As the apple Ben Davis continues to attract the attention of some of our Western fruit growers, and as I furnished Mr. Downing with the outline and description of this fruit, afterward published in his revised work on Fruits, I feel called upon to give what information I have relative to its origin.

About 56 years since a gentleman, whose name was Ben Davis, made a settlement in this place, (then Logan Co., Ky.) Where he came from I have not yet been able to learn certainly, as he did not remain a great while here, but it is generally supposed that he came from Virginia to this place. His fruits did not attract any notice, that I can learn of, while he remained here; neither is it known by what name, if any, his apple, now, and for the space of 40 years past, known here as the Ben Davis, was by him designated. Nor does any one now know whether he raised it from seed or brought a sucker from some old seedling tree with him when he came to this country. It is evident, however, that the original tree here was not a graft, as it was propagated many years, perhaps 25, exclusively from the suckers, and in no instance that I have heard of, has failed to produce the original variety. This apple has not been known here by any other name than Ben Davis.

The name New York Pippin is objectionable, if for no other reason, on account of its being applied to too many distinct varieties of apples here now. I hare no less than some four or five sorts under this name.

[We are obliged to Mr. Downer for this history of the Ben Davis Apple. Mr. D. does not seem to doubt that the Ben Davis and New York Pippin are identical, but considers the latter name objectionable on account of its being applied to other apples, and this of itself is an objection. This matter, we believe, was referred to the Committee on Synonyms of the American Pomological Society, Any further information relating to the subject would be acceptable. - Ed].