140 



DOMESTIC NOTICES. 



their pomologists practice upon this principle the 

 better. This, among other important matters, 

 will be ascertained through the pomological meet- 

 ings and conventions. 



On the Principle of Suggestion in Rural Taste. — 

 Capital. W. talks like a man of sense. Strange 

 that people, close, calculating and generally 

 shrewd in their own affairs, as are the Americans, 

 should, in the very most important item of their 

 comfort, farm out their wits in the composition of 

 their houses, to a set of empirics, such as our 

 modern house builders, too many of them, are. I 

 have more to say on this matter as occasion may 

 offer. Till then, and afterwards too, heed the re- 

 marks of W. His allusions to the " fine carriages," 

 reminds me of the old gentleman's story of his 

 brass andirons, that cost him two thousand dollars! 

 Five, was thej^rst cost, but then the old fire-place 

 and mantelpiece that so well comported with the 

 old iron " dogs," which the new " shiny" ones re- 

 placed, appeared so awkward to the good wife and 

 daughter, that they had to come down; and so, 

 one after another, the quiet old house was alto- 

 gether pulled away, rebuilt, and new moddled, 

 until a piano was introduced, and the family, be- 

 fore contented and happy, was really miserable 

 from their altered house and apparel, without a 

 change of personal condition. There is a " fitness 

 of things" in this world, talked of a long time ago, 

 and although many people now-a-days strive hard 

 to forget it, 'tis true as ever. 



A Visit to London Gardens, §c. — It will do for 

 noblemen in England, who enjoy the income of 

 thirty or a hundred thousand laborers a year, or 

 of societies patronized by the wealth and the mo- 

 ney of such noblemen, to enjoy in the splendor a.id 

 magnificence of their fruits and plants under glass 

 and walls, what the hutless sans culolte of south- 

 ern Europe may take at his ease, in the open air. 

 Yet it is a redeeming trait in these wanton expen- 

 ditures, that great improvements are constantly 

 making in the correct cultivation of our " open" 

 fruits, from which we may draw much information. 

 " Seven hundred varieties of pears" in cultivation, 

 and fifty only of which are good ! In these we 

 have here named five autumn and five winter 

 pears, which are best. But are we certain that 

 even more than the Louise Bonne de Jersey, and 

 Beurre Bosc of the former, and Glout Morceau and 

 Winter Nelis of the latter, are worth cultivating 

 here ? The sooner we narrow down our selections 

 of all fruits to a succession of small variety, in 

 their proper seasons, and those 1 he very best for 

 the locality in which they are cultivated, in all 

 our fruits, the sooner w r e shall be rid of much 

 trouble of body, and vexation of spirit, as well as 

 expense of purse. 



An old Digger's Practical Hints to Amateurs. — 

 True, every word of it. Read it again. I cannot 

 add a word to its importance. 



Mr. Rivers on the Pear. — A capital article, 

 and a subject on which very much is yet to be 

 learned in America. We are but beginners in true 



pear culture; and not until we drive the miserable 

 " Windsor," " Sugar" and " Bell" pears out of 

 our markets, and supply their place with the real- 

 ly good pears, which we can just as easily grow 

 as them, can we date much true progress. Of 

 " root pruning" in extensive pear culture, I have 

 my doubts. Will it pay cost in this country ? 

 Let us have the narrative of our own experience 

 before we too rapidly adopt it. The details of 

 such practice as Mr. Rivers' is always valuable, 

 and the more of such information spread before 

 the American public the better. 



Experience in Orchard Culture. — I am very 

 glad to know that Mr. Allen has had the cour- 

 age to go so vigorously into fruit in a district of 

 country where it is so much needed. Why is it 

 that in localities, often the most favorable for cer- 

 tain productions, there is so little attention paid to 

 them ? I am credibly informed that scarcely a 

 good pear, or a really good fresh peach is to be 

 found in the Buffalo markets. And yet I know, 

 from personal observation, that the country around 

 that city will produce both those fruits in great 

 perfection. What beautiful fruit grows almost 

 spontaneously about Lundy's-lane, on the Canada 

 side of Niagara Falls. Peach trees now in full 

 bearing, forty years old, as they told me, and eight 

 or ten inches in diameter of trunk, as I saw ! 

 Why should not Grand Island with its thousands 

 of acres of land, a part of which, I learn, is free 

 and open soil, produce any quantity of choice 

 peaches annually ? I am glad that Mr. A. is so 

 particular in describing latitudes, elevations, and 

 soils. These are indispensable in knowing what 

 we are to do in fruit culture. When he gets fur- 

 ther along I hope we shall hear more of his " ex- 

 perience," and until then, wish him all desirable 

 prosperity in his labors. I would like to know a 

 little more about the virtue of that " iron ore" 

 Mr. A. speaks of as affecting the pear blight. 

 Will no one else notice it ? 



This is enough for once. The remainder of your 

 number, " Foreign and Domestic Notes," carry 

 their own commentaries. Should the foregoing 

 please you, I will promise to continue my notes 

 for a limited time, at least. Yours truly, Jef- 

 ries. .... 



Pomologlcal Nomenclattjke. — Mr. Downing 

 — As you are one of a Standing Committee, to 

 whose charge the pomological convention of last 

 year entrusted all matters particularly appertain- 

 ing to fruits, I take the liberty to suggest, for 

 your consideration, a reform in the nomenclature, 

 much needed, I think; hy which the names of 

 foreign varieties shall be reduced to a level with 

 the comprehensions and lingual capabilities oi 

 those who do their cultivating in the fields, and 

 not in the closet. The great unlearned portion of 

 fruit-growers and consumers of the country have- 

 had scant opportunities to acquire the necessary 

 skill to execute those outlandish contortions oi 

 tongue and countenance, under which is concealed 

 tne identity of many of the fruits growing plenti- 



