252 



M. instanced the fnie high Inish blackberries of onr gardens; 

 especially the Neiv Rochelle or Lawton and the Dorchester, 

 which he disthiguished as an accidental seedling, successfully 

 cultivated in this neighborhood by Capt. Josiah Lovett, 2d, 

 of Beverly, for several years, and grown for its delicious fruit 

 by others since. This variety he especially reccommended 

 for cultivation, as possessing superior qualities. 



Tlie mode of pruning trees was likewise introduced, Mr. 

 II. advoctUing the plausibility and propriety of his own, sug- 

 gesting that in young and growing trees, it would be found 

 l^etter to shorten the slioots, and in so doing to cut to some 

 bud whicli is on tlic outside of the branch under training by 

 the knilb, cutting closely and smoothly as possible. He 

 found that tliis mode insured a more symmetrical and uni- 

 form growth nnd a lc\- s entangling of the branches by and by. 

 On being interrogated by Mr. William B. Brown, whether 

 in aji old tree making a few strong shoots it was best to cut 

 away the old wood. Mr. Manning advised the shortening of 

 the new wood, but by all means endeavoring to preserve the 

 symmetrical shape of the tree. On the hybridization of plants, 

 it was Mr. M's opinion, that such varieties should be selected 

 as possess the qualities, which it is desirable to have united 

 in the seedling offspring, illustrating his idea in the goose- 

 ])erry where the high flavor of the English fruit should be 

 nought for in American kinds, which are hardier and free 

 from mildew, while in pears a fine variety would be that in 

 which superior quality of flavor and flesh could be found 

 combined with the property of keeping late and sound. 



3.[r. George D. Phippen spoke of t\\Q process of injudi- 

 cious pruning, mentioning a disastrous case which came un- 

 der his observation, where too much of the tree had been 

 cut away in the process of grafting. The scion grew freely 

 it is true, but the l)ark seemed to suffer from insufficient 

 sap ; at least, on the following Spring, large patches of dead 

 matter, similar to that produced by fire-blight, appeared upon 



