When this first generation produces its first crop, we should gather the fruit before it is quite ripe, and allow it to mature in the fruit-room. The seeds contained must be sown to produce another race, to be treated like the last, and this successive reproduction must be continued during five, six, and seven generations. After that period has elapsed, we may confidently hope to obtain new and delicious fruits which may then be preserved by means of grafts, and may be still farther improved by successive sowings.

Such succinctly is the theory of M. Van Mons: a protracted method, as it demands the care and attention of the culturist during thirty-five or forty years. But the society will not undertake to pronounce an opinion upon its merits, especially after so many successful results in the hands of its originator, without having made experiments upon it. Reasoning from analogy, we would be disposed to believe that the seeds of fruits already ameliorated, ought to produce, in a short time, and with more certainty, varieties of superior quality to those we now possess. But as the society is aware that the operations of nature are often contrary to what appears in conformity with our reason, and as there has been generally remarked a rapid and lamentable decay, or at least deterioration of some varieties of fruit, formerly more celebrated, it appeals to the zeal and intelligence of horticulturists, and urges them to undertake the experiments pointed out by M. Van Mons, and, also, to carry on experiments with the seeds of pears and apples, anciently ameliorated. The Society especialÎy desires that experimentors should give their attention to those varieties, the fruit of which comes to maturity latest in the season.

The society flatters itself, that among the numerous practical horticulturists, fortunately numbered in its members, an interest will be excited to make a series of comparative experiments; which will present results equally attracting and instructive. It is desirable;

That there be a diversity in the methods of sowing the seed, and subsequent culture;

That the experimentors should be prepared to verify all the facts and observations elicited in the course of these experiments;

That they should submit the varieties resulting from their experiments to the influence of different kinds of grafting, and endeavor to ascertain the best stock for grafting upon;

And that they make a full statement of their methods and the results to the society.

To forward these desirable objects the society offers a prize of 1000 francs, to be awarded in 1847, to any one of the competitors who shall present the best fruits, either of pears or apples, obtained from seed, which shall be found to be new and distinct varieties hitherto unknown; the whole to be accompanied

with a memoire and the necessary proofs and authentications, containing details of the culture bestowed upon the trees, the origin of the seeds taken from wild stocks or improved varieties, stating distinctly the result of every variety; the various accidents experienced during their growth; the methods employed to force the seedlings to a speedy production of fruit-such as annular or semi-annular incisions, twisting the branches, grafting of all kinds, or any other means already known, or of their invention: and, finally, the number of generations that have served to ameliorate the fruit, and the nature of the soil upon which the trees have been cultivated. These documents and specimens of the fruits must be forwarded to the society free of expense, in the course of the year 1846. The competitors must inform the society of their intention to compete for the prize, at the latest, on the 1st of June, 1846, in order that the trees and fruits may be acknowl edged before the end of the same year.

The specimens of fruit should be accompanied with branches suitable for grafts of each, submitted to the examination of the society, in order that they may receive a place in their collecRENDU, Reporter.

tions.

Note by the translator.-We have placed the above article before the readers of this Magazine, both as a specimen of the zeal which actuates foreign horticultural societies, and as exhibiting to readers, not already familiar with the subject, a condensed view of the theory, for the production of new fruits, of the justly celebrated Professor, Van Mons, of Belgium. To the successful practical results of this theory, numbers, as well as ourselves, in this country, who are in possession of the delicious new pears originated by him, can bear testimony to the indefatigable perseverance of M. Van Mons, now in a venerable old age, during the whole of his lifetime, for a great number of most excellent and valuable fruits. But we will take it upon us to say, that, in the United States, where, perhaps, more than in any other country, fruit trees are propagated indiscriminately from the seed-no little surprise will be excited in the minds of those who become acquainted with this theory, at its tediousness, and the great length of time necessary to arrive at the desired results. Is it not true that here a preference is always shown, in raising seedlings, for seeds gathered from the finest grafted varieties? And is it not equally true, that, among seedlings reared in this manner (with of course a great many inferior fruits), there have been originated directly a great many fine and superior varieties? The Seckel pear, it is believed, sprang from a seed of the old Roussellette: the Washington, and many fine varieties of the gage plums, have probably been reared at once from seeds gathered from grafted trees. It is possible, and even

probable, that this may be accounted for, by supposing that Professor Van Mons' seedlings, from grafted varieties, were nearly all the product of seeds taken from aged trees, whilst ours have in almost every instance been gathered from young and thrifty stocks. However this may be, the continued and indiscriminate reproduction of fruit-trees in this country, from seed, offers some new facts in pomology and vegetable physiology, which we hope at some future time to develop. Whole orchards of apples may now be found in our newly settled Western states, of excellent quality, which were reproduced, in many instances, direct from the seeds of the best ancient grafted kinds. It is a subject worthy of investigation by the zealous horticulturists of Boston, whether the choice varieties of pears, lately originated there, viz., the Dix, Andrews, Heathcot, &c., are not the product of seeds gathered from grafted trees, or if they are the result of a gradual, though unperceived, amelioration.

Assuming Professor Van Mons to be strictly correct, we would suggest that a great saving of time and a considerable improvement in quality and vigor, might be gained by calling in cross fertilization to the aid of the cultivator, as soon as the fruit of the trees (say the second generation) begins to show symptoms of amelioration. By impregnating them with the pollen of the finest varieties, we conceive that the next generation would produce excellent fruit, and at a saving of twenty or thirty years. Mr. Knight, it is well known, was highly successful in obtaining five new varieties of several kinds of fruit, by this process alone; and we confess we should regret to see its peculiar merits and value forgotten, or laid aside, for so lengthy a practice, however excellent, as that of Professor Van Mons. Yours,

A. J. D. Botanic Garden and Nurseries, Newburgh, N. Y., Nov. 12.

We commend the above article, from the Annales of the Paris Horticultural Society, together with the remarks by the translator, to the especial notice of our readers. At the present moment, when so much attention is being directed to the production of new fruits, we deem it of considerable importance. The theory of Professor Van Mons, and the great success which he has experienced in the production of new pears, as well as other fruits, has now became generally known, and many of the fruits already cultivated to some extent in our gardens. Whether, however, his method, which requires patience and unremitted attention during a long period of years, is that which is superior to all others, remains yet to be ascertained. We agree with the remarks of our excellent correspondent, that we should regret to see the merits, which, it has been repeatedly proved, result from cross fertilization, thrown aside or entirely neglected. The results of Mr. Knights' experiments we have elsewhere stated, and we have no doubt future practice will verify the importance of his system.-Conds. 57

VOL. II.-NO. XII.

REVIEWS.

ART. I. Journal of the Essex County Natural History Society. Vol. I. No. I. Pamphlet, Svo. pp. 44. Salem.

1836.

THIS is the first number of a journal issued by the Essex County Natural History Society, and which will probably be continued from time to time, as the quantity of matter accumulates. The labors of this society are second only to those of the Natural History Society of Boston; and we look forward with pleasure to its future prospects: composed as it is of members who are greatly devoted to the different branches, we may anticipate the beneficial influence which it will exert in diffusing a taste for its numerous and varied objects. The society has a very rich collection, and their cabinets are filled with many rare specimens, the donations of the members and their friends; they have also frequent exhibitions of flowers at their hall, which has been the means of extending a taste for, and an interest in, the cultivation of plants.

The second anniversary of the society took place on the 15th of June last: on this occasion an address was delivered before the members, by Professor Russell. We had the pleasure of hearing it ourselves, and we need only say it was worthy the occasion and the subject of which it spoke; we regret that it was not listened to by a more numerous audience. It commences with a brief view of the progress of the society since its first organization, up to the present time: with not a specimen of any kind or a single work on natural science, the society, in the brief space of three years, has arrived to its now flourishing state.

The pleasure to be derived from the pursuit of Natural History is portrayed with a true hand, and its importance as a branch of education is distinctly urged. We have not room for many extracts, but we present the following, as showing at once the object for which the society was instituted:

"The primary design of a society like ours is the intention to direct he mind of every lover of science and truth to a study of those glorious objects of Creation, which are every where around and about him. How many are those, whose wayward and idle curiosity is unduly awakened to the merest insignificance of misspent human industry, and totally blind to the unsurpassed, unrivalled workmanship of Nature's plastic hand. How many, too, with listless and indifferent eye, can pass over and heedlessly tread down the gorgeous flower of their native fields and yet gaze with pretended admiration at some frail production of a more distant clime! What curiosity is awakened at the meanest shell, or the smallest fragment of animated nature from distant countries, while far more curious and wonderful objects are cast up by every

returning wave on the neighboring sea-coast, or may be gathered on the smooth and pebbly margin of many a broad and extended lake, or the sedgy border of some crystal pond! What inestimable value does a shapeless and rude fragment of some utensil of semi-barbarous nations, a handful of dust from the site of some overthrown and almost forgotten city, the most useless and veriest insignificant substance of ancient art and of ancient pride possess, while the never changing, imperishable, ever eloquent, constantly useful, and always instructive types and originals of Creation's first Existence are overlooked and despised! These tell of the majesty and excellence, the deep, thrilling, instructive voice of Nature, to the reflecting and thinking mind; those-that individuals of our own species once lived—and died-and passed away into comparative oblivion. These unfold to us leaf after leaf, of those constantly instructive pages, which are written on the heavens and engraven on the earth,-while those only assure us, that the same operations of the natural world are every where the same in mode and effect. These exhibit to our admiring eye, the inimitable perfection of Creative Power, and those only the extent of human industry and skill."

We congratulate the society upon their having been so fortunate as to avail themselves of the services of Mr. Russell. It is at once a manifestation of their admiration of his talents, which, we are happy to have the opportunity to say, are of no ordinary character. It would give us the utmost pleasure to see him placed in some good and lucrative professorship, connected with some of our institutions, where his valuable services would be better known and appreciated. Indeed, we are fully persuaded that no one could be found who would be more devoted to his profession, or fill such a place with so much satisfaction to the institution to which he might be attached.

ART. II. An Address delivered before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, at their Eighth Anniversary, September 17th, 1836. By EZRA WESTON, JR. Pamphlet, 8vo. pp. 40. Boston. 1836.

THE address of Mr. Weston, though very brief, is full of interest to the horticulturist. It is in substance an account of the theory of Dr. Van Mons, of Belgium, in producing new varieties of fruits from seed; and Mr. Weston, though not, we believe, either a practical or physiological horticulturist, has succeeded well in offering to the notice of the society some of the most