166 



REMARKS ON THREE STANDARD FRUITS. 



est temptation to leave the same bed till 

 the next season. The bed originally bear- 

 ing perfect blossoms, thus becomes barren 

 by the mere exhaustion caused by overbear- 

 ing, while in the other case, it can only be- 

 come barren when the plants are absolutely 

 in want of proper nourishment from the soil. 

 Hence what we call Mr. Longworth's mode, 

 requires the least care and attention, and 

 gives the largest and most certain crops. 



One word more. The only important 

 point of the " Strawberry Question " seems 

 to be pretty thoroughly settled now — that 

 is, the advantage of fertilizing the pistillate 

 varieties. We scarcely know an intelligent 

 cultivator in the country, who has given the 

 subject careful attention, that is not now 

 convinced of its value. 



The other point — that of the variation of 

 certain sorts from a perfect to a pistillate 

 form, is one of comparatively little value. 



in a practical point of view. There are se- 

 veral horticulturists, and among others, Mr. 

 LoNGWouTH, who differ from us regarding 

 this. 



It is idle to attempt to settle such a mat- 

 ter by argument. Nothing, when facts are 

 required, will convince those who have not 

 seen, but the facts themselves. 



We therefore propose to send to the Mas- 

 sachusetts Horticultural Society, next sea- 

 son, a few pots containing plants of Hovey's 

 Seedling in bloom. Those who oppose the 

 theory' of^ variation say that this variety now 

 is, and always has been, a pistillate sort. 

 We propose to show it to them in a perfect 

 form — that is to say, with an abundance of 

 stameTis and pistils. If we do so, (and this 

 ihs Society's co^nm'ttee shall decide,) then 

 we shall consider the theory of variation 

 established. If not, then we will admit 

 that it falls to the ground. — Ed. 



REMARKS ON THREE STANDARD FRUITS. 



Our readers are already aware that while 

 it is our desire to make this journal the ve- 

 hicle of information respecting every thing 

 that is new, and really valuable, among fruits 

 and flowering plants, it is still more strong- 

 ly our wish to extend as much as possible 

 the knowledge of -uch varieties as have 

 been tested here, and really proved to be 

 standard sorts, rather than such as are yet 

 perhaps only to be classed among the specu- 

 lations of dealers in trees and plants. We 

 shall therefore continue, from time to time, 

 our remarks on this subject, commenced in 

 the July number. 



I. huling's superb plum. 



It is remarkable how little this fine plum 

 is known. It is not enumerated in the Cata- 



logue of the Horticultural Society of Lon- 

 don ; and it exists only in a {ew collections 

 in this country. Still it is at least twenty 

 years since it originated, and the first des- 

 cription of the fruit given by the elder 

 PRINCE, in his " Short Treatise on Horti- 

 culture," was published in 1828, It was 

 stated truly, in that work, that " it is larger 

 than the Washington," and it was considered 

 at that time to hold " the first in rank among 

 plums." 



One of the members of the fruit com- 

 mittee of the Boston Horticultural Society 

 remarked to us, a year ago, that Huling's 

 Superb could not really be a fruit of merit, 

 else why should it even now be so little 

 known in the country? 



The truth is, for a long time this variety 



