Programme of a Prize, ^c. 449 



probable, tbat this may be accounted for, by supposing that Pro* 

 fessor Van Mons' seedlings, from grafted varieties, were nearly 

 all the product of seeds taken from aged trees, whilst ours have 

 in almost every instance been gathered from young and thrifty 

 stocks. However this may be, the continued and indiscriminate 

 reproduction of fruit-trees in this country, from seed, offers some 

 new facts in pomology and vegetable physiology, which we hope 

 at some future time to develop. Whole orchards of apples may 

 now be found in our newly settled Western states, of excellent 

 quality, which were reproduced, in many instances, direct from the 

 seeds of the best ancient grafted kinds. It is a subject worthy of 

 investigation by the zealous horticulturists of Boston, whether the 

 choice varieties of pears, lately originated there, viz., the Dix, 

 Andrews, Heathcot, &.c., are not the product of seeds gathered 

 from grafted trees, or if they are the result of a gradual, though 

 miperceived, amelioration. 



Assuming Professor Van Mons to be strictly correct, we 

 would suggest that a great saving of time and a considerable im- 

 provement in quality and vigor, might be gained by calling in 

 cross fertilization to the aid of the cultivator, as soon as the fruit 

 of the trees (say the second generation) begins to show symp- 

 toms of amelioration. By impregnating them with the pollen of 

 the finest varieties, we conceive that the next generation would 

 produce excellent fruit, and at a saving of twenty or thirty years. 

 Mr. Knight, it is well known, was highly successful in obtaining 

 five new varieties of several kinds of fruit, by this process alone; 

 and we confess we should regret to see its peculiar merits and 

 value forgotten, or laid aside, for so lengthy a practice, however 

 excellent, as that of Professor Van Mons. Yours, 



A. J. D. 



Botanic Garden and JVurseries, Mioburgh, JS^. F., JVov. 12. 



We commend the above article, from the Annates of the Paris Horti- 

 cultural Society, together with the remarks by the translator, to the 

 especial notice of our readers. At the present moment, when so mueh 

 attention is being directed to the production of new fruits, we deem it 

 of considerable importance. The theory of Professor Van Mons, and 

 the great success which he has experienced in the production of new 

 pears, as well as other fruits, has now became generally known, and 

 many of the fruits already cultivated to some extent in our gardens^ 

 Whether, however, his method, which requires patience and unremit- 

 ted attention during a long period of years, is that which is superior to 

 all others, remains yet to be ascertained. We agree wath the remarks 

 of our excellent correspondent, that we should regret to see the merits, 

 which, it has been repeatedly proved, result from cross fertilization, 

 thrown aside or entirely neglected. The results of Mr. Knights' ex- 

 periments we have elsewhere stated, and we have no doubt future prac- 

 tice will verify the importance of his system. — Conds.. 

 VOL. II. NO. XII. 57 



