nORTICULTUEE. 



f^reatcr variety of fine fruit in a small space, and brii)i;ing the trees at an earlier date 

 into active bearing. The latter suits our American wi^h to go-a-head ; we cannot wait 

 for a fruit tree, in the old mode of growth, for five or ten years — a life time in the 

 United States. AVo must have fruit the next year, at the latest ; and though there 

 are other advantages attained by the dwarfing system, this rapid product has its attrac- 

 tions to the young and old Rapids who are forming orchards and gardens. You can 

 now go to a nursery in the spring, order your fall fruits, and grow them yourself; 

 you say, ''Duchesse d' Orleans,'" ''Bcurre JJosc,'' ''Winter JVclis,'" ''Moorjnirk,'' ''Coe's 

 Transjyarent,''^ and so forth, adding, "but be sure they are trees that will produce the 

 present season." The nursery owner winks his left eye as an evidence that he under- 

 stands the kind of customer on hand, and selects his trees accordingl)-. If they do 

 not bear very heavy crops the first year, a little is better tlian none ; the second and 

 third they will amply reward the amateur. One nursery in the State of New York 

 actually disposed of fruit trees the past season to the value of one hundred thousand 

 dollars ! Pretty good evidence this, if any were wanted, that we are becoming a fruit- 

 o-rowing nation. And why not ? The utility is argument enough ; the profit is a 

 still stronger inducement. 



Every kind of instruction in the art and mystery of fruit-growing may now be 

 obtained from American books, without resorting to French, Belgian, or English 

 authors, who have heretofore misled us, because we overlooked the differences of 

 climate, and so forth. The late Mr. Dowmxg, whom all horticulturists loved as a 

 brother, led the way in our country to the development of our capabilities in taste and 

 the luxuries of the garden ; to him will always be conceded the first rank in these 

 respects ; in him we lost our instructor, guide, and friend. Incomplete his instructions 

 may have been, for he had much in store to tell us; let us be grateful for what he 

 imparted, and follow his example. He has been succeded by others equally practical : 

 Barry'' s Fruit Garden, and Thomas' American Fruit Culturist, are eminently instruc- 

 tive. The '■'■ Transactions of the American Pomoloyical Societif should be in the 

 hands of every lover of fruits ; it contains lists of the best kinds suited to every 

 locality, and without it the beginner would commit numerous mistakes by selecting 

 trees that have been popular, but are proved, on trial, of inferior value. Reading on 

 these subjects we consider essential ; books, however, rarely tell all that one wants to 

 know of a practical subject, and the amateur will do well to observe the proceedings 

 of a successful neighbor regarding the cultivation and trimming, so essential in modern 

 fruit-growing. 



We have in this country several enthusiastic amateurs, whose great pleasure it is to 

 enlighten their fellow citizens. Among them it will be proper to name William D. 

 Brixckle, M. D., of Philadelphia ; Professor J. P. Kirtland, of Cleveland, Ohio ; the 

 Hon, Marshall P. Wilder, of Massachusetts ; Dr. Eshleman, of Pennsylvania ; 

 Nicholas Lokgworth, of Cincinnati ; and a host of others, who, by their enlightened 

 science and liberal views, are sowing broadcast the results of their labors and discov- 

 eries, and conferring benefits on America which future generations will amply 

 ciate. These gentlemen take out no patents ; it is their greatest pleasure, when 



