IT IS, perhaps, evident to nearly all those who peruse the horticultural reports, magazines and newspapers of the day, that the pictures of fruits found in them are far from representing them as they actually exist in nature. This is particularly true of many of the colored illustrations. There is no doubt that in some respects advancements have been made in the last twenty-five years in the way of horticultural illustrations, but I think it is equally true that there has been considerable degeneration in some particulars : take, for instance, the colored plates in the " Fruits of America," by C. M. Hovey, published in 1851, which, according to my judgment, exceed in careful and truthful delineation of the size and color of fruits mentioned those that are being made in later years.

It is not my purpose to merely find fault with the present state of things in this regard, but rather to assist in some measure in bringing about a change that shall work good to the cause of pomology, and if possible, to those who make the illustrations. The principal seems to me to lie.

First

In exaggeration as to size of fruits. This comes in a great measure from an over weening desire on the part of introducers and propagators of fruits to cause the public to believe that they are larger than is really the case. This is, in the end, very unwise, according to my view of the matter, as after the trees or plants have been purchased and fruit has been produced, in very many cases much smaller than shown by the flaming advertisements, the grower is disappointed and tempted to disbelieve anything of the kind that is represented to him in the future. If the exact size of a good average specimen had been given, all this would have been avoided, especially if the picture had been accompanied by a printed statement that good culture and climate were necessary to produce as good fruit as that shown.

Several of the largest colored plate manufacturers in this country have told me repeatedly that if they would make plates correct as to size and color, the nurserymen would not buy them, and that they demanded something attractive, even though it be untruthful, and that the nurserymen, moreover, demanded the plates at a price that is far below the cost of good work. These are serious charges, but that they are true, I am forced to believe. Certainly, the nurserymen are generally an upright set of men, but why should they have degenerated from the standard seems strange, except in the light of reduced profits in the business.

Second

Unnatural color. Nature paints with such exquisite taste and in such voluptuous colors that it is beyond the ability of men to exceed her in beauty. Why, then, should not the fruit-artist of to-day copy her as truthfully as possible, and not prostitute his art by making glaring daubs of contrasted colors that are not half so beautiful as the fruit he essays to paint ? It is beyond the skill of the best artists to reproduce the delicate tints that the sun has painted with his incomparable brush. The truth is, the artist cannot do it perfectly, but I certainly believe it can be much more accurately done, and with but little more cost, than at present.

Third

Lack of detail and coarse execution. In this regard there is also great room for improvement.

This is very noticeable in the representation of leaves, which should show the ribs and veins, both regular and irregular, as nature has made them. Photography has recently come to the aid of the wood-engraver and the lithographer, and in some respects has proven a very accurate and helpful servant, but I am sorry to say that many of the photogravures are but mere patches and blurs, especially those which represent branches with their leaves attached. The fact is, that it is impossible to focus the camera in such a way as to show the detail both near and in the distance; hence it seems to me unwise to attempt to reproduce a negative which cannot, from the nature of the thing, be otherwise than partly out of focus.

In the matter of wood engraving, which at best is very costly when well made, we find very little to encourage us, and it seems to me that India ink drawings, which are made and reproduced by photoengravings, is not only the cheaper, but much more accurate method of reproduction. Pomologist.