* UMASS AMHERST * II 'I III ■ 'I ii '' '■ I i ' I ii!:, ,:i BlEDbb D2fl7 EfiTfi 5 LIBRARY OF THE MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE NO.._5_al de Tours, and the Semiana Plums. By Mr. S. Pond, On tlie cultivation of Rhubarb, (Rheum rhaponticiim.) By the Conductors, . On jireparina Strawberrv Plants for Forc- ing. By .1. W. Russeil, On the cultivation of the Strawberry; with some account of several of the mo.st esteemed varieties. By the Con- ductors, Select List of Fruits for planting a Kitch- en Garden. By Michael Floy, Jr., Nur- servman. New York, .... The Apiilc Orchard. By Mr. E. Sayers, New York, ...... On the origin of the Baldwin Apple. By Rufus Kittredge, Esq., .... Descriptive List of several varieties of Apples, suitable for planting a Kitchen Garden. By E. M. R., ... An account of some new varieties of Fruit; communicated by Messrs. C. & A. J- Downing, of the Botanic Garden 12.5. 170 81 97 93 100 122 128 163 207 246 247 2.53 299 325 829 361 362 VJ CONTENTS. and Nursery, Newburgh, N. Y., in a Let- ter to the Coiuluctors; accompanied witli specimens of tlie same, . , . . 364 On the cultivation of the Potato during the winter months. By P. Q.., . ■ ■ 367 On the construction of Briclv Pits for early Forcing; to which is added the Cultiva- tion and Forcing of the Cucumber; tak- en from Horticultural Memoranda, and exhibiting the state of their progress from January until September. By the Conductors, 401 FLORICULTURE. On the Preservation and Cultivation of the Indigenous Plants of North Ameri- ca. By J. E. Teschemacher, Esq. . 12 Observations on the Camellia and its va- rieties, with some account of its intro- duction into Great Britain and this coun- try. By M. P. Wilder, Esq. . 13. 134 On the History and Cultivation of the Vi- ola tricolor, Pansy violet, or Heart's- ease. By S. Wallier, .... 17 Cultivation of the Mimulus luteus var. rivularis. By the Conductors, . . 21 Eemarks on the Management of the Glad- iolus natalensis, (called by some psitta- cinus.) By S. Sweetser, . . .54 On the cultivation of Lobelia cardinalis, fulgens, splendens, syphilitica and spe- ciosa. By the Conductors, . . .56 A few remarks on the best method of ob- taining double flowers of the Stock and Gilliflower. By J. W. Russell, . . 58 Cultivaiion of the Salvia splendens, ful- gens and mexicana. By the Conductors, 59 On the cultivation of the Dahlia. By Mi-. E. Putnam, '.130 Observations on the cultivation of An- nuals; with an account of those choice and beautiful of late introduction; and Remarks on the Varieties most suitable for planting in Masses. By the Con- ductors, .... 101. 132. 179 On the cultivation of the Chinese Chry- santhemum, (Chrysanthemum sinense.) By the Conductors. To vvhieh is added a new Arrangement of the Varieties, by the )ate Adrian Hardy Haworth, Esq., F, R. S., (fee, author of the Narcissinea- rum Monographia, &c. Extracted from Loudon's Gardener's Magazine, . . 138 On the cultivation of the Dahlia. By Pe- ter Mackenzie, 172 On the cultivation of the Schizanthus. By Mr. D. Haggerston, . . . .177 On the culture of "Epigasa repens." By R 178 Some Hints on Propagating the Tea Rose by budding on hardy, strong stocks. By J. W. Russell, 217 Notices of new and beautiful Plants figur- ed in the London Floricultural and Bo- tanical Magazines; with some account of tliose which it would be desirable to introduce into our Gardens, 191. 221. 255. 307. 342. 377. 421 On the cultivation of Geraniums and Can- ary Asters (Cineraria crueuta.) By Mr. S. Sweetser, 249 Some remarks on the use of the Polyan- thus (Primula vulgaris var. polyanthus,) as an edging to flower borders and par- terres. By An Amateur, . . . 251 Method of training the Petunia phcenicea and nyctaginiflora. By the Conductors, 254 On the Rose. By An Amateur, . . 2U0 On the cultivation of the Daphne odora. By Mr. J. W. Russell, Superintendent at Mount Auburn, 296 Some Remarks on the Propagation and Character of the dark colored variety of the Nasturtium. By Mr. Wm. Leathe, 305 Remarks on the treatment of the Amaryl- lideffi. By A. B. C 328 Floral Calendar of the Flowering of Native Plants in the vicinity of Pittsburg, Penn., from March to May, 1835. By .lohn Lewis Russell, Prof, of Botany and Veg. Physiology to the Mass. Hort. Society, 331 On the Structure and Formation of Flow- ers. By J. W. Russell, Superintendent of Mount Aid)Mrn, 332 Successful Treatment of Oxalis tetraphyl- la. By R. S 334 On the Sowing of several varieties of Flow- er Seeds, for the purpose of having them bloom much stronger and more profuse- ly during the next season. By the Con- ductors, 335 Beautiful Plants growing wild in the vicin- ity of Boston. By E. B. Kenrick, 368.411, 453 On the cultivation of the Tulip. By J. W. Russell, Superintendent at Mount Auburn, Cambridge, .... 408 On the cultivation of Hyacinths in Glasses and Pots, 418 Ou the cultivation of Gloxinia maculata. By P. Q.., Philadelphia, . . . . 4.58 Short Communications, . . 182. 260 REVIEWS. An Address delivered before the Massachu- setts Horticultural Societv, at their Sixth Anniversarv, Sept. 17, lb34. By J. C. Gray, Esq,' 22 The Gardener's Magazine and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvements. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, F. L. S., H. S., &c. In monthly numbers. 8vo. 24. 106. 147. 230. 261. 352. 386. 427 The Horticultural Register, and General Magazine of all useful and interesting Discoveries connected with Natural His- tory and Rural Subjects, . 24. 60. 234 Barrett's Horticultural Register, . . 64 Report of the Proceedings of the Rensse- laer Agricultural siociety, . . . ill The Floricultural Cabinet and Florist's Magazine, 150. 269 An Address delivered before the Colum- bian Horticultural Society, at the first annual exhibition, June 6, 1834. By Geo. Wattcrslon, Esq 183 Tlic Southern Agriculturist, and Register of Rural Aff'airs 185 Boston Journal of Natural History, con- taining Papers and Communications read to tlie Boston Society of Natural History, and published by their direction, 308 Literary Notices, 113 CONTENTS. VII MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. General Notices, 27. G5. 113. 152. 187. 271. 429 Foreifiii Notices, 65. 114. 188. 271. 310. -iSl Domestic Notices, 27. 67. 152. 183. 272. 310. 356. 390. 433. 459 Calls at Gardens and Nurseries, 68. 190. 348. 382 Queries, Criticisms, &c. 28. 76. 117. 312. 391 Essex County Natural History Soc. 278. 398 Massachusetts Horticultural Society, 29. 78. 119. 154. 196. 239. 277. 315. 358. 391. 438. 462 Maryland Horticultural Society, 196. 279. 316 auincy Market, 34. 77. 118. 153. 195. 238. 27G. 314. 357. 399. 437. 465 Notices of the Exhibitions of the Colum- bian and New Yorli Hort. Societies, . 154 Meteorological Notices, 159. 197. 239. 279. 320. 360. 400. 439. 466 Monthly Calendar of Horticultiue and Flor- iculture, 35. 79. 119. 159. 199. 240. 280. 320. 360.400.440 Obituary, .... 198. 239. 466 New York Horticultural Society, . .463 INDEX to books reviewed and noticed, . 467 GENERAL INDEX, . . . .468 LIST OE^ ENGRAVINGS. GARDEN STRUCTURES. No. Page. 1 — 2. Pit for growing grape vines in pots, and for many other purposes of forcing, . . . . .43 3 — 4. Plan of Mr. Meanis's pits for grow- ing grajies on the coiling system, 60 22 — 23. Brick pits for early forcing; par- ticularly for cucumbers and mel- ons, 403. 404 OPERATIONS. 6 — 18. Diflferent methods of budding and of herbaceous grafting, . 211. 217 No. FRUITS. Page. 5. Williams's Bon Chretien pear, (Bart- li-tt,) 8.5 20. Muscadine pear, (a new native kind,) 36-5 PLANTS. Gladiolus natalensis, (psittacinus,) . 54 19. Tea and other Chinese roses budded as standards on hardy stocks. . . 220 CONTRIBUTORS TO VOL. L A. B. C, Philadelphia, . . . .328 A. J. D., 433. 459 A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden and Nur- sery, Newburgh, N. Y., .... 444 A Correspondent, ..... 323 A Constant Reader, 461 An Amateur, .... 251. 290. 313 An Amateur, New Jersey, • . .461 B. V. F., . . . " . . . .97 C. C, 406 C. & A. J. Downing, Botanic Garden and Nursery, Newburgh, N. Y., . . . 364 Downer, S., Esq., 81 E. M. R., 362. 390 E. Sayers, Florist and Gardener, New York, 275. 329 Floy, Michael, Jr. Nurseryman, New York, 325 H. S., 312 Haggerston, David, Gardener to J. P. Gush- ing, Esq., Belmont Place, Watertown, 177 Hay, Francis, 122 Ives, B. Hale, 52. 76 .I.K., 260 J. L. R,„„v„ 321.441 .lunius 104 Kenrick, Wm., Nurseryman, Newton, 7. 117. Kenrick, E. B. .336 368. 411. 453 Kittredge, Rufus, Esq., .... 361 L., 76 Leathe, William, 305 Lowell, Hon. John, 436 M. T., 34. 77. 118. 153. 195. 238. 276. 314. 357. 399. 437. 465 Mackenzie, Peter, Gardener to Henry Pratt, Esq., Lemon Hill, Philadelphia, . 172 Manning, Robert, Esq., ... .49 P. C, Brunswick, Me., . . .28. 313 P. Q., Philadelphia, . . . 367.391.458 Pemberton, 10. 163 Pond, Samuel, .... 100. 128. 246 Putnam, E., 130 R., 178. 308. 334 Russell, John Lewis, Prof, of Botany to the ftlassachusetts Horticultural Society, 175. 331. 356 Russell, J. W., Superintendent of Mount Auburn, Cambridge, 46. 58. 94. 125. 170. 217. 253.296.332. 391. 408 Sweetsarts of water, and 1 part of sulphuric acid, by weight, are kept boiling for forty hours ; the loss of water, by evaporation, being supplied by new quantities. The acid is to be neutralized, by lime, precisely as the acid which is contained in the juice of the sugar-cane is neutralized, and the sugar is crystallized by cooling. The moderate use of good wine is deemed wholesome, especially to convalescents recovering from malignant fevers, and to those of debilitated habits, as it accelerates the circulation. On the other hand, its too liberal or immoderate use undermines the constitution, and lays the foundation of a train of diseases. It paralyses the men- tal faculties, and induces those disorders of body, which not uncom- monly terminate in death. The vine is propagated by layers, also by cuttings, which should be cut with two or three eyes, and cut close below the lowest eye. On the Vine. 9 and set In a humid soil, with but a single eye above the surface ; or is raised even from the cuttings of a single eye. The vine requires a deep, light soil, and a warm exposition, to produce fruit of superior quality. In cold, moist, and strong soils, the ii'uit is gross and watery, and later in the season of its maturity. The foreign as well as native vines succeed admirably in our cities: and especially so, when planted beneath pavements, and in the paved court-yards. Their growth, in such situations, becoming more moderate and regular, they are not so liable to suffer from excessive moisture, and the quality of the fruit becomes proportionabiy im- proved ; the reflected heat of the sun from the pavement, augment- ing both the size and the flavor, and hastening its maturity. Vines trained to vertical walls, and growing in confined or humid situations, are often subject to mildew: and on the walls of this de- scription, which face due south, the sun, during mid-summer, never shines till an advanced hour in the morning ; and the benefits are never but partial, from the oblique rays of a sun which at noon-day are nearly verucal. In our own latitude, or the latitude of Boston, where, during mid- summer, the sun at mid-day is nearly at the zenith, an inclined plane, or roof, or wall, sloping, and literally facing the noon-day sun, will afford an exposition more flivorable than vertical walls ; or at that angle which will face the sun at the time when his rays are most needed, or towards the autumnal equinox. Over this, and at suitable distance, the trellis may be elevated ; and upon this, the vines dis- played, whether they arise at the foot of the plane, or are brought up from the distance of forty or fifty feet, by a single stem, from the roots below. In such a favored situation, they will receive the full benefit of the morning sun, and the more effectual advantage of the noon-day sun, both by his direct rays and by reflection. The excess of moisture, tlie nightly dews, and a stagnant atmosphere, the combined causes of mildew, will be dissipated by the morning sun, or by the direct influence of southerly winds, or by the indirect in- fluences of soutlierly winds, in the eddies and counter-currents. The inclined planes, or roofs, or walls of wooden structure, by being shaded with a vegetable covering, are liable to speedy decay. But this objection does not apply to those with a covering of slate ; or to the cheap, enduring and admirable coverings which are now formed of zinc From the late experiments of Mr. James Macdonald, of Scotland, in his statement recorded by Mr. Loudon, it even appears that when the vines of the Black Hamburgh and the White Muscat of Alexandria, were trained at suitable distance above the sloping roofs of glass, and exposed to the open air, and to the direct rays of the sun, and to the heat caused by the rays of reflection, that the fruit ripened equally as well, and nearly as early, as did the fruit of those which were train- ed beneath its surface. And it is a well known fact, that at a certain VOL. I. NO. I. B 10 Remarks on the Cultivation angle of obliquity, the rays of the sun do not pass through common glass at all, or but partially, but are mostly reflected from its surface. With respect to vineyard culture, and for wine, the American grapes have obtained a decided preference over the foreign varieties^ by those who have tried both. William Kenrick. Newton, Dec. 16, 1834. Art. II. Remarks on the Cultivation of the Grape Vine. By Pemberton. It is not my intention to track the practical gardener, nor to write a treatise on the raising of the vine ; but simply to record a few observations and experiments made while amusing myself in cul- tivating a few varieties in my own garden, in the open air : and this, 1 think, is the only method of understanding the successful management, and obtaining a true knowledge of growing to per- fection, one of the most delicious and excellent fruits; and one which may be had, with little care and attention, by every family in the city or country. In the first place, I do not approve of the practice of purchasing old plants, and of uncertain kinds, of the vine. I much prefer to procure cuttings of such as I am very confident are true to the name ; for, if properly attended to, they will come into a bearing state almost as soon as those set out with roots. I take the cut- tings and prepare them by pruning them to the length of eight or nine inches, leaving three eyes to each, put them down where I intend to have my standard vines, and mark the name on some kind of a label that will retain the same for as great a length of time as possible ; when likely to become obliterated, I have it renewed. A new method of writing on zinc labels, with a chem- ical ink, has lately been discovered, obviating all the difficulties which have heretofore existed; they having the property of re- taining the name for many years. I have lately tried them, and would highly recommend them. They may be had at any of the seed-stores. I put two cuttings in each place ; if they both grow, I remove one, so as not to have it interfere with the intended standard. They must be put rather deep in the ground, leaving only one eye (the third) above it, and rubbing off the others. In the fall of the year, the vine, after it has made its annual growth, if a foreign variety, should be laid down and protected with a little straw or leaves. The Isabella, and all native grapes, will bear the winter, unprotected, in all common seasons, if they are not pruned till February. In the latter part of February, or beginning of March, of the Grape Vine, 11 they should he pruned down to three eyes, cutting off within about an inch of a stroni;- and prominent bud. When the vine pushes its shoots in the spring, and they have attained tb.e height of eight or ten inches, select out the strongest one, (rubbing off all others) which should be trained to a single, strong stake, which will not be likely to be broken by the wind: it should be encouraged in its growth, as much as possible, by plucking off all useless side shoots every fortnight, so as to throw the whole strength into the main one, and regularly tying the vine to the stake. In the autumn, the vine will have made a fine shoot, six or eight feet in length, and of the thickness of nearly half an inch. They should be shortened to about four feet, and, upon the approach of winter, should again be laid down and covered with any light substance, so as to keep them from the sun. The object of protection is to prevent the cu'culation of the sap in the vine during sunshine, and at night from closing up the pores by freezing. It is not the cold, as many imagine, that injures the vine, but the heat of the sun during the months of February, March and April ; the warm days inducing the sap to flow into the buds very rapidly, and when in that state, freezing in cold nights, so as to burst or rupture the in- ner bark (or albumen), which is composed of small vessels, corres- ponding to the outer cuticle of the animal creation. If the vines could be kept entirely cold until April, no injury would occur to them, if they were not covered at all. I have put this to the test sev^eral times. But if the sun is suffered to shine on them during February and March, continually freezing and thawing, it is almost sure death to them. In training vines, 1 greatly prefer a horizontal direction to any other. I also prefer to train them all one way, when convenient. Any method of training, however, provided it be done judiciously, will answer the same end. The trellis shovdd run from south-east to north-west, so as not to have the morning sun on both sides of the vine. In training, leave the wood long on the north-east side, so as to shelter the grapes from the chilling east winds and morn- ing sun, which, in my opinion, chills the fruit, and weakens both the wood and fruit, and by that means, brings on the mildew from debility. On the south-west, 1 prune off all the laterals, tendrils, or useless wood, so that by this, a vinous hedge will be formed, that protects the fruit from the north-east, and gives a warm, soft heat on the south-west. This method I have tried for several years, and have never failed in getting a good crop, while all other methods and positions have failed. Grapes are injured materially by late prunings, when the wood is scarcely done growing; it weakens the vine, by destroying the return of the sap, and the fruit stops growing, becomes soft, sour, and wholly unfit for use. Vines ought not to be pruned much after July ; the fruit needs the 12 Indigenous Plants of North America. protection of the leaves as the nights grow colder; they were formed for that purpose, and act as a covering to modify the air, keep off the cold at night, the scorching rays of the sun during the day, and to protect the fruit from heavy rains and other injuries. These are a very few hasty remarks, which 1 have thrown together : if you deem them worthy an insertion in your forthcoming maga- zine, you are at Hherty to make use of them. In a future number, I shall continue them further. Yours, Pemberton. Boston, Dec. 16, 1834. Art. III. On the Preservation and Cultivation of the indigenous Plants of North America. By J. E. Teschemacher, Esq. Many of the plants which decorate the woods and fields of this region, are with justice considered the pride and ornament of the pleasure-garden in Europe, and only require to be known, in order to rise to the same estimation here. It is to be remarked, also, that plants of difficult cultivation, like the more timid wild animals, seem to recede as civilization and agriculture advance ; so that many, which no doubt grew plentifully in this neighborhood, are now only to be found in sequestered spots, and at considerable distances. A short notice of a k\x of the most showy, may not be uninterest- ing to many of your readers; and may, perhaps, introduce into no- tice plants, the pursuit and discovery of which, in their native soil and situations, have afforded, to the writer of this, unalloyed pleasure. At the head of the list I would place Lobelia cardinalis, the Cardinal flower, the brilliant scarlet spikes of which ornament the sides of brooks and watery places, in July and August. Although these are its native habitats, yet cultivation has shown that constant moisture is not absolutely necessary, and that it will flourish in almost any part of the garden, if not too arid. It is easily propagated by division of the root, either after flowering or very early in the spring. In Europe, where the taste prevails of planting flowers in masses, the splendid color of this plant causes it to be thus abundantly employed. Gerardia — three varieties of yellow, and three of rose color. I have placed this plant second on the list, with a view of drawing the attention of experimental horticulturists to its habits, which are sin- gular and render it very difficult of cultivation. Its great beauty and elegance would, however, amply repay any trouble that might be taken to make it common in our gardens. It grows in woods in the vicinity of Brighton and Dorchester; and all three varieties of the yellow, which are very distinct in foliage, are abundantly found in the woods about Hingham. On lacerating very slightly any part of the plant, either stem, leaf or flower, it immediately turns black and Ohservadons on the Camellia. 13 is destroyed. I imagine tliat tlie tender fibrils and spongioles of the root partake of this great susceptibiHty, probably have it in a higher degree; hence any attempts at removal, and 1 have made above twenty, at almost every period of the year, prove abortive, from the injury sustained by the vessels on which the life of the plants de- pend. I have hitberto failed in raising plants from seed, but this has no doubt been from want of proper care. The plant is rare in Eu- rope. It is often only necessary to state difficulties in order to engage persons in undertaking to overcome them. 1 shall be happy if this be the result with this charming plant, which flowers from August to September. The third and last plant I shall name on this occasion is Bartsia Coccinea, or the Scarlet Bartsia. The great beauty of this plant does not consist in the flower, which is inconspicuous, but in the bright orange-scarlet color of the upper part of the leaves, (or bractes) from the axil of which the flower proceeds. It is an annual, flowering in April and May, hence a desirable plant, and in a mass presents a most splendid appearance. The nearest situation I know where it is to be found, is in the vicinity of Dedham. — [It may be found near Fresh Pond, Watertown. — Conds.] In a future paper, I may probably offer some remarks on the cul- tivation of the orchideous plants which are found in this vicinity, and which, when better known, cannot fail to arrest the attention of every lover of horticulture. n , n n i-^o^ Yours, J. E. Teschemacher. Boston, Dec. 6, lo34. ' We are highly gratified to find that the opinions expressed by us, in our intro- ductory remarks, in relation to the elegance and beauty of the indigenous plants of our country, are the same as those of so enthusiastic an amateur and lover of botany, as Mr. Teschemacher. He has collected specimens of nearly all the wild plants around Boston ; and no one, we are assured, is better able to desciibe their beauties, the situations where they may be found, or the most successful method of their cultivation when removed from their native habitats to the pleasure-garden. Gerard/a /^edicularis grows in abundance at Mount Auburn, Cambridge, flower- ing during July and August. — Conds. Art. IV. Ohicrtmtions on the Camellia and its Varieties, with some Account of its Introdnctiun into Great Britain and this Country. By M. P. WiLDEij, Esq. In the whole range of splendid exotics which have been introduced into this country, there are few, if any, that combine so much ele- gance and beauty, either as it regards the dark, shining evergreen of their foliage, or the dazzling brilliancy of their flowers, as those con- stituting the natural order Camellia. At all seasons of the year it is unrivalled for the richness of its foliage, but in the dreary months of winter, when almost all the attractions of the floral kingdom are wrapt in slumber, it stands forth 14 Ohservations on the Camellia. with peculiar splendor, displaying its showy blossoms of varied hue, and reigninsj^ at once the pride and glory of the green-house. It is not known that they are indigenous to any other countries than China, the East Indies, and the islands of Japan. The order is divided by botanists into two genera, Thea and Ca- mellia ; the latter being named in honor of George Joseph Kamel, and the former the plant wliich produces our tea, so universally known and used as a luxury, and in a commercial point of view, of vast importance; there having been, during nine months of the past year, more than two hundred and twenty thousand chests, or upwards of sixteen millions of pounds, imported into the United States alone. There exists much difference of opinion among botanists, as to the order; some connecting Thea with Camellia, and others separating them. Linnjeus considered them as two distinct genera, while Pro- fessor Lindley doubts the propriety of such division, and in his In- troduction to the Natural System of Botany, (London, 8vo. 1832) has arranged both Thea and Camellia, under the natural order Tern- stroemiacae. The genus Thea is divided into two species, Thea viridis, the green, and Thea bohea, the black tea. The genus Camellia is by Loudon, in his Hortus Britannicus, divided into six species, viz. Camellia euroyides, oleifera, Kissi, Sasanqua reticu- lata and japonica. Camellia euroyides, being considered the con- necting link between the two genera, Thea and Camellia, and closely allied to the Theas ; and Camellia japwuica, the type of the genus, and from which species has originated almost, if not all, of the double varieties now extant. There are, however, two other doubtful species, viz. Camellia axillaris, of Dr. Sims, and Camellia Drupifera, of i/OM- reiro. Camellia axillaris being described, by the Messrs. Baumann, in their "Camellias de BoUwiller," (France, folio, 1833-34) a work of great merit, as belonging to the genus Gordonia ; and in Loudon's Hortus Britannicus, as Polyspora axillaris, both of which are arranged under the natural order Ternstroemiacea^. Camellia Dmpifera has not yet been imported into Great Britain or this country, and is thus spoken of in Chandler &. Booth's Illustrations of the Camellia: — "Judging from Loureiro's description, we think it a very doubtful species, and apparently distinct from Camellia." The Camellia japonica, or the old Single Red, was first introduced into Great Britain about the year 1739, and for more than half a century remained a very scarce plant ; and we may infer, but little known, not being mentioned in the eighth edition of Miller's Dic- tionary, published in 1768. Neither do we hear of any farther im- portations into the kingdom, until 1792, when the old Double White and Double Striped were iDrought out, followed, in 1794, by the Double Red. It was introduced into the United States about the commencement of the present century. The most particular information I have on the subject, is from M. Floy, Esq., of New York, who informs me Observations on the Caincllia. 15 that he brought over with him, from Eni^hind, in July, 1800, a plant of the Double White, for Jolm Stevens, Esq., of Hoboken, New Jersey, who had two or three years previously imported the Sina;le Red. Tlie precise time of its introduction into New England is not known; but it must have been soon after, as in 1806, John Prince, Esq. received of the late Joseph Barrell, of Charlestown, a small plant of the Double White. The Camellia japonica became now more generally known and admired; and between this time and 1812, accessions were made, by importations from China, into Great Britain, of the Lady Hume's Blush, anemoneflora, myrtifolia, atrorubens, Pomponia, pa;onifl6ra and most of what are now called common varieties. Since 1812, the importations into England have been small, compared with the number of seedling varieties, which have been raised by cross-impregnation. The first seedling exliibited to the London Horticultural Society, was presented by Mr. Ross, of Stoke Newington, in 1824, and was con- sidered so much of a curiosity, that a medal was awarded him for his success, and is the Camellia now known as Camellia japonica Rossi. Since which, there have been a great number of seedling varieties raised, not only in England, but in France, Germany, and some few in the United States. So well is the art now understood, that a writer, in a late tour on the continent, observes, that there are large houses, in the vicinhy of Ghent, devoted entirely to Camellias, with extensive collections not yet named. Indeed, there is no end to the seedlings that may be raised by cross-impregnation, and the day is not far distant, when the Camellia japonica will rival the far famed Rose, in the number of its varieties. There have been, from time to time, numerous exhibitions of new kinds at the meetings of the London Horticultural Society, and to which the Messrs. Chandler, of the Vauxhall nursery, have been large contributors ; having shown, of their own raising, within a few years, eleven varieties, of first rate excellence. Mr. Press, of Horn- sey, has also produced several of unparalleled beauty; and his name will be long associated with the Eclipse, invincible, and Rose of the World. In France, great success has been realized in raising seed- lings, if we may judge by the catalogues, some of them enumerating more than two hundred varieties of the Camellia japonica. The Camellia will succeed tolerably well in any good, rich soil. But that more generally used at the present day, in England, is com- posed of one part peat, or bog earth, and two parts a strong yellow loam. The compost I have used, and in which my Camellias have grown beyond my most sanguine expectations, consists of two parts peat, two parts rich maiden loam, from an old pasture, and one part each of leaf soil and sand ; the whole of which should be well mixed, and turned over several times before usinu, but not sifted. Should it be desirable to increase the growth rapidly, a larger proportion of peat may be used ; but in this compost they will not be so prolific in their flower buds. 16 Observations on the Camellia. The best season for shiftiii'j; the plants is about the first of March ; and wliich should be done by turning them out of the pots, carefully pricking, with a sharp stick, a little of tlie soil from the old ball, and repotting them in a pot a size larger than the one from which they were removed ; especial care being taken not to injure the young fibres of the roots, and also to give the pots good drainage. There are various methods of increasing the Camellia, such as by seeds, layers, inarching, grafting, budding and cuttings. The surest and most expeditious of which is by inarching, aud should be performed earlv in March, just before the plants commence making their spring grow'th, in the following manner: — Select a healthy young plant, of the Single Red, or any free growing variety, as near the size of the scion you intend to affix to it as possible ; next, find a smooth place, and free from leaves in both, and adjust the plants so that they may approach each other at the point desired ; then, pare away the half of eitlier stock, fitting them together so exactly, that the inner rinds of both the barks may meet ; bind them firmly together with bass matting, or coarse woollen yarn; cover the wounded parts with a coating of clay, and over this another of moss, to exclude the air ; for on this, I have found, depends in a great measiu'e the success of the operation. In ten or twelve weeks the inarching may be cut from the parent plant, and the union, if ever, will have taken place ; at which time, the stock must be cut down to where the parts unite, and the plants, for a few days placed in a close frame. Grafting or budding are seldom resorted to in this country or else- where, and never except to increase new and high cost varieties; the process being at best but a tedious one, requiring a long time to make good plants. The increasing by layers is not at all convenient, as the plant must be placed in a frame for the purpose, and protected from the frost during the winter, it requiring more than one season for them to root sufficiently to be separated from the stool. The Camellia may be grown from cuttings, the Single Red and Middlemist being the easiest to strike, and the Double Wjiite and Myrtle-leaved the most difficult;, but the plants procured in this manner are much more beautiful in their shape, and prolific in their blossoms. As an example, I might mention a Double White, raised about fifteen years since, from a cutting, by the late lamented Dr. Dixwell, of this city, upon; which I counted, the last season, more than two hundred, and the present, more than three hundred flower buds. Cuttings may be put in at any season of the year, when the plants are not in a growing state ; but the best time is in the autumn, when the young wood is becom- ing ripe, and should be performed in the following manner: — Cut them smoothly across at the joint, between the old and new wood, and plant them firmly in pots, well drained, of pure river sand ; cov- ■ering them with bell-glasses, keeping them moderately moist, and placing them in the shade. In from four to six months, they usually History and Culture of the Viola. 17 commence taking root, at which time they will be materially assisted in their growth by being placed in a mild hot-bed. When it is con- sidered that they have sufficient roots, which will probably be in about one year, they may be repotted, singly, into small pots, giving them the compost used for established plants. The Camellia may be easily made to produce seed, but rarely without the aid of artificial impregnation. When it is ripe, which will be in October or November, it should be sown in small pots, placed in the green-house, and kept moderately moist during the winter. In the spring, the plants will be up, and the following autumn they may be separated, with small balls of earth, and potted in the usual manner. Having, gentlemen, completed the observations intended for this communication, 1 may, if leisure should permit, offer some further remarks on the treatment of this beautiful genus, together with a brief description of such named varieties as are known to be worthy of culti- vation. Yours, M. P. Wilder. Boston, Dec. 16, 1834. If our Magazine contained only the above communication from Mr. Wilder, we' should then consider it as worth double its stated price. The Camellia has now become so popular a flower, that no collection of plants can be called perfect un- less they contain some of its choice and beautiful varieties. We visited most of the gardens around New York, last spring, with the intention of becoming more acquainted with this favorite flower. Among others, were those of Messrs. Prince, Hogg, Floy and Harrison ; the two latter gentlemen have raised many splen- did varieties ; indeed, some of them are held at very high prices in the catalogues of the London nurserymen. Mr. Floy has raised one, which we observed in bloom, that as far excels all the plants, descriptions or plates of any Camellias we have ever seen, as can be imagined ; he has named it Floyii. Mr. Harrison has also raised a lovely Double White, which almost equals the old White; he has also raised many others. Among all their numerous varieties, we observed none which surpassed, in the beauty and health of the plants, the elegance of their rich, dark green, shining foliage, or the splendor of their magnificent flowers, those of Mr. Wilder. He has, we believe, nearly one hundred varieties, some of which are of late introduction, and are very rare in European collections. Many of these will produce their blossoms this winter. when our readers may expect from him a description of them. We presume many recollect tiie plant of Camellia Chand- lerii, one of the finest kinds, which Mr. Wilder presented at the Horticultural Society's room, last season, with other varieties. Those wlio do. will not forget its gorgeous appearance. The above are the results of Mr. Wilder's experience, and we can testify to the excellence of his practice. — Conds. Art. V. On the History and Cultivation of the Viola tricolor, Pansy violet, or HcarV s-casc. By S. Walker. " The daughters of the flood have search'd the mead For violets pale, and cropped the poppy's head ; Punsies to please the sight, and cassia sweet to smell." — Drydcn. The cultivation of flowers has been the care of the tasteful, in every age and in every climate. While it affords an innocent and interesting occupation for the young, the gay, and the happy, it may VOL. I. NO. I. c 18 History and Culture of the Viola. be resorted to with the greatest advantage, as a solace under the per- plexities and troubles of life. In the warm and balmy breezes which are wafted over the plains of Persia, and the still farther East, the youths and maidens of those climes, assisted by their poets, invented a language of flowers, ex- pressive of every emotion of the heart, and spoke every shade of affection, from the first spark of passion to the brightest kindling of love. Our distinguished poet, Percival, has noticed this most beautifully in one of his poems : — " In eastern lands they talk in flowers, And they tell in a garland their loves and cares ; Each blossom that blooms in their garden bowers On its leaves a mystic language bears." It would be delightful to wander long in Nature's garden of flowers ; but the cultivator, perhaps, should never generalize until his labor is over, but should take special care of each individual plant as it comes under his hand, to be cherished by his care and skill. This, how- ever, is a hard rule, and in a work of taste may, perhaps, be broken with forgiveness. I ask the reader, — ^if he has ever been delighted by a rose of Sharon, or stopped to gaze on a lilt/ of the valley, — to view with me that little, delicate flower, the tricolored violet, which, by many English authors, is called the pansy, or hear fs-ease. The history of this flower goes back to the days of fable ; and, what is most extraor- dinary, it has never been lost sight of in the revolutions of taste and attachments, so common in respect to the productions of the flower- garden. Some florists trace the name and origin of this flower to lo, daughter of Midas, who, as the early poets say, was changed by Diana, the protector of chastity, to a violet, to hide her from Apollo, who had become enamored of this earth-born beauty. It is a lovely allegory ; for this modest blossom, after many centuries have passed away, still retains the bashful timidity of the nymph, partially con- cealing itself in its own foliage and that of other neighboring shrubs and plants, and shrinking from the gaze of the Sun, in his vernal and autumnal search for his long-lost lo, the object of his love. In the poetry of the Greeks, and in all their works of taste, upon natural scenery, they embroider their productions with some allusion to this lovely flower. In the Floral Games, of the Romans, the violet was the beau-ideal of Flora, as the prize consisted of a golden violet. That great master, as well as lover of nature, the Bard of Avon, has mingled the perfume of this flower with the sweet and delicate thoughts of the fair Ophelia, who, in her morbid state of sensibility, when Reason was shaken on her throne by Grief, "turned every- thing to prettyness.'' She had been well instructed in the language of flowers, and makes some beautiful discriminations between the History and Culture of the Viola. 19 different kinds of violets, even in that state of mind. One species, it seems, was "dedicate'^ to love, meaning the passion of youthful hearts ; and the other, to that feeling of reverence and affection which the child entertains for a parent or benefactor : — '^Oph. — There's rosemary, that's for remembrance; Praj you, love, remember; and there is punsles, That's for thoughts. Laer. — A document in machiess ; thoughts and Remembrance fitted. Oph. — Tiiere's fennel for you, and columbines; — There's rue for you ; and here's some for me; — We may call it herb of grace o'Sundays ; — You may wear your rue with a ditference. — There's a daisy : — I would give you some Violets ; but they withered all tulun my father died." The immortal Milton, who saw the worlds beyond us "with an angel's ken," and was familiar with every maze of science; who de- scribed with equal accuracy a constellation or a flower, has also made some distinction in the violets; — ■ -flowers were the couch, Pansies, and violets, and asphodel, And hyacinths, earth's freshest, softest lap." The bard, who saw all things as Nature made them, has carpeted the bowers of paradise with the richest and sweetest flowers, among which the violet is first named : — " Thus talking, hand in hand, alone they passed On to their blissful bower ; it was a place Chosen by the sov'reign l^lanter, when lie framed All things to man's delightful use ; the roof, Of thickest covert, was interwoven shade, Laurel and myrtle, and what higher grew Of firm and fragrant leaf: on either side Acanthus, and each odorous bushy shrub, Fenced up the verdant wall : each beauteous flower, Iris all hues, roses, and jessamine. Reared high their flourished heads between, and wrought Mosaic : underfoot the violet, Crocus, and hyacintli, with rich inlay Broidered the ground, more colored than with stone Of costliest emblem." The generic term, violet, is derived from the Romans, yet the tri- colored violet has, perhaps, alone received the English names of ^^a??sj/ and hearfs-ease. By modem florists, this beautiful flower is called the viola grandijlora, orihe great-Jioivcred jjausi/ violet; and not unfre- quently, of late, by way of great distinction, it has been called "the Jlorisfs Jlower.'^ There are now, in the gardens in England, more than three hundred varieties of this plant, and the cultivators are every year repaid for their attention to this little gem of their love, by new varieties. Some beautiful ones have been exhibited in this country, the largest of which is the purpurea. It has been suggested, 20 History and Culture of the Viola. with much propriety, that this variety should be called unimaculata, as the petals are entirely purple, with the exception of the eye of the flower, which is small, and of a bright yellow. Other varieties, from tricolor to pure yellow, and from nearly black to white, are to be found in some collections in this vicinity. This violet should have but one name, "hearfs-ease;" for its cul- tivation delights the heart of the florist, if he has any love of nature in him. It blooms while "the coming frosts of later autumn" have put most other plants in the garden to sleep for the winter; it remains, as if unwilling to leave the sight of man; and sometimes, in a mod- erate winter, it is seen, partially covered with snow, with buds ready formed to usher in "young spring." The appearance of this flower keeps alive the hopes of the cultivator, and as he turns his eye, for a moment, from his favorite violet, to look for the crocus, with its "cloth of gold;" and the anemone hepatica, clothed in its white, pink or blue mantle, he is led at once to exclaim, with a bosom heaving with joy, "summer is coming, cold winter awa'." In some climates the violet is perpetually in flower, and there it received the name of "forget-me-not J' It is a fact, as before remarked, that the violet has never suffered from the caprice of fashion. Ever since it sprang from the bosom of its mother earth, it has been the favorite of the cottage and the palace ; children have plucked it with delight, and the most tasteful have watch- ed it in all its progress, to its present high state ofcultivation. In 1832, it was one of five flowers selected for show at the London Metropol- itan Exhibition of Flowers, in honor of the Queen's birth day ; and it will never lose a particle of its attraction. Perhaps those who are absorbed in politics, or governed by ambi- tion, to whom nothing is sweet but the sounds of the comitia or the eloquence of the halls of legislation, would take but little pleasure in repeating with me the lines on the culture of this little flower, by that "simple-minded peasant-poet," Clare: — " Violets, sweet tenants of the shade, In purple's richest pride arrayed, Your errand here fulfil; Go, bid the artist's simple strain Your lustre imitate in vain, And match your Maker's skill." While I, bending over the first vernal violet that rears its head in my garden, shall join with Wordsworth in praise of his favorite flower, the celandine: — "Let, with bold, advent'rous skill, Others thrid the polar sea; Build a p3'ramid who will; Praise it is enough for me, If there be but three or four Who will love my little flower." Cultivation of the Mimulus luteus. 21 This beautiful flower is a native of Siberia, Japan, and many parts, of Europe. The infinity of provincial names which have been be- stowed upon it, would alone be sufficient to prove it to be a general favorite. It has been called, in addition to the names already given, Love in Idleness, Live in Idleness, Call me to you, Three faces under a Hood, Herb Trinity, Flower of Jove, Ladies^ Delight, Sj)arkler, Flamy, with many others. The cultivation of this plant is very simple : it may be increased by dividing the roots in the spring or falL and also by layers and pipings. To obtain new varieties, the seeds from the best sorts should be gathered as they become ripe, and sown directly. The plants will appear in about fourteen days : those of the spring sowing, will bloom in autumn, and the autumn plants in the spring ; and if they are protected from the summer's sun, after ten o'clock, A. M., they will continue to bloom until the frost becomes severe. The best sorts are the purpurea, alba, and Carter^s Prince of Orange, ihe latter raised from seed, in 1832, by Mr. William Carter, at the Botanic Garden, Cambridge; to these add Perfection, Sir Walter Scott, Mary (^ueen of Scots, Luna, Admiral, and some other choice varieties, to be found in every good collection. Roxbury, Dec. 1834. S. Walker. Art. VI. Cultivation of the Mimulus lilteus, var. rivuldris. By the Conductors. This little beauty of the flower-garden and green-house, is easily raised from cuttings, or from seeds, which it produces in great abun- dance. There are three or four fine new varieties, originated in the English gardens, during the last two years, and which are, from the colored plates and descriptions, much more beautiful than the luteus rivularis. They will probably be introduced into our gardens before another season. The seed, if sown during Janu- ary, February or March, should be placed in the green-house; it will be up in a few days, and the plants should be potted off" into the smallest size pots. When they are rooted, they should be kept constantly watered, and as soon as the pots are filled with roots, shift them into the next size, in which tlicy will flower freely. Cuttings should be two or three inches in length, and they will root without difficulty. Put five or six cuttings in each pot. The soil for them should be, about two thirds loam, and one third leaf mould, or peat earth. Mimulus moschatus, (musk-scented) and punctatus, are very pretty plants, and should be in every collection. They may all be turned out of the pots into the border, during summer. 22 Mr. Gray's Address. REVIEWS. Art. I. Jin .^ddyrss dcliverul hifore the Massachusetts HortiniJtnral Socictij, nt their Sixth Auniccrsary, Sept. 17, 18:34. By J. C. Gray, Esq. To which is appended tlie Committee's Reports of the Fruits and Flowers e.xhibited at Faneuil Hall, and a List of the Members of the Society. Pamphlet. Svo. pp. 40. Boston, 1834. This excellent and interesting address, as well as all the previous ones delivered before the Society at its annual festivals, should be read by every lover of horti- culture. They all contain much pleasing, as well as useful information. We do not know how the Massacliusetts Horticultural Society, as one means, could better brino- about the great objects for which it was instituted, than to publish an extra number of copies of every anniversary address, and distribute them gratu- itously, or have them sold at cost by all the principal booksellers. Now, they are confined to the members of the society, many of whom, perhaps, do not feel as interested as individuals not having any connection with it, and who aie thus de- prived of the gratification of reading the address. The society has done wonders towards disseminating a taste for gardening pursuits, and this would be taking one more useful step to further its designs of circulating among the public, interesting and valuable intormation. We had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Gray, and are happy to state that he was listened to by a large and respectable audience. As our Magazine may be read by many who will not see his address, we do not know in what manner we can render our pages more interesting, than by making a few extracts. In relation to horticultute, as an amusement, Mr. Gray says, — '•This art may be recommended, in the first place, as an innocent and salutary amusement. In bestowing upon it these titles, I have said very much in its favor. The topic of amusements has ever been a most perplexing and difficult one to the moral casuist. I suppose that no one would proscribe all relaxation. All admit that the most industrious individual must have his intervals either of recreation or of idleness. But what amusements should be recommended, or tolerated, is a question on which there is far less unanimity of sentiment. In this country, there is, I believe, both a small amount and a smaller variety of relaxation, than in most others. We are, at least in New England, emjjhatically, a grave people. The simple manners and rigid morals which have descended to us from our Pu- ritan ancestors, our rigorous climate and stubborn soil, the equal distribution of property by descent and its necessary consequence, the small number of men of wealth and leisure, have rendered us, though certainly not a gloomy, yet a seri- ous and practical community. Many amusements, which have prevailed in other countries, never have, and we trust never will take root in our land. Of those which are fashionable among us, there are several which are denounced, either as deleterious, or at least perilous to our morals, by a large and respectable por- tion of our population. Tliis is not the occasion to inquire how far such senti- ments are correct. It is more to my purpose to observe that there is, I will not say no ground, but no pretext, for such objections against the pursuit of horticul- ture. He must be a stern and astute casuist indeed, who can detect anything in this occupation tending to inflame, to debase, or to enfeeble the mind. You are well aware, on the contrary, that a garden has been selected by all ])nets of all nations, as the abode of the virtuous in a future state ; that horticulture has often been recommended by the strictest moralists, not only as a soothing, but as a most refining occupation; and that the wonders of creative power, with which it renders us conveisant, have furnished the natural theologian with some of his most powerful and impressive arguments." Mr. Gray thus speaks in regard to the importance of horticulture : — "This art is, however, something more than a mere passing amusement. It well deserves to be cherished in our country, for the auspicious influence which it must exert on the manners and feelings of the community, should a taste for its splendid productions become a prevalent one. Mankind have found by expe- rience, that the contemplation of what is graceful or beautiful, serves to correct and refine the taste, to expand and elevate the understanding, to soften and purify the heart. How these results are produced, it is for tiie metaphysician to explain, Mr. Gray's Address. 23 if he can; the results tlicnist'lves arc not the less real, nor the less manifest. It is on tliis princij)le, that the fine arts liave been so carefully cherished by the ablest statesmen of older conununities. No one, acquainted with the history or condition of those communities, can doubt that those arts have done much to counteract the evils of defective systems of oovernment, and to supply the want of general education. With us, their progress nuist be for a long tin»e, for obvi- ous and cogent reasons, extremely limited, — at least, this must bi; said of those two most delicate arts, painting uiid sculpture. '• If, however, the productions of the gardener's labors are not to be placed in the same rank vv'ith the works of the painter or sculptor, they possess what in our country is a most important advantage over them, viz. that they are within the reach of the great mass of our community. Pictures and statues are, even iu older nations, confined to the precincts of cities, or the villas of the opulent. Not so with fine flowers. The proprietor of the smallest farm in the country, or the inhabitant of the humblest tenement in the city, may decorate his house with or- naments, surpassing in richness and delicacy, the most costly produ';tions of the upholsterer. The furnishing of a single apartment in a style of very moderate splendor, involves a greater expense tlian many florists incur at seed-stores and nurseries during the whole course of their lives. Well, tiien, does this art deserve encouragement in our republican and economical country." Mr. Gray thus alludes to the too frequent practice of many of our farmers and agriculturists, in cultivating large tracts of land: — "In our country, where land is cheap and labor high, our farmers are strongly induced to spread their eftbrts over a large surface, to cultivate a great extent of ground superficially, rather than a snriller portion thoroughly. This practice, if justified to some degree by the circumstances of the country, has been carried quite too far for good taste, or even good economy. Nothmg would tend more to check the evils consequent on such a system than the general practice of gardtn- ing. It is in a garden that we should learn those principles of neatness and order, that thoroughness in subdividing and enriching the soil, that war of extermina- tion against weeds and insects, and, above all, that vigilance in embracing pre- cious and fleeting opportunities, which are the prominent characteristics of the thriving farmer. It is by this cultivation in miniature, so to speak, that we should be kept from despising those little things which, in agriculture as in every thing else, must ever be duly regarded by all who aspire to great results. If every far- mer among us were, also, a florist, — and every farmer may be one to a consider- able degree, — the neatness and precision of his gardening operations would soon extend itself, — if not already existing there, — to his field cultivation, and our vil- lages would exhibit much of that exa(;tness and elegance, so conspicuous and so pleasing in our Shaker settlements." The following just tribute is given to the excellent and venerable president of the London Horticultural Society : — "How ^evf can hope for a reputation so extensive, so enduring, and so enviable as that which will be awarded, both in his country and ours, to Thomas Andrew Knight. How long and how highly shall we honor this high-minded Englishman, as the disinterested and unwearied benefactor of our infimt horticulture.^ How nobly has he exemplified the great truths, that the firmest loyalty to our own country is compatible with the utmost liberality towards others; and, that when the culture of the soil is in question, our views should know no other bounds than those of the great family of man. A k\v years, I trust, will show that there are those among us who emulate his achievements, as I am sure there are many who partake of his spirit. I speak from high authority, when I say that tlie friends of horticulture in Europe are turning their eyes anxiously to our country. They are looking to our bright skies and fresh soil for new varieties of delicious fruits, to supply the place of those which, after centuries of existence, are at last passing away. Hopes so just and reasonable, are surely not destined to return void." To the valuable and important labors of the late president of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, Mr. Gray thus, very justly, alhides: — "Of most of those individuals to whom \ refer, I am forbidden to speak as I could wish, by the delicacy we owe to all within the circle of our personal inter- course. I must be permitted, liowevcr, to allude particularly to one, who has lately retired from that circle; I mean the gentleman who has pri'sided over our society ever since its formation, but who for many years previous, had devoted much of his time and tlioughts to agriculture and horticulture. You well know, my friends, how he has labored in our cause. You are all aware of the aid which 24 Works on Horticulture. it has dorived from his powerful and accomplished mind, his unwearied industry, and his elevated character. His services will long be respectfully and gratefully remembered, and I am sure that 1 speak in the name not only of all who hear me, but of all who know him, when I express the best wishes for his health and hap- piness. Wherever he may go, though no longer among us, he will never cease to be of IIS." AVe cannot agree with Mr. Gray, in his rcmaik that " New York, a city which has added to its other liigh claims to distinction, thatof taking the lead in Ameri- can horticulture." Their nurseries and gardens may enumerate in their large collections, many choice varieties of fruits and plants. But the successful and scientific management of such, has been carried to the highest state of perfection by the amateurs and gardeners in our own vicinity. Mr. Gray concludes with an appeal to the merits and beauty of the exhibition, as evidence of the success, which has attended the exertions of the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Art. n. RevieiDS and Extracts of Works on Horticulture. 1. The Gardener's Magazine, and Register of Rural and Domestic Improvement. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, F. L. S. H. S. &c. In monthly numbers, 8vo. Is. Gd. each. London. 1834. 2. The Horticultural Register, and General Magazine of all useful and interesting Discoveries connected vnth JVatural History and Rural Subjects. Conducted by Joseph Paxton, F. L. S. H. S. Li monthly numbers, 8vo. Is. each. London. 1834. Li our reviews and extracts from these excellent works, (especially that con- ducted by Mr. Loudon) we commence with the volumes for the last year. We find in them a number of articles, containing much and valuable information, which we shall, if possible, present to our readers. These will be followed up with extracts of everything useful from each successive number, as received. We hope thus to keep our readers informed of all improvements in horticulture which may be made by our transatlantic friends. On growing Ftrm and other Plants in Glass Cases, in the midst of the Smoke of London ; and on transplanting Plants from one Country to another, by similar means. I was accidentally led, about four or five years ago, to make some experi- ments on the growth of ferns, &c., in closely glazed vessels, from the following circumstance. I had buried the chrysalis of a sphinx, in some moist mould, in a large bottle covered with a lid. Tlie insect attained its perfect form in about a month, when I observed one or two minute specks of vegetation U[Jon the surface of the mo\dd. Curious to oI»serve the developement of plants in so confined a situation, I placed the bottle outside one of my windows with a northern aspect. The plants proved to be one of Poa annua, and one of Ne- j)hr6dium [Aspidium Swz.] FiWx mas. In this situation they lived more than three years, din-ing which time no fresh water was given to them, nor was the lid removed. The fern produced four or five new fronds every year ; and the Poa flowered the second year, but did not ripen its seeds. Both plants ultimately perished from the admission of rain water, in consequence of the rusting of the lid. I have re|)eated this experiment, with uniform success, upon more than sixty species of ferns, belonging to the following genera: — ^splenium, Aspid- ium, ^diantum,i?lechnum, Cheilanthes, Dav:ilh'a, Dicksonia, Doodia, Gram- mitis, Hymenophyllum, Lycopodium, Nephrodium, Nipliobolus, Polypodium, Pteris, and Trichomanes. Various other plants, vascular as well as celluLir, and more particularly those which delight in humid situations, succeed as well as the ferns. Among others may be enumerated : — Oxalis Acetosella, Ane- mone nemorusa, Dentaria bulbifera, Paris quadrifolia, Veronica montana, Management of the Vinery. 25 Listera (Neouiii) Nidus avis, &c. Tlio nictliod of proceeding is veiy simple. The ferns, &c., may be planted in hoxes of any size or shape, fnniislied with glazed sides, and a glazed lid. The hottom of the box should he tilled with nearly equal |)ortions othog moss, vegetabU; mould, and sand; and I he ferns, after planting, should be most copiously watered, and the superfhious water allowed to drain olf through a j)lug-liole in the bottom of the box: the l)lug is then to be put in tight, the glazed lid applied, and no fariher care is requi- site, than that of keeping the box in the light. Jii this way many jjlants will grow for years, without requiring any fresh su|>])ly of water. It is scarcely necessary to point out the advantages which this plan (subject to some modi- fications, according to the nature of the enclosed plants) offers to the horti- culturist, and to the physiological botanist. To the one, it furnishes a ready mode of im|)orting most plants, without risk, from the most distant regions of the globe; and, to the other, :he oppornmify of making more accurate exper- iments than have hitherto been practicable, on many important jjoints con- nected with vegetable economy ; such as on the germination of seeds, and the developement-of plants in various kinds of air, and soil, &c. ; but upon this part of my subject I need not here enlarge. I1ie nmnerous exj)eriments I have alreatly made have, I think, established one im|)ortant tact — that the air of London, when treeil from adventitious matter, is as fitted to support vegetable life as the air of the country. 1 cannot conclude this short account, without expressing my warmest acknowledgments to the Messrs. Loddiges, who have at all times furnished me with every |)lant I required from their invaluable collection. — N. 13. Ward, JVelldose Square, London. jVarch (J, 1834.— Gard. Mag. for May. On the Management of the Vinery. In order to prevent the fruit from suffering from the effects of damp, (an evil so often complained of in vineries) the young wood shonkl always be kept thin, by taking the tops irom the shoots, three or four joints above the fruit; and not allowing them to ramble through the house, shading the fruit from the sun, and preventing the free circulation of air among the bunches and bori'ies. For the same reason, the lateral shoots, which push from the young wood, should be cut or pinched off at the first or second joint, so as not to endanger the bursting of the bud on the main shoot. It is well known, that every place from which the sun and air are partially excluded, is sure to be damp: the walls of a house, for instance, which are covered with ivy, if it is not in a very dry situation, will be found wet and uncomfortable in the inside. When this is considered, it will a])[)ear evident that, upon the same principle, the vinery in which the wood is not properly thinned, nuist suffer in the same manner, tliough in a less degree. Particular attention should be given to the thinning of the fruit ; taking out most berries in the heart of the bunch ; leaving those towards the extremities ; and making the whole very thin. Those kinds of gra|)es the bunches of which are of a branchy nature, such as the black Hamburgh, the Syrian or white Nice, &c. should always be stretched out a little, and tied up with a small piece of mat- ting, that they may have room to swell, and be kept from crowding each other. This is not only a means of preserving the bunches from damp, but also of having better-swelled and tiner-flavored berries. It is a common practice with those who have fruit in their vineries, when the season is far advanced, to keej) u[) the temi)erature of the .house throughout the night, with artificial heat, and to let their fires go nearly out when the morning dawns. I do not, however, approve altoj>ether of this plan. Let any person go into a vinery in the morning, before it is aired, and when the sun is shining ujioii it, he will feel the atmosphcn; moist; and on examining the fruit, will |)cr- ceive that it is covered with dew. Now, if this moistine be allowed to re- main for any length of time, it certainly must jirove injurious; and to remedy the evil seems to be an object worth attention. VOL. I. NO, I. D 26 Culture of the Ranunculus. A very small degree of artificial heat will be found sufficient throughout the night; but, as soon as the sun arises in the morning, and shines upon the house, by increasing tiie temjierature, and giving a sutficient quantity of air, the moisture will be exjielled, and the atmosphere of the house will become dry. It may not be unnecessary to remark, that the fruit should be often ex- amined ; and, if there are any of the berries on whicli the damp has taken effect, they should be carefully picked off; as, if they are suffered to remain, the damp will soon spread over the whole buncii. — A Young GARDErJER, Mid-Lothian, Sept. 18, 1834.— Garrf. Mag. for May. The Cereits speciosissimus at Woodhall gardens, in Renfrewshire, attains an extraordinary size and beauty. Tiie late excellent Mr. Henderson, gar- dener there, used soil composed of two parts of ricli loam, three of decom- posed manure, and one consisting of equal quantities of |teat, sand, and broken tiles. The plant is placed in a large pot, and trained to the back trellis of a pine stove; wliere, in July, 1833, when I saw it, it occupied a surface of eighty-four square feet, and hail three hundred flowers ail open at the same time. 3Ir. Deiiholm, the j)resent gardener, gives this and other species of the Cactus family a more ample supply of water than is usually done, while they are maturing their flower-buds; and to this he attributes, in a great measure, the vigor of the bloom. In winter, wiien the plant is in a state of rest, little or no water is given. — Juvems, Glasgow, March 7, 1834. — Card. Mag. for May. Jin Orchard in Pots. Take some large pots, eights or twelves of the Lon- don potteries, some strong yellow loam, mixed with one third of good rotten dung in lumps; well drain the pots with large pieces of t'les or broken pots, and in this compost, plant selected small dwarfs of Hawthorndean, courtpen- du plat, Kerry pippin, golden Harvey, Cole's golden drop, Keswick codlin, and scarlet nonpareil ap])les; Passe Colmar, sickle, Beurre de Cainaumont, Marie Louise, and Esister beurre pears; also two or three dwarf jM-olific nuts. Let the jiots stand in the centre, if a confined garden ; and by all means keep on their surface, all sunnner, lum[)S of rotten manure. Thus treated, it is astonishing how they will flourish ; and, if well supplied with water, (if ma- nured wpier, the better) they will bear plentifully. In very severe winters, a little straw should be jnit over the pots, to prevent the roots being injured by the extreme frost. This may certainly be called a cockney orchard ; but I know, that if it is not profitable, it is very pretty. — J. Rivers, Jr., Saw- bridgeivorth JVursery, Feb. 1834. — Gard. Mag. for July. Culture of the Ranunculus. Reiriove twelve inches of the surface earth from yoiu- beds, taking the level fi-om your walks, then have the earth at bot- tom well dug, or broken U[) eighteen inches; or, if it will admit of it, two feet more in depth. Then lay in manure seven inches in thickness over this, say three parts of cow-dung, six months old, and a fourth part of sand, or mud, obtained, if possible, from the bank of a river, well mixed together. If this manure be prepared a few months before it is used, and occasionally turned, the better; over this, place a compost of five inches of the following mate- rials : — Cow-dung moidd, three years old, if possible, one sixth ; sea sand, one eighth; tuif mould, one eighth ; leaf mould, well reduced, one eighth ; fresh, sound earth, one third. Your beds will now be some inches above the level of your walks, but in a week or ten days they will sink down consider- ably ; you might give the beds a slight fall, say one fourth inch to a foot ; but as the ranunculus requires a continual supply of moisture, a greater fidl than this would be injudicious. When your beds are in a proper state, make im- pressions or drills across them with the handle of a hoe, liy pressure, about one and one fourth inches deep, and five inches asunder, and plant your roots at four inches distance from each other ; then fill up your drills with General and Domestic Notices. 27 the same compost. The ramincnliis should never be planted deeper than one inch undf r the surface, as^ li^'ht and air seem to be essential to their very existence. By adopting the |ilan laid down above, your roots will be about four inches from the manure, at which distance sufficient nourishment will be obtained ; but if the roots come at all in contact with manure, they will be inevitably lost. It would he well to remark, that cold, or naturally wet ground, is unfit for this jilant, for although the ranunculus likes moisture, it prefers partaking of it passing — fortius reason, the bottom of the beds should have a quantity of gravel thrown in, if at all wet or cold; indeed, such ground ought to have sewers to carry off the surplus water. An eastern as- pect is the best ; but a southern one will anssver very well, provided it is a hment. To the amateur and gardener, such exhibitions are of incalcidable benefit. All are apt to place too much belief in their own methods of cultivation and practice, and some even think that their productions are not equalled, or certainly not surpassed, by any. But when viewed and com|)ared with those of others, they see they have let their own judgment mislead them, and that they may yet add much towards perfection. We liope another season will find every horticulturist ready to aid in increasing the character of an exhibition, as useful, and we may say ])rofitable, to the interests of society, as the last. "The display of the various plants and flowers which decorated the Hall, was S[)lendid beyond description, and far exceeded the most sanguine ex- pectations of the committee. Although the proper season to show hot-house and green-house plants to advantage is during the spring months, w hen they are in fell bloom and beauty, yet many varieties, especially those with ever- green foliage, are pleasing and interesting objects at all seasons of the year. Many of the species presented were very choice and rare. There might be seen the Banana of the West Indies, the Fig, from Persia, the Coflee, from Aral)ia, the Lemon, Orange, Pomegranate and Sago-Palm, with many other interesting plants, natives of a tropical clime. Among those ornamental, as well as useful, were the variegated Holly, Myrtle, Laurel, Magnolia, Acuba, Box-tree, Aloes, and the elegant India-rubber tree. Some were remarkable for either their curious foliage or flowers, as the Arum, Pourretia, Eucalyp- tus, Nandina, Cactus, etc. Others for their delightful and agreeable odor, as the Hedychium gardnerianum, Polyanthes tuberosa. Pancratium Funkia, Jas- rainum, etc. Those conspicuous for the splendor of their rich and brilliant colors, were the Erythrina picta, near eight feet in height; tJie Vallota pur- purea (once Amaryllis), with six ex|)an(le(l flowers ; the Gladiolus natalensis, with three tall spikes, and numbering near twentj' open flowers, which, for magnificence of bloom can be ecl'psed but by few plants at this season of the year. Among the various flowers and charming bouquets which a(l(>rned the tables, was a large collection of the su])erbly s|)lendid Georgina (Dahlia), amounting, in all, to nearly five huiKlred flowers. There was also a beautiful collection of the lovely China and (German Asters." From .John Lowell, Es(]. Roxbiny. Finespecimens of the Erythina plcta and Justiida |)icta, plants very rare in our gardens and green-houses, but which shoidd be in every collection. Two elegant plants of the Citrus de- cumana, with eight or ten ripe fruit, some of which measured five inches in diameter. These attracted nutch attention, and contributed greatly to the decoration of the Hall. ]\Iany other ran; plants were sent from Mr. Lowell, among which was the I\Iusa Sapientium, (a Banana tree). J. P. Gushing, •30 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Esq., of Watertown, sent some fine plants of the Lemon and Orange, and many otlitrs, among vvliicli was the Laurus nubilis, a fine specimen. J, Lemist. Esq., of Roxl)my, contributed, among otliers, some fine plants of the Agave americanu and A. americana var. variegata, and Cycas revoluta, (Sa- go Pahn). J. T. Wheelwright, Esq. and Mr. Charles Senior sent numerous plants, as fi-llovvs: — Egg-plants, China Asters, Rhododendrons, Camellias, Myrtles^ Cactuses, etc. William E. Payne, Esq., Waltliam, some fine Orange and Lemon trees. Some beautifid plants of the Variegated Holly, (Ilex varie- gata) Justicia [)icta and (-itrus aiu'antiiim, var. variegata, from William Pratt, Esq. Watertovvn. Agave americana, from N. Davenport, Milton. Sotne fine plants from the choice collection of J. P. Bradlee, Esq., Boston, con.sist- ingof Camellias, Rhododendrons, Myrtles, Pittosporus, etc. A magnificent plant of the Fiscus elastica, (India-rubber tree) nearly ten feet in height, from S. Appleton, Esq., Boston. A fine Broad-leaved Myrtle, in full bloom, (a most beautiful sight!) from T. Dowse, Esq., Cambridgeport. From Samuel Sweetser, Esq., Cambridgeport, some fine plants, among which were Ilex variegata, Diosma alba. Ericas, Myrtles, etc. Mr. Sweetser presented a most superb specimen of the rare Gladiolus na- talensis (called by some psittacinus). This plant is of late introduction into this country, never flowering here (about Boston) till this season. It was pictured in the Botanical Register, (London, ta. 1442) for October, 1831, and is there described as follows: — "Stem from three to four feet high, well fm- nished with leaves, and terminated by a spike, a foot in length, of large blossoms, yellow spotted, striped, and marginated with scarlet. Tlie colors are indeed splendid beyond any thing thai can be expressed, except by the most elaborate miniature painting." The specimen above mentioned, as Well as one exhibited at the Society's room by Messrs.Winship, and one which We had the pleasure of seeing at the country residence of T. Lee, Esq. Brook- line, surpassed even this most seemingly exaggerated description. The plant exhibited by Mr. Sweetser, was exceedingly strong, having four s|)ikes in full bloom at once. It is quite easy of cultivation, and is propagated very readily. A fine large plant of Hydrangea hortensis, from I. Livermore, Esq., Cam- bridgeport. Messrs. Hovey, Cambridgeport, plants of Fuclisia, Gomphrena, Maurandia, etc. A Black Hamburgh Grape-vine, growing in a pot, and bear- ,'ing twenty fine clusters of grapes, weighing nearly half a pound each. This vine was but eighteen months from a cutting, and may be considered a re- markable crop from so young a plant. The experiment shows what can be done in pot culture ; and to what further success it may be carried, remains to be discovered by repeated trials. The plants from the Botanic Garden added much to the intere.«t of the ex- hibition. Among many very rare, were the Astraptea Walllchii, Ilakea saligna, Pourretia spinosa, Coftaea arabica (Coffee tree), Vallota jnupuroa (formerly Amaryllis purpurea), Melastoma, Jambusa, Naiidina, Eucah ptus, Ardisia, Banksia, Melaleuca, Leucadeiidron arg6ntea (silver tree), Fuchsia Thomsitnia, etc. The Vallota was splendidly in bloom; the Banksia, with its brush-like spike of flowers, attracted much observation; the Silver tree was beautiful, but too small a plant to be observed, as it should be, among so numerous a collection. M. P. Wilder, Esq., of Dorchester, contributed some magnificent s|)ecimens of the Camellia (double white), Jambosa vulgaris, and Acacia lophanta, the latter of which, with its graceful foliage, towering above other plants, had an admirable ap|)earance. Mr. Wihhr also sent a fine Or- ange tree, an Agave, Echium, Ilex, Cycas revoluta, Acuba, Arum, etc. From J. W. Boot, Esq. Plumbago, Begonia, and a Pancratium, (very beautifid). From Charles Taylor, Esq., Dorchester, Acacia, Gardenia, Cas- sia, Orange trees, etc. From Madame Eustis, some fine Orange and Lemon .ots,. bearing the fruit, were sent, witli other tine plants, from E. Breed, E.scj.. Charlestown. From Messrs. Win^^hip, of Brijjshton, a fine specimen of a beautiful Fern (Aspidium exaltatum). l'i;uits of Corra?a, Metrosideros, Aca- cia, Iledychium, and a brancli of tiie Biitialo lierry, with rijie fruit. J. G. Joy, Esq., Boston, sent two line Orange trees. From Mr. Tlionias Willott, plants of Nerium, Cactus, A(;uba, Crassida, etc. From W. Upham, Esq., two Orange trees, a Jasminum, and Myrtle. D. S. Townsend, Esq.,, various plants. Orange trees, etc. Thomas Mason, Charlestown, Acacia ar- mata and lophantii, Aloysia, Dajdme, Erica, 3 var. Rhododendron, Gardenia, Diusma, IMagnolia grandiflora, etc. 31. Burrage, from the garden of Mrs.. Bigelow, Medford, sent an elegant plant of the Citrus myrtifolia, loaded with ripe fruit. Pots of Isabella and Sweet Water Grapes, from A. D. Williams, Roxbury. The (iisi)lay of Georginas, on the centre table, was gorgeous and imposing. Mr. E. Putnam, of Salem, sent about fifty beautiful, distinct varieties, some- of which were shaded, sj)ottod and striped. M. P. Wilder, Esq., exhibited about twenty varieties; among which were Picta, Burleigh's VVilliam IV,. Brewer's, Sul|»hureum, Majestiun, and many other new and fine varieties;, ten or twelve varieties Irom S. Walker, Roxbury; about twenty-five from the Botanic Garden, by William Carter; ten or twelve varieties from William Kenrick, Newton ; and numerous varieties from other contributors. The China and German Asters were finer than any we have ever seen; almost equal in beauty to the deservedly admired Georgina. We have no doubt but the varieties will, in a {aw years, be as numerous as those of the latter flower. Twelve distinct and elegant varieties, were contributed by Messrs. Hovey, as follows — red, blue, white, asli-colored, blush, grey, red and white, blue and white, grey and white, white with red centre, blue with light centre, and pink and white. Mr. E. Putnam exhibited a very large variety ; Mr. Put- nam also sent a flower of the beautiful new yellow Noisette Rose, which we consider one of the finest of the yellows. A beautiful bouquet of white and yellow Tea, and other Roses, from 3Ir. Wales, of Dorchester. Various flow- ers and bouquets were furnished by Messrs. Sweetser, Wilder, Hovey, Rich- ardson, Gardner, Worthington, PhippSj Kenrick, Walker, Perkins, Russell, Mason, Leathe, and John Kenrick. The exhibition, on the whole, argues well for the success of horticulture ; the arrangement of the plants was not exactly such as lo show them to the most advantage, many of those which require to be seen close to the eye to admire their beauties, being hidden by large plants ; but, being rather hastily done, as well as could be expected. The pendant wreaths of flowers and evergreen, which festooned the ceiling and galleries, had a rich and tasty ap- pearance. Part of these were furnished from the Society's garden at Mount Auburn. Great credit is due to the committees, for their exertions to procure every thing which would add an interest to the exhibition. We have not room to notice the Avhole of the report of the Fruit Commit- tee; we mention a few of the ne\v and most valuable varieties which were presented. From J. Lowell, Esq., some fine specimens of the Pitrnaston White Clus- ter Grape; this is a seedling, raised in Pitmaston, England, by J. Williams, Esq., in 1812; but has not found its way into tliis country, till imported by Mr. Lowell, two years since. It is a grape highly deserving of extensive cultivation ; being a great bearer, earlier than the old Sweetwater, and of excellent flavor. We think it will prove a desirable variety to grow in pots. Mr. Jacob Tidd, Roxbury, sent some extraordinary large clusters of the White Nice, two, weighing eleven and a half ])Ounds. R. Manning, Esq., Salem, exhibited a collection of upwards of forty new and choice varieties of pears ; some of them, though premature fruit, wer& 32 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. of the more recently introduced kiiui.-!. ]Mr. Manning is ze;donsly devoted to tlie cnltivation of pears, and has used great exertions to collect together al! those that are truly valualile. The liartlett, Seckle, Capiauniont and other Pears exhihited were very fine. Some lloyal Charlotte Peaches, from Mrs. Bigelow, of Medford, were jrreatly admired, as also the rich baskets of fruit contributed by S. G. Perkins iind T. li. Perkins, Esqrs. A plate of Figs, from .John Lowell, Esq., in |)er- fect maturity, had a rich appearance. The Fig is much more deserving of cultivation than many other fruits, and we have no doubt, ere long, they will be grown in houses erected, exclusively for their management. The exhibitions at the Society's rooms, since the anniversary, have not been very attractive ; we give them in order, naming, however, only those fruits and other ])roductions, which will be of interest to our readers. September 27th. Erhibiteil. — Washington and Bourre Knox Pears, by Hon. John Lowell; Morris's Luscious White Peach, by Mr. E. Vose, (tine specimens ofwiiich have been exhibited several seasonsin succession, by the same gentleman). Washington, Bezi Montignyand Raymond Pears; Royal George Clingstone Peaches; Yellow Ingestre, Ramliuur Franc and Api Noir Ap|)les ; Italian Prune and Late Green Plums, by R. Manning, Esq., Salem. Bezy Vaet, ]5eurre Knox, Rnshmore Bon chretien, Beurre Diel, Lowell, lleailicot, Fulton and Andrews Pears, l)y Mr. Samuel Downer, Dor- chester. Some fine Jaques Peaches, by E. M. Richards, Dedliam. A large Peach, from Messrs. Winship, accompanied with oi>e of Mr. Knight's new pears (name urd<.iio\vn). This exhibition was the finest at the Society's room this season. The display of flowers, especially Georginas, was by far the most rich and profuse, we have observed at any ])revious exhibition. Mr. E. Putnam, ol Sakm, |)resented fitly-three varieties of the Georgina ; the most beautiful were Belladona, Maculata and Amanda; fifteen varieties from M.P. Wilder, Esq., among which was Siilphureum majestuin, Pictaand Burleigh's William IV; a large variety of new and choice ones from th(! Botanic Garden; fifteen varieties from S. Walker, Roxbury; the most prominent were Matilda, King of the Whites, and Earl Grey; Mr. Walker i)resented a number of pretty seedlings of tlie Viola, which is now becoming a favorite flower. Messrs. Hovey exhibited some new and rare, beautiful j)lants, among wl:ich were Lopiiosperum erubescens, Calampelis scabra, and Rlaiaandia semperfloreus, (elegant annual climbers). Flowers, in variety, from Messrs. Winship. October 4th. Exhibited.— RonvUle, Beurre Knox, Heathcot, and Buffain Pears; New York White Clingstone and Melacoton Peaches, from R. Man- ning, Esq., Salem. Fine Ca])iaumont Pears, from S. Downer. Pears from Messrs. Pond, Heard, and others. Reinette Baumann Ajiples, from William Kenrick. From Thomas Hastings, East Cambridge, a seedling Peach, very fine; (the committee named this iriiit Hastings Clingstone). Fine Peaches and Grajjcs, ti-om T. Lee, Esq., Brookline. Plums and Quinces, from S. Pond, Cambridgeport. Some new Pears, from the Hon. John Lowell. Presented. — Some specimens of Arrow Root, (Maranta arundinacea) brought from St. Helena, — where it is cultivated in great })erfection, — and presented to the Society by J. L. Russell, Esq., Professor of Botany. They were accom|)anied with a letter from Mr. Russell, from which we make the following extract : — "The value of this ])lant, as an article of medicine and of commerce, is well known. I am informed that successful attempts have heretofore been made in the Southern States, towards its cultivation. As to the particular species, which I present you, J camir>t decide, there being four used in Ma- teria Medica, and as articles of food ; suffice it to say, that, as to its quality, it is equal to the very best cultivated. I presume that by preserving the roots Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 33 through the whiter in a dry and warm place, and forcing it in the spring, the usual hot weather of our summers would be sufficient to produce a good crop. If this were (lone, the trouble would be no greater than we take for the sweet potato ; but as to real profit, taking into consideration the expense and time employed, an experiment can only decide. Its very great increase may be judged from the fact that at St. Helena, from two small tubers, were produced, in two seasons, twelve bushels fit for manufacturing the article technically called Arrow Root. October 11th. Exhibited. — Surpasse Virgalieu and Henri Quatre Pears; Boxford Apples and Franklin Golden Pippins, from R. Manning, Esq., Sa- lem. Capiaumont and Piatt's Bergamotte, from 3Ir. S. Downer. Henri Quatre, Beurre Colmar d'Automne, and B»urre d'Aremberg, from William Kenrick. Apples, from E. M. Richards. Late Peaches, from S. Walker. October 18th. Exhibited. — Fulton and Rushmore's Bon Chretien Pears, Harvey A|)ples, and Japan Quince (Cydonia japonica), from S. Pond. Or- pheline. Green Sugar and Beurr6 Rose Pears, trom R. Manning, Esq., Salem. October 25th. Exhibited. — Beurr6 Knox, (received from T. A. Knight, Esq.) and Marie Louise Pears, from the original tree received from Mr. Knight ; also, Nos. 4 and 10, as numbered by Mr. Knight in his last donation, (accompanied with a letter) from the Hon. John Lowell, Roxbury. Henri Quatre Pears, from William Kenrick. Beurre Diel, Bleeker's Meadow, and Urbaniste Pears, and Beauty of Kent Apples, from R. Manning, Esq., Salem. Beurre de Roi Pears, from J. Prince, Esq., Roxbury. Apples, fiom the Hon. John Welles. Ribstone Pippins and White Calville Apples. JVovember 1st. Exhibited. — Green Sugar and Moorfowl-egg Pears, (sup- posed identical, by the committee, with the Swanks-egg) from R. Manning, Esq., Salem. Bezy Vaet, Forelle, Lewis and Chaumoutelle Pears, from S. Downer. JVbvember 8th. Exhibited. — Pears, (from an imported French tree) by Mr. Ward, Roxbury. Apples, from L. P. Grosvenor, Esq. A new native Pear, by B. V. French, (which the committee called Wilbur's Late) from Fall River. JVovemAer 22d. Exhibited. — Passe Colmar, Doyenne Gris, Sabine, Pas- torale, Princesse d'Orange and Dutchess d'Angouleme Pears, (a fine specimen) from R. Manning, Esq., Salem. Two new varieties of Pears, received from T. A. Knight, Esq., presented by the Hon. John Lowell. Apples, from S. Pond. jYovember 29f/i. Exhibited. — Bezy Vaet Pears, by S. Downer. Moor'bwl- egg, by William Oliver, Esq. The Foxley Pear, from the second donation of Mr. Knight. Seven varieties of Apples, from William Kenrick, received from E. J. Ford, Esq., of Alna, Me. December 6th. Exhibited. — Passe Colmar and Lewis Pears, from E. Vose, Esq., Dorchester. The Passe Colmar were in a fine state of preservation, and were the finest specimens ever exhibited. Brown St. Germain, from William Oliver, Esq. December ISth. Exhibited. — A beautiful Apple, by Thomas Whitmarsh, Esq., Brookline (name unknown). This Apple was received by Mr. Whit» marsh from the garden of Mr. Andrews, Salem. 34* Quincy Market. Art. VL Quincy Market. lioots, Tubers, fyc. per barrel,., per bushel,, per barrel,.. ' per bushel,, per barrel,., per bushel,, per barrel,., per bushel,. Potatoes : Common, Chenangoes, Eaetport, Nova Scotia, Turnips : ^ I per barrel, Common, | ^^^ ^^^^^\ (washed) French, per bushel, { per barrel, Onions, ? per bushel, (per bunch, Beets, per bushel, Parsnips, per bushel, Carrots, per bushel, Salsify, per dozen, Radishes, per bunch, Horseradish, per pound, Garlic, per pound, Cabbages, Salads, ^c. Cabbages, per dozen beads : Red, Savoy, Drumhead, Brocoli, per head : White, Purple, Cauliflower, per head, Celery, per root, Lettuce, per head, Spinach, per peck, From To $cts. $ cts. 1 00 1 25 33 40 ] 25 1 50 37 50 2 00 225 60 80 1 25 1 50 40 50 75 1 00 40 50 50 1 37 1 50 70 80 4 5 70 80 70 80 40 50 25 37 none. 10 12 15 20 75 80 40 50 62 75 25 20 25 20 25 (i 10 6 10 33 37 Squashes and Pumpkins. Canada, per cwt Common crook-neck, ... . Lima, Pumpkins, each, Pot and Sweet Herbs. Parsley, Sage, Marjoram, Savory,.. Spearmint, Fruits. Apples : Baldwins, Pearmains, Russetts, per barrel, per bushel, per barrel, per bushel, per barrel, per bushel, N. Y. Pippins, per barrel,..., Pears : Iron white, for baking, per barrel, per bushel, Sweet baking, per bushel,. . . . , Old St. Germain, per dozen,,. (iuinces, per bushel, Cranberries, <" ,' , ! ' / per bushel, Grapes, foreign, per pound,. . . . , Pine Apples, each, , Oranges, per hundred, Lemons, per hundred, , Chestnuts, per bushel, , Walnuts, SP" barrel, ' I per bushel, Almonds, per pound, Filberts, per pound, Castana, per pound, From Sets. 1 75 1 2.1 3 50 25 3 00 1 50 3 00 1 50 2 75 1 50 3 00 4 00 1 75 1 50 75 4 00 G 00 2 12 50 20 3 00 4 50 1 52 13 6 4 To $ cts, 2 00 1 50 4 00 30 2 00 1 62 87 6 50 2 25 3 25 4 ti2 1 75 15 Remarks. — Potatoes have come in considerably plenty, and generally very good; the supplies from the eastward, this fall, have been uncommonly large, and still continue so. Tliose raised in the vicinity of Boston, not quite as good as in some seasons. Radishes have not yet come to hand. Lettuce has come in some, but not very plenty yet; the prices are, however, moderate. Brocoli and cauli- flower are very scarce, and much sought after; these delicious vegetables are now much more used than heretofore, and are likely to become universal favorites. Onions have come in abundantly, and in most excellent order; the prices are very low this season, though, for the last two or three they have been uncommonly high. Cabbages are very large and good. Turnips are very fine, and prices mod- erate; those washed and cleaned command higher prices. Squashes are poor, owing to the very early frosts, and consequently not ripened well ; the market has been supplied with them in great abundance, but they are now becoming quite scarce. Probably before spring, unless some imported ones are received, tliose remaining on hand will be in great demand. Apples are very scarce, and those fair and in fine order, much wanted. All kinds keep uncommonly well tliis sea- son, owing, undoubtedly to the moderate crop. Very few Pearmains in the mar- ket ; Greenings have been the most plentiful, and Russetts in considerable abun- dance. Pears for baking are tolerably plenty, but contmue to bring good prices. Choice varieties are very scarce : we observed a few very fine old St. Germains, which readily brought the prices named in our quotations. Chestnuts are in good demand, scarce, and are very high. Other kinds of nuts are very plenty. Boston, Dec. 20, 1834. M, T, MONTHLY CALENDER OF HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE, FOR JANUARY. We take great pleasure in being able to offer a few observations and re- marks, which we intend to continue every month, on such horticultural and floricultural memoranda, as may be of considerable value to the generality of our readers. We do not do this with the intention of extending the pages of the work, at the expense of excluding other matter, but because we think it will be found extremely interesting, and one of the most useful objects of our Magazine. It will remind the amateur or practical gardener, of some of the most important operations, which should be performed in every month in the year, in every garden where any considerable collection of fruits, flowers, or vegetables are grown. Very often, various ex|)eriments and operations, which the industrious gardener is looking forward with anxiety for the proper season to execute them, escape tlie memory ; especially if there happens to be an accumulation of labor. But if his eye glances over a calender, it would undoubtedly light upon some subject, which would immediately recal to mind something, which otherwise might have been forgotten, and a whole year lost, in waiting for the return of another season. During this month, nothing can be done in the garden, unless the weather be uncommonly mild ; preparations may, however, be made for the forcing of cucumbers, melons, asparagus, lettuces, radishes, &c., in such gardens and establishments as it is desired to have them very early. The time generally allowed, at this season of the year, for fruiting the cucumber, is from eight to ten weeks. If the seed-beds are made about the middle or end of this month, the fruit may be cut about the first of April. Radishes and lettuces come to perfection much earlier. The dung for cucumber beds should be collected in a heap, and, if the weather is very cold, should be covered on the north side with straw, leaves, corn-stalks or mats, so as to prevent the evaporation of heat, when it begins to ferment. When the whole becomes heated, (which maybe easily discovered by plunging a sharp stick into it, and then holding to the hand) it should be turned over, and layabout ten days, before it is made into the beds; this preparation is necessary to destroy the rank heat, which would be apt to burn the jdants. liCttuces in frames, must be kept clear of all rotten leaves, till removed to the beds in which they are to head. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. The beauties of the flower-garden sometimes, in favorable seasons, linger even into the "bosom of winter," and the last, fading, frost-bitten chrysanthe- mums seem unwilling to cease their efibrts, to expand their smitten flowers. Even from among the old haulm and stubble collected in the flower-border, as late as this month, may be seen the pansy, peeping out its head, in its gay colors, defying even the rigor of our stern winters; but the cold and north- erly blasts exhaust and overpower the efforts of the vegetable world, and they remain dorraant, until the return of vernal spring. 36 Monthly Calender. In gardens where there are green-houses and frames, they will require, during this monfh, considerable attention. Fires should be made in the green-house during all damp, as well as cold weather ; plants often suffer more from dampness, than from frost. The plants in frames should be kept very dry, as this will aid them much in standing the winter. All decayed or yellow leaves should he picked from the plants, to give them a clean and liealtliy appearance. Air should be given every favorable opportunity, for long confinement to an impure atmosphere is extremely injurious. Ranuncxdus, Auricula, and Polyanthos seed should be sown the latter end of this month, and placed in the front part of the green-house. Cuttiiigs of many species of green-house plants, may now be successfully put in. Georginas may be potted and placed in a warm situation, to forward them so as to flower early. Mignonette and Ten-ioeek Stock may be sown in pots, about the latter end of this month, and placed in a warm part of the green-house, or in a hot-bed ; care should be taken, when they are up, that they are not injured by too much moisture, causing them to decay off. The mignonette should be sown in a light, sandy soil, and the stocks in any rather rich mould. Schizanilms seed, of the different varieties, should be now sown, if wanted to flower early. There are five or six varieties, in the English nurseries, of great beauty; two of which, only, we have ever observed in our gardens. These are, the Schizanthus pinnatus and S. porrigens: they are rather difficult of cultivation in pots, being rather impatient of too much heat or moisture ; and often, very suddenly, when in full bloom, die off, by decay, at the base of the stem. No plant will, however, more amply repay all the care and trouble that may be bestowed on them, than the elegant genus Schizanthus. The best soil for them is loam, and leaf mould, with a small portion of sand. They should be repotted, as often as the pots are filled with roots, till they come into full flower. We observed, in the elegant new conservatory lately erected by J. P. Gushing, Esq., Watertown, under the care of his most intelligent gardener, some plants in bloom, about the middle of last month, on which we numbered at least _^i;e ^imrfret? flowers ; some of the spikes were fifteen inches in length, and profusely covered from the top to bottom. PLANTS IN BLOOM THIS MONTH. In the green-house, during the month of January, there are not many plants to be seen in bloom : those, however, which are the most beautiful, and contribute to its decoration, are the Camellia japonica and its numerous varieties. In the different gardens and nurseries, the following will be in flower: — Camellia ja[)6nica, C. alba plena, C. anemoneflora, C. anemoneflora alba, C. dianthiflora, C. pensillata, C. fimbriata, C piEoniflora, C. variegata, C. rubro plena, and other choice kinds : Primula praenitens, alba and purpurea : Daphne odora : Salvia splendens, fulgens and mexicana : difierent species and varie- ties of Oxalis, Roses, Stocks, &c. &c. THE AMERICAN GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. FEBRUARY, 1835. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Observations on the Cultivation and Management of tTie Grape Vine in Pots. By the Conductors. During the last three or four years, the cuhivation of the vine in pots has attracted considerable attention among the English horticul- turists. Much has been written upon the subject, by some of their best practical and scientific gardeners — various methods and experi- ments pursued — different systems adopted — and repeated trials made, to ascertain to what extent it can be followed with benefit and suc- cess. Some have asserted that the practice will almost preclude the necessity of the simpler and more common modes of growing the vine in an estabhshed grapery. Others, that not much reliance can be placed upon this plan of cultivation, for a good crop, and that, if pursued, it will only end in disappointment. Some, again, have been so sanguine of the superiority of pot culture, over all other methods, that they have, with great zeal and enthusiasm, maintained that grapes in greater abundance, and of richer flavor, can be produced from vines thus treated, than from those established in the border. Others have given much attention to this method, and have only been enabled to raise a very few bunches — the grapes of small size, inferior flavor, without color, and altogether unfit for the use of the table. Whatever may have been the causes which have led to the above results, (the success of one, and the disappointment of the other) we are not enabled to say; but that such has been the effect of the practice, we may infer from reading the communications which have appeared in the English gardening magazines. As regards the ex- tent to which the cultivation of the vine in pots may be carried, and the great benefits which may result from pursuing the practice, VOL. I. NO. II. F 38 Culture of the Vine in Pots. we are not yet fully aware; repeated experiments will only decide this. It certainly will never take the place of the old method of cultivating and raising the vine in borders, either as a saving of room, expense, or for procuring a more abundant and richer crop. The vine naturally loves a deep, rich, nourishing soil, and its strong and very rapid growth requires that its roots should not be confined to the small space of earth contained in a common garden flower-pot. But as a source of facilitating and accelerating the ripening of the fruit — as affording a means by which grapes may be produced from a mere cutting, in the very short space of eighteen months — as offering a substitute for standard vines, in a green-house or grapery, which it may not be desirable to fruit till they have acquired strength and size, and thus saving a loss of time to the cultivator — and, especially, as being within the power of any one who has not a proper or suitable place for raising grapes by the common methods — we think that the system will be of much utility ; and, if their management is per- fectly understood, it will afford to the gentleman, the amateur, or the practical gardener, a pleasing source of gratification and delight, in thus producing this most refreshing and delicious fruit. For what can be more beautiful, or more convenient, and above all, more agree- able to our friends or ourselves, than to place upon our tables a vine loaded with its rich and blushing fruit, to be plucked fresh from the branch, while growing in its full vigor, luxuriance and health. The vine has been cultivated in pots for many years, and the method was adopted by some of the first writers and practitioners. Nicol mentions it, in his Calender, very particularly ; Abercrombie and others recommend the trial ; but we find very little information, as respects the practice, till the experiment was pursued with the energy and zeal of the philosophical president of the London Horti- cultural Society. In a paper, upon early forcing, read before the Society, in June, 1817, and published in their Transactions (Vol. II. p. 369 — 373), we find the following statement: — "A pot containing two cubic feet of very rich mould, with proper subsequent attention, is fully adequate to nourish a vine, which, after being pruned in au- tumn, occupies twenty square feet of the roof of the hot-house ; and I have constantly found that vines, in such pots, being abundantly supplied with food and water, have produced more vigorous wood, when forced very early, than those of the same varieties, whose roots were permitted to extend beyond the limits of the house." Mr. Knight does not state how large a crop of grapes such a vine would bear, thus treated ; and we may infer, that, as no other communica- tion on the subject has appeared, the method was not extensively practised by him. Since tliat time, however, many have attempted this method of cultivation ; and among others, who have been very successful, are Mr. Buck, Mr. Stafford, and Mr. Mearns. The two latter gentle- men have written much upon the subject, in Paxton's Horticultural Culture of the Vine in Pots. 39 Register, and the accounts of their very excellent management have attracted the attention of many amateurs and gardeners, who have added their experience to the practice. The late discovery of Mr. Mearns, called the coiling system, which was read before the London Horticultural Society, and also communicated as above, and in Lou- don's Magazine, has revived attention to the subject. Various exper- iments will be tried, the coming spring, in this vicinity, of the prac- ticability of the method. We are acquainted with several gentlemen, eminent in horticulture, who have already coiled their vines in the pots, and are only waiting the return of the proper season, to proceed with the system. The results of their experiments, together with those which we shall make, we hope to have the pleasure of com- municating in our Magazine, the ensuing season. We have copied two of Mr. Mearns' communications, for the use of our readers, who may wish to make a trial of his method. They will be found under the head of Reviews, in the present number. We may be allowed, before we proceed to give the particulars of the cultivation of the vine in pots, as practised by us the last season, to make a few remarks in regard to the difference of the two systems, and to compare their value. The great advantages of coiling vines, are stated by Mr. Mearns to be, the extraordinary space of time gained over the single eye system, and also to be founded on the principle, that the greater number of feeders or fibrous roots that are produced, the more vigorous and fruitful will be the growth of the plant. This principle we know to be founded on a law of nature, but how far it can be applied, in all cases, is to be determined. The transplanting of trees, shrubs, and vegetables, proceeds from the de- sire to increase the fibrous roots, check rapid growth, and induce fruitfulness ; and hence we see, that any plant, were it to remain in one situation, from its first springing from the seed, or layer, or cut- ting, that its age of maturity would be proportionably slow, to one which had been frequently transplanted. But there must be some- thing to bring into action this vegetative principle: a plant removed with its leaves or buds ready to expand, contains within itself sufficient nourishment to produce and support roots; but it is only by artificial means that grape cuttings can be made to produce roots in sufficient quantity to nourish a crop of fruit, the first season of their growth ; and this, probably, will not be accomplished, unless they are kept continually excited. The vines, when coiled, must be put in large pots, and plunged in a strong bottom heat, which will occupy much room, and the top of the branch will require to be wrapped up in moss, and always kept moist ; this will be a constant source of care and perplexity to the gardener, who must give his whole attention till the grapes are set. With the method of propagating from single eyes, it is unnecessary to mention, without being too expli::it, but a few of the advantages it has, in our opinion, over that of coiling. In the first place, a com- ^ Culture of the Vine in Pots. mon hot-bed is all the bottom heat that will be required ; secondly, they will require but little care, compared with the above method ; thirdly, they will make as strong vines as can be wished, the first season — some of ours being half an inch in diameter ; fourthly, they have produced, with us, more grapes than has been obtained (as has been stated), by the coiling system ; and lastly, they require much less expense, and by judicious management, grapes may be produced almost every month in the year. The conductor of the Gardener's Magazine (J. C, Loudon, Esq.), in a late visit through the northern parts of England, has noticed, among other things, the cultivation of the grape in pots, as practised at the Earl of Caernarvon's. The vines were raised fi-om eyes, and treated precisely in the same manner we have adopted ; and from seventy pots were produced four hundred and fifty pounds of grapes ; the vines were only eighteen months from the eye. " This," says the conductor, " may be considered as the extraordinary result of ex- traordinary skill, attention and perseverance." We merely mention this to show that we have been as successful in our practice as some of the English gardeners; having raised from twenty-five to thirty bunches of grapes, which would average nearly half a pound each, on one vine. The particulars of cultivation, which we have pursued, are made from memoranda taken during the time of their growth, from the first insertion of the eye in the soil, to the ripening of the fruit. March 9th, 1833. — Shoots of the Black Hamburgh and White Chasselas grapes were selected, and formed into cuttings of single eyes or buds ; this operation was performed by cutting off the wood in a sloping direction, one inch above the eye or bud, and two inches below. By this method of raising vines from single eyes, they pro- duce a greater number of fibrous roots, which enables them to absorb an abundant supply of nourishment from the soil, and their growth becomes proportionably vigorous and strong. It is of importance, in selecting shoots for the purpose of forming the cuttings, to make choice of wood that is well ripened, short-jointed, sound, and with very little pith; such w'ood is more likely to be obtained from the middle or lower parts of branches of healthy vines, than near the ex- tremities. After the cuttings were prepared, pots of three or four inches di- ameter were filled with a mixture of one third light sandy loam, and two thirds leaf soil, in which the cuttings were inserted in a slanting position, and each eye covered about half an inch in depth, finishing off with a gentle watering, and the pots plunged to their rims in a moderate hot-bed. At the commencement, strict attention was paid to the heat of the bed, as it frequently happens, if the heat is too powerful, the eyes will shoot up before any roots have protruded, and are very liable to Culture of the Vine in Pots. 41 be destroyed, either by a powerful sunshine, or from too damp an atmosphere. The cuttings were watered very sparingly until the buds appeared above the surface of the soil ; air was freely admitted during the day, and the bed covered at night, in order to preserve an equal temper- ature as possible. March 24, — being fifteen days from the time the cuttings were put in the pots, they made their appearance above tiie surface, were shaded from the sun during the middle of the day, until they were well furnished with roots and the leaves began to expand ; water was then regularly supplied, and plenty of air allowed, to prevent them from being drawn up weak. By the 9th of May the vines had grown to the height of from eight to twelv'e inches, and were shifted into pots of six inches in diameter, making use of th.e same kind of soil as the cuttings were put in, at the commencement. In repotting such young vines, they should be handled with great care, as the points of the roots, or spon- gioles, are exceedingly tender, and susceptible of injury ; the leading shoots should also be carefully protected, and all laterals removed as soon as they appear. The success depends much upon keeping up the temperature of the bed, which should rather increase than de- crease as the vines acquire strength ; and, as the least check is very injurious in this early stage of their growth, should the heat begin to decline, it must be renewed by linings ; for it is an essential point, that they be continually kept in a vigorous and rapidly growing state, the object in view being to produce one strong shoot for bearing fruit the following year. June '2oth, — the vines were from two to three feet in height, and were again repotted into pots fourteen inches in diameter, and fifteen inches in depth ; the soil used, was composed of equal parts of light loam and leaf soil, with the addition of about an eighth part of the whole of very rotten manure. After potting they were removed into the green-house, and placed over the front flue; the shoots were trained upward in a direction corresponding with the slope of the roof, and ten inches from the glass ; water was supplied frequently, and occasionally hquid manure, till the wood began to ripen; all lat- eral shoots were stopped just above the first bud, which bud, was re- tained to prevent the main eyes from starting prematurel\'. July 21th, — the vines had attained the length of six feet; and, as a sufficient length of wood was now obtained, each shoot was stopped, by pinching off the point ; this caused one or two of the uppermost eyes to start, and these were also stopped when they had grown two or three joints. By thus continually stopping the upper laterals, as often as they were produced, the rapid flow of sap upward was checked, and the shoots acquired greater strength and size. When the wood had become perfectly ripened, each vine was cut to the length of five feet, and all the laterals, which had been suffered ta 42 Culture of the Vine in Pots. grow (luring summer in order to preserve tlie main eyes, were cut in close, leaving a straight, clean shoot. In November, the vines were placed under the stage of the green- house, where they remained till the first week in March following, and were then placed in their former situation. March I5th, 1834, — the buds began to open, and by the 30th, the fruit-buds were distinctly visible ; two to four bunches appearing from every eye, with the exception of two or three of the lowest. When the fruit was fairly developed, the shoots were stopped at the second bud above the upper bunch ; and one bunch only was retained on eacli shoot, with the exception of two vines ; on these, two bunches to each shoot were allowed to remain, for the purpose of ascertaining more fully, to what extent vines in pots could support and ripen a crop of fruit. The two last mentioned vines were Black Ham- burghs. One of them produced twenty-eight, and the other thirty bunches; but it ultimately proved to be too large a number for them to ripen perfectly. Water was plentifully supplied, as often as the surface of the soil in the pots became dry, and the foliage was syr- inged frequently. No other care was necessary throughout the season, than occasionally to tie up the bearing shoots, to prevent them from being broken by the weight of the fruit. Five of the vines, viz. three White Chasselas and two Hamburghs, produced from eighteen to twenty-five bunches each, or one hundred and six collectively ; and on the 30th of July, the Chasselas grapes were perfectly ripe; the Hamburghs had changed color, but did not arrive at maturity till about the 25th of August. Although from fourteen to twenty bunches are considered by the English cultivators as a good crop for one vine, yet, from the experience which we have had, thus far, in the culture of vines in pots, we have no doubt but that thirty bunches and upwards, of the small growing kinds, as the Sweetwater, Muscadine, &ic., may be obtained from each vine, equal in excellence to those grown by any other method. Mr. Stafford, one of the most successful cultivators, says, that all the most delicate sorts are superior, when grown in pots, to any he ever saw grown on the rafters ; and he further states, that he has often proved, that a pot placed in the house, on the 1st of January, and the same species trained up the rafter, and subjected to the same heat, — the former will ripen its fruit at least a month earlier than the latter. The annexed plan is one we would suggest to those who wish to erect a small house, which would answer the purpose of growing grapes in pots without great expense. Fig. 1, is a section of the house, which is ten feet in diameter, eight feet high at the back, and four feet in front ; it is sunk two feet under the surface of the ground, as at {a a), if the situation is dry — otherwise it should be on a level ; (b) is a flue which may commence at either end of the house, as convenient, and should be carried across the end, along the front, and out at the back ; (c) is a pit in Cuhure of the Vine in Pots. 43 I the centre, which may be used for many purposes; such as raising lettuces, radishes, &:c., or for starting annual flowers, early cabbae:es, cauliflowers, &ic., to be transplanted out in the garden; as it will not be shaded till the vines have made considerable growth; or vines on the coiling system, which will require bottom heat to grow them, might be plunged. The pit is intended to be filled with leaves mixed with manure, or with leaves alone, as £i at (f/). The back and ends . <^ may be made of common boards, ^ placed eight inches apart, filled in between the two, with leaves^ hay, sea-weed, or dry tan (e e); the front may be of thick four inch plank. (/) is a shelf, on the back, four feet from the bottom; it should be about fourteen inches wide, and made very strong; on this and the flue, all round, should be placed the pots of vines; those on the flue to be trained up half way the roof of the house, and those on the back shelf to be trained down to meet them, at the same slope of the glass, at the dis- , tance of ten inches. The trellis may be made of wire or of wood. Fig. 2, is the ground pjlan. Such a house is not intended for forcing in January or Febru- ary; as it would require more length of flue, and fires to be continually kept burning, which would be attended with consid- erable expense and attention. One could, how^ever, easily be made for the purpose. In this house it is supposed that, if the vines commenced growins about the first of March, ripe fruit would be obtained from the first of August to the middle of Sep- ! I I I I I 10 feet 44 Future Progress of Gardening in America. tember, accordino; to the earliness or lateness of the variety. If the lower sashes are covered during night, with mats or hay, in March, very little fire would be required to keep up the requisite temper- ature, which should not be on an average, more than fifty-five de- grees the first fifteen or twenty days. The expense of erecting such a house would not be great, and it would contain about fifty pots of vines, which would ripen at least, three hundred pounds of grapes. AiiT. II. On the future Progress of Gardening in America. By Grant Thorburn, Esq., of New York. The improvement of gardening, like that of every art or com- modity, necessarily depends on demand and production; these causes operate reciprocally on each other. A nicety of taste in the pur- chase of vegetables and fruits, exposed in our public markets, will occasion articles of better quality being brought there ; and articles of a superior quality, by improving and rendering more fastidious the taste of the purchaser, will ensure the continuance of their produc- tion. In like manner, if those who have private gardens, were a little more difficult to please, in selecting a gardener, and in the quality of the produce sent to table, the consequence would be, an improvement in that produce, and more scientific gardeners; and thus, the more scientific gardeners would surprise and delight, by their superior fruits and flowers, and the greater order, beauty, and high keeping of their gardens; and the habits of both parties, accom- modating themselves to this improved state of things, would be the ground on which to rely for its continuance. In this view of the subject, the future progress of gardening depends on two causes, viz. the improvement of the taste of the patrons of gardening, and the improvement of the science and art of practical gardeners. Improvement is the characteristic of civilized man, and implies progressive advances. Men rest satisfied with what they have, w hen they know of nothing better; and, therefore, one of the first sources of improvement, in the taste of the patrons of gardening, — whether of the tradesman, who has recourse to the public market, or the pri- vate gentleman, who is in possession of a garden, — is the increase of knowledge. The wealthy tradesmen of our villages should look into the markets of Boston, New York, and Philadelphia; and, not to mention fruits and forced or exotic productions, let them compare the cauliflowers and salading of the three markets. Those who have once acquired a taste for such salads of endive, as are sold in said markets throughout the winter, would hardly content themselves with barely a supply of turnips and potatoes only. Future Progress of Gardening in America. 45 The ignorance of the proper mode of cooking vegetables, and especially of dressing salads, which exists among the middling classes, is another retarding cause. A French laborer, out of a few leaves of dandelion and wild sorrel, — which may be gathered by the hedge- sides, any where, and almost at any time, — will produce, merely by the aid of the common condiments, what the wives of the greater number of respectable American farmers and tradesmen have no idea of. There can be no great demand for a thing, of which the use is not thoroughly understood ; and, therefore, an improvement in the knowledge and practice of cooking must take place, among a certain class, before much can be expected in the quantity, kind, or quality of the gardening articles which they commonly consume. Yours, Grant Thorbukn. Hallefs Cove, Long Island, Dec. 23, 1834. The above communication from Mr. Thorburn, is the first of a series which he intends to furnish us, as his leisure permits. We are sure they will not be the least interesting portion of our original contributions. The subject which Mr. Thorburn has touched upon, is one of much importance, and one which requires more attention than many are aware of. It is, as he observes, that the rise and progress of gardening necessarily depend upon the improvements and discoveries which are made in cooking the various articles, which are the production of a good garden. The art of cooking vegetables must certainly take precedence of the in- troduction ot them into our markets, to any degree of plenty ; for until the wants of the public call for them, there is no sale for any new or rare varieties, however useful in the culinary department. We presume, that as long as Mr. Thorburn has been acquainted and concerned in the business of the seedsman, he has had the pleasure, among others, to introduce some of the most excellent vegetables which are to be found in our gardens. We cannot recal to mind all the kinds which have been brought to notice within a few years,but we would mention one or two, to substantiate his remarks. The tomato, or love-apple, (Lycopersicum esculentum), was, for two or three years, found in our markets in abundance, and could be procured at almost any price, even in the early part of the season. But few knew the method of cooking them so successfully as to be made one of the finest sauces which can be produced from the garden. From these few, however, the know- ledge of their value became generally known, and the desire to procure them con- sequently increased; till now, they are not to be had, in tlie first part of the season, in our markets, only at a higli price ; and well repaying the gardener for his trouble in growing them throughout the whole summer. The cauliflower and broccoli, and especially the salsify, or vegetable oyster, (Tragopogon porrifolius), and egg-plant (Solanum ovigerum), are not held so much in esteem as they de- serve to be ; the last, particularly, being one of the richest vegetables (we might almost say fruits) we have ever tasted. They are easy of cultivation, and may be raised with almost as much facility as the tomato ; and when the proper manner of cooking them, so as to render them agreeable and palatable to the taste, shall become as generally known as that of the tomato, they will be one of the first veg- etables sought after in our markets. The salsify is also a fine vegetable, being much superior to the parsnip, which it will probably, some time take the place of. Broccoli and cauliflowers have been rather plentiful in our markets till lately ; but now, the art of cooking them properly having been acquired, there is not a suf- ficient quantity to supply the market. This is owing to a better acqtiaintance with the methods of dressing vegetables for the table, which has created a desire for nicer and more excellent productions. In proportion as the culinary art becomes more complete, choice things will be de.sired, and the productions of the market garden will be greatly improved, in striving to supply the wants of a more refined and discriminating comnmnity. — Conds. VOL. I. NO. II. G 46 Propagation of the Grape Vine. Art. III. On the Propagation of the Grape Vine; with Observa- tions on its Management, Pruning, S^^e., in the Green-hojise and Grapery, and the Formation of Vine Borders. By J. W. Russell. Ever since the introduction of the grape into Great Britain, it has been highly esteemed, and extensively cultivated. Large vineyards were formerly existing in many places, and wine equal to that of Burgundy, was prepared from grapes growing in the unfavorable climate of England. Its first introduction into the forcing depart- ment, was about the commencement of the eighteenth century ; and this was done by fires, kept burning in hollow walls, upon which the vines were trained. Since this period, houses for its cultivation alone have been erected, and scarcely a garden can be called complete, unless grapes are one of its principal productions; and it has at once been the pride and boast of the English gardener, to raise to perfec- tion this excellent fruit. Various methods and plans have been sug- gested, for the proper construction of houses to facilitate their culti- vation; and numberless opinions advanced, in regard to propagation, pruning, training and management: but perhaps, after all, not so much depends upon any one method of proceeding, as upon the knowledge of the management of an artificial climate. As the grape vine is now becoming extensively grown, in green-houses and graperies, in this country, and as some observations to aid its success- ful cultivation may be useful to your readers, I here offer such prac- tical remarks as are the results of a method I have pursued, with scarcely an instance of disappointment. The vine is propagated from a single eye (or bud) with two or three inches of the preceding year's wood ; this method I prefer to any other as yet known by me, for the following reasons: they pro- duce more abundant roots, — grow shorter jointed, — and will, if judi- ciously treated, come into bearing the second year. Those who wish to propagate the vine from eyes, must prepare for making a hot- bed to forward their growth : I should recommend the bed to be made about the first week in April, rather than earlier in the season ; nothing is gained by beginning sooner, as there will be more difficul- ties to contend with, and the vine, when checked in its infancy, rarely, if ever recovers. An equal portion of oak leaves and stable manure, well blended together, makes the best hot-bed; if oak leaves cannot be obtained, any hard-wood leaves will answer as a substitute. It would forward the work, by mixing the compost intended to make the bed of, a week or ten days before it is wanted for use, into a round heap in some sheltered place. If the ground is level where the bed is to be made, I should recommend as a preventive against water after heavy rains chilling it through, brush-wood or the prun- ings of trees, laid about a foot in depth, which will remedy the evil. Take the dimensions of the frame proposed to be used, and measure Propagation of tht Grape Vine. 47 the ground about eighteen inches larger than the frame, driving a stake down at each corner, as a guide to go by ; adjust the brush- wood accordingly, and commence making the bed, shaking the whole of the manure well together, and beating it pretty solid with the fork as you advance ; being mindful to build the bed up square with the stakes, to the height of two and a half, or three feet: this done, place the frame on the bed, and shut up close for a few days until the heat rises; then give a httle air, by tilting up the light a few inches at the back, to let the steam escape. By thrusting a stick or two down in the centre of the bed, it will enable you to ascertain the heat, by taking them out at intervals, and examining them; or, it will be immediately perceived when the rank heat has escaped, by no steam arising from the bed. The bed should be now covered over, three or four inches deep with soil, still keeping the sticks in the bed, as a guide; as it is neces- sary for the well-doing of the eyes, to be certain that the burning heat is over, before plunging the pots : the strong heat starts the eyes before any roots are protruded, and they frequently will advance in growth, from an inch to two inches, before the roots are formed. When this is the case, it is a hundred to one against them, if they start thus prematurely : as soon as air is given, the plants that appa- rently looked so flourishing, wilt down, to rise no more ; this is what is generally called damping off. The above items, as regards the temperature of the bed, are equally applicable to the forcing of cucumbers and melons. It will now be time to begin to prepare the eyes (or buds); this done, select some compost of light vegetable mould, and have at hand as many pots of the first and second size, as there are buds : it will be found to be far the best plan to plant only one eye in a pot, cov- ering it with the mould, about an inch ; giving them when finished, a gentle watering with a water-pot, through a fine rose. Now begin to plunge the pots down to the rim, in regular order, being careful to keep them as near level as possible ; attention must be paid to watering, so as to keep the soil in the pots moist. Too much moisture, or too much drought is equally injurious ; the cultivator must take into consideration the two extremes, and en- deavor to aA'oid them, to be successful. It will, perhaps, be neces- sary in a fortnight after plunging the pots in the frame (or less time, as it depends greatly upon the weather) to add more heat to the bed ; this must be done by lining it all round, with a similar mixture of manure and leaves, as the bed was made of If leaves cannot be easily obtained, stable manure alone, will answer the purpose. Take off the manure from the sides of the bed, all round, with a sharp spade, as close as possible, and be careful to leave the frame secure; then commence lining the beds, mixing the manure that is taken from the sides with that which is supposed to be in readiness : then begin to place the lining, about two feet in width, all round the 48 Propagation of the Grape Vine. frame, beating it well with the fork as you go on, whilst the manure is brought half way up the sides and ends ; then finish off with some long coarse stable litter, or leaves alone, to the level with the top of the frame, leaving no part of it in sight but the sashes. When the plants make their appearance, care must be taken not to neglect giving air, every day, when the weather will admit of it ; if it should so happen that the wind is sharp and piercing, and at the same time a fine, bright sun-shine, air must be given, either at the front or back of the frame, making use of a single or double bass mat laid over that part where air is given; this will be a means of check- ing the cold air, meliorating it in some measure, and rendering it more congenial to the growth of the young plants. Covering up the whole surface of the frame with double bass mats, every night after the plants make their appearance, must also be attended to, as long as the nights are cold; covering up when the sun leaves the frame at night, and uncovering when the sun shines on it again in the morn- ing. Some days will be dull and cloudy, with no sun-shine ; never- theless, the frame must be uncovered at the regular time in the morning, as it would be very injurious to the plants to keep them shaded over, during the day ; for light is indispensably necessary to their well doing. When the plants are four or five inches high, they should be repotted, into pots of the fourth size (about seven inches in diameter). A similar compost recommended for the eyes will answer ; and care must be taken when the plants are turned out of the pots, to keep the ball entire. Take off the frame from the bed, and also the soil, and fork it up, and level it; then put on the frame, and also the soil on the surface, plunge the pots down to the rim, and give them a gentle watering. The plants should be shaded from the hot rays of the sun, for a few days after repotting, viz. — from about ten in the morning, to two or three in the afternoon. In about a week, the plants will, if well managed, begin to grow freely ; give a copious supply of air every day, or the plants will grow weak, and of course be much injured ; a little manure water, three or four times a week will make them grow luxuriantly. If the plants begin to touch the sashes, the frame must be raised, to allow them to extend their growth, by propping it up with a few blocks of wood. About the second week in June, the plants should be repotted again, for the last time, into pots of the sixth size, and plunged out in the open air, under a south fence or wall ; the pots to be mulched over with some old hot-bed manure, and a stake placed to each plant, about eight feet high, to secure the plants to, as they proceed in their growth. Yours, J. W. Russell. Mount Auburn, Cambridge, Dec. 27, 1834. (To be Continued.) Dirfjiculty of identifying Varieties of Fruit. 49 Art. IV. Some, Remarks on the Difficnltij of identifying the Vari- eties of Fruits. By 11. Manning, Esq. In examining the different pomological autliorities, for the purpose of identifying our fruits, we immediately perceive that their descrip- tions are so much at variance, that it is impossible to reconcile the different names and synonimes with each other. The writers of these descriptions, indeed, have in most cases seen only the fruits, sent to them, perhaps from a distance, and by persons unacquainted with pomology : whereas, no one should attempt a description, with- out having seen the bearing trees, and critically examined the leaf, the wood, and the peculiar growth of each tree. The French, the German, and the English languages are enriched with many books on fruits, some of them of high excellence. For deep research, and accuracy of observation, the old edition of Duha- mel is certainly unrivalled among French works on this subject ; and by all who have bestowed an}- attention upon horticulture, has inva- riably been acknowledged as the standard authority. But it is sup- posed that many of the fruits described by Duhamel, differ from those of Germany and of the old English authors. A new edition of Duhamel, which should include all the latter acquisitions to this de- lightful science, was therefore anticipated with much gratification by the lovers of pomology. I fear that their hopes have been, in some measure, disappointed. The new edition (which is in the possession of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society) is certainly a superb work in external appearance, and especially superb in price. It is elegantly printed, and the figures are executed with great splen- dor. But I regret to observe, that in many instances, the editors have deviated from the first edition, to which, on the contrary, they should have strictly adhered, except in the case of fruits which have been brought into notice since its publication. The high and long established character of the original work, should have preserved it sacred from all interpolations, or supposed amendments, however specious. The new fruits should have been added separately ; and in describing them, as well as the wood, the leaves, &;c., the editors should have emulated the critical accuracy and precision of the great author, whose labors they were endeavoring to render more exten- sively useful to the modern public. But so far is this from being the case, that many of the fruits appear to have been sent from distant departments, and are sometimes described, and the names affixed, by those who sent them ; and sometimes, being deemed by the editors other and distinct varieties, have received new names. This is the more surprising, as no one is ignorant of the bewildering variety of shapes and colors frequently assumed by the same fruit, in different soils and expositions. By a little caution, all these errors might have been avoided ; but caution seems to be no attribute of the French 50 Difficulty of idcntifijing Varieties oj Fruits. character; and they seldom bestow a thought upon the mere avoid- ance of error, when their inventive genius can be gratified with nov- elty, though only in a name. Compared with the same set of men in England, the French nur- serymen and growers of fruit appear but inipeifectly acquainted with horticulture, as a science ; and they have, besides, been guilty of great negligence, in sending trees to this country ; it is not too much to say, that three fourths of all we have received, have come to us under wrong names, though generally ordered as specimen trees. The consequences of these errors have been extremely annoying and vex- atious, and are quite sufficient to account for the frequent failure of our own nurserymen to afford satisfaction. Innumerable instances of this nature have been reported, but 1 will only mention two. Eight specimen trees were ordered, each one of which was to be a distinct sort, by name ; and in name, it is true, tliey were distinct ; but the fruit of each, when it appeared, proved to be the old and well known St. Michael. The writer of this, among many other trees from France, has seven of the same worthless pear, all of which were marked, when received, as distinct varieties. Propagating from trees thus received, without a suspicion of their being other than genuine, is it wonderful or censurable that our nurserymen should fall into occasional errors? But let our experience teach us a salutary dis- trust of new and high-sounding appellations; embellishments consid- ered by our French friends doubly essential to fruits, which have nothing else to recommend them. The superiority of the Englisli nurserymen, arises in a great meas- ure, from the impulse imparted by their horticultural society. This society was established many years since, with a view, among other important objects, to correct the nomenclature of their fruits, and to test their different qualities. For this purpose, an immense collection has been formed, comprising all the different varieties of fruits, from €very part of the world : specimen trees of each sort have been planted out, and descriptions given only from an accurate examina- tion of the ripe fruit. This society has been greatly instrumental in diffjsing correct ideas upon this subject, and in giving to pomological information a precision and method which it had not hitherto pos- sessed. The associated exertions of its members, have naturally ■effected much more than the solitary labors of preceding writers. Mr. Robert Thompson, the head gardener of the fruit department, in the garden of this society, having studied the French, the German, and other languages, in order to make himself acquainted with every book of merit relating to his profession ; and having, besides, the ad- vantage of so vast a collection of trees, as a field of comparison and research, may reasonably be supposed to have accumulated propor- tionate treasures of pomological knowledge ; — to surpass, not any, but all other individuals in these attainments. Now, precisely what we have long wanted, is supplied to us by the Catalogues of the Difficulty of iclentifying Varieties of Fruits. 51 London Horticultural Society : they constitute a standard work for reference ; a complete text-book, wliich, beginning in the only way to insure correctness, and continuing with the extension of knowledge, may be consulted w-ith perfect confidence by the growers of fruits. In this publication (the second edition of which appeared in 1831, and of which a volume for 1835 is understood now to be preparing for the press), all the varieties of fruits are described in columns, as fast as the fruit is proved. The first-rate fruits are already numerous enough for any nursery catalogue ; and, if w'e add those of second- rate merit, some of which, in our climate, have already proved very fine, it will afford a collection adequate to the wants of any part of our country. I would, therefore, propose that every nurseiyman, who has in view the reputation of his garden, and the satisfaction of his patrons, should correct his catalogue by that of Mr. Robert Thompson. Grafts, of every different variety, are sent by this gen- tleman, with the most praiseworthy liberality, to all who apply. Let our nurserymen procure these grafts, and establish a specimen tree of each sort; by this simple method, we shall escaj)e all danger of mistake. In our exhibitions of fruits, instead of a wearisome enu- meration of authorities, — instead of saying, this is the apple or the pear described by the old or the new Duhamel, by Cox, or any other author, it will be sufficient to say, this is the fruit, the grafts of which were received from the London Horticultural Society, and which is described in their catalogue, under its proper number : for so vexatious are the errors, no doubt unintentionally committed, that it has become absolutely necessary for the purchasers of trees to ascertain the source from which the original scion was obtained, — to institute an inquiry into the pedigree of the tree. The new fruits,, which have originated in this country, can be obtained at most of the nurseries, true to their names. The mistakes of which we complain are in the collections of European fruits; and have arisen, not from any neglect of our own, but from that of the European gardeners, from whom we have procured our specimen trees. If we should disregard all other authorities, and adopt the catalogues of the Lon- don Horticultural Society as our sole standard, any person desirous of making a collection of fruits, would do it with perfect confidence that his trees would be not only true, but precisely the same which are known and cultivated in Europe, under the same names by which he receives them ; and the same fruit would no longer be distinguished by one name in New England, by a second in New York, and by a third in Pennsylvania. R. Manning. Salem, Jan. lOth, 1835. 52 Destruction of Insects. Art. V. Observations on some of the Inserts which infest Trees and Plants ; with Hints on a Method of their Destruction. By B. Hale Ives. Natural History, and particularly that branch of it relating to the insect world is so closely allied to horticulture and rural affairs, that your Magazine would be considered incomplete, and not true to its title, did it not occasionally treat on the benefits or inconveniences we experience from these minute, yet important animals in the econ- omy of nature. During the three past years, I have paid some little attention to the science of entomology, and studied the habits and economy of many of these little "pilgrims of summer;" more particularly those which are the bane of the fruit and flower garden, and on which man places his foot without compunction. All must be familiar with the common garden caterpillar, and the injury done by it to our fruit trees ; yet few are aware that it is in their power to annihilate them, and with little labor, even in the dreary months of winter. Many plans have been suggested and put in execution, for the destruction of the worms after they have left the egg and commenced their ravages. They are then brought into no- tice by a web-like covering, which they spin in a fork of the trees, to protect them from rains, and the dews of night. The most efficient plan yet invented, is that of our late townsman, the Hon. Timothy- Pickering, which consists of a spiral brush, attached to a pole, by which they are dislodged, after they are colonized upon the tree. The following, which I extract from my journal of 1832, in rela- tion to this pestiferous caterpillar, with a kw subsequent observations, may possibly prove of use to some reader of your highly useful Mag- azine. "February 26. — In a walk this morning, I found two heavy co- coons of the Phalc^na gcntia, upon the common alder (Alnus glu- tinosa), and a fine live specimen of the v^'inter moth (^Cheimatobia vulgaris). On returning through the apple orchard of U , Esq., I perceived nearly all the trees speckled with occasional dead leaves, adhering to the branches so firmly as to require considerable force to dislodge them. Each leaf covered a small patch of from one to two hundred eggs, united together, as well as to the leaf, by a gummy and silken filare, peculiar to the moth. I gathered a few bunches of these eggs for a more careful examination, and deposited them in my cage of cocoons." These eggs proved to be those of the moth of the orchard, or gar- den caterpillar, so well known to gardeners, and which are hatched soon after the leaf buds expand. In March, 1833, I visited the above named orchard, and, as an experiment, cleared three trees, from which I took twenty-one bunches of eggs, which would have Destruction of Insects. 53 produced as many colonies of worms. The remainder of the trees I left untouched until the 10th of May, when I found tlie worms were hatched from the egg, and had commenced their slow, but sure rav- ages. I watched them, from time to time, until many branches had been spoiled of their leaves, and in the autumn were entirely destitute of fruit; while the three trees which had been stripped of their eggs, were flush with foliage, each limb without exception, ripening its fruit. My observations and experiments were not confined to the apple ; many other trees are attacked by a caterpillar whose habits are similar to the one above named. From a small butternut tree in my own garden, I took seven bunches of eggs, in the spring, and the subsequent season my tree was wholly exempt from the worm which had destroyed a great part of the leaves, the two previous summers. These observations may not be new, yet I have never seen in- structions from the pen of any one, for destroying them in the egg, but always after they were hatched, and had commenced their dep- redations. Now I am sanguine in the belief, that a garden or orchard can be cleared of these deposites of eggs, in one tenth part of the time usu- ally taken to clear them of the worm, by the brush method ; for it must be recollected, that these deposites are always made visible to the eye, by the natural covering of a leaf; never in one instance, have 1 found them otherwise. Small trees can be kept clean by the hands, while those upon the larger trees, out of reach of the hand, can be easily destroyed by a httle straw or flax, tied on the end of a pole, then set on fire, and applied to the eggs, which instantly expand and burst with a consid- erable crackling noise. These eggs are not affected by a cold of forty or fifty degrees below zero, while an application of heat as before named instantly destroys them. 1 do not call the attention of your readers to this common worm, as being anything new to them, l3ut merely to the fact that the rav- ages of this caterpillar can be prevented in the above mentioned simple manner, and at a period too, when time can be better spared for the purpose, than in the busy month of May. There are other noxious insects, whose habits ought to be better known by all who have a fruit garden, particularly the peach borer {JEgeria exitiosa), and the Curculio of the apple, green gage, he, which does such incalculable injury to our good fruit. Should you consider the few hints given of service, and meet your approbation, you may possibly hear from me again on the best method of preventing the premature decay of our peach trees by the insidious borer. -.^ -d tj t ' Yours, B. Hale Ives. Salem, Jan. 10, 183.5. We shall be extremely happy to receive a continuation of such very valuable remarks, for we have long been aware tiiat not sufTicient attention iias been given by horticulturists, to that branch of natural history which relates to those insects VOL. I. NO. II. H 54 Management of the Gladiolxis natalensis. which cause the gardener so much vexation, trouble, and disappointment, sea- son after season. Merely destroying the larvae every summer, so imperfectly as is generally done, will never much lessen the innumerable quantities which swarm on almost every tree and shrub. The manner of picking off the eggs as hinted by Mr. Ives, is undoubtedly new to most of our readers, and we hope that the ex- periment will be further tried, and the results of the success communicated through our Magazine. We should be glad to receive communications on tlie subject from any of our friends. Mr. Ives has paid nmch attention to entomology, and has a large collection of insects: he has even succeeded in raising some species of in- sects for his cabinet, which are rarely to be found in our gardens. — Conds. Art. VI Remarks on the 3Ianagement of the Gladiolus natalensis, (called by some psittacinus.) By S. Svveetser. Gentlemen, You having requested me to give you an account of the manner in which I treated the Gladiolus natalensis, which I presented at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's grand exhibition last Septem- ber, and mentioned particularly in your report in your last number, I cheerfully comply with your solicitation. Although not much of an adept in the delightful and agreeable art of horticulture and flori- culture, and especially, not much used to communicating the results of my experiments to paper, yet, knowing your great desire to pro- cure all information possible that may be useful or interesting, I willingly contribute my mite towards advancing the pursuit of this favorite science. This species of Gladiolus I think to be one of the most beautiful which have been introduced into this country, and it certainly may be considered one of the most valuable, because it is decidedly of easy and simple cultivation ; — It also increases very fast, anJ it will un- doubtedly, before long, not only be one of the chief ornaments of the greenhouse and parlor, but will become as common in the garden parterre, as the rich Georgina. The offsets from the bulb which I flowered last season, large and small, amounted to nearly fifty ; and I have no doubt but that they may be all grown so strong this year, as to flower vigorously the next. The other species of the Gladiolus which are generally grown, I have not given much attention to, but I have now planted from two to three dozen of each ; and should you wish, may com- municate to your numerous readers the coming season, some obser- vations on the success of my management. As I have observed above, the culture is very simple and will require but a few words to detail the method. In the month of April I purchased two bulbs, and set them in small pots about four inches in diameter, filled with a prepared compost, consist- ing of about one half peat, and one half loam, with a small por- CM. Hover/ del Teruileton,, BoiU.-n. . GLMilon a very small scale, and at a trifling expense, a succession of fine fruit can be preserved nearly the year ronnd. Any of wliat are termed Dutch pils, with convenience to manage them inside are very suitable, and most economical for forcing the grape in pots. For early forcing, I recommend such as Fig. 3 and 4. Such can be con- structed of posts, or bricks if something more substantial be required. Fig. 3 has a lining of liot dung in front, and under the stage. Fig. 4 has a lining all round the boarding. Tbe grapes are to be trained to a trellis, either of wire, laths or osier rods, twelve inches from the glass ; it will answer the pur- pose as well as the most expensive pit. Flo-. 3 Fiff. 4. Nearly twenty years have elapsed since T first witnessed grapes success- fully cultivated "in" pots, by a most enterprising horticulturist, Mr. Buck, gar- dener to tbe Hon. Grev"ille Howard, Esq., llford, near Litchfiel^d. Tiiey were, indeed, very fine, and very young vines, in small pots. Ever since tliat time, I have more or less practised it, and never found itdiflicult to have plenty of fine bunches and fine grai)es; besides being the best tasted I ever met with. 1 have annually produced three dozen fine bunches of grapes, and in their early stage, have picked oft" four times the number, from White Muscadines; and those growing only in fourteen inch jiots tov eight years. They were six years old when first potted, and during the eight years they nei- ther received fresh soil, nor what is called manured water. They were watered as required, with soft pond water, such as is supplied from the watering, or fioaling of meadows. After it has passed off", it holds, in solution, and in its most limpid state, all the fijod which most plants require, and is only such food as they are capable of taking up by their spongioles, or digesting by the system. They are neither stone nor earth eaters ; they are much more pure Culture of the Vine in Pots. 61 feeders tlian animals. It is ohvious tliat water, in its meanderings alonp the rich surface of meadows, and whilst depositing iis grosser sediment, as it is filtering through the herhage, takes np in its progress, all the food that vege- tahles need. It hecomes strongly impregnated with the fertilizing exhala- tions from the earth, and with the various important gases evolved by the con- stant [)rogress of decomjiosition constantly going on at the surface, as well as by those subtile nutritious |)articles contimially afloat in the atmosphere and which are borne down by attraction, gravitation, wind, rains, and by dews; where they lie upon the surface till dissolved and taken np by the fluids .is fcwd for vegetation, and are borne along in abundance by the surface waters, where it is fitted for our important purposes. With such water I supply my vines plentifully at a time, but never more than once a day, and then, not unless they stand in need of it, which is obvious from the plants inclining to flag for want of food. I have then a sure criterion that I can give them plenty without danger. In the last stage of swelling, they take up much, and if ju- diciously snp|)lied, will swell ofi" to a fine size, provided plenty of air l>e jii- dicously admitted to them, and a due vapor be kept np whilst the j)it is closed. It is very important to give large jiortions of air to every ])lant under forcing; nearly taking the lights ofl' in fine weather, and closing them early in the afternoon ; but at bed time, admit a circulation of night air, and keep up the re- quired temperature by a little fire, or a stronger lining. Early in tlie morning close up leaving only sufiicient at the top to allow the condensing vapor to ])ass ofl'; let it thus remain till the glass rises from seventy to eighty degrees, before more air be given. Then give it at two or three difierent times, if the day be fine, till the pit or house is as much exposed to the influence of tJie atmos- pheric air as it conveniently and safely can be. I think it novel and of much importance to those who have sweet water vines, Miller^s Burgundy, Muscadines or others which are common upon walls, to know that they can cut oft' branches from them, and have a good crop of fruit the first year in pots. 'I'ake a cutting of any length, from five to twenty feet; no matter if at the extremity, it be five or six years old; drain the bottom of the pot well, coil the branch round and round \\\e \\\sii\e of it, from two to five or six times, according to the length of the branch ; and leave above the pot a length of stem suitable for the accommodation. Then fill np the pot firmly, to within an inch of the top, with a good mellow com- post, and place a neat stake to steady tiie shoot in the direction most suitable; posile to those of Mr. Cushi:ig's. 'i'he situation of the house is a little higher; — and the views from it em- brace rather more extent of ring. Mr. BIcLellan, the gardener, is a very industrious and obliging man, ;tnd kindly oflt-red to com- municate to us some of his experience in the cultivation of plants. It being very late in the afternoon when we visited him, we were not enabled to see the beauty of many plants that were in fidl bloom, es|)ecially several large Ericas, and a specimen of the Polygala grandiflora, which Mr. McLellan informed us, was splendidlv in flower; be however gave us a small branch, with three or four ex])anded flowers, which we took home with us. The plant was imported finu- or five years since by Mr. Pratt, but has not flewered till this year ; the P. speciosa, ai)out the same size, will be out in a few days. Collomia grandiflora, a pretty annual, introduced last year, Mr. McLelian has finely in flower; he took it up out of the border, upon the ap|iroach of fi-ost, and set it in a |)ot in the green-house. We observed two very large plants of Azalea jedifolia, and A. indica phoenicea, which will be in bloom in three or four weeks. We recollect of seeing the A. ledifoiia at Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. 71 the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's rooms hust spriui^ in full I)Ioom ; it was couiplotcly covered with its snow-white blossoms ; it has now sixty buds. Three or four plants of the Corraia virens were displaying their heauteous liell-shaped pendulous flowers. Jlhododendron arhjreum hyhridum, with six or eight flower buds, will make a tine show during the s|)ring. Mr. Pratt has made some accessions to his collodion, among which are a number of choice varieties of the Camellia japonicn, which look in good health. Mr. Pratt's greenhouse is entirely new, having been erected the last sum- iner; it is heat wiih two brick flues, one only of which is used unless in very severe weather. The stage consists of one range running the whole length, with two tiers of shelves; one running up very steep from tlie walk, which runs parallel with the hack wall, and the oth( r from the front walk, about the same slope as the surfiice of the glass. Mr. McLellan keeps his Camellias, Rhododendrons, and other [jlants which do not need much snn, on the back stage ; the Camellias remain much longer in bloom than when placed in front; the Cactuses Sta[)elias, &c. on shelves at the end of the house. Every thing denoted cleanliness and attention. Roxbury, J. Le7nist, Esq. — Jan. 15//;. It is about two years since we visi- ted the garden of Mr. Lemist; it was then under the management of our valuable correspondent, J. AV. Kussell, now at Mount Auburn. When Mr. Russell left he was succeeded by Mr. Murphy, who had the care for some time. It is now kept in ils former beauty under the direction of INIr. T. Wil- lott. Considering the disadvantages which Mr. Willoit labors under, (a leaky and damp house) the plants look in excellent condition, and we tliink Mr. Lemist must feel highly gratified in being so fortunate as to procure his assis- tance. Considerable alterations and improvements have been made in the disjiosition of the plants since we were here bel'ore ; they were then set out in the soil in the back border; lint they grew too luxuriant in this situation, and the Camidlias and Rhododendrons did not form any flower buds. Last season, by the direction of Mr. Lemist, the jilants were taken up and a stage erected, upon vvhich they are now placed. In the centre of the house, be- tween the walk and the front wall, is one of the finest specimens of an or- ange tree we have ever seen ; we counted on it upwards of eighty ripe fruit, some of which measured five inches in diameter. Opposite to this, on the back stage, is a plant of the Double White Camellia, with twenty expanded flowers, nearly as beautiful as the one we saw at Mr. Cushing's the 13th ; — on one i)lant of the Double Striped we counted sixteen full blown ; it is singular what a difference there is in some plants of this variety; sometimes they open almost red (which was the case with the one above), and again they are as perfectly striped every petal, as a carnation ; we have some in bloom in our own garden, which almost reseml)le the York and Lancashire Rose ; a Single While and Lady Hume's Bhish had one or two flowers just ex- panded on each ; how beautiful is ti\e latter ! Among nimierous large plants is the Ficus elasticus ten feet high; a Rhododendron arboreimi hybriduin with nearly twenty-five promising buds ; Strelitzia regin;', and Cvcas revo- hjta; a fine plant of Acacia armata, with hundreds of buds, will be soon in flower; some Eneas of the common kinds are displaying their delicate little pendulous blossoms, and a large rpiantity of plants of the Daphne odora are filling the house with their fragrance. We now, quilting the greeidiouse, ])assed round to a small house used for forcing. In this is a ])it, nearly eighty feet hi length, filled with lettuces and radishes, vvhich will be reiidy for pulling in a few days; we never observed any look more green and healthy; some of the heads of lettuce being as large and solid as a cabbage. They were set out in the pit about the 15th of October ; and Mr. Willott has not lost a |)lanl from damjiness, which is very remarkable at this season. The wood of the vines, which are planted on the front borrler, is very fine, and will produce a good crop. We understood Mr. 72 Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. Willott tliat they did not gather a bunch from the whole house last year — but he hopes this season to make up the loss; he lias had good success in grow- ing grapes, liaviiig raised some that weighed 21 Ihs. tlie bunch, at Mr. Breed's, two or three years since. There is a stage at the back ofthepit, which is filled wi;h geraniums, grown exceedingly well. Mr. Willott found some plants in a very unhealthy state, and in need of immediate renovation, when he took charge of the place. Hawthorn Grove, Dorchester, M. P. Wilder, Esq. — Jan. 15lh. This place, the residence of Mr. Wilder throughout the year, consists of about fifteen acres; most of which, with the exception of a large orchard and the garden, is now occu[)ie(l by him as grass land. The house is very pleasantly situ- ated, and partly surrounded with evergreens. We hope however Mr. Wilder will make some improvements, by cutting away a few of the tallest, as they obscure the house from view, especially in the summer, when the other de- ciduous trees intermixed with the spruces, &.c. are in full foliage. Mr. Wild- er contemplates making alterations and additions, one of which will be, to build a new greenhouse or conservatory. The present greenhouse is very old, and the situation rather damp, which greatly injures the plants; and a collection as choice as he has gathered together, deserves a more healthy at- mosphere than they at present enjoy. Nor can their beauty be truly rated when placed in such a iiouse; for in those where lightness and elegance of structure are predominant, it contributes much to set otT the splendor of its inhabitants. Mr. Wilder may in truth be considered an amateur; his plants are under his own management and care, and they will certainly not suffer by compari- son with those under the eye of experienced gardeners. We have spoken before of the vigor and healtli of some of his plants, and it is mmecessary to say they all partake of this character. Among the Camellias that will be in flower in the course of a few days are the following, — Camellia japonica, Russii, C. Elphinstonia, C. Welbankii, C. maliflura, C. Dorsettn, C. spe- ciosa, C grandlssinia, C. inslgnis, and C. pra^gnans, the five latter of which (we believe) have never flowered in the country. Mr. Wilder shew us a colored plate of Dorsettii, and we should think if the flower will at all resemble the plate, it must indeed be splendid ; elphinstonia we saw last year, it is a little like the doulile striped, but less beautiful : speciosa has a superb leaf; we think we never saw a more bold and promising bud than that upon the variety called grandissima; it is indeed grand. Mr. Wilder has a seedling coming into I)!oom which bids fair to be a great beauty ; pensdiata, piBonifl.ira, doid)le white, single white, and fimbriata are ele- gantly in bloom; the fimhriuta with its fine fringed snowy petals is just in its prime ; we never saw a finer or lietter shaped flower ; for although an old variety, from some cause or other, it is but seldom seen in our greenhouses. The large i)lant of double white has a tew exjianded flowers. Mr. Wilder has a large plant of the Acacia longifulia six or eight feet high, which will be one mass of bloom in February or March; A. lo- phata is now in flower; Jambusa vulgaris is showing its fruit, and if placed in a hot-house would probably ripen ; it is a native of the East Indies and is there called tlie Rose-Apple ; it is an eminently beautiful shrub ; its clusters of delicate white tassel-shaped flowers, contrasted with the dark green foliage, and cinnamon colored shoots, has a lovely appearance ; its fruit is said to be so powerfully perfumed witli rose water, that but one or two can be eaten. There is here also two plants of the Strelitzea rapidly pushing into bloom. Those pretty little plants the double wliite, j)urple and pink Primroses are beginning to throw out their buds. But among the whole of the plants nothing so much gratified us as one or two varieties of the all-beautiful and fragrant tea rose — one in particular called the Anemone was delightful ; the color is of the richest pink, the flower very double and somewhat resembling Calls at Gardens and Nurseris. 73 in form wlien fully open, some kinds of the province rose (only more ane- mone shaped). Tlic petals have tlie appcar.uice of the finest crai)e, and are so thin and delicate tiiat they seem almost npthereal, the least l)reath setting all the petals in motion. The plant is of vi^iorons girowth, a character not applicahle to the Teas in fifcneral. It vvas introdnced hy jMr. Wilder, and is now flovverin«^ for the first time. Ife has a yellow which is also of very strong growth, a fanit with the common yellow Tea whiidi makes it at ])rcsent so scarce. A ])lant or two of the Iris chineiisis will he open in a few days. Daphne delphina (supposed to he colUna) is flowering heantilidly for the first time ; it is of a ri('h lively purple color, and a very desirable plant. Some new Azaleas are budded, hut we leave iheni till our next visit. Brookliyie, T. H. Perliins, Esq. — Jnmian/ 20t'i. This is an elegant resi- dei>ce ; the large specimens ofPiiuis Strohus, Allies canadensis, halsamifera, and aiha, with others of their speci s, j^ive the groimds a gay and lively ap- pearance even at this dreary season of the year. There are several laige clumps of the above which serve to break the view of the garden from the mansion ; and the ride to the pleasure grounds winds away ti-om the left of the garden through a grove, so dense that you but now and then catch a glimpse of its zig-zag direction. The garden has two extensive ranges of houses, efich three hundred fi?et in length ; one range is divided into four coini>artments for forcing grapes and peaches; the other, which has been built within a few years, is divided into five compartments of sixty feet each, — the centre one of which is the greeidiouse, and is considerably more ele- vated than the others. Two on the east side are for Peaches, and two on the west for grapes. We entered the greenhouse from the g;irden by passing through the back shed ; the other entrance being closed tip till open weather in the spring, except on some particular occasions when company is ex|)ecte(l. The entrance into the greenhouse then is by the avenue leading from the house under a grove of Pines, Cedars and Hemlocks, into and through the two jjcacheries. The peach bouses are not built for the puri)oses of early forcing; those in the ok! range being brought forward first, and these only accelerated by the natural lieat of the sun, without fire. Mr. Cowan, the gardener, was very attentive and obliging, and showed us round, giving us all the information we wished in relation to the healing of the houses, &c. and pointing out to us all the new and rare plants contained in Col. Perkins' very large and choice collection. In the greenhouse we found Mr. Cowan rearranging and cleaning up the plants, as they often need it during the winter: this did not however prevent our obtaining the names of the various species. The first object which struck us, as in Mr. Cushing's, Mr. Lemisi's, and Mr. Wilder's green- house, was a magifificent plant of the Double White Camellia — with above twenty fully expanded flowers; we did not know till we had made these visits, that there were so many large specimens of this beautiful plant in our vicinity ; but we even find them as plenty as the common China rose. This plant was in the centre of the house, and was surrounded with a large number of new and valuable varieties, which for vigorous growth and healthy appearance we have not seen surpassed. Among those new which now show the color of their buds and will open in a few days, are Camel- lia japonica, imbricata, eclipsis, rosa sinensis and gloriosa ; a new varietv from China without name, has a fine bud and will undoubtedly be a fine flower; the foliage is very dark green and has somewhat the appearance of the Double Striped ; the imbricata will be superb ; rosa sinf'Misis will be a beau- tiful rosy red. Those new and nearly expanded are Egertonia, and Ane- moneflura striata variabilis ; the former is of a very dark velvet red, resem- bles the warratah in shape, and has a few faint touches of white ; the latter is a charming variety which we believe is in no other collection ; the color is a fine rich pink; Rossii, Pressii and many others have fine buds ; Mr. Cow- 74 Calls at Gardens and JSIurseries. an has ii])wanl.s of two Imndrcd seedliiiijs two or throe years oid, TJiereis here a plant ot' tlie P_]nikanthus quiiiqiirflara belonging to the natural order Ericete ; it w;;s imported by Col. Perkins three years since from the ceit^brated establishment of the Messrs. Loddigos, and is the only specinjen in the country ; k cost six guineas. It is just showing its pink buds which hang in |jendu- lous umbels, and will be open in few days. A large speci'p.en of Sirelitzea augusta, also very rare, is growing finely. Eriostemon cuspidatus is throw- ing out its spikes of Itiids. There are tine plants of Edwardsia grandiflora, Teleupea speosissima, Beaumontia deccuss:'ita, &c. Large plants of Azalea ledifolia and indica phsenicea are covered with flower buds; Vallhelmia viri- diflura is coming in flower; three or four varieties of the Acacia are fidl of buds; the finest s|>ecinien of Daphne hybrida we have seen is in Col. Per- kins' collection. The odor of the flowers, with which every branch was covered, is very similar to the Lilac ; it is a plant which should be seen in every greenhouse. We entered the Peachery, and we should do injustice to Mr. Cowan, did we not mention his method of training and pruning the Peach. — ^. The trees are trained on the back wall, on a wire trellis under the glass, and on a trellis raised half way between the ground and glass. Those lui- der the glass were trained as if the shoots of the peach were as |)lial)le as the vine. One stem was brought \\\) ])erpendicidarly to the top of the front wall ; it here divided oft' into two shoots and each ran along horizontally, being niade stationary by fastening with shreds ; from these horizontal shoots two or three branches were carried up the trellis under each rafter of the house, leaving a distance of about two feet between the brandies under the centre of each light, that the sun may have considerable influence on those trained below. The young shoots were full of blossom buds, and we did not observe scarcely a s[)eck of gum or cruiker on either tree. We intend at some future time to give a plate, descriptive of his method of training. From the Peach house we passed into the grapery, on the other side of the greenhouse. This comjjartnient is heat with a hot water a|)paratus in- vented by Mr. Perkins of London, and is the oidy one of the kind we be- lieve which has been in oj)eration in the country. Accidents have however happened to it several times, and once tlie ex])ansion tube has burst; it prob- ably may be owing to not understanding their management ; the pipes are iron antl only an inch bore, and run rountl the house several times. During the severe cold nights of the first of the month when the thermometer was 18 deg. below zero, the house was kejit up to sfre?!77/^ue deg. during night, and all through the cold weather it ranged from 65 to 80 degrees. Mr. Cow- an had tied his vines up to the trellis, and the eyes had begun to swell, when an unlucky accident happened — one of the |)ipes burst; Mr. Cowan had to take the vines down immediately and tie them up in straw and mats, where they now remain, — the pi[)es not yet having been repaired. There is no doubt but it is the best method of heating forcing houses yet discovered ; but they require much attention and the gardener some knowledge of the theory of heat, to manage them free from accidents.. From the graj)ery we visited the forcing ground, where many improve- ments and additions have been made since last season. Four new pits have been erected on a plan similar to those mentioned at Mr. Cushing's; but instead of a double wall they have only a single one ; the ])its are not iit a range, but are front of one another, at the distance of six feet between each ; this is to leav-^ room to throw in dung all aromid, the heat to enter the bed through pigeon holes in the wall. They are fourteen tifct in length, and are for cucumbers and melons, and for grapes on the coiling system. Mr. CovvSn has cucumbers in the seed leaf, which look very healthy. Jn a small house in the garden heat by a brick flue, some vines have now broke ; and will show fruit in a few weeks ; the roots are outside in the border, which is covered eighteen Calls at Gardens and Nurseries. 75 iiiclies with manure. Mr. Cowan will begin to force in the old range of houses in a week or two. The greenhouse is iieat with hot water on tlie sanii" principle as Mr. Ciishiiig's, and no difficulty occurred in keeping it up to 45 deg. tlie coldest nights. Somerset Place., R. Rogcrson, Esq. — Jan. 17lh. Mr. Rogerson has a green- house very conveniently attaehdd to his (luciling. It is heat hy hot water, and he fiuds no ditlieulty in keeping up a proper temperature with very little fuel. Mr. [log(^rson lias erected a pit in tiic hack i)art of the house, against the wall, in which is plunged vines in pots, upon the coiling system. They have already hurst some of their buds ; the part of the shoots above the soil are wrapt up in moss, and syriugi.'d every few days to keep them moist; the pit is about 2^ feet in width, 18 inches deep, and runs tiie whole length of the house ; it is filled with epinmon tanner's bark, in which the pots are plung- ed ; through the tan near tiie bottom of the jjit one of the pi|)es is conducted from the boiler at one (md of the house to the reservoir at the other. The pipes are of copper, about three and a half inches in diameter ; along the front of the house is another pit, made in a similar manner to the for- mer, though nnich smaller ; another of the pipes runs through this to another reservoir at the same end of the house at which the boiler is jjlaced; in this pit Mr. Rogerson raises fine lettuces, radishes, &c. &c. The heat imparted lo the two j)its from the hot water circulating through the pipes was about 70 tleg. and very even ; Mr. Rogerson raised some of the pots that were plungeil, and placing our hand upon the bottom of them, we found the heat very moist and genial. We are confident that this method of lieating green- houses, graperies, &c. will be generally adopted in a few years. 31 r. Rog- erson has some fine large peach trees in pots, which he intends to take into the greenhouse in a few days to force them ; they arc full of very ])roniinent blossom buds, winch would soon expand if placed in a proj»er tempera'ure ; he has also some very fine Cheri'j' and Fig trees in pots, which promise finely: on the stage between the two pits mentioned above, 31 r. Rogerson has several ])lants, among which is a fine Orange full of ripe fruit ; several Gladioli in a forward state, almost ready for fiovveriug, look strong and healthy. Some variegated Camellias were just sliedding the petals of some fa. Hale Ives. Salem, Jan. \7th, 1835. Gentlemen, I am glad to see that you have starJed your Magazine with the aid of such able contrii)ufors. The articles are all excellent, and augur well for the continuance of a work so much needed by all lovers of horiiculture and floriculture. We hope iu your next, or in some future nund)ers, you will give descriptions for erecting small jiits for forcing cucumbers, &c., and for building green-iiouses and other useful and ornamental garden structures, accom])anied wiih wood cuts, if it can be done without incurring too much expense. Such engravings would be far more valuable to the generality of your readers than cuts of flowers, which cannot be tolerably well done without being at great exjjeuse; and then they are not desirable in a work unless exclusively devoted to Botany and flowers. If they are not colored, which it is not supposed they can be at the low price of your Magazine, they are still more objectionable; as the form of a flower is no better than a de- scription. Many gentlemen who are fond of plants would erect green-houses if they could but see plans to guide them in so doing, without leaving the business (;ntirely to the builder. The accentuations of all botanical terms will add exceedingly to its value, as it wdl serve as a book of reference to those who are in the habit of calling names incorrectly. I believe your Magazine, the first of the kind exclusively devoted to horticultiu'e in our country, is also the first to attempt the accen- tuation of names. At a future time, 1 have other suggestions to make, and jou will please excuse my freefloin. Yours, L. Cambridge, Jan. ^ith, 1835. (^uincy Martcetj tf Art. VI. Quincij Market. Roots, Tubers, ^x. Potatoes : I per Imivcl, (.oimnoii, jj^.rbushol, „, \ por barrel, Chenangoes, | j.er bushel, ■c . . s per barrel, Eastport, j J,^^ busbel, Nova fc^cotia, M''-''^ |'"7'' ' ( por bushel, Turnips : ^ ( per barrel, ' ( per bushel (washed) French, per hush(;l, I piM- barrel, Onions, ? per busliel, ( per bunch, Beets, per busliel, Parsnips, per bushel, Carrots, per bushel, Salsify, per dozen, Radishes, per bunch, Horseradish, per pound, Garlic, per pound, Cabbages, Salads, l^'C. Cabbages, per dozen heads : Bed, Savoy, Drumhead, Brocoli, per head : White, Purple, Cauliflower, per head, Celery, per root, Lettuce, per head, Spinach, per peck, From To $cts. $ cts. 1 00 1 25 :i3 40 ] 2') 1 5U 37 50 2 00 2 25 CO 80 1 25 1 50 40 50 75 1 00 40 50 .'■>0 1 37 1 50 70 80 4 5 70 80 70 80 40 50 2o 37 25 10 12 15 20 75 80 40 50 02 75 25 20 25 37 50 6 10 12 33 37 Squashes and Pumpkins. Canada, per cwt Common crook-neck, Lima, Pumpkins, each, Pot and Sweet Herbs. Parsley, Sage, Marjoram, >?avbry, t^pearmint, .■ Fruits. Apples : ,, , . . i per barrel,.. . . . . Baldwms, Pp^.^ bushel, _ . \ per barrel, Pearmains, |j,^^^^^,,^,;^_ __ „ .. \ perbarrel, Russetts, I f,er bushel,.... N. Y. Pippins, i)er barrel,.. Pears : Iron Avhite, for baking, per barrel, per busliel, Sweet baking, per bushel,... Old St. Germain, per dozen, Quinces, per bushel, „ . . I per barrel, Cranberries, j |,er bushel,.. .. Grapes, foreign, per pound,... Pine Apples, each,, Oranges, per hundred, Lemons, per hundred, Chestnuts, per bushel, nr 1 . ( per barrel, Walnuts, I 'p„ bushel, Almonds, per pound, Filberts, per pound, Castana, per pound, From $cts. 2 50 2 00 2 00 25 3 00 1 50 3 00 1 50 2 75 1 50 3 00 To $ cts. 3 00 2 50 2 50 30 4 00 1 75 1 50 none. 6 00 2 25 37 20 1 00 1 00 3 00 4 50 1 62 13 6 4 3 00 3 50 2 00 1 62 6 50 3 00 37 1 50 3 25 4 62 1 75 15 Remarks. Since our last, the severe cold weather has frozen large quan-' titles of Potatoes; it has also prevented the arrival of supplies from the east- ward ; many tliat have been touched with the frost are thrown into the market, and sold low, but prime and choice varieties still remain at our quo- tations. Turnips, Onions, Beets, &c., are brought in in sufficient quantity to sufiply the demand, at the same rates as our last. Radishes, the first this season, were brought in this week ; they were the Scarlet Short-top variety, handsome growth and good size. Cauliflowers are still very scarce, and command higher prices ; a few have been sold as high as fifty cents. Some fine heads of Lettuce, of the Hardy Green Hammersmith variety, have come in this week ; they were quickly taken. Squashes are very scarce, many having been frozen ; and ahhough tlie demand is not large, prices have in- creased considerably since our former report. Apjilcs yet remain at high prices ; Baldwins have advanced a shade. Pears of common baking kinds are yet tolerably plentiful, but of choice varieties for the table there are none in market If the St. Germains, or any of the new ])ears could be ])rocured, they would bring very great prices. No Quinces to be had. Great quanti- ties of Cranberries have been frozen, and the })ricc of tho.se of good quality has advanced considerably. By the arrivals this week, large quantities of Malaga grapes have been received, which has caused a slight depression. Chestnuts and Walnuts are still in good demand. M. T. Boston, Jan. 20th, 1835. 78 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Art. VII. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. December 20th — Exhibited. — Bezi de Chaumontelle (Chaumontel) Newton Virgoulouse and Winter Orange (of Coxe) pears ; tlie latter a green tiiiit of medium size and good flavor; the Newton Virgoulouse was considered by the Committee highly deserving of cultivation, it being an enormous bearer; it keeps well, is excellent for baking, but will be of no use as a dessert jieur. These were from R. Manning, Esq. From Mr. C. Weston, Boston, — speci- mens of the Holmes apple, from Manstield ; round fruit, medium size, rich yellow color, red on the side next the sun, flavor good. December 27th. — Exhibited. — Conway, IMalcarle, [Mda carlaofthe Pomona Italiana) and Wine apples. The Malcarle is a beautiful apple ; the flesh white, of a delicate ])erfume much resembling rose-water. Passe Colmar pears, from R. Manning, Esq. Russett apjjles, from Messrs. Hovey ; the or- igin of this apple is unknown, it being received from the country ; the flavor was very rich and highly perfumed. January 5th. — Exhibited. — Hardenpont de printemps pears; they were re- ceived by Mr. S. Downer, accompanied by the tollowing letter: — JVeio Bedford, Jan. 5th, 1835. Samuel Downer, Esq. Sir, — By your request made last summer, I now send you a small sample of Hardenpont de Printemps pears, not now in eat- ing; when they arrive at maturity, you will please to examine the qualities, and vou will oblige your friend, -.-.r <-< •' '= ■^ ' William Swift. Not being at maturit}', Mr. Downer retains the pears, and will present them again when flt for eating. Isabella grapes, from T. Hastings, East Cambridge ; these were excellently preserved, not a berry being the least decayed on six or eight clusters which were presented. We intend to give an article on Mr. Hastings' method of preserving them. January 17th. — Exhibited. — By R. Manning, Esq., White Calville, Belle- flower, and Michael Henry Pippin ajiples ; the latter variety was received from New Jersey, but its name was considered doubtful by the committee. Cork Russett a|)ples, from Mr. Ruggles, of Fall River; a large oblong fruit, russetted all over, the flesh spongy, inclined to shrivel, not juicy or high flavored, but sweet, considered a valuable fruit for drying. A bouquet of flowers from Messrs. W^inship, Brighton, containing the fol- lowing varieties : — Camellia alba plena. Erica mediterrania. Calendula hybri- da, Geraniums, Oxalis, Roses, Stocks, Myrtle, Diosma alba, Erica arborea, Salvia fulgens and splendens, Ageratum mexicana, Schizanthus pinnatus, Primula prsenitens, purpurea and alba, Hoitzia coccinea, &c. In our report in our last number, of the plants exhibited at Faneuil Hall in September last, we accidentally omitted to mention those presented by John Prince, Esq., of Jamaica Plain, Roxbiny. The plants were some of the finest and most showy that ornamented the Hall, and we cheerfully cor- rect the mistake. From John Prince, Esq. — Large specimens of Lemon and Orange trees; a fine plant of Cycas revoluta (Sago Palm) ; a very large Agave americana ; two plants of Diosma alba ; Hedychium Gardnerianwrn, very fragrant; Hoya car- nosa, Acuba japouica, &c. MONTHLY CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE, FOR FEBRUARY. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grapes — in forcing houses will now, with light fires, begin to swell their buds. Where there are good strong vines in pots, they may be brought into the green-house to forward them. They should be set on the front flue, and the shoot trained up under the centre of the sashes. Cuttings and eyes should now be put in. Straivberries. — Where pots of Strawberries were taken up in the fall, they may now be put in the green-house or hot-bed. Lemons and Oranges. — Where these are wanted for stocks, to graft or in- arch, the seed should now be sown in rich mould and placed in a hot-bed. VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. Radishes should now be sown in hot-beds and frames, with a gentle bot- tom heat. Caulifiower plants that have been protected in frames during winter, should have plenty of air and light. Seed may now be sown in hot-beds for a sum- mer crop. Cucumbers may now be planted with safety, as the days have become con- siderably longer, and consequently more sunshine. Prepare a hot-bed as directed in page 46 of the present number, in the communication of Mr. J. W. Russell, for propagating grape eyes. The seeds should be sown in pots four inches diameter, and when the plants are up, they should have plenty of air, to prevent their drawing; when they have thrown out two or three rough leaves, they should be hilled out ; the soil best for them is loam and leaf mould, principally the latter, till the plants get strong. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. Tender annual flower seeds may now be sovm in hot-beds. Use light rich soil, and cover the seeds very lightly. Those sown last month should now be potted off" into small pots. Georginas (Dahlias) may be plunged in the hot-bed to forward them, and afterwards potted in large pots and placed in the green-house. Cuttings of Salvia splendens, fulgens and mexicana should now be put in, six or eight cuttings in each pot, and plunged in a bottom heat, or in a very warm part of the green-house. BO Monthly Calendar. Hyacinths, J^arcissus and other bulbs in glasses, must, have the water shitted every week ; soft rain water is the best ; if the points of the roots have au\' dirt attached to tlieni, take them out of the glass, and brush them very gently with a feather. The glasses should he thoroughly washed every two or three weeks. Ranunculus roots may be safely planted about the 20th of this month. Select aspot of ground of the size wanted fur tiie nuniber of roots, and if the frost is not yet all out, procure an old hot-bed lianie, and place it over the sit- uation selected ; bank up all round the frame with leaves, hay, or connnon garden soil, put on the sashes, and kee]) tiiem shut every cold day, only opening them when the sun shines and the air is very mild. Cover up the frame every night with mats or hay. When the frost is all out and the soil tolerably dry, commence iilauiing the roots, at the depth of one and a half inches from the crown, and four inches apart in the rows, and tlie rows five inches from each other. Tuberoses and Tiger-flowers. Those V4 lio wish to flower these very early, shoulil, about the middle of this month, plant them in small pots and place them in a hot-bed. Camellias and other green-house ])lants will now begin to grow more rap- idly' ; they will require more air and water as the days become warmer. Calceolarias in small pots, should now be potted into a larger size filled with a compost of rotten leaves and light loam. Cultivation of Penstemons. It was asserted in the Botanical Register, t. 1309, that seeds of the rare penstemons cannot be raised in heat. Part of the remark is in these words: — " It is indispensable that the seeds should be sown in a cold frame, or all endeavor to raise them will prove fruitless." Mr. Maund in figuring P. pulchellus, remarks that to prove or disj)rove this assertion, he sowed seeds in a pot and placed them " in a rather warm hot-bed," where many seeds vegetated freely ; and the plants so raised flowered well in the autumn. [Sowing them in a cold frame is, notwithstanding, doubtless pre- ferable, as being more congenial to the natural mode. In natural dissemina- tion, seeds are sown as soon as ripe ; in gardening, they are often kept out of the soil until their vital energy is considerably weakened, and theli artificial stimuli may be necessary to rouse it into action.] — Gard. Mag. PLANTS IN BLOOM THIS MONTH. Cam^dlia japonica, C. alba plena, C. rubra plena, C. anemoneflora, C. ane- moncflora alba, C. atrorubens, C. rubricaiilis, C. fimbriata, C. speciosa, C. maliflora, C. imbricata, C. eclipsis, C. rosa sinensis, C. Egertonia, C. gloriosa, C. Rawsiana, C. variegata, C. pensillata, C. incarnata, and other new kinds. Erica mediterrania and arborea, Diosma alba, Polygala speciosa and grandi- flora. Daphne hybrida and odora, Enkiunthus quinqueflora, Pseonia papaver- acea, Iris chinensis. Acacia lophanta, Strelitzia regina, Hoitzia coccinea, Cor- rsea viridis. Cineraria cruenta, Magnolia conspicua, Viburnum lauristinus, and many others. Errata in our last. Page 9, line 34 — for " indirect influences of southerly winds," read "north- erly tvinds." Same page, 2d line from bottom — for "nearly" read "equally." THE AMERICAN GAKDENER'S MAGAZINE. MARCH, 1835. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Notices of several of the most liighly-esteemed Flemish and other Eiiropcnn Pears which have produced Fruit i:i this Vicinity, together t/uih the History and Description of those Varieties which have originated in this Country ; accompanied icith Observations on their Cultivation. By S. Downer, Esq. For the information of our horticultural friends, and for the pur- pose of aiding you in your endeavors to render your Magazine inter- esting to your numerous readers, I offer a few observations and facts, on the cultivation and developement of several of the new Flemish and other European pears, that have been received in this country within a few years, from different sources, and from various eminent fruit-growers and nurserymen, in England, and on the Continent. Many of these varieties have been, with praiseworthy liberality, sent to the Hon. John Lowell, by the highly distinguished President of the London Horticultural Society, Thomas Andrew Knight, Esq.; and by Mr. Lowell they have been distributed through the country ; several have been received from Dr. Van JMons of Rrussells, one of the most successful cultivators of new pears on the Continent. The London Horticultural Society have collected together all the new fruits, amounting to over twelve hundred varieties, for the purpose of correcting the synonymous names with which every catalogue abounds. Mr. Robert Thompson is at the head of the fruit depart- ment in their garden at Chiswick, and is the person who gave the descriptions of those fruits, figured in the London Pomological Mag- azine : from him R. Manning, Esq., of Salem, has lately received a great number of scions, of some of the most superior kinds in the above extensive collection, and we may anticipate that in a few VOL. I. NO. III. M 82 Notices of several of the most highly-esteemed years, our nurseries and gardens will be stocked with fruits far excel- ling our present varieties, of which we have but a limited number. Urbaniste. Hort. Soc. Trans. Vol. v. p. 411, and of Mr. Knight's present. Bcurre de Roi of France. The former is the true Flemish name. This pear stands deser- vedly high, and is of great excellence in quality, besides other good points. It grows well, and retains its foliage till the very last of the season. Not even one of the smallest shoots have been winter killed on my trees. They are full and constant bearers, but they did not fruit early ; it being six or seven years from the time of grafting ; they have made good wood every season. This pear ranks with those of large size. It ripens in October. Raised by the Count de Coloma, of Malines, and specimens of the fruit presented to the London Horticultural Society from him, in 1823. Beurre Knox. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 104, and of Mr. Knight's present. This pear may be placed with those large and fair ; I have seldom seen spots on any of them; quality good, not first rate; many of them this year showed some signs of early decay at the core. The trees grow well, retain their foliage to the last of the season ; none of the branches have been winter killed. My trees produced fruit the fourth year after grafting, and they are constant bearers. The color of the fruit is a pale green, russetty on the sunny side. Ripens in October, and is one of the new Flemish pears. FoRELLE. Hort. Soc. Trails. Vol. v. p. 408. PomologicalMag^ azine, t. 112, and of Mr. Knight's present. This pear, which appears so beautifully figured in the London Horticultural Transactions, and in the Pomological Magazine, does not succeed in our climate. The trees growing in my garden have been in bearing for the three last seasons, and not a single pear has matured sufficiently to perfect its color or flavor ; they have shriv- elled and then decayed. Part of the trees grow well, and the other part blight and decay, the fruit full of black spots, and showing strong marks of a run-out variety. Supposed by Dr. Diel to have originated in Northern Saxony. Passe Colmar. Pom. Mag. t. 64. Hort. Soc. Trails. Vol. v. p. 410, and of Mr. Knight's present. This proves a very valuable variety, and worthy of general culti- vation. The specimens exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society the two last seasons were exceedingly fine. It is said to be a great bearer. In perfection from December to February. Raised by Counsellor Hardenpont of Flanders. European and Native Pears. 83 Hardenpont de Printemps of Mr. Knight's present. Beurue Range. Hort. 2'rans. Vol. v. p. 130. Pom. Mag. t. 88. The trees in my garden have not shown even blossoms, ahhough the scions were put in good stocks eight years since. For the few first years after grafting, the wood got winter killed more or less ; but the last two, the branches have stood the cold exceedingly well. I saw last summer, at the garden of William Swift, Esq. New Bed- ford, a very healthy tree full of fine fruit, some of which he has sent to me, to be presented to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society when in a fit state for eating. In eating from January till March or April. Raised by the late Counsellor Hardenpont at Mons ; the fruit first exhibited at the London Horticultural Society in 1820. Beukre Diel. Pom. Mag. t. 19. and t. 131. This most noble pear may be placed among the very best, if not at the head of our late varieties. My tree, with only five scions on it, produced twelve pears the fourth year after grafting (1833) ; eight of those averaged twelve and a half ounces each. After keep- ing them in the house a short time, they matured — without shrivel- ling in the least — and turned of a deep yellow or rather orange color. Plesh buttery, melting, full of juice, flavor aromatic and deliciously excellent, between the Brown Beurre and Crasanne, if I may be al- lowed the comparison ; it has none of the acid of the former, and is free from the astringency of the latter. Last year the same tree pro- duced eighteen pears ; but the season being short and cold, with early frosts and high winds, they were all blown off before they arrived at maturity. They consequently shrivelled and decayed. The tree is now full of prominent blossom buds. It is a free-growing variety, and not a single shoot has been winter killed or blighted. My pears did not partake of the form of the first figure in the Pomological Magazine, (\vhich was taken from a fruit ripened on a wall,) but all were like the second, from a standard tree. In proof of the unfavor- ableness of the last season towards ripening our fruits, I would mention, that several vines of the Isabella grape, which I have ])laced in dif- ferent situations and aspects, did not, with but one exception, ripen or even color their fruit. This vine, growing under a south wall in a very sheltered place, ripened a few bunches. The others were unfit for the table. It is in eating from November till January. Raised by Dr. Van Mons of Louraine, and named in honor of Dr. Augustus Frederick Adrian Diel, one of the most distinguished Ger- man pomologists. Capiaumoivt. Hort. Trans. Vol. v. p. 406. Pom. Mag. t. 59. This beautiful and fine pear has been in bearing, in my garden, for the last three years. The tree is a free grower, comes into bear- ing very early from the time of grafting ; the third year my scions 84 Notices of several of the most highly-esteemed bore a few fruit, and the fourth produced abundantly. The pears the first and second year were large and small on the same branch ; but last season they were all of equal size, which is over medium. The tree stands our climate exceedingly well ; not any of the branches have been winter killed or blighted. The color of the fruit is of a deep yellow or cinnamon color, and acquiring a bright red on the side in the sun. Flesh melting, rich, and high flavored. Ripe the latter part of September, and will keep till the middle or end of October. Supposed to have been raised in Flanders by M. Capiaumont of Mons. Bartlett. Will probably prove to be Williams's Bonciiretien figured in the London Hort. Trans. Vol. ii. p. 250. t. 1(3. This very valuable variety, so extensively cultivated in the vicin- ity of Boston, is a great favorite with the public. The farmer, as well as the gardener, has too often reaped the value which has arisen from having their old trees grafted with this variety ; it is almost sure to give certain returns, and is more eagerly sought after in our market than any other autumn pear. Very often those of large size, and fully ripe, have commanded the high price of one dollar per dozen. The tree is a free grower, a constant and great bearer, and the fruit ranks with those of large size, often weighing ten and twelve ounces each. Skin yellow, little russeted occasionally, with a tinge of red on the sunny side when ripe. Flesh melting, full of juice, and much resembling in taste the St. Michael ; but will not keep near so long when mature ; it ripens, however, fifteen or twenty days sooner. The two trees growing in the garden of E. Bartlett, Esq., Roxbury, from which have originated all the trees in this vicin- ity, were selected in England, in 1799, by Mr. James Carter, of Boston, for Thomas Brewer, Esq., who then owned and made his residence on the estate now occupied by Mr. Bartlett. I have visited the trees every season for ten years past, and have always found them in full bearing except once. It is very singular that no other person (to my knowledge) has imported and fruited this variety in the country. The Williams Bonchirtien originated in the garden of Mr. Wil- liams, a schoolmaster in Alderraaston, in Berkshire, England, about forty years since. [The annexed Engraving of this valuable pear is one we have copied (with the permission of the library committee) from a beautiful and very correct painting in the possession of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. — Conds.l Marie Louise. Hort. Trans. Vol. v. p. 519. Pom. Mog. 1. 122. This excellent variety has been exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticukural Society, and has been highly approved of by their committee. But I believe they were raised on quince stocks ; European and Native Pears. 85 86 Notices of several of the most highly-esteemed I have a number of scions of this kind grafted into good, heahhy stocks, for standard trees, seven years since ; but they have not yet produced fruit. The growth of the wood is not strong, and only a few blossom buds appeared last season ; no fruit was matured, but we must remember that the season was unfavorable, as I have before stated. This variety, according to Mr. Thompson of the London Horticultural Society's garden, produces exceedingly well on standard trees, and he remarks that no garden should be with- out it. Ripens in October. It \vas raised by the Abbe Duquesne, and sent by Dr. Van Mens to the London Horticultural Society in 1816. Duchess of Angouleme. Pom. Mag. t. 7G. Hort. Trans. Vol. vii. p. 176. This pear, the most superior of all late autumn varieties, has been raised with us on the quince stock. The specimens exhibited at the Horticultural Society's room, were very large in size, and of excellent flavor. S. G. Perkins, Esq. has raised some of the fruit, weighing sixteen ounces each. It is certainly the most splendid pear I ever beheld. It comes into bearing very early from the graft, and is a constant producer. The growth of the tree is remarkably strong and luxuriant. I have grafted several scions on some old standard trees, and the first year's growth was very strong ; the wood resembles the Bartlett. Mr. Thompson, before named, thinks it will not succeed as a standard tree in the climate of England. It ripens in November. This variety was called by the above name " because it was found in 1S15, when the reigning family of France returned for the second time to the head of government. It was discovered by chance in the hedges of a forest of Armaille, near Amiers, in the department of Maine and Loire. The proprietor of that forest, struck with the size of the fruit and its excellent qualities, removed to his garden all the plants of that variety which his wood contained ; and, at the end of five years, this pear was common in the neigliborhood." (^Bul. ^^r., Juil 1827, p. 113.) TiLi.iNGTON. Hort. Trans. Vol. iv. p. 521, and of Mr. Knight's present. The fruit of this variety, exhibited by the Hon. John Lowell at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society's room, w^as considered by the committee as deserving to be placed among our best autumn pears. Fruit medium size. Flesh melting, full of rich and brisk juice : color of the skin yellowish green, whh streaks of red on the sunny side. The scions on my trees have not yet come into bearing ; the wood has grown rather slow, but the foliage remains on the branches un- til hard frosts. They stand our coldest winters exceedingly w^ell, European and Native Pears. 87 and I have no doubt but this variety will be extensively cultivated when its good qualities are better known. It ripens from the latter end of October, and keeps well. This variety was raised in the village of Tillington, near Hereford, England, from seed produced from an autumn Bergamot pear, that had been impregnated with the Jargonelle. Specimens of the fruit were first presented to the London Horticultural Society by T. A. Knight, Esq. in 1820. Bezy Vaet. Hoi-t. Trans. Vol. v. p. 407. This excellent autumn pear came into bearing with me the last season. Owing to the early hard frosts, I think they did not mature sufficiently to arrive at their full flavor, though part of them were con- sidered fine. Nearly all the leaves fell off before the proper time of ripening, which also prevented the fruit from being fair specimens. The tree is a very vigorous grower, upright branches, and produced fruit the fourth year from the graft. All the pears were unconmionly perfect. The tree is now full of prominent blossom buds. Fruit medium size. Flesh buttery, melting, juicy and perfumed: color of the skin pale green, little russeted. Ripens in November, and will keep several weeks. Raised by M. Parmentier at Engheim. NATIVE PEARS. In giving you a description of our good native pears, I cannot here omit to own the very strong partiality I have in their favor. They have originated in, and are inhabitants of our own gardens ; and they seem doubly valuable to us from the circumstance that they have no rigocs of climate to contend with, but bear our most severe cold weather without the least injury. They are, also, in general, con- stant bearers, and although the flavor of some of the varieties may not be as rich and highly perfumed as those of Flemish origin, still, they are so far superior to many foreign kinds, yet old inhabitants of our gardens, that they will be in a few years, as they deserve to be, generally and extensively cultivated. Seckle. Coxe. Pr. Pom. ManuaJ, p. 139. Pom. Mag, t. 72. Hort. Trans. Vol. iii. p. 256. t. 9. This superior pear is still growing on the farm of the late Stephen Gerard, Esq., near Philadelphia. When I visited this place, a few years since, in company with Joshua Longstreth, Esq., I noticed that the tree was in excellent health, although the top of it was much broken by high winds. It grows in a strong rich soil, on the border of a fine tract of land near the Delaware river. Probably the tree is about fifty or sixty years old. It will be unnecessary to say it has no superior in flavor, and very few equals. It is greatly to be re- gretted that it does not belong to the large class of pears. 88 Notices of several of the most highly-esteemed Ripe in October. The Massachusetts HorticuUural Society have a beautiful drawing of tliis variety in their possession. Dix. Pr. Pom. 3Ian. p. 142. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 161. The original tree I have visited two or three times each season, for the last three years. It has produced fruit annually uncom- monly fair and of large size, several weighing from six to ten ounces. It is now full of blossom buds for this year. When we take into consideration all the excellent qualities of this variety, its large size, fine flavor, and beautiful appearance, we must own that it is a choice gift of nature. The fruit somewhat resembles the St. Germain. Flesh melting, and full of juice ; flavor between the St. Germain and Bonchretien — more Hke the former, but a little saccharine like the latter. Skin, when mature, of a deep yellow or gold color, with a bright tinge of red on the sunny side. The scions on the trees in my garden were cut from the original, and were grafted in the year 1831. They are of free growth, and this year they are full of blossom buds. Ripe from the middle to the end of October. This pear originated in the garden attached to ?tladam Dix's mansion house, situated in tlie south part of Boston, and has, in con- sequence, been named in compliment to this lady. It sprung from the seed about twenty years since, and first produced fruit in 18-26. A correct painting of this pear is also in the possession of the Mas- sachusetts Horticultural Society. Heathcot. N. E. Farmer, Vol. vii. p. 82. Gore's Heathcot. Prince's Pomological Manual, p. 143. This excellent variety is a constant bearer ; the trees make fine, healthy wood every season. They retain their foliage until late in autumn. Not a branch or twig, as I have yet observed, has been winter killed. The scions on my trees I took from the original ; they were put in good, healthy stocks, growing in a rich mould, on a clayey subsoil ; they have grown luxuriantly, and came into bear- ing in 1833. Last season they were full of fine pears, which matured well ; the tree is now very full of blossom buds for this year. Fruit fair, and over medium size. Flesh melting, full of sprightly juice, flavor somewhat similar to the St. Germain. Skin, when mature, of a pale yellowish green, tinged with red on the sunny side, occasion- ally with small black spots. It ripens in October. This variety originated in the garden of the late Hon. Christopher Gore, at Waltham. It came into bearing in 1824, and is now about twenty years old. The fruit was first exhibited at the Massachu- setts Horticultural Society in 1828, from which their committee had a fine painting executed, which now decorates their room. European and Native Pears. 89 Fulton. N. E. Farmer, Vol. vii. p. 386. This pear will only rank second rate ; one of its good qualities is, liowever, great and constant bearing. The tree is a free grower, not subject to be blighted, and comes into bearing the fourth year after grafting. The fiiiit must, however, be picked and matured in the house. Tlie flesh then becomes buttery, melting, and full of rich juice. If suffered to remain on the tree, it becomes breaking, dry, and without flavor. Skin dull yellow, and covered all over with russety spots. Ripe early in October. This variety originated on a farm formerly owned and occupied by a gentleman of the name of Fulton, in Brunswick, in the state of Maine. The seed from which it sprung were cari'ied from this state by his wife, when on a visit to her friends — named in compliment to Mr. Fulton by John Abbott, Esq. of Brunswick. Specimens of this pear were first exhibited by this gendeman before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, at their annual festival, September 19th, 1829. Andrews. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 266. r^\ \ of some collections. Ciibsoii, ) -^ This most valuable pear continues in high favor with the public, and is often sought after by the market-man. The tree is a free grower, and very hardy. I have never seen a branch winter killed or blighted. It is a constant and certain bearer. Fruit medium size, fair, and free from dark spots. Flesh buttery, melting, perfumed, and very full of agreeable juice. Skin pale yellowish green, with a very faint tinge of red on the sunny side. Ripe from the midflle of September to the middle of October. It will be perceived that I have placed this variety under the head of native pears. The evidence is not positive, I acknowledge ; but the circumstances connected with its origin are strong, and in its favor. They are as follow : — Mr. Andrews, of Boston, was the gentleman who introduced this variety to the public ; he had a fine garden in Court street, where he cultivated other kinds. The tree was removed from Dorchester about fifty years since, and I draw the con- clusion that it is one of our native pears, cultivated by our farmers at that time. There were then no nurseries in this vicinity ; the pas- tures and woods were full of wild varieties, some of which I have known to bear fruit worthy of cultivation in our gardens ; and, were it not for the high-sounding names attached to many of the foreign kinds which are annually introduced, I am confident they would be cultivated and ameliorated, so as to be 'classed with some of our ex- isting fine varieties. VOL. I. NO. in. N 90 Notices of several of the most highly-esteemed Harvard. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 82. Pr. Pom. 3fan. p. 145. ^ '^ T^ ' } of some collections. Boston Epargne, ) -^ This variety is highly deserving of cultivation as a market pear. The tree grows strong and upright, but does not come into early fruit- ing. Fruit above medium size. Skin dull green and russety. Flesh melting, full of juice, and considerably perfumed. Ripe by the first of September. Originated in Cambridge, Mass., and named after the founder of the Harvard University in that place. Wilkinson. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 126. This variety the committee of our Horticultural Society decided to be a " great acquisition to our gardens." I certainly think it to be so. The tree is a free grower, with strong and upright shoots, and comes into bearing early. My trees produced a few fruit in 1833, (the third year from grafting,) and last season they bore abun- dantly. Very few ripened, however, they having been blown off by a violent wind in August. The scions are now full of blossom buds. Fruit medium size. Skin dark green, becoming yellow when fully mature, with a shade of dull red on the side next the sun. Flesh melting, and full of highly-perfumed juice. Ripens in October, and keeps till the end of November. This variety originated in Cumberland, R. I., on the farm of Jer- emiah Wilkinson, and specimens of the fruit were first presented to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1829, by Stephen H. Smith, Esq., Providence. The committee named it the Wilkinson pear, in compliment to the owner. Gushing. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 113. Pr. Pom. Man. p. 144. This superior native, one of the very best of autumn pears, con- tinues to increase in public estimation. The scions on my trees came into bearing the fourth year after grafting, and are now full of blossom buds. It is a free growing variety, not subject to blight, and the branches never get winter killed. The old original tree, from which the scions were cut, grows on a light soil, and has borne fruit every season — some seasons more than others. I have visited this tree twice within the last three years, and have annually received a basket of the fruit, which was always fair. Fruit medium size. Skin light green, turning to yellow when it remains on the tree, with a brown- ish blush on the sunny side. Flesh buttery, melting, fine flavor, juice sprightly and abundant. Ripe in September. This variety originated on the farm of Washington Cushing, Esq. of Hingham, about forty-six years ago, after whom it was named. Specimens of the fruit were first presented to the Massachusetts European and Native Pears. 91 Horticultural Society, at their annual festival, in September, 1829, by Benjamin Thomas, Esq. of Hingham. Washington. Ke7irick's Ntw Am. Orchardist, p. 187. Robertson, ) r jj ^■ TVT , A T } of some collections. JNamen s Creek, ) -^ This beautiful variety I have never seen growing on the tree, but have tasted of those which have been exhibited at the Horticultural Society: they were delicately, beautiful. The tree is a good bearer. Fruit medium size. Skin pale yellowish green. Flesh melting, juice abundant, sprightly, with an agreeable perfume. Ripe the latter part of September. When I was on a visit to Philadelphia a few years since, Joshua Longstreth, Esq. stated to me that it originated on the farm of Gen- eral Robertson, at Namen's Creek, in the state of Delaware, about twenty miles from Philadelphia, on the road to Baltimore. Speci- mens of the fruit were first exhibited at the Massachusetts Horticul- tural Society last season, by the Hon. John Lowell, Roxbury, and R. Manning, Esq., Salem. Lewis. N. E. Farmer, Vol. vii. p. 266. Princess Pom. Mag. p. 140. This good variety comes to maturity very late, and, in unfavorable seasons, the cultivator is occasionally disappointed with its produce, as I have frequently heard. But my opinion is still in its favor ; I have seen too many good crops to give it up. Last season some matured so as to acquire their flavor, but the greater part were infe- rior. All our late pears will be uncertain in bearing, and subject to many contingencies, from late springs, cold summers, early frosts, high winds, &,c. Fruit medium size, somewhat like the Crasanne in appearance. Skin dark green, vvhh cloudy spots. Flesh whitish, very melting, buttery, juicy, with an agreeable flavor. Ripe in November, and keeps well till the middle of February. This pear originated in the garden of John Lewis, Esq. of Rox- bury, after whom it has been named. The tree is supposed to be about forty years old. A fine painting of this variety, taken from a pear from the original tree, is in the possession of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Bleeker's Meadow. Pr. Pom. Man. p. 215. This variety has been spoken of in high terms, and said to com- pare in all respects with the Seckle, and the size twice as large. It has been very much overrated in quality and size. It is, however, a beautiful small pear. I had five scions on one tree, which bore last year (the fourth from grafting) four dozen fruit. The branches are now full of blossom buds. Fruit considerable under medium size, of the Bergamot form. Skin deep yellow. Flesh buttery and juicy, with a pleasant perfume, radier musky, flavor resembling the old Minot pear. 92 Hints on the Preparation of Fruit Borders. Ripe in November. Said to have orifjinated near New York. Specimens of the fruit first presented to the Massachusetts HorticuUural Society last season. Clapp. N. E. Farmer, Vol. viii. p. 51. Prince's Pom. Man. p. 143. The original tree of this variety continues to grow finely, and seldom fails to produce a good crop of fruit annually. The tree continues to drop hs foliage about the first of September. Fruit under medium size. Skin yellowish, with faint touches of red. Flesh whitish, melting, juicy, the flavor much resembling the old Cathe- rine or " Kattern " pear. Ripe the middle of August. This variety was raised by William Clapp, Esq. of Dorchester about twenty-five years since. It has been named in compliment to him. Specimens of the fruit were first presented to the Massachu- setts Horticultural Society in 1S29 by Mr. Clapp. In the cultivation of pears, I have committed two great mistakes — one was, continuing to hold on to the old varieties for so great a length of time. Thirty years since, they produced fi'uit annually, and, by their constant and sure crops, I became much attached to them. Now, however, only three remain, viz. — the Crasanne, Chaumon- telle, and the Jargonelle. I shall engraft the two former the coming spring, and if the latter continues to deteriorate as it has for the last three or four years, I shall engraft that also. Several of my trees are mossy, and the branches show strong marks of old age. The other was, — and one which every cultivator should avoid, — cultivating too many new varieties (one hundred and twenty-eight), without a better knowledge of their quality, than that acquired from general information. I am fully sensible I shall be obliged to cut out more than half of my varieties, and it is very injurious to always be en- grafting and cutting trees. The time has now arrived that a selec- tion may be made with great certainty. Yours, Samuel Downer. Dorchester, January 2^t1i, 1835. Art. II. Some Remarks on the Disadvantages which Gardeners labor under ; with Hints on the Importance of gi ring more Attention to the Preparation of Fruit Borders, S>)'c. By Mr. T. Willott. Sirs, I TRUST the following remarks will not be misconstrued, as they pro- ceed not from theory alone, but from actual practice and observation. In England and America it is generally known, as well as by many practical gardeners and horticulturalists in this vicinity, that the rea- son so few good fruits and flowers are produced for exhibition and for Hints on the Preparation of Fruit Borders. 93 the table, proceeds not from a deficiency of skill, but from the want of time, so necessary for the production of fine and perfect specimens ; in consequence of which the practical gardener is unable to compete with those wl:o have every convenience to enable them to raise a variety of rich and rare productions. It is well known to every cultivator, that his ground ought to be well [)repared, or he cannot expect to reap a good crop. In order to accomplish this, it requires a longer period to execute the work than most gardeners are allowed ; and for the want of proper time and materials, he fails in some of the most important branches of his business. After having prepared his land, the seed is sown, or the tree planted ; next comes the attention necessary to perfect the crop, and this part of the work often proves the most troublesome, and frequently fails by some unforeseen acci- dent, or from a multitude of visitors that too often intrude upon his time : I knovv of no class of men that are more troubled with too many guests tlian the gardener. Some seasons are very unfa- vorable for delicate crops, but this, of course, the gardener is not an- swerable for : there are other reasons why some fail in producing good crops; one of v>-hich is allowing them to remain too thick ; and for this reason they do not succeed in producing what are considered by horticulturalists good specimens. This is a point that every ex- perienced gardener endeavors to guard against, but he is sometimes overpowered with the pressure of work, in consequence of which he cannot do as he otherwise would. Tiiere are many who plant fruit trees, shrubs, Sic, without making any preparation suitable for their growth and prolific bearing ; this proves an unprofitable way of plant- ing ; but to procure good specimens of fruit, it is necessary to begin the work judiciously, by laying a good foundation before the tree is planted ; and here it may be proper to point out such kinds as re- quire the most particular attention. The grape in this climate, I consider, requires the greatest skill to ripen it to perfection ; but of its culture 1 shall for the present pass over. The peach in England requires the gardener's most particular attention to enable him to grow large and fine-flavored fruit ; and its culture is, every year, becoming more dlflicult in this climate. In the former, it is grown against high brick walls, where it arrives to great perfection, and is deservedly admired ; and it is one of the young gardener's greatest achievements in horticulture, to train it in a beau- tiful style to the wall ; the peach is planted generally on a south and south-west aspect, and as much trouble is taken to prepare the bor- der, as is taken in this country to make a border for the grape vine ; it also requires as much attention to select and ripen the fruit bear- ing wood for the ensuing year, as it does to encourage the fine clear cane of the vine, for a good crop of grapes. Those who have not seen or read of the attention that is necessary to be given to the peach in England, would hardly credit it ; the summer season is the time that care is requisite, to keep the young fruitful wood thin, 94 Propagation of the Grape Vine. and close to the wall, in order to ripen it well. I am confident that the peach will not thrive long in this climate, without similar at- tention is paid to its cultivation. The apricot is also grown in the same way on a westerly aspect, and all other choice fruits for the table are planted in such situations as to come in at different seasons. I have seen the grape grown to perfection about London, where the roots have been planted ten feet below the side-walks, and the vines trained against the houses, and where little or no preparation has been made for thein but the waste of bricks from the building ; the kinds were the old Sweet-water, and Miller's black cluster. I have also seen the grape in the west of England, one hundred and sixty miles from London, do equally as well as those near the city ; they sometimes make a trestlti, on the south roof of their houses, to train them on, and pro- cure most excellent fruit ; the reflection from the heated slate roof ripens them in good season. It is necessary, in order to pi'oduce good specimens of the apple, to pay better attention than is com- monly done. Li Europe they prune the trees every spring, clean off the rough bark, keep the trees free from suckers round the roots, and manure and dig round them once or twice a year ; by so doing they have fine clear fruit ; it is a very good plan, and one that is frequently adopted, to plant potatoes in beds or rows, between the trees ; this I consider, for two reasons, to be a good system ; you get two crops off the same ground ; and, by keeping it loose round the trees, the roots get the benefit of the sun and rain. You will see by observation, that where trees are not dug round in grass fields, they soon get covered over with moss ; in consequence of which the fruit is small, and of a bad quality. There are many persons who have followed gardening for a few years, and have been very successful in what they have undertaken ; but we are not always to expect from them general information ; they do not view, probably, the garden- er's work in all its different branches. Let the gardener's vrork be looked at by the practical man, who has followed it for years, and he will be the best judge to decide between good and bad manage- ment. Yours, T. WiLLOTT. Roxbury, Feb. 6th, 1835. Art. III. On the Propagation of the Grape Vine ; with Observa- tions on its 3Ianasfemcnt, Priming, S^'c, in the Green-house and Grapery, and the Formation of Vine Borders. By J. W. Russell. [Continued from page 48.] Gentlemen, I WITH pleasure continue my remarks on the culture of the grape. It will, perhaps, better accord with my plan, to give some practical Propagation of the Grape Vine. 95 details on the formation of vine borders, as I suppose the plants to be in readiness, and certainly the preparation of the borders should pre- cede the planting of the vines. But before I proceed to give my ideas on this head, I beg leave to make a few remarks. In perusing the second number of your Magazine, I was struck with an extract (page 6'2) entitled, " Propagation of Vines on the Coiling System, by John Mearns." — In this Mr. Mearns asserts that the great advan- tage of the coiled branch is, the extraordinary space of time gained over the single eye system, or by cuttings, or even by the usual mode of layers. It is rather astonishing, especially as we must sup- pose Mr. Mearns to be a practical gardener, that he should have for- gotten that this extraordinary advantage is only for one season (over the single eye) ; it is well known that a vine can be grown from a single eye under glass, the first year, from fifteen to twenty feet in length, and proportionably strong, and can be fruited the second. I believe I do not exaggerate in saying this much, that as many bunches of grapes could be thus obtained, and of as good a quality as from the coiling system. It will be perceived by this that the ad- vantage is not either so very extraordinary, or so great as might be supposed. The second year of fruiting the vines from eyes would make up for the time lost the first season, by producing twice the quantity of grapes or more ; and it strikes me very forcibly, of abet- ter and finer flavor than can be obtained from vines grown in pots. 1 wish it to be understood, that the vines I speak of are supposed to be growing in a well prepared border. Mr. Mearns further adds, — ■ *' a vine excited to a high degree of luxuriance, is neither the most fruitful nor produces the finest or best grapes ; I have seen Ham- burghs, from three to six and eight pounds weight each bunch, the vines comparatively weak, and the vine border very shallow, and by no means rich. As curiosity will be created by such a remark, 1 beg leave to state, that such grapes were repeatedly produced by a Mr. Minnett, formerly gardener to Mrs. Powes, Berwick House, near Shrewsbury." It is more than probable, that after Mr. Minnett left this situation, no more six and eight pound bunches of grapes were produced ; it may be asked for what reason, as he could not do any injury to the vines, without running the hazard of his successor's detecting it. I do not suppose that the vines would be mutilated in any way what- ever, but simply that the excitement was gone. I confess that I am of this opinion, that very few fine grapes could be grown, espe- cially to the enormous weight of six or eight pounds each bunch, either in England or America, without the aid of some powerful stimulus. I have been acquainted with the management of grape vines up- wards of twenty-five years, the major part of this time in England, and have never seen large bunches of grapes produced from vines that had the least appearance of weakness; but have invariably no- 96 J^ropagatioji of the Grape Vine. ticed the largest and finest clusters, on strong, luxuriant wood. If I could have my choice of wood for producing large bunches, I should choose the largest growths, with this provision, — the wood should be round, plump, short jointed, and well I'ipened. This is a point that ought never to he lost sight of; the ripening of the wood is one of the j)rincipal agents in producing fine grapes ; for it must be considered that strong, luxuriant wood is generally a much longer time in ripening the fruit than weak ; and I have no doubt that the reason many persons have failed in fruiting strong wood, was on account of its being soft and pithy, and of course could not be expected to give a good crop of fruit. The remarks made by Mr. Mearns on the grape vine, which I have quoted, may be the means of deluding hundreds, if we are to believe it to be a fact, that there is no necessity of preparing a rich compost for the vine ; but simply to plant them in a shallow border, by no means rich, with the expectation of having bunches of fruit that will weigh from three to six and eight pounds each ; it would be nothing short of folly to attempt to beat this system ; but there is a doubt in my mind attending the practice, for if even M'hat has been stated is correct, it is one instance in a thousand, and should by no means be followed with any hopes of reward. In the formation of a vine border, I shall first recommend to those who wish to make a good one, to procure, if possible, the top sod of an old pasture field, where cattle and slieep have been ])astured for years ; this should be preferred to any other, as it would pretty near make the compost of itself. However, this kind of sod, which is certainly the most desirable, cannot always be obtained ; but the nearer we approximate to it the better ; the sods should be dug up with about four inches of the soil adhering to them, the whole to be taken as near to the spot where the border is to be made, as prac- ticable. By so doing it will save considerable labor in wheeling, &c., remembering to throw the sods up into a round heap, or to to make a ridge of them ; either method will answer the purpose. In about two months, or a greater length of time, the compost should be turn- ed over, breaking it up quite small and fine, with a spade or shovel, and mixing the whole well together ; tliis thoroughly done, make it up into a snug heap ; and it is all that is necessary, until wanted for the border. In the next place prepare for some old rich manure, either from horses or cows, or a mixture of each ; such as has laid in a heap for one or two years, until it has become more in appearance like a rich heap of mould, than manure, is much better than that rank, and strong ; such as can be obtained at slaughter-houses, &c. should not by any means be used for this purpose, unless it has laid for two or three years, and become as just mentioned. If such can be procur- ed I should recommend it to be mixed with the sods in the following manner : — to three wheel-barrows full of the sods add one of the Method adopted in Planting an Orchard. 97 manure, and so continue on until the whole is finished; if the com- post appears to be of a stiff, binding nature, a few cart-loads of coarse sand (and bones, if they can be iiad) will be found to be of great ser- vice in keeping it open. The largest and finest grapes I ever saw in England, were produced from vines growing in a compost similar to what is here recommended. Those who wish to make such a provision for the grape vine, as above stated, ought to begin to collect the materials six or eight months before they will be wanted for use. Yours, J. W. Russell. Mount Auburn, Cambridge, Feb. 10th, 1835. (To be Continued.) Art. IV. Detail of a Mf.thod adopted in Planting out an Orchard of six Acrrs with Apple and Pear Trees, in 1830 and 1S31 ; Deep Planting dispensed with. By B. V. F. All the varieties of fruits known to the writer, that were deemed important to the wants, or embellishments of the garden or orchard, had been procured previous to the organization of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. By the formation of this excellent society, however, and the exertions of several of its members, a great num- ber of new and valuable fruits were brought into notice, by its exten- sive correspondence with other similar societies in Europe, and on the continent. Such as had been tasted, or highly recommended by the committee, were deemed of sufficient value and importance to be added to the selection, which embraced a large number of varieties. A piece of land was decided upon, which was thought the best suited for the growth and future liealth of the trees, the embellishment of the place, and least liable to be encroached upon by future alterations of improvements upon the farm. Agreeing with Dr. Johnson, that " with method, almost any thing may be done, and without method, nothing well done," the follow- ing system was adopted : — A plan of the land was procured ; the distances from which each tree was to be placed from the other, each way, was decided upon, which averaged about thirty-three feet ; a reference book in connection with the plan of the land was next pro- cured, and on it was designated each variety of tree, in its relative position. The land was then prepared, by taking from its surface all the stones, stumps, trees, shrubs, bushes, Sic, all holes or uneven places were filled up, and the ground made as level as possible ; the land was then ploughed deep, with the sod smoothly inverted ; it was also harrowed five times lengthwise of the furrows, previous to VOL. I. NO. III. O 98 Cyltivation of the Purple Egg Plant. planting, which caused the soil to be broken up fine, without disturb- ing the sods. The trees were selected from the various nurseries around Boston,. Salem, New York, Albany and Philadelphia, amounting to one hun- dred and ei2;ht varieties of apples, and forty-two of pears, — in all two hundred and twenty trees. The trees were all forwarded to me in the fall of 1830, and placed in a trench dug sufficiently deep ta cover the roots, and secure them from the frosts and cold of winter, to be ready for planting out in the ensuing spring. Each variety had been noted and labelled while in the trench, in such a manner^ as to guard against the loss of their names. Previous to setting out the trees in the spring of 1831, in their intended places, the land had been well manured, and harrowed in. Placing the plan on a board with the reference book, the respective place of each tree with their proper distances was easily found with the aid of a surveyor's chain ; from one to two inches only of the soil was taken from the sod, and the trees carefully planted, — previously to which, however, they were properly and judiciously pruned, and the roots trimmed of all broken or bruised fragments, if in some instances it could be said they had roots. In this manner the whole number were placed out^ and covered with a little free rich mould, not over two inches, pud- dled with river water and gently trod. This was done in the last week in April, and serious doubts were apprehended whether they would in this manner stand alone. The land was planted between the trees with corn and potatoes, without further ploughing, and an excellent crop was obtained ; but two trees died, and only four more required additional soil on their roots ; and so far, I have never had trees do better, during twenty years' experience, in the management of an or- chard of twenty acres. I have no doubt, had the land been deeply trenched to the depth of one or two feet, and from six to twelve feet in diameter, where each tree was set, they would have done much better ; but this is too forbidding to most persons. I have only aimed in this communication to give you what I consider practicable. In all cases I would impress upon the garden- er, orchardist, or farmer, to avoid deep planting, as it is not necessa- ry to preserve trees from high winds, and is absolutely deleterious to their future progress and health. Yours, B. V. F. Boston, Feb. lOth, 1835. Art. V. On the Cultivation of the Purple Variety of Egg Plant (Soldnum ovigerum.) By the Conductors. The White Egg Plant is an annual, a native of Africa. It was introduced into England in the year 1597, and has ever since been Cultivation of the Purple Egg Plant. 99 cultivated as an ornamental green-house plant. It grows about two feet high, with somewhat pendent branches ; the flowers are of a pale violet color, and are followed by a large berry, or fruit, of an oval shape and clear white color, very much resembling, when not overgrown, a hen's egg, Tiie original species, the white, is seldom made use of, but the purple variety is, by the French and Italian cooks, generally used in stews and soups ; and dressed in different methods, it forms a very delicate dish. In the East and West Indies it is used in hke man- ner, and is also cultivated for the general purposes of the love-apple. We have raised specimens of the purple, which have weighed be- tween three and four pounds. We observed at the Horticultural Society's exhibition last fall, some plants in pots bearing one or two fruits of very large size ; and we have occasionally seen them in our markets, of fair quality ; they seem to have been almost wholly un- known as a culinary vegetable, and have generally been sold at a price, which would not pay the marketer for his trouble in bringing them to the city. From this cause, their cultivation has been neg- lected, and they are now seldom to be found. Within the two past years, however, we have known some, in the early part of the season, to command a good price, and we doubt not but in a few years they will be as eagerly sought after as the Tomato. Our New England summers are not of sufficient length to bring to perfection this vegetable, unless the seeds are planted in a hot-bed in the month of iMarch, and the plants transplanted to the open gar- den in May or June. Those persons, therefore, who have not a hot- ted, cannot expect to raise them, unless they procure the plants from some place where plenty of seedings are grown. Our method of cultivation was as follows : — In the month of March, we sowed the seeds in a pot filled with light rich soil, and placed it in a hot-bed, the minimum temperature of which was about seventy-five degrees ; as soon as the plants were up, we placed them where they would receive the influence of the air admitted into the bed, to prevent their drawing up weakly ; for if this is not attended to, the young seedings are invariably destroyed. As soon as they threw out two rough leaves, we potted them off singly into pots, (No. 2,) in the same soil as the seeds were planted. Water was given rather sparingly at first to prevent dampness ; but as soon as the plants showed signs of growing, it was given more freely. The heat of the bed was not suffered to decline, as this would check them at once. In four or five weeks they were again repotted, using pots of the 4th size. In these they remained till May, when they were turned out in the garden. The plants should be set about two and a half feet apart each way, if planted in a bed ; but we have grown them on the edges of walks and flower borders, where we not only found them to grow luxuriantly, but were quite an ornament; three or four of their large dark purple fruit, on each plant, having a very 5howy appearance. 100 Cultivation of PerMns's Seedling Potato. Prepare the soil where each plant is to be set, by first taking out two or three spades full ; then till the hole partly up with old rotten manure, composed of decayed leaves, or dung from an old hot-bed ; mix the soil first taken out with this, place in the plant and level off, finishing with a very light watering, if dry weather. If the plants are well rooted in the pots, and the transplanting judiciously done, they will not require shading from the sun. When they show flow- er, they should have a stake put dow^n to each, to which they fshould be tied, as the weight of the fruit, as it grows, will be liable to break the branches. No other particular care is requisite throughout the summer. Art. VI. Observations on the Cultivation of the early Variety of Potato called Perkins's Seedling. By Samuel Pond. Gentlemen, Having repeatedly been requested by you to give an account of my success in raising early potatoes, I send you the following brief remarks : — The early potatoes that have been exhibited by me for several years in succession at the Hall of the Massachusetts Horti- cultural Society, and so frequently the first in the market, were raised from the variety generally called Perkins's seedling. I first receiv- ed a small quantity from my friend, Solomon Perkins, Esq., of South Bridgewater. They were the produce of a kind which he raised from the potato balls, a year or two previous. Whether or not he adopted the method pursued in England by many of the most scientific cultivators, of cross impregnation in the parents of this va- riety, 1 am not aware ; but that this kind is much earlier in com- ing to maturity, than any other raised about Boston, is too well known to need repetition. The manner in which I have planted the potato is somewhat dif- ferent from that generally pursued by most gardeners ; the soil where they were grown was deep, and rich. Early in the spring I usually gave the ground a deep ploughing, after which it lay exposed till the time of planting ; — this was done according to the earliness or late- ness of the season — sometimes early in March, and again not till the latter part of the month. When ready for sowing, drills were made three and a half feet apart. The manure that I generally made use of, was very strawy and coarse ; I have had good success by using the covering of leaves, sea-weed, &,c. taken from strawberry beds in the spring ; — spreading it in the furrows. The potatoes that I have generally selected for seed were fair, and about the middle size ; I prefer such, to those that are large and overgrown. The small ones, however, I invariably refuse, as they do not come forward so early, On the Cultivation of Annuals. 101 and never grow vigorously. It is too frequently the practice vi^ith many persons, to sell all those large and fair, and plant the small ones remaining on hand. Nothing can be more prejudicial than this, for it soon causes a deterioration in size and quality, which by some is supposed to be a mixture with some other variety. Tiie pota- toes were cut in half, and planted about six inches apart. I omitted covering them for three or four days, unless frosty weather, as I found that they were apt to rot ; but by leaving them to shrivel for a short time, and then covering thcui at once, they started much sooner and made stronger shoots, though it is characteristic of this variety never to make strong vines. When they were hoed, I was careful they were hilled up very sparingly, for when covered too deep I observed their flavor was inferior to those grown where the soil was more shallow. I have tried a number of varieties which were reputed to be very early, and also of excellent flavor ; but 1 have never found any of them so early as the Perkins seedling, or any that would so well repay all the trouble bestowed on their cultivation. The size of this variety is large, some that I dug on the VStk of June, 1830, measuring nine and a half inches in circumference, and per- fectly ripe. The potatoes are of excellent qualhy ; where this variety has been raised in the country, some distance from the city, it has been preferred to almost every other, exclusive of its earliness, for yielding large and abundant crops. I have now mostly given up the raising of potatoes, having my ground chiefly occupied with grape vines, he. Among other varie- ties, is one I have raised from seed, the fruit of which I have once or twice exhibited to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. In some future number 1 hope to give you an account of its origin, together with some observations I have made, in raising several vines from seed of the Isabella, k,c. v c -d ' Yours, bAMUEL rOND. Cambridgeport, Feb. 6th, 1835. Art. VII. Observations on the Cultivation of Anmials ; with an Account of those choice and beautiful of late Introduction ; and Remarks on the Varieties most suitable for planting in 3Iasses. By the Coxductors. The cultivation of annual plants is so common, by every individ- ual possessing a garden, that it may seem unnecessary to have re- course to a Magazine for further information. It is true, that many of the old inhabitants of the flower border need no care to produce their beautiful flowers, and some are almost as troublesome to the gardener as weeds. It is not to these, however, that our remarks are 102 On the Cultivation of Annuals. intended to apply. A few only, of those which have been long cul- tivated, we shall consider as deserving of any particular notice. Since the first introduction into our gardens of that beautiful and showy plant, the Calliupsis bicolor, (formerly Coreopsis, discovered by that excellent botanist, Thomas Nuttall, Esq., in Arkansas Terri- tory,) our gardens have annually received new and elegant acces- sions. These accessions have been generally plants of our own country, although they have come to us through the Enghsh gardens and nurseries. A few of the most choice and delicate are Chilean species, but the greater part are natives of that region near the Colum- bia river, on the Nortli-west coast. Through the exertions of the London Horticultural Society they have been introduced. At great expense they have kept out Mr. David Douglas, a most indefatigable botanist, from whom they have received nearly all their new additions. Many of them have been recently introduced into our gardens, and will probably in a few years take the place of many of the old vari- eties, which scarcely deserve to be cultivated. It is to this class of plants, that our flower gardens and pleasure grounds are indebted, for the greater part of their splendor, during the warm and summer months of July, August and September. Annuals are divided into three classes, viz : — hardy, half-hardy, and tender. The first may be sown in the fall, or early in the spring, without receiving any damage from frost : the second may be sown in the open garden, when all spring frosts are over: the third require the protection of a hot-bed or green-house to forward them, till ready for planting out in June or July. We shall commence with the latter. Tender Annuals. The seed of these should be sown in pots and placed in a hot-bed, in February or March. When they have made four or ^ve leaves they should be potted into small ])ots, which should be repeated till the warm weather admits of their being planted out in the garden. Gomphrena globosa (Globe amaranthus). This showy annual, though for years known in our gardens, does not seem to have been generally cultivated. This, we believe, has arisen from many persons not being able to make the seed vegetate. We have heard many such complaints, and the fault is frequently laid to the seedsman. — One instance we have had related to us, where the seed failed ten years in succession. We cannot but commend the patience one must possess, to persevere after such frequent disappointments. In- quiring in what manner the seed was planted, we immediately discov- ered the cause. The seed is enveloped with a light down or pappus, which should be removed before planting, or else all efforts to make it vegetate will ])rove unavailing. Nor is removing this covering alone necessary ; the seed should be soaked in milk, or milk and water, ten or twelve hours previous to planting. They should be sown in a pot, rather thin, and placed in a hot-bed ; when they have On the Culiivaiion of Annuals. 103 six or eight leaves they should be potted into pots of the first size (three inches in diameter), and again placed in the bed, plunging the pots If convenient ; in a few days they will need repotting, which should be performed as often as required. The soil should be light and rich, composed mostly of leaves and perfectly decayed manure, with very little loam. They should have plenty of water after the second potting, and placed where they can have the influence of the air, to make them grow stocky. In the month of June they should be turned out of the pots Into the garden, where they need no further care. Propagated In this manner, the plants will in autumn be three feet high, and covered with heads of their showy flowers. There are three varieties : Gomphrena globosa, G. globosa alba, and G. glo- bosa striata (the latter very rare.) Lnpatiens balsamina (Double balsamine). It is seldom that this beautiful annual is seen growing in its greatest perfection. Generally,, the plants in our gardens are small and weak, with only a few spikes of single, or semi-double flowers. Great care is requisite in saving the seed, so as to produce full double blossoms. The seed should be sown in pots in the hot-bed, and the plants treated similar to the Globe amaranthus, as just mentioned. The spotted and variegated varieties are the most beautiful. Celosia crisiata (Cock's-comb). This is a showy annual, and when cultivated whh care, its large cock's-comb heads make a magnificent show. The seeds should be sown in a hot-bed, and the plants potted into the second size pots, (four inches in diameter.) As they pro- ceed in growth, all lateral shoots should be taken off"; and they should not be repotted, till the flowers are somewhat developed. They should then be put into large pots, in a very rich soil, and water- ed with liquid manure. Treated in this manner the blossoms attain a large size. Two varieties: C. cristata, and C. cristata flavescens. Salpiglossis stram'tnca var. p'lcta. This exquishely beautiful an- nual we flowered last season, for the first time in the country. The atropurpurea, Barclayana, and hybrida, were also flowered in this vicinity : neither of thern, we think, are to be compared with the picta, in splendor. The Salpiglossises are very delicate plants, and suffer very much by our heavy rains, and high winds. We are in- clined to the opinion that they will never be cultivated to any extent in the open border. We had only two plants of the picta, one of which we placed in the green-house, where it flowered much more elegantly than the other in the garden. The seeds were sown in the hot-bed, and when the plants had made four or five leaves, they were potted into small pots, and again placed in the hot-bed, where they remained until removed to the green-house and garden. The varieties do not seed freely. The soil for the plants in pots, should be composed of loam and leaf mould, with a little sand ; too rich a soil causes them to die off, when just showing bloom. The varieties are Salpiglossis straminea, straminea picta, hybrida, Barclayana, linearis, and atropurpiirea. 104 RemoTl^s on Rural Scenery, the Cottage Garden, &/"€. Schizanthus phuidtus. This lovely species of plants should be cul- tivated in every garden. We do not know of any annual, that com- bines so much delicacy with splendor. They are, however, rather difficult of cultivation, often dying off at the base of the stem, after they have begun to open their blossoms. The first signs of decay are drooping of the foliage ; and water is generally administered as a remedy ; — this, however, only serves to hasten decay. The roots are very fine and delicate, and it is a superabundance of water that causes the above effects ; we have often thought it too rich a soil. The pots should be well drained, and the plants elevated a little in the centre of the pots, to allow the water to pass off freely from the stem, which is the part liable to be affected. The soil best suited for them is leaf mould, rotten dung and loam. We think the Schizanthus, like the Salpiglossis, will not be generally grown in the open garden, from the same reasons there mentioned. The varieties are Schizanthus pinnatus, porrigens, retusus, Hookerii, Priestii, pinnatus humilis and Grahamii. We hope to favor our readers with a communication on their cultivation, by Mr. Haggerston, gardener to J. P. Gushing, Esq., who has been very successful in his practice. (To be Omliime.d.) Art. VIII. Remarks on Rural Scenery, the Cottage Garden, Sfc. By Junius. Tn reference to the many branches connected with horticulture, "The Gottage Garden" is, perhaps, one of the most rustic features of Rural Economy. However neglected this department may seem to be at present, the additional impulse given to horliculture, will, evi- dently, at some future period, bring into notice this interesting branch of rural scenery. The subject does not appear at the first view to invite our attention to the very important consideration of the public welfare, and additional value to property ; but on a close investiga- tion, it not only proves inviting, but also of common interest to all classes of people. The attentive traveller will most generally find the cottage of con- tentment, where the approaches and appendages are converted into a flower garden ; and generally, good morals and industry are the leading characters of its inmates. — The (lower garden in such cases is cultivated by a joint attention of the family, from the parents to the younger branches, and the time devoted to its culture is the leis- ine hours that would, perhaps, be spent to a greater disadvantage. Hence a unison of social industry is combined with innocent and nat- ural pleasure ! And often I have seen the younger members of such Remarks on Rural Scenery, the Cottage Garden, &/-c. 105 habitations strolling from their " cot," in quest of wild flowers to dec- orate their little parterre, with rosy cheeks, in infantile ecstasy. Such rustic decorations always enliven native scenery, and impart to the traveller a theme of moral rectitude. The additional value to property has another bearing on this spe- cies of horticulture ; this accrues from the comforts arising from a well-stocked fruit garden, from which the cottager receives the fruit from the trees, as the season ripens the different varieties in their successive progressions. To him the flavor of the fruit is generally agreeable, and being of his own produce, adds to its value. The generous vine too spreads its rustic arbor, and at once forms a cool retreat, while it presents its pendulous clusters of luscious fruit, as an inviting and refreshing repast to its humble pruner. The well regu- lated vegetable garden also adds to his comforts such esculent food as is not only agreeable to the taste, but in every way conducive to health ; and the whole seems to form a pleasing congruity of the contented cottage. And surely, gentle reader, such comforts as these are of too binding a nature to cause that changeable disposition of migrating from one dwelling to another, too often seen and experi- enced in many places, to the disadvantage of the landlord and tenant. In the above shuation every tree and plant appears to the cottager a welcome dweller, and is cherished as such, and a connected com- fort arising therefrom endears him to home, whilst the good condition of the property, proves to be a pleasing and satisfactory compendium to the estate of the most afiluent landholder. When the intelligent traveller passes through a country where the well-cultivated cottage garden presents itself in general, he at once discovers an enterprising and intelligent community. The valleys to him appear more fertile, the hills more cheerful, the streams mean- der among the rustic cots in perfect harmony with the scene, and at some future day he discloses to his friends the happy condition of the contented cottager. Junius. Neiv York, Feb. 4th, 1835. We shall be highly pleased to receive a continuation of such remaiks on rural improvement. We intend to devote considerable attention to that part of our Magazine, which relates to rural affairs : — Impressed with the belief that it is a spe- cies of improvement nearly allied to horticulture, and in a degree, the first step to its more general adoption. The love of flowers and plants must precede a taste for higher and more important objects ; and in the proportion that this love is in- stilled into the mind of the young farmer or cottager, an interest is excited to cultivate and mature the earth's more choice and rich productions. Men who have never made their home the "rustic cot," or in their youthful days wandered through the fields and pastures in quest of the first vernal snowdrop, or the fra- grant blossoms of the hawthorn, seldom imbibe a real taste for rural scenery, or feel a desire to improve the appearance of a country as formed by nature. But the lands of the farmer, with taste and care, may be made to add picturesque beauty to the scenery of the country, and to produce fruits and vegetables more conducive to his comfort, if his attention can be turned to rural and domestic improvement. It is a subject of deep interest, and one to which we wish to call the attention of our readers and correspondents. — Conds. VOL. I. NO. III. P 106 Review of Loudoii's Gardener's Magazine. REVIEWS. Art. I. The Gardener's Magazine, and Register of Rural and Do- mestic Improvement. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, Esq., F. L. S. H. S. &c. In Monthly Numbers, 8vo. Is. 6d. each. Nos. LVI. LVII. for November and December. In our future Reviews of this excellent Magazine, we shall endeavor to give an account of every original article, extracting such useful information from each, as will be likely to prove valuable and interest- ing to our readers. In this manner our pages will contain the es- sence of all that appears each month, and which, from the extensive- ness of its correspondents, contains all the improvements in horti- culture, floriculture, &tc. Art. 1. Observations made during a Horticultural Tour through the Eastern Part of the County of Fife. By Wm. Smith. This article contains an account of several residences in the County of Fife. Mr. Ingram, gardener to Lord Pitmally, is stated as very successful in raising the Primula praenitens from seed, " which he attributes to his method of distributing the pollen, and effecting the proper impregnation of the flowers, which is merely to blow occasionally on the flowers of the plants while they remain ex- panded." On the seat of the Hon. W. Keith Douglas are a page of remarks. " Here we observed," says the writer, in speaking of the grape, "as well as at other places, that incurable disease, called the damping or shrivelling of the foot- stalks of the berries and bunchrs, notwithstanding what has lately been written in this Magazine. Mr. J. D. P. says that the cause is cold damp air, and the cure plenty of lire heat. We are also strong advocates for plenty of heat, air, and water : our opinion, however, is, that the evil is not contained in the atmos- phere of the house at all; but is a defect of the roots of the vine, and a want of proj)er nourishment; for every gardener knows that the disease first shows itself when the greatest demand is made upon the roots by the crop ; and if it be a heavy one, the greater is the disease. In our opinion, the best way to cure the disease, or at least, to lessen the evil, is to keep the vine border well mulched until the fruit is fully swelled, and then lightly to fork up the surface of the border. We would also thin well the bunches; give plenty of heat, air and water ; and not allow the vine to bear too large a crop." Art. 2. A Description of the Moss House in the Flower-Garden at Bagshot Park. Designed and executed by Mr. Andrew Toward, Gardener to Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Gloucester. Com- municated by Mr. Toward. This article contains an account of building a house of moss, ac- companied with several wood cuts, descriptive of the method and style of building. " The ceiling of the portico is inlaid with moss of various colors, repre- senting a star and n 75 75 1 00 25 25 50 20 25 37 50 10 25 0 12 3:1 37 Squashes and PumpJcins. Canada, per cwt Common crook-neck,. , . Liima, Pumpkins, each, Pot and Sweet Herbs. Parsley, per half peck Sage, per lb Marjoram, Savory, Spearmint, .- Fruits. Apples : _ , , . ( per barrel, Baldwms, | jie^ bushel, „ . I per barrel, P«"'"'^'"«'i per bushel, -r, ,. ( per barrel, Russctts, jj;„ bushel, N. Y. Pippins, per barrel,.... Pears : Iron white, for baking, per barrel, per bushel, Sweet baking, per bushel, Old St. Germain, per dozen,. . Quinces, per bushel, r. u • ^ per barrel, Cranberries, {'^ , , ; ' I per bushel, Grapes, foreign, per pound, Pine Apples, each, Oranges, jier hundred, Lemons, per hundred, Chestnuts, per bushel, Walnuts, j P«r h'"'-'--!. ' / per bushel, Almonds, per pound, Filberts, pur pound, Castana, per pound, From $ cts. none. 3 00 3 00 25 50 20 50 25 80 3 00 1 50 3 50 1 50 3 00 1 .50 3 25 5 on 2 00 none. none. 7 00 2 50 37 25 1 00 75 3 50 4 00 13 ti 4 To $ cte. 4 00 4 00 30 4 00 4 00 2 00 3 50 ] 75 3 75 7 50 3 00 50 1 50 1 00 4 00 4 50 2 GO 15 8 6 Remarks. The market continues to be well siijiplied with its various ar- ticles, considering the prevalence of the cold weatlier. A slight increase in prices on most of tlie market productions, will naturally take place as the season advances, and the winter stores become exhausted. Good Potatoes re- main scarce and nearl}' the same as in our last. Common kinds are tolerably plenty ; prime Eastport are much wanted, and command a slight advance from our last ; there are many stored about in dift(3rent places, but they have mostly been frozen. Turnips are sufficiently plenty. Onions are in great demand and very few to be had ; the prices have advanced considerably, as will be seen by our quotations. This was not expected from the great supplies in the fall, and the very depressed rates at which they sold. Beets, Parsnips, &c. are plenty. Radishes come to hand more abundantly and of finer quality. Cabbages are not so plenty as they have been ; and fine Drumheads com- mand high prices. Broccoli and Cauliflowers are much sought after, but there are very few to be had, especially those of fine quality. Celery has .idvanced a shade ; much of that stored for spring use has been frozen, and consequently injured in flavor. Lettuce now comes in much more plentifully, and prices have decreased. Squashes continue in great demand, and the winter supplies having become nearly exhausted, prices have advanced ; none of the true Canada are to be found in the market. Pot and Sweet Herbs are not generally in great demand ; Parsley, however, is much sought after. Ap- ples are scarce and much wanted, particidaily for shipping, and )»rices have continued to increase since our last. Very few Pears of any kind are to be found in the market. A few of the old Iron Pears for baking, command the Mass. Hort. Soc. — Meteorological Notices, Sfc. 119 prices in our quotations. Cranberries are scarce and high. Foreign Grapes are all out of the market. Lemons are plenty and sell at low prices. Chest- nuts have advanced a shade. Walnuts are more abundant. M. T. Boston, Feb. 20th, 1835. Art. V. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Saturday, January Slst.— Exhibited.— From John Heard, Esq., specimens of an Apple supposed to be a native variety; the scions were taken from a tree growing in Ipswich, which produced fruit more than sixty years since. Mr. Heard "has named it the Ipsvvicli apple. Size large, skin fine red and yellow, striped with a still darker red. Flesh very tender, juicy and rich ; — an excellent fruit. Cork Russet ajiples from Mr. Micah H. Ruggles, of Fall River; the same variety was exhibited the 17th, and mentioned in our report (p. 78.) Mr. Ruggles s'tated that they had been touched by frost, and could not be considered as fair specimens. February lith.— Exhibited.— A bouquet of flowers from Messrs. Winship— consisting of Geraniimis, Roses, Schizanthus, Hoitzia, Alunsoa incisifolia. Calendula hybrida, Erica, Diosma, &c. &c. Art. VI. Meteorological JVotices. FOR JANUARY. Thermometer.— Mean temperature 22° 11. Highest 51°— Lowest 14° below Zero. Winds.— N. seven days— E. two— S. E. one— S. three— S. W. six— W. five — N. W. seven. Character of the Weather. Fine sixteen days— Fair six days— Cloudy nine days. MONTHLY CALENDAR OF HORTICULTURE AND FLORICULTURE, FOR MARCH. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape vines in green-houses and graperies will begin early in the month, to swell their buds ; plenty of air should be given to ])rcvent their being Ibrced out prematurely, as it would tend to weaken the fruit bearing shoots. 120 Monthly Calendar. If the vines have long shoots, and appeal* not to break well, bond the tops lengthwise of the house, to prevent the fnll flow of sap. When they show fruit they slionld be tied up to the trellis widi strong bass matting. Grape vines in pots slionld i)e treated similarly to those on the rafters; care should be taken that they have plenty of water, and as they show fruit, occasionally liquid manure. Grape eyes put in the first of the last month in the hot-bed, will by this time, if properly treated, have made shoots two or three inches high : the heat of the mould in the bed sliould be kept up to 75°. Eyes put in the first of this mouth, will make wood sufliciently strong to bear next year. FLOVVEH DEPARTMENT. Ten-iveek stocks. Continue to sow the seed to bloom early in a moderate hot-bed, in the flower borders. Tender Annuals of all kinds should be sown this month in pots, in light rich soil, and placed in the hot-bed. Dahlias should now be plunged in tlie hot-bed, to forward them ; separate the roots as soon as the eyes are discerjiible, and plant them in small ])0ts in the green-house. Seeds now sown, the plants will come into flower in August. Camellias may be inarched the latter part of this month. Rose cidtino-s of all the tender kinds now put in, will grow much more freely than at almost any otlier season ; fill the pots half full of old broken pots-herds, and the remaining half with fine sand ; place in the cuttings, letting the bottom of them touch the broken pieces of pots. Calceolarias in small pots, should be shifted into a larger size. Polyanthus, ./luricula, and Ranunculus seeds should now be planted. Ranunculus roots should be planted in beds, if prepared ; later will be in- jurious to their blooming well. Tigridia pavonia. The bulbs and seeds of this splendid plant should be planted in the hot-bed ; the tbrmer in small pots, the latter in rather large I)ots, filled with light sandy soil. VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. Cucumber beds. Where beds were made for forcing cucumbers the latter part of January or the first of February, and tlie seeds sown, the plants will now be ready to be hilled out. liaise the mould under the centre of each light to within aboutsix inches of the glass, and turn the plants out of the pots into the middle of die hill ; earth up to within 7tf///'a)i inch of the seed leaves, and^ give the plants a gentle watering, with water warmed to the temperature of the bed. This should bo done in the afternoon, selecting a cloudy day for the operation: if the sun sinnes very warm the day or two following, a bass mat should be thrown over the frame from ten until two o'clock. As the plants progress in growth, more soil should be added to the hills, of die same kind as that which they were made of. Give air and water as the weather will permit. Broccoli and Cauliflotver seeds should be sown when wanted for early use. Celery seed should be sown for a summer cro]). Tomato and Egg Plant seeds should be planted. The latter will not per- fect its fruit unless the seed is sown this month. THE AMERICAN GARDENER'S MAGAZINE. APRIL, 1835. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. On the Professional Education of Gardeners. By Grant Thorburn, Esq., New York. By education is generally understood that portion of knowledge which is obtained at schools ; but we shall here use the term in a somewhat more extended sense, and consider it as the means which, may be employed, to render men competent for performing the part which they undertake to ])erform in life, with increased satisfaction to themselves, and to their employers. Education may thus be con- sidered, as extending to every thing which operates on the body or mind, from the earliest period of our existence, to the final extinc- tion of life. With this object in view, we shall consider, in succes- sion, the professional, intellectual, religious, physical, and economi- cal education of gardeners, — previously submitting some general remarks. The knowledge of languages, history, geography, arts, sciences, and literature, which a gardener, daily occupied with his profession, may acquire, provided he begins at the commencement of his ap- prenticeship, and continues to employ his leisure hours in reading, till he is twenty-one, or twenty-six years of age, is, by no means in- considerable ; not that he can or needs to become learned ; but, if desirous, he may become generally intelligent, render himself fit, as far as conversation is concerned, for good society ; prove instructive and entertaining to others by his conversation, and provide a reserve fund of enjoyment for himself, by laying up a store of ideas for re- flection in misfortune, disease, or old age. The grand drawback to every kind of improvement is the com- mon and degrading idea, that certain things are beyond our reach ; whereas, every thing is attainable by tlie employment of means, and VOL. I. NO. IV. R 122 On the Physiology of the Vine. nothing, not even the knowledge of a common laborer, without it. There are many things which it is not desirable to wish for, and which are only desired by men of extraordinary minds ; but let no man fancy that any thing is impossible for him. I speak from expe- rience ; 1 commenced a seed-store with fifteen dollars ; finding it thrive, 1 resolved it siiould be the first. And now I think it is, for while in Britain, last winter, I saw nothing to equal it. I say again, let no man think that any thing is impossible, for this is the bane of all improvement. Let no young gardener, therefore, who reads this, even if he can but barely read, imagine that he may not become eminent in any of the pursuits of life, or departments of knowledge ; much less in that of his own profession. Let him never lose sight of this principle — that to desire and apply is to obtain ; and that the attainment will be in proportion to the application. It may be, my dear sirs, that I am partial to my own countrymen : but I do think that the Scotch are the most intelligent and persevering gardeners in the world. This proceeds from their thirst after know- ledge ; they are anxious to be proficients in their calling ; — hence when their work is done, instead of going to the pot-house, as is too often the practice with many gardeners, you will find them with the midnight lamp, poring over Curtis's Botany, or Loudon's Gardener's Magazine. Their motto is — second to none. Let every gardener's apprentice go and do likewise ; it is only when young that this habit can be formed. How great is the satisfaction of the gardener, and how great is the pleasure,' of his employer, when he walks for amusement in his garden, to find that his man can talk like a proficient in his science, and converse like a gentleman on general topics. I knew a gardener in Scotland, whose fortune was laid, in consequence of an hour's conversation with his noble employer. Yours, Grant Thorburn. Hallett's Cove, Long Island, February ilth, 1835. (To be Continued.) Art. II. 0?i the Physiologrj of the Vine ; with Hints on a. neiv 3Icth' od of forming a Vine Border. By Francis Hay, Esq. Gentlemen, Having tasted the pleasure to be derived from horticultural pur- suits, and realized its advantages, I am desirous of promoting a more lively interest in your useful Magazine ; socializing in its influence, and instructive in its tendency, correcting our former or present er- rors, and opening a broad field for usefulness, improvement and pleasure. On the Physiology of the Vine. 123 It will be my object, in this article, to excite more attention to Vegetable Physioloi,^. This science teaches, in the first place, the necessity of providing a neat and comfortable department for the root, whether in the flower bed, the grapery, or the flower pot. Nature's means of neatness are, washing with rain water ; if plants that derive their aliment from the earth, cannot enjoy this act of kindness, they are sickly and unfruitful. If we would enjoy the friendship of plants, whether exotic or indigenous, we must know their history, habitudes and wants, and treat them accordingly. The vine being my present subject of remark, will now be con- sidered. The physiology of the vine, as well as other plants, shows that a striking analogy exists, between the vegetable and animal world. Alimentation is performed both at the root of the vine, and above the surface of the ground ; it has its sexual organs, arteries and veins, absorbing and perspiring pores, above, and below the earth ; it has joints, if not muscles ; it labors with its leaves to catch all the direct rays of light, which is one of the most powerful agents in elaborating its fluids ; the tendrils are its hands to support itself; it partakes largely of vegetable instinct ; the leaves have something answering to eyes ; and while they are looking for the light, the ten- drils are feeling for the trellis ; as soon as they touch the trellis wire they commence winding around it ; the fluids imbibed by the roots pass up the main canals to the extremities of the leaves and claspers, and while it remains in the transparent parts, the light performs its office; as it returns to the root it deposits the albumen. The fluids move up by expansion from heat, and capillary attraction. If this delineation of tlie vine be not satisfactory, I am able to produce the high authority of Burgamans and De CandoUe, who have, by many experiments, accounted for the necessity of a rotation of crops, now practised by most of our agriculturalists. (See the American Jour- nal of Science and Art, by James Silliman, M. D., L. L. D., Vol. xxiii. page 138.) The radical habits of indigenous vines of this country, differ ma- terially from exotics ; the roots of the former keep near the surface of the earth ; the latter, from necessity, striking deep for moisture, in a dry, hot soil. My soil is cold, adhesive and clayey, without good natural means of draining ; the consequence (o foreign vines is, they are weakly, and the fruit imperfect. However, neither national con- siderations or cost, have been able to overcome my preference to the more splendid appearance and superior delicacy of the foreign grape, in comparison of which, all our domestic kinds, as desserts, are very inferior ; but for wine, I agree with Mr. Kenrick, whose re- marks 1 consider invaluable ; I hope this gentleman will contribute to your pages often. The best situation a vine can have, is upon a gentle slope to the south, the roots running south, and the top north, on an inclined plane or roof, and raised twelve or fourteen inches, by a trellis above the roof. I have an Isabella vine, about four years 124 On the Physiology of the Vine. old, running on a roof, which produced, last year, three bushels of grapes, and all well matured ; the roots running south-west and the top north-east ; my cellar drains the roots well. I purpose the ensuing spring, to take the border of my vinery off, to the depth of two feet, leaving an inclined plane descending from the vinery, — to lay a drain from the lower side of it, and pave the bottom of the border with bricks ; then to lay a continuous flue in a serpentine form ; then to cover this flue with one thickness of brick, the joints of the covering to be filled with lime mortar ; next, to cover the bricks with four inches of sand, to drain the border ; then to fill up the border with a compost of manure, well decomposed, or rotten, with soil and sand thoroughly mixed : this is what I call a comfortable bed for the roots to lodge in ; the lower end of the flue to be opened when the temperature is high in the forenoon, and like- wise the upper end, to which a funnel is to be attached ; the funnel being made of copper or lead, will be a good conductor of heat, and ris- ing three or four feet above the surface of the border, will, when the sun strikes it, force a brisk circulation of air ; the same principle ap- plies to this funnel as to the vine stem before mentioned. The greatest objection to this mode of warming and draining the border, is its tendency to dry the bed too much ; but I am more afraid of too much humidity than dryness. But why all this prepar- ation about neatness, washing, and draining the roots? De CandoUe has proved that plants will absorb any soluble matter, even their own excrements — which is very baneful to them, but which is of advan- tage to other plants — by many experiments. Here the analogy be- tween animals and vegetables holds good. We cannot violate the laws of nature with impunity ; all we have to do is, to study her economy, and imitate by art her provisions, where they are deficient. For years past, I have made observations on vines in this vicinity in open culture, and have found those vines only that were fruitful year after year, to have grown on silicious or gravelly sub-strata, or an assemblage of small stones beneath the surface of the earth, that Avere pervious to air and water. Having thus far considered the radical circumstances of the vine, it remains to say but little upon the external parts in relation to the agency of light and air ; all those branches that have their leaves much shaded, will be deficient in the vital principle, and of course weakly and unprofitable. There is one difficulty in carrying a vine Vipon a high roof ; it is liable to be broken by the wind where there is nothing to break it off. I shall be under the necessity of putting up a break-wind or turret, to defend the vine that runs on my roof. I consider it unsafe to prune the Isabella vine in the fall of the year ; if the vessels are thus left open, and it be a hard winter, the vine suffers very materially. My course is, to wait until the vine has put out its shoots four inches, in the spring, and then to take off branches or shoots, as space or the strength of the vine requires. Propagation of the Grape Vine. 125 Nature's mode of feeding the roots of her vegetable ofFspiing, is by her own deciduous fohage, from the surface of the ground, uliere she jirepares her ahment by combustion, concoction and fihration ; in cold latitudes concoction assists decomposition. In prepa;ing a border, I would recommend eojual proportions of soil, manure, and sand ; all subsequent manure must be from the top, according to na- ture's rule. Stirring the earth often in warm weather is of great ser- vice. Yours, Francis Hay. Charhstoim, March 6th, 1835. Art. III. On tJic Propagation of the Grape Vine; 7vifh Observa- tions on its JMnnagcment, Priming, ^^c., in the Green-house and Grapery, and the Formation of Vine Borders. By J. W. Russell. [Continued from page 97.] In preparing the vine border for the compost, it will be necessar}' to remove the whole of the soil, to the depth of three feet ; but if the sub soil is found to be of a strong clayey nature, two and a half would be deep enough, rather preferring to increase the border in width, than to go too deep, especially, when the bottom of the border is cold and wet. Supposing the sub soil to be as just mentioned, I should recommend the earth to be dug out, two and a half feet deep, by fifteen feet in width, and also the building of a drain with rough stone, the whole length of the border, to he taken through the centre, or near to the front walk, remembering to give the bottom of the drain, a gradual inclination to that end of it, where the superabundance of water win be carried away. As to the dimensions of the drain, nine inches or a foot in width, by the same in heighth, will be found to answer very well ; but this can be regulated according to the mate- rials intended to be used. There will be no necessity when building the drains, to be particular in making close joints, as I should advise it to be covered over witli fir shavings about six inches thick ; thev will be the means of stopping the .soil from getting into the drain, and at the same time allow the water to pass off freely. The bot- tom of the border should be covered over six or eight inches thick, with large and small stones ; the refuse of old walls and other build- ings, or any other kind of course rubbish, will answer the purpose, finishing oft' with gravel, and leaving the surface as level as possible. This ought to be done in a thorough manner, because it is not one of those operations that can be done over again, without great loss of time, and considerable expense. There is liequently more pains taken with the house to fruit the vine in, than with the border for the 126 Propagation of the Grape Vine. roots, although its success depends, in a greater measure, on the compost it grows in, and in keeping it in such regular order, that the roots will not suffer, either with too much ivet, or drought. I shall now consider the foundation laid, and ready for the compost. In order to have the border two and a half feet deep, we must con- sider that it will be necessary to allow something for the border set- tling; if it is taken up to the heighth of three feet, it will be found to be none too high ; the longer it has been completed before the vines are planted the better ; if these items are not particularly noticed, and the vines planted as soon as the border is finished, it would be found, when too late, to be a very great error ; for the soil is sure to settle, more or less, according to the nature of the compost ; and then by making the ground up again to the original level, the roots of the vines are deeper than they were at first intended to be, which will be very injurious. It will soon be seen that the holes in the front wall through which the vines are introduced into the house, must be cut out lower down, to free the stems of the vines. I have not the least doubt that the grape vine, generally, where it is intro- duced through the front wall into the house, will be found, on exam- ination, to be somewhat injured by being pressed up too tight ; when this is the case, they ought to be loosened immediately. This can be remedied in some measure at the time of planting ; for instance, if it is su])posed the ground will settle six or eight inches below what is intended to he the level, and it so happens that the planting of the vines cannot be delayed any longer, there is no alternative but to plant them on the surface of the border, just covering the roots. This w^ould bring tliem about right, by allowing eight inches or a foot for settling. Wliere the sub soil is gravel or stone, there will be no necessity of forming a drain, because it is probable there would be a want of moisture, in such a situation ; the border might, however, be made three and a Imlf feet deep, by twelve in width. I am of the opinion that the roots of vines suffer more for the want of mois- ture in this climate, tlian with too much, taking the seasons upon an average. in tlie montlis of April and May, we frequently have one or two days of heavy rains, and cloudy weather succeeding, with scarcely any sunshine for some days, when the vines under glass are in full leaf, showing fruit and growing freely. At times like this, I have known the leaves, wood, and fruit, to be more or less injured ; some- times the young v/ood is affected, that has attained considerable strength, with a disease that I have compared to the rot, that sheep, in some parts of the world are affected with. At first a small speck on the wood is discernible, but it is frequently not taken notice of before it has spread considerably. The rot, as I shall now denomi- nate it, increases so rapidly round the young shoot, that it is soon destroyed. The petiole, or footstalk of the leaf is often affected in the same manner, and it not unfrequently makes its appearance on Propagation of the Grape Vine. 127 the peduncles or stems of the bunches, and a great many of the most promising are irrecoverably lost. I believe there is no practical gardener, however careless an observer he may be, but has repeat- edly noticed, after pinching of the tendril or claspcr, (which every bunch of grapes is provided with, no doubt by a wise law of nature, for its protection ; when the vine is trained to trellises under glass, the tendril is of no use, so that it is, if I mistake not, universally pinched off with the finger and thumb,) the disease to strike the wound- ed part, and soon consume the remainder of the tendril ; finally, the stem of the bunch is smitten, and the cultivator has the mortification of being an eye witness of the whole cluster of fruit gradually going to decay. Sometimes the tendrils upon healthy vines become fruc- tiferous, and bear a few berries at their extremities. Nevertheless, I should prefer to take them off, as generally, the bunch is large enough without them, and always much handsomer in shape. The ideas of cultivators are at variance, as to the nature of this disease that affects the vine ; some say that it arises from the roots being planted in a soil, that is not congenial to their growth ; but when we know that the border is well drained, and the compost is allowed by scientific practitioners to be (without one instance of fail- ure) an excellent one for the growth of the vine, we must look for the remedy elsewhere. I will briefly state my opinion on this subject. It is a fact beyond a doubt, that it either arises from a fold atmos- phere in the house, or a sudden check of the vital principle in the vine ; in a word, a regular course of treatment should be pursued, from the vines first swelling their buds in the spring, to the ripening of the fruit ; all stagnant air must be eradicated, and a free circulation ol fresh air given daily. Even in rainy, damp weather, the vinery ought to be ventilated, at the same time keeping up a good brisk heat, to counteract the dampness. The house should be kept perfectly sweet and clean, taking away all the prunings of vines and other vegetable substances, immediately after the work is done. This is the preven- tive I should recommend, and 1 have no doubt that if it is strictly attended to, the disease will rarely or ever make its appearance. The vines that have been raised from the eyes, can now be planted in the border. However, as they are growing in pots, they could be placed in the vinery, and by good treatment will continue to grow freely; it is also to be remembered that the whole growth of the vine, so far, is from artificial treatment, so that we should be careful in not giving the roots a severe check, by removing them from the pots into the border too soon. The middle or latter part of June will be early enough, waiting until the soil becomes naturally warm, and there is some prospect of a continuance of fine weather. When planting tlie vines, it will be necessary to be very careful in turning them out of the pots, to keep the ball of earth entire. For a grapery, I should recommend the vines to be introduced into the house every two and a half feet, through holes made in the front wall, to be left 128 On raisMg New Varieties of Grapes from seed. m a sloping position upwards, and the top of the hole to be about eighteen inches below the front sill, so that the stem of the vine will he covered six inches, and of course no part of it will be seen from the ouiside. This, in my opinion, is much better than leaving the stem of the vine naked, which is frequently the practice, for it leaves sufficient room under the sill, for the mulching of the border. The sudden changes of freezing and thawing in the spring of the year, lias a bad effect on their stems when uncovered, and the sap in full action ; and the hot rays of the sun in the summer months often checks the circulation of sap, by its influence on that part of the stem where it is introduced into the house. I have frequently seen vines, the extremities of their shoots wilted down, and even the whole of a strong healthy one to be affected ; but when the stems are covered over five or six inches, neither freezing, nor the hot rays of the sun will affect them. The young vines should be looked over every two or three days, taking off' all the lateral growths as they make their appearance ; also shortening the tendrils, encouraging only one shoot, keeping it tied up as it advances in growth. When the weather is hot and dry, syringe them over with water that has been in the house some time, so that the chill is taken off". The roots, also, should be watered occasionally, when there is a continu- ance of dry weather. The best time to syringe the vines is in the evening, when the rays of the sun begin to leave the house, being mindful to give air every morning before the house gets very hot. It is a good plan to give a little air, say at seven o'clock in the morning, and again at eight or nine. Airing the house is a very important point, and if neglected, the vines will immediately show it. Where- ever long jointed wood is seen in a grapery, it is from allowing too much wood on the vines, so that one slioot is laid over another, and weakness must be the consequence ; tlie rays of the sun cannot act upon the wood, and the house perhaps at the same time well aired every day. In order to have good short jointed wood, the shoots ought to be arraigned in such order that the sun and air may have free access to every part of the branch. Yours, J. W. Russell. Mount Auburn, Cambridge, March l]th, 1835. (To be Continued.) Art. IV. On raising New Varitties of Grapes from seed; 7vith an Account of the Variety called Pond's Seedling. By Mr. S. Pond. Gentlemen, I OFFER you a few remarks for your useful Magazine, on the suc- cess I have had in raising new varieties of our native grapes from On raising New Varieties of Grapes from seed. 129 seed. I several years since, first commenced sowing seeds of the Isabella, Catawba, and of the common wild grape, and have annually sown a few seeds, with the ho})e of procuring some new and im- proved kinds. The soil in which I sowed the seed on my first trial, was liujht and rich. They were planted about three quarters of an inch deep. They nearly all came up, and grew vigorously — attain- ing the height of twelve or eighteen inches the first season, and the shoots proportionably strong. In the fall I pruned the vines down to within about four inches of the ground, leaving three eyes or buds. They were not protected during winter. In the spring I removed them from the seed bed, to a border on the East side of my garden, where they were trained against the fence. They there grew rapidly, and some of them made fine shoots ; in the autumn these shoots were shortened according to the strength of the vines. The next spring the vines started early, and I perceived that one out of the whole number showed signs of fruiting. I took particular care to enrich the soil, and to do ev^ery thing to facilitate the produc- tion of a fine cluster of fruit. During summer the vine was regularly made fast to the fence, and a fine straight shoot encouraged, trimming of all laterals. As the berries arrived at their full size, I perceived they were very different from the Isabella, Catawba, or any other native kind I was acquainted with. I therefore concluded that it must be a new original variety, and waited patiently for the fruit to ripen. About the first of September the fruit began to color, and unex- pectedly, at the latter part of the month it was nearly ripe. The cluster was gathered the first of October, and found to be of equal or superior flavor, to any of our native grapes. The fruit was first presented to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, in October, 1829, and pronounced by the committee to be a very superior variety. The skin thin, pulp soft, berries round and purple, bunches fair sized, rather long ; the wood grows short jointed, and strong ; leaves shaped somewhat like the Hamburgh, and are destitute of the downi- ness on the under side, so common to other native grapes. Ripens the latter part of September. It is perfectly hardy, and stands our winters without the least protection. It will not, however, bear our hot summers and preserve that healthy appearance of other vines. Before I became acquain- ted with this fact, I was anxious to remove the vine, with the ex- pectation of procuring a larger crop, from its cool aspect, to a warmer part of the garden. I then had built a high fence, facing the south, and removed it to its new situation. That season I procured two layers from the plant, and set them out a short distance from the old one, on an easterly aspect ; they produced fruit much more abundantly than the old plant. This led me to suppose, that the situation of the old vine was altogether too warm, and after letting it remain another year, and finding it still to be shy in producing fruit, I removed it back to the place where it stood, upon its first VOL. I, NO. IV. s 130 On the Cultivation of the Dahlia. bearing fruit from the seed. It is now growing finely, and makes luxuriant wood every season. Seedlings raised from this variety will undoubtedly be still better, and I have no doubt but that, if care is taken to raise plants from every progeny, varieties approximating very nearly to the foreign, will be the result. I have planted seeds of the Isabella, Catawba, and of this seedling, and have a number of vines of aJarire size, and a few of them have come into bearing. But none of them are very good, the foxy taste being predominant in most all. I shall continue, however, to sow the seeds of most of our native grapes, with the expectation of procuring superior kinds. In a future paper I hope to give you some remarks on the propa- gation of asparagus, and also on the propagation and growth of the Plum tree. Yours, Samuel Pond. Cambridgeport, Feb. 22nd, 1835. Art. V. On the Cultivation of the Dahlia. By Mr. E. Putnam. The culture of this superb flower, which far surpasses all others, that our gaidens in the autumnal months can produce, is very simple ; and if the proper varieties are selected, but little care will he neces- sary, excc[)t in very unfavorable seasons, to ensure a full hloom from the beginning or middle of August, until the plants are destroyed by frost. It is in airy situations, and in extremely rich and moist soils, that Dahlias produce their flowers most abundantly ; but they will suc- ceed perfectly well in gardens, however naturally dry, provided care be taken to manure the soil wefl, and to supply the plants with water, whenever they appear to require it. The tubers should be planted four feet apart, each way, and about four inches deep, and whatever may be the number of eyes that vegetate, one only should be allowed to grow, as each plant should have but one leading stalk, which must always be securely tied to the trellis or stake, that is intended for its support. If the main stalk is properly secured, the side branches can be easily kept from breaking, hy connecting them with each other, at about half their lengtli, and at the same time encircling the whole plant with a small string in such a way, that all the branches can rest upon it. If these branches are numerous, a part of them must be cut oft', as very bushy plants, in general, produce but few flowers. The question is frequently asked, if Dahlias should be forced in their growth by artificial heat ? I think not. If the soil in which they are to be planted is moist, it may be well to start the tubers On the Cultivation of the Dahlia. 131 under a warm fence, and not to transplant them until they have made shoots three or four inches long ; — but if they are intended foi- a warm and dry soil, I should far prefer to retard their growth, even two or three weeks, as when planted early, they are apt to form their flower buds at a period when the weather is both so hot and dry, as to cause these buds to perish as last as they are formed. Tha best mode of propagating Dahlias, is by a division of the tu- bers, which should be effected in such a way as to give to each tuber an eye, as without it, the tuber would be good for nothing. Dahlias are also, sometimes propagated by cuttings and grafting — but the latter method is quite useless, as it is at best, but an inconvenient substi- tute for the former. Cuttings too, it is seldom worth while to resort to, unless it is wished to increase rapidly some choice variety, for if they are struck late in the open ground they neither produce good flowers, the first season, nor ripen their tubers well. When struck, however, in February or March, in a green-house, cuttings make as good plants, in every respect, as tubers, and by many are supposed to blossom even more freely. New varieties are of course procured from seed, and if this be sown early in a hot-bed, one half of the plants will blossom the first year. But a person must have the best of seed, and great good luck, who from a hundred varieties obtained in this way, should find one, that would be really worth keeping. The following rules have been established at the English Amateur shows, for the comparison of Dahlias with each other. The flowers must form as near a hemisphere as possible. They must be rose leaved, that is, must have their petals round and entire, not jagged nor fringed. If selfs, (that is, of one color,) then the color must be bright and clear. If variegated, they must be regularly so, with each petal marked like its neighbor, and not irregularly spotted. The flowers, too, must be supported on stems which hold them out beyond the foliage, and render them distinct to the eye. Now a Dahlia possessing all of these qualities, would undoubtedly be very handsome, yet the rules, which require them, are so artificial and restricted in their application, that even in England they are not always submitted to, as the prize varieties which have been imported into this country clearly prove. It is, however, universally admit- ted, that, whatever may be the peculiar form of a Dahlia, its petals should be regular in their shape, and their color bright and distinct. In the preceding remarks, I have intended to give merely the re- sult of my own experience. In some points, it may hereafter appear that I have been mistaken, but it may be proper for mo to add, that, whenever I have planted my Dahlias in such a soil and situation, and cultivated them in such a manner as I have now recommended, I have always been successful — but have never succeeded when I de- viated from it. 132 On the Cultivation of Annuals. A few hints In regard to taking up the tuhers, and their preserva- tion through the winter, I will communicate hereafter. Yours, E. Putnam. Saletn, March lOth, 1835. Art, VI. Observations on the Cultivation of Annuals ; with an Account of those choice and beautiful of late Introduction ; and Remarks on the Varieties most suitable for planting in Masses. By the Conductors. Mimosa sensitiva (Sensitive plant). This delicate and very cu- rious plant is easily cultivated. The seeds should be sown in pots of light, rich soil, and placed in the hot-bed. When the young plants have made three or four leaves, they shoujd be potted sepa- rately into small pots, and replaced in the hot-bed, or green-house, until May, when they may be turned out in the open ground in the flower border, or retained in the pots. We prefer keeping the plants in pots, as the heavy rains, which we often have during summer, injure them, and prevent their showing that sensibility for which they are so much admired. Their graceful foliage appears to much better advantage in pots than in the border. Verbena Aubletia. This beautiful annual is at present rather rare, and in few gardens. It ripens very little seed when grown as an annual, and will consequently not become so common as some varieties. We had several fine plants last season, which flowered in profusion until checked by frost. The seeds were sown in the hot-bed, and the plants removed while in the seed leaf, into small pots, filled with a compost of equal parts loam and leaf mould, with a little sand. They were shifted into larger pots when required, and some of the plants we turned into the border about the first of June, where they flowered abundantly. Petunia nijctaginifora (White flowered Petunia). This elegant annual has not yet Ijecome very common ; but its great beauty en- titles it to a place in every flower garden. We have seen plants completely covered with its snow-white and fragrant flowers. It is sometimes called Sivcct scented Tobacco. It was formerly arranged under the genus Nicotiana, from which, probably, the name arose. The seeds should be sown in a pot, and placed in the hot-bed, and shaded for several days. They should be slightly covered with soil, as they are very small, and would be apt to rot if they were planted deep. When the young seedlings have made three or four leaves, plant them singly in small pots, and place them in the hot-bed, until warm weather. The plants should then, except such as are intend- On the Cultivation of Annuals. 133 ed to be kept in pots, be turned out into the flower border. Tlie shoots may either be allowed to trail on the ground, or trained np to a trellis or stake. The latter method we prefer, as we think the flowers show to much better advantage, and are not liable to be soiled. When they are not trained up, the heavy rains dash the soil over their delicate white flowers, and destroy their beauty. The plants will flower until killed by frost. If one or two are preserved in pots, they will bloom well in the parlor or green-house until mid- winter, and if protected till spring, will resume their growth, and continue to display their flowers all summer. There are now three varieties. Petunia nyctaginiflora, phoenicea and Willmoreana. The phoenicea is very beautiful, being of a deep rich purple. Botanists have been divided as to the proper genus to which it belongs, and the following names have been given to it by Dr. Hooker and others : — Salpi^iossis integrifolia. Petunia violacea, and Nierembergia phoenicea. Mr. David Don has, however, satis- fied botanists, that it belongs to the genus Petunia, and it is now known under the specific name phoenicea. Canna indica (Indian shot). The plants of this showy genus are principally natives of the tropics. The indica and lutea are, however, easily cultivated in our gardens. We had them in full bloom last season, during the months of August and September. The seeds were sown in pots in the hot-bed, and the young plants removed singly into small pots in rich soil, and placed in the hot- bed until June. They were then turned out into the ground, where they flowered finely — throwing up their scarlet and yellow spikes of flowers, to the length of fifteen or twenty inches. Mesembnjanthemum cordifoUum (Ice plant). The seeds of this singular plant should be planted in pots in light sandy soil, and the pots placed in a hot-bed. When the young seedlings are sufficiently large, they should be potted into snjall pots, in the same kind of soil in which the seeds were sown. As soon as the roots fill the pots, they should be removed to a larger size. This should be performed as often as required. The plants look much better in pots than in the flower border ; and although we have grown them both ways, we prefer the former. They are highly ornamental, and contrast very prettily with other annuals. Ipomoea quamocJit (Cypress vine). This exquisitely beautiful an- nual climber we consider as one of the most ornamental plants, which decorate the flower garden. Its elegant crimson, star-shaped flowers, intermingled with its fine, delicate, and deep green foliage, presents a mass of beauty not to be found in any other plant among the whole list of climbers. There is a white variety much valued, and which is not so common as the scarlet. We have cultivated both varieties, and growing and twining together, they have a fine eflcct ; but we prefer, when planted singly, the crimson, to the white. The seeds are rather difficult of vegetation, and often fail, from want of prepa- 134 Observations on the Camellia, and its Varieties. ration pre\ious to planting. If the seeds are planted in a pot and placed in a hot-bed, with a very strong heat, they will sometimes vegetate, but they start much more freely, if previously to sowing they are soaked in warm water several hours, pouring it upon them when scalding hot. This is the method generally adopted — but we have tried several experiments, and have scarcely ever found the seed to fail when managed as follows ; — take the seeds, and with a sharp penknife, cut off the hull at the small end. This will allow the germen to swell, and burst the remaining part of the hull. We have had them come up in three or four days after sowing, when treated thus, and we have not the least hesitation in recommending this method. Only one thing is necessary, to be careful in cutting off the hull, not to injure the germen. When the young plants be- gin to show their pinnated leaves, and all danger of frost is over, turn them into the flower garden, where wanted to ornament any particular place. They will not twine round a stick if it is perfectly smooth. We have formed pyramids of the cypress vine by driving down a tall stake in the centre of several plants, which were placed about six inches from the base. Strong pieces of twine were made fast at the ground near the plants by means of pegs, and tied at the top of the stake. When the plants cover the whole space, they form a compact mass of leaves and flowers in a pyraniidal shape. We prefer this style of training to any other, not only as beautiful in itself, but as displaying the flowers to the greatest advantage. (To he Continued.) Art. VII. Observations on the Camellia, and its Varieties, 7vith some Account of its Introduction into Great Britain and this Country. By M. P. Wilder, Esq. In continuation of my remarks on the cultivation and treatment of the Camellia, I would observe, that to secure a full and healthy development of their flowers, the plants must be strong and well grown. Under the influence of improper or indifferent management, no correct idea can be formed of their size and beauty. To grow the Camellia to perfection, care should be taken that the plants have the essential pre-requisites of proper compost and per- fect drainage, and at all seasons of the year a regular supply of air and water ; due regard being had to time and temperature. When not in a growing or flowering state, they need only be mod- erately watered, but on no account should they be suffered to become dry, under the false but prevalent notion, that starving them for wa- ter, will produce a ])lentiful supply of flower buds. — It has been my constant practice to keep the soil in the pots moist, and to give water as soon as the surface began to be dry. Observations on the Camellia, and its Varieties. 135 The CamL'llia, during the winter, sliould be kept in ratlier a low temperature, (say 40 to 45 deg. of Fahrenheit,) until the buds com- mence swelling, when to ensure a splendid bloom, the heat should be raised to 50 or 60 degrees. At the time of flowering and mak- ing new wood, the plants should be abundantly supplied with water, and when the young shoots are changing color and becoming hard, if the heat be increased to 70 or 80 degrees, it will cause them to form their blossom-buds in greater profusion. Wliile in the green-house, tlie plants should have a situation as- signed them, so as to receive as much light and air as practicable, of which they should be the daily recipients, whenever the weather will permit; but they should not be exposed to the full rays of the sun from May to September. When moved out to their summer resi- dence, which will be about the first of June, or as soon as the flow- er buds are formed, they should be placed under a shade, or in a shady situation, to protect them from its scorching rays at noon, and to give them its influence for a few hours, morning and evening of each day. If it be necessary, however, to expose them to the sun, they should be arranged compactly together in a circular form, with the tallest in the centre, in regular gradation, according to their height, thus protecting their roots from the intensity of its mid-day heat. During the hot season, the plants should be watered at evening, leaving them to imbibe the moisture through the night, and in dry weather frequently be syringed over their tops, with clear cold water, which will much increase the health of the plants, and beauty of their foliage. In this latitude it is not uncommon in the early fall months to have cold nights, succeeded by hot days, producing a variableness in the temperature, of many degrees. It is well, therefore, to remove the Camellia to the green-house as early as the middle of September, and although it is said it will bear several degrees of frost without injury, I am confident if the plants are exposed to a temperature where they become chilled, and of course the sap suddenly checked in its circulation, it wiU either cause the flower-buds to languish, and finally fall off", or prove a serious detriment to their free and perfect expan- sion. The flowering of the Cameflia may be forwarded, or retarded, by being subjected to a higher or lower temperature ; and though its natural season for blooming is in the winter, and early spring months, by this treatment a succession of flowers may be kept up throughout the year. An example of the effect of this management may be seen in a large plant of the Double White, belonging to the Hon. John Lowell, Roxbury, and which, he informs me, has so changed its natural disposition, that it now comes into blossom, in August. If wanted to flower early, it must be excited by an increase of heat, to make its spring growth earlier than usual, and be returned to the green-house in the month of August ; but as the weather will 136 Observations on the Camellia, and its Varieties. then, occasionally, be warm, it will be necessary to place the plants near the front sashes, and to expose them, except on frosty nights, to the external air, and thus by degrees gradually accustom them to the atmosphere and temperature of their residence ; or if we wish to retard their flowering, it is only requisite to keep them in a tempera- ture so low, that the buds will not commence swelling, until the time when the flowers ai"e desired. Having, Gentlemen, detailed my experience in the cultivation of this elegant exotic, I shall, as proposed, annex a descriptive list of those valuable varieties, of which I have a knowledge, and for which I shall be indebted, in many instances, to the following standard works, viz. — Illustrations of the Camellia, Chandler & Booth, folio, London, 18:29 ; Les Camellise de Bollwiller, par Charles A. et N. Baumann, folio, France; Loudon's Gardener's Magazine; Transac- tions of the Horticultural Societies of London and Berlin, he. he. The following species compose the natural order Camellea?, accord- ing to Loudon's Hortus Britannicus : — 1. Thea viridis. Asiatic Researches. Camellia viridis. Green Tea. This is the shrub that prcCuces our green tea. " A large, strong growing, almost hardy plant,* its leaves, three to five inches long, very broadly lanceolate, pale green, singularly waved, with the mar- gin reflexed ; the flowers large, white, solitary, mostly confined to the upper axil." — (Dr. Hookcr^s Bot. Magazine.) 2. Thea bohea. Asiatic Researches. Camellia Bohea. Bohea Tea. From this species is derived the Black Tea, under whatever name it is sold from our shops. It is a plant of more feeble growth, and not so hardy as the former. The flowers are white, small, fragrant^ and are borne in clusters in the axils of the leaves. 3. Camellia euroyides. Botanical Register. Eiirya-like Camellia. This species, as I have before stated, is considered the connecting link between the two genera, Thea and Camellia ; but little is known of it at present, except, that its flowers are white, and resemble, in many respects, the Eurya chinensis. 4. Camellia oleifera. Abel's Journal in China. Oil Seed Camellia. Messrs. Chandler h Booth, in describing this species remark, " that it is the famous oil seed tree of the Chinese, and called by * A green tea plant has lived for many years in the open air, at the nursery of the Messrs. Loddiges, near London. Observations on the Camellia, and its Varieties. 137 them Teha-Yeoa, which may be interpreted the 'oil hearing Tea Plant;' a very expressive name, as the phmt in appearance closely resembles the Tea. It is sometimes formed of the magnitude of a moderately sized cherry-tree, and bearing a profusion of single white blossoms ; that the fields which it covers, in the distance, look as if lightly clothed with snow, but on a nearer approach, exhibit one im- mense garden." 5. Camellia Kissi. Dr. Wallich; Asiatic Researches. This species is of recent introduction, it is from Nepal, and in its s;rowth and appearance bears a strong resemblance to the Theas. The flower is said to be white, but I have no knowledge that it has ever flowered in Europe or this country. C Camf.llia Sasanqua. Thunberg. Lady Bank's Camelliri. Cliaio Whaw of the Chinese. This shrub is of slender growth, the foliage small ; the flowers are white, semi-double, and smaller than those of Camellia oleifera. 1. Camellia Sasanqua, war. j3/en« a/6«. Double White Sasanqua. This plant is like the former in almost every respect, except that its flowers are double and very much resemble a small white Rose. 2. Camellia Sasanqua, var. rvhra plena. Botanical Register. Camellia malijldra. Lindley. Apple blossomed Camellia. This is a beautiful variety. The flowers are of a clear rose color, seldom exceeding two inches in diameter ; very full and regular in formation, resembling strongly the apple blossom, from which cir- cumstance it derives its name. 7. Camellia reticulata. Botanical Register. Reticulated Camellia. "Tills is by fir the most splendid of the genus that has yet been introduced. The flowers are remarkably handsome, and have a great resemblance to the Paeonia montan rosea ; and when ex- panded, measure no less than five inches and a half in diameter. It is more difficult to propagate than any of the other Camellias, and the only safe way is by inarching on the single Red Camellia. We are of opinion, that when it becomes so plentiful as to admit of a trial being made, it will be found to be hardier than the Camellia japonica, and at no distant period, perhaps, may ornament our shrub- beries."— (^Chandler and Booth'' s Illustrations of the Camellia.^ 8. Camellia japomca. L. riibra simpliri. Single Red Camellia. This was the first Camellia introduced into Great Bcitain, and was Vol i. — NO. IV. T 138 On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. known at that time (1739), by the different names of Thca Chi- nensis and Rosa Chinensis. It is of free growth, and arrives, in its native country, to the size of our plum trees. Tliere is a fine plant of this species at the Cambridge Botanic Garden, which is more than twelve feet in heighth. The flowers are of a bright rose color, and freely produced ; it seeds readily when impregnated, and from this species have been derived most of the varieties now extant. [To be Continued.) Art. VIII. On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemvms (Cltrys- dnthemum sinense.) By the Conductors. To which is added, a new Arrangement of the varieties, by the late Adrian Hardy Ha- woRTH, Esq., F. L. S. &c., author of the Narcissinearum Mono- graphia, &c. Extracted from Loudon's Gardoicr' s Slagazine. The first descriptive account of this most beautiful group of plants, was given in the London Horticultural Society's transactions, Vol. V. p. 232, &tc., by the secretary, Mr. Sabine. In the previous vol- umes of this work, he particularly described several varieties, as they were introduced into the Society's garden at Chiswick. Since then nothing has been published respecting them, until a new ar- rangement appeared in Loudon's Magazine, by Mr. Haworth, in January, 1833. It is almost wholly to the Horticultural Society of London, that praise is due, for their exertions in introducing the different varieties of this elegant autumnal flower. The Chinese are supposed still to possess a large number of kinds not yet known to English collectors ; and as they are one of their greatest favorites in the decoration of their gar- dens, it was with considerable difficulty that the kinds already intro- duced were procured. The credit of their first introduction into Europe, is said, by Mr. Sabine, to be due to " M. Blancard, a mer- chant of Marseilles, who, in 1789, imported three different plants from China, one with purple, one with white, and one with violet flowers. He lost the two last ; the first lived and was sent to the Jardin du Roi at Paris, in 1791." This is the variety called the old purple — by Mr. Haworth, Tassalled purple. From 1798 to 1808, Sir Abraliam Hume imported seven new kinds, which are now among our oldest varieties. Much praise, however, is due to him for his exertions in procuring them. Between 1808 and 1818, only two kinds were introduced. By this time the taste for chysanthemums had become much extended, and the Horticultural Society directed their attention to the importation of new varieties. In 1819-20 fifteen kinds were received, and subsequently all the varieties which are now known. The London Horticultural Society On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. 139 possessed, several years since, forty orio;inal drawings made from growing plants in China, and but few of them were then referable to the plants imported. At what time the first Chysanthemums were introduced into this country we have no accurate account, but we may suppose it to have been about the years 1805-6. Nearly all the varieties have been sub- sequently imported, and above fifty kinds are said to exist in our gar- dens. We have never, however, seen more than thirty, having cultivated that number for the two last seasons. In the fall of 1831 a plant was presented at the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, by ]\Ir. J. M. Ives of Salem, wbich be received from Japan. Professor J. L. Russell, then residing at Salem, supposed the plant to be a variety of the C. indicum, and so communicated it in a paper to tbe N. E. Farmer, (Vol. xii. p. 147.) But upon a subsequent consid- eration, and at a suggestion of ours in relation to the plant not being a variety of C. indicum, he corrected the error. This variety possesses little beauty when growing with the other kinds ; but when blooming profusely by itself, it forms a very pretty object. It has been named by Mr. Russell, bellideflorum, on account of the resemblance of the flower to the Daisy. Several attempts have been made by English amateurs and culti- vators, to seed the Chysanthemum, and consequently procure new varieties. But we believe the efforts of those who have made the trial, have never been successful till the season of 1833. In the fall of tliat year Mr. Wheeler, a nurseryman near London, presented, at the Horticultural Society twelve seedling varieties, six of which w^ere said to be exceedingly beautiful, and to form a great addition to the Chinese kinds. Mr. Wheeler was awarded a medal by the Society for his success. We may therefore anticipate as many vari- eties of the Chysanthemum as of the Camellia. It was a long time after the introduction of the latter flower, before seedling varieties were procured, but they now number above two hundred. We may expect, in a few years, additions to our Chysanthemums full as numerous, and of as distinct a character. The Chysanthemum will never be of great ornament to our gar- dens, if planted out in the open border. The early frosts of Septem- ber and October, (with the exception of one or two seasons in sev- eral,) destroy the plants just as they show their blossom buds; thus preventing the display of their flowers. We have never known in our garden, a good bloom when planted in the border, although in some gar- dens in warm situations against a wall, or in the city, they often bloom until vegetation in other places has been destroyed, scarcely leaving a vestige of summer. We would therefore recommend planting them in pots, and transferring them, in the season of their flowering, to the parlor or green-house. Their splendid appearance in these situations, during the months of November and December, is not surpassed by any other herbaceous flower. And in our estimation, 140 On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. they vie in richness and magnificence, with the Tuhp and Dahh'a, The season at which they bloom is when all the other production? of the flower garden and pleasure ground, are destroyed by the cold frosts, and chilling blasts of autumn ; their various forms and bril- liant colors, also, excite our admiration ; some are expanded, some quilled, others tasselled, curled and recurved ; the colors of the flowers are of almost every shade, from the purest white to a deep purple. It is only from a prejudice, that the flowers are common, that they are not more highly valued. If a fine collection of twenty or thirty varieties is seen in full beauty, we are confident that noth- ing further need be urged, to recommend them, as amply repaying in their splendor, all the care that may be bestowed on their culti- vation. The chysanthemum is perfectly hardy, and will stand our coldest winters when planted in the open garden, without any covering. But as we cultivate our varieties in pots, we prefer to winter them, by placing the pots in a cold frame, or dry cellar, whei-e they are not watered until April ; a warm, moist cellar, will be injurious to the plants I as it would cause them to draw up weak, from want of light and air ; in April we set the pots out in the garden in a warm place^ on a south border, and give the plants water as they require. They soon begin to grow, and make fine vigorous shoots for propagation. If large plants are wanted, the method of growing them is, to take the old ones out of the pots, and shake off the soil ; pull off all the suckers but one or two, and re-pot the plants in the fourth size pots, (supposing them to have been in the third,) in a suitable compost, giving water every day after they are well rooted. This was for- merly the method pursued by most gardeners, and was practised for many years with the English growers, until the Chinese method be- came known. This, so superior in all respects, not only saving time in the propagation, but as forming much more beautiful plants, has completely superseded the common modes. As soon as the plants have made shoots six or eight inches long, cuttings should be taken off (the latter part of April) about four inches in length, cutting smoothly across at a joint. Strip oft' the lower leaves, and insert them in pots of the third size, (six in each,) in a soil composed of loam, peat or leaf mould, and sand — place the pots in a shady situation for a few days, until rooted, when they should have the sun a few hours in the morning. About the middle of May they should be potted singly into small pots, in the same soil. The latter part of June they should be again potted into the fourth size pots, using a compost of loam and well decomposed ma- nure, in the proportion of one-third of the latter to tw^o-thirds of the former, adding a small quantity of sand. The plants should be topped in the first part of July, and well watered, (using liquid manure occasionally,) every day, throughout the season. This SsAW add greatly to the luxuriance of the plants, which will soon he, On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. 141 perceived in the strong appearance of the foha2;e. They should be kept in a situation where they will be shaded from the heat of the mid-day sun, until September or October ; placing the pots on boards, so that the worms will not enter them. Upon the approach of cold weather, they should be removed to the green-house, or wher- ever they are intended to be kept. They should not be allowed to be touched with frost, when they are forming their flower buds, as it injures them very materially. The plants should be trained with three or four branches, and tied to sticks as they proceed in growth. In this manner they form stout, bushy, compact plants, and produce flowers, of the large kinds, five or six inches in diameter. The suckers may be used instead of cuttings, if desired, or to save time ; but cuttings make by far the best plants, throwing up but k\v suckers and growing more bushy. The pots may also be plunged during summer, but they are apt to make strong roots through the holes in the pots, into the ground, and when taken up, they are apt to be injured in their blooming. This is the result of our practice, and we have never failed in procuring as fine a bloom of flowers as could be desired. They will flower in any soil, provided it is rich, but the compost we have men- tioned, we have found to give the plants a more vigorous and strong growth. The following arrangement of this elegant genus, we have copied from a communication in Loudon's Gardener's Magazine, communicated by the late A. H. Haworth, Esq. This gentleman was enthusiastic in his devotion to Botany and Entomology, and his loss will be severely felt by those who take an interest in these sciences. We have adopted this arrangement in our collection of plants, and we would suggest to nurserymen, as well as amateurs and gardeners, who have good collections, the importance of arranging them accord- ing to this method. Considerable confusion exists in the names of Chysanthemums; some varieties are mere synonyms of others, and several are incorrectly named. We have in contemplation the cultivation of every kind now existing in the various gardens, for the purpose of comparing them, and correcting their names. They are a favorite flower with us, and we hope to be able to gather such information, as will enable us to offer our readers a rorrect list of the sorts, agreeing with the names and descriptions given by Mr. Sabine and Mr. Haworth, in the Lon- don Horticultural Society's Transactions, and Gardener's Magazine. A new Arrangement of Double-Jlowercd Chinese Chrysanthemums. * Ranuncclus-flowerkd. 1. Yelloio Indian, Hon. Trans, v. 4. p. 330. t;tl.. 12. and v. G. p. ^ACu Of .short .stature (in its trroiip), witli very late; and doiiljlc, but small, flowers; and forms, with the next, a distinct s|)c("ios. 2. While Indian, Ilort. Trans, v. 0. ]). 347. Siiortcr than the preceding, with very hite and similar, hut white, flowers. 142 On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. 3. Warratah Ydlotv, Hort. Trans, v. G. p. 344. Flowers very late, with the preceding, ami of similar size, hut has much more entire leaves, and larger flowers, which make it a distinct species. 4. Spanish Brown, Hort. Trans, v. 4. p. 48l). and v. 5. p. 420. Of short firm stat(uv, and ratlier early and beautiful flowers, the size of the preceding, and with smallish leaves a little more [jinnatifid, and probably a distinct species. 5. Blush Raminculus-JIowered, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 328. Of short firm stat- ure, and fine-formed early flower, of a blush color, and peculiar neatness of form. I think I have two variations of it. 6. Small Deep Ytlloiv ; Park's Small Yellow, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 327. Tall- er and weaker than the last, early and small flowered, with small and blunt pi;inatedIy-lobate leaves. Perhaps it may be a distinct species, from its small leaves and flowers. 7. Small Pale Yellow; Small Windsor Yelloxv, Hort. Trans, v. 5. p. 415. and V. 6. p. 335. Also called Alton's Yellow. Of short stiff growth, and early flowering, and but little merit. 8. Small Flat Yelloiv ; Small Yellow, Hort. Trans, v. 5. tab. 17. and v. 5. p. 422. Of shortish growth, and with pure yellow and expanded early flowers, the shape and size of the three subsequent varieties, of which it is presumed to be the origin, as yellow is the most predominant color in these plants. Their forms are very neat and regular. 9. The Bvff, or Copper, Hort. Trans, v. 5. p. 420. Also called the Orange, or Butt'. Resembles the preceding in every thing but color. 10. The Rose, or Pink, Hort. Trans, v. 4. p. 344. Also called the Lilac. Resembles the last in all tilings but color, and is now the most common kind in cultivation, although introduced after the old purple hereunder e-numerated. 11. The Pale Pink, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 336. Raised in Mr. Colvil's nur- sery, being a sportive branch from the last, and differing in nothing but color. This and the three preceding doubtless sport mutually into each other, and are perpetuated by cuttings of their respective sports in the first instance, and offsets as well as cuttings afterwards; but are all lia- ble to sport again, from pale i)ink throuirh deeper pink, and copper or light orange to briffht yellow : but their shoots aiul leaves are immutable. 12. Expanded Light Purple, Hort. Trans, v. 5. p. 153. and v. 5. p. 421. ; and Bot. Mag. lab. 2256. Of middling size, and with flowers in the middle season (of its group), but nearly twice as large as the last, though resem- bling it in form, and far more handsome. 13. Qiiillcd Light Purple, Hort. Trans, v. 5. p, 155. and v. 5. p. 421. A sport only from the last, but now made permanent. * * Incurving Ranunculds-flowered. 14. Incurving Lilac, Sweet, Brit. Fl. Gard. tab. 7. ; Curled Lilac, Hort. Trans. V. 5. ]). 155. and p. 421. Also called the Quilled Lilac. Grows tall, and flowers early, and is an elegant plant, allied to the preceding, and has proflnced the following one from a sportive branch. 15. Curled Blush, Hort. Trans, v. 6. ]). 326. Has been called the Double Blush, aiid Double White. The flowers, which are rather early, large, and showy, dying off nearly of that color. It is of middling stature in its group; and, although a sport only of the preceding, is now an estab- lished and tnore beautiful variety than it. 16. The quilled Pink, Hort Trans.' v. 4. p. 350. and v. 5. p. 351. 420. 421. ; and Bot. Reg. v. 8. tab. 616. Of tall statin e, and one of the very latest in blooming; but very handsome, and repaying by its beauty every care bestowed upon it by the gardener. It has lieen called the most beauti- ful of all ; but with me it yields to the Gold-bordered Red. 17. Large (Quilled Orange, Hort. Trans, v. 5, p. 152. tab. 3. (upper figure), On the Cultivation of the Chinese Cliysanthcmums. 143 and V. 5. p. 421. A tall and large latisli-flowcring variety, of considera- ble beauty, and at present nncoMinion. 18. Gold-bordtred Red ; the Ttvo-cohrcd Incurved of Hort, Trans, v. (i. p. .V32. 333. Of tall stature, very lat<', with tiie most perfect and Itea'iiit'iil flow- er of all its genns, altli(Migli only of the middle size. Tiie red |)eials are sln|)ed with gold l)eneatli, and golden-tipjx'd there ; vvliieh lips, incurv- ing strongly and gracefully, show the gold in a front view of the flower, which is golden likewise at its base within. I consider it the most com- plete of all. 19. The Superb mile, Hort.Trans. v. 4. p. 338. nnd v. 5. p. 420. A late, very tall, and splendid plant, with large, incurving, very double, pure white flowers. * * * China- AsTKR-FLOwERKD ; often sliowing a disk, and then much resem- bling China Asters. 20. The Sulphur Yellow, Hort. Trans, v. 4. p. 341. and v. 5. p. 420. A beau- tiful variety, of tall stature, and free and early blooming, with middle- sized aster-like flowers. 21. The Two-colored Red, Ilort. Trans, v. G. tab. 4. and v. (>. p. 342. 343. A very fine and showy variety, of the middle size in stem and flowers, but rather late, which sometimes shows a disk, and is then very aster-like. The bipinnatifid leaves are far more laciiiiated than any other kind ; and J think they constitute it a distinct species. 22. The Earlij Crimson, Hort. Trans, v. 5. tab. 3. (inferior figure) p. 151. and p. 421. Of light small stature, delicate, and apt to lose its le;ives before its bloom is finished. The flowers are middle-sized, early, and very beautiful; they show a disk, and, when well managed, have ripened perfect seeds in England. 23. The Clustered Pink, Hort. Trans, v. G. p. 336. Also known by the name of the Changeable Blush. One of the tallest of its tribe: flowers in the middle season very abundantly; and, although the flowers are but mid- dle-sized, and little better than halt-double, showinga considerable disk, and greatly resemble China Asters, they make a very fine and durable appearance, standing the weather well, and becoming much darker l)y age, though less delicate. This is a very likely variety to produce seed in this country. 24. The Early Blush, Hort. Trans, v. 6. ]>. 326. This tall and almost une- qualled variety is also called the Double Blush, and Double White. It flowers very early, beautifully, and freely, and its flowers are large, and scarcely show any disk ; and their color without is light blush, but with- in they are exactly of that peculiar lint well known by the nanie of Freneh white; and, like many other varieties, they are very durable. They have ripened seeds in England. 25. The'Paper While, Hort. Trans, v. 5. p. 417. 422. This exquisitely white- flowering and noble variety is of tall stature, and early blooming, and makes a splendid appearance in a general collection. Its flowers are of the middle size. **** Marigold-flowei^ed ; with well-formed double flowers, resembling Double Cape Marigolds in shape and size. 2G. Golden Bronze-baek ; Golden Yellow, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 342. and Bot. Reg. tab. 4. (superior figure). Also called the Large Yellow and the King's Yellow. A very tall, handsome, and free-flo\\cring variet3^ The flowers are early, and of a high rich yellow color, but bronzed or orange in the buds and on their outsides. This is one of the best to grow as a standard ; and if parted at the root and anmially transplanted, succeeds very well as an herbaceous plant, especially if in a warm or sheltered situation, duly supported by a stick. 144 On the Cuhivatio)i of the Chinese Chysanthemums. 27. The Superb Clustered Yellow, Horf. Trans, v. 5. p. 156. and v. 5. p. 421. and Swein's Brit. Fl. Gard. tab. 14. One of tlie finest and tallest of the group, b(;ing liijflier than tlie preceding, and witli more clustered and more neatly feriiied, pure yellow fiovvers, but tliey are later in opening. "28. The Gulden Lotus-Jluwered, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 340. A very splendid and large long-leaved variety, and nearly or cpiite the tallest of tliis genus of plants; liaving late, pure, and de^p yellow flowers, above the middle size, and larger than those of any other yellow kind of the marigold form, and which partially endure until the heavier frosts of winter de- stroy them. ■29. The Changeable Pale Buff, Plort. Trans, v. C. p. 380. and tab. .3. Also called the Pale Cluster. This plant, when flowering as perfectly as it is represented on the above cited-table, is one of the most showy and splendid in the group ; but liiis has not been the case during the autumn of 1832; all the flowers, and in various gardens wliich met the writer's eye, being, as it were, degenerated into almost buff-colored and spuri- ously quilled flowers, of more upright ap|)earance than the large, expand- ed, flat ])etaled, and variegated ])urple whitish and yellow-bufly ones, so charmingly depicted in the figure cited. They are of the nnddle season. 30. Starry Changeable Purple ; The Starry Purple, Ilort. Trans, v. 6. p. 339. This beautiful plant is one of the most variable-flowered in the geims; its very late flowers first opening of a |)urple color, with the exterior pe- tals at first few in nun)ber, starry aiidjialer, especially at their expanded spr)on-sliaped tips, soon, however, becoming still more |)ale until the whole well exp;uiarkable, being of a very dull brown- ish or reddish pin-ple. The leaves are so small and so bluntly lobed, and on such slender shoots, terminating in such long and graceful pe- duncles, that the plant is probai)ly a distinct species from Chrysantliie- mmn sinense, and differs not so much in leaf as in flower from cm- No. 6., the Small Deep Yellow; above. ***** Tasskl-flowered ; being tall or very tall plants in their genus, with very large doui)le, and more or less conspicuously drooping flowers^ whose petals are usually elongated and quilleil, and often greatly resemble the fortn of a tassel. 33. The Tassekd Flame Yellow; The quilled Flame Yellow, Hort. Trans. V. 4. tab. 14. ]). 349. and v. 5. p. 421. The miignificeut flowers of this tall plant appear rather late, and often measure above five inches in ex- l)ansion ; and make, |)erhaps, if not a more neat, at least a more showy appearance than any other of the group, being doidjle, and com|)osed of innumeralde chiefly quilled incurving petals, hanging more or less down- wards, and when at their best resembling a flame-colored tassel. On the Cultivation of the Chinese Chysanthemums. 145 34. The Tassdrd Salmon ; The Quilled Salmon, Kort. Trans, v. 5. tab. 17.* (iiitL'iior filmic) [ . 414. and p. 4'e, Hort. Trans, v. 6. p. 337. Also called Semidouble Deep Yellow. Of the irnddle stature, with few and late flowers, of good size, but compar- atively poor appearance, on loosely dropping foo. stalks. Obs. The author has rejected the hybrid word sewii-double throughout the paper. Review of Loudon'' s Gardener^ s Magazine. 147 REVIEWS. Art. I. The Gardener's Magazine, and Register of Rural and Do- mestic Improvement. Conducted by J. C. Loudon, Esq., F. L. S. H. S. &c. In Monthly Numbers, 8vo. Is. 6d. each. No. LVIII. for January. The number for January, 1835, of this excellent Magazine, ap- pears with several improvements. Under the head of Pomological, Abhorticultural, Floricultural and Olitorial Notices, the indefatigable conductor intends to furnish his readers with an account of all new and choice fruits, rare shrubs and trees, new flowers and new vege- tables, worthy of cultivation in the fruit garden, pleasure ground, flower border, or kitchen garden. The conductor has made such arrangements with Mr Thompson, of the London Horticultural So- ciety's Garden, and Mr. Barnet, of the Horticultural Society of Ed- inburgh, as will enable him to give all the information possible on these subjects. , The first article is a " brief account of Mr. Colley's Botanical Re- searches in Guiana," by James Bateman, Esq., who sent Mr. Col- ley out to collect Orchideous plants. To those of our readers who are interested in reading some of the peculiarities of plants, we ex- tract the following, as showing the habits of that singular tribe gener- ally termed Epiphytes : — " I shall now attempt," says the writer, " to convey some idea of the aspect of vefjfetation on the banks of the Demarara; which, though not so large a stream as tiie Essequibo, Massarotii, Corgooni, Berbice, and other rivers which were afterwards visiteil, partakes more or le.ss of the characters of them all. Tiie forest (or, as it is there called, ''the hush ") usually hangs over, or ap- proaclics near to, the stream ; and, to a Ein'0|)eaM eye, wears a rich but rather monotonous aspect; rt'lieved only by the "crowned heads" of the majestic palms, or the broad-spreading foliage of the banana. If we except the " silk cotton tree," the trunk of wliich is found of prodigious diameter, the trees are not usually of very large growth : indeed the redundance of vegetation, while it contributes to the denseness of the forest, must naturally have a ten- dency to diminish the size of the individuals of which it is formed. The "bush rope," and many splendid climbers hang in light and elegant drapery round the higher j)arts of the trees; while their trutdical forests, among a tribo of |)lants, which, indeed, form noliie substitutes for the mosses and lichens which assinne their places in our own woods. It might be expected that, where such numerous epiphytes floin'isli, moss would also be found in abundance. The reverse, however, is the cr.se : scarcely a liandfid could be collected in a day; and, when observed at ail, it is generally foimd extending, in a narrow strip, from tlie trunk to the braiicjits. This scarcity of moss is severely felt by the botanical collector; for it forms, in a dry state, by far the best substance in which Orchidere and many other plants can be packed. I would, therefore, recommend any future collector, who may visit these countries, to carry out with him a quantity of dry moss ; of which a large supply may be pressed into a very small compass ; so small, indeed, that the room it would occupy, in the passage out, need not at all be taken into consideration. " Orchidcfe l)eing, as I have already mentioned, the principal object of Mr. Colley's expedition, I will here bring forward a few particidai-s which 1 have gathered respecting their habits, «Scc. &c. They are by no means scattered in every hem instantly into w.' er, which either drowns or ejects all these dangerous lodgers. "For the benefit of future collectors," Mr. Kateman says, "I must warn them against the use of an Indian-rubber cloak in a tropical country ; for the heat of the sun soon melts the preparation, v. inch, of course, not only ceases to exclude the wet, but glues itself to the skin. "It now only remains for me to add of Mr. Colley, that though often ex- Review of Loudoii's Gardener^ s Magazine. 149 posed to the drenchinj^dewsof niglit, in ahammockslnng between two trees, and'tliongh harrassed by privations in every iiirni, slill such was his iron constitution, that (huing tlie wiioie five mouths of iiis stay, lie enjoyed the most perfect health." In Article XV. under the head of Pomological Notices, we find the following account of a new Peach, by Mr. Thompson : — " The Peche de Seniach is tiie name of this fruit; and it was received, by the Horticultural Society, from M. Antlibert, nursiM-ynian at Tarascon (de- j)artement des Bouciies liu Rhone.) It fruited fijr the first time, last season ; and is a very fine large melting late sort. In llie garden of the Society there are many hundreds of new sorts of (ruit that are nf)w coming into a bearing state ; and, among tiiem, some tens may probai)ly be foimd excellent. These the public will have an early opportunity of knowing and |)rocuring, as soon as their merits are ascertained, in consequence of the arrangements you iiave made with a view to that end." As new fruits, deserving of trial in England, Mr. Thompson recom- mends the following Arnerican varieties. Apples: — Benoni, Early Bough, (^Coxe), St. Lawrence, (Corse), Corse's Indian Prince, (^Corse), Killam Hill, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Rawle's Janett, and Striped June apple. Pears : — Dearborn's SeedHng, Gushing, (S. Downer, Esq.), Dix, (S. D., Esq.), Gore's Heathcot, Wilkinson, (S. D., Esq.), and Lewis, ( S. D., Esq.) Plums: — Bleeker's Gage, Huling's Superb, Blue November Gage, and several of Mr. Corse's varieties. All these are described from Mr. Kenrick's American Orchardist. Their excellence will be proved in the London Horticultural Society's Garden, at Chiswick, and their merits made known through the Gardener's Magazine, For a collection of Pears, where the space is limited, Mr. Thomp- son recommends the following : — "Jargonelle, IMavia Louise, Beiure de Capiaumont, Beurre Diel, Glout morceau, Easter beurre, Bcurre ranee. These are all of first-rate excellence, deserving the protection of walls, where such can be afforded ; but, witii the exception of the jargonelle, they arc all haidy eitongh for standards, in any climate tolerably good as regards the growth of this class of fruits. It would hi. difficult to select fewer sorts than tiie above ; because some might prefer a sort which would come fit for use in autmnn, others in winter or spring. Several sorts may, however, be worked on the same tree, where the space will not admit of one of each being jilanted. For instance, the BeiuTe de Capiaumont is such a great and constant bearer (nothing to the coiitraiy has been observed of it since it first began to bear in this coimtry), that a whole tree would be more than sufficient for a small demand; it might, therefore, be partly worked with Glout morceau or Easter bemre. It may be farther remarked, tnat the Beurre Diel rerpiires to have the branches kejjt rather thin, as otherwise, its large and abundant foliage becomes too dense for the admission of the sun anil air to the fruit." Under the head of " Olitorial Notices," some new vegetables are mentioned. A new Pea, called the D^Auvergne Pea, is said to be excellent. It was sent to the London Horticultural Society, by M. Vilmorin, of Paris. Seeds of vegetables and flowers ripened ex- ceedingly well in England, last season. 150 Review of (he FloricuJtural Cabinet mid FlorisCs Magazine. Art. ir. The Plorindtural Cabinet and Florist's Magazine. Con- ducted by Joseph Harkison. In monthly numbers, 8vo. London, No. XXill. ; January, 1835. This is a very interesting little work, and contains much infor- mation for the florist. Tlie work has already reached two vol- umes, and this number is the commencement of the third. We shall occasionally review the work, extracting such matter as we think will add value to our Magazine. The first article is, " on the impregnation and raising of the Carna- tion and Pink from seed." In this the correspondent gives the fol- lowing as his mode of proceeding : — "I select such flowers as are perfectly double, and I know of none better than the lollowiu^j: — Roi de Capucliiiis, s. b. ; Wood's William the Fourtii, c. h. ; Addeiibroke's Lydia, s. f ; Lancashire Lass, r. f. ; Turner's Princess Cliarlotie, p. f. In Picotecs— Hufiou's Will Slukoly, r. ]). ; Annesley's Achil- les, r. ]). ; Ifufton'ri Miss Willoufihby, p.]).; and Jeeve's Moonraker, p.p. Tliat such flowers as these may produce seed, it will be necessary to let every bud remain to bloom. When tiiey are fully ex))anded, and the pistils assiune a glittering icy a])pearance, take any one hall-expanded bloom, and tear it open, when will be seen the apices, or pods, containing the pollen, or dust: take one of these, and, if not already biu'st, o])en it, and draw it along the pis- tils, tiil you see some of the ])owder adhering to them. If this has been pro- perly done, the bloom will close in two or three hours ; and if no alteration takes place, repeat it till it docs. Li two or three days after imjiregnation has taken place, cut off" all the other buds, and remove the plant to a situa- tion where it will get plenty of sun; keep it well supplied with water, and protect the ca[)sule from rain, by placing a square piece of thin board upon the stick, just above it ; gather the seed when ri|)e, and keep it in the pod in a well-corked vial. Ii will be also necessary to protect the pod from ear- wigs, which is best done by winding a little fresh sheej)'s wool roimd the stick and stem; they will not attempt to ])ass over it, as it entangles them. "These directions a])ply equally as well to Piid\S, with the exception that the bloom from which the pollen is to be taken must be o})ened before it be- gins to expand, or the apices will all be burst, and the pollen gone." Article 3 is "on the Blooming of Double Stocks in Pots," "It is com- monly known," says the writer, "that innumerable quantities of plants of the Scarlet and White Stock are annually bloomed in pots ; but the difficid- ty which occurs in procuring strong blooming plants in pots, without the aid of a greendiouse, has rendered the system somewhat unpopular with many amateur florists, who naturally dislike to see a degenerate growth, and an in- different bloom in pots, after witnessing the handsome api)earance wiiich they present in their flower-beds and borders." In order to cause vigorous plants to bloom, the writer directs "the seed should be sown in a frame late in autumn, giving the advantage of all mild weather, but closing the lights at night, and affording sufficient protection of matting during tlie severity of winter. Some are sown as late as Christ- mas, weather pernfitting. The seed sown in spring will never produce ])lants so early, if so fine, as the autumnal sown plants. "The soil best suited to the Stock appears to be a rich, light, sandy loam, moderately manm-ed with old frame-dung, well incorporatetl together; or if a heavy strong loam is used, a good portion of sharp grey sand should be united with it, manuring it with old frame-dung, as above. Heview of the Floricidtiiral Cabinet and Fiorisfs Magazine. 151 "As soon as the plants api^onr snniciently advanced in growili to ho drawn from tlie frame, whicli is when al)oiit an inch and a liall' in lieigiit, and lie- fore tliey run at all weakly, 1 prick thcni out on a hed of coniitost prepared as ahove, ohservinj^, in dihiiling liu^ plants in, to let the roots [)e tolerahy iirni- fixed in the gronnd, lcavin>^ the little hollow on oi\e side of each plant cans- ed l)y the action of the dibble, wirudi allows the yoinig plants to receive and retain a greater degree of inoistnn>, a desideratnin at this precise time most im|)ortant to their existence, and whicli is always inaiidy insirnmental in their snccess. Should the weather he dry, occasional waterings between the rows with a fine rose pot must be given. It is an additional advantage to afford night covering with mats, by means of hoo|)-l)ends, tit this early sea- son, until the plants are re-rooted and estahlislied ; for, notwithstanding the Ten-week Stock jiartakes of the character of a hardy annual, we nuist avoid exposing them to unseasonable severity; or, as in the case of infaicy in our- selves, we may crush that life which might otherwise have matured, and adorned society. "I let the plants remain thus imtil they are set for bloom, and the young buds are sufficiently developed to enable me to distinguisli the "double" from the "single" plants, which is easily done, the double i)i-esenting a round, knobbed, full appearance, altogether different from the single. I'lie distinc- tion in the first or early show of tiie bloom will readily suggest itself to the most uninformed on the siil ject. I then select such of tije double plants as I require for potting, and carefully remove each with a strong round- ed garden trowel, which I do without in the least disturbing the root, taking np each with a good hall of earth attached. I place one strong looking plant in the centre of a 48-sized pot, filling up the pot with a compost simi- lar to that above described; or I place three plants triangularly in a 36 or 24-sized pot, and settle the plants moderately firm. I then place them in a shady situation until well re-established. "From this transplanting I keep the pots supplied with a regular mois- ture, preferring evening watering, which revives the plants aJter the ex- haustion occasioned by the effect of the sun. They succeed best when the season is moderately rainy. If the plants are at any time suffered to droop for want of moisture, they will never succeed, and the hopes of the cultivator will be blighted. "By the foregoing method, which I have adopted with the utmost success for several seasons, I have bloomed the scarlet and white varieties in j)ots, in a degree of perfection and beauty which I really have not Ijeen in the habit of observing elsewhere, and which I feel confident can never be acquired by the simple methods resorted to by persons generally, without the assistance of the green-house ; and the Stocks which are sent out for sale in bloom early in the season, having just emerged from the tender care and skill of the most eminent nurserymen in the suburbs of London, will be sure to con- tain many single flowers; and when purchased, and their situation conse- quently changed, they are doomed but to a transient existence. "I have transplanted many hundreds in this manner, and rarely or ever had one die ; they seldom flag at all |)erceptibly, and even then but for a few hours only. As such I respectfully beg to recommend the adoption of the plan, of course at the same time strongly urging the necessity of a similar care and attention to what I have here described. " I have had them in bloom in May, and with their lateral shoots through- out the summer." 152 General Notices. — Domestic Notices. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Art. I. General JVotices. The extreme Fibrils of the Roots of Plants, it has been asserted by Duha- mel and others, die annually in tlio winter sf?ason, and are renovated in the s{)rin