THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY AND HORTICULTURIST. DEVOTED TO HORTICUIJURE. ARBORICULTURE AND RURAL AFFAIRS. EDITED BY LibRAR Y NEW YORK THOMAS MEEHAN, BOTAWICA& STATE BOTANIST OF PENNSYLVANIA, FORMERLY HEAD GARDENER TO CALEB COPE, ESQ., AT SPRINGBROOK, AND AT THE BARTRAM BOTANIC GARDENS, NEAR PHILADELPHIA; GRADUATE OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDENS, KEW, (LONDON) ENGLAND. MEMBER OF THE ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES. AUTHOR OF "AMERICAN HAND-BOOK OF ORNAMENTAL TREES," ETC. VOLUME XXI, 1879. PHILADELPHIA. CHARLES H MAROT, Publisher, No. 814 Chestnut Street, 1879. ILLUSTRATIONS. Vibunmm plicatum— Chromo, Frontispiece. A Adiautuui palmatum, ............ 13 Aramigus Fulleri — eight cuts, . . . . . . . • • • .311 Areca purpurea, ............. 43 C Cissus Endresii, 233 Conservatory, Cross section, 38 Croton appendiculatum, 59 " Queen Victoria, 143 D Diantlius C'liineusis lacinatus, ........... 163 Dracaena elegantissima, ............ 202 " Taylorii, ............. 329 F Fern, — Nepholepis davalloides furcans, 171 " Pillar, 71 " Stag's Horn, 234 Fig Protection, 142 Fuchsia Illustration — three cuts, . . . ' • 198 Fuchsias, Double White, 75 G Geranium Ethel Beale, 12 Group of Flowers and Foliage, 137 Heating by Lamps, . 106 L Larkspur, Camellia-flowered, 162 M Mushroom Beds, French, . 112 P Panax laciniatus, 266 Platycerium grande, ............ 234 Potato Growth Extra — five cuts, 26 R Raspberry, Hornet, 272 Rose Beetle, Fuller's — eight cuts, , . 311 T Tomato Trellis 109 V Viburnum plicatum, . 292 THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. nuies, SEEDS and plants FOE THE PEESENT SEASON. Per Doz. Per 100 HYACINTHS, (unnamed) Double Red, Sl.OO S7.00 " " Double White, 1.00 7.50 " " Double Blue, 1.00 7.50 EARTHY WHITE ROMAN HYACINTHS, (for forcin LILIUM CANDIDUM. XIHUM LONGIFLORUM, HYACINTHS, (unnamed) Single Red, " " Single White, " " Single Blue, 75c. per doz. $5.50 per 1.00 1.00 " 6.00 " 90 " 6.00 Per Doz. Per 100 SI. 00 37.00 1.00 7.50 1.00 7.50 S50.00 per 1000 50.00 " 50.00 IjILiIY of TH£ valley, (.ready in November) " Large Pips." These should not be confounded with the "stogie eves " usually sold. Thev are larger, stronger, and in every way more certain to flower. S2.00 per 100 S17.50 per 1000 NARCISSUS, Paper White. Each bulb will produce from 2 to 4 spikes of bloom, . 4.00 " 35.00 " "TULIPS. Early Single and Double, mixed, ....... 2.25 " PLANTS SPECIALLY PREPARED FOR WINTER FLOWERING. AZALEAS, fine plants, BOUVARDIAS. fine plants, ■CYCLAMEN PERSICUM, CALLA ETHIOPICA, CLIMBING FERN, 7RIMULAS, White and Red, Single, " " Double White, PCINSETTIA PULCHERRIMA, SMILAX, Our Wholesale Descriptive List for Floris 100 ROSES — Specially prepared for Winter flowering,Comprising 1 the 12 best sorts, namely : ' Niphetos, white. Douglas, crimson ' SaSrano, orange. Bon Silene, carmine. Isabella Sp runt, straw color. Alba, bluish. , La Sylphide, French white Yellow Tea. Duchess de Brabant, rosy blush. Cornelia Cook, white. Belle Allamande, pinlc- Oenl. Jaqueminot, crimson. All fine healthy plants, grown in 5 and 6-inch pots, S25.00per 100 PETER HENDEESON & CO. 35 COURTLANDT STREET, NEW YORK lERiJiS P. 0. Box 899. 44 DEY ST., New York. SEEDS. Tlisliecl 1844.) No. 233 MERCER STREET, Betiveen Bleecker and Third Sts., Send 6 Gents Posfarhest display of Bouquet Papers." .„„„*f Send orders early in Fall. Illustrated Catalogue furnished gratis on application. t.aug.tf ORNAMENTAL TREES. By Thomas Meehan. An American Hand-Book, containing the personal observa- tions of vhe author. 257 pages, 24rao, cloth. Price 75 cts. Sent bv mail post-paid on receipt of price. Dy mail po p Address CHAS. H. MAKOT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. CLASS BOOK OF BOTANY. By Alphonso Wood, A. M. Being outlines of the Structure, Physiologj' and Classification of Plants ; with a Flora of the United States and Canada. 832 pages, 8vo, half arabesqui cloth sides. Price, ^3.50. Sent by mail post- paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. SAWING THE LOG. WATER AND AIR PROOF PAPER, Used in mailing Plants, Ac, by Nurserymen and Florist.s, and. in all cases where air and watershould be excluded. Impervious paper used by Architects in Drawing, Tracing, &.(■., and by Sur- geons and Medical Faculty as a covering — where oil silk can be- used. Pronhorru Plantc Some new varieties ripen quite- Ul allUCI I J r laillO. early; prolific and constant bear- ers. Send for my new circular relating to culture, soil and price. F. TRO'WBRIDGE, n2.m2 MILFORD, CONN. PRACTICAL FLORICULTURE. By Peter Henderson. A Guide to the successful cultivation of FLORISTS' PLANTS, j for the Amateur and Professional Florist. Illustrated. 288 pages, ' i2mo, cloth. Price, ^^1.50. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt of ■ price. Address, CHAS H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street. Philadelphia. WOMRFUL IMPROVED Labor Saviiu; RiniXCJ S.4W .^I.-lC'inWE is fully demonstrated hy the uiimber in usm and the present demand for them. It saws Logs of any size. One man can saw more los^s or cord wood in one day and easier than two men can the old way. It will saw a twi) fiot log in three minutes. Kvery Farm- er nee«l«» one. Towiish'.p agents wanted. Send for Illustrated Circular and Terms. Addres^i ^V. W. BOSTWICK & CO., 1T8 KInt Kt., t'inrinuati, O. WINDOW FLOWER GARDEN By Julius J. Hkinrich. Handsomely illustrated. This work endeavors by a few sim- ple directions for the management of plants and flowers in the- window or conservatory, to show to all the members of the family, and especially the children, that the cultivation of flowers is not difficult, and brings more real enjoyment than many more expensive amusements. It is intended for all, in- cluding children, excluding technical terms as far a.s possible, and giving the most simple directions. 93 pp., 12 mo. cloth, 75c. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILA. ART OF CRAFTING AND BUDDING. By Charles Baltet. Appropriately and fully illustrated by cuts, showing meth- ods tools, and appliances, 230 pages, 12mo, cloth. Price, $2.00. Mailed, postage free, on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. Medal and Diploma a-warded by the U. S. Centen- nial Commission, 1876, also Gold Medal and Diploma Awarded at the Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association, held in Boston, 1878, to MITH t WHCH Manufacturers of Patent Improved Portable Cellular Fire Box Return Flue Boiler AND PATENT PORTABLE CELLULAR FIRE BOX Base Burner Boiler, FOR HEATING Greenhouses, Grajjeries, Conservatories^ Propayntitiy Houses, For- cing Pits, Public and Private Buildings, Schools, Drying Booms, and Heating Water for Baths, ALSO KEEP CONSTANTLY ON HAND Expansion Tanks, Evaporating Pans, Stop Valves, Cast-Iron Pipe, Elbows, Tees, Branches, Pipe Chairs and everything necessary, of the best material, for Greenhouse Heating. ^ -^ Smith & Lynch's Improved Ventilating Apparatus, for opening and closing Ventilating Sash, on roof or sides of Greenhouses and Graperies, Judges' Report on awards, with descriptive illustrated circular containing testimonials~and reference. Also price list furnished on application to SMITH & LYNCH, BOSTON, MASS. feb.18 THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. MARSGHUETZ 6L BAGHARAGH, 25 NORTH FOURTH STREET, Philadelphia, Pa. IMPORTERS OF AND WHOLESALE DEALERS IN FLORISTS'SUPPLIES. SUCH AS Bouquet Papers or Italiens, in great varieties of Styles and Patterns. Pasted Cartons, in all sizes. IMMORTELIiES. Dried Grasses and Flowers, suitable for Decorations. Ornamental Bouquets, for Vases. French Green Mosses, Baskets, Wire Designs, Tin Foil. Oiu* connections with several European Houses enables us to sell goods at lowest figures. Orders will receive careful attention and prompt shipment. Catalogues furnished gratis on application. t.feb.l2 'W. "W. GILES' Patent Lightning Saw Horse. Having purchased the exclusive right of this machine for the States of N. Y., N. H., Pa., Md., N. J., Del., Vt.,Mass., R. I., Conn, and Me., we are now prepared to fill all orders for them promptly. Send for circular to FRANK & CO., 176 Terrace St., Buffalo, N. Y. rnrr* rtll"TI a copy (,f my Mod. LULL. |I|LII >«-"> «'<»•» mo II <'f>c>suiti|>tioii. Bi'iiii<-Iiili.«, A*iiia. Ki>v<- Tiiruat, Of >':t<«al <'atiii-rli. It is ficgiuuh- printed ami illustriiti-il. 144 pases, limo, Is, 'J. fl lias been the means in the providence of God ot saving many valuable lives. Send nanieand jiost- ofnce address, with six ciMits postimo fbrniuiliiiLr U'he book is iiivaluablo to piTsons suircj-ini; wiih any disease of the >ost>, Tlii-o:it or I^tiiiu'u. Address Pr. N. B. WOLiFK, l'i:^«'l.>i>'.4.TB. <>. Moore's Clul) Agency. ALL the leading papers and magazines furnished at Club rates. To be entitled to periodicals, at 2d column prices you must send or agree to send 810 for papers within one year. Publishers price. Our Club price. Harpers' Weekly or Bazar $4 00 $3 35 Any of Leslie's $4.00 Periodicals 4 00.. ..[.".!.. ].!!]!] 3 10 N. Y. World, or Herald, or Sun 1 00 95 " Tribune 2 00 ]. .'. " 1 00 " Times 1 00 90 " Witness 1 50 1 30 Rural New Yorker 2 00 1 75 Scientific American 3 20^.!!!. 2 75 Toledo Blade 2 oo!."!!.".!!.!!".. 1 50 American Agriculturist 1 5o!!. ...!!!!!. !..!!! 1 00 Arthurs' Home Magazine. 2 00..!!.!!!"!!.!..!! 1 60 Godey's Lady's Book ! 2 Oo!!!!.!!!!!!!!!!!!! 1 60 Household 1 lo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 85 Petersons' Magazine !!!!!!!! 2 Oo!!!!!! .... !!!!! 1 50 The Club Agent's Times, 32 pages, with our Fiiii' Cl'ubListof 600 leading papers at same low rates sent free. It contains also refer- ences as to our responsibility, etc. SEND FOR A COPY. flec-^- Brock PORT, Monroe Co., N. Y. A RARE CHANCE. For a good Practical Florist with small capital. Two good green- houses, % acre of land, dwelling house, good supply of water and stock, convenient to railroad, and in good locality in Western New York. For terms, address, R, "W. P., Box 2G0, Penny an, Yates Co., N. Y. dec.tf THE BEST PAPER! TRY IT! BEAUTirULLT ILLUSTEATED. 3 S t li ^^ E A. R . THE Scientific American, The Scientific American is a large First-Class Weekly Newspaper of Sixteen Pages, printed in the most beautiful style, profusely illustrated irith splendid engravings, representing the newest Inventions and the most recent Advances in the Arts and Sciences; including New and ioteresting Facts in Ag- riculture, Horticulture, the Home, Ilealih, Medical Progress, Social Science, Natural History, (ieology. Astronomy. The most valuable practical papers, by eminent writers in all de- partments of Science will be found in the Scientific American. Terms, f3.20 per year, 81.60 half year, which includes postage. Discount to Agents. Single copies, ten cents. Sold by all News- dealers. Remit by postal order to MUNN & CO., Publishers, 37 Park Row, New York. "P A 'T''ir''l\r'T'GJ I" connection with the Scientific A^xX X JCjX^ X O. American, Messrs. Munn & Co. are Solicitors of American and Foreign Patents, have had 35 years experience, and now have the largest establishment in the world. Patents are obtained on the best terms. A special notice is made in the Scientific American of ''>'! inven- tions patented through this Agency, with the name and resi- dence of the Patentee. By the immense circulation thus given, public attention is directed to the merits of the new patent, and sales or introduction often easily effected. Any person who has made a new discovery or invention, can ascertai n, /ree 0/ cAajv/e, whether a patent can probably be ob- tained, by writing to Munn & Co. We also send free our Hand Book about the Patent Laws, Patents, Caveats," Trade-Marks, their costs, and how procured, with hints for procuring advan- ces on inventions. Address for the Paper, or concerning Pat- ents. livdr-criNriNr <2z. oo., 37 Park Row, New York. Branch Office, Cor. F & 7th Sts., Washington, D. C. puRDY's recorde; Best paper on fruit and flowers. Specimen free. Siiealis/or itself. Address PURDY, of Palmyra, N.Y. ^°5|3 Printing Press m: ^Prints cards labels Ac. (Self-inker $5) 18 larger sizes f For business or pleasure, younijorold. Do yourownad- ^vertising and printing. Catalogue of presses, type, cardi ^&c., for S stamps. Kelsey & Co. Merldeii» Coon THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. ROSESf«>iFLORISTS Our Immense Stock now ready for the Fall Trade. ^m^^ X''Y/^X'T TTVr T?#^GX*G 'J^cause we devote exclusive attention, with large tV Xd XdJk\jTdM4 XJ^ XCfVJdX^d^ capital and acres of glass to the production of ROSES alone. We furnisli the very best plants of the finest varieties at the lowest possible prices. SIZE AND QUALITY OF ROSES.- ^ImZr ^TtJot healthy plants— size usually grown in o-inch pots. Being light, well matured, and extra strong rooted, they are particularly suitallle for FLORISTS" use and distant transportation. Florists who have tried them say' that our strong vigorous Roses pay them better than larger ones costing twice the money. As they are grown in ordinary soil, without manure off any kind, they require no petting, but start quickly, grow rapidly, and come into market early. PRICES— By Express— Tlie purchaser paying exi)ress chaiges. Per 100 Per 500 Per 1000 Ever-blooming Roses— first class selection, - - - - $7 00 $30 00 $60 00 Hardy Climbing Rdscs, " " _ - - - 7 00 30 00 60 00 Hybrid Perpetual Roses * " _ _ . - 9 00 40 00 80 00 Mos* Roses, ' " - ... 15 OO 70 OO 140 00 SPECIAL ASSORTMENTS at special low rates, which can be had on application. PACKING is done in the best manner without charge— SAFE CARRIAGE GUARANTEED. Can ship with balls on when desired ROSBS FROM OPElVr GROUItfD. A. IVICE ASS0I1TM:E]NT. Per 100 STRONG ONE YEAR EVER-BLOOMING ROSES, $7 00 CLIMBERS, &c.— B. Belle, Prairie Queen, &c. ... 10 00 Terms— Cash with the order— Descriptive and Wholesale Lists Free on application. Per 1000 60 00 90 00 Addkk THIS ADVERTISEMENT IS INTENDED FOR THE TRADE ONLY, AND NOT FOR PRIVATE PLANTERS. THE mmU & GOMRD GO. ROSE GROWERS. CHESTER COUNTY, PA. BURNING BOILERS. Send for CIRCULAR. sep.4 For Warming Greenhouses, Dwellings, etc. 15 T7T T T^f 182 Centre street, li^ MUUi)Jy New York City. c. GRAPE VINES I Also GRAPE WOOD and CUTTINGS. LARGEST STOCK IN AMERICA. All leading varieties in large supply. Extra quality. True to name. Special rates to Agents, Dealers and Nurserymen. Our list of Customers now embraces nearly all the leading Nurserymen in the country, to whom we would refer those not acquainted with our stock. Descriptive Catalogue and Price List Free. T. S- HUBBARD, Fredonia, N. Y. aug.lO Farm Accounts! Every Farmer should know how to keep tlicia. An entirely i:ew ami oompleto b vstem just devised. Send postal for free Circulars to the Bryant h Stbatton BosiNEsa CoLLBGE, 1U8 S. Tenth. 3t., Philadelphia. AGENTS! READ THIS! -^ We will pay Agents a Salary of $100 per month and expenses, or allow a large commission, to sell our new and wonderful inventions. We mean what we say. Sample Free. Address, Sherman Sc Co., Marshall, Mich. THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. mAM^m^ I will give some one who has a FEW THOUSAND DOLLABS to invest, the best opportunity to enter into a WELL ESTAB- LISHED COMMERCIAL PAYING BUSINESS that can be found in the UNITED STATES. (16,000) SIXTEEN THOUS- AND FEET of GLASS, all WELL STOCKED with the NEW and RARE PLANTS of the season. FIVE ACRES of GROUND under leise. Packing shed, 20 x 100; fine Office, all heated by two of EXCELL'S PATENT HOT WATER BOILERS. Also a large area of outside glass. Situated on the most fashionable Boulevards in Chicago. I will sell HALF INTEREST or the whole. The reason for selling is, my BOILER BUSINESS RE- QUIRES ALL MY TIME. Address, ROBT. EXCELiL, Chicago Floral Co., t june.tf. 38th St. and Grand Boulevard, Chicago, 111. tfjiJO A WEEK. S12 a day at home easily made. Costly Outfit (p/Z free. Address True & Co., Augusta, Maine. WINDOW GARDENING. By Henry T. Williams. Devoted specially to the Culture of Flowers and Ornamental Plants for In-door vse and Parlor Decoration. Splendidly illus- trated. 300 pages, med. 8vo, cloth. Price S1.50. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt ot price. Address CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. AMERICAN FRUIT CULTURIST. BY JOHN J. THOMAS. Practical directions for the Cultivation of Fruit Trees in the NURSERY. ORCHARD AND GARDEN Descriptions of the principal American and Foreign ^ arioti''' Plain Edition, 480 engravings, 511 pages, 12 mo. Price, ?3.0C Mailed post-paid on receipt of price. .^g-ixtra Edition, 575 pages, heavy paper, fine cloth, 508 illustrations and chromo frontispiece; mailed, for SS./o.'ivS Address CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chest t>u St.. Phil? LPaillefsFreitilrsfiries IMPORTATION OF FRENCH ROSES. Exceptionally reduced prices for Roses, sent franco to New York (including packing). Buyers to pay only duty and charges in New York. ^ ' * Pr. ,500 Pr. 1000 Fine Standard, No. 1, di 4 ft. high, 1st choice, $12.5 00 S225 00 Good " " " 2d •' 95 00 180 00 Fine half standard, 2, @i 4 ft. high, 1st " 95 00 180 00 Good 2d •' 80 00 150 00 Fine low budded, 1st "' 50 00 95 00 Good " '• 2d '• 40 00 75 00 Fine, own roots, good assortment, 1st " 40 00 75 00 Good " " 2d " 30 CK) 60 00 Fine, " St. Malmaison, 1st " 40 00 75 00 Good, " " 2d " 37 00 70 00 Good, " Bengales assorted. 1st " 27 00 50 00 Good Marechal Niel in pots for forcing, 75 00 140 00 Good Thes, assorted for forcing, 75 00 140 00 Low budded, special varieties for forcing and pot culture, 50 00 95 00 Pr. doz. Pr. 50 Moss Roses from Japan, new and rare. $12 00 40 00 Note.— The assortment will be left to my own choice, and it will be made amongst the 900 @ 1000 varieties cultivatrd. The second choice, in every kind, is good and when replanted and well cultivated, will make fine good first-class. Orders mav be sent direct to L. Paillet, Nurseryman, Chatenay les 'Sceaui, pies Paris, or to his agents in New York, Messrs. Dingelstedt & Co. x'7 William Street. One half of the value must be sent with the orders. L. Paillet is perfectly sure that Roses have never been imported at so low a rate, and every one who will buy from him will be satisfied, for the choice i.'> good, packing well done, and all verv cheap. FRUIT TREE &TOCK5=^. L. Paillet has also to offer an immense quantity of fruit tree stocks of every kind, such as Quince, Pear, Mahaleb, Plum,Cherry, j Apple, etc. Specially fine lots of Quince and Plums, St Julien, true . transplanted, all at a very low price. Also Ornamental Trees and ShruDs, Forest trees and Evergreen seedlings disposable in im- I mense quantities. Magnolias, Lenne and others; New Roses, Tree ■ and Sinensis Peonies,Clematis,Conifers, new and rare, Rhododen- I drons, Ghent Azaleas, &c. Catalogues sent on application to L. \ PAILLET, or DINGELSTEDT & CO. t.octS. 27 H'iUiom at , Mew York City. A MANUAL OF VEGETABLE PLANTS. A WONDERFULLY INTERESTING BOOK, BT ISAAC F. TILLINGHAST. ENTITLED Containing the experiences of the author in starting all those kinds of vegetables which are most diffieu It for a no vice to pro- duce from seed ; with the best methods known for combating and repelling noxious insects and preventing the diseases to which garden vegetables are subject. lo2 r':iKes, 16mo. cloth. Price, 81.00, mailed, post-paid, on receipt o. price. Address. CHARLES. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St. Phila. Manual of Botany of tlie Norlliern Unltei States.. By Asa Gray. Including the district east of the Mississippi and north of Carolina anl Tennessee. Arranged according to the Natural System. Illus- trated with 20 plates of Sedges, Gra-ses, Ferns, &c. 703 pages. 8vo, half-arabesque cloth sides. Price, $2.25. Sent by mail pcst- paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. THE SCHOOL GARDEN BY DR. SCHWAB, DIKECTOR OF THE VIENNA GYMNASIUM, ETC. FROM THE GERMAN BY MRS. HORACE MANN. Advocating education by labor as well as by study, not as a task, but as a delight. Adapting the Kindergarten principle to older children. In France and Sweden it is no longer an exper- iment. School gardens in city and town are destined to be a great educational force in America. This book, full of spirit and enthusiasm, will materially hasten the day. Price by mail, 50 cts. each, by express, 5 copies for 5'2.00, 12 copies for $4.00. Sent on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. PRESERVING, PICKLING AND Farm Implements and Machinery r^rirify^nr ]7rTTft^ AND THE PRINCIPLES OF THEIR CONSTRUCTION AND USE, W Cl 11 11 1. 11 U A. 1 L^ 1 b V •♦ with explanations of the laws of motion and force as ap- plied on the farm, with over 300 illustrations by John J, THOMA.S, new and revised edition, 312 pages, 12 mo. cloth, price $1.50; mailed postage free on receipt of price. Ad- dress, CHAS. H. MAROT. 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. LONDON GARDENER'S CHRONICLE Will be furnished, post-jjaid, direct to subscribers in the U. S. for S7.50 per year. Apply to novtf CHAS. H. MAROT, Agent, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. By Mrs. M. £. PETERSON. Containing a choice collection of recipes for Preserving, Pickling, and Canning Fruits, many of them being original from housewives of e.xperience. 12 pages, 16nio. Price 50 cents. Sent by mail, post paid, on receipt of price. ONLY A FEW COPIES LEFT. When these are gone, the WORK WILL BE OUT OF PRINT. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. wiTxim.m'mmL^ o.^r.ds. 4®"Sencl for Circular and conditions of insertion under this headinK."=S5a M. BAENAED, Fruit Farm and Nurseries, J. F. ESECE, Still Pond, P. P., Kent Co., Md. CHAS. BLACK k BEO., Nurseryman, Oxford, Pa. Nursery ;uid Fruits, Hightstown, N. J.; EENEY E. LOCZETT, Fruits, Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, Brenham, Texas. GIBSON & BENNETT, Nursery and .Suiall Fruits, Woodbury, N. J PBTEE" HENDEE^SON & CO., Wholesale Seedsmen and Florists, New York City. ; WM. PAEEY, Nursery and Small Fruits? j Cinnaminson, N. J. ! J. M. PHILLIPS, Nursery Stock, Seeds and Plants, Mercersburg, Pa. THOUAS MEEEAIT, Nurseryman &Tree Seeds, Germant'n, Phil. SEEABMA17 ft UAJOE, Nuserymen, Peach Trees a specialty, Bricksburg, N. J. ^^^^^^^ :e=^il.i:t:Lv^:bs Very Fine, at Lovtr Rates. J. C. VAUGHAN, 45 LaSaile St., Chicago, Ills. TOBACCO STEMS, For Fumigating iiurposes, for sale in bales of about 400 lbs., free on boat or cars at $5 per hale, or three bales for fl2 on one order. STRAITON & STORM, 204, 206 and 208 E. 27th Street, oct.l2 New Yokk City. p Queen of the MaM The Largest, Handsomest, best Hardy Red Raspberry, 3 inches around. Pot grown Plants, from healthy root cuttings, worth double the usual out- door suckers, sent post paid by mail. 2>00 per Dozen. Catalogues Free. WM PARRY, Cinnaminson, N. J. FT PAY^ FRUIT AND BREAD. A Natural and Scientific Siet. BY GUSTAV SCHLICKEYSEN. Translated from the German by M. L. Holbrook, M. D. In- tended to show what is the natural food of man ; to lead him to become a living child of nature: to simplily and beautify his manner of living; to emancipate women from the drudgery of the kitchen ; to lead to increased use of fruit; to diminish the use of flesh, and where possible, to do away with its use alto- gether ; to improve the health and add to the enjoyments and value of life. Cloth, 250 pages; 12mo. illustrated. Price, $1. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT 814 Chestnut St.. Phila. THE AMERICAN Steamship Company of Philadelphia. Philadelphia & Liverpool Line. The only Trans-Atlantic line sailing under the AlTier- ican Flag. Sailing every Thursday from Philadelphia, and Wednesday from Liverpool. THE RED STAR LINE, Carrying the Belgian and United States Mails. Sailing every ten days, alternately from Philadelphia and New York. Direct and only TO ANTWERP. Landing passengers within a few hours" ride of the important points of interest on the Continent. The American and Red Star Lines being under one manage-^ ment. Excursion tickets are good to return by either, thus sav- ing the expense and annoyance of re-crossiug the Channel. For rates of passage andgeueral information apply to apltf PETER WRIOI1T& SONS, Phila, Gen'l Agfa. chartoftheage" OF THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. TO READ THE Western Agriculturist THE OLDEST, CHEAPEST AND BEST FAMILY JOURNAL IN THE WEST. IT PAYS TO SUBSCRIBE FOR THE "WESTERN AGRICULTURIST And get a Choice of Valuable Premiums Free, with the best Farm Monthly Journal adapted to Western Interests. With each Subscription for 1880, at SI. 10, we will send a Choice of several Valuable Premiums, all post-paid. Send for Specimen Copy and Premium List. Western Agriculturist takes the Front Rank for Liberality, Usefulness and Practical Value. No Western Farmer can aflbrd to do without it. Specimen Copies ten cents, to be applied on subscription. Agents Wanted in every Neighborhood. Liberal Cash Com- missions and Valuable Club Premiums. Please send us your subscription. Address, T. BUTTER"WORTH, Publisher. QUINCY, ILL. Gold, Crystal. Lace, Perfumed and Chromo Cards, name in Gold and Jet, 10c. , Clinton Bros., Clinton ville, Ct. 62 BY A. LIAUTARD, M. D., V. S. (American Velernary College.) In this "Chart," which is fully illustrated and printed on card-board, making a handsome sheet for framing, much valua- ble information is given in a concise and intelligible way, en- abling one to determine the age of Horses, Cattle, Sheep, Dogs, and Pigs. It is what has long been wanted and often enquired for by stock breeders, and one of these Charts ought to be hang- ing in sight of every man who has anything to do with the man- agement of domestic animals. The size of the Chart is 21)4x283/^ inches. By mail, post-paid, on receipt of price, Sl.OO. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. "small fruit culturistT BY ANDREW S. FULLER. Giving Description, History, Cultivation, Propagation, Dis- eases, &c. Beautifully Illustrated. 276 pages, 12mo, cloth. Price Sl.50. Sent by mail, post-paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MABOT. 814 Chestnut St.. Phila. 10 THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. ORLEANS, FRANCE, Beg to inform their friends and customers generally, that their 3srE!"\xr XuisT lE^ois le'z© ^^nsrio isso Is now ready, and may be had on application to Messrs. KNAUTH, NACHOD & KUHNE, 17 William Street, New York This Catalogue contains Prices of all the FRUIT TREE STOCKS : an extensive list of FRUIT TREES, Newand Hardy ORNAMENTAL PLANTS, CLIMBERS, the Hardiest and Best CONIFERS, ROSES on their own roots. Also, SMALL CONIFERS, DECIDUOUS and EVERGREENT ORNA- MENTAL TREES, one or two years' Seedlings, most useful for Nurserymen. B. — The greatest attention given to packing. t.nov.3 THE ABBOTT Pocket Microscope instrument of great practical usefulness to Teacliers, Fanners, Mercliaiit!!!, Me- cltanios, Pliysl- ciaiis, Botanists, Miners, and iiian.> others. It is the best In-i u .]' la ivi'i' i:.vtn'f(l fir examining; FlOW' ers, Seeds, Plants, Minerals, Engravings, Bank Notes, Fabrics, Etc. By means of a cage, accompanyincf each In- strument, one can examine all kinds of |n" sects or Worms alive. The EYE OF A FLY, or other insect of like size, can be readily seen. It is simple in construction and easy to operate. One of these inte.-esting Instruments ought to be in eTery family. We have made arrangements to furnish the Pocket Microscope at the manufacturer's price, $1.50. It will be sent, post- paid, to any reader of this Paper desiring it, on receipt of price, or m .y be had at this office. AMATEUR'S ROSE BOOK. By Shirley Hibberd. Comprising the cultivation of the Rose in the open ground and under glas.s ; the formation of the Rosarium ; the characters of Wild and Garden Roses; the preparation of the flowers for ex- hibition ; the raising of new varieties ; and the work of the Rose Garden in every season of the year. Illustrated with colored plates and w lod engravings. 272 pages cloth, 12mo. Price frS.OO. Sent Ijy mail postpaid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. Aiiialeir's toilmiise iii Zwimui By Shirley Hibberd. A handy guide to the construction and management of plant houses and the selection, cultivation and improvement of orna- mental greenhouse and conservatory plants. Illustrated with colored plates and wood engravings. 272 pages, cloth, 12mo Price 13.00. Sent by mail postpaid on receipt of price. Address CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila TO FLORISTS. Plants that there is money in, ARCERAxnM, John Doughs. Very dwarft and of compact growth, with large heads of rich blue. LOBELl.i, Wave of Blue, large flowers of brilliant blue, fine dwarf habit, very profuse. The above are from cuttings. Five plants of each mailed for 81. IS. B-U-IST, nov.2 Rosedale Nursery, Philadelphia. HOW TO DESTROY INSECTS. On Plants and Flowers in the Garden and the House; giving directions short, sharp and decisive how to overcome every insect enemy that infects flowers and plants, out-doors and in-doors, which troubles window Gardens ; which eats up the vegetables of the garden; which devours the fruit trees, shrubs and vines, and lives in the homes of anxious, tired housekeepers. Paper, 100 pages, price 30 cents, postage free. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut .Street, Phila. THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. 11 Offered iov i\\M-s of lloariiiL', Lv a vvnri i.rlul N.-\v Soi- ^H entitle I.... MiDou.T HE DENTAPHONE. ■■ For renjarkaljle iml.lic testa on the IK'llf— also on ^H the l>cnf and »umb-See New York Herald. ^M Sept. 2><. I'hrislifin Slniiiiard, Sept. 27, etc. It B^| dlsplaoeK all Ear-trumpet*. Size oran or- B^H Sf.wing c2 a Log, Easy and Fast, Our latest improved sawing machine cuts off a 2-foot log in 2 minutes. A $iO@ PRESENT will be given to two men who can saw as much in the old way, as one man can with this machine. Circular.^ sent free, W, Giles, 741 W. Lake St., Cliicago, III. CAUTION. — We are stopping all infringements upon our I'atents, and have sued W. W. Bostwick and Farmers' Manufac- turing Co. for making machines like ours. We have also sued W. H, Clark, of Star City, Ind., for using and selling said mach- ines. QTfCTpjQJ Send 2-5 cents for g packets of flower or vege- ^XjUli/O. table seeds, and the Western Horticultu- rist Irt-e for six months. Send 50 cents for g beautiful window plants and paper for one year, all by mail prepaid. Tjl'D PTp A specimen copy of paper and packet of flower -T XV.CJ Jll. or vegetable seed, sent free for three cent stamp. Address PEARSON & McGILL, dec.2. -A-iri-sT^rortla., loTva. PLANTS. CYCLAMEN. TDBEROUS-ROOTED BEGONIAS. IMPORTED 'geraniums AND ORCHIDS. The extensive stock of the above valuable plants left by the late Daniel Barker, is otfered at the same prices and upon the same terms as heretofore, by his successors, who have purchased his entire hiisiness. Arrangements have been made to keep this stock fully up in all new plants, and the newly imported Gera- niums of Cannell and others, will be ready to send out in the Spring of 1880. Send for a catalogtie. i6®="Special attention will be paid to Tea Hoses, as heretofore, and several new and rare varieties will lie offered in the Spring. Address, THE BAE2EE FLORAL GARDENS, t.nov.2 Benj. Reynold-s, Suiit. Bi;.\mi!leton, Kokfolk, Ya. PAMPAS PLUMES^ In large quantitr, from California, Cheap. 24 to 30 in. . ". . . |io per 100. 30 in. and upwards, - - - - 16 " " .VLSO Constantly on hand. ORDER EARLY fOlt THE nOLIJi.trs. dec. W. E. MEEHAN, 15 S. 8th Street, Phila., Pa. THE BLESSED BEES. BY JOHN ALLEN. A record of a year's work in Bee-keeping by modern methods; its profits certain and large, and its pleasures invaluable. In- j tended to diffuse a more general knowledge of Bee-culture. 169 pages, 12 mo. cloth, limp. Price, $1. Mailed postage free on re- ceipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. GARDENING FOR PROFIT. BY PETER HENDERSON. A Guide to the successful cultivation of the MARKET AND FAMILY GARDEN. New and enlarged edition. Illustrated. 276 Pages, 12mo, cloth. Price, 81.50. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt of price. Address CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. BY JAMES HOGG. A complete guide to the cultivation of Vegetables, contain- ing thorough instructions for Sowing, Planting and Cultiva- ting all kinds of Vegetables ; with plain directions for pre- paring, manuring and tilling the soil to suit each plant; in- cluding also a summary of the work to be done in a vegetable g.irden during each month of the year. 137 pages, ]6mo, cloth. Illustrated. Price 50 cents: sent by mail, post-paid, on receipt of Price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. V. H. Hallock & Son, {Successors to The C. L. ALLEN COMPANY.] WHOLESALE DEALERS IN Our specialties are Lilies Nanwd, and Seedling Gladioli. Our Prices are as low as is consistent with the qnalUy of Bulh sold. We offer a line of Buihs adapted for Greenhouse culture, ready for delivery now and during the Fall mouths. Parties having New and rare Bulbs or Plants of merit, are requested to correspond with us in regard to the same, as we will pay liberally for anything neiv and good in the line of Lilies, Amaryllis, &c. Parties not in the habit of receiving our lists will please apply. Address," «P-8 QTJEEIsrS, 3^. "2". THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. 15 1ST TKT COI^E]"CrS- now olferiiiLr tin lowing line J[essi-s. BAIED & TUTTLE nore//i'-s at reduced jirics. Aurora, To cents each. Harlequin, To ots. Distinction, (species) 75 cts. Magic. ^'0 cts. Glow. 50 cts. Sunbeam, 75 cts. Firefly, 75 cts. Surprise (species) Sl.OO. The two Si-EtiKS are as novel and distinct as tlie well known MuLTiciiTOR and PiCTUS, the leaves heing centrally banded with (RKAMY WHITE in variety Surprise, -^'"l Crkamy BUKF in Distinction, interns, niidrihand veins of a fine violet color. The other varieties are ecpially good and not sur- passed by any hitherto sent out. Address t.dec.l. Baird & Tuttle, Bloomiagton Nurseries, Ills. TO nLiOzeisTS- Per doz. $1.00. 1.00 Per 100. $6.00 6.00 <;eraniuni New Life, 214 in pots, . Libonia Perhoniensis, " " Coleus, Royalty, Uarnet, Pictus, ) o qq " Multicolor and Oriole, j ' " ' ' ■2000 Cineraria Hybrida (Fine strain), Fine plants . in 2J4 in. pots, ...... 5.00 dec.l. David Little & Co.. Plattsburg. N. Y. FINE CLUB GREEN MOSS, SI.OO per bbl. SPHAGNUM MOSS, 75c. per bbl. FINE PEAT §1.25 per bbl. Al^SO Constantly on hand. 4fg" Send for Price List OKDEK ICARLY FOR THE HOLIDAYS. W. £. MEEHAN, t sep.i2 15 s. 8th St., Phila., Pa. iiOTMriuiTlLTll, BY E. P. ROE, ("The chapter on picking and marketing is eminently prac- tical and sensible." — American Agriculturist.) How to raise and market Stravyberries, Raspberries, Cur- rants, (iooseberries. Blackberries, &c. 82 pages, 8vo., paper, price 50 cents. Mailed post-paid on receipt of price. Address, GHAS H. MAROT, 8U Chestnut St., Phila. THE HORSE AND HIS DISEASES By B. J. Kendall, M. D. With the real essential information relative to each disease. Will save many times its cost, (iives cause, symptoms and best treatment of diseases. Table with the doses, ettects and anti- dotes of princii)al medicines used, and a few pages on action and uses of medicines. Rules for telling age of Horse and tine en- graving showing appearance of the teetli each year. A large collection of valuable recipes. Printed on fine paper 7J/^ x 5 in- ches; nearly 100 pages ; 35 engravings. Price 25 cts. Sent by mail postpaid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. HAND-BOOK OF PRACTICAL LANDSCAPE GARDENING. BY F. It. ELLIOTT. Designed for City and Suburban Residences, and Count-ry School-Houses; containing designs for lots and grounds, from a lot 30 by 100, to a forty-acre plot. Each plan is drawn to scale, with schedule to each, showing where each tree, shrub, &c., should be planted; condensed instructions for forming and caring for lawns; building of roads; turfing, protection, pruning and care of trees ; making cuttings, evergreens, hedges, screens, etc. Condensed descriptions of all the leading trees and shrubs; soil and position in which they should be grown. Illustrations of ground plans, elevations, trees, shrubs, winter gardening, &c. 96 pp., 8 vo. cloth. Price S'l. 50. Sent by mail on receipt of price. Address, CHAS H. MAROT, 8U Chestnut St., Phila. BACK volumes" OF THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY Can still be had in numbers, per year - - - . $2.10 Bound in neat cloth cases, including numbers, - - - 2.75 " "1^ Roan " " ... 3.10 Cloth cases alone, mailed for ------ .."jO Delivered postage free. Or mail u^i your own numbers, and have them bound in cloth cases for 90 cents. Returned to you bound postage free. Address, OHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, I'UILADELI^UIA. The Native Flowers and Ferns of the United States. EDITED PY THOMAS MEEHAN. Superbly Illustrated by Chromo Lithographic Plates. The best, cheapest, and most attractive botanical hook ever published. Published by L. PRANG & CO., Boston. Sold only by subscrip- tion. Sample part sent on receipt of 50 cents. A few experienced Canvassers wanted. CHARLES ROBSON, General Agent, oct.tf 1121 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. laio-'^TsT- to liaise IFr-ULits. BY THOMAS GBF.GG. A Hand-book of Fruit Culture being a Guide to the proper Cultivation and Management of Fruit Trees, and of Grapes and Small Fruits. 184 pages, ISmo. cloth, fully illustrated. Price $1.00. Sent by mail, postpaid, on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 8U Chestnut St. Phila. Orchid Grower's Manual BY BENJ. F. WILLIAMS, F. R. H. S. Containing descriptions of 930 Species and Varieties of Orchidaceous Plants ^vlth notices of times of flower- ing, approved modes of treatment and practical instructions on general culture. Remarks on heat, moisture, soil, seasons of growth and rest suited to the several species. FIFTH EDITION ENLARGED WITH COLORED FRONTISPIECE, and numerous beautiful illustrations, 336 Pages 12 mO. Cloth. Price, S3. 50- Sent by mail, postage free on re- ceipt of price. 4th edition of the above work also on hand, 300 pages 12 mo. cloth, illustrated. Price W^.iSO. Sent my mail, postage free, on receipt of price. Address,CHAS. MAROT, 8U Chestnut St.,Phila. HOW TO READ, AND HINTS IH CHOOSIHS THE BEST BOOKS, With a classified list of works of Biography, History, Criti- cism, Fine Arts, Fiction, Poetry, Religion, Science, Language, etc By Araelie V. Petit Pp. 220. 12mo, cloth. Price, $1.00- by mail, post-p.iid on receipt of price- Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St, Phila. GARDENING BY MYSELF. By Anna Warner. Containing Hints and Experiences under heading of each month in the year. Illustrated. 16mo, 223 pages, cloth. Price $1.25. Sent by mail post-paid on receipt of price. Address CHAS H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. 16 THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERTISER. Plants for Florists BLOOMING AND STOCK PLANTS. Azalea Indica, standards, trained heads, choice varieties, Ficus Elastica, well furnished, . treraniums, Apple Lygodiiim scandens, Petunia, Dreer's Double, " " Single . Primula, Single, 6 varieties, 3 in. " Double White, Verbenas in 25 choice varieties. For a full line of Choice Stock please see Dreer' List to Florists; mailed free. per doz. S7.50 and 89.00 6.00 per 100 per doz. per 100 per doz. per 100 Wholesale t.dec.l HENRY A. DREER, No. 714 Chestnut Street, Phila. ARTHUR'S ome Magazine Taking literary rank with the best periodicals of the day, it claims to be in its peculiar characteristics and varied depart- ments more thoro\ighly identified with the people than any other magazine of its class, going into their homes not only as a power for good, but as a pleasant companion and friend, interes- ted in all that interests the household, and ready to help, com- fort, amuse, instruct and delight all, from the youngest to the oldest. ATTRACTIVE FEATURES. It is a live Magazine, always keeping up with the times. Its serial and shorter stories are from the pens of some of the best writers in the country. Its Literature is pure and elevating, and it never contains a line or word offensive to good taste. It contains a large amount of reading, always very choice. In matters of household economy it meets the varied wants of housekeepers, giving domestic receipes, hints and experien- ces from the i)ens of practical housewives. Its Illustrations of Fashions are practical, and give help, and not bewilderment and disgust to those who wish to know the new and prevailing styles. WHAT THE PRESS SAYS. The best monthly magazine published in America. — News, Clinton, Mich. Arthur's Home Mag.\zine is one of the best that reaches this office. — Free Press, Ripon, O. Among the choicest and best of the periodicals on our table is Arthur's Home Magazine. — Star, Baldwin, Mich. Bright and sparkling as ever, and filled with everything to make it a welcome guest. — Independent, Paw Paw, Mich. K you want a magazine that is in every respect a model, both in appearanee and matter, subscribe for Arthur's Home Maga- zine.— Home Monthly. There are always daintily illustrated articles, and the most sensible fashion plates to be found. The Magazine is unexcep- tionable.— Weekly Aurora, Cleveland, Ohio. EEDITCED RATES FOU 1880. 1 Copy, one vear, - S2.00 2 Copies, " 3.50 3 " " 5.00 4" " 6.00 8 " " and one to club getter, . - - 12.00 Butterick's Patterns, with prices, in every number. SPECIMEN NUMBER lO CENTS. If you have never taken the Home Magazine, try it for a year and we are sure that you will find in its twelve monthly visits a pleasure and profit never before gained at .so cheap a rate. T. S. ARTHUR & SON, 227 South Sixth St., Philadelphia, Pa. prPDICO The largest and Dtnnito. best, 2.000,000,. Sharpies.- Strawberries, 1,000,000 Mi- ners (ireat Prolific. 10 Acres other Choice varieties. Queen of the Mar- ket, < uthbert. Turner and Welsh Raspberries. 2,625 bushels berries, grown at Po- mona Nursery in 1879. Kieffer's Hybrid Pear, Blight Proof, hardy and productive, bears early, fruit large and good. .Send for Catalogues of best fruits. WM. PARRY, CINNAIMINSON, N.J. t.dec: ARITHMETIC MADE EASY. ROPP'S EASY CALCULATOR a new publication that must prove of incalculable benefit to Farmers, Mechanics and Business Men. It is so rapid and origi- nal as to startle the most scholarly, and yet so simple and jjrae- tical that the most illiterate in figures can instantaneuusly become his own accountant. It enables thou.sands to accomplish in a minute what they cotild not learn to calculate in many months. The first part containing an entirely tiew system of Tables,, which shows at a glance the exact values of all kinds of Grain, Stock, Hay, Coal, Lumber, Merchandise, etc., from one pound up to a car load, and for any price which the market is likely to reach ; the interest on any sum for any time at 6, 7, 8 and 10 per cent. ; correct mea-surement of all kinds of Lumber, Saw Logs^ Cistern.s, Tanks, Granaries, Bins, AVagon Beds, Corn Cribs; a Time, Wages, and many other valuable tables. The Second part is a practical Arithmetic, and embodies a simple mathematical principle which enalnes any one familiar with the fundamental rules to become a lightning calculator; and by wliich over tivo-thirds of the figures and labor required by the ordinary methods, and fractions with their intricacies, are en- tirely avoided. The work is nicely printed on fine tinted papei-, is well and elegantly bound in pocket-book shape and is accomijanied by a Silicate Slate, Memorandum and Pocket for paper. It is by far the most comjilete, comprehensive and convenient pocket manual ever published. Prices Bound in Russia Leather, Gilded, $2.00, Morrocco, SI.50; Fine English Cloth, $ I.OO. Sent post-paid on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT 814 Chestnut .St., Phila. A iiisrouT OF The United States of America. BY JOSIAH W. LEKDS. Including some important facts mostly omitted in smaller histories. Designed for general reading and for academies. Brought down to the year 1876, 468 pp,12mo. cloth, toned paper, Price, $1.75. Sent by mail post-paid, on receiptof Price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, Sl-t Chestnut St.. Phila. The Temperaments. Or, The Varieties of Physical Constitution in Man, considered in their Relations to Mental Character and the Practical Aflairs of Life, etc. By D. H. Jacques, M. I)., with an Introduction by H. S. Drayton, A. M., Editor of the Phrenological Journal. 12mo, 350 pages, 1.50 illustrations, extra cloth. Price I1..50. Mailed post-paid on receipt of price. Address CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. To Subscribers Who can part with their January and February Nos. of current year, 1879, we will allow credit on account at subscrip- tion rate, if mailed to this office, and postal card advice sent, so that we may know to whom it is due. Or will exchange them for any other two numbers not advertised for. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT, 814 Chestnut Street, Phila. THE HORTICULTURAL ADVERISER. 17 MR. A. VAN GEERT'S k^Rk b mm mbb^ CONTINENTAL NURSERIES, ■"^PANj|j|JjJ_jHjj^ 'J Cataldgtie of New Plants; Palms, Orchids, ('ainelliivs, Azaleas (new), ami (ieneial Belgian Nursery Stock, will be mailed free 1 on application to t.dec.6 AUGUST ROLKER & SONS, N. Y. City. PEAR CULTURE FOR PROFIT. BY P. T. QUINN. A practical Horticulturist and author of "Money in the Garden." Containing practical method of raising Pears intelligently and with best results; character of soil, best mode of prepar- ing it; best varieties to Select under existing conditions; best mode of planting, pruning, fertilizing, grafting, and utilizing the ground before the trees come into bearing, and finally gathering and packing for market. Illustrated with practical cuts on i)runing and grafting, distance table and orchard record. 136 pages, 12mo. cloth. Price fl. Sent by mail, post- paid on receipt of price. Address, GHAS. H. M AROT, 814 Chestnut St., Phila. AND OTHER t.dec. J. C. VAUGHAN, 45 JLa Salle St.. Chicago, Ills* Architects' and Builders' Pocket Companion AND PRICE BOOK. By FRANK W. VOGDES, Architect, Consisting of a short but comprehensive ei)itome of Decimals, Duodecimals, Geometry and Mensuration, with tables of U.S. Measures, strengths, etc., of iron, wood, stone and various other materials, quantities of materials in given sizes and di- mensions of Wood, brick and stone, and a full and complete bill of prices for carpenier xcork. Also, rules for computing and valuing brick and brick-work, stone-work, painting, plaster- ing, Ac, 284 pages, 16mo, cloth SI. 50. Tuck, $2.00, Sent by mail postage free, on receipt of price. Address, CHAS. H. MAROT. 814 Chestnut St., Phila. m DOUBI.E AND 'E^^LA.lEtJ^ N£W CROP now ready, at the follow^ing prices : Double, 1st size, PE.4.RL, 1st size. Per 100. *2 00 i 50 Per 1000. ?18 00 MO 00 ExTr,.4^ LARs3sodjnd j3q5.o nn put: S t 'scEsa-^LOH 'sssnoH-iOH 'saraadviiD ^ 8 i$$¥"i^ I ^^^^^¥^ Prof F U Slorer jan 80 B'ussey lustitute .V/-^^ EDITED BY THOMAS MEEHAN. Vol. XXI. No. 241 (Combined Magazines, Thirty-fourth Year.) JANUARY, 1879. PUBLISHED BY CHARLES H. MAROT, 8H Chestnut Street, Philadelphia. TERMS— 2.10 PER YEAR— POSTAGE PAID. '01:-^^^ The Gardener's Monthly AND HORTICULTURIST, EDITED BY THOMAS MEEHAN, Assisted Ijy an able Corps of AMEEIOAN and POEEISN COEEESPONDENTS. It is published ou the first of every month, at the office, ]^o. 814 CHESTXUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, where all Business communications should be addressed. Communications for the Editor should be addressed: Thomas Meehan, Germantown, Phila. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE, Postage Paid. $2.10. TERMS OF ADVERTISING Va col. !;;.col. ■ col. ;coi. 14 col. 1 col. 1 page. $3 00 $4 OO $6 00 $8 00 $12 00 $24 00 $48 00 2 70 3 60 5 40 7 20 10 SO 21 60 43 20 2 25 3 00 4 50 6 00 9 00 18 00 36 OO 2 OO 2 70 4 00 5 35 8 00 16 00 32 OO 1 80 2 40 3 60 4 80 7 20 14 40 28 80 One Time, Two to Three Times, each, Four to Six Times, " Seven to Nine Times, " Ten to Twelve Times, " Twelve line* nonpariel i.s ]/g col. A less space than J-^ col. will be furnished at rates in exact proportion, line for line For THIRD and LAST COVER PAGES; FIRST PAGE advertisement /aciras- reading matter; "FLY-LEAF PAGE." (front of number) before reading matter and facing first cover— special figures will be given on application. Copy and orders for NEW advertisements should be on hand by the 22d of each month; and CHANGES of COPY, running contracts by the 16th of each month, to insure them in the following issue. Address, CHAS, H. MAROT, Puhliiiher, 814 Cheatnut St., Phila. CONTENTS OF THE JANU.^RY NUMBER. SEASONABLE HINTS: Flower Garden and Pleasure Ground 1-2 Greenhouse and House Gardening T-S CORRESPONDENCE : The iClimbing Hydrangea 8 The Climbing Hydrangea — Schizophragma Hydran- geoides 2--3 Gardens and Gardening in Austin, Texas 3-4 The Retinosporas -4-5 A Model Greenhouse E.stablishment 8-9 Lady Gardeners in Pittsburgh....; 10 Fern Growing 10 Grapes and Plants 14-15 Strawberry Blight 1-5-10 Better Fruits on Old Pear Trees lG-17 Some Notes on the Apple Crop of Western New York.. 17 An Examjjle of the success of an Orchard under Grass Culture. 17 European Larch 21-22 Potato Growth Extra 2-5-27 Ascent of Pike's Peak 28-29 6th Annual State Fair of Colorado 31-32 EDITORIAL N(JTES: Fushias and Ivy — .Tapan Bulbs— The Plane as a Street Tree — Memorial Trees 5 Honors to a Florist— The White Flowered Oleander — Senecio scandens— Eucharis Amazonica — Improved Fire-bars — Heating by Lamps — Rose Cuttings Struck in Heat with the Leaves left on 10-12 A Large Raspberry Garden — Forest Rose Strawberry — A Large Apple Tree — Forcing Strawberries under Glass — The Gregg Raspberry — ^The Thwack Raspberry — Currants in California— Good Pennsylvania Apples — Good Wisconsin Apples — California Grapes — The €haumontelle Pear — \>getable Wax — Oranges and Lemons in California— SleoijerV Dwarf Peach — Japan Persimmons — The Sexe.^ of Strawberries 18-19 State Foresters — The Blue (iuin— The Lumber Trade in the Ea.st— The White Pine— Felling Tress— Growth of Trees in America — Catalpa bignonoides speeiosa... 22-24 Climate of Iowa — Richardsouia .Scm(:Zo/)i7;/5, of which, thanks to him, there are now seedlings by the hundred-thousands in the country. To him too, we are indebted for the first introduction of the anomalous Cercido- pliyllum Japonicum^ in which there is good pro- mise of an ornamental deciduous tree of the very first importance. COMMUNICA TIONS. THE CLIMBING HYDRANGEA. BY PROF. C. S. SARGENT, CAMBRIDGE, MASS. Too great expectations as to the horticultural value of this much-heralded plant will. I fear, THE CLIMBING H YDRANCEA-Schizo- phragma Hydrangeoides. BY PETER HENDERSOK, JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY. In the December number, Mr.Edwin Lonsdale, I makes inquiry of me if I had found the above I plant to be hardy throughout the whole of last j Winter, as when I described it in my catalogue I we had only then got to 25th of December. I am happy to inform him and your readers gener- ally, that it proved entirely hardy, not a twig I being injm-ed. To be sure last Winter was an un- usually mild one, the lowest point it touched with us being zero, and that only for a day or ] two, twice during the entire Winter, but the Hy- j drangeas were planted on a bleak north-western exposure on a stiff" clayey soil — conditions such as to well try the hardiness of any plant. Erom the result I have no hesitation in jjredicting that j this new climbing Hydrangea, will be hardy in I every situation where Hydrangea paniculata proves to be hardy, and like that grandest of all 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. our hardy shrubs, I think it very probable that •when once established, the Schizophragma will prove to be one of the finest of all our hardy climbing plants. I notice Mr. S. B. Parsons says he finds it slow of propagation ; we also found it so until we began to raise it from seed. From seed we procured plants having greatly increased vitality, so that we found no difficulty in propa- gating it easily from cuttings of the young wood. GARDENS AND GARDENING IN AUSTIN, TEXAS. BY P. H. O. Of all the plants and shrubs that are cultivated for ornament, none takes such a prominent place as the Rose. People have tried shrubs, such as are cultivated in colder countries than this, but many of them die during our hot Summer months ; and shrubs and trees from warmer countries, most of which are killed by frost in Winter ; but the Rose stands all this, and not one has been found yet too tender for our climate. Especial favorites are the Noisettes, Teas, Bourbons, and some of the Bengal varieties, with a few Hybrid Per- petuals, such as La Reine, Giant of Battles, La Prance, Boule de Neige; all these are free bloom- ers, blooming at any time in the year when heat and moisture are not in excess or wanting. ]SJ"early all other Hybrid Perpetuals are shy bloomers with us, as sometimes in April, our Rose month, when the weather is unfavorable, and an early drought and cold dry winds blowing, the flower-buds will not open ; while those enumerated above bloom any time in the year when the conditions are favorable. But I gathered two large bouquets of Roses once on the 15th day of January. The Oleander is not hardy, and if planted out must be protected, or the frost will kill it. In the capitol grounds, where there are many, they are protected every Winter by being wrapped vip with mats and carpets. The Pomegranate is hardy, so is the Fig, but the latter needs a sheltered place, or a late frost may spoil the first crop. The former is only culti- vated for ornament, as the fruit is never seen at the fruit-stands. Jasminum officinale is hardy, but of the more tender kinds only .7. revolutum succeeds tolerably well out doors. Camellias are difficult to cultivate even in pots, .so culture in the garden is out of the question ; the leaves soon loose their leathery texture and become hard and get dry at the edges. Magnolia grandiflora, though indigenous to Texas, growing abundantly on the sea coast near Houston, 150 miles from this place, behaves in the same way ; the cause of it must be the drj'- ness of the air. Houston sends up in Spring time baskets full of these flowers, which the boys sell in the streets for fifteen cents apiece and more. Solanum jasminoides does well outside, so would also Passiflora coerulea, if it was not for a host of brown caterpillars with which it is covered during Summer; the butterflies from which they come are light-brown with black spots, and these never deposit an egg on any other plant as long as there is the least bit of green left on this plant. Lantanas are mostly hardy, though some varieties are benefited by a little protection during Winter ; they evidently enjoy our warm sun, unless they get too much of it in .July and August, when they quit flowering until after the Fall rains if they come early enough. Verbenas do not often survive our Winters* These little wretched things have continuously to struggle between being roasted or frozen. Only two Yuccas are cultivated, Y. gloriosa and Y. draconis ; the former is a beautiful sight when in bloom, in April, with its hundreds of creamy white flowers ; the latter flowers in July. Dracfena Draco and Phoenix sylvestris I planted out, but both perished ; they had not rain enough in Summer, and too much cold in Winter; but a citizen has two plants of Phoenix dactylifera in his garden several years old, raised from the seed of dried Dates, which hitherto have stood all the vicissitudes of our fickle and extreme climate. Bananas may be grown on the south side of walls and houses, and if the plant is protected during Winter, fruit may be raised sometimes, but it is cultivated for ornament only, and spar- ingly too. Cape Jasmine is seldom cultivated in the garden ; it stands most of our Winters, but is sometimes cut down, and then our dry Summers do not seem to suit it. Zonale Geraniums will stand less frost than Verbenas, so we must class them as not hardy ; though it seems strange to me that Bryophyllum calycinum, of which I planted out some plants on the north side of a fence, where it propagated itself very freely, passed several Winters with but little injury. Cassia corymbosa and C. loevigata seem to feel quite at home in our climate. THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY {January, Along the sidewalks and other vacant places in the city we often meet with a peculiar small tree with thorns and green bark and yellow flowers; it is theParkinsonia aculeata, a denizen of the lower Rio Grande valley, but acclimatized in Austin and other cities of Texas. It is a legu- minosse, suborder csesalpinese. Its pinnate leaves are over a foot long, leaflets very small and numerous, quarter of an inch long and one-six- teenth of an inch wide ; the mid-rib of the leaf is flattened, and when the leaflets drop off", which they easily do, the leaves, or rather leaflets give the tree the appearance of being clothed with grass instead of leaves. It flowers abundantly from early Summer to late in Fall,and at the date I write this, October 24th, there is in my yard one of these trees covered all over with flowers. Another stranger, is the so-called Willow Ca- talpa, Chilopsis lineata, which is frequently seen in gardens and yards. It is a straight and tall tree, growing over twenty feet high ; its leaves are small, resembling Willow leaves, hence the name ; it has terminal flower-spikes of a purplish color, which are in shape like those of the Catalpa, and blooms from May to Autumn, never suffering from dry or hot weather. Csesalpinia (Poinciana) pulcherrima is hardy, and Daubentonia magnifica also, but the last named does not seem to do so well as the former. Of Holland Bulbs, Hyacinths and Polyanthus Karcissus do best. Our early Summer forces the Hyacinths into bloom in March or even sooner? so the early varieties are the best. Roman Nar. cissus bloom, if planted in October, usually about New Year, when they are cut down by frost i^ the flower-buds were not already before. Only the early varieties of Tulips will do here. I planted once a dozen late flowering, on the north side of my house, but I did not get as many bulbs when I took them up as when I planted them, and the next year even these perished, our Winters are evidently too warm and too short] I am only acquainted with three species of Lilies that stand the chances in the garden : Lilium candidum, L. tigrinum, and L. longiflo- rum; Lilium speciosum and L.auratum flower too late in the season when the sun is too hot; and of the other species I do not know that an attempt has been made to cultivate them except as pot plants. THE RETINOSPORAS. BY S. C. MOON, MORRLSVILLE, PA. The Retinosporas are a class of evergreens well deserving of more attention, and of much more general distribution than they have yet received. Most of the varieties mentioned in this article were introduced from Japan, and have been in circulation among the nurserymen in this country from ten to twenty years. It is surprising, so long after introduction, that many persons who are tolerably well acquainted with ornamental trees, know very little of the habits and merits of the Retinosporas, or entertain very incorrect ideas about them. An erroneous opinion seems to have gained credence among many gardeners and nurserymen, as well as with others, that they are not entirely hardy, and will not stand without protection through the winter. This is a very mistaken prejudice, which should be cor- rected. Every one of the varieties herein described, is entirely hardy in the latitude of Philadelphia, and we believe would be, as far Korth as Bos- ton, or further. Perhaps some of our friends from that section, can tell us of their experience with them. We have had most of them standing on our grounds, unprotected, for the past ten or twelve years, but in all that time, have never seen one of them injured in the least by heat or cold, ex- cept in the case of obtusa nana aurea, as no- ticed below. They appear to be as hardy as Hemlock or Norway Spruce, or any others of the old and popular evergreens, and are of equally easy culture. They thrive in any good soil or situation where other evergreens will, and may be confidently recommended, and planted almost anywhere. We would especially recommend R. plumosa, plumosa aurea, obtusa nana, and squarrosa, for planting in small yards and cemetery lots. They are all moderate in habit of growth, and will endure shearing well, consequently can be kept within reasonable size. Plumosa, and plumosa aurea, are pyramidal in habit, attain- ing a height of six or eight feet in as many years. They are quite similar in nearly all points except color. Their foliage is fine and soft, giving the tree the appearance of a heavy plume, as the name implies. The color of plumosa is light green. Plumo- sa aurea, is one of the most beautiful of the golden evergreens at all seasons of the year, but especially in Summer. When the tree starts to grow in the Spring, the young shoots are a rich shade of golden yellow, and it calls' forth al- 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. ■most universal admiration. This golden ap- pearance is retained with hut slight diminution in freshness and heanty tliroughout the year. It is a most valuable acquisition to the list of Golden Conifers. R. squarrosa is of a glaucous color, bearing slight resemblance to some of the Junipers, but the foliage is much softer and finer. It is a good grower, and when once established in good •ground, has a tendency to loose its true character. R. obtusa, is one of the most rapid-growing evergreens. It attains a height of twenty or thirty feet in a very few years. The branches are long and spreading, in the style of Norway Spruce, making it a large and stately tree, which may be very properly contrasted with the o^or- way, or substituted for it. It is of a yellowish green color, and does not change during the Winter. "When growing rank in rich soil, it gets open and straggling like the Hemlock, and needs trimming occasionally for the first few 3'ears, to make it bushy and compact. R. obtusa nana, is a dwarf variety of the pre- ceeding. It is a very singular and beautiful tree, of a dark green color which is retained with re- markable brightness all "Winter. With the as- sistance of an occasional shearing, it makes a singularly neat, compact and handsome speci- men. This, and plumosa aurea, are the gems of the whole collection. None of the varieties previously mentioned appear to their best advantage, when growing very rapidly, as they get too tall and straggling. They need occasional trimming to keep them compact and in good shape. R. pisifera and pisifera aurea, are quite simi- lar in nearly all points except color. They are more dwarf and dense in habit than any of the preceeding. Pisifera, forms a low rounded head of greenness, while aurea differs from it in being varigated with delicate yellow tips. They are both neat and unique little specimens, well de- serving of a place in every collection. R. obtusa nana aurea, is another dwarf gold- ■en variety. It is a feeble grower, and should be grafted on some of the stronger varieties, and needs careful nursing for the first few years, un- til it gets a start in the world. It is then as hardy as any of them, and if grown into a good specimen, will well repay for the pains taken with it. R. lycopodioides, is well named, as it bears a striking resemblance to the tree Lycopodiums, and looks more like a hothouse plant, than a hardy tree. The branches are covered all over with the thick, dark green, plicate foliage. It is a very singular and beautiful evergreen which must be seen to be fully appreciated. Every admirer of curious trees should have it. There are several other varieties of Retinosporas cul- tivated and offered by nurserymen, all of which ace good and desiral)le trees, and without which , no good collection will be complete. We have only attempted to call attention to a few of the best, which are most desirable for general planting. EDITORIAL NOTES. Fuchsias and Ivy. By selecting kinds adapted to open air flowering, and associating them with Ivy, an English correspondent of the Garden finds an admirable combination in Sum- mer gardening. Japan Bulbs. — These will perhaps take rank in importance with Dutch bulbs. Enormous numbers are already annually imported. Good Lilium auratums were recently sold at auction in New York. The Plane as a Street Tree. — It seems strange, considering the number of years the Plane tree has been known in England, that the discovery is but recently made that the Plane is the best of all shade trees for London streets. Memorial Trees. — The practice of planting trees as memorials of visits, is common in Eng- land. At a recent visit to the Duke of Rox- burgh, Queen Victoria planted a Deodar Cedar. NEW OR RARE PLANTS. PusCHKiNiAS.— Of this pretty genus of hardy bulbs the Garden says : "The species belonging to this small but beautiful genus of Lily worts much resemble some of the Squills in habit and aspect, but difi'er from them, and, indeed, from all other hardy mem- bers of the Lily family, in having a small, slx- lobed corona springing from the inner base of the divisions of the flower, and united into a short tube, whilst in Scilla the divisions are cleft to the base. Only three species of Puschkinias are known to us, two of which, with one variety, are now in cultivation. Though introduced many THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY \ January, years ago, they are still rarities in many gardens, a fact to be regretted, as they are amongst the earliest as well as the most beautiful of Spring flowering bulbs, and the fine effect which they produce in the open garden can scarcely be over- estimated when seen in combination with the host of fine plants now in cultivation which flower about the same time. All the Puschkinias are perfectly hardy, and of the simplest culture. The soil best suited to them is a good sandy loam, and when once established they should not be disturbed, except for taking off small bulbs for purposes of propagation, which may be done whilst the bulbs ai'e at rest. In some seasons seeds are produced, which should be sown as soon as they are ripe ; flowering bulbs may be obtained in this way in three or four years." Dwarf Pampas Grass. — The dwarf Pampas Grass exhibited by Mr. C. Noble at the last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, un- der the designation of Gynerium argenteum, will be found of considerable value in small gardens in which the normal form would, owing to its gigantic size, be out of place. This dwarf variety attains, when fully developed, a height of five feet, and differs from the species in size only. Rose Jules Chretien. — Messrs. Aug. Rolker and Sons, send us a colored plate of this new Hybrid Perpetual. It is in the way of the well known Geant des Battailles in the color and form of the flower, and measures four and a half inches across. Magnolia stellata. — In the September number of the American AgricuUurist is an article evidentlj^ from the pen of that excellent botanist Prof. Thurl)er, which shows that the Magnolia going out in the nurseries as Magnolia Halleana is really an old species named Magnolia stellata. Improving the Christmas Rose — A German florist has succeeded in breaking up the Helle- borus niger into a great number of beautiful varieties. A colored plate befpi-e us represents them as purple, white, yellowish, and many with rose and white in many mottled and blotched ways. It is a very good beginning in the im- provement of an old and popular flower. Single Dahlias.— The Dahlia seems to have been improved in the double direction, as far as the florist can push it. He is now at work on the single ones. Some remarkably beautiful ones are said to have been produced the past year in England. SCRAPS AND QUERIES. Bedding Plants at Hollywood. — "Gard- ener," Pottsville, Pa., inquires: "What is the secret of growing one million bedding plants under 40,000 square feet of glass, as this gives twenty-five plants to each square foot?" When in England last, in 1877, the writer was aston- ished at the immense number of bedding plants tvu-ned out from places with comparativeh^ little glass. In one case 25,000 plants were employed and there was but one small greenhouse, and a few frames. In this case, we saw that an im- mense number were set out of cutting boxes, direct to the beds. The manner of doing the work at Hollywood, would certainly form an in- teresting chapter. Erianthus Ravenna. — Mrs. S. E. B., Houston, Texas, writes : "I mailed you to-day a plume of Erianthus Ravenna?, one of fifty that grew upon a plant two years old. I think they dried nearly as fine as the Pampas, but not so graceful a lawn plant." [The Erianthus, is usually of a light brown, with us. These specimens were as silvery as the Pampas grass, though as our correspondent remarks, it is not quite equal to the Pampas in some respects. It is a noble grass, and its thor- ough hardiness, is a point over the Pampas, in its favor. — Ed. G. M.] Lawns. — Gardener, Baltimore, Md., writes: "Will you kindly refer me to the best treatise upon Lawn Culture, especially with reference to keep- ing green during Summer droughts, and the ex- clusion of Crab Grass, and other intruders in Autumn ? Is heavy fertilizing desirable ? Any danger of rendering grass coarse thereby ? I have stift' subsoil." There is no special treatise that we know of, but, on a stift' subsoil it is easy to have a lawn that will not dry out in Baltimore. First, subsoil ; that is to say, stir up the soil twenty inches deep. There are two sets of roots to grasses, those which go deep down in search of moisture, as the branches of a tree go upward; and those which keep near the surface, hunting for food, as the leaves make food for the tree. For the sake of these moisture collectors, the deeply loosened soil will hold something all the season through. Secondly, use pure Blue Grass, and nothing else, and sow it thickly. Xo grass keeps so 1879.1 AND HORTICULTURIST. green through hot weather in our climate, as this. It will form a dense mass in time, and so thick that it will not let any other grass grow. Thirdly, though we say sow only Blue Grass, pure and simple, we will emphasize it by adding, avoid all "mixtures," all clover, and such creeping things. All these easily burn out in hot weather, and their only known use is some- thing like that of Satan in human things, to keep the world from becoming too good. These things stiniggle with the good grass, and keep it in check, but we do not want it checked. Fourthly, as to Crab Grass, that vile pest of American lawns, it is hard work fighting it when it once gets in, and the best way is still to encourage its enemy, the Blue Grass, to fight it. Sow Blue Grass among it, and when you mow, leave the grass at each mowing as long as you dare, without its looking untidy. Very close cutting with a mower, is good luck to the Crab Grass. It will soon overpower and choke out Blue Grass, when you help it in this way. Con- tinued close mowing is extremely favorable to nasty little creeping weeds. Fifthly, in sowing grass seed, you may have a few Oats or Rye with it, in Fall sowing ; as the leaves falling keep the young plants of gi'ass against thawing and freezing out ; but keep them cut down in Spriuo-, and never sow Rye or Oats, or anything with the grass in Spring, for any reason whatever. Sixthly, weeds, the first year or two, are apt to be troublesome, but keep them down by the scythe. Generally the second year the grass will crowd them all out. This is about all there is in making a first- class lawn. Of course there is much of detail which only experience can work out. The sur- face must be made very level ; but too much time is often spent on tliis with hand rakes, as a good and judicious rolling will often do just as well, but these sort of lessons no writer can teach. They come only to those who, at work, have a keen appreciation of cause and eftect in the work they are doing. Green House and House Gardening. SEASONABLE HINTS. Many of our readers have only a few window plants. These are often kept too warm, too wet, have too little sun liojht, and liave too many in- sects. In towns, in addition to all these, they have often too much of the fumes f)f burning gas. Leaks or escapes from the gas pipe is a well known injurj-^ to plants, but it is not so well known that plants sutler, though in a less degree, from the common burning of coal gas. The trou- ble with most room cultivators is to know when plants get too much attention. Too many insects are easily known, one — a single one — is by far too many. We still think there is nothing like coal oil to destroy all kinds of insects. A very little — just enough to make a colored scum on the sur- face of a tub of water is enough, and in this the in- sect covered plant may be dipped, inverting the pot ai^d plunging only the plant, and not the pot of course. If too much oil is used the plant may be injured. Too wet is when a plant seldom gets di-y — a health}' plant sliould get dry, and have light dry looking surface soil, every two or three days; as to heat, a temperature of about 55'^ or 00° is best for room plants, below that they do not flower freely, above they gi'ow weak, espe- cially if they have not a great deal of sunlight. Indeed heat should be in proportion to direct sunlight on the plants. Where the air is dry in rooms or greenhouses, frequent syringings are of much benefit to plants. Besides, cleanliness keeps down insects and checks disease in plants as in animals. Most old fashioned lady gardeners (and may Ave ever bless them for the many lessons they have taught us,) take every opportunity to set their window-plants out of doors whenever a warm shower happens to occur. In Winter a rain at a temperature of 40° or 45°, wiiich often occurs, might be called a ''warm shower." Cold water does not have THE GARDENER'S MONTHL Y \Jamiary , half the injurious eflfect on plants that cold air has. When plants get accidentally frozen, the hest remedy in the world is to dip them at once in cold water and set them in the shade to thaw. It is better to keep in heat in cold weather by covering, where possible, than to allow it to es- cape, calculating to make it good by fire-heat, which is, at best, but a necessary evil. "Where bloom is in demand, nothing less than 55° will accomplish the object; though much above that is not desirable, except for tropical hot-house plants. Where these plants are obliged to be wintered in a common green-house, they should be kept rather dry, and not be encouraged much to grow, or they may rot away. Ferneries are now so deservedly popular, that we must have a word to say for them at times, though their management is so simple, there is little one can say. It is probably their ease of management, and the great results obtained for the little outlay of care, that has rendered them so popular. It should not, however, be forgotten that the cases in which they are enclosed is not to keep out the air, but to keep in the moisture, as Ferns will not thrive in the dry atmosphere of heated rooms. A few minutes' airing every day will, therefore, be of great benefit to them. De- ca3'ed wood, (not pine), mixed with about half its bulk of fibrous soil of any kind, and a very small proportion (say a tenth of the bulk) of well-rotted stable-manure, makes a good compost. Most kinds particularly like well-drained pots. This is usually eflected by filling a third of the pots in Avhich the Ferns are to grow with old pots bro- ken in pieces of about half an inch square, on which a thin layer of moss is placed, before filling the pots, to keep out the soil from choking the drainage. COMMUNICA TIONS. A MODEL GREENHOUSE ESTABLISHMENT. BY WM. HALL, FULTONVILLE, N. Y. The Other day, being in N'ew York, I called over to see the new greenhouse erections that I had heard of being made by Peter Henderson, on Jersey City Heights, thinking they might interest some of your readers as they interested me. With your leave, I will give a brief descrip- tion of plan and extent of this establishment that now covers a space of 300 by 400 feet, an area of 120,000 square feet, or nearly three ! acres of greenhouses and pits, and which, I pre- sume, is now the largest on this continent. Mr. Henderson, as it is generally known, was one of the first to adopt and recommend the low, nar- row span roofed pits, joined together on what is known as the "ridge and furrow plan," but this season he has removed all that was left of that class of houses, and has erected in their place sixteen houses, each twenty feet wide by one hundred long, and it is principally to describe these, that to me seem models of greenhouse structures, that I write this. I send a sketch of an end section, giving height of walls, &c., which will give an idea of how they are constructed. Scale of one-eight of an inch to a foot. S. B.— Side Benches. P.— Pipes. M. B.— Middle Benches. W.— Walks. G.— Glass. These sixteen houses, which form one ridge and furrow block, have their two outer walls built of hollow brick twelve inches thick, and that portion of the ends not covered with glass are also of brick; the inside gutters resting on brick pieces. Every foot of the wood work is of Yellow or Georgia Pine, both inside and out. One of the most important improvements in the construction of these houses is the construction of the benches, which are formed of heavy roof- ing slate, 10x18 inches; these are laid on Yellow Pine bearers and covered with half an inch cement, so as to make them completely water- tight, except at points where the water can be drained ofl' at pleasure. These, Mr. Henderson assures me, have cost only about thirty per cent, more than the ordinary board benches, and he calculates that they will hold without repairs for twenty j^ears. The packing shed and otfices, 350x20 feet are at the north end of this range, under the flooring of which are the boiler pits, and here a precaution is taken that is worthy of imitation , every boiler pit being arched with brick, resting on iron bearers, so that there is no pos- sibility of fire occuring from the furnaces. The different temperatures necessary for the difterent 1879.] AND HORTICULTURIST. 9 •classes of plants is graded by the number of pipes in each house, as all the houses are of the same size. That for tropical plants, such as Dra- cenas, Crotons, Palms, &c., have ten pipes in each house, giving an average night temperature of 70°; Bouvardias, Begonias, &c., eight pipes, average night temperature 60° ; Tea Roses, such as Bon Silene, Niphetos, Pearl des Jardins, and ■others requiring high temperature, eight pipes, average temperature 00'^' ; Pelargoniums and all classes of tri-color Geraniums, six pipes, average temperature 5o° ; Zonale Geraniums, Yerbenas, and Petunas, five pipes, giving 50° ; Roses and Carnations which are being kept dormant, four pipes, giving an average of 40°; this grading the number of pipes for the different temperatures, greatly simplifies the work. These pipes are placed under the side benches, which leaves the large space under the centre table^ to be used for placing bulbs and such plants as do well in partial shade. In this new range are also the propagating house for cuttings, and propagating house for seeds. The cutting-house, 20x100, is shaded by the French Lattice Shadings, which are drawn up and let down by cords and pulleys from inside. These work so satisfac- torily that Mr. Henderson proposes to use them next summer on all his houses needing shades. One greenhouse, 20x100, is used exclusively for seeds, and was to me, one of the most interest- ing fetitures in the whole establishment, for I never before saw such a variety of delicate seed- lings, so entirely free from fungus and damp- This exemption from damp, Mr. H. attributes to the use of these large and airy houses, where the air is never allowed to stagnate, for ventila- tion, less or more, is kept on at all times. The night temperature for both the cutting and seed propagation averages 60° at night with ten de grees higher in day time, slight ventilation be ing given in both at night. On the right of the mid-entrance are four greenhouses, three of them 20x350 feet, and one for Summer propa- gating facing north, 10x350. The three large houses are built on the two-third span plan, that is, the long southern angle is some eighteen feet, the north angle nine feet. These houses are now filled with Roses, Poinsettias, Bouvardias, and such articles grown for "Winter flowers. In reply to the question, whether he considered these houses with the long angle to the south, or those having equal span roof and with equal slopes to east and west, were best, Mr. H. said, that for choice he would prefer the houses with equal slope to east and west, though he did not think it very material which were used. Although all of the greenhouses that are heated have fixed roofs, yet a block of six houses, each 100x11, are used without fire heat, in which all kinds of half-hardy plants and bulbs are heeled in sand, so that orders can be got at un- der cover in all weathers. In these houses, too, many plants are kept dormant until wanted to forward in heat, in far better condition than they would be if in sunk frames ; for kept in these cold houses above ground they are kept dry — an important point with such plants in the Winter months. Although no vegetable mar- ket gardening is now done by Mr. Henderson, yet as a remnant of his old business, I found over 1,000 sashes covering cold frames, in which were planted hundreds of thousands of Cabbage, Lettuce and Cauliflower plants, these are grown to supply the smaller market gardeners, who have not yet the facilities for wintering them- selves. Large as Mr. Henderson's business now is, he informs me that, though he personally super- intends it all, it is now done with far more ease than when it was only one-fourth the size. Everything is so systematized, that the responsi- bility is divided by the heads of the different departments; for example, the propagating is under charge of one man having three assistants; the potting-off, by one man with two assistants. One hand, specially attends to ventilating, one to watering, one to firing, and one to labeling. Then there is a corps of about twenty hands as order clerks and packers, and the balance of the hands are employed in the various duties per- taining to such a place. About eight or ten young men are always here under instructions, and are mostly young men of fair education and intelligence, for none others are received as ap- prentices. These usually remain from two to four years, and go out to take charge of some florist's establishment, or to begin business for themselves. It may be thought that this ap- prentice system if generally adopted would have a tendenc}^ to overstock the market with garden- ers and florists, but if this standard of education was always insisted upon, it would tend to elevate horticulture, and thus popularize it in a way that could never be done if the majority of its mem- bers Avere mere diggers and delvers, which, it must be confessed, is the condition of the ma- jority of our so-called gardeners in America to- day. 10 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY {January ^ LADY GARDENERS IN PITTSBURGH. BY EDWARD S. KOETHENS, PITTSBURGH, PA. In your notice of Dr. Johnson's book "Win- ter Greeneries at Home," in the November number of the Gardener's Monthly, you mention the fact of , its being strange that Pitts- burgh ladies should have to be taught by a gen- tleman in this matter. In response to this, I would just say a word in defence of the ladies. The ladies of Pittsbui-gh have a great deal to con- tend with from the atmosphere, which is always so freighted with soot and smoke that the sun seldom penetrates through it in the Winter, ex- cejjt for a short time at noon. This causes so much more work in attention to the plants than is required in other cities, that much of the enjoyment is detracted from the work. Besides, these difficulties, which are often insurmount- able, cause success to be not at all sure, even with the greatest care. It is only those who live in the cleaner parts of the two cities (Alle- gheny and Pittsburgh) who are really successful. The author df the book in question is one of these. In another part of your notice, you men- tion the Winter flowerinii- of home-grown Lillies of the Valley (Convallaria majalis) pips, saying, that to your knowledge, it has not yet been done. To this I would say, that, being connected with one of the largest Florist establishments in the city, I have had opportunity to see it done, with great success, several years in succession. We always use only the strongest clumps, and treat them the same as we do the imported ones. FERN GROWING. BY ARTHUR M. KIRBY, JERSEY CITY HEIGHTS, NEW JERSEY. The following points, obtained from an old German Fern grower, may be useful to amateurs who experience trouble in evenly sowing fine seed, such as Fern spores, Lygodium scandens, Calceolaria, etc. Take a sheet of white paste- board, rub the seed lightly over it until it covers the exact circumference of the pot it is to be sown in. If the l)oard is not too smooth the seed will adhere to it, so it can be inverted on the pot, and by tapping gently it will fall as evenly as it was rubbed on the pasteboard. To get the moist air necessary to grow a small quantity of fern spores, etc., where it is not justifiable in keeping a whole house in the pro- per conditions, fill a pot one-third full of pots- herd, on this put the peat, or whatever the seed is to be sown on ; then place it in a pan contain- ing just enough water to reach the top of the pots- herd, and keep it covered closely with a pane of glass. Fine green wire-netting placed over delicate seedlings will protect them from insects, and give just the right shade without drawing them, as other shades are apt to do. Tuberous Bego- nias, etc., which are usually so chfficult to raise from seed, can be grown without trouble by us- ing it ; if doubled and put over newly sowai seed, they will germinate one-third quicker ; the cost is only thirty cents per yard. Seedlings in general should never be watered later than an hour or two before sundown, as the water will not evaporate readily, and the damp surface is apt to cause a fungus, which will frequently "damp off" every plant during one night. A pot of seedlings, comparatively dry,, left by the side of one watered late, will be in the same condition in the morning, while the latter will frequently be entirely gone. EDITORIAL NOTES Honors to a Florist. — It is said that the English florist Mr. John Wills, has been offered by the French Government the decoration of Knight of the Legion of Honor, in considera- tion of the remarkable beauty and continuous perfection of his tropical garden in the Exhil)i- tion. It is not likely the English Government will permit him to accept the decoration. The White-flowered Oleander. — This is largely grown by Mr. Wills for decorative pur- poses. The plants, which are chiefly imported ones, are grown in a moist, warm temperature near the glass, and thus treated the}'^ make hand- some bushy plants loaded with large trusses of snowy blossoms. This white variety appears to flow^er more freely than the rose-colored kind, and its blossoms in a cut state are much more valuable . — Garden. Senecto scandens. — This is known to florists as Parlor Ivy ; the new one S. macroglossum is known in England as Cape Ivy. EucHARis Amazonica. — Mr. S. S. Price of Philadelphia, has had wonderful success in grow- ing this plant. His plants have flowered three times this season, and about the end of Novem- ber he had at one time three hundred blooms open. 1879.1 AND HORTICULTURIST. 11 Improved Fire-bars. — Iron tells of a new style of fire-bar devised by an English inventor to secure fuller combustion of fuel. The peculiar feature of their bars is the shape of the spaces left for the air to pass through. These, instead of being straight, are of a wave-shaped form, the convex parts of one bar fitting into the concave parts of the adjoining one, and the proper dis- tance being regulated by the width at the ends in the usual way. Additional oblong air-spaces are also provided, and placed in the spaces be- tween the wave-shaped openings. The under side of the bars is made as thin as possible, so as to give the air ample inlet area; and when they have to be fitted against the sides of boiler-flues, a set of tooth-like projections is cast on to the edge of the outside bars. Any portion of the length of these teeth can easily be cut off" by a hammer and chisel to effect the desired fit. By the use of these bars the inventor claims a large saving in fuel. — Pohjtechnic Review. Heati^tg by lamps. — It has often seemed to us practicable to heat bay-windows and plant cabinets quite sufficiently b}- lamps. On this a correspondent of the (rartZen gives her experience: "As no one has ventured to reply to "J. L." (p. 275) respecting this subject, perhaps an ama- teur's experience might be useful. My plant house, a lean-to, fifteen feet by nine feet, was kept warm during two Winters by means of a paraffin lamp, costing 17s. 6d., burning petroleum at (at that time) 2s. 3d. the gallon — much less now, I believe. It had a flat base or well about as large over as a dinner plate, an upright iron body, and a domed top pierced with holes. The well was easily filled by a side tube, and the wick, having the charred part cut oft^ occasion- ally, was quickly lighted or extinguished, and in summer the whole affair could be removed. No smell could ever be detected; and what I would like to direct particular attention to is, there was not the slightest sign of blight of any kind dur- ing those two "Winters, and the plants were pre- ceptibly of a brighter tone and crisper than they otherwise would have been. Two faults were noticeable ; firstly, the expense (a Winter's night of twelve or fourteen hours costing 6d. or 8d., as dear, or dearer, than coals); secondly, the power of resisting cold. Rarely could the warmth in- side the house be made to exceed that of the out- side 10* or 12°. Suppose a frost occurred outside registering .30°, the inside temperature would be about 40°. If it has been 20° outside, then the inside would have ice over the roof, and the ther- mometer 32°. I therefore, discarded the lamp and tried quite a different kind of heating, the result being extremely interesting, though not, perhaps, sufficiently so for the generality of your readers." Rose Cuttings Struck in Heat with the Leaves left on. — This method of propagation is largely practised by professional Rose growers. The operation may be performed from the end of July to the end of September, and even dur- ing the Winter. In certain establishments the propagating house is near the Rose nursery, in which the different varieties are all grouped to- gether. Each plant bears the number belonging to its particular variety in the catalogue, so that the propagator whose duty it is to cut the slips passes from bed to bed, collecting from each of them his bundle of shoots, to which he imme- diately ties the corresponding number in the catalogue. He lastly wraps them in a damp cloth and deposits them in the entrance of the propagating house. This enti'ance is a sort of porch, with a second door, which is built either outside or inside the propagating house, so that the two doors are never open at the same time. It also serves as a kind of workshop, in which all the necessary appliances for propagation by cuttings are kept, such as prepared heath mould, thumb pots of different sizes, a set of punches for numbering the labels, a mallet for striking them, and the lead labels themselves. These labels are cut into the form of a long triangle, the base being one-half inch in width, and the sides one and a half inches in length. The number is struck upside down, on the larger end of the la- bel, which is stuck into the soil with the sharp end downwards. A tray, too, is necessary for carrying the potted cuttings backwards and for- wards. It should be made of Pine, and should measure two feet four inches in length by one foot four inches in width, with edges one and a half inches high on the long sides, and six inches high on the narrow ones. The edges on the nar- row sides are provided with holes, so that they serve for handles for carrying the tray to and fro. The shoots are cut up into slips, each having three leaves and, consequently, three buds; the joint of the lowest slip is allowed to remain on after having been pared with the pruning knife. The shoot is cut at right angles to its axis, about the twentieth of an inch below a bud. The two upper leaves are generally cut off, as they would 12 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY [January, be inconveniently in the way when the cuttings were placed under the bell-glass. — Garden. NEW OR RARE PLANTS. Geranium Ethel Beale. — "We noticed some time ago that from the description in the English papers, this variety must have the merit of nov- elty over many new forms. By the kinchiess of the Bellevue Nurserv in Paterson ^. J., we or eight feet in length, which below, throws oflT an abundance of much branched, curving, tiower- less branches, and above bears numerous small, greenisli-white flowers. For the rafter of the cool greenhouse the long, twining flower stems of this plant will excite attention, even if only for their being so totally different from anything else in the vegetable kingdom. — Garden. CupnEA RoEZLi. — At the last meeting of the Germantow^i Horticultural Society, Messrs. Mil- ler & Hayes exhibited a specimen of this new Cuphea. It proves to be a very good addition to this interesting class of Winter blooming plants. have the opportunity of giving our readers a rep- resentation of the plant itself, which fully bears out the good opinion we formed of it. BowiEA voLTJBiLis. — Climbing amongst low shrubs on the dwarf wall of one of the houses are some specimens of a Cape bulb, Bowiea volubilis. This very strange plant, although allied botanic- ally to the Drimias and Scillas, is totally unlike them; indeed, in general appearance, it exhibits no resemblance to any other plant whatever. Possessing little beauty, it is one of the most curious plants ever introduced into Europe, and consists of little more than a round, fleshy, green bulb, from the apex of which springs yearly a slender, twining, light green flower stem, six Besides the novelty of the species, the plant was remarkably well grown, being about eighteen inches every way. It is a strong grower, and will make good specimen plants. Adiantum palmatum. — This remarkably beautiful Maiden Hair Fern is thus described by B. G. "Williams, of Upper Hollo way, London, by whom it was introduced : "This handsome and distinct species will make an excellent companion to A. rarleyense,owing to the large size of its pinnae and the length of its fronds. It was discovered by M. Roezel at an altitude varying from 10,000 to 11,000 feet, in Peru ; a fact of great importance, as it may be cultivated in a greenhouse temperature. Mr. 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. 13 Moore says of this beautiful Fern : 'The rhi- \ character of the rachides, most marked near the zome is creeping, and the fronds are of an in- apex of the fronds and the rachides of the primary definitely elongated form. A very noticeable I pinnae. The pinnules are herbaceous in texture, feature in the plant is the flexuose or zigzag 1 smooth, large, from one inch to one and three- 14 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY \January, quarters in breadth, distant and very distinctly stalked, the stalks varying from one-quarter to three-quarters of an inch, the terminal ones are usually wedge-shaped, while the lateral ones are usuall}' truncate at the base, so as to become semi-circular in outline ; they are deeply cut down into from three to five large lobes, which are again more or less parted ; an oblong sorus ter- minating each of the divisions in the fertile por- i tions."' I SCRAPS AND QUERIES. Mealy Bug. — A. A. B.,Coburg, Ont., Canada, says : " I notice a letter in July number of Gar- dener's Monthly, from Dr. W. F. C, as to remedy of mealy bug. What proportions of Hellebore and whale oil soap he would mix, he does not say. It would gratify me, and I have no doubt many others ,taknow the quantities to mix." Fruit and Vegetable Gardening. CO MM UNICA TIONS. CRAPES AND PLANTS. BY JAMES HUNTER, JR., GLENDALE, MASS. I have had very fair success in growing Grapes and plants in the same house, and will give my experience, hoping it may be of some benefit to J. C. S., of Hampton, Va. M}^ house is about fifteen feet long, by about the same in width, and is an extension of the cold grapery, having a glass partition between the two, which I think is unnecessary, a double board partition would give it better protection. The boiler-house is at the other end, giving ample protection from the cold north-west winds. There was at one time six vines in the house, but one not being of a suitable variety, I took it out. The roots are all confined in an inside border, which gives me better control of the vines. At the back part of the house is a brick terrace about tlu'ee feet high and five wide. On the top of this is built a common stair staging, on which I have been in the habit of keeping my plants over Winter, such as Geraniums, Roses, Carnations, Helio- tropes and other half-hardy plants. I have never grown any plants tlkit require much heat ; my object being to keep the vines dormant, and the plants growing just enough to keep them healthy. During the fore part of the Winter, and up to the time the buds on the vines begin to start, wliich is about the middle of February, I keep the temperature as low as p(t5ssible, say from thirty-five to forty degrees. I let the vines re- main tied to the wires after pruning them in the Fall, as there is moisture enough in the house to keep them from being injured by the sun. They must be closely watched about the first of February, and as soon as the buds begin to swell, the heat must be gradually increased each day, keeping a spring-like temperature, and imi- tating nature as near as possible. When the buds break, and the shoots begin to grow, keep on increasing the temperature, just as if there were no plants in the house, until it reaches seventy degrees on a cloudy day. It will be found that by the time the temperature reaches 60* it will be too hot for the plants, causing them to grow faster than is good for them. I suppose I have the advantage of many persons, there being hot-water pipes in the cold-grapery. I can heat it up at any time, and as soon as I find that the plants are suftering, I turn on the heat and put all the plants in there ; this gives them a cooler atmosphere, and is more conge- nial to their nature. 1 am convinced that no one can be successful in growing Grapes and plants in the same house, unless they study the nature and requirements of each ; for if the temperature is kept up as it should be for the Grapes, the plants will be per- manently injured, and again, if the temperature is kept too cool, the Grapes will be a failure. I have no doubt that J. C. S., would succeed very well, if he would remove his plants to a cooler 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. 15 atmosphere as soon as it is necessary to increase the heat, and for this purpose a cold frame Avould answer very well in his latitude. There are other things that require close at- tention, such as ventilating properly ; shading the plants from the sun, for the glass cannot be whitewashed, as the Grape vines require all the sunlight they can get ; keeping the house clear of insects, particularly the red spider, which will give trouble if not kept in check. I find a very good Avay to do this, is to throw a small quantity of sulphiu" into the hot water pans on the pipes. I know the fumes arising from sul- phur is not very agreeable, but it is better to sutler a little inconvenience in this way, than to let this pest get control of the house. I would advise .J. C. S., to take out his old vines, and plant young ones in their places ; and as advised by the Editor, take the canes through the brick wall into the house, and train to the rafters ; or if he prefers it, and has, or can make a suitable soil, plant the vines inside and train as above. Pinch out all the laterals, or branch- es that grow from the axils of the leaves, for I do not believe in the theory of pinching them back to one leaf, and when they start, pinch back again, and so on through the season ; this is all humbug, pinch them out entirely, they are nothing but vexation, and of no moi'taluse to the vine. Let nothing grow but the vine, and be careful not to break it off or injure it in any way, as it is very tender. At the end of the season, if all has gone well with the vines, they will have reached the top of the house. When they have dropped their leaves, cut back to two good strong buds, this will give the roots a good start the next season, and give strength to the vines for their future work. This is the most essential point in successful Grape growing, whether inside or out. Give the vines a good start by letting them make good strong roots, and they will repay the time given them for this purpose. In the Spring, when the buds begin to grow, save the strongest shoot for the new cane, and rub out the other, train to the rafters as above, pinching out all laterals. If the vines have done well, they should be about the thickness of a man's thumb, when the wood is ripe, and should be cut back to about four feet from the ground. When they begin to grow again in the Spring, let the shoots grow from the buds at the joints,^but do not alloAV more than one or two of the clusters to mature. The top shoot should be trained in line with the cane, as a leader, and must be brought into position gradually, being careful not to break it oft' where it joins the cane. The tips of the other shoots should be pinched oft' when they are about one and a half, or two feet long, or at the third leaf beyond the clust- er, and pinch out all laterals, as they grow, ex- cept the last one ; pinch back to one leaf each time it starts out. Cut back the shoots in the Fall, to two buds, and the new cane to six or eight feet from where the new growth com- menced. The next Spring, let the outer buds on the spurs bear the fruit, and let the inner ones, next the canes grow for the next season ; cut it back in the Fall to two eyes, and cut out the other near the spur just formed, and so on each season. Too much care cannot be used in fruiting young vines. Many persons are in too much of a hurry to get a large quantity of fruit, and in that way ruin the vitality of the vines ; this should be avoided as much as possible, by a sys- tematic use of judgement in not allowing them to overbear. A young vine should never be al- lowed to bear until the third or fourth season, according to its strength, and then not more than one or two clusters ; the next season double the quantity may be allowed to mature, and each season afterward increase the quantity as the strength of the vines will allow. It would be impossible to have Grapes in cold weather, as .J. C. S., proposes, as they can only be grown in a retarding-house, which must be kept cool as possible during the Spring, so as to keep the vines dormant and retard their growth. Plants could not be grow'n in such a house, be- cause they would not get enough of sunlight, which is essential to their growth and health, and the fire-heat required to keep out frost, would force the vines into growth. STRAWBERRY BLICHT. BY CHAS. BLACK, HIGHTSTOAVX, N. J. We hear complaint from all over our country about the above disease of the Strawberry plant, asking the cause and remedy of the same. It is the general opinion that it is caused wholly by a fungus attacking the leaf. This may be partly the cause, but is my opinion there are other causes. Having watched it for several years past, I have always found it worst, or of any account only in certain seasons, such as the past, when we have a fine March and April and the plants 16 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY [January, start off finely, then a cold spell in May with frost, which checks suddenly the growth of the plants. The leaf spots and turns red, and by the time the fruit ought to ripen, the plant has no vitality left in it. Having frequently exam- ined the roots, I have always found them in- fested with a blueish louse, sometimes so numer- ous that they cover the leaf-stems. This I think is one great cause of the trouble generally known as the blight. In favorable seasons, when everything conduces to the continued growth of the plants, the louse has no chance to gain any advantage over them ; but, as soon as the weather is too cold or too dry with cold, they increase rapidly and suck all the life out of the young rootlets, which weakens the plants, and gives fungus or any other disease a chance to affect the leaf. Whenever the leaf is perfectly green the roots will be found all right, but when the leaf is spotted or red, early in the season, something is wrong at the root, and I have always found that louse there, at some time in greater or less numbers. I am aware that there is a sun-scald, which some varieties, such as Jucunda, are liable to, but I refer only to the blight that attacks all kinds. Nothing is exempt from it in some seasons. I do not say this is the cause, but as far as my observation goes, I have good reason to believe it is; and think if we can find a remedy to destroy the lice on the roots, we would have little or no blight on such hardy kinds as Wilson, Monarch of the West, etc. I have been trying liquid tobacco, which I think helped, but was not thoroughly effectual. I think, if those, whose plants get affected next May or June, will give them a thorough examination, they will find the roots affected as well as the foliasre. BETTER FRUITS ON OLD PEAR TREES. BY GEN. WM. H. NOBLE, BRIDGEPORT, CONN. I used to wonder much, when a fruit was said to become more luscious with the age of the tree. The truth came home to me very out- spoken in a Pear tree which I planted fof a gray Doyenne. It grew in an old nursery here, and had reached very good size. Though claimed as a gray Doyenne, and though a very fine fruit, it was not this kind. I have never seen its like, and know not its name. Its regular season is December, and it sometimes stretches into Janu- ary, but about as often fails to put in an appear- ance at the table after November. The tree was ten or fifteen years old, and bore a very fair, well-ripened fruit ; it was carefully transplanted, with a mass of fibrous roots, into a deep made soil, piled over an old cow yard. It soon took hold, and started out with a new life and tremendous growth. In a year or two after, it bloomed out and yielded fruit in abund- ance, but they tasted more like a pumpkin than a pear. They were large and fair, but never got any more ripeness of flesh or taste than an Osage Orange. I tried it a year or two with the same ill luck, but all the while it kept up the same tremendous growth. From seven to ten feet in height it stretched up to twenty, and had girth and spread in proportion. I made up my mind that I must have been mistaken about the right tree, and that it was some other kind than that which had tempted me to buy at a large price, and to give great care to its transplanting. I could not believe that such a green, unripenmg, som-, gritty, black walnut kind of Pear could grow on the same limbs whose fruit I had eaten with so much relish. The Beurre Giffard was about that time brought out as a fine early Pear — a quality which it has never belied. I wanted just that early Pear in that very place, to ripen before the cold northwest winds of Fall which so boldly strike could tlirash off its fruit. In two years, every limb grew the Beurre Giffard. Its growth was healthy and fairly vigorous, but its early bearing trait, its drooping limbs, of less upright and stalwart growth than the stock, helped its prompt fruitage. It has borne me every sea- son from its second year, a splendid crop of Gif- fards. But here comes in another phase and service of the tree which I wish to note. Below the Beurre Giffard graft, the grafted limbs put out new shoots. These I let grow, year by year, they increased somewhat, but all, instead of that rampant upright growth, whose fruitage so puz- zled and provoked, have stout, short jointed wood, which put out fruit buds right off". Even shoots, not over six inches in length, bear. So now from the same tree, every year I have, in July and August a full crop of the early Giffards , and from the old stock, a late October gathering of large, ovate and obovate, obtuse pyriform Pears. They ripen well, and mature into a rich golden rustidoat, and a fine 3'ellow-fleshed late Fall fruit. The cause of this change, as of that in many Pears, with the age of trees, doubtless is, that a. 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. 17 ■stalwart wood growth and rich fruit product, call for unlike qualities in the sap, and different or- gans and regimen for each. If those of one bal- j ance the other, all right ; the tree grows and the ! fruit shows its quality : but if not, those which rule for the nonce the life and condition of the tree, do so at the expense of its other faculty and purpose. Nature gifts the tree with power to hold back its fruiting till its wood gets stature, strength and volume to endure the strain of its fruit births and , ripening. It is so in all life. It has in every j form its age of puberty and life renewal. As a ' rule, all of a kind are wisely and evenly gifted for the purposes of their being. But now and then in the same families, there are marked dif- ferences of growth and fruitage. Some fruit trees, of the same species bear very early, while others as the Dix and Urbaniste,&c., among Pears, wait a long while before showing us a fruit. The Bartlett I think about the most prompt of the Pear kind. Whether from the nursery, or grafted on older trees, it yields an early crop. Is not the reason of its tenderness, the strain of its early and overbearing ? I have never known tenderness to show itself exceptionally on young ti-ees of the Bartlett, or on its grafts before they began to bear heavily. I have had none die out, but they die by inches after bearing as they do, a load of fruit every year.. I think such trees may be revived by stripping off the Pears for a year or two, or by severe pruning, cutting back boldly to induce new wood. Young side shoots on those decaying or wasting trees do not die or loose their tips till after much cropping. the rule tliat one year Apples are so high that few can afford to buy them, and the following year so low farmers can hardly afford to pick and haul them to market. The practical question growing out of this subject is, cannot something be done to change the bearing year. Expex*- ienced orchardists assure me they have produced this result by picking all the young fruit. The matter is certainly worth careful consideration and experiment, and particularly so in this State, with five counties so largely devoted to orchards, one county alone having sent to market in a single season a million barrels of Apples. A large amount of Apples this season will be made into cider. One mill here intends to grind tliree hundred thousand ( 300,000 ) bushels, and three mills I hear are grinding eighty thousand (80,000), and a multitude of smaller mills will grind from five to fifty thousand bushels each. In our five great orchard counties there will be I ground this season, according to the estimate of good authorities, more than a million bushels of j Apples. This seems like a large estimate, but I I am disposed to think it not greatly exagerated. ; Cider makers here pay eight to ten cents per bushel. SOME NOTES ON THE APPLE CROP OF WESTERN NEW YORK. BY T. T. SOUTHWICK, ROCHESTER, N. Y. Late frosts in the Spring, and severe wind storms during early Autumn, did much to reduce the crop, yet the yield has been very large. In- cluding barrel, costing thirty cents, prices have ranged for picked fruit, from fifty cents for com- mon, to one dollar for extra fine ; the average price for good fruit being seventy-five cents. These low rates are due to a moderate shipping demand in consequence of a good crop East. Last Fall I could make a peck of Apples buy a bushel of Potatoes. This Fall I can make a peck of Po- tatoes buy a bushel of Apples. It has become AN EXAMPLE OF THE SUCCESS OF AN ORCHARD UNDER CRASS CULTURE. BY JAMES M. HAYES, DOVER, N. H. There has come under my notice within a year, an orchard of Baldwin Apple trees upon one of the rocky hillsides of New Hampshire, which has never been ploughed; the ground was un- usually rocky, sometimes so much so, that the trees could not be planted in straight rows. Upon this land the trees were set, manured lib- erally, and it is to-day as fine an orchard as Eastern New Hampshire affords, and there are many good orchards here. Here is an instance where the grass theory advocated by the Monthly has produced good results, both of grass and fruit. But most of our farmers are so negligent of their orchards, if they leave them in grass, that the trees are soon stunted and die. Therefore, for those careless ones, there is no other course except to plough amongst the trees. But to him who believes in fruit culture, and who follows it as a business, or out of love for it, and who intends to give his trees as good care as he would his cattle, then he can raise trees in grass as well as elsewhere. 18 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY {January, EDITORIAL NOTES A Large Raspberry Garden. — Parker Earle, of Cobden, Illinois, has twenty-five acres of Raspberries crown for market purposes. He grows the Turner. It is pronounced a profitable garden. Forest Rose Strawberry. — Dr. "Warder thinks this likely to supercede the Wilson's Al- bany as the standard Strawberry. Mr. Leo Weltz says the crop is generally half gathered by the time the Albany commences to ripen. A Large Apple Tree. — A correspondent of the Massachttsetts Ploughman, calls attention to an aged Apple tree standing in the town of Weathersfield, Conn. — an English Pearmain — brought from England by Wm. Tryan, and planted on his (then) farm. It measures, one foot from the ground, ten feet and eleven inches in circumference. It yielded fruit, according to tradition for nearly a century before the revolu- tion. It is in a good bearing condition, having borne excellent fruit the past }■ ear. Forcing Strawberries under Glass. — A ''fruit grower and farmer" writes to the New York Tribune, that "Mr. Median's view on Straw- berries, under glass, may lead some one astray. I have seen the attempt made in hothouses, but never with success." Our "fruitgrower" can not have had a very extensive experience. He might pay Miss Hettie Trimble, of West Chester, a visit to some profit. The Gregg Raspberry. — This variety, un- questionably the best of all the Black Caps, was found by a lawyer named Gregg, on the hills of the upper Miami, in 1868. The Thwack Raspberry.— Mr. Ohmer, of Dayton, finds this not so good in flavor as some other kinds, but an excellent traveller, and one of the best market berries he knows of. Currants IN California. — Mr. W. B. West, who has recently been successful in adding the Currant of commerce to the list of fruits for cul- tivation, has just returned from an extended tour through Europe, in search of improved Figs, Grapes, &c., probably suited to the Cali- fornia climate. He i-eports that with the single exception of the Hurseries of Transon Brothers, in France, he saw very few nurseries in Europe with which many American nurseries would not contrast favorably in all except perhaps ver;y rare hothouse plants. Good Pennsylvania Apples. — Mr. H. M. Engle says that among the Apples that have proven valuable in our State are the following : " Summer — Early Harvest, Early Strawberry, Primate, Summer Queen, All Summer, Red As- trachan, Duchess of Oldenberg, Sweet Bough, Summer Sweet Paradise. Autumn — Porter, Maiden's Blush, Summer Rambo, Fall Pippin, .Tefltries, Gravenstein. Early Winter — Smoke- house, Rambo,Fallawater,Pittsbiu'gPippin,Win- ter — Smith's Cider, York Imperial, Newtown Pippin, York Stripe, Peck's Pleasant, Ewalt, Rome Beauty, Domine,Romanite, Yellow Bell- flower, Winter Sweet Paradise, Tallman's Sweety Lady's Sweet." Good Wisconsin Apples. — The following is a list recommended by the State Agricultural Society : Five varieties, hardiness only test — Tetofski, Duchess of Oldenburg, Haas, Fameuse and Wealthy. For general cultivation — the above list with Walbridge, Red Astrachan, Ut- ter, Westfield Seek-No-Further, Tallman Sweet, St. Lawrence, Willow Twig and Pewaukee. California Grapes. — Enormous quantities were sent East this year, chiefly Flaming Tokays. It is said to have been on the whole, profitable to the shippers. The Chaumontelle Pear. — In those parts of our country where the Chaumontelle has been tried, it proves worthless. It is no sooner ripe than it is rottou. But there ought to be some spot over our broad acres just suited to it. It is a magnificent fruit in many parts of England. A fruit of the Chaumontelle Pear weighing up- wards of twenty-one ounces, was exhibited at the recent exhibition of the Royal Horticultural So- ciety of Jersey. Vegetable Wax. — Mr. Loomis contributes a paper on the Rhus succedanea to the California Horticulturist, showing its adaptation to Cali- fornian culture. It would be interesting to know where it would succeed in the Eastern Atlantic States. A plant from seed brought by Commo- dore Perry's expedition, was growing with Mr. Berckmans at Augusta, Georgia a few years ago. Oranges and Lemons in California. — The catalogues of Californian nurseries present marked differences from those of the East. Be- fore us is one which makes a specialt}' of Orange and Lemon trees. Plants are offered bj' the 1879.1 .1 KD HORTIC UL T URIS T. 19 hundreds, lliousauds.and tens of thousands, as our Apple trees are. Sleeper's Dwarf Peach.— This was said to be onh' twenty-six inches high when four years old, and to have fruit of much better quality than the Van Buren dwarf. Japan Persimmons. — The California nursery catalogues are full of the Japan Persimmon. They issue colored illustrations, one of which exhibits the fruit as large as a full sized Baldwin apple, and as rich in color as a Trophy Tomato. They seem destined to play an important part in the fruit growing of the Pacific States. Henry Loomis has a paper in the California Horti- culturist in which thirteen named varieties are described. In California it is said that the fruit of the Japan Persimmon " is not inferior in size or attractiveness to the Orange." The Sexes of Strawberries.— The discus- sion on pistillate and staminate Strawberries, which so raged in this country a quarter of a cen- tury ago, and out of wlaich the raising of that ex- cellent hermaphrodite, Albany Seedling, took all the practical value, seems to have found a res- surection in England. The Gardener'^s Magazine says : " "We exposed the absurdities of Mr. Leonard TVra}^ who had the audacity to inform the Amer- ican public that in England the Strawberry 'has a forced and unnatural existence, more suited to the requirements of a tender exotic than to the hard}' Strawberry,' and then he asked ' why is it so pampered, so swathed, so swaddled, and its hardy habit so ignored ?' We will not trouble our readers with any further citation from Mr. Wray's revelations, but we feel bound to pro- nounce against the adoption of American notions by trade cultivators in this country, who appear to be steadily drifting into an injurious rut. In the issue of the magazine for November 18, 1861, we reproduced the trade list of Strawberries pub- lished My Messrs. Prince and Co., of XeAV York, for the purpose of showing how needless was the classification of Strawberries as 'staminate,' 'pistillate,' and 'hermaphrodite;' but now we find a few of our own nursery firms adopting the classification, and thereby creating a bewilder- ment, to the injury of an important branch of horticulture. Suppose, for a moment, we grant that certain varieties produce flowers which are deficient of stamens ; what can it matter if, when the time of Strawberries arrives, we find on those varieties an abundance of fruit ? Mr. Scott, of Merriott, meets the case with a good practical suggestion. He says, ' I would advise planting several sorts in proximity,' in order that those that have pollen to spare may fertilize flowers deficient of stamens. The prudent cultivator will not trust to one sort of Strawberry any more than to one sort of Potato, but the less the pru- dent cultivator troubles himself about ' stami- nates ' and ' pistillates,' the better for his peace of mind and his Strawberry plantation." NEW OR RARE ERUITS Moore's Early GtRape. — A new, hardy Grape, combining the following desirable quali- ties, viz. : hardiness, size, beauty, quality, pro- ductiveness and earliness, maturing ten days earlier than the Hartford Prolific, and twenty days before the Concord. This is one out of a lot of twenty-five hundred seedlings, and pro- duced its first fi'uit in the year 1872; it was then exhibited, and has been shown at the exhibitions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, and tested by the fruit committee every year since. September 7th, 1872, 1st prize ; 1873, Annual Exhibition, 1st prize for any variety not named in the schedule; Sept. 5th, 1874, 1st prize for early Gi'apes ; 1874, Annual Exhibition, 1st prize for any variety not named in the schedule ; 1875, Sept. 4th, 1st prize for early Grapes ; Sept. 11th, 1st prize for early Grapes ; Annual Exhi- bition, 1st prize for any variety not named in the schedule ; 1876, Sept. 2d, 1st prize for early Grapes; Sept. 9th, 1st prize for early Grapes*,. Annual Exhibition, 1st prize for an}' variety not named in the schedule; 1877, August 25th,. first-class certificate of merit ; Sept. 1st, 1st prize for early Grapes ; Sept. 8th, 1st prize for early Grapes; Annual Exhibition, Sept. 18th, 1st prize for any variety not named in the sched- ule. It has also received first premiums from various other societies, and has always taken the first prizes over all other varieties shown in competition. A prize of ii^GO for the best new seedling, after a satisfactory trial, was awarded in Dec, 1877, to John B. Moore, for the new seedling Moore's Early ^ by the Massa^ chusetts Horticultural Society. Description of the fruit: bunch large, berry round, large (as large as the Wilder or Rogers No. 4), color black, with a heavy blue bloom ; quality, better than the Concord; vine exceedingly hardy; has 20 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY [January^ never been covered in winter, and has been ex- posed to a temperature of more than twenty de- grees below zero, without injury, and it has been entirely exempt from mildew or disease. Its earliness makes it desirable for an early crop, and more particularly adapts it to New England and the northern portion of the United States. Idesia polyc akp a as a Fruit. — The Garden- ers'' Chronicle, says : Idesia polycarpa fruited abundantly in several parts of France last season, as we learn from the Revue Uorticole. When tills tree was first introduced it was stated that it bore an edible fruit, l)ut it has now been prov- ed that its clusters of deep brown berries, al- though very ornamental, are of a bitter, disa^ agreeable taste, and cannot compete with the most inferior of our cultivated fruits. Never- theless, this may prove a valuable ornamental shrub or tree for the milder parts of the United Kingdom ; but it should be borne in mind that it is dioecious. Prince of Wales Plum. — Fruit about me- dium size ; skin bright reddish purple, with yel- low dots, covered with beautiful bloom ; flesh somewhat coarse, yellow in color, sweet and sprightly in flavor. It is one of the best culin- ary plums, and one of the most profitable for market. The tree is very hardy and a prolific bearer, and the fruit being so beautiful, it sells readily at a high price. September. — Elhoanger. SCRAPS AND QUERIES. Yellows in the Peach Tree. — A Michigan correspondent says : " At the Annual Meeting of our Society to be held in Paw Paw, ' The Yel- lows on the Peach,' will be a leading topic of discussion. It is a very important matter with us. We have watched for information from the East for years, while it has been encroaching upon oiu* Peach belt, and have failed to get much. Onlj' last week I read in the N. T. Tri- bune^ a short article speaking of it as a 'fungoid disease.' This seems very strange to us at this late date ; it looks as if the editor had found an old article in a scrap-])ook a decade ago, and re- hashed it for 1878. Our people have been trying everything with no satisfaction in receiving a cure. Digging out by the roots has been the only effectual method. What we want are more scientific facts concerning the disease. Will you give the latest information at your command on the subject? " [We do not remember the article in the New York Tribune, referred to, but there is nothing more certain than that the yellows in the Peach is a root fungus. This is so easily ascertained by anybody who will take the trouble to look and see for himself with an ordinary pocket lens, or to inquire with his nose, if he has no lens, and no " cold in his head," that we look on all discussion as to the cause of the yellows as time thrown away. — Ed. G. M.] Prickly Comfrey. — A Boston subscriber, says : " January, 1877, 1 bought a Prickly Com- frey root, from which I have propagated quite a lot of plants, which will, if reports prove as represented, give me a good opportunity to test it next spring, by seeing it grow, and feeding it to my cows, and find out if there is reall}' any good in it. As I know of no party that has used it yet, I should like to know if you have any reports of it, from parties that are using Prickly Comfrey for their milch cows. By so doing, you will oblige me very much, as I intend to propagate as many more plants this Winter to plant out next Spring, as I shall have roots and cuttings, as I intend to give it a fair trial next Spring and Summer. I have had more or less of it, and fed it to my cows, which have always eaten it, but had never yet enough to feed a whole week or longer to see the effect of it. I sent 3^ou a leaf, some time ago, of a kind another man offers for sale, which you pro- nounced a humbug. If all kinds are are hum- bugs, I want to stop propagating; if otherwise, I want to go ahead with them. If you answer through the Gardener's Monthly, please, do not use my name." [We did not say the Comfrey sent us was " a humbug," but that it was not a Prickly Com- frey, but the common Comfrey, and that any one who sold it for the Prickly Comfrey, was guilty of fraud. As for the merits of the Prickly Comfrey as a forage plant, we know nothing at all about it. We do not know that it is a "humbug," or that it is not. All that we claim credit for in this and similar in- stances is, that we do not fall in and smother a thing with kisses because some one has a few million roots to sell. We have preferred to wait till the facts should give us something re- liable for our readers. We do not want the man who carefully weighed his solitary plant, and 1879. AND HORTICULTURIST. 21 then tells us of his wonderful product of herbage "per acre;" but we want the acre and the cow, and " all that sort of thing." We have looked all over the country for liini, and through all our exchanges to find liis address, but he has not turned up yet. When it happens, our readers shall know all about liim. — Ed. G. M.] New Raspberries. — A "reader," Kankakee, 111., inquires where certain Raspberries, noted in our columns, are to be purchased. We fancy they are not for sale, or notice thereof would appear in our advertising columns. Standard Currants and Goosberries. — R. B. asks, "What has become of the Standard Currants and Gooseberries, about which, so much was said in the Gardener's Monthly, a year or so ago. I believe they were to be grown on the Missouri Currant. Is it a failure ? " [By no means, but nurserymen have had no spirit to work up new ideas the past few years. — Ed. G. M.] Dividing Currant Bushes. — T. O. M., Philadelphia, asks : "Will you please inform me whether the taking up and dividing Currant and Gooseberry bushes will impair their bear- ing for next season?" [It will, unless the division can be easily made without disturbincr the roots. — Ed. G. M.I Forestry. COMMUNICA TIONS. EUROPEAN LARCH. GLEANINGS BY J. STAUFFER. Among your "Echtorial Notes," in the De- cember number, 1878, "Profits of Forest Cul- ture," you present the results of Mr. Rich'd S. Fay's experiment with the Larch, and high price obtained for railroad sleepers. You say, that, "The Larch is profitable, but it is far less profitable than many other kinds of trees would be." Allow me to enumerate some of the qual- ities of the Larch, and its uses besides for posts, telegraph poles, and railroad sleepers, gleaned from \vi'iters on the subject. It appears that the quality of Larch timber, does not depend so much upon the maturity of the tree, and the slowness of its growth, as that of the Pine ; as a fishing boat, built of Larch, only forty years old, has been found to last three times as long as one of the best Norway Pine. It is not so buoyant, however, nor so elastic ; and as it does not dry so completely, as Pine, boards of it are more apt to warp. It is, how- ever, much more tough and compact ; and what are very valuable properties, it approaches near- ly to being proof, not only against water, but against fire. If the external timbers, and the principal beams of houses, were made of Larch, fires would not only be less frequent, but, they would be far less destructive ; for, before Larch beams be even completely charred on the surface, a beam of Pine, or of dry Oak, will l)e in a blaze beyond the ordinary means of extinguish- ment. Larch, however, is beavier to transport and elevate, and also much harder to work than Pine ; and as these circumstances are all against the profits of the contractor, or builder, (or its scarcity), jointl}' prevents the more general use of this most safe and durable timber. "The Venetian houses constructed of it, show no symptoms of decay ; and the complete pres- ervation of some of the finest paintings of the great Masters of Italy, is, in some respects, ow- ing to the panels of Larch, on which they are executed. The objects for which Larch timber seems preferable to every other, are chiefly these : gates, palings, posts of all kinds, that are inserted either in the earth, or in the water, wooden buildings, many agricultural implements , cottage furniture, bridges and gangways, car- riages for transporting stones, and all hard and rough materials, barrows for builders, and road makers, lighters, fenders, and embanking piles, lock and dock gates for canals and harbors, coal 22 THE GARDENER'S MONTHLY [Janitari/y *'ancl lime wai^ons, vessels for carrying lime, pit- props, and hop poles of the smaller thinnings." This writer continues: "For all these purposes, and many minor ones, Larch would come con- siderably cheaper than any timber now in use ; and would, in the average of them, last at least thrice as long. The saving to the public would thus be immense ; and the lands upon which an abundant supply might be raised in every county, are at present, lying idle." I was not aware that, "The Larch was evi- dently chosen at a time when it was thought very important that Scotch forestry should be the model for American forestry." It does seem slightly critical on Mr. Fay, and Prof. Sargent, who deserve much praise, as you admit. I sim- ply desire to see no detriment cast in the waj' of such encouragement to forestr}^ by lessening the value of the Larch. The common Ash, Fraxinus excelsior, is one of the most valuable trees, which grows on va- rious soils, and of rapid growth. In elasticity, it is far superior to the oak, and it is not so liable to be broken by a cross strain. Nothing is su- perior for agricultural implements, and for all sorts of poles, ladders, long handles, and other purposes wliich require strength and elasticity combined with comparative lightness. Maple, in the lathe, is easily turned, eligible for saddle-trees, wooden dishes, founder's patterns, and many other articles, both of furniture and machinery. It is not apt to warp, either with variations of heat or moisture. Om* Native and European Lime or Linden, also beautiful for shade as are the Maples, though a soft and weak timber is valuable for many purposes. Thus we might enumerate other trees for forestry, worthy a place ; but my object was simply to do justice to the Larch, without detracting from others that may seem "more profitable than the Larch." [We do not understand Mr. StaufFer to give his views of the value of the Larch from any American knowledge of American grown tim- ber, but that he is still holding up to us the results of Scotch or European forestry as a model for American experience. — Ed. G. M.] EDITORIAL NOTES. State Foresters.— Mr. Horace J. Smith, writes as follows in regard to a State Forester, to the Manayunk Sentinel, and we understand that it is likely a bill in accordance therewith will be introduced into the Pennsylvania Legis- lature, during the present session : " I supplement my previous articles on ' For- estry,' ' The Yalue of the Catalpa,' and ' Forest Corporations,' by suggesting the appointment by the State of a Forester. The Act creating the office should require that he be a man of approved attainments and practically well ac- quainted with Arboriculture, who shall also be familiar with methods of statistical inquiry. He shall collect data as to the annual consumption, importation, and exportation of Timber and other Forest products, the amount of Timber used for fencing, and the value of the labor expended thereon, the probable future supply and demand for Lumber ; the means best adapted to the preservation and renewal of Forests ; the influence, if any, of Forests upon the climate, and the flow of streams in the Commonwealth. He shall specify partic- ularly or generally, where Forests should be planted for the promotion of the interest of the Commonwealth, indicating the kinds most suitable and profitable ; the best methods of collecting and saving seeds ; and the propagation of trees. He shall give attention also to the subject of insects destructive to Forests, the inti'oduction of new trees, and Forest industries valuable to the community, the laws bearing upon Forest products, the unification of the customs of mea- surement of lumber. Forest instruments. Forest, appraisement, protection of Forests from depre- dation, the collection of specimen blocks of the various woods of the State, and preparations illustrating the damage to trees caused by in- sects, rodents, &c., for the Museum of the State Board of Agriculture. His services in the State as Consulting Expert, or for lectures upon For- estry, shall be at the disposal of any citizen or corporation of the Commonwealth for a period not exceeding days, on the pa3'ment of $ per day and traveling expenses, under rules pre- pared by the State Board of Agriculture. He shall report to the State Board of Agriculture annually or oftener if called upon, the work he has done, and on the subjects mentioned above, with such suggestions for the framing of Laws as may seem to him important. "The passage, or even the introduction of such a law, will call attention to this subject, and ul- timately tend to bring about the accomplishment of a work, universally considered by those who 1870 AND HORTICULTURIST. 23 have