pride. The care and superintendence of the garden naturally belongs to the matron: if it be not in good condition, her visiters charge it to her want of taste or energy; and, therefore, she has a right to expect that she be placed in a position to protect her from such invidious remarks; and this position she can never occupy, unless the means be furnished her to make her garden what it ought to be-a thing for her to be proud of, and one which her husband can love as the creation of his wife's taste, genius and energy. There is another consideration which appeals to the womanly pride of the housewives of Maryland especially to have their gardens in good order. The Maryland State Agricultural Society expects, through their zeal, that the displays of FRUITS, FLOWERS and VEGETABLES, at the next Fair, will excel, in magnitude and beauty, those of any other State in the Union. It is within the power of the ladies of Maryland to make it so; and we know their patriotism will impel them onward in a struggle so noble and so generous. From the Horticulturist. THE NATIONAL CONVENTION OF FRUIT Since the publication of our last number, this convention met in New York, in accordance with the call made by committees, representing the Massachusetts and the Pennsylvania Horticultural Societies, and the American Institute. A committee was also appointed to receive and arrange the specimens of fruit, brought by the members of the convention. This occupied the whole of the remainder of the first day; the quantity and variety of specimens, brought from all parts of the country, surpassing the expectations of all present, and exciting universal admiration. The pears and grapes from Massachusetts, and other parts of New England, and the superb apples from western New York and other parts of the country, placed side by side, spoke loudly, both of the skill of the cultivators, and the natural fertility of the soil in various parts of the country. It was allowed, by all present, to be the finest display of fruits ever made in the city of New York. Among the remarkable specimens, we noticed a basket of magnificent Onondaga pears, from western New York; another of Heath Clings, from the banks of the Hudson; beautiful Northern Spy apples, St. Martin's Quetsche plums, Aleppo grapes, and Beurre d'Anjou pears. The fair and delicious specimens of those old pears, the Brown Beurre, and Doyenne, abundantly supplied from the shores of Lake Ontario, were contrasted with the same varieties, almost worthless, from various other sections of the country, showing conclusively the importance of certain soils, either new or artificially produced, for old varieties. The comparison of the various fruits, thus brought together from all parts of the country, was almost continually going on; a great many facts were elicited, many synonyms detected, and a large amount of Finding that the room, provided at Judson's Hotel, information imparted privately, which will not, of Broadway, was not large enough to accommodate course, appear in the report of proceedings. Indeed, the members assembled, with their large contribu- brought in contact, as we especially were, with this tions of fruit, the convention was held in Clinton Hall. phase of the convention, we could not but think that It was by far the most important assemblage of even if it had been productive of no other good than horticulturists ever convened in the United States. this private interchange of opinions, the session Almost all the northern States were represented; would have amply repaid the labors of all its memand from as far west as St. Louis, delegates and pre-bers-so great was the union of knowledge possidents of the various horticultural societies, appeared and took part in the proceedings. Not only was almost every horticultural society in the country represented, but a large number of the leading agricultural societies sent delegates. We were much impressed by the concentration of pomological talent in the convention; nearly all the leading fruit growers and pomologists of the country being present. Besides these, we noticed men distinguished in our public councils, or scientific halls-such as the Hon. J. C. GRAY, of Boston, THOS. ALLEN, Esq, of Missouri, Hon. JAMES ARNOLD, of New Bedford, Dr. HARE, of Philadelphia, etc., all of whom took an active part throughout the whole proceedings of the meeting. Between two and three hundred members were present; men congregated from various parts of the Union, and bringing with them the results of varied experience, obtained by years of industry, in different soils, latitudes and localities. The convention was opened on Tuesday, the 10th of October, by General TALLMADGE, the president of the American Institute, who was chosen temporary chairman, for the purpose of organizing the convention. On motion, a committee of nomination was appointed to nominale officers for the convention, consisting of Samuel Walker, of Massachusetts; S. B. Parsons, of New York; Thos. Hancock, of New Jersey; J. W. Hayes, of New Jersey; and Thomas Allen of Missouri. And, also, a business committee, consisting of J. J. Thomas, of Macedon, N. Y.; A. J. Downing, of Newburgh, N. Y.; R. S. Field, of Princeton, N. J. sessed, and frankness in imparting it, displayed by all who were present. The second day the convention organized, upon the report of the nominating committee, by electing unanimously the following officers: President, Marshal P. Wilder, of Massachusetts. Vice-Presidents, Dr. W. D. Brinckle, of Penn.; H. W. S. Cleveland, of New Jersey; Dr. R. T. Underhill, of New York; Henry S. Crapo, of Massachusetts; Dr. A. S. Munson, of Connecticut; J. A. McIntosh, of Ohio; Thos. Allen, of Mo.; M. Yardley Taylor, of Virginia; Lawrence Young, of Kentucky; Russell Mattison, of Vermont. Secretaries, S. B. Parsons, of New York; Geo. Deacon, of New Jersey; P. Barry, of New York. Col. WILDER was conducted to the chair by Gen: TALLMADGE, when he opened the session with some excellent and appropriate remarks. He presided throughout with a dignity, urbanity, and knowledge of the business in hand, that gave the most complete satisfaction. Among the first points of business, taken up the second day, was the appointment of the following special fruit committee :-A. J. Downing, of Newburgh, Chairman. J. J. Thomas, of Macedon, New York; R. Manning, of Salem, Mass.; Geo. Gabriel, of New-Haven; S. Walker, of Roxbury, Mass. J. Lovett, of Beverly, Mass.; Thos. Hancock, of Burlington, N. J.; L. C. Eaton, of Providence, R. I.; H. W. S. Cleveland, of Burlington, N. J. This committee was instructed to bring in a list of approved well known fruits for general cultivation. After considerable discussion, they submitted to the convention a list, composed of only a few varieties, with a statement, that although many more fruits were equally deserving of a place in the list, yet from their value being as yet only fully ascertained in certain districts of the Union, the committee did not as yet consider it wise or prudent to recommend them for general cultivation. They deemed it proper to report a small list, and leave it to be enlarged by further action at a future convention. The following is the SELECT LIST OF FRUITS FOR GENERAL CULTIVATION, as adopted, after critical examination, by the whole convention, viz: APPLES.-Early Harvest, Large Yellow Bough, American Summer Pearmain, Summer Rose, Early Strawberry, Gravenstein, Fall Pippin, Rhode Island Greening, Baldwin, Roxbury Russett. And, for par A ticular localites-Yellow Bellefleur, Esopus Spitzen. burgh, Newton Pippin. PEARS.-Madeleine, Dearborn's Seedling, Bloodgood, Tyson, Golden Beurre of Bilboa, Bartlett, Seckel, Flemish Beauty, Beurre Bosc, Winter Nelis, Beurre d'Aremberg. And, for particular localities— White Doyenne, Grey Doyenne. PEACHES.-Grosse Mignonne, George IV, Cooledge's Favorite, Bergen's Yellow, Early York, serrated, Large Early York, Morris White, Oldmixon Freestone, Crawford's Late. And, for particular localities-Heath Cling. PLUMS.Jefferson, Green Gage, Washington, Purple Favorite, Purple Gage, Bleeker's Gage, Coe's Golden Drop, Frost Gage. And, for particular localities-Imperial Gage. CHERRIES.-May Duke, Black Tartarian, Black Eagle, Bigarreau, or Graffion, Knight's Early Black, Downer's Late, Elton, Downton. The question of a list of rejected fruits was also largely discussed by the convention, and referred to the committee, where it was determined that, though a measure of the greatest importance to fruit growers generally, it requires more time, and a more thorough trial of the inferior varieties; it was, therefore, deemed expedient not to report such rejected list till the next session of the convention. itself into a permanent body, and hold a session every year; that, since it is composed mainly of representatives from all the leading horticultural and agricultural societies in the Union, it shall take the title of the AMERICAN CONGRESS OF FRUIT-GROWERS;† and that, to enable it to carry out the plans of the present session, the same officers should be continued in office throughout the next session. It was also decided, in order to collect the largest possible amount of information on the subject of fruits, (ripening, as they do, at all seasons of the year,) that a GENERAL STANDING FRUIT COMMITTEE be appointed, to be composed of State fruit committees, (consisting of not more than five persons in each State, and the Canadas, represented,) with a chairman of the whole, and a chairman in every State; the president to be a member ex-officio; its investigations to be constantly going forward, and the reports of its correspondence and labors to be made at the next session of the congress, in the autumn of 1849. GENERAL FRUIT COMMITTEE. New York.-A. J. Downing, Chairman of the whole. J. J. Thomas, Macedon; Herman Wendell, Albany; P. Barry, Rochester; Benj. Hodge, Buffalo. Massachusetts.-Samuel Walker, Boston; F. W. Macondray, Dorchester; P. B. Hovey, Cambridgeport; J. Lovett, Beverly; R. Manning, Salem. Ohio.-J. A. McIntosh, Cleveland; A. H. Ernst, Cincinnati; S. P. Hildreth, Columbus; F. W. Scott, Toledo; T. H. Humrickhouse, Coshocton. Pennsylvania.-Wm. D. Brinckle, Philadelphia; Thos. Hancock, Burlington, (N. J.;) E. W. Keyser, Philadelphia; Thos. P. James, Philadelphia; Robt. Buist, Philadelphia. New Jersey.-H. W. S. Cleveland, Burlington; Richard S. Field, Princeton; Isaac Pullen, Hightstown; J. W. Hayes, Newark; J. S. Chambers, Trenton. Connecticut.-Geo. Gabriel, New-Haven; A. S. Munson, New-Haven; H. W. Terry, Hartford; Geo. Olmstead, East Hartford; V. M. Dow, New Haven. Vermont.-Russell Mattison, North Bennington; Chauncey Goodrich, Burlington; Martin Slocum, Manchester; B. F. Fay, Bennington. Rhode Island.-L. C. Eaton, Providence; Stephen H. Smith, Smithfield; Alfred Smith, Newport; J. J. Stimson, Providence; Comstock, Providence. Maine.-Henry Little, Bangor; S. L. Goodale, Saco. A large part of this and the succeeding day's proceedings were occupied by discusssions in open convention, touching the merits and the cultivation of a great number of varieties of new fruits. These discussions were in the highest degree interesting, since they embodied the practical knowledge of many Tof the best fruit growers and pomologists in the Union. Our present limits do not permit us to lay them before our readers; but they will be fully pre- Maryland.-Samuel Feast, Baltimore; William sented in the Report, soon to be published in pamph-Corse, Baltimore; Lloyd N. Rogers, Baltimore. let form for distribution; and we shall give a condensed view of some of the most important conclusions in our next number.* Among the most interesting proceedings of the third day of the session, was the reading of essays by various gentlemen; among others, one by Dr. HARE, of Philadelphia, on the disease called the yellows in peach trees, and one by Dr. MUNSON, president of the New-Haven Horticultural Society, on the culture of the pear. The special fruit committee also examined all specimens of new seedling fruits brought before them, and reported on their qualities. Before adjourning, the convention decided that, in consideration of the growing importance of the culture of fruits in this country, and the increasing interest in pomological science, it should resolve *Copies of this Report will, we understand, be sent, as soon as published, to every delegate and member of the convention. District of Columbia.-Joshua Pierce, Washington; J. F. Callan, Washington; Wm. Brackenbridge, Washington. Delaware.-J. W. Thompson, Wilmington; Edward Tattnall, Wilmington; J. Canby, Wilmington. Kentucky.-Lawrence Young, Louisville, Ward Brown, Frankfort; Henry Duncan, Fayette; Jas. Allen, Nelson; Geo. W. Weissenger, Louisville. Illinois.-J. A. Kennicutt, Chicago; John S. Wright, Chicago; J. Y. Scammon, Chicago; W. Arnold, Alton; J. W. Turner, Jacksonville. Indiana.-J. D. G. Nelson, Fort Wayne; D. Irvinghart, Logansport; Scott, Madison. There is in France a body of cultivators of the vine, which assembles annually, called the Congress of Vine-growers. The gentlemen at the head of each State committee is chairman of the committee; and where there were not five members appointed, it was decided that he should be allowed to fill up the same." Missouri.-Thos. Allen, St. Louis ; Lewis Bissnell, To By the aid of this committee, composed, as it is, of men of practical knowledge, the CONGRESS OF FRUIT-GROWERS will, it is hoped, be able, at no very distant day, completely to achieve the important objects which the public has entrusted to its care. do this, time, careful investigation, as well as active correspondence, and comparison of facts, are necessary. But these, we are satisfied, will not be wanting; and we confidently look forward to this body of practical cultivators, and scientific pomologists, to achieve what neither local societies nor experimental gardens can possibly achieve, in a country so broad and so varied in its soil and climate as the United States. We are satisfied, from what we saw of the intelligence and the admirable spirit which actuated the whole assembly at its first session, that it embodies the talent and experience necessary to bring about the desired results; and we congratulate the agricultural and horticultural interests of the country on the formation of an association, so pregnant with usefulness to every cultivator of the orchard or the garden. The congress adjourned on the evening of Thurs day, Oct. 12, after a most interesting session of three days; a session which will be long remembered by horticulturists, as, perhaps, the most intelligent, dignified, and satisfactory meeting of the kind ever held in the country-where the general spirit that pervaded it was the strongest desire for progress, in pomology and fruit culture, and the determination to sink all sectional feelings, and work together with one spirit to attain this result. The next meeting of the American Congress of Fruit Growers was fixed for the first Tuesday of October, 1849, in the city of New York. The Hon. J. A. Pearce has consented to deliver an address before the Agricultural Society of Cecil Co., on the 4th of April next, at 4 o'clock, in the Court room in Elkton. Judge Chambers, if his health permits, is expected to attend, and will also address the meeting. We have received a letter from the Hon. Wil loughby Newton, of Va., making some statements of the farming operations of E. Ruffin, Esq., the well known distinguished editor of the Farmers' Register, and promising to furnish us with full details of his extraordinary success. Our readers may anticipate some valuable information from this source. Mr. Ruffin's nett profits have been not less than 15 per cent., and some years but little short of 20! THE DUKE OF NORTHUMBERLAND.-The Portrait of this celebrated bull will be found on another page. There are a number of animals in Virginia that can trace their pedigree to the "Duke;" and we learn that the effects of the introduction of his stock have been very beneficial in the grazing districts of that State. METEOROLOGICAL TABLE, From the 19th of January to the 20th of February. Kept at Schellman Hall, near Sykesville, Carroll County, Md. Taken at 6 o'clock, a. m., 2 o'clock, noon, and at 6 o'clock. Wind. Temperature 201 w W 22 NW NW 23 NW NW 24 NW NW 8 25s 27 w 28 w 30 w 26 sw Sowing Clover Seed.-If you have not already sown your clover seed, you should lose no time in doing so, after the ground is relieved from the frost, 21 w and take our word for it that you will advance your chances of success by rolling it in. Indeed, we would both barrow and roll after seeding, with the confident belief that we would not only secure a more certain growth of clover, but that we should benefit the wheat crop, by encouraging its tillering. In advocating the sowing of clover seed we are prompted to recommend its culture because we conscientiously believe that, without clover and lime, no permanent improvement of the soil can be effected, on any lands which may have been exhausted of its calcareous element, or, perchance, may not originally have had it. This opinion, thus incident. 10 w ally advanced, forces us to the confession, that it is useless to sow clover seed on fields where the soils are destitute of lime, unless ashes or lime accompany such seeding. Among numerous other communications on file, is one from the Hon. Wm. Carmichael, on the prevention of injury to agriculture by birds, insects, &c.We sincerely regret our inability to give it in this No. E15 28 23 sw 22 37 35 Remarks. Clear Hail do W sw 28 37 34 SW NW 29 37 38 Clear SW sw 22 37 35 do Cloudy 29 w 31 NE 1NE sw 33 40 40 W w31 36 30 NW 15 41 30 NW 20 31 23 do Cloudy W E w 8 30 27 Cloudy W 11 sw SW 12 NE W 13 NW 15 NW 19 w *5 below zero. Snow I inch 30th of Jan. Crocuses and Hyacinths in bloom, in the garden, those that had not been covered. Review of the Tobacco and Grain Markets, reported for the "American Farmer," by J. W. & E. Reynolds, Farmers and Planters' Agents, March 1st, 1849. The month now just closed has been marked by great dullness in both the tobacco and grain markets, but more particularly of the former, as the inspections, at this period of the year, amount to almost, we might literally say, nothing, as a large proportion of the very small weekly inspections, reported by the inspectors RECENTLY, are merely a RE-inspection of tobacco that has been before entered on the inspection books and inspected in former years: and we might add, that this has been the practice, in the beginning of every year, for several years past; and it is not done to deceive the purchasers, as might at first be supposed; for but few agents could be found, even if they desired such a thing, who would have the hardihood to attempt such a thing upon the AsTUTE PURCHASER, who, although he knows but little of the cultivation of the WEED, yet, after it is cultivated and packed, no horn worm, of the most refined taste, ever understood its peculiar quality and sweetness, in its green state, better than does the "penetrating german," in its DRY state. But the disadvan tage of this re-inspection is, that it has a tendency of making our statistics of the growth of Maryland tobacco, each year, VERY UNCERTAIN, as all tobacco inspected, for instance, in the year 1848, is counted as the growth of 1849; and that inspected in 1849, is put down as the growth of 1847, and so on; and in this way the growth of Maryland tobacco has been estimated at from 2,000 to 3,000 hogsheads larger than it really has been for several years past. The real obect of reinspection is to see how the article has kept, and restore confidence in it on the part of the purchaser, and the consequent increased probability, in many cases, of obtaining fairer prices; but it is of little use in the common qualities. The crops to come to market, this year, is said to be superior, in "color," to any that we have had for several years if so, it will operate very favorably on prices, as there is a large stock of very common tobacco now on hand, and very little good; and it may afford an opportunity for agents to get off their common stock at, perhaps, fairer rates. The writer has recently returned from a visit through a part of the tobacco section, and the quality of the last year's growth is apparently much better than usual. We are sorry to state that the accounts from Europe, since our last monthly review, are not of a decided pacific character, and there are at least room for fears that the tobacco trade may, this year, again be interrupted. We would advise our planters to divide their crops equally between grain and tobacco, so far, at least, as their lands will admit of it, but, at all events, not to plant more tobacco than they have done for the two last years. We quote common dark crop and second tobacco at 23 to $3; good crop, 3 to $4; good and fine reds, 5 to $8; ground leaf, 2 to $7, as per quality. Ohio fair to good red, 4 to $9; fine wrappery, 12 to $18, spangled, 6 to $10; yellow, 10 to $15. GRAIN.-Receipts small; we quote common red wheat, 95 to 100 c.; prime red, 1.06 to $1.10; white, 1.06 to $1.15. Oats, 28 to 30. Rye, 60. White Corn, 44 to 46; yellow, 50 to 51 cents. At the meeting of the Board of Managers of the State Society, a paper was presented and read from Mr. Fisher, the consignee of the cargoes of Peruvian guano now in this market, stating the terms upon which it will be sold, as follows: 50 tons or upwards, $45 84-100, per ton of 2,240 lbs. 10 to 50 tons, 50 84-100, per ton of " 64 A less quantity than 20 tons not offered. Smaller lots can be had of dealers at $51 per ton of 2,000 lbs. CHEMICAL MANURE, Manufactured by the "George Bommer New York Manure Company." Tfrom the sinks, in which is mixed a small porTHIS Manure is made chiefly of Fecal matter tion of substances that are of themselves powerful agents of vegetation, and possess the virtue to fix and retain the ammoniacal gas of the matter. The great desideratum of the agriculturist has always been, to find out some process by which excrements might be solidified quickly, and all their fertilizing properties so strongly retained, that the manure may dissolve slowly in proportion to the requirements of the plants, and therefore, produce its effects for a time equal to that of farm manure.This process was at length discovered by the French Chemists, and is now practically carried out with complete success in more than sixty of the large cities in France, where such factories are in full operation. The "G. B. N. Y. M. Co." has established a Factory, on an extensive scale, near the city of New York, in which they manufacture this kind of manure, and as the fecal matter can be obtained in this country at less expense than in France, the manure will not only be made stronger, but will be sold at a price less than in the French cities, this price being so established as to afford only the reasonable remuneration to which we are honestly entitled, the more so, as its manufacture is not of the most agreeable kind, and withal troublesome and laborious. The manufacturing department is under the special charge of George Bommer, esq., who has a perfect scientific and practical knowledge of manure matters generally, and the company has established a standard for the strength of its manure from which it is intended not to deviate, so that its cus tomers may at all times be furnished with an article really worth what they pay for it. Our manure is an inodorous grain, and as the substances from whichit is made contain of themselves all the elements necessary to the fertilization of the soil and growth of plants, it is extremely well adapted to such purposes. |