428 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY- 



authors in the last half of the century producing works of great 

 excellence, if not of so elaborate a character. 



The first of them was " Le Jardin Fruitier " of Noisette (3 vols. 

 4to., Paris, 1821). Noisette was a well-known nurseryman, and his 

 name is still commemorated by a class of rose named after him. The 

 first volume deals with cultivation ; the second describes the fruits ; 

 and the third is composed of coloured plates. These, though not of 

 first-class merit, are nevertheless quite good and are evidently drawn 

 by a pomologist. A second edition of this popular work was published 

 in 1839, 2 vols. 8vo. The plates in this edition are by P. Bessa, artist 

 at the Museum of Natural History at Paris, and are coloured Utho- 

 graphs of merit. The second edition is therefore preferable for the 

 plates and figures of many additional varieties. 



The lavish expenditure of the Second Empire was not without its 

 benefits to fruit Hterature, as to Imperial generosity we owe the magni* 

 ficent "Jardin Fruitier du Museum." The author, Joseph Decaisne, 

 was Director of the Museum, now the Jardin des Plantes, and was a 

 student under Adrien de Jussieu. His training as a botanist was of 

 great value, and his first works were all of descriptive and economic 

 botany. The first volume of his work was published in 1858, and it was 

 completed by the eighth volume, published in 1873. Of the colouring 

 of the plates it is impossible to speak too highly ; the lithographs are 

 magnificent, and no pomological work has ever approached them for 

 correctness of colouring The drawing is of equal merit, and the wood 

 and leaves of each fruit shown are indicated in outline with the greatest 

 exactitude. The work deals mainly with pears, and vol. i. contains an 

 elaborate monograph on the species from which the garden varieties 

 have been derived. Peaches, a few plums and strawberries are figured, 

 the last being described by Madame Vilmorin. It is a matter for 

 regret that this splendid work [had to be discontinued before the 

 apples were undertaken, as, if complete, it would stand without a 

 rival. 



The next important work was the " Pomologie Generale de la 

 France," pubhshed at Lyon by the Congres Pomologique de France. 

 This excellent work consists of 8 vols, large 8vo. (1863-1871), with 

 coloured plates of each fruit. Only such fruits as were admitted by 

 the Congress as of merit were included. The question of synonyms 

 was fully dealt with, and the descriptions are most full and reliable. 

 The fruits, leaves, shoots, and fruit buds are illustrated, and all kinds of 

 fruits are included. The work as a whole forms a most valuable guide 

 to French fruits, and is quite indispensable. 



In 1865 a useful descriptive work was published by M. P. de 

 Mortillet, a nurseryman of Grenoble, the first volume dealing with 

 peaches. The second appeared in 1866 and describes cherries, and the 

 third in 1868 is upon pears. The title is " Les Meilleurs Fruits par 

 Ordre de Maturity et par S^rie de Merit e " (Grenoble, 1865-68). A 

 curious feature is that much of the information is given in the question 

 and answer form, a young man, " Leon," providing the questions 



