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Michael), Chaumontelle, St. Germain, Royal d'Hiver, Colmar, &c.

Now, although we do not presume to make war with the theory of Mr. Knight, which we believe to be, in a great measure, substantiated by the facts which that learned and ingenious physiologist has, together with contemporaries on the continent, brought forward to support it; yet, on reading the above, which is intended to be inculcated in the whole of the United States, we very naturally regretted that the author before at once recording it as another and conclusive proof of the theory of degeneration, had not more thoroughly examined our own country at large, in order to satisfy himself whether the facts and circumstances that he states in relation to the "outcasts" are general or only local. For our own part, we believe them to belong entirely to the latter class, and therefore that the effects which he details (and which we know, from actual inspection, to be true at Boston), arise from some other cause than the decay of the variety through age. In the valley of the Hudson, where we pen these remarks, most of the above fruits which are described as worthless, have been cultivated for nearly, if not quite as great a length of time as at Boston. Our nurseries in the vicinity of New York, are among the most ancient in Ameri ca, and we believe that some of the above fruit found their way into the different sections of the Union through their medium. So far from rejecting such fruits as the Brown Beurré, Doyenné or Virgoulouse, &c., as worthless outcasts, they still deservedly hold their place here among the first class of pears, and we have the present season gathered Doyennés, Brown Beurrés, St. Germains, &c., as fair, as beautiful, as delicious, as, we doubt not, were ever seen or tasted from the parent trees of these noble varieties. above kinds bear fine and abundant crops of fruit in the State of New York, even in situations much farther north than Boston. We never saw finer, nor tasted more delicious Doyennés or Virgoulouses, than in the markets of Philadelphia the past season. The same may be said with regard to the city of New York. We can by no means, therefore, agree with Mr. Kenrick in his opinion that the above varieties of pears are worn out with age, at least in this country, and we are inclined to believe that the deplorable state of these pears in the vicinities of Boston and Providence must have for its cause some other circumstances,-as some peculiarity in the soil unfavorable to the long duration of a variety, or the evil effects which may gradually be produced by the marine winds of those cities, which sweep with violence over a considerable portion of the adjacent country. It is proper to remark that Mr. K. does not mention any similar

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effects that have taken place among the other fruits, and that the horticulturists of Boston succeed in raising the delicious and highly flavored new Flemish pears in the highest perfection.

The description of the different mulberries, including the celebrated Chinese Morus multicaúlis, occupies, very properly, a prominent place in the American Orchardist. The author's directions for the rearing of the silk worm, bear the mark of knowledge and research upon the subject, and will be found valuable at the present time, when the silk culture is occupying so largely the public attention.

We are gratified to find also a number of pages devoted to the description and modes of culture of the tropical fruits which may be acclimatized in the southern section of the Union. We would earnestly call the attention of our neighbors of the Floridas, Louisiana, Georgia and the Carolinas particularly to this subject. We are convinced that, by proper care and exertions, a number of the tropical fruits may become objects of extensive cultivation in those States. The olive now grows in Europe as far north as the 45° of latitude, and Mr. Kenrick informs us that the tea has been successfully cultivated in Franconia, latitude 49° north! The plantain and banana will, we are convinced, produce abundant crops in Florida, and we would suggest to southern horticulturists to attempt the naturalization of the Chinese guava (Psidium Cattleyanum), the fruit of which ripens in our hot-houses in the northern States, and possesses all the delicious flavor of the strawberry. The rose apple (Eugènia jámbos L.-now called Jambosa vulgaris) with fruit resembling the apricot, and the mangostan, we have but little doubt may, by proper means, be naturalized in many of the southern sections of the Union.-D.

ART. III. A Discourse delivered before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, on the Celebration of its seventh Anniversary, September 17th, 1835. By JOHN LEWIS RUSSELL. Pamphlet, 8vo., pp. 36. Boston, 1835.

THIS is one of the most interesting addresses that has been delivered before the society. Brief as it is, to those that have been heretofore delivered, unless we except Mr. Gray's,

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last season, it abounds with correct views and sound opinions, of the importance of the study of horticulture, and its usefulness to the physical wants of mankind. It should be read by every horticulturist, and, as the society has a sufficient number of copies to supply every member gratuitously, we hope they will not lose the opportunity of applying for one. To those persons at a distance, the secretary is, we believe, directed to send copies when called upon to do so. We are anxious to have it extensively read, as we are convinced it will be found to contain much that is worthy of being treasured up by the lover of gardening.

We have but little room to spare for extracts, or we should be happy to point out some of the most valuable portions to our readers, and also offer some observations upon some parts of it, which, if we do not materially differ from Mr. Russell in the opinions he expresses, we do not exactly agree.

We cannot, however, pass over one important subject which Mr. Russell has touched upon, namely, the correcting the nomenclature of fruits. With some observations on the institution of an experimental garden, he concludes:

"There is, perhaps, no branch of horticulture which needs so much correction as does this. Owing to various practices, our catalogues of fruits are but so many lists of misnomers and long standing errors. It is the duty of scientific institutions, like our own, to correct this abuse. Much has already been done in England, but much more remains to be accomplished. In no better place, nor under no more propitious circumstances, could this be effected, than by our efforts. By critical examination, conducted on the true principles of vegetable organographyby the comparison of living specimens, an experimental garden affords every assistance. The effect of soil, exposure, and each modifying accident, which influence the productions of fruit, could be thoroughly analyzed. A correct list, suitable for cultivation, not only of our own, but of other countries, might be formed; a single item, worthy in itself of united labor and enterprise. The promotion of that spirit of improvement, which elevates the standard of taste for the excellent and beautiful by an attention to rural studies, is at all times highly commendable; but the promotion of the spirit of utility should surely be combined with it."

We have long been convinced of the fact, that the catalogues of our nurserymen have contained numerous errors; and we state this because we believe Mr. Russell has been thought, by some nurserymen, to have been too sweeping in his remark, that these catalogues were "but so many lists of misnomers." We repeat, that too little attention has been given to this most important subject, and that a catalogue has always been considered as so many kinds, rather than so many truly named valuable varieties. We do not lay this fault to our own nurserymen, some of whom may have taken exception to the language of Mr. Russell, for we believe them to have no interested motive for so doing. These

errors have been committed by others, and they, not aware of such, have unknowingly perpetuated them. But we hope to see catalogues for the future, made up with more care and labor, and the errors gradually eradicated. An experimental garden, we have no doubt, would hasten this; but it is an expensive method, and, in the present state of our knowledge, would be attended with some trouble. To the address is appended an account of the society's exhibition, the names of the subscription and honorary members, &c.

MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE.

ART. I. Foreign Notices.

Useful qualities of the Chinese Ailantus.-M. Vilmorin has lately communicated to the Horticultural Society of Paris, a letter from M. Farel, of Montpelier, accompanied with two specimens in the rough of the wood of the Chinese ailantus. This wood, said he, is now in much repute with wheelwrights, who employ it, together with the ash, though perhaps not so valuable as this latter tree; it serves for the shafts of carts and the tongues or poles of carriages; the tree thrived with vigor in the dry and poor soils of that warm country. It is also placed in the first rank by the engineers of bridges and highway pour la borduse des grandes routes. I have already cut up into scantlings and planks some of the ailantus which were planted at Fromont scarcely twenty years ago, and have found them to answer an excellent purpose. When this tree, felled at maturity, is dried slowly in the shade, it assumes a fine color, and is susceptible of a polish which will make it valuable for many kinds of joinery work. The trees raised from seed by no means produce suckers in such quantities as when raised from suckers themselves, especially if sown upon the place where they are intended to remain.-Soulange Bodin.-Annales des Fromont.

Note on the above.-The Ailántus glandulòsa, or Celestial Tree (as it is called in New York), has become a great favorite as an ornamental tree in this country, particularly for the avenues and public squares of cities. From its rapid growth, it will probably produce a large bulk of valuable timber as soon, or in a shorter time than any other tree. By the above extract from the Annales des Fromont, we perceive this tree ripens seeds in France. It is monacious, and although the trees have flowered abundantly here and in other gardens in the United States, we believe as yet none but staminate, or male flowers, have been produced. The tree has long been known in Rhode Island, where it was introduced, and is probably still known there by some under the name of Tillon tree. These trees must now be many feet in diameter, and persons who are in possession of information on the subject, would solve an interesting question to botanists and cultivators by making known whether or not they have yet produced seed or even pistillate or female flowers.-A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden and Nursery, Newburgh, N. Y., November,

1835.

ART. II. Domestic Notices.

Cultivation of the Pine-Apple. It is with great pleasure that we inform our readers, and more particularly those who have long wished to see the cultivation of the pine-apple commenced in good earnest in this country, that there is to be erected, in the course of the next year, at the residence of the Hon. T. H. Perkins, at Brookline, a pit, a succession and a fruiting house, to be entirely devoted to the growth of the pineapple. We have long been desirous that their cultivation should be begun, as we are certain that no individual, who has the means, when once convinced that they can be produced almost as easily as any other fruit, will think that his forcing department is complete, until he raises this greatest of all luxuries. At Belmont Place and Broomley Vale, there are several pine plants in the stoves; but at neither are houses for their cultivation alone. At another opportunity, we hope to give more information on this subject.-Conds.

The ruinous effect of the fall influence of the Sun, upon several grape vines, and the more prosperous state of others on which its influence was less powerful. [At p. 383, are a few notes on the garden of Wm. Oliver, Esq., Dorchester. We particularly mentioned several grape vines, part of which were touched with mildew, while others immediately by their side, were wholly uninjured. These remarks were hastily made, and do not, in any respect, correspond with the views below respecting the influence of the sun. It is, therefore, with pleasure, that we are permitted to offer the following facts.-Conds.].

"Until the 11th August, the vines, consisting of Sweetwater, Golden Chasselas, and a few Black Hamburghs, were, both wood and fruit, in a good state. At that period, the mildew appeared on the three northerly ranges, consisting of twenty-five vines, on which there are still* over a thousand bunches, although they were thinned in the earlier part of the season of superfluous ones. Lime water had been used, and the usual attention given; but the disease rapidly increased, so that now, on the 3d of October, there is on this lot hardly a single cluster worth gathering. The others are black and shrivelled, the wood also imperfect.

"On what I would distinguish here as the southerly ranges, which are in fact, but a continuation of the northerly ones, at a little less elevation, there are twenty-nine vines, the fruit of which is entirely clear, and mostly well ripened, and the wood perfect. This parcel, shaded by a thick growth of fruit trees, was neglected in other respects, and potatoes were raised immediately about them. It has, however, produced as good grapes as I have seen elsewhere this season, although the quantity is much less than on the north ranges.

"You will also probably recollect an Isabella vine, from one half of which the foliage had been removed on the 15th August. The fruit of the whole is abundant and fine; but no benefit is perceived to result from such a practice. All the vines have a south-west aspect."-Yours, W. O., October 4th.

Singular anomaly in the Cherry Tree.-We have growing at this establishment a Mayduke cherry, grafted about three feet from the ground, which presents the singular anomaly of bearing, without separate inoculation, upon different branches, the same kind of fruit ripening at totally different periods. The Mayduke, it is well known, is one of the earliest cherries, and the majority of the tree produces its fruit at the usual season. A considerable number of the branches, however, bear fruit of the same flavor and quality, but nearly two weeks later. The tree is now more

* October 3d.

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