264. Catalogue of Works on Gardcnmg^ 8)Cc 



nothing more than long rolls of bare names, without any particulars by which 

 purchasers might be guided in their selection of sorts. Its general correctness 

 is creditable to Mr. Rivers ; there are, however, some inaccuracies, of which 

 the following have occurred to me in a hasty perusal. 



Among the Apples there are very few sorts that are not worthy of cultivation ; 

 but a few of those of which the names are printed in italics scarcely deserve 

 that distinguishing mark of excellence, while others not thus distinguished, 

 are of the highest merit. For example, the Dutch Mignonne and Forman's 

 Crew are much inferior to the Flerefordshire and Adams's Pearmains, two of 

 the very best apples in cultivation ; Braddick's Nonpareil and the Old Non- 

 pareil are also quite equal, if not superior, to the Sweeney Nonpareil. No 

 collection, however select, should be without the Old Golden Pippin ; 

 Hughes's Golden Pippin, and the Summer Golden Pippin, are also of first- 

 rate quality. Besides these, the Xing Pippin, Margil, Oslin, Golden Reinette, 

 and Boston Russet are excellent sorts, equal in merit to most or all of those 

 selected by Mr. Rivers. He makes two Ribston Pippins, which is evidently 

 incorrect. That apple was named after a place in Yorkshire (Ribston Hall) 

 where it originated ; consequently its name, although it is slightly modified, 

 cannot justly be given to a different apple : the Winter Ribston Pippin is 

 therefore either some other sort, or merely a nurseryman's name, probably the 

 latter, for the true Ribston Pippin will keep till spring. 



Of Apricots, Mr. Rivers gives three new names : — the Early Red, Large 

 Red, and Large Peach, which he tells us in a note are " French varieties of 

 the Moorpark," a piece of information not very easily understood. If these 

 apricots do really differ from the Moorpark, they are not varieties of it any 

 more than of the Turkey or Breda, but bona fide sorts ; I suspect, however, 

 that these three, and also the Hemskirke, are nothing more than the Moor- 

 park. Let Mr. Rivers bud them all upon a fruiting tree of the Moorpark, and, 

 if there is any real difference, it will then be clearly perceptible. 



His list of Cherries contains most of the best sorts : — the Belle de Choisy 

 is a ver3' good tender-fleshed cherry, quite distinct in character from all others 

 that I am acquainted with. The Black Eagle is not " rather small," but a 

 good-sized cherry, and, with the rest of Mr. Knight's seedlings, well deserving 

 of extensive cultivation. The Downton and the Elton are, however, the best 

 of those raised by that distinguished horticulturist, and are not surpassed in 

 goodness by any known kinds. That called Knight's Early Black is thought 

 to be synonymous with the Black Tartarian, a large and excellent cherry. 

 The Early Purple Griotte is now called Early Purple Guigne. 



About Figs very little is known by any writer on fruits. Mr. Rivers has 

 judiciously reduced his list to nine names, which, with the Nerii of Mr. 

 Knight, and some two or three others, probably comprise all the sorts cul- 

 tivated in this country. It is much to be regretted that so little attention is 

 paid to this delicious fruit. 



The collection of Gooseberries is sm.ill, many of the best kinds being 

 omitted. Crompton's Sheba Queen, not " Sheba's Queen," is of the highest 

 excellence. Taylor's Bright Venus is not a " Lancashire prize sort," with 

 which it is classed, but a middle-sized berry, in the way of the Pitmaston 

 Green Gage, and, hke it, delicious in flavour, and possessing the valuable pro- 

 perty of hanging a long time upon the tree. The list given in the Penny Cy- 

 clopcEdia (article Gooseberry) is, perhaps, the best that could be made, and 

 those who desire a first-rate collection should take it for a guide. 



It is in Grapes that Mr. Rivers is most at fault ; that, however, will not 

 surprise any one conversant with fruits, for, with the exception of figs, there 

 is no class in which so much confusion exists. Most writers upon grapes are 

 mere copyists, each rigidly adhering even to the errors of his predecessors. 

 Pi'ince's Treatise on the Vine, published at New York in 1830, contains more 

 original matter than any British work that Thave seen, many of his descrip- 

 tions having evidently been drawn from nature ; and, although by no means 

 free from errors, it is a very useful and instructive book. Many of Mr. Rivers's 



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