come productive. More especially is this the case with pears and apples, when planted either upon walls or as espaliers: it is generally in these situations where root-pruning is found peculiarly effective and valuable. We are not surprised that the subject should attract the attention of our readers. Two communications treating on this matter will be found in another part of the paper. By one of these we are supplied with what appears to us the most conclusive evidence in favor of root-pruning that the most sceptical can require. We therefore refer such of our readers as may be in any way concerned in this matter, to Mr. Drewett's article, given elsewhere. We insert below a descriptive notice of a sample of fruit sent to us by Mr. Drewett, being pears, and the produce of root-pruned trees. They were clear, handsome fruit, and the subjoined dimensions correspond to the several sorts, measured by us at the time they were received. The circumference of each fruit was taken round the thickest part, and the length, from the base of the stalk to the eye: Beurré Diel, circum. 9 in., length 5 in. Chaumontel, circum. 8 in., length 54 in. Navarre Beurré, circum. 74 in., length 34 in. Nothing could exceed the clear and healthy appearance of the fruit. The result, as detailed by Mr. Drewett, is most successful; it is not, however, other than a most reasonable and natural one. It is merely what, we venture to assert, will be the result with pears and apples in ninety-nine cases in every hundred, where similar experiments are fairly made; such are the effects which our own experience, at least, would lead us to expect. As we cannot expect that our own opinions upon any question are to be implicitly received by all, however corroborated by the evidence of others, we therefore earnestly invite the consideration of our practical readers to this practical question. A little discussion on so important a matter would necessarily lead persons to thought and experiment, and this would tend greatly to a better understanding of cause and effect in reference to the matter at issue.-(Gard. Journal, 1847, p. 243.) Experiment on Root-pruning Pear Trees.-I beg to furnish you with a statement relative to a successful experiment I have made on some pear trees at this place, growing on a wall fourteen feet high, and about sixty yards in length. The sorts are for dessert. Having been previously informed that the trees were never known to produce any thing like a crop, I was resolved to make some alteration in them; and in Oct. 1813, I tried an experiment on them in root-pruning. I had a trench dug out the whole length, about four feet from the wall, and three feet deep, when I undermined them, until I could have full scope for severing all those roots which had a tendency to go downwards: those I found rather numerous. I had them pruned with great care, and as the soil was removed, I continued to raise them nearer the surface, from their cold abiding place. Having provided myself with a good stock of loam, I supplied the roots with a liberal share of it, and by the time the trench was nearly filled up again, the points of any of the side roots were brought near the top. The first season following, the trees made very little progress. The second year after they were pruned and nailed, I made three incisions with a knife down the whole length of the stems, as they appeared to be what persons in the profession term hide-bound. As the season advanced, the trees began to make up for the rest of the previous season, sending forth fine healthy shoots, which I allowed to remain on the trees until the autumn, not even stopping them. The third season a great improvement appeared to be going on, both in forming healthy shoots, and forming fruit buds. The shoots I allowed to remain their full length, until the wood was ripe, the same as before. I have great pleasure in being able to state, that the trees this season have produced a splendid crop of fruit, and fine in quality. I gathered, a few days ago, from one half-standard, which does not extend more than fifteen feet wide, 228 fine pears, fit for table, when ripe; and from another tree (Beurré Diel) which only extends to nine feet wide, eighty-six fruit was gathered some of them weighed ten ounces each.-(lb. p. 245.) ART. III. Domestic Notices. Colmar d'Aremberg Pear.-We have fruited this beautiful variety the past season in our collection, one of the pears being quite large; but some of the most remarkable specimens were sent to us by N. Stetson, Esq., of Bridgewater, whose garden we lately noticed, (p. 441.) One of these weighed fourteen and a half ounces, and measured four and a half inches long and they were produced on a small espalier tree only planted two years. The great size, early bearing and productiveness, as well as great excellence of this pear, will render it indispensable in every choice collection It ripens at a good season, about the first of November, just after Swan's Orange, and keeps up the succession of fine large pears.-Ed. Rhode Island Horticultural Society.-This new association held its second annual exhibition at Providence on the 29th and 30th of September. The display of fruit, particularly of apples, was exceedingly fine; among the pears, some new sorts were exhibited, and there were also fine specimens of the Pratt, Capsheaf, Buffum, Knight's Seedling, and other R. 1. varieties. The Westcott, a variety recently brought to notice, is said to be excellent. The report has been received, and we shall notice it in our next number.-Ed. The Boston Pine Strawberry.-Your Boston Pine Strawberry, (of which you may recollect I obtained just a dozen plants of you two years ago this autumn,) has done well with me. I did not expect, as a staminate kind, that it would equal your seedling, but it has come up fully to my expecta tions, and I know of no variety that I would prefer, to cultivate with that, for a very abundant crop; although I have the Early Scarlet, Iowa, Bath, and others, which I have used for that purpose: the staminates, you know, are all noted for their strong growth and rapid increase, but your pine, I think, exceeds all others in this respect; certainly all that I have cultivated. Of the twelve vines procured of you, as I have remarked, in the fall of 1845, I gave four to a friend going west early in the following spring. This left from me but eight to start with, and yet these eight gave me, as I believe, fifteen hundred to two thousand plants at the close of the season, and from these were picked very little, if any, short of a bushel of fruit the past summer. Your very ob't servant, D. W. Coit, Norwich, Conn., Oct. 1847. First Annual Exhibition of the Albany and Rensselaer Horticultural Society. The first annual exhibition of this Society was held at the State Geological Rooms, in Albany, on Saturday, September 11th, 1847, and a full report has been sent, which, as heretofore, we must condense for want of room : "It is not yet six months since the society was formed; and, of course, no opportunity has been afforded for increasing the varieties, or extending the cultivation of the various articles exhibited, and yet the show of fruit, flowers, and vegetables astonished and delighted every beholder. A more beautiful, a more extensive horticultural exhibition has seldom or ever been witnessed in this State. The undersigned begs to congratulate the friends and supporters of the society upon the entire success of this, their first annual exhibition; and trusts that this satisfactory and encouraging result will induce them to further and continued exertions for the prosperity and welfare of the society. FRUITS: The Committee on Fruits report that there were exhibited by Holland R. H. Vail, of Ida farm, Troy, eleven varieties of apples, viz., Pippin, Early Tart Bough, Heart's Pippin, Jersey Sweeting, Early Sweet Bough, Spitzemberg R. I. Greening, Domine, Vandervere, Swaar, and one variety not named; three varieties of pears, viz., Bartlett, Beurré Rance, and Catillac; seven varieties of plums, viz., Coe's Golden Drop, Flushing Gage, Reine Claude, Yellow Egg, Imperial Gage, Yellow Gage, and a seedling of a fair character; one variety of the peach, the Red Magdalen; and three varieties of grapes, viz., Isabella, Winne, and a native Blue variety. pears, By D. Benson, of Albany, Beurré Diel Washington, Royal Purple and Nectarine plums, and a very fine variety of seedling peach. By Wm. Newcomb, three varieties of watermelons and three of muskmelons. By E. P. Prentice, of Mount Hope, Albany, very beautiful specimens of Bergen Yellow peaches, one variety of watermelon, and one variety of muskmelon. By John Gott, of Albany, a limb bearing thirty beautiful peaches, not named, and two varieties of plums, Green Gage, and a seedling variety. NoBy Stephen E. Warren, of Troy, seven varieties of peaches, viz., blesse, Royal George, Patroon, Sweetwater, Lemon Cling, Red Magdalen, and a seedling; three varieties of Nectarines, viz., Perkins seedling, Red Roman, and one variety not labelled. By Bradford R. Wood, of Albany, five varieties of plums, viz., Red Magnum Bonum, Sweet Gage, Green Gage, Washington, and beautiful Rareripe peaches. By Wm. Buswell, of Troy, Coolidge's Favorite peach, Washington plum, and a seedling plum. By. B. B. Kirtland, Hawthornden apples and Netted muskmelons. By J. McD. M'Intyre, of Albany, Egg plums, and one variety of apple not named. By Dr. Jas. McNaughton of Albany, Rareripe and Morris White peaches, very fine. By V. P. Douw of Greenbush, Beurré Diel pears, Royal Blue plum, a seedling Green plum, a seedling Yellow plum, Miller's Burgundy grapes, and four varieties of watermelons, viz., Black Spanish, Joppa, Rio Janeiro, and Mountain Spanish, and Netted muskmelons. By Joel Rathbone, Kenwood, Albany County, Green Gage and Blue Gage plums, Royal George, Sweetwater, and Morris White peaches, Seckel pears, Catawba and Isabella grapes, Newington nectarines, Rock Nutmeg watermelons, and large Long Island watermelons. By Isaac Deniston of Albany, twenty-seven varieties of plums, viz.: Bleeker Gage, Yellow Gage, Deniston's Superb, Reine Claude, Columbia, Albany Beauty, Eleanor, Yellow Egg, Lawrence's Favorite, Chancellor Gage, Deniston's Red, Bleeker's Red, Blue Gage, Buel's Favorite, Green Gage, Washington, Mirabelle, and ten seedlings not named. : By Amos Briggs, of Schaghticoke, Rensselaer county, sixteen varieties of plums, viz. Nectarine Plum, Orange, Orleans, Prince's Yellow Gage, Reine Claude, Coe's Golden Drop, Blue Gage, French Red Gage, Imperial Gage, Washington, Yellow Gage, Purple Magnum Bonum, and four seedlings of fine appearance, but not of first quality; Bartlett pears, Seckel pears, and one variety unnamed, and apples, not labelled. one variety. By James Wilof Albany, six varieties of pears, viz.: Althorpe Crassane, Doyenné Gris, Doyenné White, Beurré Capiaumont, Henry the Fourth, and Lewis; Reinette Van Mons apple; Bleeker's Red, St. Catherine, Wheat and Judson plums, and May's Victoria currants. By John Taylor, of Albany, two varieties of apples, not labelled; Sweetwater and French Cluster grapes. son, By James Coates, Red Magnum Bonum plums, Quackenbush plums, Alexander apples, and two varieties of watermelons. By L. Menand, White Alpine strawberries. By J. K. Paige, of Albany, six varieties of pears, viz., Seckel, Bartlett, and four varieties not named; five varieties of peaches, sixteen varieties of grapes, thirteen varieties of plums, and Valparaiso watermelons. By Dr. A. March, of Albany, very beautiful specimens of Red Magnum Bonum and Yellow Egg plums. By Dr. Herman Wendell, of Albany, nineteen varieties of pears, viz., Duchesse d'Angouleme, Seckel, Gansell's Bergamot, Napoleon, Beurré Knox, Muscadine, Easter Beurré, Beurré Diel, Bartlett, Doyenné White, Leon le Clerc of Van Mons, Comte de Lamy, Fulton, Summer St. Germain, Chaumontelle, Duchesse de Mars, and three varieties unnamed; twenty varieties of apples, viz. : Newtown Pippin Green, Rambo, Baldwin, Esopus Spitzemburg, Yellow Newtown Pippin, Male Carle, Lady Apple, Gloria Mundi, or Ox Apple, Gravenstein, Lemon Pippin, Golden Sweet, Fall Pippin, Vandervere, R. I. Greening, Hawthornden, Ribstone Pippin, Seek-No-Further, Siberian Crab, and two varieties not named; twentyfive varieties of plums, viz.: Coe's Golden Drop, Coe's Late Red, Yellow Egg, Red Magnum Bonum, White Perdrigon, Virgin, Peters's Large Yellow, Prune d'Agen, White Magnum Bonum, Lombard, or Bleeker's Red, Long Scarlet, Catherine plum, American Wheat plum, Bleeker's Gage, Schuyler's Gage, Washington Yellow Gage, Blue Gage, Nectarine, Reine Claude, Imperial Gage, Holland plum, two English varieties, labels lost, and one seedling from the Lombard, resembling that variety; Golden Chasselas, Bland's Virginia and Isabella grapes; Red Roman nectarines; six varieties of peaches, viz.: Early Anne, Early Tillotson, Emperor of Russia, and three seedlings; Black Spanish and Valparaiso watermelons, and five varieties of muskmelons, viz. : Beechwood, Sweet Ispahan, Christiana, Green Citron, and Yellow Early canteloup. By John Townsend, of Albany, five varieties of apples not named. PREMIUMS.-The Committee have awarded the premiums as follows:Apples. For the best exhibition, to Dr. Herman Wendell, of Albany, $3. For the second best exhibition, to Henry Vail, of Ida Farm, Troy, $2. Pears. For the best exhibition, to Dr. Herman Wendell, $3. For the second best exhibition, to James Wilson, of Albany, $2. Plums. For the best exhibition, to Isaac Denniston, of Albany, $3 For the second best exhibition, to Dr. Herman Wendell, $2. Peaches. For the best exhibition, to Stephen E. Warren, of Troy, $3. For the second best exhibition, to John Keys Paige, of Grapland, Albany, $2. Grapes. For the best exhibition of native grapes, to Henry Vail, $3. For best specimen and greatest variety of foreign grapes, to John K. Paige, of Albany, $3. Nectarines. For the best exhibition, to Stephen E. Warren, $3. Watermelons. For the best specimens, to V. P. Douw, of Greenbush, $2. For the second best specimens, to Joel Rathbone, of Kenwood, Albany, $1. Muskmelons. For the best specimens, to Dr. Herman Wendell, $2. For the second best specimens, to V. P. Douw, $ 1. The Committee beg leave to notice favorably, and as the best specimens of the particular varieties named, some Coe's Golden Drop and Nectarine plums exhibited by Mr. Amos Briggs, of Schaghticoke; and some very large and beautiful Bergen Yellow peaches exhibited by E. P. Prentice, of Mount Hope, Albany County; also a few beautiful specimens of apples, peaches, plums, and a very beautiful new seedling pear called the Sterling pear, exhibited by Messrs. Wilson, Thorburn & Teller, from their nursery.-V. P. Douw, Chairman. Floral Designs, Vase Bouquets, &c.-The Committee on Floral Designs, Bouquets, &c. report that there were presented for exhibition more than twenty designs, bouquets, &c., nearly all of which were very beautiful, and reflected great credit for skill and taste on the part of the exhibi tor. |