l.}j EDITOi:-.S TAIU.K. 



Stkalinq Fbcit. — It will be seen by tho following circular, which the committeo re- 

 quested us to i)ul)lisli, and which we noticed in our last number, that an attempt is being 

 made b}' our friends in Pennsylvania, to have a law passed declaring tlio stealing of grow- 

 ing fruit, vegeUibles, «fec., larceny. We hardly think the Legislature of Pennsylvania can 

 refuse a law so evidently just — a law not only needed for the ])r()tection of the cultivators 

 of fruit, but also needed to prevent the formation of i)ilfcring habits in youth. We hope 

 the agitation of this matter will tend to cure the thoughtless picking of fruit, so annoying 

 to cultivators. How often has every horticulturist had cause to regret the thoughtless 

 picking of a rare fruit by his friends — perhaps the only specimen, and one which he had 

 been long and eagerly watching. Uis friends were welcome to any fruit in hii) garden, 

 save this. But it is gone, and he has to wait another long year. 



"Gentlemen — At the last meeting of the Allegheny County Agricultural Society, the under- 

 signed were appointed a committee to correspond wltli you and othere, and ask your cooperation 

 to procure at the coming session of the Legislature an act declaring the stealing of growing fruit, 

 vegetables, grain, ttc, larceny. 



"Believing the common law distinction between stcaVnifj from the ground or wagon and taking 

 from the tree or vine, absurd, and productive both of injury to the agriculturist and evil to soci- 

 ety, our farmers and fruit growers urged on the Legislature, at its last session, to pass such a law 

 for this couuty, but were met by the objection that it would not do to have a criminal law for 

 one county different from that of the rest of the State. 



"Deeming such a law essentially necessary to protect the farmers and fruit gi-owers of Pennsyl 

 vania, who have so much wealth and industry embarked in their vocations ; and deeming the 

 present trespass remedy entirely inadequate and useless ; we respectfully and earnestly ask your 

 cordial cooperation, by the votes of your members at Ilariisburgh, and by petitions, if you think 

 it advisable, to secure the passage of a simple law declaring tiie wrongful taking of fruit, vegeta- 

 bles, grain, «tc., whether attached to the soil or not, larceny, and to be punished as such. 



" Then may we hope to keep pace with the horticulturists of our sister States, who are encour- 

 aged and protected by wholesome laws. 



RoBT. McIvNiGirr, J. S. Neglet, Jno. Tolxg, Jr., Committee." 



m 



In vour last volmne, you gave us "Notes of a Conversation over a Dish of Pears on New 

 Year's Daj'." I have looked eagerly, with each succeeding number, for its continuation ; for sitch 

 information I consider of more value to the fruit grower, either the amateur or for the market, 

 than a dozen years' subscription to your journal: and a continuation, covering your experience 

 with Tv^nter Pears, and the best method of ripening them, with whatever is pecular to each or 

 any one of them, requiring different treatment from the general mode, wonld be a most valuable 

 and acceptable service. And in their behalf, as well as my own, I invite its continuation, varied 

 with this addition: that you note uniformly such as are finer and larger on the quince than on 

 their own stocks, or the reverse; for I am satisfied this is a point which has not j-et received 

 that attention it deserves, and that no greater service could be rendered to the fruit-growing 

 community than its settlement. 



It is true that our Pomological Conventions are engaged in this ; but their action embraces 

 distant sections of the country, within each of which there may be localities for which their 

 recommendations are entirely unfitted. I will illustrate : With me, the Easter Bcurre and Passe 

 Colmar, on Quince stocks, are small and indifferent fruits. I have never had a well-ripened speci- 

 men ; and this is not occasioned by the want of either suitable age or proper cultivation, for they 

 have fruited the past five years, and been uniformly highly cultivated ; while the fruit has been 

 preserved, both in cellar and upper rooms, exposed to as well as excluded from the atmosphere, 

 •with nearly uniform results, and in no wise satisfactory. Those from their own stock, mean- 



