168 NeiD Seedling Apple. 



planted them on his farm above referred to, in the spring of 

 1799. I measured the tree last fall, four feet above the 

 ground, and found it girted seven feet six inches. It is still 

 vigorous and healthy, and forms an immense spreading 

 head. This is the only tree out of a lot of seventy, which 

 produced fruit worth preserving. You will probably think 

 me very minute in my history, but as I have seen the sad 

 effects of a want of being particular, I do not feel at liberty 

 to take too much on trust and promulgate it in the same 

 way. The fruit as you will perceive is very handsome, of 

 good size, fine flavor, and an excellent keeper : these are all 

 desirable qualities which cannot fail to recommend it to favor- 

 able notice, and the only wonder is, that it should so long 

 have existed in comparative obscurity. I will not attempt 

 to describe it ; I leave that for the more competent hand of 

 yourself and the committee on fruits; I shall be glad if 

 my opinion of its merits are sustained, and it is thought 

 worthy of promulgation, that a figure of it, with a descrip- 

 tion, be published in Hovey's Magazine of llorticnltnre. I 

 send a few grafts for yourself and the members of the so- 

 ciety. 



I also send a few scions of a seedling pear, under the 

 name of Hill's Fall Butter; this pear I think highly worthy 

 of propagation, so far as I am capable of judging, in the 

 absence of some new and esteemed sorts ripening at the 

 same time which have not yet fruited with us. You will 

 oblige me if you will see that Capt. Lovett, Mr. Breck. and 

 Mr. Hovey get a few of each of the above scions. This 

 pear, with its origin, history, and description, with an en- 

 graving, I have published in the November No. of the Far- 

 mer and Gardener printed in this city, a copy of which I 

 had the pleasure of sending you some time since. 



Yours with much respect, 



A. H. Ernst. 



Spring Garden, Cincinnati, Jan. 27, 1844. 



As the committee on fruits have not made any report on 

 the specimens of the two apples presented by Mr. Ernst, in 

 season to accompany the above communication, we annex 

 our own descriptions of the same ; and as soon as the com- 

 mittee make their report, it will be found under the pro- 

 ceedings of the Mass. Hort. Soc. 



