitting the list under consideration, the general committee had stricken off several varieties that the Massachusetts sub-committee proposed to reject. Dr. Monson, of Connecticut, wished to know if these gentlemen who advocated a rejection, on the one side, and those who disap- proved of it, on the other, had a general practical experience of the success or failure of the fruits under consideration % or were they like the physician who — finding that an English patient, who ate of Westphalia ham while under treatment for a fever, recovered from the disease, thereupon prescribed the same article to a Scotchman suffering from the same malady, who nevertheless died — entered it upon his books that Westphalia ham would cure an Englishman, but kill a Scotchman 1 Of course, there would be differences in the re- sult of cultivating the same fruit in different sections of the country, different climates, and different soils ; but if it should be found that any one variety was bad at Boston and also at Syracuse, he would have nothing to do with it. 17 The question being on Mr. Hancock's motion, that the proposed list be considered as only applicable to rejected varieties, for Massa- chusetts, Mr. Walker objected to that motion, as out of order. The report was not a report from the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, nor from the Massachusetts portion of the general fruit committee of this Congress. It was the report of the whole of that committee, under the orders of the convention of last year. And some gentlemen had been entirely mistaken in the grounds which they assumed in oppo- sition to its adoption. It did not propose to exclude from general cultivation all such fruits as were found not to answer in Massa- chusetts. The contrary was the fact ; for while the St. Michael's pear, known to be excellent in New- York as the Virgalieu, and in Philadelphia as the Butter pear, was utterly worthless in Boston, the committee had not even proposed to exclude it. But when, from our own experience and the testimony of others, a variety was good for nothing at Boston, equally bad here, worse perhaps in Philadel- phia, and totally unworthy of cultivation at Cincinnati, then, on this united testimony of its worthlessness everywhere, the committee had decided to recommend its rejection. Mr. Hancock expressed himself satisfied. He had got the expla- nation that he desired, and was perfectly willing to withdraw his motion. The question then recurred on Mr. Hovey's motion, which was adopted, with an amendment providing that, the names of the object- ors to the rejection of any particular variety of fruit, should be en- tered on the records. So it was decided that the fruits contained on the rejected list, should be taken up seriatim : those varieties to which no objection was made, should be rejected without debate ; those to whose rejection any gentleman did object, should be stricken from the list. The names of objectors to be recorded in each instance. This matter thus being settled, Mr. Downing again commenced the reading of the list of rejected fruits. [The rejected fruits on which no discussion took place, will be found in the fruit lists towards the end of this report. The debates that occurred on fruits proposed for rejection, but retained, and on others proposed for general cultivation, will be found in the following pages, in the order of their occurrence.] 18 PEARS WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO REJECT. Ambrosia. — Objected to by Mr. Elliott, of Cleveland, Ohio, and retained. Arnande Double. — Objected to by Mr. Manice, of Long Isl- and, N. Y. Beurre oVElbec. — Objected to by Mr. Hovey, of Boston, Mass. Boucquia. — Objected to by Mr. Hovey, of Boston, Mass. Bergamotte Parthenay. — Objected to by Mr. Mantell, of New- York Island. Cumberland. — Objected to by Mr. Manice, of Long Island. He considered it a good baking pear. Colmar d?Ete. — Objected to by Mr. Hovey, of Mass., and Mr. Mantell, of New- York. Enfant Prodige. — Objected to by Mr. S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, New- York. Fondante oVEte. — Objected to by Mr. Gabriel, of New-Haven, Conn. With him it was a superior pear on quince stock. Gilogil. — Objected to by Mr. Reid, of Elizabethtown, N. J. With him it was a good pear on quince. Also, by Mantell, of N. Y. It was good on quince with him. Lodge. — Objected to by Dr. Brinckle, of Philadelphia, Penn., and Mr. Hancock, of Burlington, N. J. Vallee Franche. — Objected to by Mr. Hovey, of Boston, Mass. Windsor. — Objected to by Mr, McTntosh, of Cleveland, Ohio ; Mr. Reid, of Elizabethtown, N. J.; Mr. Hovey, of Boston, Mass ; and Mr. Saul, of Newburgh, N. Y. Rousselet de Stuttgardt. — Objected to by Mr. Barry, of Roch- ester, N. Y. Belle de Bruxelles.— Objected to by Mr. Barry, of Rochester, with him it was a fine, beautiful fruit. Also by Mr. Hovey, of Bos- ton, who had found it a very handsome and showy pear, and had often been offered a York shilling apiece for the fruit by visitors, who saw it growing on the tree at his establishment. Judging it by strictly Pomological rules, he thought it about a third rate fruit. Mr. Walker, of Boston, said the fruit was handsome, indeed, but utterly worthless. It was, perhaps, the most deceptive variety in the whole catalogue. He apprehended his friend Hovey did not sell it because it was all show and nothing else. He, too, had had frequent applications to sell it, but had always advised people to taste the 19 fruit before purchasing, and had generally found thcit the first taste was quite sufficient. Mr. Downing then said that the remainder of the list, so far as it was ready, which it was proposed to reject, consisted of Apples. [As with the Pears, the Apples which were rejected nem. con. will be found in the list of rejected fruits.] The only other varieties were the following : APPLES WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO REJECT. Black Apple. — Objected to by Mr. Hayes, of New Jersey. Winter Pear main. — Objected to by Mr. Hancock, of Burlington, N. J., and Mr. Hovey, of Boston.. Mr. French, of Braintree, Mass., said it was a very excellent apple, but he thought it hardly worth cultivation, since it was so shy a bearer. This completed the list of fruits proposed for rejection, so far as the committee was prepared at present to offer it. The Chair communicated a letter from the Pennsylvania Horti- cultural Society, inviting the Congress to hold its next session at Philadelphia, and offering to provide a hall and all requisite accom- modations. On motion of Dr. Wendell3 it was referred to the com- mittee appointed under Mr. Downing' s motion. On motion, it was voted that the officers of the American Institute be invited to take seats as members of this body. On motion of Mr. Walker, the Congress then adjourned, till half- past 3 o'clock. Afternoon Session. The Congress came to order at 4 o'clock, the President in the chair. Mr. (President) Wilder, in behalf of the associated committees of the North American Pomological Convention, and of the present Congress, submitted the annexed report. The committee appointed for the purpose of conferring with the committee sent to this Congress by the North American Pomological Convention, on the propriety and practicability of uniting or consoli- dating the two associations, respectfully report : That, finding the joint committee were fully convinced of the ad- vantage in all respects to the country at large, and to the cause of Pomology, of having but one National Convention of this kind, which should, as far as possible, embody all the talent and experience of 20 the land— a conviction which this Congress has always firmly held— they had great pleasure and unanimity in immediately adopting the following resolutions : 1st. Resolved, That the two Conventions, hitherto known as the North American Pomological Convention, and the American Congress of Fruit Growers, be hereby consolidated. 2nd. Resolved, That the consolidated association shall hereafter be known as the "AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL CONGRESS." 3rd. Resolved, That the next session of the Pomological Congress shall be held at Cincinnati, in the autumn of 1850, and that the time thereof be fixed by the President of this Congress, in conjunction with the President of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture ; and that notice of such meeting be given to all Agricultural, Horticultural and Pomological Societies throughout the country. 4th. Resolved, That the meetings of this Congress, after the next session shall take place biennially, and that the meeting for 1852 shall be held at Philadelphia. All of which is respectfully submitted, MARSHALL P. WILDER, Chairman. The question being on the acceptance of this report and the adop- tion of the resolutions, Mr. Hancock moved to strike from the fourth resolve the clause providing that the session for 1852 shall be held at Philadelphia. Mr. Walker was opposed to this motion. This Congress was honored with the presence of Dr. Brinckle, of Philadelphia, who had been placed upon and had acted with the committee ; and after full discussion, it had been agreed, on the whole, that the course re- solved upon was the best that could be adopted. It would be too tedious to give a full explanation of the reasons which had governed the committee, but he hoped and trusted that the harmony of its decision, would not be disturbed in the Congress. If there was any one place above others at which he wished to meet his pomological friends and associates, it was Philadelphia. He wanted again to tread the beau- tiful hall in that city, and witness another splendid display of fruits and flowers within its walls. He wanted again to mingle in the crowds that thronged its precincts, and whatever squeeze gentlemen might be subjected to, he hoped they would not squeeze out of these resolutions the provision for assembling at Philadelphia in 1852. 21 Mr. Hovey remarked, that he had no objection to the resolution in itself, but he feared it might tend to create some sectional bias or pre- judice. He wished to know if the present officers and members of the Congress would hold over until the time in question. The Chair replied that they would not. New members must be chosen for the next Congress and new officers, after it had assembled. Mr. Hovey said he had so supposed ; and since there might be an entirely new set of delegates at Cincinnati, in courtesy to them at least, it would be wTell to leave the choice of a place for the suc- ceeding session in their hands. Mr, Hancock declared that if he had any personal choice in the matter, it was in favor of Philadelphia, but it was the precedent of fixing a place so long beforehand that he feared. He was well aware that none but the kindest feelings actuated the committee, but all pre- cedents which sometimes caused so much trouble, grew up in the same way; and if this Congress could fix the place of meeting two years in advance, it might do so for ten or twenty years ahead ; and though, individually, he should be glad to have the session of 1852 held in Philadelphia, his favoritism wrould not suffer him to go beyond the expression of that individual feeling. The question was then put upon the motion to strike out, and it was rejected. The report was then accepted, and the resolutions adopted as they came from the committee. Mr. Gabriel, of New-Haven, said he washed to retract the objec- tion he made in the forenoon to the rejection of the Fondant e d? Ete Pear. He had in his mind at the time the Doyenne d> Ete. Accord- ingly the Fondante dy Ete was again placed in the list of rejected pears. The General Fruit Committee was then called upon to proceed in its report. Mr. Downing begged leave to continue, by submitting for the ap- proval of the Congress, a list of fruits which the committee regarded as worthy of general cultivation. With regard to Pears the conven- tion of last year had recommended a considerable number of varie- ties, and it was now proposed to add a few others. And first, the Rostiezer Pear. — The President remarked that in the vicinity of Boston this pear ranked almost as high as the Seckel. Dr. Wendell stated that it bore the same character at Albany. He had fruited it, and found it one of the very best of pears. 22 Mr. Walker thought that the Rostiezer was imported by the Pre- sident some ten years ago for the late Mr. Manning, of Salem, Mass, If he recollected aright, that gentleman was looking, at the time, for second rate European pears — -having found that many varieties which were classed as first rate abroad did not meet the expectations of fruit growers here, whilst others which were there placed only in the secondary class— in our climate, under our warm skies and be- neath our bright suns — -deservedly ranked among the first. The Rostiezer was one of these. And from the first time he (Mr. W.) had tasted it until the last, he had had but one impression in regard to it— that the pear was among the very first-rate, comparing favorably with the Seckel as one of the sweetest and best pears. He knew that was saying a great deal, but he thought the future would bear out the assertion. The Rostiezer Pear was, without further remark, unanimously adopted as being worthy of general cultivation. Andrews Pear. — Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, N. Y., had uniformly found this a first rate pear. Mr. White, of Athens, Ga., had fruited it and always found it fine. Mr. Colton, of Worcester, Mass., said it was not always fine at Worcester, being apt to crack and be knurly. Mr. Hovey had never known it to crack, but it was knurly some- times. He had always found it one of the best of pears — the very best American variety we had. It was a very full bearer, so much so indeed, that it was difficult to get the wood to grow to vigorous strength. He knew one tree that had been grafted for sixty years and had always borne abundantly for forty. It was one of the best of pears. Mr. S. B. Parsons, of Long Island, said it was a good bearer, but the fruit decayed at the core. Mr. Elliott, of Cleveland, Ohio, found the same fault with it. Dr. Monson, of New-Haven, Conn., had fruited it two years and found it a good bearer. He never knew it to decay at the core. The President said that according to his experience it never cracked. Mr. Colton's case he thought must be a singular one. Mr. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., was of opinion that the cracking might be owing to rot at the core. It had been found to be insipid and pcor from that cause. 2S Mr. Hayes, of New-Jersey, considered the Andrews a very fine pear, and did not think it cracked more than any other variety. Mr. Manning, of Salem, Mass., had grown it for ten years at least, and was very sure he never saw it cracked or blighted, while on the other hand it was a good fruit and a great bearer. Mr. French said that Mr. Manning's soil was about as poor as any fruit growers5, and this pear flourished excellently with him, as gentlemen had just heard. In his (Mr. F.'s) opinion, it was a fruit that no pomologist should suffer himself to be without. The Andrew's Pear was then adopted. Fulton Pear. — Mr. Barry considered this one of the best of pears, about equal to the White or Grey Doyenne. He could recommend it with all his heart. Mr. Hovey likewise thought it one of the best. It had the excel- lent property of ripening gradually. His attention was called to it about nine years ago, by the late Mr. Manning, who also regarded it as a very fine pear. It sold well in the market. Mr. Little, of Bangor, Me., said it had another good quality — that of being extremely hardy. This might be supposed, since it originated and flourished well in Maine. Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, said with him it was one of the best pears. The Fulton Pear was adopted. [At this stage, Hon M. P. Wilder, the President, was constrained to leave by other public duties, and placed Samuel Walker, Esq., in the chair, who presided during the remaining sessions.] Fondante

, must be estimated in the aggre- gate of its qualities; and if it proved to combine a majority of such qualities, then it should be considered as worthy of cultivation. Mr. French said his only fear now was that this pear would not get into the list. If he could have but one apple, it should be the Rhode Island Greening, though that variety was neither so handsome nor of so good flavor as many others. And so of the BufFum pear; it had its superiors, but it was well worthy of cultivation, and it was a variety which no fruit grower should be without. Mr. Manning observed that even in regard to flavor the BufTum pear was sometimes found to be nearly first rate. Very much de- pended upon its ripening as to this. But flavor was not the only thing to be considered. Productiveness was another^ and not an in- rt ferior one in many cases. Gansel's Bergamotte was not to be pre- ferred to the Buffum if only a limited number of trees could be cul- tivated; for in the one case you would have perhaps half a bushel of rery delicious fruit from each tree, and in the other two barrels of fruit, nearly as perfect if properly ripened. He should have no hesi- tation which to choose in such a state of things. Mr. Walker was under the impression, long ago, that the Buffum could not be near so good a fruit as he had found it to be within the last five or six years. When ripened under a temperature of 65° or 70°, constant day and night, it attained a very high degree of ex- cellence. Some of the very best judges, not knowing the perfection to which it had latterly been brought, on tasting it at Salem, declar- ed they could not tell what the pear was unless it was an excellent St. Michael. The fruit was very much improved by early picking, and ripening in the house. The Buffum pear was adopted. Vicar of Winkfield Pear. — -Mr. IIovey proposed to amend by adding " or Le Cure" to avoid the danger to cultivators of importing under one name a variety which they already possessed under an- other. Mr. Downing said that next to settling the quality of fruits, to set- tle their nomenclature was of importance, and for that reason the committee had not felt obliged to report all the names by which a variety might be known. Nor did they deem such a course expedi- ent on this very account. Mr. Hovey said, if we could settle the nomenclature of fruits to the general satisfaction, why well and good. He knew that the Lon- don Horticultural Society had adopted the title of Vicar of Wink- field, and that was good authority, so far as they were correct; but there was no good reason for following them in their errors. Le Cure was the shortest name, and the fruit had been known in France by that designation for twenty-five years. Mr. S. B. Parsons thought it very questionable propriety for this Congress to adopt synonyms of fruits at the present time. The question was then taken, and the pear adopted as the Vicar of Winkfield. Louise Bonne de Jersey Pear. — Mr. Pardee, of New-Haven , moved to strike out the qualification (" on quince stock") which the committee had introduced. It was as fine as any other pear on its own stock. Mr. Downing said that with him it had not succeeded so well on pear as on quince. Mr. Saul, of Newburgh, N. Y., exhibited a dish of pears of this variety from Mr. Whittier, of Mass., which were grown on pear stock. They were as handsome as possible. Mr. Hotey was in favor of striking out the qualification. The pear was great on either stock, and people could please themselves. Mr. Pardee said the fruit was uniformly very good on pear. Mr. McIntosh had grown it both on quince and pear, and had raised on the latter a fruit which he should certainly have considered first rate, had he not obtained a crop so much superior on quince. But he was willing the qualification should be stricken out. Mr. White, of Ga., said that if it was better on quince than on pear, it must be excellent indeed. The question was put, the motion to strike out carried, and then The Louise Bonne de Jersey Pear was adopted. TJvedaWs St. Germain Pear. — The committee reported this variety as being excellent for baking, and it was adopted without debate, This completed the list of pears proposed by the committee for the approbation of the Congress, as being worthy of general cultivation . Mr. Downing said he had a small list of apples, and some other fruits also to offer. He would continue, therefore, by naming the apples. The first was the Porter Jlpple.—Mr. Hancock said that the Porter bore with him for the first time this season, and he found the fruit very poor and dry. Mr. McIntosh said that in Ohio it was one of the best of apples. Mr. Hovey had known the Porter for twenty years, and had never found it other than very good. He had had it from dwarf trees, and found it at the first bearing as good as he ever knew it ; but as a general thing it was best not to judge of any fruit by the first crop* The Porter was best in September. Col. Little introduced it on the Penobscot twenty-one years ago5 and it was universally considered in Maine as one of the best apples grown in the state. Mr. Hancock regarded it as a second-rate grower, both in the nur- sery and on large trees. 29 Mr. Miller, of Carlisle had always found it very vigorous, upright and good. He suspected that Mr. Hancock's trees must be spurious. Mr. French had fruited it thirty-one years, and always found it excellent. The Porter Apple was adopted. Hubhardston Nonsuch Apple. — Col. Hodge said that with him it proved very fine, and he should rank it No. 1. Mr. French remarked that it had not proved very thrifty with him, but it was a very popular apple and cultivators could not do without it. Mr. Hamilton of Orange county N. Y., said that with him it was a better grower than the Porter, and was a handsome, straight, thrif- ty tree. Mr. Hovey observed that it was quite as good and strong a grower as the Porter and had a very handsome head. It made as much wood in three years as the Baldwin in two. It was first introduced into Newton, Mass., several years ago, by Capt. Hyde, who found it whilst on a visit at Hubbardston, but could not learn whence it came. He brought down the scions in potatoes, and singularly enough they flour- ished. From these scions, thus brought to Newton, all the trees of this variety in the eastern part of New England came. If kept too long, say till March, the fruit became dry and its good qualities were sacrificed. But if eaten in January, it was very good. The Hubbards- ton Nonsuch apple was adopted. Fameuse apple. — Mr. French said that in November, when it would otherwise be difficult to find a table apple, the Fameuse was in good eating order. The fruit was of fine flavor, though not a very great grower. Col. Hodge had fruited it for twenty years. It required high cul- ture and when grown on rich land was one of the very best. It some- times bore too great a crop. It came from Canada. Mr. Miller had grown it on upland, and he concurred in the re- marks of Col. Hodge. Mr. McIntosh said that in Ohio they could not get it higher up than good; it was not very good, Mr. Downing regarded it as one of the very finest dessert apples. The Fameuse apple was adopted. Minister apple. — Mr. Buist inquired if this was the same as that awful, distorted, blue, green thing which he had seen at Providence under the same name 1 30 Mr. Manning replied that the apple now under consideration had none of those attributes. He did not know of any that he should prefer to it except the Baldwin, and if he could have but half a dozen trees, the Minister should certainly be one of them. Mr. Hovey had no doubt that Mr. Buist saw the Minister apple at Providence, though for his own part, he had never seen it either blue or green. He had however, seen the Baldwin of very little color. The Minister was a very fine flavored apple. Mr. Hancock said it was always of an ugly shape. Mr. Barry said it was very little known in Western New-York, and it was his impression that it was only within two or three years that it had been generally known anywhere. It was entirely new to the Western States, and he thought it had not been sufficiently tested to warrant its approval by this Congress. Mr. Buist said that this year the fruits that had been received from the East and the North, and recommended as being of the first quality, had not so proved in his climate. He assured the assembly that he would not allow the Minister apple to be propogated in his nursery this season. Mr. Hovey observed that the report before the Congress came from the general committee, as a list adapted for the whole country, and he hoped no gentleman would suppose that Eastern cultivators wished especially to add their own fruits to that list, if objected to by others. Mr. Hancock said that he spoke for Pennsylvania. He was on the committee for that State3 and if the committee had consulted on this particular matter he was not present. And he doubted if the Minister apple was known to any member of the committee from Pennsylvania except himself. Mr. Downing made some general remarks about the duty of the committee in receiving recommendations of fruits from different parts of the country, and the course that had been taken in weighing them and deciding upon them. He had a paper from Pennsylvania recom- mending the Minister apple, and if he mistook not, the gentleman's own name was borne upon it. Mr. Hancock believed not. Mr. Saul moved to lay the question on the table, so far as re- garded any endorsement of the Minister apple on the part of the Congress, and this motion prevailed. 31 Danvers Winter Sweet Apple. — Mr. Hancock said that this was a very good fruit, one of the best Eastern apples except the Baldwin. Col. Hodge had tried it for six or eight years, and had found it very good. The Danvers Winter Sweet apple was adopted. On motion of Mr. Saul, the Congress then voted to adjourn until 9 o'clock the next morning. SECOND DAY.— Wednesday, Oct. 3, 1849. MORNING SESSION. The Congress came to order at half past 9 o'clock, Mr. Walker, President pro tern., in the chair. Mr. Downing, from the committee on the constitution and by- laws, submitted the following report : The committee appointed at the last session to prepare a suitable constitution and by-laws, beg leave to report : That after a careful consideration of the subject, it has appeared wise to them not to encumber this body with a prolix constitution, but simply to offer a few concise by-laws, which should be sufficient for denning the general form and government of the association, without limiting its powers within any narrow or contracted bounds : leaving it for future legislation to provide for any unforeseen exigen- cies which may arise. They therefore propose, for the adoption of this body, the following By-Laws : 1st. The officers of this Congress shall consist of a President, a Vice President from every State represented, (who shall, unless other- wise directed, be the President of some Horticultural Society of that State,) two Secretaries, a Treasurer, and a General Fruit Committee. 2nd. These officers, elected at one session of the Congress, shall hold their offices until the organization of the succeeding session, when a new election shall immediately take place, or until new offi- cers are elected. 3rd. The chairman of the Standing Fruit Committee of every Hor- ticultural Society in the United States and the Canadas, shall here- after be considered as composing the General Fruit ^Committee. 32 There shall be a chairman of the whole elected by this Congress, and the President of the Congress shall also be a member of this commit- tee, ex officio. 4th. It shall be the duty of the President to preside at all public meetings, and to perform the usual executive duties of the chair. 5th. It shall be the duty of the Secretaries to give notice of all meetings, to record the proceedings, and to conduct any necessary correspondence, under the direction of the President. 6th. It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive and disburse all monies collected by the Association, under the direction of the President, and to keep and render an accurate account of the same at each meeting. 7th. It shall be the duty of the General Fruit Committee, to collect information on the subject of Fruit and Fruit Culture, and to report the same at every session of this Congress. A. J. DOWNING, J. W. KNEVELS, S. B. PARSONS, Committee. The question being on the acceptance of the report and the adop- tion of the proposed By-Laws, Mr. Hovey moved that they be taken up for consideration section by section. This motion was carried without opposition. The question being on adopting the first section — Mr. Hancock moved to strike out the provision that the Vice-President from each State shall be President of some Horticultural Society therein, and the motion was seconded by Dr. Wendell. Dr. Brinckle moved to refer the whole subject back to the com- mittee, with instructions to report at the next session. Mr. Downing said that one very important feature of the by-laws was that contemplating the appointment of a General Fruit Commit- tee, to collect information on the subject of Pomology, and report at each session. Should the present motion prevail, there could be no such report next year. The committee was not strenuous about any particular by-law or phraseology, but he did think it exceedingly important that a Fruit Committee should be appointed by the present Congress, and provision made for regular organization. Mr. Hancock and Dr. Wendell both hoped that the report would not be re-committed, and Dr. Brinckle thereupon withdrew his motion. 33 The question was then put on Mr. Hancock's motion, which pre- vailed, and, as thus amended, the first section was adopted. The second section was adopted as it stood in the report. The third section coming up — -Mr. Hancock inquired whether it was the understanding that each Society in every State should be re- presented in the General Fruit Committee 1 Mr. Downing replied in the affirmative. The committee was to be composed of the chairmen of the Standing Fruit Committees of all Societies in all the States and Canadas, with a general chairman to be chosen by the Congress. As chairman of the former General Committee, he had experienced much embarrassment in regard to con- ducting the necessary correspondence, and the proposed mode was intended as a remedy for that difficulty. Mr. Underhill, of New-Jesey, said there might be a difficulty about this, for in New- Jersey, for example, there were five Fruit Committees— the chairmen of all of which, under this rule, would be members of the General Committee of the Congress. Several gentlemen exclaimed — " the more, the better." Mr. Foote, of Berkshire Co., Mass., asked whether all Societies, in each State, or only the several State Societies, were to be repre- sented 1 The President said every Horticultural and Pomological Society in each State. The third section was then adopted without amendment. The fourth and fifth sections were likewise acceded to without al- teration. The sixth section was amended, on motion of Mr. Hancock, by making it the Treasurer's duty to render an account " at each meet- ing"— and then adopted. The seventh section was adopted without change. The report in general was then accepted, and the By-Laws passed with the amendments above stated. The Chair said that he ought before to have informed the Con- gress that important business had called the President, (Col. Wilder) away from the city. He had been obliged to return to Massachusetts, a step which he very much regretted, and which nothing could have induced him to take, except circumstances beyond his control, and duties of a peremptory nature. Col. Wilder had begged him (Mr. Walker) to express to gentlemen of the Congress his regret at being 3 34 compelled to leave them, his grateful sense of the honor they had done him, and the great pleasure it would have given him to remain during the whole session. Mr. S. B. Parsons thereupon moved that the thanks of the Con- gress be presented to the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, the President of this body, for the very courteous, able, and impartial manner in which he has presided at this session. This was voted unanimously. * Mr. Downing stated that he had still before him the report of the General Committee, comprising another portion of the list of fruits proposed for rejection, and several other fruits which it was proposed to recommend for general cultivation. On motion, it was voted to take up the lists and pursue the same course in their consideration, that was adopted yesterday. APPLES WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO REJECT. Cabashea. — Objected to by Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, N. Y. It was only a second quality of fruit, but he was not prepared to reject it altogether. Also by Mr. Barry of Rochester, N. Y. It was large and productive, very coarse, but still had some good qualities. Blenheim Pippin. — Objected to by Mr. Hovey, of Boston, Mass. American Pippin or Grindstone. — Objected to by Mr. Hayes, of Newark, N. J. Scarlet Pear?nam.— Objected to by Col. Hodge of Buffalo, N. Y.? and Mr. Elliott, of Cleveland, Ohio. PEARS WHICH IT WAS PROPOSED TO REJECT. Sugar Top, — Objected to by Mr. McIntosh, of Cleveland, Ohio. Sugar of Hoy erswer da. —Objected to by Mr. Manice, of Long- Island, N. Y. Princess of Orange. — Objected to by Col. Hodge of Buffalo, N.Y. Hessel. — Objected to by Mr. Saul, of Newburgh, N. Y., and Mr. McIntosh, of Cleveland, Ohio. Hericart. — Objected to by Messrs. Hayes, of Newark, N. Jersey, Manice, of Long Island, N. Y., Hovey, of Boston, Mass., and Saul, of Newburgh, N. Y. This completed the list of fruits which the committee proposed to submit for rejection. Thereupon Mr. Hancock proposed to add to the list of rejected pears, the Dumortier and the Passans de Portugal, Both were objected to— 35 the former by Mr. Hovey, of Boston, and the latter by Messrs. Ho- vey and Walker of Boston. Mr. Miller proposed to add Prince's St. Germain, Objected to by Messrs. McIntosh, of Cleveland, Ohio ; Monson, of New Haven, and Terry, of Hartford, Conn.; Manice, of Long Island, N. Y.; Hovey, of Boston, Mass., and Little, of Bangor, Maine. Mr. Little then moved that the meeting proceed further to con- sider the list recommended by the committee as worthy of general cultivation, and the motion was sustained. Fruits worthy of general cultivation. Mr. Downing said the committee intended to propose but one Cherry, and that was the Belle Magnifique. Mr. Hovey said it had been known in Massachusetts from ten to twenty years ; Mr. El- liott, that it had been grown in Ohio from ten to twelve years, and Mr. Barry that it had been cultivated in Western New-York for seven years. All three gentlemen concurred in recommending it. Col. Hodge agreed with them. It was a very pleasant sub-acid fruit. The Belle Magnifique Cherry was adopted. Of Peaches, the committee recommended the Late Admirable. Mr. Hovey was hardly prepared to recommend it. Mr. S. B. Par- sons said it was very good at Flushing, N. Y. Mr. Downing found that it ripened finely. Mr. Hamilton said it was good in Orange Co., N. Y. Mr. Hancock had never had it good. On moticn, it was passed by for the present. [This was equiva- lent to a refusal to recommend its cultivation, for it was not subse- quently called up for action.] Mr. Hancock moved that, in considering the various fruits proposed for general cultivation, the same course be adopted as was followed in regard to rejected fruits; i. e., that any one to which an objection might be raised, should be stricken from the list. Mr. Downing was opposed to this motion, because after three or four of the very best fruits had been agreed upon, it would hardly be possible to find another so fine as not to meet with a single objection; an objection, it might be, arising from a local" cause alone, or from some peculiar idea or particular experience on the part of a single cultivator. Mr. Hovey also objected to the motion. The rejected fruits in the list which had been passed by the Congress, were still in cultiva- 36 tion, and any one good objection to placing a fruit on that list, com- ing from a gentleman who found his account in continuing that par- ticular fruit, was entitled to be rejected ; so far, at least, as not to abolish the cultivation of that variety. But in adding to the catalogue of fruits worthy of general cultivation, more than one objection to any particular variety ought to be presented before there could be reasonable ground for excluding it. The difficulty which an indivi- dual might have experienced in respect to a particular variety which had succeeded with almost every body else, might be purely the re- sult of fortuitous circumstances, and at any rate, ought not to operate to the exclusion of such fruit. Professor Mapes, of New-Jersey, also spoke in opposition to the motion. If adopted, it would virtually put an end to all discussion on fruit. Mr. Downing said that if there were any considerable objections to a fruit, it would not be pressed ; but if it generally succeeded in most parts of the country, it was hardly right that it should be reject- ed on account of non-success in one particular locality. Mr. Underbill was in favor of taking the same course with these as with the rejected fruits — striking them from the list at any objec- tion, and recording the name of the objector. Mr. Downing said that in the world, when a man's character was so bad that nobody could say a word in his favor, it was best to throw over his acquaintance ; but on the other hand, if he was gen- erally respected, and only a few individuals assailed him, then no just individual would think of shunning him. It should be just so here. Col. Hodge remarked that according to this last view we ought to go over again the whole list of fruits rejected yesterday. Mr. Hovey observed that where a majority of cultivators from dif- ferent quarters approved of a fruit and recommended it to general attention, it ought not to be thrust aside because it did not prove ex- cellent in some one particular locality. Its adaptation to our country generally was what ought to be looked at — not its partial success or failure in any one limited region. Mr. Hayes said that now we were getting at the pith of the mat- ter. If he could be satisfied as to the localities in which a fruit had proved successful, or had failed — that was what he wanted. He was afraid that many fruits were rejected yesterday which might come up first rate in some parts of the country. 37 Mr. Hancock professed himself satisfied with the view taken by- Mr. Hovey, and withdrew his motion. The Morrisania Pound Peach was the next fruit proposed by the committee. Mr. Hancock said he had fruited it for three or four seasons, and had never found it good yet. Mr. Hayes said it never was good with him. Mr. /vIcIntosh said that at Cleveland for several years it had ranked as very good. Mr. Elliott pronounced it to be a good peach. The question was put, and the Morrisania Pound Peach was re- jected. Mr. Downing had next to present a short list of the smaller fruits, no list having been given last year. The committee recommended as worthy of cultivation— STRAWBERRIES. Early Virginia. — Mr. McIntosh granted that this was an early fruit, but it was so small, poor and worthless, that it was unworthy of general cultivation. Mr. Hovey said that at Boston this was the same variety as the Large Early Scarlet. It was a good sized strawberry. He had cul- tivated it for twenty years and found it a very good berry on a light soil.. It came very early and thus avoided drought — but gardeners were gradually discarding it, except for a few days at the very first of the season, when high prices could be obtained. Mr. Downing fancied that the two fruits were very distinct. The Early Virginia was small, but the Early Scarlet, in New-York, was a very fine, large fruit. Mr. Barry said that the Early Scarlet was cultivated greatly in Western New-York, and was a very superior fruit. It had a much rounder berry than the Early Virginia, and was only a few days later. Mr. Hancock stated the Early Virginia and the Early Scarlet to be very distinct. The former was known as the Hudson. Mr. Hovey said the Hudson was too acid a berry for the Boston market, and it was a poor fruit. Mr. French said that some very good judges in his region would give up any strawberry as soon as the early Virginia. One neighbor of his found it the best he had all last season. He was not so sue- 38 cessful with it himself, but he thought it a hardy berry and one that could be relied upon. Mr. Barry said it was much inferior to the large Early Scarlet3 and from the very fact that being thus inferior, and only two or three days earlier, it was unworthy of cultivation. Mr. Hancock said that in his region the Early Scarlet had taken the place of the Early Virginia, and that both ripened at the same time there. Mr. Downing said that the committee decidedly preferred the Early Scarlet to the Early Virginia. Mr. McIntosh thought the Early Virginia entirely worthless ; so much so, that he had rooted it all up in his grounds and replaced it with the Early Scarlet. On motion of Mr. Saul, it was passed by (equivalent to being re- jected.) Hovey's Seedling — Mr. McIntosh declared this to be the very best Strawberry he ever had in his grounds. Without any further remark it was adopted unanimously. Large Early Scarlet. — Col. Hodge had fruited it for years with great success, and in the course of a tour at the west, he found that in the neighborhood of Chicago, it was pronounced one of the best va- rieties. Mr. Hovey would vote for it with pleasure, believing it to be the same as that cultivated in Massachusetts as the Early Virginia, It was adopted. Hudson. — Mr. Hovey was quite willing to believe from what had already been said, that this might be a good fruit in New- York and New- Jersey, but east of New-York it was so small and acid as not to be worthy of cultivation at all. Mr. S. B. Parsons was very much cf the same opinion. There were many acid berries far superior to the Hudson, as for instance Jenny's Seedling, which was a fine fruit. Mr. Barry thought it unachisable to put the Hudson on the list. In his region it had been tried, but generally abandoned. While there were so many other preferable varieties, this ought not to go upon a list of fine frnits. The Hudson Strawberry was rejected. Burr's New Pine. — Mr. Manice considered it premature to place this on the list. No doubt it was a good fruit but it was not yet suf- ficiently well known. Dr. Wendell had tried it at Albany for two 39 years, and thought that it would hereafter take its place among the first, but for the present he would rather have it withdrawn. Mr. Hovey said it promised well, but he objected to putting it on the list for the same reason given by the gentlemen who preceded him, it had not been known long enough. Mr. Walker observed that after testing thirty- six varieties he was of opinion that Burr's New Pine was the best of them all, and that it had no superior in flavor except the Swainstone Seedling. Mr. Elli- ott said it had never been sufficiently tested in Ohio to warrant its recommendation for general culture. Mr. Barry said, it originated at Columbus, Ohio, and the attention of the Horticultural Society of that state was called to it by Mr. Burr. The next year the committee made an elaborate report, giv- ing this the preference over all other strawberries. This had called his own attention to it, and since then, at Rochester, he found that it fully sustained the high character assigned to it. It was one of the best he ever saw in flavor, and at the same time it bore well. Mr. Downing remarked that the committee felt justified in recom- mending it, since it did not require near so long a time to test a strawberry as a larger fruit. Col. Hodge said, that we ought to move with caution, for the community had been more humbugged with regard to strawberries than any other fruit He had seen this variety one season and favored it, but he considered it entirely premature for this Congress to place it on the list for general cultivation. Mr. Elliott said, that four years ago there was only one plant of this variety in existence, and all that had been since obtained, made but a very small quantity. They had been watched with great care, with a view to dissemination, but sufficient opportunity had not been had for testing the variety in a thorough manner. Mr. Walker said that, according to his experience, a strawberry could be tested as well in two years as a pear in five. Mr. Hovey moved to pass it by. Mr. Lines, of New Haven, hoped it would not be passed by, since nobody said anything about it but in its praise. If it had been tried and proved bad, that would be another thing. Mr. Hovey rejoined that other things were important as well as its flavor. This fruit had only been known in Boston for one year, and he himself had procured a plant from Mr. Barry. From that plant he got perhaps a dozen berries. What could be 40 judged of its bearing properties from that % He wanted to have its qualities in this respect tested on a much larger scale. Mr. Barry agreed that it was important to know about its bearing qualities when extensively cultivated. Mr. Warner's bed of Burr's New Pine, in Rochester, was half as large as this room, (perhaps 1,200 square feet) and from it he had obtained immense quantities of fruit. Mr. Hancock said that Mr. Burr had come out with five or six varieties as being all of extraordinary excellence, but it seemed that he had now come down to this one. For that very reason, he (Mr. H.) should be shy of this ; and rumor said that it had not proved good in Ohio, on further cultivation. Mr. McIntosh said that Mr. Hancock must be mistaken, for Burr's Old Seedling and Ohio Mammoth were among the best varieties they had in Ohio. Mr. Hancock rejoined, that he had his information from Mr. Burr him- self. Mr. Barry said that those varieties had not gone out of exist- ence in his quarter of New- York. Mr. French, from what little he had seen of it, was disposed to think it was a fruit which every one in the world would wish to have. Mr. S. B. Parsons thought there was great force in the remark of Mr. Lines. Dr. Wendell would prefer that the committee should withdraw the fruit, rather than that the meeting should vote to pass it by. Should the latter course be taken, some persons might suppose that we considered it unworthy of cultivation, while in fact it was one of our very best varieties. He had no doubt that by another year the Congress would be fully prepared to recommend it without hesitation. Mr. Downing thereupon withdrew the fruit in question from fur- ther consideration for the present. Boston Pine. — Mr. Hancock had had in the course of three or four years only one crop from this variety. It was a good fruit but a shy bearer. Mr. Pardee had found it at New-Haven a strong and excellent bearer, and the fruit of delicious flavor. Mr. Terry said it had suc- ceeded admirably at Hartford with several gentlemen who tried it on different soils. It was esteemed very highly for its mild and agree- able flavor. It was better than Hovey's Seedling, which grew near and was fertilised by it. Mr. Manice said it grew very well in hills, but not so well in beds 5 in hills it was a great bearer — -better than Hovey's. Mr, 41 Miller said it was a very pleasant and productive fruit, with a large, fine appearing berry. It was fully equal to Hovey's, and infe- rior perhaps to the Black Prince alone. Mr. French had seen it very fine indeed at Hovey's garden and elsewhere. In 1848 he tried the experiment of cultivating a square yard each with the Boston Pine, the Wiiley and the Jenney. They were all picked by a careful hand, and the result was — Boston Pine, 1 J pints; Wiiley, 1 quart, 3 gills; Jenney, 1 quart, 1 gill, Mr. Lines said that after he planted his out, for the first year the bearing was small ; in the second it improved ; and in the third it was enormous. It was better to grow the fruit in hills Mr. Walker said that for the first year or two he had not been very favorably impressed by the Boston Pine, and had not yet sub- stituted it for the Early Virginia. But what he had seen of it the present year had greatly raised it in his estimation. Grown in hills, he had seen very large crops and fine fruit. By the Massa- chusetts Horticultural Society, this season, the first and third prizes were awarded to the Boston Pine, Dr. Monson had cultivated Hovey's and the Methven, and had \ been perfectly satisfied with them, till he became acquainted with the Boston Pine. He had never seen so orolific a bed as that of this i variety belonging to Mr. Terry. He at once engaged plants of him and dug in one half of his Hovey's Seedling to make room for plant- ing them. This variety wras superior in bearing qualities to any that he had seen. Mr. Hovey remarked that he had preferred to hear what others had to say of this strawberry, rather than to speak of it himself. It had been exceedingly gratifying to him to hear so many commenda- tions of his two strawberries — the Seedling and the Boston Pine. Gentlemen were present from the remotest parts of the country, and they unanimously agreed upon their excellence. The Boston Pine was raised at the same time, and from the same lot of seed, as the Hovey Seedling, in 1834. But after selecting the latter variety, so many others remained of promising quality — and the quantity of land at command being rather limited — that it took some time to give them all, successively, a trial — and it was not until 1844 or '45 that the Boston Pine was first offered to the public. That was its origin. Mr. H. said he would embrace this opportunity to say a few words in regard to the cultivation of the Boston Pine. One gentleman had o remarked that he cultivated his vines in hills ; another, his in beds j others, theirs in rows-— and all had succeeded equally well. But as one gentleman had said that he did not exactly understand what was meant by cultivating in hills, he would briefly explain. Gentlemen were probably aware that Hovey's Seedling, the Early Virginia, and other varieties, rarely produced more than three or four trusses of fruit to each root, and then, when grown thickly in beds, produced very good crops. This, however, was not the case with the Boston Pine, generally— the constitutional tendency of the plant being to produce ten or twelve trusses of fruit to each root. One hundred and fifty berries had been counted on a single plant, as the President could testify. The consequence was that when the vines occupied all the ground, there was a deficiency of nourishment, and the berries did not fill up. Hence had arisen many failures in the cultivation of this variety. It required more room than other straw- berries, and when grown in rows, with a space of a foot or more be- tween, and that space well manured, the crop was one of the most abundant of all kinds. Cultivation in hills, so termed, was where one or more plants were set out, two or more feet apart each way, the runners kept clipped off, and the ground tilled with the hoe, or, when extensively grown, with the cultivator or plough. Raised in this mode, or in rows, he was satisfied the Boston Pine would prove, as indeed it had already done, all that he had ever recommended it to be, and would meet the expectations of every cultivator. The question was then put, and the Boston Pine was adopted. Mr. S. B. Parsons moved to add Jenney's Seedling to the list. He bad found it an abundant bearer, and two or three times as juicy as Hovey's. It was rather acid, to be sure, but with a little sugar was exceedingly agreeable. In all respects it was first rate. Mr. McIntosh concurred in all points with Mr. Parsons. Jen- ney's Seedling was a great bearer, a fine, hardy fruit, of excellent flavor, and well worthy of being recommended. Mr. French said it was hardy, and an abundant bearer. Any one who would try it would have no reason to feel disappointed at the result. Mr. Pardee had tried it for one season, and was much pleased with it. Mr. Hancock had grown it four years, and as to crops, he found there was no comparison between Hovey's and Jenney's Seedlings. The latter, however, was more acid than the other. After some little time, and at the request of several gentlemen^ Mr. Parsons withdrew his motion. 43 Mr. Hamilton immediately moved that Jenney^s Seedling and Burr's New Pine, be placed on the list of fruits which give promise of being worthy to be added to the list for general cultivation. This motion prevailed. Mr. Saul proposed to add to the list of strawberries the Black Prince He had known it for ten years, and esteemed it the highest flavored of all. It was a very good bearer, remarkably hardy, and endured the winter much better than most other varieties. It had as many desirable qualities as any he knew of. Mr. Downing had great pleasure in bearing testimony to the good qualities of this strawberry. He preferred its flavor to that of any other variety. It was, as Mr. Saul had said, hardy and an excellent bearer, and the berries were krge and handsome. He could safely recommend it. Mr. Lines had procured it on Mr. Downing's recommendation, and, like him, had found it an abundant bearer, with a handsome berry ; but it was the most insipid fruit he ever tasted. He was surprised that so handsome a berry should be so tasteless. The fruit would hardly bear gathering, it melted so easily in the fingers. Col. Hodge had fruited it for three or four years. Its flavor was not so good and the crop not so abundant with him as other gentle- men seemed to have found them. Mr. Hamilton said that with him it was one of the very best, and certainly had the highest flavor of any. Mr. Manice had it from Mr. Downing, and found it the poorest strawberry he had ever cultivated. Mr. Miller considered it at the head of all in point of flavor. Mr. Battey, of Keeseville, N. Y., had been much disappointed in the quality of this fruit. It was worthless, dry and insipid, and with him the plant was a poor bearer. Mr. S. B. Parsons last year thought it first rate, but this year it was poor with him. Mr. Barry said it was a beautifully colored berry, and one of the highest flavor, but it was a small bearer. For amateurs it was an indispensable variety, but it would not do as a market fruit. Mr. C. Downing regarded it as the highest flavored strawberry he ever tasted, and one of the best varieties. He grew it on a light, sandy loam. Mr. Hancock had tried it four or five vears, but it had never sue- ceeded with him. Mr. Saul withdrew his motion. Raspberries. Red Antwerp.— Mr. McIntosh inquired if it was hardy 1 He thought the contrary, and at any rate it had not proved so with him. It needed covering in the winter, and could not be relied on. Mr. Hovey said that no raspberry we yet had could stand the win- ter without covering. Mr. Battey said that with him it had fully answered, and was equally hardy with any variety of red. Mr. C. Downing considered it one of the best for marketing, and it was cultivated very largely for that purpose. One of his neigh- bors last year sold $300 worth from about one-third of acre, and this year, from three acres of this fruit he realized over $1500. It was one of the very hardiest of raspberries. It would not stand the win* ter without being covered. Mr. Barrett, of Ulster Co., N. Y., said that in productiveness it was unsurpassed by any. It bore long in succession, and in ordinary seasons could be gathered for five weeks. As a market fruit, it was better than any other variety, bearing carriage very well, and not be- ing exceeded by any in flavor. It sold in New-York for about twenty-two cents a quart, and from three quarters of an acre he had realized $330, at an average of ten cents per basket. There was a cultivator in his neighborhood who obtained $1500 worth from three acres, and that, in a very unfavorable season of only three weeks in- stead of five. To insure a crop it required to be protected during the winter by drawing down the ends, and covering them with earth. About three acres would afford as many raspberries as could well be cared for. He had known the ends to live in severe winters, although uncovered, but that was in very favorable situations. Mr. Hancock remarked that so far as he knew, this variety was not known in England. He had tried three or four times to get it from the nurseries about London, but could not. Mr. Saul said he had known the Red Antwerp in the west of Eng- land ever since he was half the height of a Raspberry cane. It was precisely the same as this under discussion. Mr. Haves said there was no use in discussing the question of har- diness ; the Red Antwerp did require protection in winter, and no imported raspberry could do without it. 45 Mr. C. Downing said that very often, fine crops were obtained from unprotected plants, but they could not be relied on. All large and fine imported varieties did need protection. Mr. Battey said he had lost his apples with the thermometer at 30 deg. below zero, but not a cane of his raspberry plants. Mr. Allen of Oswego, N. Y., said that the Red Antwerp was cul- tivated without any protection whatever in his locality. Prof. Mapes said it was not extreme cold that destroyed the rasp- berry, but frequent and great changes of temperature. Dr. Monson did not complain that the Red Antwerp was not hardy, but it did not increase well. He could not get a plantation out of it. Mr. Barrett replied that last year he had eight rods of ground, pretty thickly set with the Red Antwerp, from which he should this season have from 6 to 8,000 plants. It was a common careless cus- tom to leave them unprotected through the winter, but it was an un- safe practice and in three seasons out of five would cause the loss of the crop. The question was then put and the Red Antwerp raspberry adopted. Fastolff. — Mr. Hayes said of this, that we could not gather the fruit from the plant as well as from the Antwerp or the Franconia. It did not come off the core so easily. Mr. Hovey said this variety increased with him faster than any other. It was an abundant bearer and the fruit was very fine. The Fastolff raspberry was adopted. KneveWs Giant. — Mr. Elliott moved that this be placed in the list of fruits promising well. Mr. Hovey hoped that would be the disposition made of it. Mr. Walker said it had been grown in the neighborhood of Boston five years, and Mr. Newell of Dorchester told him it succeeded without protection. Mr. Hancock said that so far as his experience went, it was a fine fruit but a shy bearer. Mr. Elliott's motion prevailed, and the KneveWs Giant Rasp- berry was placed on the list of fruits that promise well. Yellow Antwerp. — Mr. S. B. Parsons said it was a poor bearer with him, but a good grower. Mr. Barrett said it was a poor bearer, and the fruit was poor; it was crumbling and unfit for mar- ket. Mr. Hancock said that unless protected it would be killed, but when protected it bore a good crop and of a high flavor. The Yellow Antwerp Raspberry was adopted. 46 Mr. S. B. Parsons proposed to add to the list the common Eng- lish Red, a variety which he prized very much. Mr. Terry said we had four native varieties, the common Ameri- can Red, White, and Black, and the Purple. This last was a very fine fruit, bearing large crops for a long period and was superior in flavor to the English Red. Mr. Hamilton supposed Mr. Parsons meant the common Red, which grew up some six or eight feet and then bent over. Mr. Par- sons presumed the variety was very generally known. It was a free growing plant, with a bluish stock, the berry round and rather flat, soft as the Antwerp, and preferable in flavor. It was perfectly hardy and was never killed down. Mr. McIntosh said he commenced growing it at one time for mar- ket and planted an acre of ground with it at Cleveland. For three years it was the only variety he could rely on for a crop. Mr. Hamilton said he had known it for thirty years. It might be seen in every farmer's garden ; it was a universal trespasser, growing all over fences and almost everywhere else. It was a very prolific bearer and very hardy, and his wife had often expressed her regret that he had extirpated it, on account of its yielding so large a crop. He thought Mr. Parsons referred to this same variety. Mr. Terry knew the fruit thirty years ago, and if it was a foreign variety it had become perfectly naturalized long since. The habits of the plant were, as Mr. Hamilton had described, growing up some six feet or more, and then bending down towards the ground. Mr. Reid also thought it a native variety. Mr. Parsons withdrew his motion. Mr. Hamilton moved to add the Franconia to the list, and this was voted without opposition or debate. Foreign Grapes, for culture under Glass. The seven varieties which were adopted without debate, will be found in the general list of recommended fruits. Chasselas Masque.- — Mr. Hovey said this was an old grape, known some thirty or forty years, and one of the most delicious of all. But there was one fault about it, it would crack. He had three vines, from which he had this season forty pounds. It was a very fine bearer, and if cultivators kept the scissors at work amongst the cracked grapes in the bunches, they would obtain a fine fruit. 47 Mr. S. B. Parsons thought it inferior to the Golden Chasselas. Mr. Gabriel inquired whether the committee intended that fire-heat should be applied or not. Mr. Downing answered, that it would do either way, under glass it did not crack with him. Mr. Hovey said the English cultivators recommended it. The question was put, and there being but one majority for its adoption, Mr. Downing withdrew it. Mr. Manice moved to add the Syrian. It was a very fine fruit. Mr. Hancock considered the Syrian only a second-rate grape, though he had known its clusters attain the weight of eight pounds and a half in his neighborhood. Mr. Hovey said that in cold houses — though it was very good there — some might be disappointed in this grape ; but if fire-heat were applied and the fruit suffered to hang till November or December, it would prove first rate. In England clusters had been raised weighing fourteen pounds ; in Boston from six to seven 3 and in New Jersey, as has just been stated, eight and a half. The motion to add the Syrian was lost : five yeas, seven nays. NATIVE GRAPES OPEN CULTURE. The Isabella and the Catawba were adopted unanimously. Mr. French .proposed to add the Diana, which, on motion of Mr. Downing, was placed on the list of fruits promising well. Mr. Hovey remarked that in three years or so, the Diana would be at the very head of native grapes. Mr. Underhill proposed to add the Elsinborough (often incor- rectly spelled Elsinburg, as he said.) Mr. Downing was opposed to this. The grape was small, with large seeds, and the Congress was pledged to recommend only the best fruits. Dr. Monson said this fruit was peculiarly liable to be carried off by the birds. Mr. Hancock said it was true this was a small grape, but it was very fine, in his locality, finer than the Catawba. Mr. Cleveland of New 'Jersey said, if well cultivated, it yielded a large crop of good fruit. Many of his neighbors esteemed it more highly than the Isa- bella or Catawba, but he ranked it below them. Mr. Hovey observed that we ought to be very cautious in adding to the list, for cultivators had a large number of seedlings coming up every season, and we shortly should have something very superior. The production of the Diana grape proved this, for that was but a 48 chance shoot from the Catawba. He hoped we should not adopt the Elsinborough. The motion was put and rejected. Mr. S. B. Parsons then moved to add to the list for culture under glass, the Zinfindel. It was a well-known hot-house grape, but suc- ceeded perfectly well in the open air. Mr. Downing was sceptical as to this point. Dr. Monson said there was no difficulty with it out of doors ; it was better than most in the open air, and not apt to mildew. He had cultivated it for ten years, and knew but one season when it did not ripen well, and then the Isabella did not come anywhere near it in point of ripeness. Mr. Hovey said it was a very fine fruit. He saw it first at the place of the late Samuel G. Perkins, of Brookline, Mass., before it had been put in the catalogues. Mr. Perkins gave him cuttings from his vines, from which had proceeded the larger portion of those now cultivated. It was a grape which ought to be in every collec- tion under glass. It was of dark color, with beautiful bloom, but not so large in size as the Hamburgh. Mr. Gabriel said it was a very free bearer, with large berries of fine flavor, and succeeded well. The motion to add the Zinfindel was lost. Currants The Red Dutch, Black Naples, White Dutch and May^s Victoria, were all adopted without opposition or remark. Mr. Barry moved to add the White Grape. It was larger than the White Dutch, and a fine bearer. Mr. Hovey had supposed the two to be identical. Mr. Barry said the bushes were so different that any one could tell them apart. From actual experience, he knew the White Grape to be a distinct variety. Mr. S. B. Parsons said that River's White Grape was fully equal in size to the White Dutch, and far superior in flavor. Mr. Hancock, after long culture, could not see any difference between them. Mr. Barry very well knew the old White Currant and the White Dutch. The former grew upright, and had not that twisting of the branches which was seen in the other. Mr. Reid thought them distinct varieties ; the White Dutch was rather the stronger grower. The question was taken, and the White Grape currant added to the list. 49 On motion of Mr. Saul, the Congress then adjourned till half past three o'clock in the afternoon. Afternoon Session. The Congress came to order at 4 o'clock, the President pro tern. in the chair. Mr. McIntosh moved the appointment of a committee on Seed- ling Fruits presented for examination the present session, with in- structions to attend to the duty at once. The motion having been adopted, the Chair appointed Messrs. Brinckle, Barry, C. Downing, Hovey and Manning, to constitute the committee. Mr. Saul, from the committee charged with preparing a list of the varieties of fruits offered for examination, submitted the following report: The committee appointed to collect lists of the different collections of fruits presented for exhibition to this Congress of fruit-growers, and of the contributors of the same, would submit the following as their report. A. SAUL, ) S. H. COLTON, } ComHec. WM. REID. ) There are presented, from Samuel Walker, Roxbury, Mass., Pears, 31 varieties. Jonathan Battey, Keeseville, Essex county, N. Y., Apples 14 varieties, Pears, 3 do. Parsons & Co., Flushing, Long Island, Pears, 43 varieties, Grapes, 5 do., hothouse, Apples, 28 do., Peaches, 11 do. G. R. Garretson, Flushing, Long Island, Pears, 5 varieties, Grapes, 1 variety. James Scott, Flushing, Long Island, Pears, 2 varieties. Asahel Foote, Williamstown, Mass., Plums, 10 varieties, 4 50 Pears, 5 varieties. Apples, 2 do. S. L. Goodale, Saco, Maine,, Pears, 18 varieties, Grapes, 2 do, Plums, 2 do. Apples, 1 variety. Rufus Nichols, Saco, Maine, Pears, 1 variety. Daniel Cleaves, Saco, Maine, Pears, 5 varieties. P. S. Van Rensselaer, Clinton Point, Dutchess co., N. Y. Grapes, 14 varieties, under glass. Thomas Hancock, Burlington, New Jersey, Apples, 31 varieties, Pears, 18 do. Peaches, 3 do. Wilson, Thorburn & Teller, Albany, N. Y., Apples, 20 varieties, Pears, 20 do, Plums, 15 do, Peaches, 4 do. Walter Goodale, South Orrington, Maine? Apples, 10 varieties. Henry Little, Bangor, Maine, Apples, 3 varieties, Pears, 1 variety. Marshall P. Wilder, Boston, Mass., Pears, 33 varieties. G. B. Deacons, Burlington, New Jersey, Apples, 2S varieties. Charles Hamilton, Canterbury, Orange county, N. Y. Apples, 15 varieties, Plums, 11 do, Pears, 3 do, Peaches, 3 do. B Hodge, Buffalo, New-York, Pears, 30 varieties, Apples, 29 do. 51 William L. Ferris, Westchester, New-York, Pears, 6 varieties, M. C. Morgan, Jersey City, New Jersey, Nectarines, 1 variety, 4 baskets. John Eltringham, Jersey City, New Jersey, Quinces, 1 variety. W. T. & E. Smith, Geneva, New-York, Pears, 7 varieties, 2 new seedlings. John Parker, Moorestown, New Jersey, Apples, 20 varieties. Martin Slocum, Bennington county, Vermont. Apples, 10 varieties. Thomas Harvey, Jennersville, Chester county, Penn., Apples, 12 varieties. James H. Watts, Rochester, New- York, Apples, 2 varieties. Morris & Stokes, Westchester, Pennsylvania, Apples, 7 varieties, Peaches, 3 do. A. S. Monson, New Haven, Connecticut, Pears, 8 varieties, Grapes, 4 do, 2 under glass, 2 in open air. Apples, 7 do. Osage Orange, a fruit of. Robert Buist, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Grapes, 18 varieties. Hovey & Co., Boston, Massachusetts, Pears, 32 varieties. J. C. Hastings, Clinton, Oneida county, New-York, Plums, 1 variety, a seedling. Edmond Jones3 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Iron Pear. Mr. Green, Germantown, Pennsylvania, Chancellor pear. Mrs. J. B. Smith, Holland Green, Seckel Pear, from the original tree, David Miller, Jr., Carlisle, Penn. Apples, 40 varieties. Grapes, 6 do, 52 Peaches, 5 varieties, Plums, 5 do. H. W. S. Cleaveland, Burlington, N. J. Pears, 7 varieties. Grapes, 1 variety. George Gabriel, New-Haven, Conn. Pears, 5 varieties, Grapes, 3 do under glass, without heat. Charles Downing, Newburgh, N. Y. Pears, 1 variety — a splendid specimen of Duchesse d'Angouleme. A. Mcintosh, Cleveland, Ohio. Pears, 11 varieties, Apples, 2 do. S. A. Barret & Co., Milton, Ulster Co., N. Y. Pears, 8 varieties, Plums, 4 do. Edward Hallock, Milton, Ulster Co., N. Y. Peaches, 1 variety, Charles Dubois, Fishkill Landing, N. Y. Apples, 9 varieties, Peaches, 1 variety, Plums, 1 do. William Reid, Elizabethtown, N. J. Pears, 12 varieties, John C. Dodge, Dodgeville, Mass. Grapes, 1 variety — 4 dishes Black Hamburgh, without heat. William G. Verplanck, Geneva, N. Y. Pears, 8 varieties — 2 seedlings, Apples, 4 do, Quinces, 1 variety. Dr. Ash, Philadelphia, Penn. Ashland Pear, believed to be White Doyenne. J. De Wolfe, Frogs Neck, Westchester Co., N. Y. Pears, 8 varieties. J. J. Walter, New-Haven, Conn. Apples, 4 varieties, Pears, 1 variety. 53 R. Mattison and Brothers, North Bennington, Vt. Apples, 13 varieties — 8 seedlings, Pears, 2 do, Plums, 2 do, Grapes, 1 variety — seedling. J. W. P. Allen, Oswego, N. Y. Pears, 45 varieties, Apples, 37 do. On motion, the reading of this report at large was dispensed with, and it was referred to the Secretaries with directions to enter it on the records and publish it amongst the proceedings of the Congress. Mr. Elliott offered the followed resolution : Resolved, That all Pomologists throughout the United States and the Canadas be invited to forward to Mr A. J. Downing, of Newburgh, N. Y., at any or various times during the time elapsing from the ad- journment of this Congress, and two weeks previous to the reassem- bling at Cincinnati, communications respecting varieties of fruits and fruit trees, shrubs or vines, and of diseases appertaining thereto. Such communications to be collated by Mr. Downing, and presented to the next Congress at its sitting in 1850. All such communications or packages to be pre-paid. Dr. Kennicott, of Illinois, seconded the resolution, remarking that unless something like it were adopted, many eminent Pomologists would be debarred from making representations and communicating valuable knowledge in their possession. A slight discussion ensued, and then the resolution was adopted nearly unanimously. The last clause, concerning the pre-payment of packages sent to Mr. Downing, was suggested by Mr. Saul, and ac- cepted by Mr. Elliott. The meeting next resumed the consideration of the Fruit Commit- tee's report. Mr. Dowtning said he would submit the remainder of the list of ap- ples recommended for approval, as worthy of general cultivation. They were principally such fruits as were recommended by the Penn- sylvania Horticultural Societies. White Seek-no-further. — Adopted without opposition. Lady Jlpple. — Mr. French said he procured it from the late Mr. Manning, and found it to be among his hardiest trees. Mr. R. B. Parsons had tried it four or five seasons? but had got no fruit. Col. Hodge thought one tree of this variety would be quite sufficient for any one. Mr. McTntosh pronounced it a very good apple. The tree was healthy, and in his locality it ranked quite as high as very good. Mr. Saul said that in Dutchess county there were some very fine trees of this variety, and the fruit commanded $6 per barrel in the New-York market, when ordinary kinds would only bring from ten to twelve shillings. It was worthy of cultivation. Mr. Reid con- sidered it valuable only as an ornamental tree ; as to the quality of the fruit there were many others far superior. Mr. Allen said the fruit was always fair, r nd the tree a good annual bearer. Mr. Hancock had ne\ v.r known it to be unhealthy. The fruit was of rather small size, but f fry good, and the tree was healthy and a great producer. In his lcKiuity, taking growth, quality, &c, all together, it was regarded as a very desirable variety. Mr. Hamilton had seen a great many trees of this kind in Dutchess and Orange counties, and no other variety there afforded nearly so fine a crop. He knew of a gentleman who had purchased all he could get at twenty shillings a barrel on the trees, finding his own barrels, and he made quite a handsome speculation out of the bargain. He consid- ered it a fine fruit — a fair, straight, strong tree. It was not only a very beautiful apple, and very valuable for the market, but it was an apple of first rate quality. The Lady Apple was adopted. Wood's Greening Apple. — Mr. Hancock considered it very good, but thought it was not generally known. Mr. Elliott regarded it as most excellent, and said it was esteemed very much in Ohio. It ranked there before any Pippin. Mr. Downing withdrew it, on the ground that it did not appear to be sufficiently well known as yet. Red Jlstrachan. — Adopted without debate. Winesap) — Mr. Comstock, of Dutchess Co., N. Y., did not esteem this apple — it was small, and he thought it would be a damage to the public if the Congress should recommend it, and it should be gener- ally introduced. Mr. Hancock said it was an excellent table and winter apple, and made good cider. It lasted from the 1st of March to the 15th of May. It was better than the Pippin, except in regard to flavor, and was not far behind in that respect. Mr. Elliott said it was good in Ohio The Winesap Apple was adopted. 55 Wine Apple.-— -Mr. Comstock said it was only third rate in Dutch- ess County. Mr. Hancock remarked that it was a very good apple in his region of country, and a desirable variety to have. It was adopted. Autumn Pearmain (Herefordshire.) — Adopted without discussion. Red Cheeky or Monmouth Pippin. — Mr. Hancock said this apple originated at Monmouth. It was a good fruit and of large size — but It was not sufficiently known to warrant its adoption as yet. He wished it to be withdrawn. Mr. Hamilton was satisfied there was much confusion in regard to this apple. Mr. Downing accordingly withdrew it. Mr. Saul proposed to add the Vanderv ere From November or December till March or April, there was no better apple than this in his section of the country. It was of fair, handsome growth, uni- formly of good quality — and was universally cultivated in Ulster, Dutchess, and all the other river counties. Mr. Downing willingly accepted the proposal, and would strongly recommend the fruit. Mr. Little said he had carried it to Bangor twenty years ago and there it had done well ever since. Mr. Miller said that if it was like what he had obtained under this name, it was a worthless fruit. Mr. Battey observed that it had thriven all along the region of Lake Champlain, and was there esteemed as one of the best varieties. Mr. Hamilton stated that it throve well with him. It was a hand- some, healthy, long-lived, thrifty tree, and the fruit was among the best. The Vandervere Apple was adopted and placed on the list. Mr. Buist then moved that the Sheepnose be added to the list. It was a fruit of very high quality. Mr. Manning observed that the Golden Russet which he had receiv- ed from Mr. Hancock, was identical with the Sheepnose or Bullock's Pippin, and totally distinct from the Golden Russet of New-England. This last was a little flatter than the other, and free from the spots which disfigured the Sheepnose. It bore in clusters, and there was no fairer fruit. Bullock's Pippin, in New-England, was worthless. Mr. Buist said it was not the general character of the Sheepnose to be spotted — it ordinarily was fair, smooth and very good. Mr. Hovey said his experience was quite different from that of Mr. Manning. He had never seen the Sheepnose spotted to any degree in the four or five years which he had known it. Last 66 year he examined specimens grown at Plymouth, and he never saw fairer or better fruit — it had no spots whatever. This apple had very tender flesh, and was of very fine flavor — it might be a little dry if kept too long. He saw no objection to placing it on the list. Mr. Comstock said that when grafted on old trees it grew very ra- pidly, and would bear the second year. Mr. Hancock remarked that, in his neighborhood, it was a univer- sal favorite. The tree was upright, and bore well. The fruit was of splendid flavor \ and if ever specked, that must be owing to an unfavorable situation. Col. Hodge said that in western New-York? the American golden russet was much cultivated, and it was not the same as this. This was very good, but the russet was better. Mr. Miller said that the American golden russet was one of the earliest and pleasantest apples they had in his region. Mr. Walker stated that the committee of the Massachusetts Hor- ticultural Society, of which he was one, rejected this apple unani- mously. He believed there had never been a cultivator near Boston, except Mr. Hovey, who agreed that it was the fruit which gentlemen here pronounced it to be. In New-England, it was universally pro- nounced unfit for cultivation. The question was taken, and it was voted to put the Sheepnose. apple or Bullock's pippin on the list. Swaar apple. — Mr. Downing, by the request of several gentle- men, submitted this variety, and it was unanimously adopted. Mr. Foote moved to add the Dominie. It was an apple exten- sively known and highly esteemed in western Massachusetts, was of high flavor, and a great bearer. The motion was rejected. Nectarines, Elruge and the Early Violet were adopted without objection. Huntfs Tawney. — Mr. Hamilton said it was a very poor bearer with him, and was very liable to mildew. Mr. McIntosh said it grew fairly at Cleveland, but was subject to mildew there also. The tree was good, but the fruit good for nothing. Mr. Downing withdrew it. Mr. Hancock moved to add the Downton. Mr. Buist said it grew to the size of a good, large peach, was of a reddish color, and he considered it the very best of nectarines. Mr. Downing said it was the finest and best he had ever fruited or tasted. The Downton Nectarine was placed on the list. 57 Apricots. The Large Early, Breda, and Moorpark were all adopted unani- mously. Mr. Downing said of the first, that it was the highest flavored and most beautiful he had ever seen. Mr. McIntosh re- marked of the Breda, that, though small in size, it was one of the earliest and best. And Col. Hodge stated thai he had gathered more fruit from it than from all others combined. Mr. Hamilton proposed to add the Peach Apricot. He had fruited this variety for several years, and found it more productive, and fairer, than the Moorpark. The fruit sold in the New- York market at $2.50 per hundred. The tree was of erect growth, and had an uncommonly thick leaf, in which respect it differed from the Moorpark. Mr. Pardee agreed with Mr. Hamilton, and stated that the Peach apricot was the only one from which he could get a crop. Mr. Downing was satisfied that the two were identical, Mr. Buist was of the same opinion. Mr. Hamilton said there was no aperture in the stone of the Peach variety, whereas everybody knew that there was in that of the Moorpark. Mr. Hancock declared that the aperture was exactly the same in both. The two were identical, in fact. He could not see any differ- ence in the leaf; and in adjoining rows of the two varieties, he was unable to discover six inches difference of growth between them, in trees of the same age and cultivation. Mr. Hamilton had the Peach apricot from three sources — Dr. Rumsey, Mr. Prince, and Dr. Townsend ; and in all the specimens there was a considerable difference in the thickness of the leaf, as compared with that of the Moorpark. It was manifest to feeling on the least touch. Mr. Allen stated that he found the hole in the stone in both the the Moorpark and Peach varieties, and considered them in all respects identical. Mr. Reid said the same. On motion, the proposal to add the Peach apricot was passed by. (Equivalent to a rejection.) Gooseberries. No discussion whatever took place on this fruit. The ten varieties recommended will be found in the general list of fruits worthy of 58 cultivation. The Early Sulphur was added to the committers list on motion of Mr. Wilson, N. Y. ; the Green Gage on motion of Mr. Battey, N. Y.3 and the Green Walnut ^ on motion of Mr. Little, Me. This completed the list of Fruits worthy of general cultivation which the committee designed to offer. Mr. Wilson moved to add to the list of currants, Knight's Sweet Red. It was a large sized currant, which he regarded as the finest of all. It had for two years taken the premium at Albany for size and sweetness. Mr. Buist thought it a very excellent currant and it grew in larg- er bunches than other kinds. Mr. Hancock had cultivated this variety and had been humbugged; he expected a sweet currant and got one as sour as any of them. He could not tell the difference between this and the Red Champagne except from the labels on the bushes. Mr. Wilson said Mr. Hancock could not have got the right kind of currant. Col. Hodge said he had it and had found it finer and sweeter than any other. The motion did not prevail. Mr. Downing had next to submit, a small list of Fruits which give promise of becoming worthy of general cultivation, which will be found under this head in the general list. No debate occurred on any of these fruits (further than is to be found in the preceding pages,) excepting a few words concerning the McLaughlin Plum, Mr. Little stated that it was introduced into Maine some seven or eight years ago, and had ever since been steadily growing in public esti- mation. This year the Fruit committee of the Bangor Horticultural Society pronounced it superior to all varieties except the Green Gage. Mr. Walker said that the committee of the Massachusetts Horticultu- ral Society had given their opinion that it was a very excellent fruit, approaching very nearly in flavor to the Green Gage. Mr. Downing then stated that he had in his possession a large num- ber of reports, of which he had had no opportunity as yet to make a digest, and he asked the pleasure of the Congress in relation to them. On motion of Mr. McIntosh, it was voted that they be referred to the chairman of the General Fruit Committee for revision, and then to the Secretaries to be published with the doings of this Con- gress. 59 Mr. Saul suggested the expediency of some action going to fix a determinate day for the next meeting at Cincinnati. A long discus- sion ensued on this subject, in which Messrs. Saul, McIntosh, Hodge, Wilson, S. B. Parsons, Walker, Hovey, Hancock, Ham- ilton and Cleveland participated. The debate was of no impor- tance and finally the whole matter was laid on the table, thus leaving the settlement of the particular time (as was contemplated by the report from the committee which was yesterday accepted) in the con- trol of the President of this Congress and the President of the Ohio State Board of Agriculture. Dr. Brinckle, from the committee on Seedling Fruits, submitted the following report, which was accepted. The committee on Seedling fruits report that the following seed- ling varieties have been examined by them. Lawrence's Aromatic Gage Plum, from J. C. Hastings, Clinton, Oneida Co., N. Y. A small late plum, good, beautiful and worthy of further trial. It is a seedling from the Green Gage. The com- mittee suggest that it be called simply the Aromatic Gage. Tea Pear, from New Haven, Ct., quality good. Howell Pear, from New Haven ; very good. Pardee's Seedling Pear, from New Haven. Specimen over ripe ; but it appears to possess good qualities. Three other seedling pears from New Haven were not in eating condition, being unripe. Balm Apple, from H. C. Hunt, Vt. Medium size, fair quality, or good. Said to bear every year. Tender Apple, presented as a cooking apple. Jewetfs Best Apple. — Of fine appearance, but not in season for eating. Has a high character in its original neighborhood. Northern Golden Sweeting, from J. Battey, Keeseville, N. Y.* of beautiful appearance, good size, best quality. We recommend it be called simply the Northern Sweet. Chamylain Apple, from the same. Good quality, beautiful appear- ance. Bailey's Spice Apple, from the same. Good, spicy, handsome. Forrence Apple, from the same ; good. Ribbed Codlin, from D. Miller, Jr., Carlisle Pa. Large, waxen, tender ; good, particularly for cooking. Cumberland Seedling Apple, from the same ; large, handscme, ob- late, red, tender flesh, pleasant, very good. 60 Page Apple, from Henry Little, Bangor, Me., handsome, good ap- pearance, not in eating order. Seedling from Nauvoo.— Not in eating order. Seedling Pear No. 1., from W. T. & E. Smith, Genera, N.Y. Specimen of inferior quality. Seedling Pear No. 2., from the same. Quality not good. Seedling Apple No. 1., from the same. Large size, greenish yel- low, quality good. Seedling Apple No. 2., from the same. Not in eating order. Seedling Apple No. 3., from the same. Not in eating order. Chancellor Pear, from Germantown, Pa., large size, very good. Seedling Pear ', from Geneva, N. Y. Large, not fullly ripe but prom- ises well. We recommend it to be called the Geneva. Catherine of Canandaigua. — Large, good. We recommend it be called simply the Canandaigua. By order of the committee, W. D. BRINCKLE, Utin. Mr. Walker here quitted the chair, which was assumed by Mr. Cleveland. Mr. Barry said that the Congress had been much indebted to the American Institute and the courtesy of its officers, and he moved that the thanks of the American Pomological Congress be presented to the American Institute, together with all the fruits on the tables, ex- cept such specimens as the contributors may wish to retain. Car- ried unanimously. On motion of Col. Hodge, it was voted that the thanks of the Con- gress be presented to Samuel Walker, Esq., President pro tern, for the able and impartial manner in which he has discharged the duties of the office. The thanks of the Congress were also voted to the Secretaries and Fruit Committee for their faithfulness in discharging their duties. On motion of Mr. Downing, the Secretaries were requested to use all possible despatch in preparing a report of the session for publica- tion, and were directed to forward copies thereof to all members of the Congress. And then on motion of Mr. Barry, the Congress adjourned, to meet next year at Cincinnati. AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL CONGRESS, October, 1849. GENERAL FRUIT LIST. Fruits worthy of General Cultivation. (Jldded to former List.) APPLES. L~ White Seek-no-further, ^ Danver's Winter Sweet, ^- Fameuse, ***** Wine Apple, £^ Porter, £"**" Red Astrachan, l^ Hubbardston Nonsuch, *** Vandervere, ^Winesap, **■* Bullock's Pippin, ^-Lady Apple, U Swaar. PEARS. Rostiezer, Buffum, Belle Lucrative, or, Urbaniste, Fondant e d'Automne, Vicar of Winkfield, Fulton, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Andrews, Uvedale's St. Germain, for baking. GRAPES UNDER GLASS. Black Hamburgh, White Frontignan, Black Prince, White Muscat of Alexandria, Black Frontignan, Chasselas de Fontainbleau. Grizzly Frontignan, Native Grapes — Open Culture. Isabella, Catawba. NECTARINES. Elruge, Downton. Early Violet, 62 Red Antwerp, Yellow Antwerp, Large Early Scarlet, Hovey's Seedling, Belle Magnifique. Large Early, Breda, Red Dutch, White Dutch, White Grape, Houghton's Seedling, Woodward's Whitesmith, Crown Bob, Red Champagne, Early Sulphur, RASPBERRIES. Franconia, Fastolff. STRAWBERRIES. Boston Pine., CHERRY. APRICOTS. Moorpark. CURRANTS. May's Victoria, Black Naples. GOOSEBERRIES. Laurel, Warrington, Green Gage, Green Walnut, Ironmonger. Gloucester White, Beachemwell, Pennock, Henry's Weeping Pippin, Red Ingestrie, White do. Kirke's Lord Nelson, Marmalade Pippin, Priestly, Rowland's Red Streak, Red or Royal Russet, REJECTED FRUITS. APPLES. Hoary Morning, Large Red Sweeting, Red Doctor, Grand Sachem, Cathead, Dodge's Early Red, Gray French Reinnette, Muscovia, Irish Peach, Pigeonette, Salina, 63 Woolston's Red Streak, Golden Reinnette, Woolston's White Sweet, Croft Castle, Swiss Bergamotte, Sousreine, Caroline, (English,) Fenouillet Rouge. PEARS. Forme des Delices, French Iron, Green Fair, Thompson's of New-Hampshire, Grise Bonne, Tucker's Seedling, Trubshurdy Dulle, Whitfield, Winter Orange, Wurtzer d'Automne, Yutte, Crassane, Winter Crassane, Citron of Bohemia, Madotte, Frederic of Prussia, Famenga, Forme Urbaniste, Fantasie Van Mons, Lederbirne, Louis Bonne, Lansac, Madame Vert, Miller's Seedling, Marquise, Marcellis, Navez, Alexander of Russia, Admiral, Aston Town, Autumn Bergamot, D' Amour, Angers, Beurre d'Angleterre, Beurre Seutin, Beurre of Bolwiller, Garnstone, Green Catharine, Green Sugar, Gros Blanquet, Green Chisel, Hays, Hawthorne's Seedling, Horticulture, Hastiveau, Ipswich Holland, Jargonelle, (of the French,) Kramelsbirne, Lincoln, Louis of Bologne, Orange, Orange Tulippe, Phillips, Pitfour, Piatt's Bergamotte, Passe Long Bras, Prince's Portugal, Pope's Scarlet, Cuvelier, Chat Grille, Chair a Dame, Charles Van Mons, (old,) Cassolette, Compte de Fresnel, Copea, Caillat Rosat, Clara, 64 Bon Chretien d'Espagne, Bon Chretien of Brussells, Bergamotte Sylvange, Bergamotte Fortunee, Beauty of Winter, Belmont, Bezi Vaetj Bruno de Bosco, Blanquet a longue queue, Burgomaster, Elton, Royal d' Hiver, Rouslette St. Vincent, Swans Egg, Saint Bruno, Clapp, Citron de Sirentz, Dearborn of Van Mons, Downton, Duquesne d'Ete, Doyenne Mons, Deschamp's New Late, Dumbarton, Doyenne Dor6, Endicott, Pitt's Marie Louise, Rouse Lench, Sans Pepins, Surpasse Meuris. NEW VARIETIES. WHICH GIVE PROMISE OF BEING WORTHY TO BE ADDED TO THE LIST FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION. Duchesse d' Orleans, Brandywine, Chancellor, . Doyenne d' Et6, Beurre d' Anjou, Manning's Elizabeth, Brande's St. Germain. PEARS. Pratt, Ott, Striped Madeleine, Ananas d' Et£, Jalousie de Fontenay Vendee, Van Assene, Doyenne Boussock. McLaughlin, Burr's New Pine, PLUMS. River's Favorite, St. Martin's Quetsche. STRAWBERRIES. Jenney's Seedling. RASPBERRY. Knevett's Giant. GRAPE— NATIVE. Diana. 65 [ Reported by Thos. Tileston, Jr. ] LIST OF FRUITS ADOPTED BY THE CONVENTION OCT., 1848. APPLES. Early Harvest, Large Yellow Bough, American Summer Pearmain, Summer Rose, Early Strawberry, Gravenstein, Fall Pippin, Madeleine, Dearborn's Seedling, Bloodgood, Tyson, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Williams' Bon Chretien, or Bartlett, Seckel, Grosse Mignonne, George IV, Early York, serrated, Large Early York, Morris White, Oldmixon Freestone, Jefferson, Green Gage, Washington, Purple Favorite, Bleecker's Gage, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Roxbury Russet, And, for particular localities ,- Yellow Belle Fleur, Esopus Spitzenburg, Newtown Pippin. PEARS. Flemish Beauty, Beurre Bosc, Winter Nelis, Beurre d' Aremberg, And, for particular localities, White Doyenne, Gray Doyenne. PEACHES. Cooledge's Favorite, Bergen's Yellow, Crawford's Late, And, for particular localities,- Heath Cling. PLUMS. Coe's Golden Drop, Frost Gage, Purple Gage, And, for particular localities- Imperial Gage. 66 CHERRIES. May Duke, Knight's Early Blacky Black Tartarian, Downer's Late, Black Eagle, Elton, Graffion, or Bigarreau5 Downton. REPORTS OF THE GENERAL COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. It was the expectation of the Congress, in appointing the general committee, consisting of sub-committees in most of the States, to have full reports from all the principal sections of the Union; and it was the intention of the chairman to present a digested abstract, showing the result of the experience thus accumulated, in a condens- ed form. But the disastrous frost of April, 1849, more fatal in its effects, and more severe through the country generally, than any for thirty years previous, cut off most of the crop of fruit, and thus made it difficult, and often impossible for the state committees to collect that precise information regarding different varieties, which was needed. Many of the committees, therefore failed to make any report — not from want of interest in the subject, but solely from the impossibility of collecting materials. Another season will, it is hoped, enable them to present this part of the subject in a more satisfactory shape. As the following reports, though incomplete, contain a great deal of information highly useful in a local point of view, it has been thought advisable to present them entire, and leave all generalisation till the whole subject is presented this autumn, in a more complete form. A. J. DOWNING, Chairman General Fruit Committee. PENNSYLVANIA. KEPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE. The Fruit Committee for the State of Pennsylvania, appoinl by the American Congress of Fruit Growers, respectfully report : That the general failure. of the fruit crop this season, in conjunction with the prevalence of a malignant epidemic, has prevented them from devoting that attention to the subject of their appointment^ which they contemplated and desired. In another year they flatter themselves a better opportunity will be afforded for performing their proper duties, and a report may then be presented, more satisfactory to the committee and to the Congress. On the present occasion, they propose confining their report to a few brief remarks in relation to some of the fruits cultivated in this region, and more especially those which have originated in our own State, or its immediate vicinity. The Apple generally succeeds well in Pennsylvania. The old varieties, which have long been in cultivation, have latterly been deteriorating ; and most of the reputed fine sorts from other parts of our country have not yet been introduced among us a sufficient length of time to enable us to form an accurate judgment of their adaptation to our soil and climate. It is believed there are many seedling vari- eties in this region worthy the attention of the Pomologist. A few only of these will be noticed at this time. Jeffries. — This is a new, Chester county apple, of good size and fine flavor ; ripe the beginning of September. It received the pre- mium offered by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, for the best seedling apple exhibited in 1848. A similar premium was also awar- ded to it by the Horticultural Society of Westchester. Republican Pippin. — An autumn apple of merit. Its size, appear- ance and flavor, all recommend it to our favorable notice. It is a native of Lycoming county, Penn. Smoke-house. — This fine Pennsylvania apple has not yet been ex- tensively cultivated out of its native state. It is a good autumn apple, and deserves to be better known. Fallenwalder. — This native apple is much grown in some parts of of Pennsylvania, especially the interior counties. Though only a second-rate fruit, yet its large size and fine keeping qualities, render 69 it worthy of cultivation. In horticultural works it is usually called the Fallawater, which has been corrupted by our huckster women into " Pollywaller" and " Pollywolly." It originated in Berks county in this state, where it is also known as the Tulpahocken, after a stream of that name near its original locality. It sprung up in the woods, and was left standing after the other trees were cut down, hence the name Fallenwalder — -the apple of the cut-down woods. Kane. — This is a good autumn apple, but not to be compared in flavor with some other apples of its season. Its beautiful, fair and brilliant appearance, however, will always render it a most desirable ornamental fruit for the table. Its origin is not precisely known, but it is believed to be a native of Delaware. Brandywme Pippin.-— This native Delaware apple, which was sent to the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society last spring for the first time, made a favorable impression. It is of good size, with a plea- sant aromatic flavor, and possesses fine keeping qualities. It was eaten by the committee on the 8th of March, 19th of April, and again on the 7th of May. It originated contiguous to the Pennsylvania line, in Brandywine Hundred. The United States has contributed a large and truly valuable col- lection of native pears to the Pomological world. Many of these, when brought into competition with the most renowned trans-atlantic varieties, will not suffer in the comparison ; and possess in a marked degree the decided advantage of being better adapted to the ne- cessities of our trying and variable climate. Some that are of Penn- sylvania origin, including the far-famed Seckel, we proceed simply to notice, Brandywine. — A new Pennsylvania pear of merit, and worthy of cultivation. Ripe the last of August. Chapman. — The original tree is on the grounds of the veteran Horticulturist, Colonel Robert Carr, near Philadelphia. It is a seed- ling of the Petre, and stands within some thirty or forty feet of its parent. Though not fine in texture, it is a high-flavored, juicy pear. It was named in honor of the lady of a British officer who admired its flavor. Colonel Carr sent scions of it to Vilmorin & Co., of Pa- ris, in 1820, and again in 1825, under the name of the Chapmans. Loudon, in his Encyclopedia of Gardening, notices it as being of American origin, and resembling the Passe Colmar, to which it does not bear any similitude. And the London Horticultural Socie ty's 70 catalogue, gives it as a synonym of the Passe Colmar. This appa- rent discrepancy in confounding the Chapman, of American origin, with the Passe Colmar is explained by a fact recorded by Mcintosh, who states that an English market gardener by the name of Chap- man propagated the Passe Colmar very extensively, and sold it as a new variety, to which he gave his own name, Ripe the beginning of September. Chancellor. — -This fine pear is believed to be a native of Pennsyl- vania. Only two trees in bearing, of this variety, are known to the committee ; one is at the country residence of Mr. Wharton Chancel- lor, near Germantown ; the other is in Germantown, in the garden of Mr. Green, from a graft of the preceding. Ripe the last of Septem- tember and beginning of October. Leech? s Kingsessing, — A Pennsylvania pear of high character. As the tree is on ground which has never received any tillage, it is natural to presume, that the fruit from grafted and budded trees, will be even finer than that obtained from the original. Ripe last of Augusi. Lodge. — A Pennsylvania pear of the first quality, and a most abundant bearer. The specimens this season, were unusually large, and fine. As soon as Mr. Lodge, the proprietor of the original tree, became aware of its merits, he caused it to be removed from the hedge, where it sprung up, to a more desirable situation, and thereby destroyed it. But scions having previously been taken from it, the variety was preserved. Ripe the last of August, and beginning of September. Moyamensing.— Although the original tree has been standing in Philadelphia on the premises of the late Jno. B. Smith, for more than half a century, it has been but little disseminated, until within a year or two. It is a fine late summer pear, of a peculiar and handsome form. Ott.—A new Pennsylvania variety of small size and superior fla- vor. Ripe a month earlier than the Seckei, of which it is a seedling. This is probably the best summer pear we have. Pennsylvania.— An agreeable early autumn pear of high flavor, but of coarse texture. The original tree stands within twenty or thirty feet of the Moyamensing. pe£re<_-The original tree still flourishes on the grounds of Col. Carr. Why it has not been more extensively cultivated in this vi- cinity, is incomprehensible to us, since it bears uniformly, and most abundantly, and the fruit is of the first quality. 71 Seckel. — It will no doubt be interesting to Pomologists, to be in- formed, that the original world-renowned Seckel, is still in existence, though in a decaying condition, within the precincts of the county of Philadelphia. The city, to whom the ground on which it stands was bequeathed by the late Stephen Girard, has recently taken measures for its better preservation. Specimens of fruit from this parent tree, were exhibited a few weeks ago, at the annual show of the Pennsyl- vania Horticultural Society. Stienmetz> s Catherine. — A refreshing and juicy, late summer pear of good size. Though Mr. Steinmetz obtained it from a nursery, in his vicinity for a grafted early Catherine, it is believed to be a native variety. The tree is very productive, and the fruit this sea- son was unusually large, some specimens being three inches and three-quarter in length, by two and a half in width. Tyson. — A valuable Pennsylvania pear, now pretty well known and properly appreciated at the eastward and in western New-York, contra- ry to what would be anticipated from the slender growth of the young wood, the tree acquires a great size. The fruit this season was large and remarkably fine. We saw specimens in 1848 with a brilliant red cheek, from a tree which bore marked evidences of having been treble- worked, at the country seat of Mr. Welsh. Adjacent to this tree is another of large size, bearing fruit of the usual appearance ; period of maturity from the middle of August to the beginning of September. Washington. — This truly fine pear, though not a native of Pennsyl- vania, originated only a few hundred yards beyond its border in the State of Delaware. The original tree is still standing in the garden of Col. Thos. Robinson, at Naaman's creek. Allied to the white Doyenne, of which it is probably a natural seedling, and almost, if not quite equal to it in flavor, it possesses over that variety the de- cided advantage of perfecting fair and delicious fruit beyond city limits. The Feaster, Hanover, Hewes, Jones, Lycoming, Montgomery, and other new native varieties of this region, have attracted the attention of the committee, but they defer giving an opinion in regard to their merits, till they have had a further opportunity of testing their quali- ties. 72 Autumn Bergamot— Under this name Col. Carr cultivates a pear of great excellence, worthy of extensive dissemination, and of which the following is a concise description : fruit 2\ inches long by 2\ wide; roundish tuibinate; skin yellowish, with numerous minute russet dots, and a small russet patch at the insertion of the stem, and occasionally around the calyx ; stem 1 inch long, \ thick, inserted with little or no depression, but with a slight prominence on one side ; calyx small, closed, set in a shallow basin ; seed plump, dark brown ; flesh of fine texture, exceedingly melting and buttery ; flavor delicious, delicately aromatic, without any bergamot perfume ; ripe from the first to the middle of September. An outline of two specimens is annex- ed. What variety is it 1 Bezi de la Motte. — This old variety, once so celebrated for its ex- cellence, bears uniformly and abundantly ; the tree is still flourishing ; the fruit continues to be well formed, exceedingly buttery and melting, but so entirely devoid of flavor, as now scarcely to rank with us even third rate. Doyenne Blanc and Doyenne Gris. — These varieties, under ordin- ary treatment, and beyond city limits, are utterly worthless in our region. In towns, however, they still do well, maturing fruit of beautiful appearance and excellent quality. Fondante oVAutomne. — This most valuable Belgian pear preserves with us its high character. Louise Bonne de Jersey. — A most desirable variety here, as in other places, on account of its productiveness and other good qualities. The Bartlett, Beurre d'Anjou, Doyenne Boussock, Flemish Beauty 5 Passe Colmar, St. Andre, Van Mons Leon le Clerc, Beurre d^Ar em- berg, and many other English, French, and Flemish pears, of high repute, have scarcely come into bearing with us ; at least not to any extent. The Plum] though a most luscious fruit, is so liable in this section of country to the ravages of the curculio, as to restrict in a great meas- 73 ure its extensive cultivation. In towns, however, this destructive in* sect being less abundant, the Washington, Hilling's Superb, Green Gage, Coe's Golden Drop, and other desirable kinds, are cultivated successfully, especially where the ground, under the trees, is paved. The market raspberry of Philadelphia, and the kind most com- monly cultivated in Pennsylvania, is the Genesee, a native of west- ern New-York, and found also in a wild state, on the Pocono moun- tain, in this State. Though usually called Red Antwerp, it differs from that variety in being of less size ; not so well flavored, but more hardy. The true Antwerps cannot be relied on for a crop, here, without protection. The same remark applies, though perhaps with less force, to the Fastolff and Giant. The Col. Wilder and Orange have not yet been subjected to open culture. They have stood well, however, in a small yard in Phila- delphia, while the Fastolff and Antwerps at their side were cut down by the winter. Several new raspberries of fine size and flavor have been raised by a well-known Philadelphia nurseryman, and were exhibited before the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society during the past summer. Should they prove, as they probably will, more hardy than the foreign kinds, they will become a valuable acquisition to our collection. Melons. — A very large citron melon of great excellence has recent- ly appeared in the market of Philadelphia. It is grown by Mr. J. E. Scott, near Burlington, New Jersey, is nearly twice as large as the ordinary citron melon, and superior to it in quality. The com- mittee to consider it a new and distinct variety ; and in their esti- mation the best melon of this region. Water Melons. — The finest water melon in this section of country is the Mountain Sweet. It is of large size, oblong in form, the exterior of a uniform green color — of a lighter hue than the Spanish, thin rind, flesh scarlet to the centre, which is solid, brown seed, delicious flavor. The Mountain Sprout differs from the preceding in being striped, quite as large, of a similar form, rind somewhat thicker, flesh not so com- pact, seed of a pale red, flavor inferior to the preceding. The Spanish variety is also of large size, and good ; not equal, however, in quality to the Mountain Sweet, and has a much thicker rind. The present season having been so exceedingly adverse to porno- 74 logical investigation, your committee have judged it expedient to withhold the remarks they designed making (and, indeed, which they had prepared,) on the remaining varieties of fruit, for another^ and, they trust, a more propitious year. Th.-y are unwilling to con- clude, however, without indulging the hope that the several State committees will embody in their next report a brief notice of all the good native fruits of their section of country. A mass of the most valuable and important information, in relation to the merits of these American varieties, will in this way be collected by the Congress, and widely disseminated. W. D. BRINCKLE, E. W. KEYSER, THO. P. JAMES. Philadelphia, Sept. 28, 1849. NEW-YOM. REPORT OF B. HODGE, BUFFALO. A. J. Downing, Esq. —As a member of the Standing Fruit Com- mittee of the State of New-York, I have the pleasure of laying before you the following report. For reasons which I need not now mention, I have confined my remarks to a limited number of varieties. I am quite of the opinion that the time has arrived, in which we must very materially reduce the number of varieties of fruits now in cultivation. Yet at the same time fears may well be entertained that the pruning knife is about to be applied in too indiscriminate a man- ner. With some, there is a disposition to cut off all below " best,57 or " first quality." Now, in my opinion, the fine flavor of any par- ticular sort of fruit is not the only ingredient in the catalogue of good qualities, that should be taken into the account. For instance, the Newtown Pippin all will admit to be of superior flavor. Yet in many parts of our country it is so unproductive and liable to bitter-rot, that it is altogether unprofitable. On the contrary, the Rhode Island Greening, although much inferior in flavor, yet in productiveness and other good qualities, can hardly be surpassed. The same remark will apply to Craw7ford's early and Crawford's lateMelocoton peaches; neither of them are of superior flavor, yet for size, beauty and unproduc- 75 tiveness,they are perhaps equal to any other varieties ; and in West- ern New-York are more extensively grown for the market, than any other sorts. For the same reason, would I retain in a very small col- lection even (at least one tree) of the Keswick Cocllin Apple; in flavor, not above second quality, but exceedingly productive ; in use for culi- nary purposes from June to October ; and from its earliness in coming into bearing, indispensable to every new orchard. In looking over the catalogue of fruits, but few varieties will be found possessing or combining all the good qualities of a first rate fruit. Neither should the fruiting of any particular variety for one or two years, be considered as a sufficient test of its good or bad qualities. It should also be borne in mind that we have a great extent of country, and that latitude, soil and other causes, must and will have a great effect in various localities. For instance, the Ste- vens'1 Genesee pear, in some sections of our country, is considered as unworthy of cultivation; and yet here, were I to have but one pear tree, it should be Stevens' Genesee. For size, beauty, and produc- tiveness, it is superior— in flavor it is nearly first rate, and often equal to the White Doyenne. I am also of opinion, that an extensive list of fruits cannot be recommended for general cultivation. For instance, the Baldwin apple, so fine and fair in the eastern states and also in Western New-York, is in some parts of Ohio so subject to the bitter- rot as to be utterly worthless. I apprehend, also, that much difficulty will be experienced in pre- paring a list of rejected fruits. Last year at the Pomological Con- vention at Buffalo, the Brown Beurre and the Bezi de la Motte pears were voted as unworthy of cultivation. Yet for one, I am not pre- pared to cast them out. In my humble opinion, they are superior to three-fourths of the varieties in cultivation. Both are very produc- tive, and generally of good flavor ; require to be gathered early, and ripened in the house, and are then generally fine. The Brown Buene requires good culture, and the man who "plants his trees as he would a post," " stocks down his land to grass," and " trims up his trees so high that the cattle cannot injure them," had better select some other variety, say the Autumn Bergamotte or some kindred sort. I give, in the following list, the experience of the orchardists in Western New-York. In rating them as regards quality, I follow the terms of comparison for good fruits, adopted by the Congress, viz : " good, very good, best." % APPLES. Hoxbury Russet, best; superior in all good qualities. Baldwin, best; very productive and fine. Northern Spy, best; productive and superior, requires good culture* Rhode Island Greening, very good; one of the most productive and profitable. Swaar, best; fruit very fair and fine. Westfield Seek-no-further, very good; for January and February, very fine, soon looses its flavor, Esopus Spitzenbergh, best; productive and fine, always commands the highest price in the market. English Russet, very good; a long keeper, productive and fine. American Golden Russet, very good; very productive. Pomme Grise, best; popular, but too small to be profitable. Danver^s Winter Sweet, good; productive, fruit fair, keeps well. Ladies' Sweeting, best; one of the very best winter sweet apples. Early Harvest, best; productive and fine, requires good culture. Bough or Sweet Bough, best; fruit always very fair, none better. Early Joe, best; productive and fine, but soon decays. Summer Rose, best; fine, but so far not productive. Sinequanon,best; trees growT slow and not productive. Early Strawberry, very good; productive, fruit fair. Williams' Favorite, very good; productive and has but few equals. American Summer Pearmain, very good; but recently fruited, so far fine. Summer Sweet Paradise, very good; but recently fruited, so far fine. Summer Queen, good; very fine for culinary purposes. Jersey Sweeting, very good; one of the best of the season. Peach Pound Sweet, very good; fair and fine. Golden Sweeting, good, none more productive, profitable. Pomme de Neige, very good; trees overbear, requires good cul- ture, then very fine. Red Astrachan, very good; popular in the market. Keswick Codlin, good; very productive, at least one tree should be in every collection. Jonathan, very good; recently fruited, so far very fine. Fall Pippin, best; an old sort? but has but few equals. 77 Detroit Red, good; a very productive, popular market fruit. Belmont, best; proves very line. Hubbardston Nonsuch, best; fully maintains its eastern reputa- tion. PEARS. Bartlett, best; productive, always fair and fine. Beurre Diel, best; productive, and fine on pear or quince. Beurr6 Bosc, very good. Beurre' d'Aremberg, best; one of the best winter pears. Brown Beurre, very good; very productive, requires good culture. Bloodgood, best; one of the best early pears. Bergamot, Gansel's, very good; productive and generally very fine, first rate. Doyenne White, best; with good culture none better. Dearborn's Seedling, good; productive. Duchesse d'Angouleme, very good; one of the best on the quince. Easter Beurre, very good; fruit generally fair, requires care to ripen well. Flemish Beauty, best; very productive, always fair and fine. Frederick of Wirtemberg, very good; rather variable so far. Fulton, good; very productive. Fondante d'Automne, best. Glout Morceau, best; among the finest winter pears. Louise Bonne de Jersey, best; very productive and " the best pear on quince stock.' ' Marie Louise, very good; rather variable, generally good. Madeleine, best; one of the best early sorts, should be gathered early. Onondaga or Swan's Orange, very good; but recently fruited, so far, very fine. Passe Colmar, very good; productive. Paradise d'Automne, best; one of the very best autumn pears. Seckel, best; productive and " the best autumn pear." Steven's Genesee, very good; wonderfully productive, always large and fair. Thompson, fruited two seasons, so far very good. Winter Nelis, best; a most superior winter pear, productive. Urbaniste, very good; so far sustains a fair reputation. 78 Andrews, best; so far fine. Osband's Summer, very good. Rostiezer, best; bids fair to prove of superior excellence. Tyson, best; no doubt one of our very best sorts. Van Mons Leon le Clerc, best; very fine, but not " the best." CHERRIES. American Heart, good; very productive. Buttner's Yellow, very good; ripens late, and proves very fine. Belle de Choisy, best; sweet and rich, not very productive. Black Eagle, best; first rate in every respect. Black Tartarian, best; " " Black Heart, good; productive, and as yet a popular old sort. Bauman's May, very good; the earliest sort, and fine for the season. Bigarreau or Graffion, best; very productive and fine. Belle Magnifique, very good; productive, and fine when fully ripe. Downton, best; one of the most productive. Downers Late, best; a very superior late sort. Early Purple Guigne, good; ripens early, not very productive. Elton, best; for size, beauty and flavor unsurpassed. Holland Bigarreau, very good; bids fair to prove very fine. Knight's Early Black, best; the very best early sort. Late Duke, good; a very good late sort. May Duke, very good; productive, should be in every collection. Napolean Bigarreau, best; a superior fruit, productive. Tradesescant's Black Heart, very good; productive, and a fine mar- ket fruit. Waterloo, very good; very productive, a valuable sort. White Bigarreau, very good; generally productive and very fine. PLUMS. Bleecker's Gage, very good; productive and valuable. Coe's Golden Drop, very good; fruit fair and fine, not very pro- ductive. Columbia, very good; so far proves fine. Duane's Purple, very good; very productive, and very beautiful. Drap d'Or, very good; not very productive, fruit fine. Frost Gage, good; productive, and a fine late variety. Green Gage, best; " the best sort," succeeds well here. 79 Hilling's Superb, very good; fruit very fair and fine. Imperial Gage, very good; one of the most productive sorts, Jefferson, best; but recently fruited, proves very fine. Lawrence's Favorite, best; one of the very best sorts. Purple Gage, best; this also proves very fine. Smith's Orleans, very good; one of the most productive sorts. Washington, very good; succeeds well on a clay soil. White Damson, good; always produces large crops. PEACHES. Crawford's Early, good; the most productive, and profitable early sort. Crawford's Late, very good; very productive, and always fine. Early Tillotson, best; fruit fine, trees somewhat subject to mildew. Early York, (serrated leaf,) best; productive and succeeds very well. Grosse Mignonne, best; fruit always very fair. George the Fourth, best; fine beautiful fruit, not very productive. Noblesse, best; may be classed among the best sorts. Red Cheek Melocoton, very good; very productive, sells well in market. Royal George, very good; fruit generally fine, trees subject to mildew. Red Rareripe, very good; fruit fine, some other sorts more pro- ductive. Snow Peach, good; productive, one of the best for preserving. Large Early York, best; one of the most productive and best sorts. In the above report I have purposely omitted many of the newer varieties of fruits. I have now in my grounds, and am annually importing from Europe, and procuring from various sources in our own country, the more choice and select sorts as they are brought out. Many of these are from year to year coming into bearing, but time is required to test them fully and judiciously. The world is full of humbugs, and many of the high sounding names of so called " choice fruits," are destined to perpetual banishment from the fruit garden, when once fairly tested. All of which is very respectfully submitted. Yours very truly, B. HODGE. Buffalo Nursery, Oct. 1, 1849. 80 MASSACHUSETTS. REPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE. No formal report was received from this committee, but in its place the following list of fruits, showing the experience of the cultivators of the State regarding many of the established varieties. By com- paring these lists with the rejected, and the approved lists, as actual- ly adopted in the Congress, the reader will beable to form a good idea of the effect of soil and climate of New-England on foreign fruits. — Chairman Gen. Fruit Com. 1. Fruits recommended to be added to the list for general culti- vation: Pears. BufTum, Vicar of Winkfield, Uvedale's St. Germain, (or Pound for Cooking,) Louise Bonne de Jersey (on quince). Apples. Hubbardston Nonsuch, Danvers Winter Sweet, Grapes, (Foreign,) under glass. Black Hamburgh, Grizzly Frontignan, Black Prince, White Frontignan, Black Frontignan, White Muscat of Alexandria. Native Grapes, for open culture. Rostiezer, Andrews, Fulton, Fondante d' Automne, Urbaniste, Porter, Fameuse, Isabella, Elruge, Violet Hative. Red Dutch, White Dutch, Knevett's Giant. Fastolff, Early Virginia, Catawba. Nectarines. Downton. Currants. Black Naples, May's Victoria, Raspberries. Franconia, Yellow Antwerp, Strawberries. Hovey's Seedling. 81 2. New varieties, which give promise of being worthy to be added to the list for general cultivation : PEARS. Citron des Carmes Panache, or Duchesse d'Orleans, Striped Madeleine, Pratt, Doyenne d'ete, Paradise d'Automne, Elizabeth (Manning's,) Van Assene, Beurre d'Anjou, Jalousie de Fontenay Vendee, Doyenne Boussock, Brande's St. Germain. 3. List of rejected fruits -J Alexander of Russia, Amandes d'ete, Admiral, Aston Town, Ambrosia, Amande Double, Autumn Bergamot, D' Amour, Angers, Beurre* d'Angleterre, Beurre Seutin, Beurre of Boswiller, Beurre* Delberg, Bon Chretien d'Espagne, Bon Chretien of Brussells, Bergamotte Sylvange, Bergamotte Fortunee, Bergamotte Parthenay, Beauty of Winter, Boucquia, Belmont, Bezi Vaet, Bruno de Bosco, Blanquet a Longue queue, Burgomaster, Cuvelier, Chat Grille, Chair a Dame, Charles Van Mons, (Old,) Cassolette, Comte de Fresnel, Copea, Caillot Rosat, Clara, Cumberland, Colmar d'ete, Clapp, Citron de Sirentz, Dearborn, (Van Mons,) Downton, Duquesne d'ete, Doyenne Mons, Deschamps, New Late, Dunbarton, Doyenne Diere, Enfan Prodige, Endicott, Elton, Fondante d'ete, Frederick of Prussia, Famenga, Forme Urbaniste, Fantasie Van Mons, Forme des'Delices, 82 French Iron, Green Yair, Grise Bonne, Garnstone, Green Catharine, Gilogil, Green Sugar, Gros Blanquet, Green Chisel, Hays, Hathorne's Seedling, Horticulture, Hastiveau, Ipswich Holland, Jargonelle, (of the French,] Kramelsbirne, Lincoln, Louis of Bologne, Lederbirne, Louise Bonne, Lodge, Lansac, Madame Vert, Miller' s Seedling, Marquis, Marceiis, Navez, Orange, Orange Tulippe, Phillips, Pitfour, Piatt's Bergamot, Passe Long Bras, Prince's Portugal, Pope's Scarlet Major, Pitt's Marie Louise, Royale d'Hiver, Rouse Lench, Rousselette St. Vincentj, Sans Pepins, Swan's Egg, Surpasse Meuris, Saint Bruno, Swiss Bergamot, Souvereine, Sickler, Thompson's (native N. H.) Tucker's Seedling, Trubscherdy Dule, Valee Franc-he, Whitfield, Windsor, Winter Orange, Wurtzer d'Automne, Yutte, Crassane, Winter Crassane, Citron of Bohemia, Madotte, Belle de Bruxelles, * It will of course be understood that this list applies to Massachusetts. Many of the varieties rejected here are valuable in other parts of the country more fa- vored in soil and climate. A considerable portion of them, however^ will be found in the list actually rejected by the Congress. Chairman. 83 APPLES. BeachamwelPs, Grey French Reinette, Cathead (of Philadelphia,) Muscovia, Caroline (of English cat.,) Irish Peach, Dodge's Early Red, Pigeonette, Fenouillet Rouge, Salina, S. WALKER, JONAH LOVETT, 2d, ROBERT MANNING, P. B. HOVEY, Jr., Committee. VERMONT. REPORT OF C. GOODRICH. Burlington, ( Vt.) Sept. 28th, 1849. To Marshall P. Wilder, Esq., Preset National Convention Fruit Growers : Sir, — I have not been able to meet with or consult the other mem- bers of your committee who reside at Bennington, as we have fewer communications with that town than with Liverpool, and as we have no State organization, no definite State report can be made. The past season has been very dry, and for two months very warm, the thermometer for same days rising to 100° and more. But little rain fell last fall, and for 1849 it has been for January 1 to May, 3.81 inches. May, 2.74 June 1 to August 6, 3.14 August 6 to 14, 4.16 and since, occasional showers. This, for this country, unprecedented drought affected fruit various- ly ; the size was small until the rain in August, since which all ex- cept early fruits have increased in size rapidly; still, the crop is about two weeks later than an average, and about three-fourths the usual size. Some northern varieties of Apples are very poor, others good, while th e Newtown Pippin is larger and fairer than I have ever be- fore seen it. As a whole, we have a full average of Apples, Pears, Plums and Cherries, both as to quality and quantity. Grapes were never better ; the berries in some cases small, but no mildew. 84 Of Apples, many English and Canadian, varieties were among the first cultivated. The Cornish Gilliflower, generally discarded, is here one of the highest flavored. Ribston Pippin and English Apples generally, flourish well. Among Apples generally cultivated, Early Harvest is here hardy, and in every respect first rate. Sweet Bough, do. do. Porter, do. Gravenstein, do. Fameuse is a great favorite, a great bearer in alternate years, but not equal to those grown in its native locale, Montreal, and ripens a month earlier. St. Lawrence, another native of Montreal, is first rate for cooking or for a dessert apple, and ripens two weeks earlier. Among our winter Apples, the Esopus Spitzenburgh was one of the first introduced ; has been extensively cultivated, but is apt to be spotted, and for our climate is not equal to the Baldwin, which is in every respect first rate. Rhode Island Greening, do. Hubbard ston Nonsuch, do. Roxbury Russet, do. Our best winter sweet Apple is the Danvers Winter Sweet. The Ladies Sweeting recently introduced, promises well in favorable situations. The Newtown Pippin, in favorable locations, is in some seasons good, occasionally very fine, and sometimes very poor. Not recommended for general culture. The Northern Spy has not yet fruited. No variety grows better than this, or appears more hardy. The Yellow Belle Bleur is considerably cultivated 25 miles north of this, where it is a very vigorous grower, a good bearer, and a great favorite. The Pomme Grise, from Montreal, and the Burressa from Quebec, are here Apples of the highest flavor, and worthy a trial further south. Of Pears, the White Doyenne is one of the most common ; it is always fine, and trees healthy — was among the first introduced. There has been but little attention given to the introduction of new varieties until a few years past, not long enough to speak with confidence. Generally they promise well — but few instances of blight. Dear- born's Seedling is our best summer pear. 85 The Bartlett is a favorite. Plums are abundant, and trees are healthy. No disease of any kind has ever attacked them. The Grapes mostly cultivated are natives of New England. The Isabella ripens well in good situations, but requires slight protection in winter. Should you deem this of any service, use it ; if not, it may be thrown aside. I hope another year to have materials to make some- thing like a State report; also, should I not be able to attend, to be able to send a box of specimens, which I should now do did a private opportunity offer. Very respectfully, Your obedient servant, G. GOODRICH. CONNECTICUT. REPORT OF THE STATE COMMITTEE. Your committee for the State of Connecticut, would respectfully report, that they have endeavored to collect all the information, rela- ting to the subject for which thsy were appointed, that could reason- ably be expected in one short season. It will be proper to state here, that one of your committee, George Olmsted Esq. of East Hartford died soon after his appointment. Rev. Wm. W. Turner of Hartford was appointed by the chairman, to fill the vacancy thus occasioned. The observations of those of your committee residing at New Ha- ven will be upon the success of fruit culture on a light sandy soil, ly- ing upon a sandy subsoil and situated on the seacoast. Of the others residing at Hartford, upon both a sandy and clayey soil, lying upon either a clay or gravelly subsoil and situated about thirty miles interi- or on the Connecticut river. "We will commence with the first fruits of the season and take no- tice of them in the order in which they come to maturity, with this general remark ; notwithstanding the soil in and around New Ha- ven is so light and sandy, it appears nevertheless, with suitable tillage, to be well adopted to nearly all the fruits commonly cultivated in our latitude, except apples, which do much better on the higher and 86 heavier soils in the state, especially in the counties of Hartford and Litchfield. Our soil affords very convenient harbor for insects, and if we have apples at all we must generally either take them inhabited or second hand. Strawberries. This fruit in ordinary seasons, begins to ripen the last of May and continues about a month. There are about thirty varieties cultivated with us. Nearly every garden has its strawberry bed. The varieties considered the best, are Hovey's seedling and Boston Pine. They are planted on the same bed or near by, but the plants are not allow- ed to intermingle. The Crimson Cone, Chili, Buist's Prize, French Yellow, Willie's Seedling, Bishop's Orange and Jenny's Seedling stand next in merit. Tile Peruvian, a staminate variety, bears fruit of more uniform size than Hovey's Seedling, but is a shy bearer. Black Prince, good bearer, but lacks flavor ; Methven Scarlet, Ross' Phoenix, Princess Alice Maude and Prolific Hautbois are about third rate. Aberdeen Beehive, Early Va. Scarlet and some others so far as they have been tried, rank no higher than u good." The Alpines are also considered of not much value for general cultivation. Raspberries. The American or common Red, Franconia and FastolfFare most es- teemed. The Red, White and Yellow Antwerps do not stand our winters unprotected and are but little cultivated. Gooseberries Are so liable to mildew with us, that not much attention is paid to their culture ; and yet they may be found in many of our gardens, and in some cases when considerable attention is given, do well. They do not appear so subject to mildew in gardens situated near salt wa- ter, that is, within a few rods. Cherries. This fruit does very well in the light soil of New Haven, and comes early into bearing. The trees seldom get winter-killed, yet some- times die without apparent cause. They grow in six or eight years to eighteen feet or more in height, eight or ten inches diameter in the trunk, and eighteen or twenty feet across the branches. The birds and flies, however, often lay claim to a large share of the best of the fruit. 87 The May-Duke is a regular and great bearer, ripening in succession On the same tree ; Belle de Choisy, very good, but shy bearer; Roy- al Duke does well ; Kentish Morello bears abundantly and regularly. Black Eagle is one of the richest and best flavored ; Black Tar- tarian, large and one of the best ; Honey Heart, small, but good bearer ; Elton, tender fleshed and of best quality. Bigarreau or Yellow Spanish, White Bigarreau or White Ox Heart, Holland Bigarreau, Flesh colored Bigarreau, Tradescants Black Heart or Elkhorn and American Heart are about all the firm- fleshed varieties cultivated with us. They are shy bearers generally, but the fruit is large and good ; probably they produce more abundant- ly on heavier soils. (All, except W'hite Bigarreau, bear most abun- dantly in the heavy loam of the Hudson, Chairman Gen. Fruit Com.) Plums. A dozen years ago the opinion was very general that plums could not be raised at New-Haven and its vicinity on account of the dis- ease known by the name of knots or warts. The disease, however, has gradually subsided, and plums are now raised, both in size and quality, to the satisfaction of all who are so fortunate as not to have them destroyed by the curculio. Various experiments for the de- struction of this insect, or to prevent its injuring the fruit, have hith- erto proved ineffectual, unless a preventive recently discovered by one of your committee shall prove, as it fairly promises, to be en- tirely effectual. The following are most of the varieties cultivated : Green Gage, best ; trees grow rather slowly, but they are free and regular bearers and the fruit is decidedly the best ; Washington, Yellow Gage, Go- liath, Buel, Huling's Superb and Jefferson, take the same rank; Coe's Golden Drop and Imperial Gage, decay on the tree; Smith's Orleans, Bleecker's Gage, Emerald Drop, Dominie Dull and Lombard, very good; Royal de Tours, very good, but shy bearer; Frost Gage is of best quality; White Magnum Bonum very good for preserves; Damsons good. Pmches. People in our region have become very much discouraged in re- gard to raising this delicious fruit. The trees have the yellows in many cases, before they begin to bear, and if they bear at all, it is only for one or two seasons ; seedlings, or some inferior sort, may be an exception. The choice standard varieties, if they bear so mucb as one season, do not last. One of your committee, ten years ago, raised as fine peaches as could be desired, and in great abundance y but now, on the same ground, with much pains, is unable to get any worth naming. The theory of Dr. VanMons, " that the improvement of the qual* ity of the fruit is at the expense of the life of the tree," and " that those trees which produce the most delicate fruit are short lived," may afford a hint in regard to the difficulty of raising peaches. I The explanation of the great prevalence of the yellows in Con- necticut, lies, we imagine, in the fact of the large introduction of later years, of unhealthy trees, bought indiscriminately in the mar- kets of New-York. A little attention to destroying every tree already affected, and introducing those of healthy constitution from other districts, will very soon result in the production of the finest fruit again, as has been abundantly proved in many parts of the State of New- York. Chairman Gen. Fruit Com. J Pears. : This fruit seems to have been cultivated at New- Haven from a very early period of its settlement, as appears from several trees now standing, which bear fruit from year to year, and are known to be over two hundred years old. Fifty or more years ago, there also appears to have been unusual attention given to this fruit, as there are a large number of trees scat- tered throughout the town, of about that age — more, probably, than can be found in any other in the State, but they are mostly of the old, and what are now considered, inferior sorts, such as the Pound Pear, Harvest, Sugar Top, Orange, Jonah, Winter Bell, Virgalieu, Bon Chretien and some others. These trees, however, in many in- stances, are turned to good account by having the new varieties en- grafted upon them, to the number, in some cases, of twenty or more. The new sorts grow vigorously upon the old trees3 producing fruit in from two to four years. More recently, increasing attention has been given to this fruit, and many of the new and superior kinds have been introduced, for most of which we are indebted to our eastern friends, who have taken such honorable lead in procuring and disseminating new and valua- ble varieties. In the list of pears found here, we rate them as follows ; Skinless, 89 good; Catharine, very good; Hubbard's Seedling, good; Ive5s Seed* ling, good; Bloodgood, best; Doyenne d' Ete, best. These ripen with us the first week in August. The Doyenne d' Ete, on quince, is the best of them. Summer Bergamot, good ; Sugar Top, good ; Fine Gold of Summer, good; Rousselet Hatif, good; Dearborn's Seedling- best; Tyson, best; English Jargonelle, best ; Windsor, good; Early Harvest, good; French Jargonelle, good for nothing with us; Juli- enne, best; Madeleine, very good; Edward's Citron, very good; Sum- mer Franc Real, on quince very superior; Bartlett, best; Orange, good; Summer Bon Chretien, good. Among our fall or autumn pears, Andrews is very good; Bleeck- er's Meadow, great bearer, sometimes very good; Beurre de Capiau- mont, sometimes very good, ripe 1st Oct.; Beurre Brown, very good; Beurre Bosc, best; Beurre d' Amalis, goodj Beurre Diel, best; Bezi de la Motte, good ; Golden Beurre of Bilboa best, 1st Sept.; Gan- sel's Bergamot, sometimes best, 20 Sept.; Howell, best, 20 Sept.; Calhoun best, last Oct.; White Doyenne, not good ; Henrietta, very good, 1st Sep. ; Elizabeth, very good, Oct. ; Flemish Beauty, best, Sept. 20 ; Louise Bonne de Jersey, best, Oct. 1st ; Fondante d'Au- tomne, best; Napoleon, very good ; St. Ghislain, very good, Sept. 1; Seckel, best, Oct. 1; Van Mons Leon le Clerc, best, Oct. 1 ; Wash- ington, good ; Rushmore's Bon Chretien, good, Oct. 1; Duchesse d'Angouleme, best ; Cushing's Melting, very good ; Tea Pear, best, Sept. 1; Frederick of Wurtemburg, very good; Urbaniste, very good. Among winter pears : Beurre d'Aremberg, best ; Vicar of Wink- field, best ; Easter Beurre, very good ; St. Germain, (old) good ; Prince's St. Germain, good; Winter Virgalieu or Colmar, good; Winter Bell, (sometimes weighing near two pounds,) very good for cooking; Jonah or Winter Franc Real, great bearer— *good ; Glout Morceau and Passe Colmar, not yet fmited; Columbia, good ; Win- ter Nelis, best. There are other foreign winter varieties, but not sufficiently tested to warrant an opinion. A large number of seedling pears have originated in New-Haven and its neighboring towns — some of which have already been noticed in this report and are more or less known. It may be interesting to some present to hear something of others. The late Gov. Edwards planted pear seeds about 30 years ao-o for the purpose of obtaining new varieties. There are now standing in the garden he cultivated 30 varieties named by himself. Some of 90 them quite, and others nearly, first rate— such as the Citron, Cal- houn, Dallas, Henrietta, Elizabeth, &c. The Edwards and Clay are the largest— they ripen in September and October. The late Mr. Thos. Howell, whose garden is adjoining Gov. Ed- wards' , followed his example and planted pear seeds — the result is, at least one first rate pear, viz : the Howell. The " New-Haven Beauty" is very handsome, but not quite first rate. Another, a sw^eet pear, of good size, is excellent for baking. Some bore this season for the first time— others have not yet fruited. About 20 trees in all. The Punderson pear is a great bearer and very good. There are seedlings by Dr. Totten worthy of notice. Also by Dr. Eli Ives, a large number — some of which are vrorthy of dissemination. At Whitneyville is a chance seedling— the Skinner pear. The Tea pear originated in Milford, the next town west of us, and is an ex- cellent variety— ripe 1st September. "White's seedling— also a new seedling by S. D. Pardee— of promise. Fruit trees are with us transplanted with more care than formerly, and the operation is better understood, as well as its importance in reference to success. It is considered indispensable now with us to trench the ground where fruit trees are to be planted—- that is, dig two spades deep— -manuring freely, and mixing the whole thoroughly together — thus making a soil two feet deep. The manures commonly used, are stable, peat, muck, oyster shell or stone lime, ashes, and the leaves or litter of the ground, all thrown together into a heap in the fall, making a compost which in the spring is in fine condition for use. Ground bone is also used, and guano. The latter is mostly in liquid form. Quince stocks for pears, especially for the garden, are coming very much into favor. The fruit appears to be fairer, handsomer and bet- ter than when upon pear stocks. Pear trees with us appear to be en- tirely exempt from disease. Quinces Do well in our light soil, bear abundantly and the fruit is of large size, when the trees are regularly pruned and receive an annual top dressing of manure. The Orange or Apple, the Portugal and also the Pear shaped varieties are cultivated in Connecticut. 91 Grapes. Almost every residence in our region has its grape vine and some have from 20 to 30. The Isabella and Catawba are the most com- mon, and when planted where they receive some protection from cold3 they amply repay the cultivation ; but if planted in the open ground without protection j they often fail. The Bland or Alexander, Shirt- lefF seedling, Missouri, Miller's Burgundy, Zinfindal and some others are also cultivated here in a few cases. Foreign varieties under glass are not extensively cultivated. Where they are, however, good success and entire satisfaction have attended. Apricots and Nectarines are both cultivated. Very handsome specimens of which wTere shown at our weekly exhibitions this season. The former are in all cases trained to some building and have been noticed by your committee on the north, south and east sides, doing wrell in each aspect. Apples. Our report on this fruit, will, in order to make it more satisfactory, be entirely deferred till next year. GEORGE GABRIEL, A. S. MUNSON, V. M. DOUW, H. TERRY, W. W. TURNER. Committee for the State of Connecticut. MAINE. REPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE. Pomology, with a few honorable exceptions, has as yet received but a small share of attention from the inhabitants of the state of Maine. In fact, the cultivation of choice fruits, till within a few years past, has been almost entirely neglected in by far the greater portion of our state, although we have very good soil, in all the varieties usually found in the other New England States. Very many, if not most of the varieties of the apple, the plum, and the gooseberry, thrive with us, and may be safely cultivated, as our own experience has3 at least partially, proved, in as great perfection as in other States of the Union; and many varieties are improved by being transplanted from other locations to this state. Some select varieties of the pear and cherry may be grown successfully with us, but our climate generally is not so congenial to the growing of these fruits at that of New- York or Massachusetts. The quince has been cultivated even in great perfection by some individuals on the Kennebec river; but in other parts of our state the effort has not been attended with the same success. The cultivation of the peach has also proved a failure, excepting in a few instances where the location is very favorable; but we are confident it is not suited to the rigors of our climate. We are inclined to believe some hardy and very early varieties of the grape may be cultivated with success. We need a longer sea- son to ripen this fruit. The English Gooseberry thrives with us ad- mirably, and probably in greater perfection than in other states; and is generally very free from mildew. Two of your committee culti- vate about fifty varieties of this berry. The fruit of some kinds attained a very large size, being four inches in circumference, and of first rate flavor. We would respectfully call the attention of the citizens of our State to this fruit as it is well suited to it. We find ashes and meadow muck, pounded bones and horn shav- ings to be highly valuable as manures for trees and shrubs, to be used as recommended by Mr. Downing in several numbers of the " Horti- culturist," particularly for the year past. Until we have more experience it is not our design to extend our remarks, (especially in this our first report,) further than to comply with the solicitations of some of our citizens of Maine, in giving the names of a few such fruits as experience has indicated to be best suited to our climate, and such as are worthy of general cultivation |n the most northern State in the Union. Apples. Bell's Early, Early Sweet Bough, William's Favorite, Gravenstein3 Porter, Red Astrachan, Danvers Winter Sweet, Golden or Orange Sweet, Tallman's Sweet, Ribston Pippin, R. I. Greening, Roxbury Russett, Duchess of Oldenberg, Baldwin, Fameuse. Pears. Dearborn's Seedling, Seckel, Flemish Beauty, Heathcot, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Yicar of Winkfield, Mc« 93 Laughlin, Frederick of Wurtemberg, Glout Morceau, Beurre d'Arem- berg, Winter Nelis, Fulton, Belle Lucrative and Rostiezer. Plums. Jefferson, Green Gage, Washington, Imperial Gage, Purple Gage, Purple Favorite, McLaughlin, Lombard, Imperial Ottoman, Frost Gage, Columbia, Bleecker's Gage, and for preserving, the White Magnum Bonum, Smith's Orleans, Diapree Rouge, American Yellow Gage. Cherries. May Duke, Downer's Late, Black Eagle, Elton, Downton, Honey Heart. Gooseberries. Red Warrington, Crown Bob, Whitesmith, Green Walnut, Red Champagne, Yellow Champagne, Early Green Hairy, Heart of Oak, Houghton's Seedling, Keen's Seedling, Green Gage, White Honey, Rifleman, Bright Venus, Early Sulphur, Yellow Ball, Smiling Beauty, and Green Laurel. All which is respectfully submitted. HENRY LITTLE, S. L. GOODALE. OHIO. REPORT OF A. McINTOSH. To A. J. Downing, Esq., Chairman of General Fruit Committee : In consequence of the general failure of the fruit crop this year throughout the State, but little opportunity has presented for carrying out the views of the Congress. It was the intention of our commit- tee to have met during the season at different places in the State, for the purpose of examining, comparing and testing the various fruits of each locality, observing the character of the soil, system of cultiva- tion, process of manuring, mode of culture, &c. In any ordinary season this course wonld have ensured the collection of many valua- ble statistics. It is hoped that another year will supply this deside- ratum, and enable the committee to lay before Congress whatever interesting evidence can be drawn from the productions of our fertile 94 soil and genial climate, as well as from the experience of our many intelligent, practical horticulturists. Owing to this unprecedented scarcity of fruit, the exhibitions of our local societies have been less interesting than usual, and the committee do not deem it advisable to attempt a general report for the State. They will await another year's experiment before proceeding to pass judgment on the many inferior or worthless kinds of fruit that are still extensively cul- tivated. In the tables and remarks that follow, the responsibility for accuracy rests with the undersigned alone, and his opinions are based on care- ful observation and actual experience in northern Ohio, and may not be applicable to all sections of the State. It is, however, proper to remark, that these views are approved of by the distinguished and in- telligent officers and members of the Cleveland Horticultural Society. I proceed to classify, in the manner recommended by you, certain varieties of fruit, omitting all such as seem to require farther time and testing, to determine their proper merit : APPLES. Good. Very good. Best. Bough, Large Early, Summer Rose, Early Harvest, Red Astrachan, Porter, Gravenstein, Summer Queen, Rambo, Fall Pippin, Jonathan, Strawberry, Autumn, Belmont, Roxbury Russet, Rh. Island Greening, Swaar, Red Seeknofurther, Yellow Belle-Fleur, Esopus Spitzenburg, Lady Apple, Early Strawberry. Were my selection limited to a single variety, I should prefer the Belmont. PEARS. Good. Very good. Best. Napoleon, Louise Bonne de Jer- Seckel, Frederic of Wurtem- sey, on Quince stock, Stevens' Genesee, burg, Doyenne White, do, Madeleine, Bartlett, Winter Nelis, Bloodgood, Dearborn's Seedling, Beurre Diel, on Quince stock, Duchesse d'Angouleme3 on Quince stock, Marie Louise, do. For a single variety, I prefer the Bartlett, 95 CHERRIES. Good. Very Good. Best- Napoleon, Elton, Belle de Choisy, Tradescanf s Bl'k heart, Black Eagle, Bigarreau, May Duke, Knight's Early Black, Black Tartarian, American Heart, Amber, Downer's late Red Black Heart. Best single variety, Black Tartarian. There are several other varieties including some seedlings, that give promise of excellence, but farther probation is required before their just rank can be assigned them PEACHES. Good. Very Good. Best. Early Ann, President, Early Tillotson, Red & yellow rareripe. Cable's Early Meloco- Yellow Alberge, Admirable cling, ton. Morris Red Rareripe, Old Newington cling. Early York, Malta. PLUMS. Owing to the continued ravages of the curculio, but little has been accomplished in the cultivation of this fruit. The Jefferson, Green Gage, Columbia and some others produce well ; but the specimens hitherto produced do not warrant a definite judgment. The follow- ing have been fully tested. Washington (best), Smith's Orleans and Drap d'Or, (very good), Imperial Gage, (good,) Cods Golden Drop, good, but too late for this section. APRICOTS. Breda, (good) Moorpark, (very good) , Hemskirke and Peach, (best), are the only ones that have been fully tested. GRAPES. The best hardy varieties are the Catawba, Isabella and Miller's Burgundy. STRAWBERRIES. Best. Very Good. Good. Hovey's seedling, Grove End Scarlet, Ross' Phoenix, Burr's seedling. Willey's. Iowa. The two most formidable enemies (after the curculio) which fruit growers have to encounter are the Rose Bug and the Slug. The first 96 made a terrible onslaught upon the cherry trees, greedily devouring whatever fruit there was. So thorough was the devastation that scarcely a perfect cherry was matured this season. The Slug, how- ever, has proved a far more destructive foe. In some localities his ravages have been dreadful, principally among the cherry and pear trees. Thousands of trees have been stripped of their entire foliage, and will hardly survive the shock. Numerous remedies have been tried, and with various success. A mixture of tobacco juice and strong whale-oil soap suds, was effectually used on the bug. Ashes, slacked lime and dry dirt, have measurably succeeded in displacing the slug. I will add that numerous Horticultural Societies have been formed in the State and give promise of great usefulness in diffusing informa- tion and forming correct taste in relation to the culture of fruit. The three most prominent of them are located at Cincinnati, Columbus, Dayton and Cleveland, cities, southern, central and northern, soon to be connected by railroad which will greatly facilitate interchanges be- tween them, and enable these societies to collect, examine and com- pare fruit at all seasons of the year. These societies embrace very many of our intelligent and most practical pomologists, and from their direct, friendly, zealous and determined co-operation, the American Congress may in future years expect much valuable aid. All which is respectfully submitted. Cleveland, Ohio, Sept. 22, 1849. A. McINTOSH. MISSOURI. REPORT OF THE FRUIT COMMITTEE. Owing to the raging of the cholera, and the absence from home of some of the members of the Committee, a meeting was not held un- til the 12th of October, 1849. At this meeting the outlines of the following brief report were agreed upon, and the chairman requested to transmit the same to the chairman of the General Fruit Committee. The natural soil of this part of the country is a black vegetable mould, of perhaps six inches average depth, lying upon a sub-soil of 97 yellow clay, under which lies a bluish limestone. Upon this soil superior crops of various fruits have been produced. The bottom lands of the rivers, made of alluvial soil, have also been tried, and though they produce tolerably well, yet the fruit crops are deemed inferior, and the trees are believed to be short-lived. The Committee are not aware that the superior crops of fruit which have been grown are attributable to any particular kind or system of manuring. Lime and ashes, however, have been applied with beneficial effects, and the necessity of keeping the orchard ground in good tilth is very apparent. In young orchards it is deemed highly important to cultivate hoed crops for the first five or six years. The most profitable market fruits of good quality which appear in this market, as yet, are as follows : Jlpples. — Summer — Early Red Margaret, Early Harvest. Autumn — Rambo, White Belle-Fleur, Porter. Winter.— Rawles Janet, Green Newtown Pippin, Van- dervere, Peck's Pleasant Pears. — This fruit is so subject to blight, that, at present, almost any variety, which succeeds, is profitable. Peaches. — -A great variety is produced here, and the trees succeed admirably, when kept clear of the worm. The crop, however, is lia- ble to fail in part from frosts. Among the most profitable of the standard varieties are the Early York, Late Admirable, Incompara- ble, Morris' Red and White, Heath, Washington Cling, Lemon Clingstone, Grosse Mignonne, &c. Some very excellent seedlings are favorites here, and some varieties grow to great size. Plums.— The trees are short-lived, and the fruit invariably taken by the curculio. The same may be said of the Nectarines and Ap- ricots. Cherries. — The Duke and Morello cherries do very well, but the finer varieties of sweet or heart cherries cannot be said to succeed satisfactorily. The trees grow too rapidly, and after a few years burst their bark, and are seriously injured. Quinces.— The climate seems too hot for this fruit, and the trees are very subject to the borer and to insect blight. Small crops only are obtained. The list of varieties, especially of apples, which have been tried and condemned, would be large. We may remark that many of the 7 98 best varieties of fruits of the east, change their character here. Asj, for example, the Rhode Island Greening becomes an ordinary fall apple; the Jonathan becomes a good fall apple, and so of the Boston Russett, and others. The best grape yet cultivated for wine, is the Catawba. This is cultivated to a considerable extent in different parts of the State, and produces a wine resembling Hock. This, however is not deemed sa- tisfactory, and efforts are making to produce new varieties from the seed. Foreign grapes do not succeed in the open air. The American Black is considered one of the best of the Rasp- berries cultivated here. Some of the native reds do very well, but are not remarkable for their productiveness or flavor. The Antwerps do not succeed well. The Fastolff has been recently introduced. A species of "Cane" raspberry bears very well. Of Currants, the White and Red Dutch, when properly situated and cultivated, grow to a large size, bear good crops, and ripen the last of June or early in July. Gooseberries mildew. Of Strawberries, there are many varieties cultivated here, of which a sort of Pine, possibly the " Old Pine," is most popular with many of those who grow for market. With some, Hovey's Seedling, plant- ed with the Iowa male, produces satisfactory crops. We annex the following brief table of apples in conformity with the arrangement suggested by the chairman of the General. Fruit Committee. There are a great many other varieties cultivated here, some of which, though " best " at the east, are not esteemed as even " good n here, and there are many varieties also, which are yet under trial, and with which we have not had sufficient experience, as the u Cooper," " Putnam Russett," &c, &e. APPLES. Good. Very good. Best. Summer Queen, Large Yellow Bough, Early Harvest Red Astrachan, Fall Pippin, Early Red Margaret, Holland Pippin, Porter, Rambo, Seeknofurther, Baldwin (Early Winter), Green Newtown Pippin, Golden Pippin, White Belle-Fleur,(Fall)Rawle's Janet. Peck's Pleasant, Jonathan, (Fall,) Vandervere. Priestly. The committee are agreed that if they were to plant here but three 99 varieties of apple, one for each season, they would be Early Red Margaret, Rambo 3 and Rawle's Janet or Janating, as it is usually called here. The peculiar qualities of the lacter are, late blooming, great and certain productiveness, good flavor and long keeping. A new winter apple produced here, called the " Golden Seedling," is deemed good. There are several other new varieties, confined to particular localities, which are esteemed very good. We have not made up a table of pears, because we fear the blight will scarcely leave a tree living in the country. Some excellent crops, however, have been produced of the White Doyenne, the Seckel, the Bartlett, and some varieties grown by the old French in- habitants,— names not known. A new variety resembling the Seckel, but of large size, has been produced in this vicinity, and is called " Mitchell's Russet." All of which is respectfully submitted. THO. ALLEN, LEWIS BISSELL, E. MALLENCHRODT, N. REIHL. Si. Louis, Oct. 12, 1849. IOWA. REPORT OF FRUIT COMMITTEE. Davenport, Sept. 13, 1849. A. J. Downing, Esq., Chairman, #c, Newburgh, JV. Y.: The committee for the State of Iowa, from their remote positions from each other in different parts of the State, are unable to make a special report. What I shall have to say, please regard as the crude opinions of the chairman, gathered from his limited experience and conversations with the best fruit growers in middle Iowa. The natural soil of all Iowa is a black mould, of a depth varying from twelve to even thirty-six inches. This mould is intermixed with sand and clay, in varying proportions ; sometimes the sand pre- dominates, and renders the ground easily tilled, and in wet seasons exceedingly productive. Sometimes the clay predominates and makes a stiff mould, difficult to work, but when well worked, exceedingly productive. The sub-soil is usually clay, though strata occur of 100 sand, and sand and gravel. Universal observation, wherever apples have been tried over the whole State, concurs in opinion that they can be successfully cultivated, and both for quality and size are equal to any in the Union. The quality of peaches when they hit, is first rate, but they are a very uncertain crop. Pears and plums are suffi- ciently cultivated to know that excellent can be produced from our soil, if we can make the trees live in it, and they are no more liable to disease here than all over the west. Cherries of good quality, we must acknowledge, that thus far we cannot produce. The common Red Cherry grows strongly, is very hardy, and has a small sour fruit of little value. All other kinds have winter killed, and some of our nurserymen have abandoned their culture. We find great difficulty in ascertaining what fruits we grow. We are overrun with local names and seedlings, and false kinds without number have been palmed on us. To return to particular fruits, which have known names, and have been tried in this vicinity. APPLES. Early Harvest, propagated under the name of u Tart Bough:" quality, size and growth of trees corresponds with our standard Downing's fruits, and is the best early dessert apple known. Red Astrakhan. — First rate for cooking; rather tart for the dessert; the tree a vigorous grower, with a most beautiful round head. Dr. Weed, of Bloomington, says, " the handsomest apple I have ever seen." Rambo. — Fruit and tree in every respect first rate. Yellow JV. Pippin and Rhode Island Greening. — So far as tried have proved very satisfactory. Yellow Belle Fleur. — Fruit large, quality best; tree vigorous grow- er, and early bearer. It succeeds admirably. Romanite. — A very large red apple, of fine flavor from Dec. 1st to Feb. 1st; is extensively cultivated in central and southern Illinois, under this name, and has found its way here. This is not its true name. It is a good apple in its season for the dessert; but it soon be- comes mealy. The best market apple west of Indiana is, without doubt, the Janating, or Rawle's Janat. For rich flavor and productiveness, it cannot be surpassed. It is rather below the medium size, to which some persons, without good reason, object. 101 Pears. — Our experience is limited, but tie Bartlett has borne the palm from the others tried here. Seedlings grow very rapidly in this climate. One, in this town, made a growth in its main stem, of eight feet in height last year, after being transplanted in the spring. The best grapes for garden culture here are the Catawba and Isa- bella. Raspberries, gooseberries and currants, all do well in this climate. The canes of the Red Antwerp raspberry are winter killed unless protected. Apricots, nectarines, and quinces grow rapidly, but have not borne fruit long enough with us to be tested. We have two horticultural societies, one in middle and the other in southern Iowa. Their influence will make a great advance in the cultivation of fruits in Iowa, and in another year, you may expect reports from both. In great haste, your ob't serv't, JA'S GRANT, Chairman Coin., Iowa, KENTUCKY. [We extract the following hint, which has the promise of useful- ness in it, from a letter addressed to the Convention by the chairman of the committee for Ky. Chairman Gen, Fruit Com.] Not a single incident has occurred, within the range of my obser- vation, in any degree interesting to the cause of the cultivator, unless it should be some trial made by myself with lime in preventing the ravages of the Curculio on smooth skinned fruits, the result of which I have reported to the Massachusetts Hoticultural Society, and of lime, also, as a destroyer of the tetter of cocci, or white scale insects, which infest the orange family and the Oleander. A few trees of oranges and lemons, which have for a long time been disfigured and enfeebled by myriads of cocci, were last fall so completely dusted with lime as to seem white- washed in every part ; and the adhesive property of lime kept them white, notwithstanding the action of the syringe during winter. The result was an entire destruction of every coccus — to the extent that none have since appeared. The trees are 102 in great vigor, but I will not undertake to determine how much that vigor is lessened or increased by the action of lime on the leaves and branches. Very respectfully, yours, L0 YOUNG, Chairman of Fruit Committee? For State of Kentucky. DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. REPORT OF COMMITTEE. The undersigned chairman of the committee on Fruits for the Dis- trict of Columbia resentfully submits the following report to the con- sideration of the Congrtss of Fruit-growers. The committee regret to s-iy that little has been done by them to carry out the purpose intended by their appointment. Owing to the great failure of fruit this season, it was thought but little information could be obtained either satisfactory to the committee or useful to the community at large ; but your committee assure the Congress that the importance of the subject is duly appreciated by those who have had the honor to be selected, as well as by the citizens of the District of Columbia generally, and with great pleasure report that they have re- ceived the assurance of a hearty co-operation from most of the fruit growers, and trust that when a more propitious season will allow it, they will be enabled to add at least a mite to the mass of highly im- portant information which your labors will be sure to collect. The failure of fruit in this District this season is mainly owing to the heavy frosts about the time the trees were coming into bloom. The peach seems to be the most important failure here on account of the great extent to which we have embarked in its cultivation as a crop for the supply of our own and the neighboring markets. Some few facts have come under the observation of your committee, which though they may be generally known to the practiced cultivator or to the man of observation, yet may not be wholly uninteresting to some of the community. Your committee allude to the exemption of the peach and other fruits from the fatal effect of the frost in some particular localities, amid the almost total destruction around. It appears evident to this committee that the main cause of this exemption referred to the com- parative elevation of those localities above the surrounding country. 103 If the frost be light the orchards on the low grounds or bottoms only fail, whilst all others escape, and in proportion as the coldincreasesthe effect reaches to the higher ground, gradually extending upwards; but such ig the effect produced by the upward tendency of heat and the conse- quent settling of cold growing out of the difference in their specific gravity. Frost at this season of the year, seldom reaches the points of much elevation. In this neighborhood we have situations that al- most invariably escape. Such has been the lot of the orchard of Mr. George W. Riggs, one of your committee. In 1847 his crop was abundant, whilst the orchards immediately around him had scarcely a peach, and most of them not a solitary one. In the orchard of Mr. Cammock. another successful cultivator, on another elevated ridge, the effect was the same. In his orchard though the difference be- tween the highest and lowest points cNihi not have been more than 25 to 30 feet, yet the difference could be traced in almost every row of trees and on those in the lowest places scarcely a peach could be found. Mr. Cammock reports that particular sorts, from some constitution- al cause, seemed to be more exempt or more hardy than others, yet the difference in the different points of elevation was equally evident among those as among other sorts. The different orchards throughout this section, have been affected the present season almost universally in the same way as in 1847 • and though the committee have no means now of ascertaining the comparative state of the thermometer at any given point between the two seasons, yet they are of opinion that the cold of this year was greater than that of 1847. As an illustration of the difference of cold in points of different el- evation, observations made at two different points in the grounds by the chairman of the committee are here introduced. A. D. 1835* Jan. 8th, 20 min. before sunrise, top of hill, 4 deg. below zero. A. D. 1835 Jan. 8th, 20 min. before sunrise, bottom of the hill, 18 J deg. below zero. Difference 14 J deg. A. D. 1835, Jan. 9th, same time, top of hill, 12 deg. below zero. bottom do, 15| do difference 3| deg. Jan. 10th, same time, top of hill, 2 deg. above zero. bottom do, 7J do difference 9| deg. • This was «« the cold winter." The highest of the two points where the observations were made was the spot on which his house stands, 120 feet higher than the other point, and only 400 yards distant from it. The house stands at a point far below the elevation of much of the surrounding country, and had an observation been taken at higher points, no doubt the differ- ence would have been greater. The astonishing difference of 14| deg. at a distance of only 400 yards can only be accounted for by the extreme stillness of the night, and the total absence of the least mo- tion in the air. Had there been such motion, the result could not have been the same, as was fairly tested by observation made during the high winds of Feb. 7, 8 and 9, in the same year, when not a quarter of a degree of difference could be perceived at the two points5 and what is also somewhat remarkable, the thermometer did not fall below 1J degrees above zero, though owing to a strong current of wind, it was generally thought to be the most severely cold weather ever experienced here, and so long was the continuance and so strong the current that the cold was carried south so as to destroy the orange trees near St. Augustine and even to affect the coffee trees in the West Indies. While the winds continue to blow, but little danger is to be ap- prehended, but as they subside the cold concentrates in the lower places, and the fruit in such places is consequently destroyed. There are other causes which may produce the like effects in other locali- ties, such as the heat arising from large bodies of water, which can- not be cooled down by a few days current of wind from the north- west, and having a higher temperature within them than the surround- ing air. As soon as the winds subside the heat naturally arising from the water must tend to check the cold? and it must be obvious that a few degrees of heat only are required to protect the fruit Where the winds pass over a sheet of water for two or three miles in length, when they subside there is only a gentle wafting of the warmth that arises from it, just sufficient to create the desired effect. Such was the situation of the orchard of Mr. Cromwell, near Baltimore, Md.5 long known as the unrivalled " peach king " of that city. On a vi- sit of Mr. Claerman, of this committtee, to his orchard, about the year 1834, he was assured that he cared no more for frost than he did what sort of weather he had the year before j the only effect it had was to insure him a good price for his peaches, as it had created a scarcity elsewhere, but did no injury to his crop 105 From the foregoing facts your committee take the liberty to siig* gest to those who possess such situations, to embark largely in peach culture, as a crop, when there is a failure in other places, is worth more than half a dozen crops of ordinary seasons, and should that failure occur only once in seven years, they will find themselves amply compensated. In the course of our enquiries into these matters, other suggestions with regard to protection against frost, have been presented to your committee, but they do not deem them of sufficient importance to be now presented to this Congress. Your committee must further state that the almost incredible im- provement produced by judicious cultivation on the Peach and Straw- berry, coming under their immediate notice, as such, they cannot with propriety pass them by in silence. In the orchard of Mr. Geo. W. Riggs, the system of shortening in and thinning by hand, with the application of manure and a free use of the plough, have produ- ced such improvement in his crop of peaches, that during the glut in our market in 1848, when a great portion of the fruit could not be consumed, his peaches found regular purchasers at two dollars per basket, whilst the average price did not exceed 25 to 40 cents per basket. Your committee are of opinion that whenever the system is pro- perly pursued, the labor and expense will meet an ample remunera- tion. It is also a well known fact, that whilst bushels of strawberries are to be had in our market at 6 to 8 cents per quart, some cultivators have been able to get 50 cents per quart for the finest specimens. JOSHUA PIERCE, Chahman of the committee of the District of Columbia. VIRGINIA. REPORT OF YARDLEY TAYLOR, Loudon County ) Fa., 9th mo. 18th, 1849. Not being able myself to attend the sittings of the Congress of Fruit Growers this year, 1 still feel a deep interest in its proceedings, and am willing to aid, as far as I am able, the objects of the Conven- tion, One of these objects, and a very important one to nurserymen 106 and fruit growers, is the knowledge of the best varieties suited to particular localities, or for general cultivation. This part of Virginia is about latitude 39° 10", and in elevation about 500 feet above tide. The western half of this county is included within the branches of the Blue Ridge range of mountains, which is a continuation of the Highlands of New- York. In geological position, it lies between the granite and lower secondary formations, including gneiss, the several varieties of the slates and their combinations, interspersed with horn- blende and quartz, and on the mountain ranges, epidote with clorite slate. The whole forming a silicio-argillaceous soil, well adapted to the cultivation of grain, grass crops, and fruit trees. But little attention has hitherto been paid to the cultivation of the latter here, as no market exists of much value for fresh fruit. More attention is now being paid to their cultivation than formerly, as many are beginning to find out that they might as well have good fruit as the indifferent kinds they are accustomed to. Of the varieties reported last year, we have the Early Harvest, Large Yellow Bough, Fall Pippin, Yellow Belle-Fleur and Newtown Pippin ; all good in their season, but ripening here earlier than farther north, and this season more so than usual, owing to the very dry summer. The Belle-Fleur Apple is now ripe and falling from the trees. Of fruits discussed in Convention, the Smoke-house is here considered good. We have some varieties here not generally known at the north, five of which are described in the Farmer's Encyclopedia of Agriculture, by Professor Johnson, Philadelphia edition, 1844, article Malus, sec- tion Southern Apples, viz : Prior's Red and Rawle's Janet ; the latter known here as the Rock-Renmon or Hereford's Streak, and is, probably, identical or similar to Downing's Borsdorffer. The great desideratum here is, to procure varieties that are good keeping apples ; many of those from the north, particularly New Eng- land, so far as our experience yet goes, will not here be late keeping varieties. They ripen too early to keep well. We had proba- bly better look more to the south for winter fruit. There are some varieties in this county that bid fair to be valuable as long keepers with us, that originated south of James river in Virginia. I propose, at some future time, to bring them to the notice of the Convention, as well as some other varieties in cultivation, but am not prepared at present. Peaches succeed well here. It is no uncommon thing to see trees 30 or 40 years old. The yellows occasionally are seen, and where no 107 efforts are made to extirpate those that are affected, the disease has in some places destroyed many trees ; but where pains have been taken to prevent it, the disease seldom appears. In comparing the time of ripening with Downing's work where the varieties are recognized, they ripen 10 or 12 days earlier than at Newburgh, or New-York. Of Pears, Plums and Cherries, so little has been done here, that little can be said respecting them ; but they are beginning to be cul- tivated, and after a few years experience we may be able to report progress. YARDLEY TAYLOR. S. B. Parsons, Secretary of the American Congress of Fruit Growers. GEORGIA. REPORT OF WM. A. WHITE, Marshall P. Wilder, Esq., President of National Convention of Fruit Growers t Dear Sir :— I enclose herewith lists of fruits which have been tried with us in Athens, Georgia, and found fully to sustain their character, as described in Downing's work on Fruits. These varie- ties have been fully tested in the grounds of M. A. Ward, M. D.? and in those of the late James Camak, Esq., former editor of the South- ern Cultivator. A severe frost with us, in April, the present year, after the fruit had set, prevented us from having the first trial of many celebrated fruits not in these lists, which this year gave for the first time promise of bearing. Apples.— Nearly all the best northern fruits have been tried with us, and they almost without exception sustain their character for ex- cellence ; but our seasons are so long that all the winter fruits ripen off early in the fall. We have but one apple that will keep well into the winter. This is the Virginia Greening, first described by G. B. Hapgood, in the Southern Cultivator, whose description I copy. Virginia Greening — Medium size, green color, with dark, clouded spots ; matures late, keeps well till spring, and even into summer, in this climate ; subject to fewer failures than most other apples ; tree an early and good bearer, and not liable to disease ; flesh tender^ 108 quite juicy, early in the season, but grows dryer and tougher ill spring. Apricots.— Our best Apricot is " Ringold's Oglethorpe," of which the stone was brought from Italy, by the Hon. R. H. Wilde. The frost prevents a description of it this year. The Breda, Moorpark, and Peach, all prove excellent with us, the White Masculine is bet- ter than described, while the Roman is so large, and the quality so good that we consider it very little inferior to the best. The only difficulty in raising this fruit arises from the curculio. Cherries. —We can raise none with any profit except the Kentish^ Morello and Mayduke. ffo™.— Of the varieties cultivated few are named ; but of these we consider the Celestial as the very best. Grapes. — The Warrenton is our best grape. Next the Isabella and Catawba, but all kinds are subject to rot, except the Scupper- nong. The latter, from the thickness of the skin and the pulpy na- ture of the fruit is inferior to the others. It is, however, very free from disease. Nectarines. — Not fully tested yet, the varieties most celebrated have been introduced. Peaches. — Of these we have tried the following kinds, and know them to be of first quality in our climate. Indeed most peaches here fully sustain their character for excellence. We have found these excellent here ; viz ; Belle de Vitry, Cooledge's Favorite, Craw- ford's Early Melocoton, Crawford's Late do, Early Tillotson, Early York, Admirable, George IV, Grosse Mignonne, Heath, Late Admi- rable, Lemon Cling, Madeleine de Courson, Malta, Morris White, Rareripe, Noblesse, Oldmixon Free, President, Red Rareripe, Royal George, Tippecanoe and " Incomparable Admirable." Pears. — The Seckel retains fully its excellent quality; it grows two or three times its usual size with you, yet one has only to taste them to be sure they are the genuine Seckel. The Dix sustains its excel- lent quality, but the tree blights more than any other. The White Doyenne is free from diseases both of the tree and fruit, the latter being fully equal to the best grown at the north. The Beurre Diel has met a congenial climate; its quality goes even beyond the de- scription in Downing. As our winter pears, except two native varie- ties, ripen in November, the Black Worcester proves an acceptable eating pear, as under our mild climate its quality is improved. The 109 Franklin County Pear and the Lucky Pear, are two kinds native with us, of excellent quality, keeping later than any others. As the frost has prevented us from obtaining accurate descriptions this year, we will supply the deficiency next season. I add the entire list of pears found of first quality, so far as we have tested, viz: Andrews, Bartlett, Beurre d' Amaulis, (nearly first rate,) Beurre de Pianz, Beurre Bosc, Beurre Diel, Bloodgood, Brown Beurre, Dearborn's Seedling, Duchesse d'Angoulerne, Dix, Easter Beurre, Flemish Beauty, Fondante d'Automne, Frederick de Wur- temburg, Glout Morceau, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Gray Doyenne, Jaminette, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Madeleine, Marie Louise, Passe Colmar, Seckel, St. Ghislain, Stevens' Genesee, Surpasse Virgalieu, Van Mons Leon le Clerc, White Doyenne, and Winter Nelis. Plums. — Our best early plum was raised by Mr. Camak from a stone brought from Italy by Hon. Richard Henry Wilde. We call it Wild's Plum. It is of the size of Imperial Gage; color, greenish yellow, and a clingstone. The Green Gage retains its excellence with us, but the tree proves a shy bearer. The great enemy to the plum with us, as elsewhere, is the curculio. The following have been tested, and found to equal Mr. Downing's description in all desirable points, viz: Bingham, Coe's Golden Drop, Frost Gage, German Prune, Huling's Superb, Imperial Gage, Jefferson, Law- rence's Favorite, Large Green Drying, Smith's Orleans, Washington, and Brevoort's Purple. If the foregoing may in any degree promote the objects of the Convention, I shall be gratified to have made this communication. Yours very respectfully, WM. N. WHITE, Athens, Ga. r r ffWKK'W tvr&^s' ,: • r^/A^i/ '/^"f /*"**-< 4 ' ■