After the usual resolution of thanks to the presiding officers, &c., the convention adjourned to meet in accordance with the rule adopted in the resolution of Dr. Herman Wendall, viz: to meet at such time and place as should be designated by the committee.

The following description of a very valuable, new seedling pear, was received from Professor J. P. Kirtland of Cleveland, Ohio.

THE KIRTLAND PEAR.

SYNONYMS.

Seedling Seckel,

Kirtland Seedling.

;

Size, medium; the circumference six and a half inches; length, including stem, two and a half; form, globular ovate; exterior color, rich crimson russet, varying to a dull green; texture, fine, melting, juicy and rich; color of flesh, white; flavor, aromatic, sweet, and in the highest degree delicious; seeds, unusually full, short and blackish stem, six-eighths of an inch in length, thick and somewhat curved; eye, small, moderately deep, with the segments of the calyx short, reflexed and persistent; season, September; color of wood and growth, the wood is of the same color as the fruit, and the general habit of the tree resembles a thrifty white Doyenné.

Remarks. In the close of the year 1819, I furnished my brother, H. T. Kirtland, with a few seeds of the Seckel pear, grown in the State

of Connecticut. From these he raised several trees on his farm, in Poland, Mahoning co., Ohio, one of which he gave me in the year 1825, and which produced the fruit exhibited at the New-York State Fair, last autumn, at Buffalo, and noticed in vol. viii, pages 108 and 109, of Transactions of N. Y. State Agricultural Society. It is no novelty in Mahoning co., Ohio, but is well known by every cultivator of fruit, and is esteemed as one of the finest varieties. In hardiness and productiveness it far excels the parent Seckel, and in point of flavor is esteemed as superior by many people. The name attached to it has designated it for years, and was applied by the public as a compliment to the originator of the seedling, Henry T. Kirtland.

Valuable reports were made by J. A. Kennicott, of Illinois; Dr. Herman Wendell, of Albany; W. R. Coppock, of Buffalo; J. W. Bailey, of Plattsburgh; F. R. Elliott, of Cleveland, Ohio; F. K. Phoenix, of Wisconsin; J. C. Holmes, of Michigan; C. Goodrich, of Vermont; which are published in the proceedings of the convention, and which we regret being unable to publish at length. These reports contain many valuable and important suggestions as well as facts in relation to the cultivation of fruit in the different sections of our country, that must prove of great practical value to pomologists. It is a matter of congratulation, that so much interest has been excited on the subject of fruit culture, and the enlisting of so many intelligent minds throughout our country on this subject will lead eventually to the cultivation of valuable and choice fruits of the different varieties, and the exclusion of the worthless from our nurseries, as well as from our orchards and gardens.

FRUIT CULTURE IN OHIO.

F. R. ELLIOTT, Cleveland.

In preparing some few remarks upon the culture of fruit in Ohio, it cannot be presumed that I will furnish statistics of the number of trees and varieties of fruits in cultivation, or the amount of bushels produced, but that I will glance at some of the leading features of a production which at no distant day promises to make no small item in summing up the resources of a State already reputed for her agricultural wealth.

In Hamilton county, the south-western portion of the State, and in which is located the city of Cincinnati, we find a greater amount of acres, comparatively, devoted to the culture of fruit than in that of any other county, and simply because of the immediate and permanent market. The wealth, produced from other sources than those of horticultural pursuits, and, placed in hands of persons whose natural tastes inclined thereto, has been the means of many valuable experiments being tried, especially in the culture of the grape, and of the introduction for the purpose of testing many reputed new and valuable fruits. In the culture of the strawberry, so far as regards extent of acres, and quantity of bushels produced, there is probably no section in the world that can vie with the suburbs of Cincinnati. The variety for market is however confined to one or two sorts. Cultivators preferring to plant their grounds with such as are known to be productive, rather than venture upon the "puffs" of self-interested originators of new kinds, and therefore while among the amateur gentlemen's gardens almost every new variety may be found, the stranger visiting the "city markets" would judge that county behind the age in the culture of fruit. While however Cincinnati market stands pre-eminent for the quantity of strawberries sold there, it must not be imagined that other sections are deficient in their attention to the culture of this fruit, for such is the spirit of our people that hardly a poor family throughout the smaller country towns but what is now supplied with a "small patch" of strawberries, in place of going, as was the case but a few years since into the fields to glean a pint in a day. The suburbs of all the larger towns and cities also, as Dayton, Zanesville, Columbus, Chillicothe, Springfield, Sandusky, Toledo, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Ravenna, &c. &c., all over the State have ample fields of this fruit to render it always procurable in the markets at a fair price. In the northern parts of the State these fields will be greatly added to within a few years, inasmuch as the traverse of the State by railroads will render transportation easy, and therefore cause the season to last longer by about two weeks.

In originating of new varieties, Ohio has perhaps performed thus far her share; but whether those introduced now as of exceeding value, shall be proved and noted in like manner ten years hence, remains to be seen. Mr. Burr has done most in production of new varieties, and has certainly grown some very handsome berries, but they remain, as I think, yet untested for the million. For so writing I presume I shall be stigmatized as heretofore I have been, as being "incredulous beyond reason," but I have learned that it is sufficient time to award full praise, when there is no question to be raised of its sincerity.