When we look at the numerous new varieties of strawberries, raspberries and other fruits which can be raised from seeds and fruited within a year or two, and contrast them with varieties known to us half a century ago, we cannot see that improvement has kept pace with novelty in these new introductions. Old kinds are said to depreciate, and new ones are necessary to keep up the standard, rather than to improve it - and possibly the natural love of mankind for something new has had a great deal to do with the disappearance of many a good old thing before there was much degeneration about it.

Turning over the old books in the Editor's library we happened on John Bauhin's Historice fontis et balnei admirabilis Bollensis, who, he says, was "Physician to the Duke of Wurtem-berg." It was published in 1598. There are figures and descriptions of 60 named varieties of apples, and 28 of pears, all from kinds growing in that part of Germany. These figures and descriptions remind us so strongly of those of the present day, that we can trace little novelty except the names. They covered the whole season till apples came again and were as large and beautiful as anything we have. Even the names - Wein-apffel, Janitapffel, and others have no novelty, though perhaps not referring to modern fruits with this name.

Even in the number of kinds, we boast of 2,000 varieties of apples. If John Bauhin could find 60 varieties in a small.quarter of Wurtemberg at that time, we fancy if he had the same means of communicating with the rest of the world by mail, rail and steamer as we have, he might have come up to pretty near where we are. It is well enough to praise ourselves - but we may do some justice to the old folks at the same time.