Samuel Walker, Esq., of Roxbury, Mass., general. Chairman of the Fruit Committee appointed by the American Pomological Society, has issued to the Chairman of each State Committee the following circular, calling attention to the more important points which they are expected to investigate. It is very evident that if the questions presented in this circular be answered by accurate reports from various States and sections of the country, we shall be put in possession of a vast fund of information.

Dear Sir: - The Constitution of this Society provides that there shall be in each State a Standing Fruit Committee, of five members; and of the Committee for the State of the gentleman whom I have the honor to address was appointed Chairman, with power to fill any and all vacancies in his Committee.

At the meeting of the Society to be held some time during the present year, an important and delicate duty is to be discharged, namely - to present to the country a full list of the fruits that are worthy of cultivation, and, as well, of those that cannot be so recommended. In the prepa ration of these lists, the Society will naturally, and very properly, look to the various State Committees for well-digested information, to aid them in their labors, and to guide them in their decisions.

This single view of the case, (and there are others that could be presented,) will alone show how important it is, that the State Fruit Committees should be organised and at work, in good season; and that they should labor in concert, as the only means of obtaining systematic and satisfactory results.

If the Committee for your State is not already appointed, I trust that you will at once (as you are fully authorized by the Society to do,) select and appoint four competent persons to be your associates; and that you will call together this Committee at the season of maturity of such fruits as abound or excel in your State, to examine specimens and elicit information concerning them; and that you will furnish me with a Report for your State, previous to the Society's next meeting.

To render the various returns more systematic and thorough, it has appeared to me best to adopt for our guidance, the present year, the recommendations and forms contained in the circular letter of my predecessor, the lamented Downing, which are in substance as follows: -

The State Committee will endeavor to ascertain these points, viz:

First

Upon what kinds of natural soils, superior kinds of any of the standard fruits are grown.

* We prefer dean dry straw to wrap the vines in; and If this be an insufficient protection, we lay matts over them. +Quite too early for a cold vinery in your latitude; we never uncover ours until after all danger of hard frosts is in your State; particularly whether lime or potash abounds in the soil, or subsoil; whose decomposition furnishes these, or other mineral substances, essential to the perfection of the fruit.

1. If the result has been obtained by the use of manures, or any peculiar system of cultivation, what kinds of manures or composts have been applied; - how, and when; and upon what kind of natural soil. Also, what mode of culture has been pursued.

2. In districts remarkable for the excellence of a given variety of good fruit; ascertain if such is the case upon various soils in such district, or only upon particular soils; and in the latter case, the character of such soil Also, how large are the annual crops; and how long the variety has been in cultivation.

Second

What are the most profitable market fruits of good quality in your State. Also, the best fruits for the table; and whether any particular sorts require extra pruning, manuring; or other peculiar mode of culture.

1. Which varieties succeed only, and which thrive best, upon particalar stock, (as the Louise Bonne de Jersey Pear on Quince, etc).

2. What varieties have been tried and condemned as inferior, or worthless, by experienced fruit growers in your State.

8. What are the synonymous, or local names, by which any standard varieties are known in your State.

4. Whether the trees of any particular varieties are particularly liable to blight, or other and what diseases.

5. What Grapes are the best for vineyard culture; (if vineyards are planted in your State).

6. What Raspberries, Strawberries, Currants, Apricots, Nectarines, and other minor fruits of good quality, are found best adapted to culture in your State.

To arrive at uniformity in judging of the flavor of fruits, it will be well to use the comparative degrees of merit adopted at the Convention, viz: - Good, Very Good, Best, And that we may agree regarding these terms, certain standard sorts should be taken as representatives of these classes, wherewith to compare other fruits, and ascertain their value.

The following form, and the varieties therein named, will serve as examples for this purpose:

Fruits falling below the rank "good," (excepting culinary sorts,) are unworthy of cultivation, unless their hardihood and productiveness are so remarkable, as to make them valuable in particular localities, or for market cultivation.

Though the attention of this Committee is understood to be chiefly directed to acquiring information regarding varieties of fruit already known, yet some attention should be paid to the examination of remarkable new varieties. Unless the latter, however, rank as high as "good," they ought not to receive attention; and a new sort, even if excellent, if it is also meagre, unhealthy, or unproductive, is unworthy of notice.

When a variety of "very good," or "best" quality is presented to the examination of a State Committee, and there are doubts whether it is really a new variety, specimens should be sent to the Chairman of the Fruit Committee at Boston, Philadelphia, or the Chairman of this Committee, so that it may be subjected to more complete examination. Outlines, also, and careful descriptions of new varieties of high merit in all respects should be made for the use of the Society. In drawing up such description*, the "Pomological Rules" adopted by the various Horticultural Societies should be followed as a guide, in order to avoid diffuseness and variety of terms on the one hand, or imperfection in details on the other.

SAMUEL WALTER. Chairman General Fruit Committes.