HORTICULTURAL REMINISCENCES 39 



yellows. There were many excellent seedling peaches. 

 Among others the Blood was highly valued. At that time 

 planting whole peaches was thought to produce fruit of the 

 same variety, a theory long since exploded. 



Plums were easily grown, and the luscious fruit was freely 

 given away. There was no black-knot or other trouble to 

 contend with. The Damsons were justly prized then, and 

 even nowadays this old sort is unsurpassed for preserving. 

 The strawberry was not grown or marketed much until 

 1834-40. It was introduced into New Haven markets by 

 the late C. P. Augur, of Whitneyville, who, as a boy, sup- 

 plied New Haven at that time. 



The raspberry and blackberry (cultivated sorts ?) were of 

 more recent introduction. 



The sweet pea is an old flower favorite, a craze for which 

 has revived in recent years ; also the asters, pinks, poppies, 

 peonies, lilacs, etc., were common in old gardens. Nearly 

 every one grew their own garden seeds in those early days 

 of horticulture. 



The tomato came some time between 1830 and 1840. 

 At first people hardly dared to eat it, and the still unsolved 

 question was then asked, "Is it a fruit or vegetable?" 



Mr. Gold referred to some of the well-known men con- 

 nected with horticulture fifty years ago, and spoke interest- 

 ingly of his associations with A. J. Downing, — took his 

 famous paper, "The Horticulturist," from the beginning; 

 Grant Thorburn, the old Scotch gardener ; Charles Down- 

 ing ; Hovey, of Boston ; Marshall P. Wilder and the early 

 days of the American Pomological Society ; Dr. Hoskins, 

 of Vermont; J. J. Thomas and the "good" Dr. Grant, of 

 lona Island grape fame. 



The Isabella was the grape seventy years ago. He also 

 spoke of Mr. Bull and his introduction of the Concord 

 grape. In 1840 grape culture under glass succeeded well 

 and was profitable. 



There were fine horticultural shows in those days, fifty 

 years or more ago, in New Haven, Hartford and other 

 cities. The exhibits in the old statehouse at New Haven 

 were very fine and attracted great attention. The leading 

 citizens took great interest in fruits and flowers, notably 



