editor's table. 



93 



The Journal of the United States Agricultural Society for 1856 — edited by the Secretary, 

 William S. King — and the Transactions of the Pomological Convention,h.Q\A. at Rochester, last 

 fall, have been kindly sent to our " Table" by the Hon. M. P. Wilder, at the moment of going 

 to press. The first is all that it ought to be ; the tone of the whole is earnest, manly, and 

 praiseworthy, and shall receive further notice. The Pomological Transactions are important, 

 and we shall endeavor to imjjart to our readers everything of value that has not already 

 been copied in these pages. 



Both transactions may now be procured from the State Agricultural Societies, the Horti- 

 cultural Societies, or, failing in these, by addressing Hon. M. P. Wilder (with stamps, we 

 should hope), Boston, Massachusetts. 



"^ Philadelphia, Dec. 12, 1856. 



My dear Sir : Can you announce in the February Horticulturist something like the fol- 

 lowing ? The Native Fruit Committee consists' of — Samuel Walker, of Roxbury, Mass. ; 

 L. E. Bergkmans, of Plainfield, N. J. ; C. M. Hovey, of Boston ; P. Barky, of Rochester ; J. B. 

 Eaton, of Buffalo ; A. H. Ernst, Cincinnati ; and your humble servant. You will therefore 

 perceive that some of the ablest jjomologists in the United States are members of this Com- 

 mittee. Very truly yours, W. D. Brinckle. 

 J. Jay Smith, Esq. 



American Pomological Society. — We learn, officially, that, in March next, the Committee 

 on Native Fruit of the American Pomological Society, at the request of the Hon. Marshall 

 P. Wilder, President of the Society, contemplate issuing, probably quarterly. Intermediate 

 Native Fruit Reports on such new native fruits as may be sent to any of the Committee for 

 examination, or may in any way come under their notice. These reports will be published 

 simultaneously in the leading horticultural journals. Each member of the Committee is 

 requested to transmit, monthly, the memoranda he may make on this subject to Dr. Brinckle, 

 of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Committee. (See March Horticulturist.) 



Peaks. — Dr. J. M. Ward has exhibited to us some Vicar of Winkfield Pears that exceed, 

 in size, any we have seen. Five of them weigh over six pounds, and they are as delicious 

 as they are fine looking. They arq a portion of those reserved for competition, awaiting, 

 beyond the specified time, the acceptance of a challenge for the production of a better lot, 

 which nobody entered the arena to claim. Notwithstanding assertions that Dr. Ward's 

 trees were neither properly planted nor properly cultivated, he does produce the veritable 

 article. 



What is the reason that, with sales for many past years of millions of dwarf-trees, pears 

 are still so scarce and high-i)riced, is answered by one of our valued correspondents thus, 

 but it is scarcely satisfactory : — 



" He who has ten or twelve pear-trees in his garden, is commonly situated as follows : Two 

 or three cooking pears ; five or six worthless varieties ; and the balance, varieties that 

 not thrive upon the quince (although budded upon it), or grafted upon pear stock 



