NORTH AMERICAN POMOLOGIST 



EDITOR'S PREFA.CE. 



The repeated disappointments which have attended the cultivation of Foreign Fruits in this 

 country, render it daily more manifest that our chief reliance must be placed on those of native origin. 

 Though many of the trans-atlantic varieties possess undoubted merit, and richly deserve all the praise 

 bestowed on them, a still greater number are of inferior quality, at least when fruited in this country 

 and of those that are of a high order of excellence, some are shy bearers, and others are constitutionally 

 too tender to withstand the great and sudden vicissitudes of our variable climate. 



The design of the present work is to direct the attention of Horticulturists more prominently to 

 our native fruits, and to give such a pomological description and colored drawing of them, as that they 

 may be readily identified. Notwithstanding some of our indigenous kinds have been long known, and 

 quite extensively cultivated in some parts of our country, yet, they will be introduced into the work, 

 not only to place them on record, but to enable the Pomologist, who may not be familiar with them, to 

 discriminate the genuine from the spurious. 



Many of our native fruits possess great excellence, and not a few of them will successfully compete 

 with the most celebrated kinds from the eastern hemisphere. Among these we may mention the 

 Seek el, Dix, Pratt and Columbia Pears. The Newtown Pippin, Fall Pippin, Rhode Island Greening, 

 vEsopus Spitzenberg and Northern Spy Apples. The Heath Cling, Druid Hill, Crawford's Late and 

 Susquehanna Peaches. Lawrence's Favorite, Washington, Columbia and Jefferson Plums. Wendell's 

 Mottled Bigarreau, Downer's Late, Coe's Transparent, and Dr. Kirtland's New Cherries, &c., &c. 



Most of our domestic fruits are accidental seedlings valuable varieties have also been obtained by 

 planting the seed of the best known kinds. But when artificial fertilization during implanescence is 

 resorted to, and the parents selected with judgment, a successful result is just as certain as that 

 attending the similar course pursued in raising fine animals. 



In conclusion, the Editor will embrace this opportunity to state that he is in no way connected 

 with the profits and emoluments of the present undertaking. Having known Mr. Huffy for many 

 years, and believing him to be a worthy man, as well as an accomplished artist, the undersigned desires 

 most cordially to promote the enterprise, and with this view, his editorial services are rendered without 

 any remuneration whatever. The propriety of addressing directly to the publisher, all communications 

 in relation to the work, will therefore be apparent. 



W. D. BRINCKIJE, M. D. 



PHILADELPHIA, MAY, 1860. 



