298 Address delivered hcforf. the Fruit Grotcers' Society. 



Melon, Peck's Pleasant, Spy, Hawley, Wagener, and other excellent sorts. The se lee 

 tion of the other fruits in those rare collections, contained some of the most valu- 

 able varieties, and which we may not be able to excel for a long time to come — 

 Buch for instance among the pears, a? Seckel, Bar/hit. and JDoyeiine ; and the true 

 Green Gage among the plums. It must be admitted that ot late years we have 

 greatly increased the number of really excellent sorts, and as a consequence, en- 

 larged the opportunity for selecting those best adapted to our several localities, 

 and for a uniform supply in our varying seasons. Who would not most willingly 

 spend years of labor in making collections, for the sake of finding three new ap- 

 ples fully erjual to the Fall Pippin, Rhode Island Greening, and Baldwin, in their 

 most valuable qualities! Or three such pears as the Bartlett, Flemish Beaniy, uid 

 Louise Bonne of Jersey ! 



Some of us are familiar with the early progress of our nurseries. It was less 

 than twenty years ago that I first visited one near this city, and then occupying 

 six acres of ground in all,— or rather it was intended to occupy six acres when 

 they were all planted. Last summer I again spent half a day in its examination. 

 — it had now spread itself over nearly three hundred acres — the trees it contained 

 were counted by millions — and its fame was over the civilized world. This is but 

 one. however, of several of great extent and eminent celebrity, in this and our 

 neighboring cities. Twenty years ago. all the nurseries within ten miles of Roch- 

 ester, did not amount, in the aggregate, to fifty acres — now they cover densely at 

 least t^velve hundred acres, and they send out annually, of full-grown nursery 

 trees, (to say nothing of seedlings and ornamentals,) at least five millions in 

 number. Oui- other cities and towns, in which Syracu.se and Buffalo are conspic- 

 uous, have witnessed a groat increase in the extent of their nurseries. 



But it is not in the extent, merely, in which there has been a great improve- 

 ment. Their character for accuracy, and for their choice selections of sorts, has 

 advanced in a most gratifying manner, as compared with the character of some 

 that existed before Pomology had made much progi-ess in Western New York. I 

 speak from experience, when I say, that of some large collections of trees obtain- 

 ed from highly respectable sources, (and I allude more particularly to one or two 

 establishments not now existing.) not one fourth were found true to name, or else 

 worthy of cultivation. I could occupy an hour in relating the disappointments 

 that occurred year after year, in procuring different varieties, after waiting years 

 for the trees to bear. But it is gratifying to pass from such discoiu-aging instan- 

 ces, to the great improvement which has been made in all highly respectable estab- 

 lisliments, by the adoption of specimen or bearing trees to propogate from, and 

 for the prevention of the enors, which, before this precaution was adopted, were 

 s^o numerous. All nirrserymen of character now ex^pect to see for themselves the 

 correctness of the sorts they propogate — and not depend on some other person, — 

 who depends perhaps on a third, and he on a fourth, and so on through a chain as 

 long as the pedigree of a nobleman or of a jjrize animal. 



We have now arrived at our present point in a very rapid progre.ss — our coun- 

 try is full of fine nurseries, and facilities for conveyance enable us to select our 

 place for purchase any where within a thousand miles : orchards in great numbers 

 are yearly set out ; and we might reasonably look tor an immense profusion of 

 the best fruit within a few years. Nothing of the kind, certainly, would be more 

 cheering than to see every family m tlie land well supplied with the best fruits 

 throughout the year — it would certainly prove a most interesting auxiliary in the 

 advancement of domestic enjoyment and in increasing the attractions of home, if 

 every one had the resources with themselves for this supply. But unfortimatcly. 

 we see but comparatively little good fi'uit among the people at large, except at 

 the most abundant seasons of the year. How many, lor example, enjoy plenty of 

 oiu: best pears — with the exception oi two or three of the most common sorts, for 

 a few brief weeks at furthest'.' How many are supplied with a full dish of straw- 

 berries on e-sery table during the strawberry season ? But when we come to look 

 at the whole yearly circle of fruits — the succession which may be had, by select- 

 ing not only a proper assortment for lipeuiug during the ordinary fruit season, 

 but for the long mouths of winter and the destitute period of spring, — where shall 



