Some means have likewise been devised for has tening the production of the fruit of seedling trees, or shortening the period of probation. The moving of the plants and shortening of their roots have al ready been mentioned. Mr Williams of Pitmaston, an eminent English horticulturist, has succeeded in promoting their early puberty, by using means to hasten that peculiar organization of the leaf which appears necessary to the formation of blossom-buds. The seeds (of course only of select kinds) are sown in pots, and the growth of the seedling plants is for warded by the artificial heat of a peach-house or vinery. They are-afterwards planted out in nursery lines. Every winter, all small trifling lateral shoots are removed, leaving the stronger laterals at full length ; and such a general disposition of the branches is effected, that the leaves of the upper shoots do not shade those below. Every leaf, by its full expo sure to light, is thus rendered an efficient organ, and much sooner becomes capable of forming its first blossom-bud. Those who have even slightly studied vegetable physiology, must be convinced of the great consequence of attending to such appa rently minute circumstances.—Another plan resort ed to with success, consists in taking cions from the seedling trees, and grafting them on wall-trees in full bearing : in this way, the fruit may be seen in three or four years from the sowing of the seeds. If it possesses any promising qualities, such as fine co lour, firmness, or flavour, it ought not to be reject ed at first on account of acidity or smallness of size : If a seedling be somewhat juicy, it is very promising, for this good quality also increases with its years; and it is remarked, that a fruit having a firm pulp commonly improves with the age of the tree, but that a soft or mealy pulp gets worse. In general it may be remarked, that the fruit has al•a3s a ten dency to improve in mellowness and in size, as the tree itself becomes stronger and approaches matu rity.
Not only have British horticulturists been suc cessfully occupied in producing new varieties at home, but they have at the same time been extreme ly active in introducing approved kinds raised in other countries. Some of the best new varieties, both native and foreign, of the different fruits usual ly cultivated, shall now be enumerated.
Nero Varieties of Fruits.
APPLES.—For the best new varieties of this ex cellent and useful fruit, we are indebted to Mr Knight. The Dosinston Pippin has now been known and approved of for a good many years. In expos ed or upland situations, it comes of better quality than in low and warm places. The Wormsley Pippin is a large fine fruit, resembling in the consistence and juiciness of its pulp the Newtown pippin. The Yellow Ingestrie Pippin is the produce of one of the hybrid fruits already mentioned, between the golden pippin and the orange pippin : in shape and colour it resembles the former, and it also rivals it in rich ness and flavour. The Scotch Nonpareil is another of the hybrid productions, for which we are indebt ed to Mr Macdonald of Dalkeith. It was raised from a fruit produced after dusting the blossoms of the nonpareil with those of the Newtown pippin.
By grafting on a he procured the new fruit in the fourth year. Specimens of this fruit have at different times been exhibited at meetings of the Caledonian Horticultural Society, and have al ways met with great approbation. The Russet Non pareil was raised at Pitmaston near Worcester, from seed of the nonpareil. The blossom appears to be more hardy than that of the parent variety ; the fruit is compressed, of a dull green, much covered with russet ; the pulp is of a pleasant consistence and highly charged with the peculiar aromatic fie: your which characterizes the nonpareil. The Mar tin Nonpareil, raised likewise near Worcester, is re garded as a fine dessert fruit; it is remarkable for keeping in a sound state, not only over winter, but till the following midsummer; for supplying the table, therefore, in the spring months, this variety is valuable. Still another offspring of the nonpareil has been recom mended in the Transactions of the London Horticultur al Society, called the Braddick Nonpareil ; the pulp is sweeter and more melting than that of the nonpareil, richly sugared, and slightly aromatic. The Breeders Pippin is a new English variety which cannot be' traced to its original : in shape It is flatly conical, with many plaits or wrinkles around the eye ; the akin is of a deep dull yellow ; the pulp yellowish,' firm, very sweet, with a rich vinous acid. The Lamb Abbey Pearmain is the offspring of an import 4 ed Newtown pippin ; but it differs very much in shape and general appearance from the Long Island fruit, being of an oval form and somewhat pyrami dal ; the pulp is yellowish next the skin, and green next the core, very firm, so as to fit for keeping,. at the same time juicy, richly sweet, and not with out flavour : the tree requires to be trained against a wall or espalier rail, because the branches are so slender that they cannot, in general, support the fruit.
From North America we have, of late mars, re-' ceived several excellent varieties of apple. The Newtown Pippin from Long Island, already repeated ly named, deserves the first place. It is an excellent dessert apple, allied to the rennets; it keeps well, is in perfection for the table in January, but continues good till March or later. In this country the tree re quires a wall with a good aspect. The Spitsenberg Apple is of a fine appearance, and the pulp has some what of the pine-apple flavour : the tree requires a sheltered situation and good soil ; it succeeds better on a west than an east wall. The American Nonpareil or pomme de grise is a high-flavoured apple, introduced only a few years ago; it ripens very well on a wall hay. ing a west aspect. The Canadian Rennet is a large fruit, of a yellow colour, with a tinge of red ; it like wise requires a wall in this country. Of varieties brought over from the Continent, we shall only no tice the Borsdorfer, which is one of the most highly esteemed throughout Germany. The fruit is round, of a yellow colour, but red next the sun ; having a rich flavour, it is suited to the dessert, as well as for all culinary purposes.