4 PREFACE. 



years' experience : — and of above 600 varieties of Fruits exliibited by us at the Horticultural Exhibitions of the 

 last two years, there iias never been one whose accuracy was questioned. The following is an extract from a 

 letter received from Judge George Hoadley, of Ohio, a gentleman of untiring zeal, and pre-eminent in Pomo- 

 logical knowledge, viz : 



"In justice to your establishment I think I oti:;ht to say, that since 1832 I have received from your father and 

 yourself above 350 different varieties of Fruit Trees. A large proportion of them have produced fruit, proba- 

 bly over3U0. I have watched their progress with th^■ 'Umost care, preserving a record of the location of every 

 tree and examining the fruit with the principal English and American authors before me. Thus far I have 

 ascertained only five misnomers There are five more which I y t consider doubtful." 



The following is from a letter of 1'. S. Humrickhouse of Coshocton, Ohio: '' My first stock of importance 

 was derived from your source. The Zoarites, about 1834 or '35 prociiri-d from you, some 60 or more varieties 

 of Fruits, and from them 1 obtained scions, and so exceedingly accurate have 1 found these to be, that I have 

 not as yet detected a single error in their nomenclature." 



On our part with our present perfect arrangements, we henceforth defy investigation, and we propose that 

 our remote brethren of the West appoint a Committee of disinterested Pomolor;ists, to visit and report fully upon 

 all the Nurseries in this and other Atlantic States, and we agree to pay $50 towards the expenses of s-uch a 

 Committee. It would be a great b'^nefit to all parties if every Pomologist, and all other Amaieurs of Horti- 

 culture, would take some periodical such as the Horticulturist, American Agricullurist, Cultivator, or Magazine 

 of Horticulture, and in ihe present advanced stage of Pomology, an excuse as to the trivial price forms but a 

 pitiful apology for lack of information. 



One great advantage possessed by the trees sent from this establishment is their peculiar hardihood. 

 The trees crown on Long Island are found by experience to be of a hardier character than any that are 

 grown elsewhere, iu consequence of this; very exposed and severe location. The Island being narrow, with 

 the Ocean on the one side, and the East River, or Sound, on the other, there is an exposure to all winds, and 

 to every degree of cold, and it is these vascidations of climate that form the real test of hardihood, far more 

 than a climate p-Traanea.ly cold. Immense numbers of Trees are sold to the New England States and 

 even to Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Canadas, where they thrive admirably. The prejudice that 

 some have imbibed at the North against Southern trees can have no application whatever to those grown on 

 Long Island, and more than half the Trees annually sold in Boston are from this Island, although often sold 

 as Northern Trees to suit the prejadices, and frequently, with a caution at the same time against all 

 SotJTHERN Trees (e'en includmg Long Island.) It is perhaps not saying too much to state that fully one- 

 half of the most flourishing and productive Fruit Trees now existing in New England were obtained from 

 this Island. 



It is doubtless to the causes referred to, that is to be attributed the general success which has attended the 

 trees sent from this establishment, and tlie winter of 1j31-2 incontestably proved their superior hardihood, 

 they having withstood the severity of that season uninjured, while immense numbers of trees elsewhere in 

 the middle and eastern states, were destroyed thereby. The trees thus hardened by nature are also found 

 to succeed best in our Southern states. 



Ihs stock of some of the newest sorts of trees is limited, and those trees, in consequence of their recent 

 introductiiin, are of less size. Many other varieties will be announced hereafter in a Supplementary Cata- 

 logue, additional lime being necessary as well for their propagation as for judicious investigations, but in the 

 mean time scions of them lor engrafting can be supplied. New fruits are not added to the collection, merely, 

 because their names differ, but a selection is made of those only which possess real merit. 



It seeriiS scarcely necessary to state, that all the Trees and Plants not designated as tender are hardy. 



Every tree when sent forth from the Nurseries, is duly labelled ; and from fifteen to sixty trees are usually 

 packed in pach matted bundle, and where boxes are preferdble, from 60 to 100 Trees and Shrubs can be 

 packed in each. 



Where trees are requested for exportation, they are carefully packed in matted bales, boxes, or casks, so as 

 to be sent to Europe, the West Indies, or any part of America, with perfect safety, for which a reasonable 

 charge is made. 



All packages of trees are delivered at Fulton-market wharf, New- York, by water, free of freight; and, 

 when desired by persons at a distance, they will be shipped to any port they may designate. If desired to be 

 transmitted to Philadelphia, Boston, and other adjacent places by the railroads, they will reach their destina- 

 tion with rapidity, and the canals and railroads now forming in every section of the country, present cheap 

 and easy modes of conveyance. No care is wanting on the part of the proprietors to give such directions as 

 may cause them to arrive safely; but it is to be expressly understood, that after being thus delivered or 

 shipped at New-York, and a receipt taken iherefor, they are wholly at the risk of the person who ordered 

 them. Insurance against loss by sea will be efiected whenever requested. 



To such persons as desire Fruit Trees, &c., and are not themselves acquainted with the qualities of all the 

 different kinds, it is recommended that they specify in their orders the number of trees wanted of each Class, 

 and leave the selection to the proprietors, who will make it according to the views and tastes of the appli- 

 cants ; and in such cases they may rely that those only will be sent which are of the most appro\ ed kinds ; 

 and, when desired, those that will ripen in succession, and larger trees can generally be selected m such 

 cases. It is also wefl, where the orders are small, to unite those of several neighbors in one, which will both 

 abridge the trouble and expense, and, as each tree is labelled, it can cause no confusion. Those who send 

 specific lists of Fruit trees would do well to name 3 or 4 varieties additional of each class, to be substituted in 

 case any of the others named are scant or of small size. The fact is, if those who desire an assortment of 

 very fine Trees, will state to us the number of varieties they desire of each class of Fruit and other trees, &c., 

 and will give us some latitude as to the selection, size, and price, we will supply them with such superior 

 trees as will be sure to command their approbation, and to surpa.ss any collections obtained from other sources. 

 Persons who may wish to make selections of fruits of American origin, will find them particularly designated. 



American Indigenous Trees, Shrubs and Plants, or their seeds, suitable lor sending to Europe, will be sup- 

 plied in assortments, from five to one thousand dollars or more, and they will be packed so as to insure their 

 safety. 



The proper season for transplanting trees, are the months of October, November and December in autumn ; 

 and March and April in the spring. For bulbous flower roots, the best season is from July to November in- 

 clusive. Dahlias, from October to June, both inclusive ; Greenhouse plants can be forwarded with safety at 

 any season, except the vi'inter months, and even then if the conveyance is wholly by water. In addition to 

 these. Scions of Fruit Trees, Grape Vines, &c., can be transmitted Irom October to April. 



Trees, &c., destined for the South and West, should be torwarded in preference during the autumnal 

 months, in consideration of their early spring vegetation. 



Many persons are prevented from ordering trees, from a supposition that they will not bear distant transpor- 

 tation, an idea so extremely erroneous, that it ought to be exploded. The proprietors are in the constant 



