1869 .] 
405 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST, 
TTlae “ Mexaesica. Evertoearieng - 
Strawberry.— I'he strawberry now called “Mexican 
Everbearing,” and formerly the Maximilian, was,exhib¬ 
ited at the meeting of the American Pomological Society. 
In regard to this, the Michigan Farmer, of Oct. 9th, says 
that one of the editors of the Agricultui'ist (calling him 
by name) “ and other scientific men gave the stranger 
their critical attention, and we believe all were, obliged 
to admit that the plant was not the Old Red Alpine, but 
that it was a variety distinct and new, with valuable 
properties of growth and production that made it differ¬ 
ent from any strawberry known to members of the Con¬ 
vention.” In the same article it, is stated that Mr. Fuller 
Was obliged to “ succumb to the pressure of the com¬ 
bined facts with which he was met,” and more of the 
same sort. Mr. Fuller is abundantly able to take care of 
himself, and we will merely say that he did no such thing 
as “ succumb.” As to the editor of the Agriculturist re¬ 
ferred to, he would say that the statements in regard to 
him are unqualifiedly false. He expressed no opinion in 
public, but if ho had done so, it would have been to the 
effect that he could see no difference between the plants 
shown as Mexican Everbearing and those as Alpine, 
except that one was grown in good soil and had been 
watered and cared for, and that the others were neglected 
plants from poor soil, and evidently selected with a view 
tO make the contrast as strong as possible. We do not 
'know whether this precious report originated with the 
Michigan Farmer or those interested in the sale of the 
“Mexican EvcrbeJring” Strawberry. It will not help 
the sale of the so-called variety, or advance the interests 
of pomology to put forward statements which have not 
the slightest foundation in truth. The question of the 
identity of the fruits referred to is not to bo settled by 
advertising editorials, but by the careful judgment of 
men who seek to arrive at, the truth rather than to sell 
strawberry plants. We have the “Mexican Everbearing” 
and the Alpine growing side by side, and hope next sea¬ 
son to satisfy ourselves at least, if they are equally poor, 
or which is the more worthless of the two. 
'into Americitti ff’oiaaolog'actal 
cty.—This Institution held its 12th Biennial Session at 
Philadelphia, Sept. 15th, and it continued for three days. 
The attendance was large, and the various parts of the 
country well represented. The President, Hon. Marshall 
P. Wilder, gave an interesting address. The time of the 
meeting was occupied in discussing the fruit lists, which 
were gone through with great rapidity, as the greater 
part of the labor had been performed by the Fruit Com¬ 
mittees in February last. The previous officers were for 
the greater part re-elected, and additional Vice-Presi¬ 
dents and Committee members were added for the States 
not represented at the last session. The next meeting 
will be held at Richmond, Va., in Sept. 1871, the day to 
be fixed by the presiding officer. The principal officers 
arc : Marshall P. Wilder, Mass., President: F. R. Elliott, 
Cleveland, 0., Secretary; Thos. P. James, Phila., Treas¬ 
urer. Every one interested in fruit culture should be¬ 
come a member, as this will secure to him a copy of the 
Transactions and revised Fruit Lists. Sending $10 to 
the Treasurer makes a life-member, or $2 admits to bien¬ 
nial membership. Socially the meeting was an exceed- 
iugly pleasant one, and the most genial feeling prevailed. 
<l>l»stsiai*y.—In the month of September last, 
England lost two of her most eminent horticulturists. 
Robert Thompson, for 44 years connected with the gar¬ 
dens ofthc Royal Horticultural Society, at Chiswick, died 
at the age of 71; and James Vcitch, whose name is iden¬ 
tified with the introduction of so many valuable plants, 
died at the age of 54_Since the foregoing was written, 
we learn of the death of Mr. Eugene A. Baumann, which 
took place at Rahway, N. J., early in October. Mr. B. 
was widely known as a landscape gardener, and many of 
the most tasteful places in the country were laid out by 
him. We have, during the present year, published two 
small designs by him. Besides being a landscape gar¬ 
dener, Mr. B. was. an accomplished horticulturist. He 
was, il we mistake not, son of one of the Baumann Broth¬ 
ers, of the world-renowned nursery at Bolwiller, France. 
'Fiac BEassaeBatisctts IffortacatSSrai-al 
Society.—The granite temple of Flora and Pomona, 
situated on Trcmont St., Boston, was again filled with 
the choicest productions of the garden and orchard at 
the Annual Exhibition in September last. The library I 
room was devoted to grapes; those grown under glass 
■Were very fine, and the show of natives very good for a 
locality wliiph does not excel in growing this fruit. The 
lower hall was almost entirely given up to vegetables, 
and the display—being enthusiastic on vegetables—was 
grand , i. p., if vegetables ever can be grand. Bresec was 
therewith his potatoes, which looked as if they had been 
made to order in the same mould. Gregory, from the 
salt'corner of the State (Marblehead); showed heads of 
cabbage as hard almost as marble, and so many other | 
things that one-turned away from liis collection with 
mucli~ the same recollection that one has of Mexican 
jmcherOy where every vegetable that can be had, from 
pumpkins to peppers, is cooked in the same pot. Such 
celery and cauliflowers ! Enough to make one wish to live 
in Boston, which we certainly should do did we not pre¬ 
fer to live somewhere else. After feasting the eyes on 
vegetables the fruit in the upper hall looked rather tame. 
It is useless to tell any one who has seen Boston display 
its pears anything about it. Those who have not seen 
them can get no idea from a description, and had belter 
go to the next show. The collection of choice plants 
was an exhibition of itself, the green-houses of Ilovey 
& Co., Iiunniwell, and others, affording specimens of 
great rarity and beauty. The Society has introduced a 
noteworthy improvement in the way of new exhibition 
plates. They are shallow, oblong trays, with rounded 
corners, made of heavy white ware, and stamped with 
the seal of the Society. Fruit in dishes of this kind 
shows much better than in ordinary plates; there is a 
great saving of room, and the tables present'an appear¬ 
ance of order and neatness not otherwise attainable. 
The exhibition closed with the forty-first annual dinner 
of the Society. President Hyde presided, and near him 
were Ex-presidents Wilder, Breck. Stickncy, Cabot, and 
Hovcy, while the tables were filled by those whose names 
are familiar to all who are devoted to horticulture. 
Citlslbfig'es.— Siisscs’lcrjarstt.—“C. II. S,” 
Ionia, Neb. See “Kitchen Garden,” page 339, for 
method of wintering cabbages. To make sauerkraut, the 
cabbage is sliced by means of a knife fixed in a frame, and 
is something like an inverted plane. A clean barrel is lined 
with cabbage leaves on the bottom and a short distance 
up the sides. A layer of 3 inches of cut cabbage is put 
in and pressed down by the hand, and sprinkled with 4 
tablespoonfuls of salt. Four layers are put in in this way, 
and then the whole is packed down hard with a wooden 
pounder. Four more layers follow, with another pound¬ 
ing, and so on until the barrel is full. Cover with cab¬ 
bage leaves, and put on a board follower with a heavy 
weight, and set away to foment. Remove the scura^ at 
the end of three weeks, and if necessary, add water 
enough to keep the kraut covered. The cutting apparatus 
was figured in Oct., 1SG7. 
WSasie tfiaey Say aAustralia.—A cor¬ 
respondent writes from Sydney: “ Your American Agri¬ 
culturist contains so much valuable information that is 
applicable to this country, apart from other interesting, 
amusing, and instructive items, that, a list lias been lately 
opened in Sydney for subscribers, to which I and many 
of my friends have appended their names, and we hope 
soon to have the gratification of regularly receiving your 
valuable publication:” — We are rapidly “annexing” all 
the countries as portions of our territory. 
TCIae IPeHmsylvtaraasi IHos'fiiciraltUss'Hl 
Society held its annual exhibition at the time of the 
meeting of the Am. Pomological, and between the two— 
for no one could tell where one exhibition ended and the 
other began—the show of fruits was splendid. To the 
Pennsylvania—the pioneer Society of the country—must 
fall the credit of the beautiful decorations, mainly of 
choice living plants. The show of vegetables was poor 
for anywhere, and especially meagre for Philadelphia, 
and did we not know how much better in this respect 
she has done in years past, we should suggest to her 
growers to come to Washington Market any morning, 
and see how such things are done around New York. 
Not only did the Pennsylvania Society afford every facil¬ 
ity and aid to the Pomologicals, but at the close of the 
session gave them a grand banquet, at which ladies, 
flowers, and music, fruit and fun and wisdom, delicate 
eatables and good cheer generally, were blended in 
most delightful confusion. 
I><r»WEaifiig’‘'s Fruit tistd. Fruit 'Frees 
of America. — Second revision and correction, with 
large additions, by Charles Downing. The original work, 
which is taken as the basis of the present one, was by 
A. J. Downing, whose name is still retained upon the 
title page, although it is so much enlarged by the 
addition of new matter, that the original volume 
forms but a small portion of the present huge book. We 
say huge, for it contains more than 1,100 large octavo 
pages, and is a monument to the patience and zeal which 
collected so large an amount of material, and the indus¬ 
try which compiled it in its present available form. A 
work of this kind cannot be perused for review, as its 
value cau only bo ascertained, like that of a dictionary, 
by familiar use. As the name of Charles Downing is a 
synonym for all that, is conscientious and disinterested in 
regard to fruits, the fruit-growing public will bo pre¬ 
pared to accept whatever opinions maybe expressed in 
the book as those of one who had no object in view 
but the good of the cause to which an industrious 
life has been devoted. That many nominal varieties are 
put down as synonyms and that many over-praised ones 
have fair judgment rendered them, will displease thoso 
who make pomological accuracy secondary to their inter¬ 
est in trade, we have no doubt. In looking over the pages 
we find that all classification, even by periods of ripening, 
has been omitted, and the varieties of each kind are 
placed in alphabetical order. When one of so wide an 
experience as Mr. Downing gives up the attempt to sys¬ 
tematize fruits as hopeless, we may well question if it is 
possible to group them in a satisfactory manner. Tho 
number of varieties illustrated is small in proportion to 
those enumerated and described, but to introduce more 
would have still more increased the size of the book, 
now almost inconveniently large. When wo com¬ 
pare the present edition with tho modest one which first 
made its appearance in 1845, we can see to what extent 
the subject has grown. If only a small proportion of the 
new varieties that have been added prove valuable, wo 
shall have reason to be proud of our progress. Wo 
would add a word in commendation of tho very elab¬ 
orate index, which fills 83 pages, in double columns, 
and is a good-sized work of itself. Price, $7.50. 
TTIao Kew .Jersey State Fail-, held at 
the fine grounds at Waveriey, though opening in the midst 
of a storm, proved eventually a success. Tho exhibition 
was peculiarly rich iii Agricultural Implements, especially 
those adapted to the use of small farmers and market 
gardeners. Tho show of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, is 
rarely surpassed by a simply Agricultural Society. This 
department and that of horses are understood to be the 
crowning glories of the shows of this Society. The horse 
department was, we believe, fully up to tho standard, and 
certain it was that many a capital “ heat” was trotted: 
There w'ero excellent Devons, good Short-horns, very fair 
Ilerefords, neat Ayrshi res and Jerseys, but the last hardly 
came up to last year’s standard. Poultry was poor. 
A*5©tlac5* tKresat Poultry Show.—The 
N. Y. State Poultry Society, which did itself so much 
credit by the manner in which its first exhibition was 
conducted in March last, is now issuing circulars and 
preparing for another to be held at. tile same place, tho 
Empire Skating Rink, beginning on the first day of De¬ 
cember and continuing to tho 9tli. This monster bui'ld- 
ing will be heated by steam, and though tho weather bo 
severe we may expect comfort within ; besides, the offices, 
ladies’ apartments, and restaurants, will be as warm as 
ordinary sitting-rooms. In addition to a show of poultry, 
both useful and ornamental, land and water fowls, to¬ 
gether with pigeons of all sorts, and animal pets of every 
name, from ponies to cats and dogs, including rabbits, 
Guinea pigs,—in short, a real menagerie of pets—the So¬ 
ciety offers prizes for fish-propagating apparatus, and 
the best illustrations of fish breeding as now practiced. 
The interest excited by the chickens hatching in tho in¬ 
cubator, last year, was great, but that of hatching troutlcts 
bids fair to exceed it. Tho prizes offered are gold, silver, 
and bronze medals, of different sizes and values, and the 
best works on poultry, etc. Mr. Geo. II. Warner, of New 
York Mills, is President, and Daniel E. Gavitt, Secretary. 
'FEe« 66 Sieiatuclty ” StruAYHsei'-ry.— 
Our friend. J. S. Downer, of Fail-view, Ky., originator of 
the Downer’s Prolific and Charles Downing, lias added 
another of his seedlings, the Kentucky, to tho list. Mr. 
D. has tested this variety for six years, and now offers it 
as ripening a week or ten days later than other large 
varieties. A late strawberry has been a desideratum, 
and we hope to find it in the Kentucky. 
d rimes’ doleleim Apple.—Wc think that 
the Agriculturist was the first to figure this most excel¬ 
lent variety, in January, 1807, from specimens received 
from S. B. Marshall, Cleveland, O. We have seen it sev¬ 
eral times since, and are glad to know that it. confirms 
the good opinion that we then gave of it, and that it sus¬ 
tains its reputation as a full and regular bearer. A kind 
which is so highly esteemed at the West should have a 
trial in the Eastern State's. The fruit is of medium size, 
and is in season from January until March. When rip¬ 
ened it is of a beautiful golden yellow. Dr. Warder, in 
his Pomology, says: “Quality, very best; use, dessert; 
too good for aught else; those who have tried it say that 
it is excellent for cooking.” 
wsirlasag- Fruits,,—Thos. Middleton (no 
address). Dwarf Peaches are accidental seedlings of 
dwarf habit, which arc budded on common peach stocks. 
The Italian, free, and Van Buren’s Golden, cling, are the 
only ones with which wo are acquainted. Tho apple is 
dwarfed by using the Paradise Apple as a stock. Cher¬ 
ries are dwarfed by'budding on the Mahaleb stock The 
method of grafting referred to was given as a matter 
of news. We have had no personal experience with it. 
