winds, cannot possibly benefit the most important fruit of our country, the apple; and yet we do know, as a fact, that there are conditions in our soil and climate which have enabled us to establish an enviable reputation for our crops of this fruit. We cannot, therefore, admit the premise, that the climate of Europe, when considered in all its elements, is superior; and consequently, of course, we cannot admit the inference which Mr. Cabot draws, that hardy fruits are therefore cultivated with more success and brought to greater perfection than with us. So much for theory. Now, then, let us turn with him to the facts in the case. First he takes up the strawberry. This is a fruit of spring and early summer growth it cannot bear the heat of July and August. We should expect it to develop magnificently under the slow and sure advance of an English spring. And Mr. Cabot compels us to a comparison in its best estate in a chosen locality. No one can deny that specimens of the English strawberry are superb, generally exceeding the American in size; but do they exceed in productiveness? The price in Covent-garden Market is not a test; for we know that labor is cheap, and that the price of most vegetables is far below our own. Upon this question I can add nothing from my own observation; but I have been interested in the statement of Mr. George S. Harwood of Newton, an intelligent and careful observer and enthusiastic cultivator. On a certain morning in June, Mr. Harwood tells me he made a hasty breakfast of Triomphe de Gand strawberries from his garden, and, on the same day, started for his old home near London. After a quick run, on the tenth day he ate the same variety at his father's table, just in its prime, and pronounced the fruit of his adopted State incomparably superior in quality. The slow advance to maturity, the humid atmosphere of England, had given large size and fine appearance; but there was a lack of character and high flavor which Mr. Harwood well remembered as distinguishing his fruit at Newton. As an impartial witness, his opinion is encouraging, when he states, that, with equally careful culture, better results in quantity and quality attend the American than the European cultivator of the strawberry. For good samples of the cherry, Mr. Cabot takes us over to Germany; and it must be confessed that the beauty and abundance of these specimens quite exceed our own. We are in a transition period: we have grown the finest varieties in the greatest perfection and abundance. The curculio has come in upon us like a flood; and the more tender kinds like Black Tartarean have been injured by the severity of an extreme winter a few years since. In this connection, and in reference to the minor fruits, such as apricots and plums, which, with the cherry, are seriously affected by insects, it is fair to consider that they are, as was said, in a transition state. Emphatically so is the whole country in reference to fruit-culture. We have cleared our forests, thereby not only greatly changing the character of our atmosphere, rendering ourselves subject to high winds, great aridity, and great extremes of heat and cold, but also greatly reducing the number of our feathered friends, whose work may seem insignificant, and yet by the ceasing of whose work the vast tribes of insect-life come swarming upon us. It is no trifling warfare to meet this myriad force of minute insect life; yet it can be, it must be, it will be, done: to which consummation we invoke English sparrows, human laws, and human energies, until it is fully demonstrated that the evil is under control. When we do all this, when we plant belts of evergreens to do the work of protection, when we take the pains that our brethren do across the water, then we shall see that our climate will do its part. For the peach, Mr. Cabot takes us to France. Without looking mournfully into the past, may we not go even as far as New Jersey for a comparison? Can it be denied that there are wide sections of our country which are the very home of the peach? The flavor is admitted to be superior. In regard to apples and pears, Mr. Cabot expresses the opinion that they are grown with eminent success in both countries, and he is undecided as to an advantage on either side. Be it remembered, then, that he does not yield the palm even to Belgium. Concerning the grape, Mr. Cabot is more emphatic, and does assert that the grapes of France "are vastly superior, and are raised with infinitely more success " than they can be in the United States, excepting on the Pacific coast. Herein we must differ point-blank. This is partially a difference of taste. I well remember, while under the training of my most esteemed friend some years since, the trial of any new native grape did not conduce to the symmetry and harmony, not to say beauty, of his facial expression; indeed, I may say that indications of positive disgust were not infrequent. Now, I am differently constituted. I like the Isabella when in perfection. A perfect Iona is, to my taste, better than a Black Hamburg: it has character and aroma, which are wanting in the Hamburg. So is the Catawba exceedingly fine when perfectly ripe, such as we receive by tons upon tons from the Lake Shores every autumn, sometimes sold as low as fifty dollars per ton in Boston. Upon this point I leave the facts to speak for themselves. In thus presuming to differ somewhat from the opinions of one whose good judgment I esteem so highly, it is proper to say that I have by no means the same advantage in forming a judgment; yet I can but think that the ease with which he can command fine fruit in Europe with the aid of a well-filled purse, in contrast with the remembrance of care and sometimes disappointment in the production of former years, has had some influence in inducing him to think that the last is the better way. After all, it is not a question which country will produce most fruit with the least labor. We must have fruit, and have it we will. There are great discouragements. Immense effort is required. We have fallen upon evil times, the soil is not virgin, insect-life is almost infinite, the winds have an almost unbroken sweep, the moisture-provoking and moisture-retaining forests have disappeared: but we accept the situation; we fight it out on that line. Yea, we take courage, and thank God that it is as well as it is. W. C. Strong. NONANTUM HILL. THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. This society, after a protracted and tediously laborious session of two days and evenings at the Astor House, adjourned late on Thursday evening; having completed the task of revising the extensive catalogue of American apples, pears, peaches, and other fruits. There was a full attendance of members, made up of the most distinguished pomologists of the United States. Among the number we noticed P. Barry, Charles Downing, George Ellwanger, Prof. Thurber, Samuel Parsons, and Robert Parsons, of New York; A. S. Fuller, Dr. Trimble, William Parry, and P. T. Quinn, of New Jersey; F. Hoopes, Thomas Meehan, J. E. Mitchell, and J. Knox, of Connecticut; F. R. Elliott, W. Fritz, and S. E. Todd, of Ohio; W. Saunders and John Saul of District of Columbia; Hon. M. P. Wilder, C. M. Hovey, Robert Manning, and J. F. C. Hyde, of Massachusetts. It is a rare occurrence that such a body of intelligent gentlemen, both practically and theoretically, convene for the transaction of professional business, where their deliberations are characterized by more harmony and genial feeling than appeared at the sessions of this association. Hon. Marshall P. Wilder of Boston, Mass., who opened the session with an appropriate address, setting forth the importance of the meeting, and who presided with cheerful dignity, still retains his position as president, with Mr. F. R. Elliott of Cleveland, O., as secretary. The readiness with which the representatives from the different States engaged in the proposed task before them, and the commendable ability and practical intelligence which were brought into requisition on the occasion, afforded a most satisfactory assurance that these gentlemen, who came so far, at no small expense pecuniarily, and were willing to appropriate two days and two long evenings to the accomplishment of so irksome a task, are prompted to the performance of a great national benefaction by something more than mercenary considerations. During their deliberations, the committees and every member from various States were provided with catalogues of fruit. Each variety was considered separately, and inquiries were raised as to the failures or satisfactory success with which that variety has been cultivated in every locality. Then the suggestions offered both for and against a given variety were carefully considered; and, if the fruit seemed to have been cultivated with satisfactory success, the name was retained in the catalogue: on the contrary, if the evidence appeared to be so much against a given variety as not to be likely to warrant its cultivation, the fact was properly indicated in the catalogue. An untold amount of practical experience and intelligence was manifested during the deliberations of this respected body of American pomologists. The Old World, with all her wisdom in pomological science, cannot boast of more practical ability among her fruit-growers than is manifest among the plain and unassuming members of this association. Their table was spread with various specimens of fine fruit during their sessions; and their deliberations in reviewing and revising the catalogue are to be submitted to the consideration of the convention of the association in September next, at their meeting in Philadelphia. The president, before adjournment, in a few appropriate remarks, congratu lated the members of the association upon their commendable enthusiasm in this laudable and national enterprise, upon the harmony and good feeling that had characterized their deliberations, and upon the ability, intelligence, and cheerfulness with which these arduous duties had been performed. Thus ended the interesting convention of the American Pomological Association of February, 1869. - BEES versus Raspberries. - We think the statement of an intelligent beeraiser, that “the raspberry will not succeed where bees are kept, for the reason that the intermeddling of these insects with the pollen of the flower is decidedly injurious, and prevents the fruit from reaching perfection," needs confirmation. We have grown this fruit for the past twenty years, and in a common enclosure, within a few yards of the plants, have uniformly kept the common hive-bee; the number of colonies varying from five to ten in different seasons. Referring to our record, we find that in no one of these years has the crop proved a total failure. In seventeen of the years, the crop was good; and, in three instances, the season of fruit was shortened by dry weather. We recommend "G. G." to retain his bees, and continue the cultivation of his raspberries, confident that there is no good reason for relinquishing either. F. B. - This grape is one worthy MADRESFIELD-COURT BLACK MUSCAT GRAPE. of the warmest commendation, both in regard to its appearance and quality. It was raised by Mr. Cox, gardener to the Earl of Beauchamp, at Madresfield Court, Great Malvern, some half-dozen years since; and was selected as the best of a batch of seedlings obtained from the Muscat of Alexandria and the Black Alicante, intercrossed in both directions. It proves to be a grape of excellent quality, setting its fruit as freely as the Black Hamburg, than which it takes about a fortnight longer to ripen. The vine is of a robust constitution, producing short-jointed wood, with prominent pointed eyes. The fruit-clusters are large, regularly tapered, and handsomely shouldered. The berries are large, of a longish oval-shape; like those of the Muscat, perfectly black; and covered, like those of the Alicante, with a fine, thick bloom. They are attached by stout, warted foot-stalks. Their skin is tough; and their flesh is firm, juicy, and rich, with a fine, luscious, Muscat flavor. The leaves are bristly, deeply lobed, and serrated with reddish stalks and midribs. With such qualities as those just indicated, it is not surprising that the Madresfield-Court Grape should have won a first-class certificate when exhibited before the Fruit Committee in August, 1867; and that it should have been designated as a splendid new grape. In truth, it comes in as a very useful auxiliary to the few thoroughly good grapes already in cultivation, nearly if not quite equalling the Muscat of Alexandria in quality, and indicating, by its stout, firm foot-stalks, and leathery skin, that it will rank amongst those especially useful kinds which hang well after they have reached the ripening stage. Florist and Pomologist. PALMS AS DECORATIVE PLANTS. We copy from "The Floral World" the following article upon the best palms for decorative purposes. They are thus extensively grown in Europe, and serve a most admirable purpose. "Were we to name all that are really good and distinct, we should not only take up more space than we can reasonably hope to be spared, but we should confuse the readers, and make them think they would require a house as large as the Palm House at Kew, or a miniature Crystal Palace, to grow them in. We do not want to frighten our readers; but we do want to encourage them to take these plants in hand boldly, and thus add a large amount of grace and beauty to their collections, where much monotony at present prevails. It is not necessary that they should have large and lofty houses; for, though many of the palms attain an immense height in their native countries, they are very slow growing when subjected to a lower temperature in this country. ARECA RUBRA. "To take the kinds which require a stove temperature, first, we will just observe, that nearly all of those which we shall name will suffer no injury if placed in the conservatory from the end of June until September. It is not safe to place them there earlier than June; for, if they are subjected to a low temperature before the new growth is completed, the fronds will be poor and stunted, and the beauty of the plants materially interfered with. Another consideration which ought not to be lost sight of in bringing them into the conservatory is to guard against exposing the plants to cold draughts, more particularly when they are first brought there. We are well aware of the difficulty in forming a select collection, when there are so many good ones, so as not to leave out any of the best kinds : but, as we must begin somewhere, we will make a start with the cabbage-palms; and first on our list we will place "Areca aurea and A. rubra, both strong-growing kinds, with long pinnate fronds, which attain to eight or ten feet in length in full-grown specimens, but particularly beautiful when young. We have some good things amongst the |