270 [Senate 



Many of the pears cultivated by the late Robert Manning of Salem, 

 and considered by him as of great excellence, when grown in western 

 New-York, from grafts cut by his own hands, are certainly only se- 

 cond or third rate. That this is not entirely owing to a difference in 

 mere taste, is inferred from the fact that the Virgalieu, which in most 

 parts of New-York is decidedly one of the finest varieties, is pronoun- 

 ced by Kenrick in the neighborhood of Boston to be " an outcast, in 

 tolerable even to sight." It is true that pears are more affected by 

 circumstances, than most other fruits; but these facts should teach us 

 caution, especially in preparing descriptions. 



Hence experiments from a single collection on a large scale, in any 

 one part of the United States, could not be relied on as of general ap- 

 plication throughout the country. Several such collections would be 

 needed according to differences in climate and other affecting causes. 



It will be evident that'the groundwork and desired end, will be ac- 

 curate descriptions, not only for identifying old and well known va- 

 rieties, but for rendering the others easily known. 



Peculiar difficulties exist in describing fruits. Different species are 

 distinguished by strong and unvarying marks; hence specific charac- 

 ters in botany are attended with little difficulty. But varieties pass 

 into each other by insensible shades; or often differ so slightly and 

 by such variable characters, that it becomes exceedingly difficult to 

 discriminate. Even experienced cultivators find it necessary to place 

 different varieties of fruit together before the eye, which, when taken 

 apart, might be pronounced identical. Hence the impossibility of 

 speaking with confidence in many cases from mere descriptions, how- 

 ever excellent and perfect they may be. 



It may be proper to exhibit briefly some of the perplexities which 

 cultivators must contend with in the use of most of the works already 

 published. It seems indeed, that in proportion to the difficulties, has 

 been the want of care and attention. A few instances out of many, 

 are given by way of illustration, not to find fault, but to show where 

 we stand. English writers possess the advantages of long experi- 

 ence and small territory, yet Mcintosh says that the nomenclature of 

 pomology, " has long been a disgrace to the horticultural literature 

 of the country." What shall we say then of our own country 1 It 

 will be observed in the following examples, that those fruits are chief- 

 ly selected which are not encumbered with doubtful synonyms, and 

 the discrepancies are not therefore from different varieties with the 

 same name: 



Alexander apple — " Excellent and valuable fruit." Lindley, Kenrick. 

 " First rate." Downing. 

 " Second rate — shy bearer." Mcintosh. 

 Swaar — " Skin greenish color, blush on the sunny side." Floy. 

 " Yellow." Downing. 



" Flesh juicy and well flavored, but woif ricA." Mannhig. 

 " Great and uncommon flavor and richness.'^'' Coxe, Bridg- 

 man. 

 Summer Queen — " Of ihe finest quality." Coxe. 

 " Second rate." Downing. 



