32 REMARKS ON NATIVE VARIETIES OF FRUIT, 



by the Van Mons method, have, necessarily, feeble constitutions, Avhich 

 will ahvays prevent them from equalling in longevity and productiveness 

 our native sorts originated in a more natural manner. Who ever heard, 

 indeed, of one of the original Van Mons trees bearing regularly, in 

 successive years, a crop of fifteen bushels of pears, like the original Oswego 

 Beurre, in the State of New York ? The original Petre pear tree, in 

 Bartram's Garden, raised from the seed of the White Doyenne, has been 

 equally productive. The original Columbia and Seckel pear trees, Ameri- 

 can sorts of high character, have been equally productive. 



Not to multiply examples, I need only state what we believe most 

 practical pomologists are ready to assent to — that the best native varieties 

 of fruit have a vigor, longevity, and productiveness, which, other things 

 being equal, render them more valuable for the fruit garden and orchard, 

 than foreign varieties. 



It is not without great satisfaction, therefore, that I observe the Massa- 

 chusetts Horticultural Society has offered large prizes to the originators of 

 native fruits of first rate excellence. I cannot doubt that pomological 

 devotees of twentyfive years hence, will find that a large proportion of the 

 foreign pears, and other fruits, now conspicuous in American catalogues, 

 has given place to native varieties now, or hereafter originated — possessing 

 equal or greater excellence, and much more perfect adaptation to our soil 

 and climate. 



In conclusion, I will only recommend to all novices in the production of 

 new varieties, the now well known method of improving by cross-breeding, 

 as in every respect more scientific, more expeditious, more certain in its 

 results, and more productive of vigorous constitution in the offspring, than 

 Dr. Van Mons's, or any other known mode.=^ 



Perhaps the greatest desideratum, at the present moment, to the Ameri- 

 can fruit cultivator, is the production of new varieties of the &rape; — 

 varieties equal in flavor, and other qualities, to the finest European grapes, 

 and as hardy as our native sorts. Nature has prodigally bestowed the 

 wild vine (which she has denied to Europe) on this continent. What 

 pomologist does not foresee, that between some of these native species 

 and the best varieties of Europe, hybrids may be produced, which will 

 give this oldest and most celebrated of fruit trees, in a hundred new and 

 hardy forms with delicious fruit, to every orchard and garden in the 

 Union ? 



Highland Garden, 



Newburgh, N. Y. May 26, 1847 



.! 



*Theie cannot be a doubt that, by the intermixture of the pollen of difierenl varieties, assembled 

 together in our gardens and orchards, chance, or accidental hybrids, are constantly produced, since many 

 of our finest native sorts, reared from the seeds of kinds in the close proximity of other distinct varieties, 

 sliow the strongest traits of both parents. Nature here, as ever, offers us the key to the most natural and 

 healthful way of improvmg races. 



