4 Introduction. 



most valuable and desirable information, of real improvements and 

 discoveries, connected with the cultivation and propagation of plants. 

 A great portion of these are very expensive, which precludes the pos- 

 sessing of them by many who would be glad to protit by their advice. 

 To them, however, we shall frequently give our attention, and select 

 such useful and entertaining matter as will give additional value to 

 our pages. 



One of the most decidedly important subjects, and one which we 

 think cannot be too often noticed, is the diffusion of such information as 

 will tend to eradicate the prejudices which exist among many persons, 

 in relation to the introduction and cultivation of new varieties of fruits. 

 There are some, who, in their zeal and eagerness to enlarge and en- 

 rich their collection, go too far; and, with a greater desire for novelty 

 than for quality, often set aside good old kinds to make room for those 

 new, or, at least, with new names : others, with a determuiation not 

 to adopt any measures for their introduction, still adhere to their own 

 opinions, regardless of all that has been urged in their favor, unwil- 

 ling to hazard the least risk of exterminating an old variety, for a new 

 and choice one. These may both, however, be considered as the 

 two extren)es, and not either of them often pursued. Yet there are 

 many who concur too readily with the opinions of the latter course, 

 and urge, as one reason, the high prices which are affixed to the new 

 varieties, and the numerous opinions which exist, even among prac- 

 tical and scientific men, in regard to their good qualities and celebrated 

 character. When the sorts become generally known, such preju- 

 dices will undoubtedly be done away with; but it will be long ere 

 they will be spread and cultivated more extensively, in the interior; 

 especially, when there is not an opportunity of their value being 

 more certainly ascertained. There are many gardens which abound 

 with old and worn-out vaiieties of fruit, but which, if the owners 

 were aware of the faeilities, might be engrafted or renovated, so as to 

 supply them v^ith all those that are rich and luscious. 



The raising of new varieties of various kinds of fruits, from seeds, 

 is now attracting great attention. And the time is probably not far 

 distant, when we shall be supplied with choice fruits, the results of 

 the experiments pursued by the amateurs and scientific gardeners of 

 our own country. It would be indeed strange, that with the energy 

 and zeal characteristic of the American citizen, we should suffer our 

 gardens alone to be stocked with foreign productions ; when our 

 country, rich as it naturally is in horticulture and botany, and with 

 a genial climate, highly favorable to the growth of every fruit, flower 

 and vegetable, presents such facilities for originating new and im- 

 proved varieties. Who would detect, in the delicious Seckle, the 

 Heathcot, the Johonnot, or the Dix pears, the hard and stony fruits, 

 growing spontaneously in our woods and fields, and which even 

 animals, unless in a state of starvation, refuse to devour. But the 

 hand of man has ameliorated even these to the rich fruits abounding in 



