166 Prof. Kirtland's Seedling Cherries. 



tant that this should be done ; otherwise, in a few years, there 

 will exist such confusion that it will be almost impossible to 

 identify the originals. Where so many good varieties are 

 produced directly from the seed, they soon become dissem- 

 inated, often without name, and eventually, the original 

 source being unknown, and not being referable to any exist- 

 ing variety, they are, if valuable, brought into notice as new 

 seedlings, thus encumbering our catalogues with synonyms, 

 to the disappointment of all cultivators. 



As an additional value to the list it would be well to have 

 the locality given where each variety originated. 



We trust we may have the further assistance of our West- 

 ern Nurserymen, in making a complete list of all the native 

 fruits of that fertile region. — Ed. 



Art. VII. Prof. Kirtland's Seedling Cherries ; in a Letter 

 to the Mass. Hort. Soc. Communicated by the President. 



Few pomologists have given so much attention to the cul- 

 tivation of the cherry as Prof. Kirtland. He has not only 

 fruited and proved a very large number, but has produced 

 upwards of twenty seedlings, some of which may be classed 

 among the best which have yet been raised. Several of these 

 varieties are already tolerably well known, particularly at the 

 West, while others have not yet, we believe, fruited, only in 

 Prof. Kirtland's own collection, at Rockport, Ohio. They 

 all deserve a full trial ; and, as he has so very liberally dis- 

 tributed the scions, we hope to have the pleasure, ere long, 

 of giving a full account of them in our Magazine, accom- 

 panied with engravings of the fruit. The following letter 

 and brief notice of them, by Prof. Kirtland, has been kindly 

 communicated by the Hon. J. S. Cabot, President of the 

 Massachusetts Horticultural Society : — 



To Joseph S. Cabot., Esq., President of the Mass. Hort. 

 Society : Dear Sir, — Not knowing who, at this time, is the 

 corresponding secretary, I have taken the liberty to address 



