EDITOR'S TABIE. 



useful, yhiko it two to tlirce feot deep below the level of the Lottotu of tlie lionlcr, nnd 18 or 

 '20 inches wide, ai)d fill with einnll stones, Inying some wids or stniw over tiiein befoio the eurth 

 is laid on. The drain to be under the center of the border and carried to some outlet, or to come 

 distnnee from the border. Such a mass of rich soil as a vine border eoou becomes sour, unless 

 surplus moisture can pass off freely. 



Notices of Books, ^Damiiljltts, &t. 



Elliot's Fnurr Book ; or, The Ameuican Fruit Gito\vKi:"s Guide in Oufii.vr.D and Gaudex. By F. K. Elliot. 

 New York : G. M. Saxton, ISM. 



For several years past a book on fruits, or " A 'Western Fruit liook," lias been occa- 

 sionally announced as forthcoming from the pen of F. R. Elliot, and wc have at length 

 the pleasure of seeing it on our table — a well got up duodecimo volume of nearly 500 

 pages, very much on the same plan as Thomas' Fruit Culturut. It is profusely illustrated 

 with outlines of fruit, differing from the outlines in other Avorks in having the core in 

 kernel-fruits, and the stones in stone-fruits shown, also in having the stem and calyx 

 cavities shaded. This Avill be regarded by some as an improvement, but does not strike us 

 as of very great importance. 



Mr. Elliot has for a long time given much attention to the examination and comparison 

 of fruits, and having had the advantage of the latest experience of cultivators, and the latest 

 works on the subject, has undoubtedly made a book that every man engaged in fruit culture 

 may consult with advantage. If Mr. Elliot ever intended to make it a " Western Fruit 

 Book," he has evidently changed his mind ; for, with the exception of an occasional remark, 

 and the description of a few western fruits, we see nothing particularly western in itt' 

 character. Nearly all that relates to the propagation, culture, pruning, and training 

 of trees, and the preservation of fruits, is copied from other works ; and for our own part, 

 we must say that we have derived more information in regard to the peculiarities of west- 

 ern soil, climate, and culture, from the report of the Fruit Grower's Association, than we 

 have been able to glean from Mr, Elliot's 500 pages. 



Mr. Elliot had a fair field for both fame and usefulness. The great States of Ohio, 

 Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, "Wisconsin, and Iowa, are rajjidly turning their atten- 

 tion to fruit culture. The authors who had previously written on pomology, knew from 

 actual experience and observation very little of these States, as regards the influence of tlie 

 soil and climate on the culture of fruit ; and fruit culture had made so little advancement 

 that scarcely any reliable experience could be collected. Here Mr. Elliot had the advan- 

 tage. Valuable results have been obtained during the last three or four years throughout 

 the newer States, and he might have used them to great advantage. We cannot see, how- 

 ever, that he has done so ; for in his description of the most popular and important varieties, 

 we seldom find a word said as to their failure or success in the West, and he even omits 

 many valuable particulars given in other works. We are convinced that he has erred greatly 

 in making his work too general — in going over the ground already so fully occupied by 

 Downixg's and Thomas' works — instead of devoting his labors to a field yet unexplored. 

 This, however, is his business, not ours ; but we must say it, because we think it. When a 

 man writes a book on a subject like pomology, on which so many treatises exist, and these 

 recent date, he should avoid the beaten track, and strike out a new course for him- 

 so as to give character to his work. We have in this great country of ours, embracing 



