Elliot's Fecit Book; or, THE AMERICAN FRUIT Growers' GuIdE IN ORCHARD aNd GaRDEN. By F. R. Elliot. New York: C. M. SaXtoN, 1854.

For several years past a book on fruits, or "A Western Fruit Book," has been occasionally announced as forthcoming from the pen of F. R. Elliot, and we have at length the pleasure of seeing it on our table - a well got up duodecimo volume of nearly 500 pages, very much on the same plan as Thomas' Fruit Culturist. It is profusely illustrated with outlines of fruit, differing from the outlines in other works in having the core in kernel-fruits, and the stones in stone-fruits shown, also in having the stem and calyx cavities shaded. This will be regarded by some as an improvement, but does not strike us as of very great importance.

Mr. Elliot has for a long time given much attention to the examination and comparison of fruits, and having had the advantage of the latest experience of cultivators, and the latest works on the subject, has undoubtedly made a book that every man engaged in fruit culture may consult with advantage. If Mr. Elliot ever intended to make it a "Western Fruit Book," he has evidently changed his mind; for, with the exception of an occasional remark, and the description of a few western fruits, we see nothing particularly western in its character. Nearly all that relates to the propagation, culture, pruning, and training of trees, and the preservation of fruits, is copied from other works; and for our own part, we must say that we have derived more information in regard to the peculiarities of western soil, climate, and culture, from the report of the Fruit Growers' Association, than we have been able to glean from Mr. Elliot's 500 pages.

Mr. Elliot had a fair field for both fame and usefulness. The great States of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Iowa, are rapidly turning their attention to fruit culture. The authors who had previously written on pomology, knew from actual experience and observation very little of these States, as regards the influence of the soil and climate on the culture of fruit; and fruit culture had made so little advancement that scarcely any reliable experience could be collected. Here Mr. Elliot had the advantage. Valuable results have been obtained during the last three or four years throughout the newer States, and he might have used them to great advantage. We cannot see, however, that he has done so; for in his description of the most popular and important varieties, we seldom find a word said as to their failure or success in the West, and he even omits many valuable particulars given in other works. We are convinced that he has erred greatly bo many climates and soils, room enough for many treatises on the culture of fruits; but if they all follow in the same path, and copy and re-copy from each other, the fewer we have, the better.

The fruits follow in alphabetical order, thus - Almonds, Apricots, Apples, Blackberries, Cherries, Currants, Gooseberries, Grapes, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, etc. This we do not consider right in a work pretending to science. The natural classes, kernel fruits, stone fruits, and berries, should certainly be grouped together. The varieties also follow in alphabetical order, instead of being classed in regard to season of ripening. Those who consult the book to make selections, will, we think, find this an inconvenient arrangement.

In regard to merit, there is a classification which, if it were entirely correct, would be a very good one. He makes three classes, thus - "Class 1, worthy of general cultivation".

"Class 2, new and untested; adapted to certain localities, or amateur gardens." Class 8, Unworthy of cultivation." Mr. Elliot adopted this arrangement in preference to that of the National Pomological Society - "good," "very good," "best," - which he considers an imperfect guide to fruit growers.

He describes upwards of 440 varieties of apples, which occupy about one-third of the book. In the first class there are 74 varieties; in the second, 221 varieties; and in the third, 147 varieties. It strikes us as rather strange that such varieties as Bethlehemite, Challenge, Cornish Aromatic, Fallenualder, Fort Miami, Golden Ball, London Sweet, Melting, Richmond, ROme Beauty, and many others as little known as these, should be published as worthy of general cultivation; while such well known sorts as William's Favorite, Summer Queen, St. Lawrence, Keswick Codlin, Holland Pippin, Pumpkin Sweet, Blue Pearmain, Twenty Ounce, etc., are classed as new and untested, etc., in Class 2. Neither do we find in this large list of second class any distinction between "new and untested" varieties, and those adapted to certain localities or for amateurs. This is a very grave defect, because many of them are Among the oldest varieties on record.

Of Cherries, 140 are described. In Class 1, 81 varieties; in Class 2, 58 varieties; and in Class 8, 56 varieties. Class 1 contains 19 of Dr. Kirtland's new varieties, not fruited in half a dozen localities in the United States, for general cultivation; while such well-tried) popular sorts, as May Duke, Black Eagle, Knight's Early Black, Yellow Spanish, Carnation, China Bigarreau, Napoleon Bigarreau, Elkhorn, etc., are classed as new "and untested," or only of local value, or for amateurs. This will appear to many as strange, for it is a well known fact that the May Duke is the best variety known for a great portion of the west, where all the Heart and Bigarreau varieties are too tender for the climate. A friend of ours remarked, that he was quite sure that either the author or printer had transferred the varieties to the wrong class by a mistake; and we should not be surprised if it was so. In his third class of Cherries - unworthy of culture - we find the Large English Morello, and Plumstone Morello, two of the very best of the class of Cherries in existence, at least, as far as we have known them tested.