56 



GENESEE FARMER. 



Feb. 



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HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 



CONDUCTED BY P. BARRY 



Poraological Rules. 



We are indebted to Herman Wendell, M. 

 D., of Albany, for a copy of " Rules of Pomolo- 

 gy" adopted by the State Agricultural Society 

 at their late meeting. They are more concise, 

 but substantially the same as those published last 

 month ; the main difference (a somewhat impor- 

 taq^one, to be sure,) is in the alteration of the 

 5th Rule, and the entire exclusion of the 13th 

 and last of the Boston code. 



That part which forms Rule 5th has been 

 modified by the State Agricultural Society, and 

 we understand even by the Massachusetts Horti- 

 cultural Society, to read as follows : 



The name of the new variety shall not be considered as 

 established until the doscripti in shall have been published 

 in ai least one horticultural or one agricultural journal, or 

 some pomological work of large circulation and acknowl- 

 edged character. 



This, it will be seen, gives other journals than 

 those having the " largest circulation" the priv- 

 ilege of publishing the description of new varie- 

 ties; and the exclusion of the last Rule gives 

 committees and individuals a right (which they 

 would always exercise at any rate,) of choosing 

 their own authorities. So far so good. Rules 

 are necessary, absolutely so, and ought to be 

 stringent where stringency is necessary, but lib- 

 eral where liberality is safe and allowable. 



It is suspected, in various quarters, that the 

 provisions excluded or discarded by the State 

 Agricultural Society were quietly and cunningly 

 devised by the proprietors of certain journals, 

 with a view to attract patronage to themselves. 

 and to promote their own exclusive interests. 

 We can hardly believe this was the case ; but if 

 so, the results will prove as unsuccessful as the 

 attempt was selfish and contemptible. 



The subject of Pomology on this continent 

 gives scope enough for many journals and many 

 pomologists to exercise their talents, and it would 

 be as impracticable as unwise for societies to vote 

 its entire control and management to one jourjpal 

 or one man. In Europe it is not an uncommon 



thing to see a mere opinion, right or wrong, of 

 an individual, quoted over the whole continent 

 as standard authority. If a florist in any part of 

 Great Britain, France, Belgium, or elsewhere, 

 happens to produce a new seedling flower, if it 

 were but a simple little pansy or heart's-ease, he 

 must first of all send to London for "Dr. Know- 

 all's opinion." If favorable, it is appended to 

 his advertif ement, and his flower is as current as 

 gold. Hence, when we cast our eye over the 

 advertisements of some of the English journals, 

 one would almost doubt the existence of mere 

 than one man in Europe competent to pronounce 

 on the merits of a new plant. This is owing, in 

 part, to the commanding influence which a thor- 

 oughly cultivated taste, sound judgment, and a 

 free, unbiased expression, will always exercise 

 and is duly entitled to ; but the slavish looking 

 extreme to which it is carried grows out of the 

 want of general intelligence and independence 

 of thought and action among the mass of cultiva- 

 tors. In this country no one need hope to be- 

 come such an oracle. There are those who 

 have fond dreams of attaining such a position ; 

 they speak it out audibly sometimes, but if they 

 would avoid disappointment, they will prune their 

 ambitious notions to suitable and becoming pro- 

 portions, and rest satisfied with the influence that 

 v/ill be spontaneously yielded to their genius 

 and talents. 



The Oswego Beurre, or Raid's Seedling Pear. 



This excellent new variety originated within 

 a kw miles of Oswego village, and was first 

 brought to notice through the Horticulturist, 

 about a year ago, by J, W. P. Allen, Esq., of 

 Oswego. Its history is thus given by Mr. A., 

 as obtained from Mr. Reid's family. 



•' Twenty-two or three years ago Mr. Reid 

 had a very rich pear given him, that had but 

 three seeds, which he saved and planted between 

 the roots of a stump ; two came up, one was 

 destroyed by the cattle, and the other stands 

 now where it was originally planted — it bore 

 fruit when it was but six years old — it has borne 

 a fair crop every year since it came into a bear- 

 ing state, and has produced sixteen bushels in 

 one year. In the year 1834, when other varie- 

 ties, growing an equal distance from the lake, 

 were nearly or totally destroyed by frost, it bore 

 a full crop. It holds its fruit in severe gales of 

 wind better than any other variety of large pears 

 known to theiTi, (Reid's family,) and it was 

 equally fine in cold and short seasons, when 

 other varieties were indifferent." It is supposed, 

 from its appearance and other qualities, par- 

 taking of the White Doyenne and Brown Beurre, 

 the two prevailing sorts in the gardens of Oswego, 

 that it is a hybrid between them. 



Last autumn, when at Oswego, we were favor- 

 ed with a few specimens of this fruit from Mr. 



