In your May number the frontispiece is an engraving of the above-named fruit, and accompanied with a historical tradition of its history and origin, so far as known to the writer, all of which is interesting matter, and which your correspondent would very willingly let pass, did he not honestly believe that the high euiogium on, and the glowing description of, the above-named fruit were likely to mislead and disappoint many of the readers of the Horticulturist who are accustomed to rely on your journal as first-rate authority in Pomological matters.

As a member of the Fruit Committee of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, having had an opportunity of examining and testing the merits of the above-named variety last fall, I will, as near as I can, give you the character of the fruit as it appeared to us, (with a desire nothing to extenuate nor to set down aught in malice.) The specimens were sent by Mr. Negley expressly for the inspection and examination of the Fruit Committee at the fall exhibition of our Horticultural Society, accompanied with a laudatory communication from Mr. N. Of course, inferior specimens would not be selected for such an occasion; and as we had at the time over one hundred varieties of Pears on exhibition, we had a fair opportunity of judging the merits of the Negley Pear by comparison. The opinion of the Committee was, that it scarcely deserved to be classed as second quality.

In appearance it so nearly resembles the Cumberland, that the impression of the Committee was, that it is identical with that variety, although in quality the specimens sent were not equal to some of the Cumberland tested with them; this, however, might result from the same cause as affected those sent to Mr. Chas. Downing; but whatever the cause, the fact is proved, that travelling East or West it does not sustain the high character for quality claimed for it by our Pittsburg pomological friend.

That the late Mr. Ernst should have mistaken some specimens for the Flemish Beauty would be somewhat surprising, did not the writer ingenuously admit that his testing it dispelled the illusion. If any of your readers may imagine that the Negley Pear, from the writer's connection of the names, bears in quality any similarity to the Flemish Beauty, they will find themselves most egregiously disappointed. It is certainly desirable that new varieties of fruits should have their good qualities well ascertained before such extensive prominence is given to them as is accorded the Neg-ley Pear in the last number of the Horticulturist.

The Peabody Strawberry is a strong instance of the necessity of caution and discrimination in recommending new varieties of fruits for general cultivation. The writer is not by any means opposed to the introduction of new varieties, but disposed to encourage the desire to raise new varieties from seed; and had he not had the opportunity of judging the merits of the variety under consideration, reading the article would have prompted him to possess it the coming season; but as the case stands, will be content to remain without it, already possessing the Cumberland, of which he will be happy to furnish the editor specimens next fall, for comparison with the Negrlev. should Mr. N. and the editor desire it.

[We give place to Mr. Heaver's strictures on the Negley Pear, and regret, of course, that there should be any necessity for them. We trust that others, who have had opportunities of testing the quality of the Pear, will give us their opinion fairly. We do not imagine that Mr. Negley has stated more than he honestly believes. We have no personal knowledge of the Pear, and can therefore give no opinion of its merits. The engraving was prepared by our predecessor, and we took it for granted that he had fully satisfied himself of the good qualities of the Pear. Specimens were sent to him, and we hope he will tell us what he thought of them. Mr. Heaver may send us the Cumberland, and we have no doubt that Mr. Negley will send us his seedling, and we shall then be able to tell our readers what, in our opinion, the Negley really is. - Ed].

The Negley Pear #1

Mr. Heaver is really deserving of the thanks of all fruit culturists for stating the true character of this fruit It is a fact not to be controverted, that with most men their geese are not only very like swans, but their seedling fruits are generally of the highest quality. This is natural enough, perhaps, and is only an innocent weakness, (which I confess myself to be not wholly free from,) unless it is paraded before the public, as is sometimes the case, when it becomes a more serious matter. If every one would resolve to buy no new varieties, either of fruits, flowers, or other products, until they had received the commendation of some competent and reliable body of men, we should have less of this constant and fearful increase of new things, many of which have no good point but their novelty. But people will continue to produce them as long as the public will buy whatever is offered, as is at present the case. I am not animadverting upon Mr. Negley in particular, but the whole class of novelty raisers and novelty buyers.

Mr. N. doubtless is perfectly sincere in his opinion, but I for one would much prefer to rely upon the decision of the Cincinnati Fruit Committee.