Among the noteworthy incidents in the life of Chas. Downing is the fact, that, to the last, Down-ing's fruit book is credited to the authorship of A. J. Downing, who died over forty years ago, by the burning of the Hudson river steamboat near Tarrytown; thus showing the very modest, unassuming and unpretentious character of the great horticulturist - his brother.

I am proud that he called me his friend, and number among the pleasantest hours of my life those spent at his home in Newburgh as a visitor. On one occasion he invited me to visit with him his former experimental orchard, at that time owned by Mr. Alfred Bridgeman, a prominent seedsman of New York, who, to his honor be it here recorded, had given him the privilege to still carry on his experiments and to treat the fruit as if it were all his own. One of the pictures taken of Mr. Chas. Downing (I think for the Rural New Yorker but am not certain) represents him in the orchard with a small splint basket on his arm, selecting specimens. This identical basket he took and we sallied forth. We entered his former place and had gone through five or six rows of the pear orchard - every tree bearing from four to six varieties - it was in September, when Mr. D. stopped before a tree and bade me scrutinize two branches, both bearing, to observe the color of the bark, size and color of leaves and two fine pears. "I discover no difference," said I. "Neither, do I," was his answer.

Continuing, he said, " this pays me for my visit to-day. This scion was sent me by Mr.------ ------ in 18 - under such a name, and this I received from Mr. ------ ------under such a name." Making a note in his memorandum book and marking the pears with pencil, he said, referring to the names : " This is the true name, and this is a synonym." Well may the Editor of the Gardeners' Monthly exclaim, " Who shall now classify and identify our fruits!" And I will add, who now can take up the work where he laid it down ? Such men as Chas. Downing are rare and seldom found.

Mr. Downing used his back parlor for an office; he worked at a flat desk which had drawers on each side full of memoranda. Horticultural authorities, such as Warder, Thomas, Hovey and others, and his own work, were ever within reach. Quantities of fruit were brought by every express train. After breakfast packages were opened and letters read; the fruit assorted and examined; then a fair medium - if more than one was received from the same source - specimen was cut into two sections, one of which was dried on a blotter and fully described, outline taken, size of core and number of seeds noticed (in apples and pears), length of stem, calix, depth of basin, color and general character described, and in the meantime the other section was frequently tasted and finally all compared with the descriptions of several authors as well as of his own. If needful, other memoranda were made, and published with list of new fruits in his supplements and additions to his book. Thus the whole morning was devoted to the examination of fruits. In this careful and deliberate way was his work perfected, and we who remain enjoy the benefits of his thorough and patient labors.

To my mind the last twenty years of his life before the accident were the most pleasant and ideal of any man I ever knew.

On one occasion when I was with him he had just received the fruit catalogue of a distinguished German nursery firm. Mr. D. was not versed in the German language and requested me to translate for him some parts of the pamphlet. It was a great pleasure for me to do this, because I thus learned of his astonishing memory and ability to identify fruits. Before I could fully translate descriptions of fruits he would give the proper name in English and finish the description, and thus with thousands of varieties of apples, pears, cherries, etc. I expressed my surprise that he could remember so many names and the general character of so great varieties. " Yes," said Mr. D., "it is surprising to myself, but with the name comes up the fruit as in a picture or a photo; they are all engraved on my mind." Only long and patient study and an enthusiasm like his own could ever accomplish such results.

When Miss Waite married the subject of these lines, an intimate friend of hers said : "You had better take good care of ' Charley ' for you will not keep him over two years," so slender and delicate was his physique and precarious his health. She nobly redeemed her promise, and so fully did she appreciate his worth and amiability and such good care did she take of her " Charley " that (had her own health permitted at the time) they could and would have celebrated their golden wedding several years ago, and I was promised an invitation and assured of a hearty welcome. At its anniversary Mrs. Downing was suffering intensely from cancer on the stomach, which terminated her life a few months later.

I have reason to believe that all the citizens of Newburgh fully appreciated his intrinsic worth and high character. In the city directory one may read: "Charles Downing, gentleman." I believe his was the only name so honored. He was indeed a gentle man. Peace to his ashes.

Kirkwood, Mo., Feb. 19th, 1885.