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LIBRARY

OF THE

MASSACHUSETTS

AGRICULTURAL

COLLEGE

souRCE^^\-UiXXLlLl-..-Y-U.nd...

SB

CHAPLL

This book may be kept out

TWO WEEKS

only, and is subject to a hne of TWO
CENTS a day thereafter. It will be due on
the day indicated below.

MAR i 3 mi

ll'^

EDITED BY THOMAS MEEHAN,

VOLyME VI1I,-ISS@.

PTTBLISHED BY W. G. P. BRINCKLOE,

23 North Sixth Street, Philada.

New York : Geo. E. & F. W. Woodward.

TERMS :->TWO DOLLARS PER ANNUM.

mm

//?*'<

ILLUSTRATIONS.

8^ -iU)»

Frontispiece Horticultural Hall, Philadelphia.

A.

Apple, Grimes' Golden Pippin... 58

The Starr. 312

Asters, Chinese 88,89,90,91

B.

Branch of a Pear Tree 37

Budding, Spring 326

C.

Chamaebatia foliolosa 60

Chinese Asters 88, 89, 90, 91

Currant, Goblet-shaped 124

D.

Dinner-table Decoration 254

i Duhring Raspberry 311

P.

Flower Grarden, Plan of a 18

Q.

Garden, Rose 209

Goblet-shaped Currant 124

Graft, Rose 373

Grafting, Rose 373

Grape-vine Enemy 364

Greenhouses at G. J. Whitney's 134

Grimes' Golden Pippin Apple 58

J.

Jucanda Strawberry 279

K.

Kolreuteria paniculata 180

P.

Pear Tree, Branch of. 37

Pine Cone Potato 337

Plan of a Flower Garden 18

Potato, Pine Cone 337

R.

Raspberry, The Duhring 311

Rose Garden 209

" Graft 373

S.

Ptarr Apple, The 312

Strawberry, The Jucunda 279

DEVOTED TO

lepfirulfur?, ^FkrirulliiFF, ©ofEeg tf ^nml W^nm.

THOMAS MEEHAN, Kpttor.
W. G. P. BEINCKLOE, Plulisher.

JANUARY. 1866.

VOL. VIII.-I3"0. 1.

^inh for ^amiarB.

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FLO^JES-GAEDBrJ AND PLSASUHE-
GHOUND.

We commence our eighth annual volume with
the feeling of a novice new to his work. We direct
the same pen, and the same page convej^s our
teachings to those who read ; but the readers are
not all of the olden time : and to all these new
friends we feel as if we were starting on a fresh
trial for their approval of our efforts to entertain
and instruct them.

Yet much that we say in these chapters cannot
be new. The soil and conditions that grew the best
Cabbage last year, will very likely produce the lar-
gest and sweetest heads in this ; and the Roses and
the Violets which we tanglit how best to exhibit
their beauty or deliver up their sweetness last year,
may perhaps have this year not much to improve
in these particulars. But this must not deter us
from our task, — as the child wlao plays with its
buttercups and dandelions, we must weave our
materials over and over again. It may be the same
buds and blossoms, and the fairy chain may be of
the same length ; but in the rearrangement of the
material we hope to improve with each new experi-
ment, so that we may reject what has become
bruised by bad usage, and turn more towai'ds the
light such as before were badly seen.

So therefore, 0 gentle reader, — or reader of the
sterner sex, — whether for the first time in your
horticultural history, you propose to follow us
through these coming pages, or whether you have
already favored us with your company in the past,
— young or old, — dweller in the North or South, in
the East or West, — one and all, bound together by

the one bond of brotherhood : the love of fruits and
flowers and trees and gardens ; come along, and wc
will explore the wide field together, and if we find
nothing to attract us as particularly new, we will at
least enjoy again the familiar scenes that have so
often spread out their innocent enticements for us.

But one word more before we go. Our periodical
is a national institution. Our " Hints " therefore
take the broadest ground. We cannot give "work
for the month," unless we wrote for Pennsjdvania
alone ; but keeping in view as we do our friends in
everj' State in the Union, and beyond the Union to
where the frost king's mandate has declared gar-
dening shall no further go, what we write will par-
take rather of a suggestive than a didatic charac-
ter, intended rather to set the intelligent mind
towards seasonable thoughts, than to telling him in
.season exactly what he should do. We do not pro-
pose to hoe the row for him, but to put ourselves
in his companj', and entertain him somewhat while
he hoes it himself, — remembering from our early
experience that threshing works badly when there
is only one at the flail.

So we will prepare at once for our new state of
gardening existence, and we would again impress
on our readers' attention the great interest a few
changes in the minor details of arrangement give
to a garden. So many new and useful hints for
flower-garden details have appeared through our
last year's volume, that our readers will, many of
them, be prepared at once with plans of improve-
ment. Ribbon flower-beds, peculiar for massing,
improved forms of flower-beds, or their change of
position to other parts of the lawn or grounds ; the
introduction of vases, arbors or trellises for climb-
ing vines, — adding a clump of shrubbery here, or
removing one there. All these and many other
hints for improvement which we have suggested in
our pages, should now be reviewed, and put into
shape for execution the moment the approaching
season favors. No matter how small the flower-
garden may be, the aim should be to improve as we
go, and make each season's garden look better than

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the last. We never see a " finished place," but we
know instinctively that the owners take no pleasure
in it. Such parties feel they must " keep up ap-
pearances;" duty requires them to "look tidy,"
and family honor demands that some "pride be
taken in the place." Hence the money must be
spent' — not exactly grmlgiiii^ly, but yet with a
species of wish that their position in society would
demand less of them. We know from the experi-
ences of various parties who have been " reformed
from the error" of this way, that a desire to im-
prove gives the owner of the oldest and most
stately establishment a pleasure in its management,
which it is almost impossible for him to conceive at
the outset.

The actual operations in this department will be
confined to preparing soils, manures and other
items, for early spring work.

6REE?mOUSES AND PLANT CABINETS.

Roses, when they are forced, do much better
when the pots are plunged in some damp material.
When no better plan oflFers, they may be set inside
of a larger pot, with moss between the space
around. All plants that come into flower through
winter should have those i)ositions afforded thiMii
that have the most sunlight, especially the early
njorning light.

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 man-
agement, 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. Decayed wood, Cnot 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
pood compost. Most kinds particularly like well-
drained pots. This is usually effected by filling a
third of the pots in which the ferns are to grow
with old pots broken in peices of about half an
inch sfjuare, on which a thin layer of moss is
placed, before filling the pots, to keep out the soil
from choking the drainage.

Many very pretty ferneries are made up entirely
of native ferns, some species of which are within
the reach of every one. Of the exotic ones, how-

ever, that are now general in most florists' estab-
lishments, and are remarkable for their elegance
and beauty, we may name Selaginellas Cformerly
Lycopodiums^ S. stolonifera, S. densa, S. Merten-
sii, S. denticulata, S. cordifolia, S. flabellaris ; Adi-
antuni concinnum, A. pubescens, A. cuneatum ;
Pteris longifolia, P. serrulata, P. hastata ; Polypo-
dium Seiboldii, P. glaucum ; Doodia caudata,
Gymnogramma chrysophylla, Platyloma rotundi-
folia, Nothoclncna nivea, PterLs geraniifolia, Ilem-
ioiiites palniata. This will form a good and easily
obtained collection to commence with. Ferns are
easily raised from seed. Shallow pans of very
sandy soil should be procured and filled within an
inch of the rim. The seed, which is obtained from
the brown lines or spots (called, by botanists,
Sporangia) on the under surface of most mature
fronds, should be sown on the surface of the soil,
well watered with a very fine rose, window-glass
placed closely over the pans, to keep in the mois-
ture and keep out small insects, and the pans them-
selves set in a heat of about 50', when the spores
will germinate in about two months.

Daphnes like a cool, humid atmos]ihere, and are
very impatient of heat. The best we ever saw
were grown by a farmer's wife, who had an old
spring-house converted into a greenhouse to pre-
serve her oranges, oleanders and daphnes over the
winter. The natural heat from the spring was
quite sufficient to keep out frost, and it was sur-
prising how charmingly the plants throve in this,
to a gardener, rough-looking plant-case.

Where the air is dry, if rooms or greenhouses,
frequent syringings are of much benefit to plants.
Besides, cleanliness keeps down insects and checks
diseases in plants as in animals. Most old fash-
ioned lady gardeners ("and may we 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°,
which often occurs, might be called a "warm
shower." Cold water does not have half the in-
jurious effect on plants that cold air has. When
plants get accidentally frozen, the best remedy in
the world is to dip them at once in cold water and
set thera in the shade to thaw.

It is better to keep in heat in cold weather by
covering, where po.ssible, than to allow it to escape,
calculating to nlake it good by fire-heat, which is,
at best, but a necessary evil. Where bloom is in
demand, nothing less than 55° vvill accomplish the
object ; though much above that is not desirable,
except for tropical hot-house plants. Where these

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plants are obliged to be wintered in a common
greenhouse, they should be kept rather dry, and
not be encouraged much to grow, or they may rot
away.

After Cj-clamens have done blooming, it is usual,
at this season, to dry them off; but we do best with
them by keeping them growing till spring, then
turning them out in the open border, and re-pot in
August for winter-flowering.

Mignonette is much improved by occasional wa-
terings with liquid-manure.

In managing other plants, where there are seve-
ral plants or varieties of one species, and command
of different temperatures, it is a common plan to
bring some forward a few weeks earlier than others
in the higher heat, thus lengthening the season of
bloom. This applies particularly to camellias and
azalias ; the former are however, not so easily
forced as the latter, being liable to drop their buds,
unless care be taken to regulate the increased tem-
perature gradually.

There is a plan of making some plants bloom
very early, that is not generally known, namely, by
pruning them. There are two classes of flowering
plants, — one perfects its buds on the wood of the
past season's growth ; the other flowers on the new
growth of the present season. Whenever j'ou want
the latter class to flower, all thai is necessary is to
prune the plant in closely and induce a new growth.
This is frequently practiced with roses to get a fine
fall bloom, but it is not often done with house-
plants, though the principle and advantages of the
practice are, in both instances, the same. Water-
ing of pot-plants should be always done as early in
the morning as possible, and the water be as warm
or warmer than the temperature of the house.

(JominiiHirefiens*

VISIT TO THE ROYAL HOETSGULTUHAL
SOCIETY GARBEMS, AT ESNSEI^GTOPJ,

BT J. M., PHILADELPHIA.

During a recent visit to England I took the
ojiportunity of inspecting some of the large Horti-
cultural Gardens there, amongst others the above
named. I noted some of the main points of in-
terest to be seen there, and propose to give your
readers some account of them.

Paying an admi?:sion fee of Cid. I passed with my
friend, an English gardener, into the covered en-
trance of glass, the sides covered with a fine speci-

men of the Coboea variegata, with the slioots pro-
bably 50 feet in length. Passing through a gallery
of Statues we came out on the terrace overlooking
the flower beds and grounds. The walls of the
terrace were lined with Jasminum nudiflorum,
Lonicera aurea reticulata, Escallonia, &c., Vv-ith
large tubs of Laurestinas, Sweet Bays, &c., trained
as standards and placed at intervals along the side
of the walk. Sculptured on the walls are speci-
mens of different genera with names. After rest-
ing a while on seats provided, on the terrace, to
enjoy the fine view of the flower beds below us in
our front, we descended to the large Conservatory
where again the Coboeas were used quite extensive-
ly, in fact it seemed to be the main climbing vine
used, here it was trained from both sides of the
roof; at intervals the long shoots would be let hang
down and all pinched off at equal length, giving to
them the appearance of green tassels. The build-
ing was mainly filled with large specimen Acacias,
Tree Ferns, Conifera, &c., all appeared in excellent
health. We now passed out to the flower beds
which we were both anxious to see, as they are
after all the main features in the English gardens
in summer, they were in first-rate condition, and at
the time of our visit in their prime. My attention
was at once attracted by a beautiful bed in the
distance, which my friend informed me I should
most likely find to be the new Geranium Mrs.
Pollock, which it proved to be, the bed edged with
Lobelia erinus ; this is truly a splended Geranium,
it is in the style of Golden Chain, but the leaves
are much handsomer, having a beautiful horse-
shoe leaf of dark crimson ; early in the spring the
florists find an easy sale for it from the beauty of
its leaf alone, indeed it might be put in a collection
of fine foliaged plants with good eftect. A set of
beds are laid out here, on the embroiderj'' style, or
Nesfield's plan, as it is called; that is to make the
beds look as much like embroidery as possible. —
They are getting into fiivor with the English, but,
although looking very neat and pretty, are not so
good for effect as the old style, to my mind. The Ge-
ranium seemed to be the main feature in the gene-
ral display of flowers here, and truly they were
beautiful, such sorts as Stella, Lord Palmerston,
Clara, Christine, and a host of others, not forget-
ting the variegated kinds which offer more variety
than almost any other flower. Another set of beds
I saw were filled entirely with Annuals, furnished
free of charge by Hooper & Co., Seedsmen, Covent
Garden, in order to practically set at rest the ques-
tion of Annuals against Perennials for making the
finest display.

Wht[ ^ardfiicr's p:ontlil2.

After looking at the two set of beds, no one can
have but the same opinion, viz. : that Annuals
must take the second place of the two, — a more mis-
erable set of beds than they were I never saw.

I took a look in to the Implement department,
after looking at the beds; Machines of every kind
and from every maker of note in the kingdom were
here, giving to visitors an opportunity of inspect-
ing the whole at once. Every thing needed in the
Horticultural line is here, from boilers, miniature
greenhouses, &c., to the spade.

A model of Ingram's Strawberry House which T
saw, struck me as being well adapted in all respects
for the culture of that fruit, from bringing the
plants so near the glass on all .sides.

Models of fruit, flowers, Sec, in wax are arran-
ged along one side of the building.

Some specimens of Pelargoniums, Fuchsias,
Gardenias, &c., were remarkably well executed in
regard to the habit of growth of each, but the
leaves would not do at all, the Gardenia leaf would
have been as much in ]ilace on the Fuchsia or Pe-
largonium as where it was.

All the new bedding plants as soon as they can
be procured are tested here to see if they have any
merits superior to the old. The Iresine Herbsti is
being tested now. I liked the appearance of this
plant very much, it will be a good companion for
theColeusVeri^chaflFeltii and Aiuaranthus Melancho-
licus. I saw this plant in several gardens in Eng-
land, the best I think were to be seen at the ground
of St. Clare, the summer residence of Colonel
Harcourtj near Ryde, Isle of Wight. It seems to
require a somewhat moist and shady place to bring
out its real color.

The plants above referred to were planted in such
a situation, and were far superior to others, in the
open beds where the sun could shine on them.

Of Verbenas, Purple King seems to be mainly
planted ; it is a deep purple, and very vigorous
grower.

Of other bedding plants, I will, with your per-
mission, speak of at another time; together with
other things of interest witnessed at some of the
other large establishments.

THE MULLEIN AS A SUBSTITUTE POU
HOPS.

BY >m. J. STAUFFER, LANCASTER, PA.

The article by D. R. King, Esq., "Substitute
for Hops," refers to the use of the common weed
{CnnphnJiiim pohfcrphaJus.) It is called in this
section "Life-everlasting or Everlasting" — having

the peculiar properties of the hop for making j'east.

This iiroperty is also possessed by the common
Mullein weed {IJcrhasann thapnus) which has fre-
quently been substituted, boiled and used in the
like manner as Hops, with entire satisfaction.

I mention this, through being suggested on read-
ing the article referred to, as it may be new to
some of vour readers.

WHAT TO PLANT.

BY CHARLES REESE.

A f?w years ago a young friend of mine came to
mc for advice.

He was an ardent lover of nature, and had be-
come so much enamoured with her beauty and at-
tractiveness that he had pu'-chased a few acres in
the suburbs of a large city, and resolved ta spend
a portion of his time in the study of her ever-
changing and altogether lovely face'.

He was pecuniarily quite poor, but had an ample
stock of energy and perseverance, — very good sub-
stitutes for capital ; and felt sure he would succeed
in whatever he undertook. He wished to know
what to plant in order to get the largest and best
return for the labor and money invested. I un-
hesitatingly replied plant on every hillside and in
everj' valley, /riaVs and Jloicers : in every nook and
corner, by shady wood and babbling brook. i)lenty
of fruits and flowers ; and my word for it, you will
not regret it.

The boundless prairies of the west will furnish
you with wheat, rye, oats and corn, for fifty years
to come, for less than one half that it will cost you
to raise them ; and any attempt on your part to
compete with them in the production of these crops,
will surely end in failure.

The soil upon j-our farm is admirably adapted to
the growth of fruits, and your proximity to a good
market will be very advantageous to you.

Notwithstanding the astounding increase in the
amount of fruit trees annually planted, prices are
steadily advancing, owing to the largely increased
demand for canning and otherwise preserving for
shipment to foreign climes ; and you will have ready
sale for all you can produce ; but you must give
your whole mind to it.

You must study the wants and habits of each
delicate seedling ; rise with the lark ; and with un-
tiring energy, work, work, work, till the daylight
fades in the west ; be like the sunbeam and the
sparkling dewdrop, ever ready to raise the tender
vine and the drooping flower, and minister to their
wants ; and you will receive not only an abundant

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turn in the shape of interest on your investment,
but a reward richer than if all the wealth of the
Orient was poured at your feet.

Language is totally inadequate to describe the
peculiar emotions of pleasure that with telegraphic
swiftness flash along the illumined chambers of the
soul, when some new truth is unfolded, and spread
out in all its glory before it.

It is not the heart and brain alone, that respond;
but every nerve-wire in the whole system vibrates
with intense delight, conveying to the outermost
bounds of the spiritual as well as the natural organ-
ism the glad tidings that " unto us a son is born,
unto us a child is given."

Who can measure the joy of a young horticultu-
rist over his first ripe Bartletts, or Delawares, or
Triomphe de Gands? I have known many hun-
dreds of men associated together for divers pur-
poses, clubs, committees, lodges, societies, &c., but
there is always something wanting in their meet-
ings; a new complicated piece of machinery may be
before them; inventors, learned mechanics, scholars,
— all look, wonder and admire ; and with wise head-
shakes as to its success or failure, retire to their
several homes, one jealous of the inventors power,
another envious of his fame, another covetous of
his wealth ; all pent up, contracted, bound in the
fetters of art, unable to move hand or foot excei>
at her bidding.

How different is the farmers' club grouped round
the table groaning with the treasures of the gar-
den, the orchard, the vinej'ard? Eden is again
the home of man, and he hears the voice of God
calling to him in the cool of the day, "Adam
where art thou?" Here are no inventions of men.

Look at these lilies : "even Solomon in all his
glory was not arrayed like one of them ;" and the
genius of the mightiest on earth combined could
not create a single blade of grass.

Here are no jealousies ; no envious rivalies ; all
bow down at Que common shrine to worship and
adore the same God, a substantial and visible Crea-
tor, whose love and wisdom and power are mani-
fested in every leaf and flower and fruit ; and the
feelings uppermost in every heart, are those of
gratitude, thanksgiving and praise for all His
benefits.

My friend was satisfied with the promised re-
ward ; and with all the ardor of a young enthusiast
entered into the cultivation of fruits and flowers.

With each returning season his interest increased
and his mind expanded beneath the genial influence
surrounding him. Difficulties which at the outset
seemed insurmountable, rapidly disappeared as the
days of trial came.

Few persons are aware how rapidly the products
of nature may be multiplied ; and the handful of
Strawberry plants which he set out five years ago,
now number more than a hundred thousand. A
dozen Delawares, Concords and Catawba grape
vines, by carefully training and planting the cut-
tings, have increased to hundreds ; and so on with
Raspberries. Blackberries, Gooseberries, Currants,
&c. ; and as he walks up and down the long lines
of trees and bushes and vines laden with their lus-
cious treasures, he is one of the happiest men on
the earth.

His little farm which has more than doubled its
value, is the delightful resort of old and young ;
and frOm a very pleasant experience he is ever
ready and wilhng to tell novices ''what to plant."

He says a large majority of fruit growers plant
too great a variety.

It is much better to cultivate a few of each well,
than a large number poorly ; and he has reduced
the long list recommended in some of the standard
works, to the following choice kinds, all of which
he has proved: —

Grapes — Delaware, early ; Concord, medium ;
Catawba, late.

Fears — Seckel, Bartlett, Duchess d'Angouleme.

Apples — Belleflower, Newtown Pippin, Baldwin.

Peaches — Hale's Early, Crawford's Late, Heath
Cling.

Strawbei-ries — Triomphe de Gand, Wilson's Al-
bany, Trollope's Victoria.

Raspjherries — Marvel of Four Seasons, Hornet,
Philadelphia.

Blachherries — NewRochelle.

Currants — Cherry, White Grape.

I know that many will think he has left out in
the cold a great number of well established favo-
rites ; but the above will give such a variety that he
who grows them successfully may have fresh fruits
on his table every day in the year.

N0T5 ON THE CHAUMONTELLE FEAR.
BY F.

The Chaumontelle pear, synonym of Bezi de
Chaumontel Cnot Chaumon^e^^e) is a fruit exten-
sively grown in France, of first quality, large size,
oblong, rather in the shape of Louise Bonne ;
ripens in December and January ; grows rather
horizontal, and the buds pretty far apart. Don't
make fine pyramids, and when grown on quince is
planted in espaliers at a very warm exposure ; — that
of the South being preferred. Contrary to most
pears, this variety does also very well as a standard

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tree on pear stock. The fruit is very much estemed.

I do not see it here except it bo grown un-
der another name.

I have but one tree of it and a small one
that I got from France last year ; can mail you a
few buds if desired.

The above description is from what I know my-
self of the fruit, but I just now find it summarily
described by Duhamel as follows :

Bezi Ch., vigorous and exceedingly productive,
melting, oblong, very large; of the very first quali-
ty if taken at the very moment of its maturity.
November to February.

THE SCIENCE OF POMOLOGY.

BY r. B., ROCIIRSTER, N. Y.

Mr. Editor : Under this head j'ou discuss the
difficulties frequently experienced by Horticultural
Committees in identifj-ing varieties of fruits, and
the existing evil of old fruits being introduced un-
der new names.

I cannot sec how you would bold either Pomology
or Pomologists responsible for cither of these evils.

It is by no means an uncommon thing for Agri-
cultural and even Horticultural Societies to appoint
fruit committees who are not familiar with the
most common varieties. How can the Science of
Pomology furnish these committees a substitute for
experience? It is not so difficult a matter for Bo-
tany to explain the difference between the Straw-
berry, Raspberry and Blackberry ; or between the
Apple and Pear ; but it would be impossible, in
my opinion, for Pomology to describe the different
varictif-s of the Apple, Pear, Strawberries, Rasp-
berry, etc., so that novices might distinguish one
from the other at a glance, on an exhibition table.
I think the fault is more with the Committees than
in the Science.

As to the "seedling nuisance," of which you very
justly complain, I do not think Pomology responsi-
ble for it either.

The Pomological rule is, that " no new seedling
fruit shall be entitled to a name, or to pomological
recommendation, which is not at least equal to any
similar varieties of the first rank already known, etc.

That no new fruit can be considered as definitely
named until the same has been accurately described
in Pomological terms, by a competent Pomologist
or Fruit Committee, or until such description shall
have been published in at least one horticultural or
Pomological work of acknowledged standard char-
actor.

That before being named, the qualities of a new

seedling fruit should be decided by at least two
seasons' experience," etc., etc.

If new seedling fruits were carefully subjected to
these rules, old varieties would not so frequently be
introduced as new ones; nor fruits of indiflferent
character as possessing wonderful excellence.

All rules, however, seem to be disregarded.
Those who discover a new fruit, or a supiiosed new
fruit, dispense with all ceremony, offer it for sale at
a good round price, and it is disseminated as rapid-
ly and successfully as though it were recommended
by the highest pomological authorities in the land.
Who is to blame for this ? A credulous fruit-grow-
ing public ; or, if not credulous, at least willing to
be cheated rather than be behind in procuring a
new variety.

This evil was almost as great 20 years ago as it is
now,and likea great manyothers that cannot becured
must be endured. The public get cheated frequent-
ly, both hy new fruits at home, and new fruits from
abroad ; but, in looking back over the last quarter
of a century, the real acquisitions are so many and
so valuable, that our numerous disappointments
are almost forgotten. While it is to be regretted
that so many errors or frauds are committed
we must all rejoice at the existence of that spirit of
enterprise which lends seedlings so much encourage-
ment, and without which indeed errors could not be
perpetrated. This is not offered, however, as an
extenuation of the crimes of deceptfon and careless-
ness both of which deserve severve censure; and I
hope the Horticultural press will not be loth in be-
.stowing it when deserved.

[We have often written seriously on the want of
some better system of classifying fruits, — not so
much that the novice might know at a glance the
names of fruits, but that ice who have some preten-
sions to pomological knowledge, might not so often
be led astray as «-c are. The Editor of this journal
does not even except himself. We thought a lighter
article might attract attention, where the heavier
ones have failed ; and we are glad it has brought
forth the very good suggestions of P. B.

I Now to show the necessity of some better system.
At a recent meeting of the Penn.sylvania Horticul-

I tural Society, a set of three apples were presented
to a company of veteran pomolofjixtx, — not novices.

' No one knew them positively. The writer of this
pronounced one Rhode Island Greening, another
Tewkeshitry Winter Blush, prohahJi/, and the other
unknown. They were all from the same branch of
the same tree. Some of the fruit were large and
green, some small and rosy; some with green ribs,
some with deep pink sutures ; some with sweet 1 (^

white flesh, others with sour j'ellow flesh ; and so
on. Yet, after the truth was made known, it was
clearly seen that, amidst all these extraordinary va-
riations of the same fruit, the calyx and calyx basin,
the stems and stem basins, were so nearly alike in
all, that they might be taken generally as the most
fixed characters on which to found distinctions, in
a system of classification.

If we can turn the attention of such superior po-
mologists as P. B. to the perfecting of some system
by which we can do better than we can now, we
shall not be sorry for any extra pleasantries we may
have ever written. — Ed. J

TUB WINDS AND THE TREES.

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

Philosophers tell us that the winds gain velocity
by unobstructed travel ; and the fact is verified by
the dreadful hurricane on the ocean, the raging
tempest on lake and sea, the awful simoon on the
African desert, and the furious tornado on the
American prairies ; all of which strew their paths
with desolation, because there are no trees to check
the violence of the winds. Even our sudden gusts
in summer, when the air becomes too much rarified
by heat, are often destructive of life and buildings.

All these besoms of destruction would be greatly
modified could trees be planted in their paths. The
trees getting the first strokes, and they being flexi-
ble, would bend before the blast, breaking its force
and making it pass harmlesslyover buildings or other
stationary objects. The electric fluid, so destruc-
tive of life and property, also is attracted by trees,
and conducted into the ground ; and in fact, trees
are the best protectors against all the natural de-
structive agencies with which man has to contend.

Another consideration as to the value of growing
trees, is the fact that a Fork of any size is warmer
when belted and grouped with trees, in winter, and
cooler in summer, which has been demonstrated by
practical experience for centuries. Many fruiting
and ornamental plants flourish when so pro-
protected, that would not live if exposed to bleak
winds. Domestic animals, too, grow fiister, thrive
better, and give greater returns, if sheltered and
protected by trees. Much better is it also to rest
under their broad branches on a hot summer's day,
or to be enlivened by their cheering green when all
else is dull and cheerless.

A feeling of admiration and awe comes over me
when I think of the wonderful wisdom shown in
the forms and natures of trees to Buit our various
wants. If we plant trees with naked stems and

branchy heads to shut out unsightly views, the
work is only half done, as we can see through and
under their branches ; but when we plant ever-
greens, whose largest branches are near the ground,
they fill up the gap, and the work is complete.
With fruit trees the same benificence is manifest.
We have to climb up trees to pick the large fruits,
which when green are unfit for eating ; while it
would be tedious to pick Currants, and painful to
pick the thorny Gooseberry and Blackberry did
thej^ grow upon trees.

We say, therefore, plant trees for shelter and
shade, for embellishments to j'our grounds and
adornment to the landscape ; they are grand and
ennobling to look upon, and their fruits and timber
in a few year's growth will be as valuable as gold.

THE COUNTRY-SEAT OF P. J. YARNAI,L.

BY CHRONICLER.

The Country-seat of Francis Charles Yarnall,
Esq. , is situated on the Haverford Road, just be3'ond
county line of Philadelphia. The pleasure-grounds
are handsomely laid out, choicely stocked, and
kept in a praiseworthy style by the gardener, Mr.
Allen Barr. Nearly all the trees and shrubs, which
were first set promiscuously over the grounds, have
been transplanted into groups. The lawn is kept
smooth by the mowing-machine, and the effect is
admirable. The shrubs are so arranged that some
with .showy blooms and some with fragrant flowers
are mixed in every group, which are placed along
the sides of the walks. The many evergreen trees
that are planted in groups, have been skillfully
pruned and trained. A number of artfully formed
small flower-beds are cut upon the lawn, and filled
with choice flowers. The variegated Petunias, both
double and single, are the finest I have ever seen,
and are all seedlings, raised by Mr. Barr.

The kitchen garden is enclosed on two sides with
Madura hedges. The vegetables were all of luxu-
riant growths ; and the specimens grown for seed
were models in their way. In it were several rows
of Pear trees, which were heavily laden with fruit
and of 'the most luxuriant growth, which is no
doubt owing in a great measure to their being well
protected.

The foreign Grape vines in the grapery are vig-
orous, thrifty and fruitful ; and the house is kept
in the cleanest and most tasteful manner.

Taking all things into consideration, I do not
know of any place around Philadelphia, of the same
extent, more tastefully improved or admirably kept

FORMATION OF DEW.

BY A. FENDLER.

As the object of an article in the October number
of last year of the Monthly, on " The Theory of
Dew, by B. Young Contributor,"' is to elicit some
further remarks, tending to reconcile the supposed
discrepancies between theory and fact, I thought
the present a fit opportunity to review this inter-
esting subject somewhat more thoroughly.

The explanation copied by B., from a magazine,
although in its general outlines nearly correct, is in
some points deficient. Nor does it go quite far
enough into the nature of radiation ; and by the
omission of a few simple explanations, leaves the
reader in doubt about the correctness of the whole
theory ; as it was bound to do with the inquiring
mind of " Young Contributor," Credit is due to
him for searching after truth by making observa-
tions with the thermometer as to the temperature
of the ground ; but he ought not to allow himself
to be carried at once into a vague hypothesis, rest-
ing on an agency rather too insufficiently known in
its connection with the earth's surface. If we were
not enabled to explain the formation of dew by any
other means save that of electricity, then indeed
would it remain a mystery, not only for the present
but for all time to come.

Science has already established a theory of forma-
tion of dew on such a firm and true basis, that we
need not go in search of new theories.

In the first place it is necessary for us to know
the fundamental property of heat and the manner
in which it is transmitted, especially when leaving
the earth's surface in its ownward course to the
free space of the universe, that is in the direction
of the sky.

Not to encroach upon your valuable space and
time, I shall endeavor to be brief, and not go into
a lengthy dissertation of what heat or caloric really
is. There are two difi"erent views on this subject.
The one considers caloric as an imponderable
matter, the other as a mere vibration of an ether
inconceivably thin and filling the whole space of the
universe. These views, however, have no bearing
on our subject, as the properties and eff"ects of ca-
loric are the same, whatever view is adhered to.
Both must recognize, as the great fundamental
property^ inseparable from the idea of caloric, that
unconquerable tendency to fjo ontioard in all direc-
tions to spaces and objects of less caloric, — either
by the repulsion of its own particles, according to
one view, or by vibratory propulsion, similar to
that of sound, according to the other.
By this tendency caloric is propelled onward from

its difi"erent sources, and from all bodies containing
heat. This transmission of heat manifests itself to
our sense in two different ways : First by contact
with a body hotter or colder than our own. In this
case, we say heat is conducted. If, for instance,
we hold one end of a short iron rod into the fire,
the heat will gradually pass from that end towards
the other, until it reaches the hand. Thus a hot
stove heats the air of a room by transmitting its
caloric successively to the layers of air in immedi-
ate contact with the sides of the stove, and this air,
when so heated, coming in contact with our body,
warms us.

But when, instead of a stove, we make use of an
open fire place, or a glowing fire in the open air,
we feel the heat even at a considerable distance
from the fire, although the air intervening between
our body and the fire may be far below freezing
]ioint. Hence this is not warming b^' contact with
warm air, but by radiation in straight lines from
the source of heat in all directions.

In radiating, heat passes through air scarcely
warming it at all, through water without warming
it to any considerable extent ; but by bodies more
or less opaque, it is either reflected or it is stopped
in its course by absorption.

In cloudy weather radiation from the earth's
surface can go on but very languidly, because the
clouds possess already a certain degree of caloric.
The greater the difi'erence of temperature is be-
tween the radiating object and the object radiated
to, the more readily can caloric follow its natural
tendency to fly off, and the more speedy will be its
travelling. When the sky is heavily overcast by
toick strata of clouds of a temperature not much
below that of the earth's surface, radiation from
the latter may be said to amount to next to nothing.
Radiation of caloric takes place even from bodies
of extremely low temperature, if the space beyond,
or the objects therein, are still colder. Even the
ice and snow of the polar regions radiate caloric in
clear weather towards the unlimited spaces beyond
the atmosphere : for these spaces have at all times
infinitely less caloric than the polar regions. Arctic
travellers have found the surface of the snow nearly
16 degrees F. colder than the atmosphere, with the
latter at a temperature 4° below zero.

It can be demonstrated by an extremely sensitive
apparatus called Melloni's Thermo-Multiplicator,
that a piece of ice placed into the focus of a concave
mirror, raises by radiation the temperature of the
multiplicator as long as the latter is kept at a tem-
perature still lower than that of the ice.
By the same apparatus it has been found also,

%\^ §mimtf^ Jloniljis.

that it is chiefly the condition and material of the
surface of a heated body, which determines the
power of its radiation. So, for instance, a bright
polished surface radiates much more slowly than
one that is rough, black and rugged. If a hollow
cube of metal, filled with hot-water, has one of its
sides coated with lamp-black, or soot, another side
bright and polished, then it will be found by Mel-
loni's Thermo-Multiplicator, that the latter surface
radiates only one-eighth the amount of caloric of
what the black surface does. Hence it is that a
bright metal tea-pot filled with hot fluid- keeps its
heat much longer than when rusty or black with
soot ; which fact may be taken advantage of in
winter. Especially fast and freely does heat radi-
ate from sharp-pointed and sharp-edged objects,
such as blades of grass and margins of leaves.

The radiation of the earth's heat does not and
cannot take place from hclow the surface ; it must
necessarily proceed from the exireme film of the
surface, from the uppermost particles, those that
are in immediate contact wi h the /ree atmosphere,
and directly face the unobstructed and unlimited
space towards the sky.

The principal conditions for the most energetic
radiation, and the cooling of the surface are, in the
first place, a perfectly clear sky, without any clouds
or cloudy horizons, which by its deep azure tint
gives proof of a pure transparent atmosphere, not
laden with any large quantities of moisture and
vapor.

In the second place a calm atmosphere — for in
windy weather the motion of the atmosphere acts
as an obstruction to radiation, in a similar manner
as the clear but restlessly moving- waters of a wind-
beaten lake hinder the rays of light from penetra-
ting undisturbed to the bottom and back again to
our eyes. For, when the wind is hushed, and the
agitated waters have assumed a quiet and smooth
surface, those mysterious messengers, — the rays of
light, — go and come undisturbed from the pebbles
below, and tell the inquiring eye what that bottom
consists of, if the depth is not too great. In the
one case the cause of hindrance is the irregular,
violent motion of transparent water, in the other
that of transparent air. It is, however, only a par-
tial hindrance, and not a complete obstruction.

In the third place, the configuration, nature and
condition of the earth's surface, and the more or
less freely radiating capacity of the objects imme-
diately I'esting upon it, is of much importance, for
all bodies do not radiate heat equally free. From
a smooth sheet of water radiation will proceed but
slowly ; but from a dry, high pebbly or gravelly

region clothed with nothing but grass and narrow-
leaved herbs, — from such regions, for instance, as
our high Western plains towards the Rocky moun-
tains, G or 7000 feet above the level of the sea,—
the most energetic radiation will take place. Here
the mass of the atmosphere is less by one-fifth of
its whole weight, the air is more rarified and dry,
and hence allows an easier passage to the rays of
caloric. Besides this, the whole region is one vast
prairie, where the thin erect blades of grass and
the other narrow-leaved herbs are the very objects
to speed the exit of caloric.

So much for radiation. Now for its cooling
effects. (To he continued.)

ELLISDALE RASPBERRY.

BY H. A. TERRY. CRESCENT CITY, IOWA.

In your October number of last year, I notice an
article in relation to the ElUsdale Raspberry, and
as the article contains some errors, I wish to correct
them.

In the first place allow me to say that this Rasp-
berry was discovered by J. E. Johnson, Esq., for-
merly of this place, growing on his Ellisdale farm,
and was by him placed in the hands of the writer
for propagation. A single plant only was found,
and its origin is a mystery. The plant has the
habit of the common Black Cap, and propagates
from the ends of the shoots, hut never suckers. The
stools frequently grow in such a shape that they
may be parted and divided sometimes into from
two to four or five plants each ; but it never suck-
ers properly like the Antwerp class of Raspberries.
It propagates very sparingly, which accounts for
the very small stock in existence, though it has
been in process of propagation about eight years.

Mr. Thompson procured his plant from me ; but
if he has reference to the true Ellisdale, he will
find that with care it can be propagated from the
ends of the shoots, but it cannot be multiplied with
the same rapidity as can the common Black Cap.

It is perfectly hardy, even more so than the im-
proved Black Cap, and is a more rampant grower
than any of that class. I have canes now that
measure two and a quarter inches in circumference,
and fourteen feet in length. It is fine for training
on trellises. The quality of the fruit I consider un-
surpassed, ("and I cultivate Brinckle's Orange), by
any of the Antwerp class of berries, though we find
in that class some varieties that are a trifle larger
than the Ellisdale, but taken as whole, it is the
most valuable Raspberry that 1 have met with.

[We are glad to have this further account of this

¥\

:^^i

10

%\\t (Sarbciitr's Honthlu.

C:-i'

fruit, — as we figured the berries from a plate sent
us by Mr. Thompson, entirely from the idea that a
thorowjldy native Rasphcrnj, of the appearance in-
dicated by the plate, ought to be a good thing, and
by figuring it in our paper we hoped to bring out
more information about it. — Ed.]

NOTE or A VISIT TO EDINBURGH BO-
TANICAL GARDEN.

BY n. "W. SARGENT, ESQ.

Mr, Editor : I shall take advantage of a rainy
day (the first we have had for six weeksj to write
you from this ancient city of York, some account
of the Botanic Garden at Edinburgh, — the Palm
house containing specimen.sof plants morewondcrful
than I have ever yet seen in any parts of the world.
Most of these plants have been cultivated here over
forty years, and being well kept and carefully at-
tended to, are certainly very remarkable. The
most impressive are two specimens of Sagus
Rumphii (Sago Palm^, one being G" feet high and
the other 48 feet, the trunks quite as large round
as a stout man's body, and towering up nearly to
the top of the house, which is TO feet high. The
next most striking objects are two splendid speci-
mens of the Ball Palm (Sabal umbraculifcra) from
the "West Indies, about 30 and 40 feet high, with
magnificent spreading heads of 20 to 30 feet. These,
as well as the Date Palm, are cultivated in tubs,
10 feet high, by 0 and 8 feet broad.

There were two or three plants of Seaforthia ele-
gans, 25 and 30 feet high, which were very striking
and beautiful. A Pandanus odoratissimus, 5G feet
high, and two Bamboo canes, 50 and 72 feet high,
— the latter 2 feet higher than the hou.se, but bent
down, really made one feel they had got among the
jungles. Phoenix sylvestris, with a head 20 feet in
diameter. Euterpe montana (Cabbage Palm) GO
feet high; and Swietenia Mahagoni (Mahogany
Tree), 58 feet, were all wonderful specimens.

There is al.so here a most charming specimen of
Dacrydium cupre.ssinium, looking like a refined
Cryptomeria, but much more delicate in its long
slender pendulous branches, and which I cultivated
at Wndenethe for many years, until a cold winter
killed it, and I have never yet been able to replace
it, — in fact, have never seen another specimen until
this. I)acrj'dium Franklinii will stand pretty well,
both as resembling very much Saxe Gothoca con-
spicua, and even Taxus monstrosa.

The house was filled, besides those plants I have
already mentioned, with admirable specimens of
J)icksonia antartica, Corypha australis, Chanincr-
ops Fortunii, the extraordinary Hemp Palm, fine

re-

plants of AraucariaCunninghamii, excelsa, Lobbii,
and Bidwellii.

In the gardens, and especially the arboretum and
and pinetum, the collection is very large and excel-
lent. Among the Hollies were a new weeping one
from Melrose ; Ilex Thumbergia'folia, very small
and minute leaf; Ilex Regina aurea, a beautifully
golden color ; Ilex atrovirens, immensely large and
dark leaf; Ilex pendula aurca, a new weeping gol-
den, and also a new weeping silver, were charming
in contrast ; as well as a new Holly from Perth,
called Moonshine. A new weeping Silver Willow,
with leaves almost white, called Salix Reginoc, was
exquisite. Some fine specimens of Weeping Ash,
worked up 30 feet high, were very striking as a
great improvement on our American method of
grafting them 6 or 7 feet high.

Among the Evergreens, which though small were
healthy were Picea excelsa, 30 feet; Albertiaua,
like our Hemlock ; robusta, very fine ; Lowii, ro-
bust strong leaf; bracteata, an improvement on
the Douglass. Among the Pines were Pinus no-
bilis, as we call it, 40 feet high, and very pendu-
lous, but thin, not at all resembling Mr. Downing's
account of it 20 years ago, — "a gigantic Balsam
Fir," as he called it ; I*inus Van Couneri, Celicia,
Edgariana, — these three, generally resembling
Benthamiana, and no doubt were of the Austrian
family. There was also a fine Picea, called Van
Carnco, resembling amabilis.

The collection of Yews and Thujas was very per-
fect. T. Lobbii was the prettiest as well as T. un-
cinata, T. gigantea and Craigeana — the same we
have in America — were splendid specimens, S to 10
feet high, but much denser and more luxuriant, as
in fact were all the Evergreens, than wc grow them.
Some fine, well formed, s}'mmetrical Wellingtonias,
about 12 feet high, and Araucaria imbricata 10 ft.
Among the Taxus Harringtonia was the finest,
with a large leaf resembling a Podocarpus. There
were good specimens of all the varieties known in
America, like Dovastonii, microphylla, monstrosa,
aurea, elegans, etc.

The gardens, about 17 acres, were admirably
well kept, — everything scrupulously neat ; but the
lawns, as I have found them everywhere, abound-
ing in daisy and dock.

I might, perhaps, mention here one or two
things which struck me at Knowlsley Park, the Earl
of Derby's, near Liverpool. The best late Grapes
for hanging were Lady Downe's, and Black AHcant
— they have also here, and I have seen it nowhere
else, a magnificent new seedling, called Worsley's
Seedling, the largest berry and bunch I have ever

-^^^^

seen ; of a beautiful pink and white color, not un-
like the Eeine des Nice, and said by the gardener
to be a very excellent Grape, — and also a new Mus-
cat, resembling the Cannon Hall, though larger,
called Escholata.

Huraea elegans is much used as a centre plant in
round flower beds. Every thing however is in rib-
bons, composed of a few varieties — Lobelia, Centau-
rea candidissima, or variegated Alyssum, Perilla
Nankinensis, Tom Thumb and White Greraniums.

York., England., Oct. l'2th, 1865.

H022TICUIiTURAL ES-UCATION.
BY WM. SAUNDERS, ESQ., WASHINGTON, D. C.

Read before Pa. Horticidtural Society., Nov. 7,65.'

The subject assigned to me for introduction is
one of great moment, and in conjunction with
Agricultural Education, which may be regarded as
a synonym, is now receiving more attention than
at any previous period. As I believe it is not the
purpose of the Society to encourage elaborate
essays, I will simply bring the subject before the
meeting by a few general remarks.

The first step in the acquisition of knowledge is
a desire to know ; fortunately this desire is strongly
impressed upon the minds of mankind, and this
natural aspiration has only to be encouraged, entic-
ed by that which is pleasant and attractive, and
brought in connection with that which is useful,
and learning will follow as a natural consequence.

In obtaining a knowledge of any branch of natu-
ral history there are two modes that may be adop-
ted and followed, either as distinct, or in various
degrees of combination. The first of these is by
direct personal observation of the subject, examin-
ing it as a tangible object, and from the occular
demonstrations thus obtained, thus endeavor to
draw such conclusions as are warranted by the
facts, and connecting them into rules of action so
far as the previous knowledge of the investigator
will admit. Knowledge thus acquired leads at
once to conviction, because there is no necessity
for weighing the testimonial evidence of others, or
any trouble in deciding between truth and false-
hood, or between certainty and probability.

But life is so short, and the boundary of know-
ledge so extensive, that direct personal observation
will furnish us with only a very limited portion of
that which is necessary to know. Especially is
this the case in natural history, because a proper
understanding of one portion depends upon a
knowledge, more or less extensive, of many others.
Hence we must have recourse to the observations

of other investigators, either oral or recorded, and
this second-hand information forms the second
general mode of acquiring knowledge.

One mode ofobtaining this information is through
the medium of books. In them is combined the
knowledge of former ages, compiled and gystema-
tised so that we can learn at a glance what a life
time of observation might fail to accomplish.

Book learning is sometimes spoken of in a de-
preciative manner, but only by those who are un-
aware of the true source of knowledge. Books
are the store-houses into which are gathered all the
mental productions of the past, and of which all
may partake and be refreshed.

Metaphysicians have shown that there are cer-
tain faculties, or as they express it, elements of
knowledge, which must exist in the mind a priori,
in order to our forming a judgement upon any sub-
ject or object. The Horticulturist above all other
professors must possess varied knowledge before
he can be uniformly successful in his cultural ope-
rations. He must be conversant with the princi-
ples of culture, and before he can see the rationale
of his labors he must have a knowledge of the
laws, the definite and unvarying principlesof physi-
cal science. The field of study thus becomes of
immense magnitude. How plants grow, how they
feed and what they feed upon — why some are fruit-
ful while others are barren — the exact specific rela-
tions that exist between them and the soil upon
which they are growing, and the various develop-
ments induced by the unequal distribution of the
elements of growth, are the subject matter of phy-
siology— a science that comprehends a knowledge
of Botany, Chemistry and the general principles
of Natural Philosophy. The constituents of soils
— their numerous combinations and the sources
from which they are produced, are taught by
Mineralogy and Geology. Economy of labor de-
pends upon the skillful application of the laws of
Mechanics. A knowledge of the laws of Hydro-
statics and Hydraulics is necessary before we can
understand the science of draining or provide for
its proper application or execution. To guard
against attacks of insects, and repel those that have
found a lodgment, involves an acquaintaince with
Entomology, and the complicated influences of
climate brings him in contact with Meteorology.
In short, there is no branch of knowledge, but
what will contribute to his aid, — all are valuable,
and may be productive of suggestions applicable to
some one or other of his varied pursuits. And he
will constantly be encouraged in his pursuit of
knowledge.

Sfh^ §'AritMfB <p;onthIj»

If

Every step that he advances will open to his i
view wonders previously unsuspected. Not a i
height does he gain from which his prospect is |
clearer and more extensive, but his ideas of these '
wonders acquire a yet more surprising vastncss.
Every thing in nature that arrests his attention by
the grandeur of its greatness, charms him with
the simplicity of its modes of operation. The
more he knows the more he desires to know, and
the further he advances the more does he perceive
how much delight is yet in store for him. It is an
immense stride in the march of mental improve-
ment when we become conscious of our own igno-
rance.

In pursuing studies of this nature we not only
find that "knowledge is power," but also that
knowledge is happine.'^s.

There is an unfortunate impression in the minds
of many, that science is something antagonistic to
practice, that there must be a line of distinction
between the practical man and the man of science.
Science is simply knowledge systematized ; there-
fore the man of most science is the man of most
knowledge ; but knowledge to be useful to the cul-
tivator must be rendered of practical application,
and herein lies the barrier to progress. Not that
the scientific man is of necessity not practical, but
that, so far as scientific cultivation (so called) is
concerned, we have not yet a recognised educated
class that can apply this systematized knowledge
practically and directly to the wants of man.

This is the education that Agricultural Colleges
propose to impart, but the best mode of doing so
is still a matter of suggestion and experiment. In-
stitutions of this character are springing up in
every State ; there seems, however, to be widely
different opinions as to the best mode of conducting
them. Those that are in operation do not succeed
in fulfilling expectations so far as concerns the
practical operation of the revelations of scientific
investigations to the products of the soil. I have
no fear of contradiction by remarking that the
best managed and most profitable farms are not
those attached to Agricultural Colleges. It is
acknowledged that they come very far short in this
respect. These then cannot be very good schools
for acquiring knowledge in practical agriculture,
neither can it be wholly taught inside the walls of
a college. But that it ultimately will be success-
fully accomplished there can be no reasonable cause
for doubt.

We have abundant evidence of the practicability
of one man combining a thorough knowledge both
of the principles and practice of his profession. —

^'^^

"What, for example, would be thought of a physi-
cian who, when called upon to prescribe for a pa-
tient, could only do so by entertaining him with a
lengthened exposition on the theory of medicine,
show him an extensive catalogue of drugs, attempt
to explain the importance of analysis, &c., without
being able to apply this knowledge to the case be-
fore him ? On the contrary his education enables
him to apply his science or knowledge in allevia-
ting the "ills that flesh is heir too." He is but a
sorry practitioner who has not studied the princi-
ples upon which the art of healing is founded ; but
not more so, perhaps, that the cultivator of the
soil who is ignorant of the fundamental laws that
govern his operations.

It has long been a favorite idea of mine that an
establishment for horticultural education could be
so organized and conducted as not only to be self-
supporting, but prove to be a profitable invest-
ment ; and that too without - demanding any
charges from the students except their labor in
conducting the necessary operations, the products
of such labor defraying the whole expenses of the
institution. The entire routine operations of nur-
sery, orcharding, exotic fruit culture, and plant and
flower growing would be embraced, with scientific
demonstrations of the principles forming the basis
of the practice followed. This would form a plan
of instruction of which young men would gladly
avail themselves on such easy terms, and the com-
mercial value of the products would more than
suffice to meet all expenditures. The feasibility of
such a plan I consider to be beyond doubt.

It cannot have escaped observation that, in many
instances, amateur cultivators have succeeded in
arriving to great perfection in their undertakings,
and many valuable suggestions, as well as striking
practical results have emanated from those who are
pleased to designate themselves as novices and tyros
in horticulture. Illustrative examples of this
class can be found in all societies, and in none, pro-
bably, more than your own ; to them in no small
degree are such societies indebted for success.
These are the Ytoirona jpar-cxccllcnce of horticultu-
re ; they bring to the consideration of the subject,
minds trained to close observation of cause and
! cfi'ect, not wedded to particular prejudices or scho-
lastic forms and rules, give a patient hearing to all
I questions, examine and weigh all arguments, not
putting implicit faith in any J/c/j/m, but " try all
things and hold fast to that which is good."

One of the most certain modes of encouraging a
taste for horticulture and its associations in j'oung
minds is that of embellishing school-house grounds.

7^>3l.

^M\

ite (iadat^r's Jlonihlg,

13

" Train up a child," says the wise man, "in the
■waj' he should go, and when he is old he will not
depart from it." Recognizing the same influence,
Paul, the eloquent apostle, enjoins parents to bring
up their children in "the nurture and admonition
of the Lord," which implies a probable expecta-
tion that a pious education will lay the foundation
for a pious character. I have a belief that those
who have early instilled in their minds a love for
flowers and music are incapable of committing a
moral wrong. The deepest impressions are made
in early life and I believe the time will come when
the proper (^mbellishment of school-house grounds
will be considered quite as essential as the choice
of a teacher.

The practice of horticulture is perhaps the most
attractive of all operations. God has implanted
in the breasts of all mankind a natural desire to
cultivate and admire the products of the earth,
from the artless pratthng child, who with out-
streached hands seeks to pull the brightest flowers,
to the aged invalid who goes leisurely forth to in-
hale the fragrance of the meadows and enjoy the
refreshing influence of the balmy breeze. The
force of circumstances, the love of power and
wealth may confine men to crowded cities, but as
these actuating passions subside, and the day of
life passes its meridian, the desire for the quiet
calm of rural enjoyments becomes stronger and the
evening of life is passed in the contemplation of
nature as presented in fields and gardens. It
afi"ords us a gratifying hope for the future when we
observe that such pursuits as bring men in contact
with these ameliorating influences are increasing
in popularity.

ary I take them out, beat them to a pulp with a
mall, throw them in a heap to decompose ; after a
few days turn the mass, stir it well with a fork-
throw it again into a heap— follow up this treat-
ment until it is so decomposed that it will readily
separate. Then, weather permitting, prepare the
ground, draw wide, shallow furrows with the hoe,
scatter the mass with the hand along the furrow ;
cover with the hoe, and smooth the top of the fur-
row with the rake.

DRYING SEEDS BEFORE SOWING.

BY J. C. T., SPRING STATION, KY.

I noticed on page 245 in the August number of
the MontMi/, that J. M. J., St. Louis, Mo., asks
if seeds that are matured in moist fruit, like the
Apple, Pear, or the Osage Orange, grow without
first getting dry before planting.

Apples and Pears thrown out in a heap under a
tree will sprout in spring very readil}'.

With regard to the Osage Orange, I have been
very successful, in fact, I think nearly every seed
grows.

My mode of procedure is this: — The first of
November I gather the Oranges, put them into a
hole where they will be dry, lay a few inches of
straw over them, put a few clapboards over that
to keep the rain and snow out. The last of Febru-

THE NEW TOMATO-" TILDEKT."

BY SWIFT,

Form oblong, perfectly smooth ; flesh firm, and
solid throughout ; fruit uniform in shape ; said to
hang longer on the vine when ripe without rotting
than is generally the case with other varieties. It
is very much like a Tomato I received from Ohio
in 18G2, under the name of "Lester's Perfected,"
so much so that I consider them identical. The
flesh of this Tomato is very sweet, without that
peculiar soaj)i/ taste so common to other Tomatoes
when a little too ripe. I tasted the " Tilden" at
the August meeting of the Pennsylvania Horticul-
tural Society, and also Mr. Felten's, and found a
decided diff"erence in flavor altogether in favor of
the "Tilden."

Mr. Harrison has kindly sent me a package of
seeds of the "Tilden" of which I intend to plant
largely next season. Should this Tomato retain
the same good qualities in the hands of other
growers, that Mr. Harrison has been so successful
in bringing out, it will be the richest acquisition to
the vegetable garden that we have had introduced
amongst us for many years past.

AN 0BSEHVAT20N ON PEACH BORES.
BY J. H, CREIGHTON, CHILLICOTHE, OHIO.

I notice that the Peach borer (JEgeria exitosa)
congregate in great numbers on the Parsley beds
[Apium Petroselinnm.) You will see more of these
Russians on a bed of Parsley, at one sight, than
j^ou would see in a Peach orchard in a whole season.

Now it occurs to me that they might be captured
and the Peach tree greatly beautified.

If any of your readers have ever observed this
let them speak.

m,^

'^j^=^-^

14

%\)t ©artntfr'rj JTlontMi).

PHILADELPHIA, JANURRY, 1866.

£3" All CummaaicatioQg for the Editor should be iiddressi-d,
"Thomas Meehas, Germantown, Philadelphia," and Business Let.
ters directed to "AV. G. P. Brincklok, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes 1,$1; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7, unbound, $2 each.

PRESERVATION OP CUT PLOWERS.

Few things of recent discovery have attracted
more attention than the method of preserving
fruits, discovered by Mr. Nj'cc. That this has been
done so completely, is owing as much to the large
scale on which the experiment has been tried, as
to the merits of the plan itself

The demand for cut flowers is now becoming so
annually increased, that it would well repay some
enterprising individual to devise some means by
which they may be grown by the natural heat of
summer, and stowed away in some preservative
place for winter use, as fresh and fragrant as when
just cut from the parent stem.

There is no more difficulty to be encountered
than in preserving fruits. Formerly, those who
would have choice fruit in the winter, had to have
expensive forcing houses for winter growth. The
enormous expense but added greater zest to the
luxury ; but until Mr. Xyce showed how to pre-
serve fruits so well, none could be kept well enough
to compete favorably with forced fruit, — and even
yet it probably is not good enough to drive forcing
of fruits completely out of practice, especially in
view of the great pleasure the practice of growing
fruits out of the regular season, affords to those
who pursue it.

8o neither by any means should any recommen-
dation to preserve flowers for winter use, be sup-
posed to harbor a suggestion to have less winter
growing flowers absolutely grown than there are
now. We do not suppose the most successful me-
thods of taking care of them would ever keep them
quite as good as fresh ones ; but we are quite sure
they may be had very good and for months after
cutting, if the proper way to preserve them were
well understood.

We recently offered some remarks on the neces-
sity of ventilation, as it is termed, in order that
l>lants should r/rmc. If there is no evaporation of
the juices of plants, there is no circulation, and

matter wherewith to make growth cannot be
taken up into the plant's system ; so in a close
house or case, life will be maintained a long while
without any apparent change in the plants appear-
ance. This is the secret of the famous Wardiun
cases, by which plants are brought from China,
the West Indies, and indeed from the most remote
parts of the globe to England, after months of a
voyage, in perfect safety. They are made perfectly
air-tight, so ihat there can be no change in their
atmospheric condition.

It is only necessary that the vegetation in these
cases should have i)lenty of light tfi prevent de-
composition, and perfect health, if not growth, is
maintained.

Cut flowers could be kept in water just as well
under a case, as plants in soil under the same con-
ditions, although probably more care would be
necessary in maintaining a low temperature than in
the regular Wardian plant case, as with water in
the cases instead of soil, there might be a greater
tendency to damp loving species of mildew to pro-
pagate themselves, — but of this we are not sure.

We are led to these remarks chiefly from seeing
a few flowers cut off from the plants in the open
ground, the first week in October, as perfectly fresh
at Christmas as if fresh cut. There were Chrysan-
themums, Eupatorium, Abutilon, Bouvardia,
Sweet Alyssum, JMignonettc, and some others.
These flowers were placed loosely in a saucer of
water, and put on a shelf in a damp and tight
greenhouse, with a north aspect, where there was
plenty of light, but no evaporation, indeed the floor
never showed a symptom of drying during all the
period referred to. The house, intended for filling
with with bedding plants towards spring, had no
fire in it, so that the temperature most probably
was never much over 40°, and never below freez-
ing point.

What was thus done accidentally, would no doubt
be better done by studying the conditions which
insured success. At all events, it is quite clear that
there is no real obstacle to the keeping of cut flow-
ers a much longer time fresh than is generally su])-
posed ; the first conditions necessary being evidently
security from evaporation, full exposure to the
light, and as low a temperature as will well keep
from freezing.

%\^ ©arbmr's Ulaittljlj.

15

GROWING GRAPE VINES IN POTS, verstts
GROWING THEM IN THE OPEN AIR.

From time to time — from day to day — new ques-
tions arise which put the fervid horticulturist into
a raging fever, the exact stage of which can be
pretty accurately noted by the terms in which one
speaks or writes of another's opinions on said ques-
tions. Some time ago it was cautiously mooted at
Rochester that Grapes propagated from green wood
were not as good as they should be, — this was the
first stage of a new disease. Then it came that
plants in pots were not as good so raised as those
grown in borders in hot houses ; and the last posi-
tion taken is that plants raised under glass are of no
use whatever.

We have before us a catalogue in which pot-
raised vines are held up to contempt in prettily
drawn pictures of how the roots are "curled around
the pots;" and after looking on this picture, we
are asked to look on that where the fibres in the
border raised plants are pushing away in every di-
rection, as if they were huge asparagus roots ; and
we have another one in which all "hot house vines' '
are held up to the "contempt they so richly de-
serve."

As usual, there are two sides to this question.
The man who cannot raise vines well in the open
air. the public half suspects is interested in praising
hot house vines ; while he who can get into a fa-
vorable locality, and who can raise them out of
doors, is shrewdly supposed to want all the sales to
himself of his "splendid out-door niised stock."
Ifc appears like another illustration of the old case
where it made a great difference whose bull it was
that was gored ; but one thing it does truly show,
namely, that the fever referred to is getting into
a very bad stage.

It is for us, as journalists, to ignore all these in-
teresting suggestions of interested Vine-growers,
and examine candidly whether there be any grounds
for prejudice against any of these particular systems.

In the first place, it is quite certain that thous-
ands of pot-grown plants may be, as they certainly
are, worthless. When they are thickly grown to-
gether,— their owners greedy of every inch of
space, — starved at the root, and in the necessary
amount of light and air necessary to produce heal-
thy foliage, — over watered or under watered, — ex-
posed to sudden and continued variations of tem-
perature,— in short, bared to every condition of
disease, until they are diseased, — such vines are
of course poor illustrations of the advantages of
house-grown vines against plants raised in the open
ground.

And so, on the other hand. Grape vines raised in
the open ground, on unfavorable soil, and under
unfavorable circumstances, until it is nigh sick unto
death, has no chance against a healthy pot-raised
plant. Disease against Health is not fair play.

But to set aside any question of health against
disease, and asking under which circumstances is a
young plant likely to be grown in most perfect
health the first year of its life ; and we think the
answer will be that, in the average of instances, the
race will be won by the pot-raised vine.

We know, in the first place, that a vine is always
best when the system of roots start from one central
point, for instance, when a vine is raised from
the eye, as against a double set of roots proceeding
from two eyes, as is the case in plants cutting
raised ; but vines cannot be very well raised as a
general thing from ej^es in the open air, therefore
the house vine has an advantage to start with.

Then see the troubles an out-door cutting is ex-
posed to, from which the fostering hand of the gar-
dener preserves the plant in his propagating house.
The spring frost, the steel beetle, the dews at night
and scorching sun by day ; the heavy rain and the
dry spell; "agarics and fungi, and mildew and
mold," and the scores of other troubles which meet
the best appointed out-door nursery at times, are
all under control under glass.

There are good out-door vines raised, undeniably,
just as there are strong Indians raised in the wild
Western wastes, — not because the system is the
best conducive to health, but because the hard nat-
urally unnatural system, kills off all the weaker
ones, which our civilized system fosters, cares for,
and struggles through with into something like ex-
istence ; and they make the apparent show to favor
the out-door against the really superior in-door
system of growth. The best growth will be where
the conditions of health can be best observed ; and
that certainly, for the first year of a vine, can be,
though it very often is not, 'obtained under glass.'

The coiling of the roots seems a funny objection
to a pot grown vine. In a tree we can understand
that if it were kept a long while stunted in a pot,
and afterwards set out, the coiled and twisted main
roots having their points all directed inwards to-
wards the plant's axis, would be so unstable under
heavy growths, as to blow over with the wind; and
this we have heard as objection to rare Pine trees
that have been long grown in pots, — none that they
would not grow nearly or perhaps quite as healthy
as others raised under the out-door conditions ; but
there cannot be this same objection to more fibrous
rooted things. Thousands of vines have been grown

V^>x-

^m^

16

Wtit ©nrbtncr's Ponthln.

in pots for vineries since the world began, and
thousands of vineries have groaned under their
weight of fruit, and vigorous with shoots and foli-
age. Thousands of vinos have been pot raised for
thousands of our most suceessful vineyards, — thou-
sands of trees, oranges, lemons, oleanders, fruit
trees, and greenhouse plants have been successfully
grown, healthy and vigorous, for years upon years,
in pots and tubs, with their roots coiled upon coils,
without ever suggesting a thought of disease to the
growers.

We would not seem to apologize for the many mis-
erable but cheap " house vines," sent out by igno-
rant or mercenary Grape-vine growers; but as a rule,
we are quite sure there is as good a chance of a
perfectly healthy vine being obtained in a pot from
a good and conscientious grower, as from any one
who grows exclusively in the open air; or from one
who grows vines in pots, as from he who grows
them in in the vinery borders.

DEATH OF DR. JOHN LXNDLEY.

Every horticulturist knows by name this distin-
guished man. The scientific character which he
gave to horticulture, made it respectable ; and it is
not too much to say that, to the establishment of
the Ganlcners Chroiu'cle, with Dr. Lindley as ed-
itor, the modern eminent position of British Hor-
ticulture is to be traced. More practical serials,
and probably more valuable onc^, existed in Eng-
land for years before the Gardeners Chromde was
brought forth, — but merit alone never leaves its
mark. The tact which can interest fashion and
wealth, power and intelligence, the highest and the
lowest, in any case, though that tact may be in the
person of moderate attainments, will do more to
force its success than the profonndcst genius alone
will do. But in the person of Dr. Lindley, genius
and tact were singularly combined ; and this joined
to great force and energy of character, produced in
the highest English social circles such a love for
gardening that it became the passion and pride of
that nation. It is impossible for the tactician to
pursue his useful course without exposing himself
to temptations that the blunt straightforward " ge-
nius" is ignorant of; hence Dr. Lindley exposed
himself to the taunt of toadying to nobility, — of
being opposed to free institutions — and of a haughty
carriaffe generally to persons in humble circumstan-
ces of life. His Wellingtonias, Snxe-Gotheas, and
other genera named after mere noblemen, because
they were noblemen, shocked his fellow botanists
who had been habituated to bestowing such names

in requital of services rendered to the science ; and
his persistent ignoring of American horticulture,
and constant efforts to induce gardeners against
coming to America, — "if they must emigrate, let
them go to New Zealand," — are well known. To
a distinguished American, he ridiculed his claim,
when introduced as a nurserymen, by contemptu-
ously exclaiming, "Nurseryman! what Nurseries
have you in America?" And to his dying day he
steadily refused an exchange with the Gardcuo-'s
Monthhj, being the only one of the leading European
journals in that position. We may say, injustice
to the new Editor of the G. Chronicle, that he is
evidently a man of more liberal views, — one of the
first acts of his Editorial career being to write for
an exchange with us.

We have always interpreted these weaknesses of
Dr. Lindley charitably, as the pages of our journal
will amply attest, — regarding thcjn as rather the
effect of a policy warped beyond propriety, by a
desire to be useful in a certain way of his own
selection, which had become habitual by long con-
tinued use. At any rate, we would draw the veil
over his errors and short-comings, and lament his
death as sincerely as any of his most ardent per-
sonal admirers.

Dr. Lindley was born in Norwich, England, on
February 5th, 1799. His father was a nurseryman,
well-known as the author of "A guide to the Or-
chard and Kitchen Garden." At 18 he became a
commercial traveller for Wrench, the Seedsman of
Camberwell. Sir W. Hnnker, then Mr. Hooker,
was one of his earliest botanical acquaintances, and
^probably had much to do with fixing his tastes.
At 20 years of age he translated Richard's " An-
alyse dn frvif,'' from the French, completing the
whole at one sitting, three days and two nights, —
equal to any exertion of Loudon, who used to over-
work himself in the same way, and whom by the
way Lindley as.sisted in the preparation of "Ency-
clopjcdia of Plants. "

At the age of 2.3 he was appointed assistant Sec-
retary of the London Horticultural Society, under
Mr. Sabine. While here he distinguished himself
in a controversy, which he carried on under an as-
sumed name or anonymously, with Sir J. E. Smith,
on the merits of the natural system of Botany, Sir
James being wedded indissolubly to the old Lin-
nscan. After some .several articles from each had
appeared. Sir James discovered that .his. antagonist
was only a " poor clerk," which so oflTondeded his
aristocratic prejudices, that he declined to continue
a controversy with one in a station so much beneath
his, and so lefl Lindley, in the public estimation

,5;

master of the field. This controversy made him
numerous friends, and gave him at once a high po-
sition amongst the botanists, of the new school.

Dr. Lindley is the author of numerous works on
Botany. To horticulturists, however, he is best
known by his "Theory of Horticulture," which,
though the advancement of the Science has shown
to be imperfect, is still the best English work ex-
tant,— the writings of our Professor Asa Gray, hav-
ing the advantage of mor.' saodern research, being
deemed superior. His " Introduction to Botany "
was also at one time very popular, but now also
completely replaced in this country by Dr. Gray's
works. The " Vegetable Kingdom " is another
splendid work which will cause Lindley' s name to
be long remembered with gratitude. Though con-
sidered imperfect, we have not yet found another
to replace it in our library, and would sooner part
with any other than it.

The last thirty years of his botanical career was
directed especially to the study of that curious and
beautiful tribe of plants, the Orchidacecp.. He is
the author of numerous standard works on the sub-
ject, and his name will long be an authority with
lovers of this beautiful tribe.

The death of men like Paxton, Hooker, Lindley,
and others, brings new duties for us who were in a
certain sense their pupils. We owe it to their la-
bors for us, to do a little for others now that they
are gone. We have superior Horticultural talent
in this country, as well as men distinguished in
sciences relating to gardening. Our want is the
practical minds like those we now deplore, who
have the tact and ability to popularize and explain
it. No doubt they will arise with the occasion.
We have done our own humble share to the best
of our ability, and give below an extract of a note
from one who, like us, has done much in the same
pursuit, in the hope ihat it may encourage such
of our readers who have the ability to turn their at-
tention to the indicated want :

" The death of Dr. Lindley has made an impor-
tant hiatus in popular gardening literature. We,
in America especially, need men to write who de-
vote time, thought, and knowledge to this elegant
department of knowledge, as they do to Sciences
of law, of medicine, or theology; and, although we
are glad of transient and cursory writing, rather
than none, I feel the want, in American Horticul-
tural magazines, of writing that is the result of long
and close observation, and of ripe reflection.

I am, truly, H. W. Beecher."

A GOOD EXAMFLE.

As one would suppose, the cost of maintaining
such an establishment as the Academy of Natural
Sciences of Philadelphia must be very great, and
it is necessary that the membership fee should be
heavy to support it, — it is so with most societies
of the kind, — hence many deserving poor men can-
not share a honor they often deserve.

Philadelphia has a great number of working men
who are quite distinguished in various sciences,
which they pursue, after or before working hours.
Two of these, eminent in Botany, have been elected
life members of the Academy of Natural Sciences,
and presented with receipts in full of membership
fees. Honored, as no doubt the newly elected
members feel, the Academy honors itself more, and
we take a pride in holding it up as an example for
other societies to follow.

PLAN GF A FLOWER-GARDEN.

The following pretty design is from the London
Journal of Horticulture. We give it with the des-
cription of the plants it was filled with last year, —
not that the same varieties would suit our hot and
dry climate; but as indicating the colors selected
for the filling. The central bed might have with
us China Rose Agrippine, pegged down. Variega-
ted Geraniums like Golden Chain suffer too much
with us, but the Variegated Periwinkle does admi-
rably, and can be used for many similar purposes.
A'^ariegated Alyssum does very well, the Cabbage-
fly being its only enemy. Any dark crimson Ver-
bena like Geant des Battailes, would do as well as
Ariosto. Centaurea candidissimum or ragusina, is
now getting common, and will do for C. tomento-
sum, which does not suit our climate. Yellow Cal-
ceolarias do pretty well, — such kinds as Amplexi-
caule particularly, — sometimes in a hot season they
will give out ; but a few pots of the annual one, C.
pinnata, or scabiosoefolia, might be sown in spring,
as a reserve to fill in if the others fail.

In this connection we may say that nothing
makes better American bedding plants than the
old class of Scarlet Geraniums, of which there are
scores of shades, from white to pink and deep
crimson :

" This pretty garden looks well from any direc-
tion, but looks best from the cottage, which, ap-
proached by a sloping bank or turf, is 12 feet above
the level of the garden. The following is the ar-
rangement this season : —

1. Filled with China Roses, is a bed raised 18
inches, bordered with Ivy, and an Ivy handle across

^%

it to resemble a basket. The Roses had been fine.
In the autumn they were scarcely brilliant enough
for the other beds.

2. a. Geranium Brilliant ; b, Lobelia speciosa ;
c, Golden Chain.

3. a, Geranium Baron Hugel ; 6, Flower of tho
Day.

4. Humea elepans— three plants to make a mass, ; edged with Thrift.
•nd Variegated Alyssum.

9.

10.

lawn.

Geranium Christine.
Verbena Ariosto.
Cerastium tomentosum.
Lobelia speciosa.
Calceolaria Prince of Orange.
Privet hedge, cut square, 15 inches high, next
The beds are on gravel, and the inner ones

J3^CoDimQnication8 for tlii.s department mugt reach the Editor
0(/or before the 10th of the month.

/ !C3=Tbe Editor cannot answer letters for this department pri-
rately.

NURSERYSrEN'S ADVERTISElkrENTS— X Y., Chi-
cago, Ilk. — Mr. Charles Downing is not a nursery-
man, but a private amateur of Now York, who has
no interest whatever in the sale of any fruit or
ilowor: Mistaken he may, or may not have been
in the Buffalo Seedling identity, though we do not

remember where he endorsed it as distinct, (which
after all it may be — Mr. Ilovcy may have had
wrong Buffalo's), but for conscientious uprightness
in giving an opinion, carefulness in arriving at con-
clusions, and liberality and generosity in distributing
his good things, no man excels him. Mr. Downing
is the idol of the pomological circle in which he
moves, and it is clear you are correct when you add,
that "you have no personal acquaintance with
him." We are all of us wrong at times in our pub-
lished opinions; and we do not suppose Mr. Down-
ing would shrink from critici.sm, on that score, any
more than the rest of us.

c*'^;

•^.^

fill? §m&im\ JKonlljk

t^m

19

A Model Letter. — The position of an Editor
who intends to do his duty to his readers ; to do
full justice to even the merits of his eneuiies; and
to criticize the public acts of his best friends, is not
expected to be a pleasant one. We have little to
complain of Occasionally we "catch it;" but as
we expect such episodes, we rather enjoy the variety.
We like to share the good things with our readers,
so give them the following from Mr. Jacob Moore.
We believe we never saw Mr. Moore. He is not
indebted to us at any rate, nor we to him. When
at Rochester, we saw his Grapes, thought well of
them, and gave them a good notice ; though it
seemed to us the ' savans ' there were disposed to
give them what is technically called the "cold
shoulder." We rather think all the popularity
the.se Grapes have got is due to our favorable no-
tices of them. Repeating merely what has been
said before, we did not think the article of sufficient
interest to most of our readers, — perhaps we may
err sometimes both in what we pass, and in what
we omit, — that is our misfortune, but it does not
touch our self respect.

We give the following entertaining letter of Mr.
Moore's without any charge to him. It may bring
us in considerable advertising from him in future ;
who knows?

" Rochester, Nov. 15th, 18G5.

Mr. Thomas Mcehan, Dear Sir : Yours of the
9th is at hand, and I must say I am greatly sur-
prised at its contents. That the article t sent you
will not prove sufficiently interesting^ I cannot be-
lieve,— indeed there is no doubt in my mind that
it will prove far more interesting to the mass of
readers than many articles which I have seen in
your magazine, containing long lists of botanical
names, and in which even the professional gardener
could take but slight interest.

I also differ with you most decidedly on another
point, viz. , with regard to new varieties of Grapes
and Strawberries. That new varieties of both
these fruits are numerous, is true ; but that few
of them are of grejit merits is also full as true. In
the words of Webster, when asked by a j'^oung man
if the profession of law was not over supplied, " the
•upper chambers are vacant." Just so with the
new varieties, and with the great majority of old
ones too : the upper chambers are vacant, i.e.,hut
few of them combine the highest qualities. It is
true a variety may have to struggle long for a con-
siderable period before meeting with popular favor;
but if said variety has the real merit to hack it up,
it will finally be successful. The Wilson's Albany
Strawberry is a proof of this assertion.

I have sent similar articles to the Horticidturist
and Hovey's Magazine, and you are the only editor
who has written me that he fears my communica-
tion will not prove "sufficiently interesting" for
publication. Hovey wrote me that he " liked my
article," and that it would appear in the December
number. It is quite surprising to see how differ-
ently we view the article in question. You say,
" whatever I have written you that has had a bear-
ing on the successful hybridization of the native
with the foreign Grape, has had with you a much
greater value." Well, Mr. Meehan, I consider
that I have never written you any thing that has
had a more direct bearing on the hybridization
question than this self-same article. But I will not
discuss this subject further. Your comments in
the Montldy so far on my Grapes have been favor-
able (with the exception of a doubt expressed in
your last, as to the D. Hamburgh being produced
from a seed of the Diana), and it was my intention
to advertise in your journal extensively; but judg-
ing from the tone of your present letter, "a change
appears to have come over the spirit of your
dream," and appearances are that I shall have to
look further for the editor and the magazine who
are to give my operations in cross-breeding, etc.,
to the public, — perhaps the Horticidturist and Ho-
vey s Magazine, who knows?

In conclusion, I have only to say, that should
you decide not to publish the article in question on
account of it not being ' 'sufficiently interesting, ' ' for
the mass of your readers, you will please return it,
and I will not again trouble you with any further
communication."

The New Editors of the London Garden-
er's Chronicle. — Whatever concerns this journal
has a wide-world interest among horticulturists, —
and it will serve more than a natural curiosity for
us to give some account of the two gentlemen who
now control its destinies,— Mr. Thomas Moore and
Dr. M. T. Masters.

At the long distance of time since we were per-
sonally acquainted with them, we are not sure that
we may not. be confused in the identity of these
gentlemen with the persons in our mind ; but we
believe we are not, and will venture on their history.

Like Dr. Lindley, Sir Joseph Paxton, and Sir
W. J. Hooker, they are essentially self-made men,
— Mr. Moore particularly so. He came to London
from Scotland, we believe, a poor garden boy, in
about his twentieth year, and made his first entry
into Kcw Gardens. One of the first of the jobs ho
was set to learn, was the highly philosophic exper-

^M

CljC ©arbiter's Pontljlg.

iment of wheeling earth up a plank, in making
some excavations, and it is n^corded in the unwrit-
ten "Chronica Kewensis," that he threw over his
barrow on the first day's illustration, avowing that
he was ' ' born for better things than wheeling dirt.

meeting of the Society, that a full report would ap-
I>ear in the Monthly, but even that hope is denied
us. Let us have more information on the subject."
[What the reference may be to the "under.«tand-
ing at the October meeting," we do not know. We

The next the Chronicles relate of him is that he j were certainly no party to any such understanding.
was foreman of the herbaceous department, under } We give only such a sketch of any meeting of the
Mr. Marnock, at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Re- ' the Society, or of any Society, as we think may in-
gent's Park, since when he has become particularly ' terest nil our readers everywhere. There are many
distinguished in horticultural literature, both as other things occur at these meetings which it should
editor of some valuable serials, and as author of I be considered by the Society an honor to the exhi-
books on Ferns and other subjects. We take him bitor that the public should know, — it is for them

to be now about 45 years of age.

Dr. Masters we believe to be eldest son of the
celebrated old nurservman William Ma.sters of the

to decide how to put this before the public, not us.

To avoid any misunderstanding, we may say that

we are not paid to do the Society's advertising.

Canterbury Nurseries. In 'our day " he was but j The advertising it does in the other city papers we
a student of great promise, having then an enviable I believe it pays for' — we have done all for it that we
reputation for proficiency in classical lore. Believ-

ing, however, in this case, the old maxim, sicpntris
estfilins, will hold good, we may say of the father
that he was (he is, we believe, still living^, one of
the most intelligent and talented of tbe old race of

have dono free, without hope or thought of reward,
but for the general good it might do to horticul-
ture. We do not know either that the Society has
officially ever taken any knowledge of our existence
— not even so far as to include our journal in the

p^nglish nurserymen. In Landscape Gardening i list of city papers to whom " complinientaries" are
particularly, be was pre-eminent, being generally i ilistributed.

sought for by those who wanted 'work done well. If, therefore, our correspondent or others think
" regardless of expense. " Lord CornwaTlis' place, there is any obligation on our part to print " full
in Kent, is to this day a lasting monument of Mr. reports," they are mistaken. Wc select and refer
Masters' skill in this department. Like many of , to only what we think will generally interest our
the old school nurserymen, Mr. !M. had a great ^ readers, and nothing more.]
horror of " humbuggery," as the moderns term it.

of peculiar advertising ; hence the Suttons, Ren-
dles, the Youells and others stepped in and took
the palm from the " old boys," — and in the effort
to maintain the family dignity,— for Mr. Masters
was chosen !Mayor of Canterbury, and held other

Winter Bouqukt Flowkrs— ,7. P. 7?., Qiirenx,
N] Y. — W^ill some Bouquet maker inform me which
are the best 20 plants, winter-blooming, suitable
and profitable for making bouquets. By-the-bye my
employer bought of Mr. Buist, about 15 years ago,

municipal offices, hi.s. means were probably too j a plant of Rondolctia spcciosa major, and it is one
much cramped to compete successfully with more i of the best early winter-blooming plants we have ;
enterprising firms, and we have not heard mu-5hof it has been in bloom two months, — when the plant
the house for a long time, till the eminent position is large it is splendid. Most /if the plants enumcr-

of the son reminds us of its former fame.

Advertising the PREMn;>is of tiie Penn-
SYLV.\NiA Horticultural Society. — Swt'ff. in-
quires : " What is the reason that the Penna. Hor-
ticultural Society has not published a report of tho
Autumnal Exhibition of 1HG5? I, in company
with many other exhibitors, made great exertion
to get our things ready, and to gain our employers
consent to exhibit them. Why was there not a full
report published in the local papers, as in justice to
I the gentlemen who sent their plants, etc., and (he
gardeners who strained every nerve to make the

Exhibition a success, were entitled to?
We were led to suppose, at the October stat.^d | sum, etc., which are indispensable annuals

ated by you in your last number for cutting, I have
known many years. Are there no new winter-
blooming plants, suitable for the million ? 1 look
to the Mnnthhi for novelties.

[Our .selection would be Camellia japonica, (dou-
ble white), incarnata, imbricata ; Stevia serrata,
Euphorbia jacquinroflora, Poinsettia puleherrima,
Neapolitan Violets, Bouvardia leiantha, Tea Rose
Triomphe de Luxemburg, Streptocarpus Rhcxii,
Noisette Rose Lamarque, Eupatorium coolestinum,
Scarlet Geraniums, Acacia lineata, A. pubescens.
Azalea indica alba, A. Duke of Wellington, (or any
rich pink variety,) Lopezia rosea, Heliotrope, Cat-
alonian Jasmine, besides Mignonette, Sweet Alvs-

We

^^^

-^^^^^

r=^

ihii (Sardmr's cPanthlg.

21

should be glad to have the best 20 of some of our
regular bouquet makers.]

Diana Hamburgh Grape — John Chirlton,
Rochester, N. Y. — In the November number of
the Monthly, speaking of this variety of Grape,
you say, "if this is a seedling of the Diana, etc., it
is the most remarkable Grape we have ever seen."
Now I can vouch for this Grape being a seedling,
having been at its inception and birth, and likewise
having stood sponsor at its baptism. I supplied
Mr. Moore with pollen of the Black Hamburgh
Grape, from the vinery of Mr. Joseph Hall, of this
place ; I likewise took the seeds of the Diana, with
several o^/ii?;- crosses, and started them in Mr. Hall's
vinery, growing them there until the plants were
about one foot and a half high ; after which 1
turned them over to Mr. Moore, and the result has
been before described, by your describing the fruit
in the last number of the Monthly. I would add,
that plants under glass, this summer, with me,
were more exempt from mildew than was Delaware.

[We had no intention of raising any doubt about
this Grape being a true hybrid. We believe it cer-
tainly is. From what experience we have had in
hybridizing, we have rarely seen so close an approach
to the male parent in the progeny. Our doubt was
meant to apply to the Diana being supposed to be
the female parent, not that it was no hybrid at all.

If it mildews under glass, as Mr. Charlton inti-
mates, it will probably be worse out of doors. It
will be unfortunate if so good a Grape should not
stand well.]

About a Tree Doctor. — A correspondent at
Harrishurgh, Ohio, writes :

"A few days ago I was called on by a man claim-
ing to hail from your city, as a fruit-tree Doctor.
He stated that he had been engaged for fifteen
years in Philadelphia in chemical operations, hav-
ing failed in business, he had discovered a new pro-
cess or plan by which he could medicate fruit trees
so as to make the most unthrifty trees perfectly
healthy and vigorous growth, and to bear a full
crop every year. He carried a bottle of his medi-
cine with him. His mode was to bore three or four
holes in each tree, according to size, some two or
three inches deep, at an inclination downwards of
some 20 degrees, putting in his medicine by means
of a funnel. It was of a dark red color, in a pow-
der compounded of four different ingredients;
pouring the hole nearly full, packing it with a stick
and plugging up the hole with hard soap. He said
he had medicated Plum trees in the fall that had

never borne a perfect Plum, which the next season
were over-loaded, and on those which before had
been punctured with Curculio, the fruit was beau-
tiful and fair. One operation would he good for a
number of years. W^anted $10 for the right of
using said recipe. Would not allow of a trial. The
same preparation answered for all kinds of fruits.
He had been successful, he said, in selling several
around Columbus and Philadelphia."

Natural Orders of New Plants— J. P. R.,
Queens, N. Y. — In noticing now plants, it would
be useful to gardeners to state their Natural Order.
The Natural Order conveys some idea of the plants.
1 like your journal, and every gardener in America
ought to subscribe for it, — European gardeners in
America cannot well do without it.

[Our chief object in recording the new plants
that appear in Europe is, first, that our importers
may know what to look out for ; and, secondly,
when a year or two later the plants shall be common
in our nurseries, our subscribers have only to look
back over our back volumes to get a full account
of the introduction. Our European exchanges sel-
dom give the Natural Orders of the new plants
they note ; and where new genera happens, we
cannot of course give it, not ourselves seeing the
plants, but we will do so where practicable.

We endeavor to make our paper an essential to
every horticulturist, and are pleased to have the ap-
probation of all classes.]

Sports of Roses. — The following extracts from
one of our old subscribers, Rev. James Sprunt, Ke-
nansville, N. C. , will interest our Rose-growers :

" I have just finished looking over nearly all the
numbers of the Gardener s Monthly that were is-
sued during the war. After having been entirely
cut ofi^ from everything of this sort for more than
four long years, you can scarcely imagine the plea-
sure I have experienced in their perusal, * *

In one of your editorials, headed ' Natural
Sports," you correctly remark, that H. P. Mad.
Desiree Giraud is a sport ; not, however, from La
Reine, as .you then supposed, but from Baronne
Prevost. Now do you know any thing of the ori-
gin of Panachee d' Orleans? [We do not.- — Ed.]
and my reason for making the enquiry is, that I
have propagated a fine sport from that variety : a
very large, full and fine self-colored flower, and like
its original, a good grower and very free bloomer.
But the striped variety may, like Mad. D. Geraud,
he itself a sport, and the self only a return to its first
conditian. If you cannot give me this information

f^^

some of your correspondents may be able to do so,
through the Monthhj. If the sport is new, I regard
it as a decided acquisition. I have several other
novelties, of which you may hear something here-
after. And here 1 would observe, that in the arti-
cle to which I have referred, you give a correct
statement of tlie origin of Buchanan's Isahdh Cnot
Cutharine, as he had it; S[)runt, and 1 thank you
for the favorable notice of its merits."

Grape Culturf, in the Southern States —
J. JV! — Do you know of any good work on the cul-
tivation of the Grape and other small fruits in the
Southern States?

[Fuller's '"Grape Cultuii.st" is a very good work.
There is no work on small fruits alone. You had
better get Barry's "Fruit Garden," which is a re-
liable work on all kinds of fruit. These are not
exactly adapted to the soil and climate of the
Southern States. The best work of that character
is White's "Gardening for the South," about 100
pages of which are devoted to fruits. ]

Fruit of the Anger's Quince — ^' A Ber/in-
ner," Spnngfifld, Ohio. — I have the Apple Quince,
the Orange Quince, and suckers of Quince sprouted
from the stock of Angers, that the dwarf Pear was
grafted on, fruited this season, and can see no dif-
ference in any of them. If the Angers bears good
fruit, and hardier than the others, why not grow
them more ?

[The fruit of the Anger's Quince is rather larger
on the average than the kinds usually grown for
their fruit ; but it does not bear as well as the oth-
ers. There is no other reason why it is not grown
for its fruit.]

' Causes of Rain. — L. S. M. ob.serves: "In
18G3-4, whilst we wore parched with drQUght, the
Southern States (and our soldiers) were drenched
with rain; in ISG.O we had abundant rains ("more
than was good for our crops^, yet over in Canada,
a friend said to me, they were too dry thoughout
the season. How shall we account for this, — phil-
osophicaJJy or vietnorologically ? Does rain and
snow follow grnvi, as some have tried to reason?

Again, in Southern Ohio, the Grape and Apple
crop was nearly a failure, but Penrs and Peaches
were plenty, — I never saw finer Pears, How can
we account for this? If our late frosts destroyed
the first, how did the second escape, — are Pears and
IV'aches more invulnerable to "oW Jack" than
Apples, Quinces and Grapes?

Cherries too were an exception, — as also garden

fruits, — our trees were loaded with fruit, delightful
to look upon ; but, alas ! we only gathered the
earliest kinds, the wet weather ruined the others
when nearly ripe."

[There has seemed a reason in the theory alluded
to ; but the fact that heavy artillery fights have
occurred without bringing rain, seems to destroy
the conclusion. Possibly some peculiar currents
passing over abuttle-field may produce rain ; others
not; however, this is mere gues.s.

" pjarly spring frosts" have been too long a
bugaboo for failures. The real cause is worth in-
vestigating.]

Different Color.s on the same Stalk of a
Chkysantheauim. — A correspondent sends us a
pure white and golden yellow Pompono Chrysan-
themum, all from the same stalk. This change of
color is common among Dahlias, but we have never
seen it in the Chrysanthemum, although we have
heard it is not unusual. The name of the variety
I is asked for. Do any of our readers know a kind
with this peculiarity?

Editors of English Periodicals— J. F. R.,
Queens, N. Y. — Will you please to inform me who
is the Editor of the Gardeners Weekly f [Shirley
Hibberd.]

Is Mr. Johnson Editor of the Journal of Horti-
culture and Cottage Gardener? [Yes.]

Potato Culture. — In Mr. A. W. Harri-son s
article on this subject, in our last number, the yield
of the Monitor should have been 245 bushels per
acre, and the date of the planting of the Harrison,
No. 241 and No. 380, was April 15, not May J 5.

Work on the Rose— ^ Subscriber, Cleveland,
Ohio. — Which do you consider the best work on
the cultivation and propagation of the Rose?

["Buiston the Rose," or "Parsons on theRo.se,"
are excellent American works. ]

The Great Buffalo and the Russell Straw-
berries.— I see it noticed in some of the periodi-
cals of the day, from apparent good authority, that
those named and the " McAvoy Superior"' are one.
I have not the latter to draw any comparison with,
but the following I draw from the growth of the
two former, the foliage of the Rufnull is more ro-
flexed than the Buffalo, it is also broader in pro-

^1

t;^^ ®arbtner's Slcntljlj.

portion to its length ; the petiole or footstalk of a
single leaf is shorter, the main footstalk and nerves
are more hairy. The aspect of the foliage of the
Buffalo is more wavy, the indentations on the edge
of the leaf are deeper, and the footstalks longer
than the Russell. These observations are made to
show, at least, that the plants are diiferent in
growth. Many of the new Strawberries cannot be
fully tested till you have two or three years growth ;
and we hope for the sake of the cause that they
will be found different in fruit.

You will confer a favor upon many of your
readers, who are purchasers, if you will examine
your stock and see if these remarks are borne out.
— Yours truly, R. BuiST, Rosedale, Nov., 1865.

Buffalo and McAvoy's Superior Straw-
berries.— Mr. R. Douglas, of Waukegan, Illinois,
writes: "Wishing to know exactly where the
"joke" comes in, in the Science of Pomology, I
enclose a few leaves of the Buffalo and Russell
Strawberries, and I think that the difference is so
plain, that even " a Committee-man " might see it.
[Take care, Mr. Douglas, of your insinuations, we
have a letter from " Ye Committe-man," for .next
month. — Ed.] The Russell is more bluntly serra-
ted, curved more, and both in leaf and foot-stalk
firmer than in Buffalo. I think the Russell supe-
rior to McAvoy's Superior."

Roses in Illinois. — F. K. Phoenix, in Coun-
try Gentleman, gives for a selection of best well
proved, truly perpetual h5'brid Roses : " Giant of
Battles, Prince Albert, Marquis Bocella, Arthur de
Sansel, Gilbert Slater, Dr. Arnal, Prince Chipet,
Lord Palmerston, Duchess d' Orleans, General
Pierce, Pius IX., Sydonie, Lane, Paconic, Victor
Verdier, Lion of Combats, Madame Knorr, La
Ville St. Denis. Thus far we have none of the
pure bright rose color, like Mrs. Elliott, for in-
stance. Baron Larrey. To complete the list, afford-
ing a larger variety of pretty reliable ones, take
Rivers, L'Enfant Mt. Carmel Baron Prevosfc, Gen.
Jacqdeminot, La Reine, Cardinal Patrizzi, Caroline
Sansel, Alice Leroy. For a striped Hybrid Per-
petual, Madame Desiree Giraud, or P. d' Orleans.

Cleveland Wine. — Mr. Leick has eighteen
acres in vineyard eight miles east of Cleveland,
near Dr. Dunham's. He has three wine presses,

one on Kelly's Island, one at Sandusky and one in
Cleveland. He makes some wine from the Isa-
bella. The Clinton makes good wine, and is simi-
lar to the German red wine ; in fact, Germans
cannot tell the difference between it and the Old
Country wine. He values the Clinton ; no other
grape bears better ; it likes to run on trees. The
Isabella he does not like to mix with other kinds,
because it is earliest ripe and ferments soonest. —
By itself it makes a fair wine. Last year he tried
200 lbs. of the Concord, and does not like it, and
yet the Hermann folks value it to mix with Nor-
ton's Virginia.

The following is his account of the jjer centage of
wine in different grapes. He uses the scale of
Oeshel, which ranges from 4 to 115 degrees: —
Concord showed from 65 to 70 per cent; Norton's
Virginia, suddenly, 110. Catawba from 80 to 90;
Isabella from 60 to 65 ; Clinton 100 and sometimes
103 ; of the Delaware he was doubtful.

The amount of acid in the most of different
grapes he tests by Geister's acid meter, ranging
from 1 to 20. In addition is a thermometer, which
is used in making the trial when the must is at 52
degrees Fahrenheit. In 80 degrees of Catawba
saccharine matter there are from 7 to 8 of acid ; in
Isabella, 9 to 10 ; Norton's Virginia, 4; Delaware,
5 ; Concord, 6.

Last year he bought grapes to make from nine
to ten thousand gallons of wine ; two years ago
from eighteen to twenty thousand gallons. He
says positively there can be no limit to the market
at good prices. Last year most of the grapes were
engaged early in August. This year buyers were
already around trying to contract.

Mr. Leick made this statement : If, for five years
to come, the people of this country plant vineyards
as they have for five years past, there will be no
more wines and grapes here than in the old coun-
try.

He says the grapes in Germany have only about
half as much acid as those in this country, but the
flavor of American wine is three times .stronger. —
The German grapes yield about the same, but the
skin is thinner. The acid is in the thick skin of
the Catawlia. The saccharine matter is about the
same. They do not get half so much wine from an
acre of grapes there as we do here, for they have a
good crop only once in eight years. As regards
the comparative quality of the wine he could not
decide, so much depends on taste, but the Catawba
has only 91 per cent of alcohol.

Beside raising grapes largely he buys all that are
offered. Last year he paid on an average 12? cts.

t^m

24:

Cj)t[ (§Mi\mxs (Ponthln.

a pound. Then he emploj's girls to pick them '
over, rejecting poor grapes, and generally from 12
pounds of grapes he gets a gallon of wine. He '
puts in no sugar or other addition. If the ^vine is ,
sour, no matter, it will sell ; but to make good !
wine he must have ripe grapes.

Last year he sent Catawba grapes to a friend in
Germany, who submitted them to a committee of !
several gentlemen without telling whence they came |
While tasting around they were much puzzled, but ;
finally they concluded them to be Hungarian grapes, j
When it was told they were Cleveland grapes there
was great astonishment to learn that the new coun-
try could produce such good fruit. — Kew York
Tribune.

How TO Raise Peaches every tear in
Iowa. — When quite young, set the tree in the
ground with all the roots running north and south,
and thin the tree to a fan shape, with edge in the
same direction as the roots. When the tree is past
three years old, after the leaves are oflF in the fall,
lean it towards the west till the branches nearly
touch the ground. This can be done easily as the
roots which run north and south will be only
shghtly twisted. This should be the permanent
position ol the tree, never should it be righted up.
The suckers or wafer sprouts should be kept strip-
ped off during the summer, or the vitality of the
tree will run to sprouts.

The ends of all the branches should be crippled
about the first of August to force the sap into the
fruit buds.

Every fall before cold weather sets in, cover the
tree with brush to keep the tree close to the ground,
and with straw over the brush to protect the fruit
buds from the cold — and uncover in the spring
about the 10th of May.

Thus, by a little care and labor, every year, an
abundance of that delicious fruit can be raised at
home, affording a great pleasure, and saving ex-
pense of importing from a distance. — Iowa Home-
stead.

Cost op the Central Park, New York.—
The total cost of the Park up to the 31st of De-
cember last was, in round numbers, $9,183,809 10,
including the cost of the land. The rate of tax
for 1864 was 2. 16, yielding on the increased valua-
tion an increased tax of $610,910 49, which comes
from the Twelfth, Nineteenth and Twenty-second
wards. The annual interest on the cost of the
land and the improvements at this time is six per
cent, or $551,028 49. The excess of increased tax

in the three wards over the interest on the cost of
land and improvements is $55,889.

The Commissioners report an increase of visitors.
Allowing an average of three persons to each vehi-
cle passing into the Park, the following will show,
approximately, the number of persons who have
entered during the past three years :

1862, . . 4.195,515.

1863, . . 4.327,409.

1864, . . 5,740,079.

The total income from boat service was $6,208
85, at an expense to the conductor of $5,228 50.

The arrests for the year, from various causes,
were 130, compared with 86 for 1863.

When does New Bark Form.— Some five
years ago the writer attended the annual meeting
of the Mississippi Valley Horticultural Associa-
tion. One of the members had peeled the bark
off the limbs for six inches in length of various
fruit and forest trees, and at the same time attach-
ed a small tin card with fine wire to the limbs, with
the date. These peelings amounted to some three
or four each month the year round. The object
was to find what time in the year a new bark would
be most perfectly formed over the wound. This
was found in that latitude to be the fifteenth of
June. In the month of January, February and
March, the limbs showed a dry dead surface. —
April and May the tree had grown an imperfect
bark. June 15th the peeled surface showed a per-
fect covering of new bark. From this date the
growth of the baik was less perfect through the
summer months, and the surface dry and dead in
the fall months. I was not a fruit grower my.self,
or a member of the as.sociation, yet the facts elici-
ted struck me as being of great practical value to
those who were. It was shown that the new bark
invariably commenced to grow downwanls or from
the upper 'end of the limb ; that the sap must go
up to the ends of the limbs, and there be brought
in connection with the oxygen of the atmosphere,
through the injured pores of the leaves, before it
could be used in the economy of the tree to form
new bark. This being so, and it found an estab-
lished law that at one period of the year new
bark will form perfectly, and this period probably
changing in different latitudes, experiments should
at once be made to find out the proper time to
prune in different regions, and this can be done as
stated. — Iowa Homestead.

ynpplgn InfpIKgpnrp.

Pelargoniums at his. Londoi* Show. — Mr.
Weir's lot consi-sted of Perfection, Carminatum,
Acme, Mrs. Stewart Hodgson, Jenny Lind, and
Queen of Roses

Ik

Sfh^ §m&mt'% JKonthlj.

(£

Van Houtte Nurseries at Ghent, Bel-
gium.— A correspondent of The Journal of Horti-
culture, says : — .

" I found M. Van Houtte crippled in body by an
attack of gout, but xctive enough in mind, and, as
far as a brief interview would enable me to form
an opinion, fully bearing out the character given
him by 'Gr. ' His establishment is a vast one;
but it must be borne in mind that it is not in a
pecuniary point of view resting on his shoulders.
The royal arms over the gateway are emblematic,
not, as with us, that the establishment serves royal-
ty, but that royalty serves it. In what way I do
not exactly know ; but it is, I was informed, con-
sidered as a Government establishment, and not at
all corresponding to those great establishments in
our own land which rest solely on the resources of
the person or family whose name they bear. In
my tour round the garden I could not but be struck
with the sandy and apparently barren character of
•the soil. One would hardly imagine how plants
?ould grow in it ; yet by careful management not
only bulbs, but Conifers, Roses, and the like seem-
ed to be doing well.

The greenhouses are very numerous, and gener-
ally speaking, low pitched and very dark, the im-
portance of keeping off the glaring sun in summer
leading to the necessity of great shading. The
quantity of glass is enormous, and the stock propa-
gated and contained in them very large. Thus,
there were at least 40,000 Camellias of various
sizes, and of all the valuable kinds, as well as the
older sorts. 8000 Imbricata and 7000 Fimbriata
will show on which kinds the run is mainly made
for decorative purposes ; but there were quantities
of such fine kinds as Lavinia Maggi, Auguste Des-
fosses, and Duchesse de Berri, and I must say in
a very excellent state of cleanliness and health,
affording a remarkable contrast to the French nur-
series in this respect. The manner in which the
various markets were catered for is somewhat curi-
ous. Here were large quantities of Pandanus,
Dracoenas, Cycas, and Palms of various kinds :
most of these were for the Paris market, where,
as every one knows, so much is done in the way of
decorating houses, hotels, &c., with living plants —
a custom which one would be glad to see adopted
more in London. How much the dull character of
the entrance even of such houses as the Langham
and Grosvenor Hotels would be taken away if the
use of these plants were more general. I was sur-
prised to see, at the ' Maribeau,' the quantity that
was purchased fi'om day to day, and I cannot but
think the same expenditure might be profitably

made with us. To one house in Paris alone 1200
Pandanus had been sent during the last year. The
Cycas found their way many of them to Saxony,
where two, three, four, five, and sometimes ten
and fifteen francs are given for single leaves of
Cycas revoluta for carrying in funeral processions,
where it' seems to be the custom so to use them,
and to strew the churches with branches of the
commoQ Yew. The chef informed me that these
ornamental plants were more looked for in Eng-
land now than formerly. Then, again, Gloxinias,
Tydseas, and kindred plants were grown in very
large quantities, upwards of 20,000 Gloxinias alone
being grown ; and Amaryllis in large numbers,
upwards of 60,000 bulbs in various stages of growth
being in one quarter of the ground. This bulb
ought surely to be more generally grown than it is,
its showy character and easy culture fully entitling
it to a place, and there are many very beautiful
varieties. Among the tree Ferns were some large
specimens ; a magnificent one of Alsophilia glauca,
sunk in the floor of the house, had fronds that ex-
tended 20 feet, and was said to bo the largest speci-
men in Europe. There were also fine specimens
of Cibotium princeps, the Cyatheas, and other
members of this very fashionable family. ' '

AspLENlUM EBENOlDES.~In the London Journal
of Horticulture we find Mr. Berkeley reported as
follows, concerning Mr. Scott's Fern : It seems to
us Mr. B., in asserting it to be a "veritable hy-
brid," is rather fast. It may he, but we think this
is all the facts warrant : —

"The Rev. M. J. Berkeley said there were not
many plants to comment upon, but he had an in-
teresting fact to communicate in reference to hybrid
Ferns. Every one knew that in cultivating Ferns
vast numbers of Gymnogrammas — golden, silver,
and grey — were freely produced in the same house,
and they were believed to be hybrids, but no one
had proved them to be so. He had now, how-
ever a veritable case of a hybrid Fern. Mr. Rob-
inson Scott enclosed a frond of an Asplenium which
he had found in a rocky place about eight miles
from Philadelphia, on the banks of the Schuylkill
river. It was surrounded by Camptosorus rhizo-
phyllus and Asplenium ebeneum, had some of the
characteristics of both, and was distinct from any-
thing described by Dr. Asa Gray, in his ' Flora of
the Northern United States.' Sir Wm. Hooker
had declared it to be new. Mr. Berkeley then
described the leading characteristics of Campto-
sorus rhizophyllus, Asplenium ebeneum, and the
hybrid. The production of such a hybrid was not

-c^

'^

26

C|e hardener's (Plontbln<

of botanical interest only, but of Horticultural im-
portance ; for if any horticulturist could obtain hy-
brid forms, there was no doubt that it would prove
I very profitable. lie had prepared a set of draw-
I ings to show that it was possible to do so. The
j spore of a Fern consisted of an outer and an inner
case, and if placed in proper circumstances of
moisture, &c. , the envelope would split and a root-
j let be thrown down. Every healthy spore pro-
I duced antheridia containing a slender filament,
1 which, on the antheridium bursting, floats about ;
I and on coming in contact with the embryo sac con-
I taining the ovule, it penetrates the sac and the de-
j velopement of a fresh plant commences. Impreg-
I nation between two different Ferns, therefore, could
; not take place unless there was a drop of water
! present by which these filamentous bodies could be
I carried to the embryo sac ; and by a little delicate
j manipulation it might, therefore, be possible to
i bring the contents of the antheridia of one Fern in
I contact with the ovules of another, and so pro-
duce a hybrid. ' '

Bedding Geraniitms. — We think, as your Ge-
raniums make good growth and but little bloom,
that the soil is too rich. Either the soil is too rich,
or the plants are planted too closely and watered
too freely. Your remedy will be to make the soil
less rich ; add nothing to it at the winter dressing
in the shape of manure or leaf-mould, unless the
soil is heavy, when a dressing of sandy loam would
be advi.sable. If the soil is very rich, and naturally
moist or heavy, the plants would do better as to
flowering if plunged in their pots so as to cover
the rim three-quarters of an inch to an inch deep ;
this will check their tendency to produce foliage
and cause them to bloom more freely. Punch is a
strong grower at its best, but free-blooming gene-
rally. Stella is the very best dark scarlet bedding
Geranium. We have it edged with a dark varie-
gated Grass ("Dactylis glomerata clegantissima),
and the bed is indeed gorgeous. TiOrd Palmerston,
another of the Nosegay section with crimson scar-
let flowers and a good truss, we think inferior to
Stella as a beddcr, though fine for pot culture.
Cybister is a superior bedding variety. Paul 1' Abbe
is a white Zonale kind, good for bedding, but does
not stand sun and rain better than Mad. Vaucher.
A good pure white Geranium that will endure sun
and wet is much wanted for bedding. Diadematum,
when it can be had true, and that is Beaton's varie-
ty, is a very free-blooming bedding Geranium, with
rose-colored flowers. — Cottage Gardener.

IIow THEY Grow Dwarf Pears in England.
— With regard to Pears on the quince stock, I must
make some observations. They require a light soil
and cool subsoil. If land is strong it must be
made light. They require biennial removal, if the
garden is small, not otherwise, renewal of the soil,
and root-pruning. They also require to be planted
up to but not above the point of union. The soil
should not touch the junction of the bud with the
.stock, or the budded part will root into the soil
and destroy the eftoct of the stock, which should
not be. If they are grafted high, earth should be
raised like a mole-hill to the point of union. They
require pinching rather than pruning. I keep
mine like shrubby Calceolarias, with their shoots
pinched to three leaves in July. If large pyramids
are required, the leader, of course, must be allowed
to go up. If the pyramids are too large to be re-
moved biennially, they may be root-pruned in loco,
in a radius of 18 or 36 inches, according to the
bulk and height of the tree. Root-pruning is not
sufficiently practised. — Cottage Gardener.

FccHSiAS AT the London Exhibition. —
Fuchsias were tolerably well shown, though here
as elsewhere there were none of the large speci-
mens which years ago we were accustomed to find
at summer shows. First for six, Mr. Shepherd,
gardener to H. Greening, Esq., Highgate, with
second-rate examples of Souvenir de Chiswick,
Senator, Wiltshire Lass, Sir Colin Campbell, Prince
of Orange, Rose of Castile ; second, Mr. Young,
with better conditioned though smaller plants
of Rose of Castile, Prince Imperial, Conspicua,
Senator, Wiltshire Lass, Souvenier de Chiswick ;
third, Mr. Phippen, gardener to J. S. Nettlefold,
Esq., with Rose of Castile, Sir Colin Campbell,
Marie Corydissen, Venus de Medici, Queen of
Hanover, and Wiltshire Lass. — Cottage Gardener.

Climring Ferns and Lycopodiitms. — The
climbing Ferns of the genus Lygodium are the
loveliest of the whole of this interesting tribe of
plants, only excepting the elegant Gleichem'as. It
happens most fortunately that they are very easilj'
cultivated, and, with moderate care, soon make fine
specimens. We have the Lygodium scandens in a
va.se covered with a glass lantern, one side of which
is completely covered with a screen of its exquisite-
ly beautiful fronds, by being trained up on copper
wires ; and we have had L. palmatiim on the back
wall of a common greenhouse, where it was kept
constantly shaded by large-leaved plants trained to
the rafters, and it covered the wall almost as dense-

:^^

C|e §mi\mtu ^otttMj*

^
^

27

ly as ivy. A mixture of turfy loam, turfy peat,
rotten cocoanut dust, and silver-sand, equal parts,
will grow any of them to perfection, with moderate
warmth, shade, and moisture. L. x>ahnatum is
the most hardy ; L. Japonicum does well in War-
dian cases. — Gardener s Weekly.

Preservation op Pollen. — M. E. Faivre calls
attention, in the Bulletin of the Horticultural
Society of the Rhone, to a new case of the preser-
vation of the property of fecundation in dried pol-
len. It is clearly a matter of considerable interest
that we should have the power of impregnating
plants with strange pollen conveyed from a consid-
erable distance. Pollen of Gesnera cinnabarina
was gathered at Lyons on the 5th of January, 1862,
and was kept in paper for a year, free from mois-
ture and not exposed to the light. In January,
1863, some grains were employed for the impreg-
nation of Gr. cinnabarina of the same variety as
that from which the pollen was derived, and suc-
ceeded perfectly. The remaining pollen was then
sent in a letter to Paris, and being submitted to an
attentive examination, we doubted for a moment
of its fitness for the purpose, as the grains were
wrinkled and dry. They swelled with difficulty
when placed in water, and the substance which
came from them in consequence of their rupture,
did not exhibit the strange molecular movement
which takes place in normal pollen. On the second
of April, however, notwithstanding our apprehen-
sion, some of the pollen was used in Jardin des
Plantes by the head gardener, M. Ouley, and the
operation was perfectly successful. On the 17th
of April many ovaries had set, and their develop-
ment proceeded regularly. It was intended to try
the pollen a third time last year, but it does not
appear with what result. — La Belgique Horticole.

Bletia Tankervilli^. — Having grown the
beautiful Bletia Tankervilliae for sevei'al years in a
manner very superior to what I have ever seen it
elsewhere, I herewith send you a short account of
my method of treatment, and shall be glad to see
it in your truly useful and delightful flower maga-
zine. The plant is most readily increased by off-
sets taken from the parent, and is the best mode
of having plants for blooming the coming season.
The time when I take offsets is usually the begin-
ning of February ; these I plant in pots about six
inches diameter, using a strong and highly enrich-
ed soil. After potting, I place the plants in a hot-
bed frame when I have one in operation, otherwise
I place them upon a heated flue, or plunge in the

bark bed of a pine stove. When the plants have
been in a hotbed frame, I take them out as soon
as I perceive they have struck root, and place
them in the pine stove, plunging them in the bark
bed. During summer I water them frequently
with a mixture of soapsuds and deer's dung. By
the end of October the plants will have got well
established ; I then give them a less quantity of
water and a lower temperature. About the middle
of January, as many plants as are intended for
blooming early in the spring, say April and May,
are repotted, keeping the buds active. I put the
plants into pots of about nine inches diameter, us-
ing the same kind of soil as before. After repot-
ting, the plants are plunged into a back pit or frame,
having a brisk bottom-heat. The plants soon throw
up very vigorous flower stems, producing spikes of
flowers from three to four feet high, each spike
having from eighteen to twenty-four blossoms. —
After blooming, the plants are kept for a supply
of offsets the following spring. By having a con-
siderable number of plants, and keeping some in a
cool situation, and introducing them into the frame
or vine-house as circumstances require, a succes-
sion of this very beautiful flower may be had for
several months, and its splendour will amply repay
for every attention to its cultivation. — Gardener's
Weekly.

Varieties of Ivy. — The following list will in-
terest all lovers of this classic plant :

1. Alger iensis, Algerian Ivy.

2. Canariensis, Irish Ivy.

3. " arhoreseens, Tree Ivy,

4. " aurea maculata, golden-blotched

Irish Ivy.

5. " marmorata, marbled-leaved Irish

Ivy.

6. " marmorata elegans latifoKa macu-

lata, elegantly marbled Irish Ivy.

7. " palmata (hihernica palmata,) Pal-

mate lobed Irish Ivy.

8. Helix, English Ivy.

9. " arhoreseens, Tree Ivy.

10. " " alba lutescens, white belted

English Tree Ivy.

11. " " aurea macidata, golden

clouded English Tree Ivy.

12. " " haccifera lutea, yellow ber-

ried English Tree Ivy.

13. " " margi'nata argentea, silver

margined English Tree Ivy.

14. " " minor lutea, miniature lea-

ved EngUsh Tree Ivy.

:=^=^

28

%\}^ 6ardtiitr*s (Panthlj.

15. Helix, aurea macidata, gold blotched Eng-

lish Ivy.

16. " " densa, clouded gold English Ivy.

17. " " " minor, smaller English Ivy.

18. " haccifem lutea [chrysocarpa, English

form,) yellow berried English Ivy.

19. " ch-ysocarpa (North Indian variety,)

golden berried English Ivy.

20. " crenata, notched lobed English Ivy.

21. " diijitata, digitate or finger-leaved En-

glish Ivy.

22. " gracilis, slender branched English Ivy.

23. " lohata, lobed leaved English Ivy.

24. " margiiiata argentea, silver margined

English Ivy.

25. " " canescens, silvery grey En-

glish Ivy.

26. " " cullissi, Cullis's silver mar-

gined English Ivy.

27. " " elegans, elegant margined

English Ivy.

28. " " clcgantissima, most elegant

margined English Ivy.

29. " " latifolia, broader leaved

margined English Ivy.

30. " " mcybr, larger margined En-

glish Ivy.

31. " " pulchdla, pretty margined

English Ivy.

32. " " rohiistn, stronger branched

English Ivy.

33. " minor donerailense, miniature Doneraile

English Ivy.

34. " " marmorata eler/ans, elegant mar-

bled miniature English Ivy.

35. " palmata, palmate margined English Ivy

36. " " aurea, golden clouded palmate

English Ivy.

37. " Pennsyhanica, Pennsylvanian (type)

English Ivy.

38. " poetica. Poet's English Ivy.

39. " sagittcpfolia, arrow-head leaved English

Ivy.

40. " taurica, Taurian (type) English Ivy.

41. " " Xefia?ia, Lee's variety English Ivy.

42. " japonica argentea, silver-margined Ja-

pan Ivy.

43. " Rcegneriana, Roegner's Ivy.

The most esteemed kinds for surface covering,
with large green leaves, are those by Nos. 1, 2 and
43, the second one being the most adapted for ex-
tensive planting. The arborescent or tree-like
green forms are recognized by Nos. 9 and 12;
these, with the variegated tree Ivies, are adapted

for planting in shrubberies or arboretums. The
green climbing varieties of free secondary vigor
and size of leaves, are those by Nos. 37, 40, 21, 18,
22, 38, 41. Varieties of medium size, with pretty
palmatelj'-lobed leaves, are Nos. 37 and 21. No.
19 has elegant narrow-lobed leaves with silvery-
white veins. The smallest and narrowest-lobed
leaved variety, of graceful yet vigorous growth, is
No. 33. The golden-fruited tree form is No. 12.
The varieties of medium j'et free growth, forming
a close leaf-covering to the wall, are Nos. 40, 18, 23,
21, 37.

Amongst the finest variegated-leaved ones, the
beautiful silver-belted free varieties are indicated
by Nos. 10 and 13. The rich golden-blotched and
belted tree forms are Nos. 11 and 14. The elegant-
ly marmorated, large-leaved silver variety is No. 6.
The picturesque, slender silver margined leaved
kinds are Nos. 27, 2G, 30, 32, 31, and 24. The
small-leaved variety, with beautiful silvery-marbled
leaves, is No. 34. For miniature growth or com-
paratively low walls, and close leaf-growth, Nos.
21, 33, 19, 41, 34, 26, 23, 31, may be chosen.

Many of the above variegated varieties are finely
adapted for forming belts or margins to the Flower
Garden, the slowly-formed lateral growth of the
Ivy being specially suited, and equally so for train-
ing around the wicker or basket worK around beds.
The smaller kinds, with elegant silver margins are
also very effective in blending with plants, for sus-
pended Baskets in Conservatories, &c.

The Largest Hamburgh Grapes.— Shown by
Mr. Meredith, of Garston, near Liverpool, weigh-
ing no less than 9 lbs. 8 oz. It was shown stalk
downwards, and had six shoulders, each equal to
the size of an ordinary bunch, the whole forming
quite a pyramid of jet-black berries covered with a
beautiful bloom. To Mr. Meredith, therefore, be-
longs the merit of having shown the heaviest bunch
of Black Hamburgh Grapes yet recorded, and the
judges marked their sense of his marvellous suc-
cess by awarding him the highest medal at their
command. — Gardener s Chronicle.

Begonias at the London Horticultural
Show. — Mr. Young had a superb six, and was
placed first ; they were President Van den Hecke,
Grandis, Ilegina, Manoel de Silva Brushy, and
Nonconformist, this is a fine variety, leaf bold in
coloring, margin metallic green, with large grey
spots, broad band of dull silvery grey, centre dark
bronzy green ; Secretary Morren. Second, Mr.
Hunt, with Marshalli, this has the leaf overspread

=^^^

<^M^

ih4 @ari^n^r'» PontMg.

29

with silvery grey, with narrow dark green divisions,
and dark green zigzag margin, Madame Thibaut,
Grandis, Lord Clyde, Manoel de Silva Brushy, and
another. In Mr. Collison's lot, Duchess of Bra-
brant was fine; in Phippen's, Argentea was con-
spicuous for beauty, and Queen of England was
decidedly better than Rex. — Cottage Gardener.

Zygopetalon Mackai is recommended by Mr.
Brown, of the Tooting Nursery, as a valuable win-
ter-blooming orchid. Its season for floAvering is
December and January, and it lasts seven weeks in
perfection. The flower-spikes ^row about three
feet in height, and the flowers are about fbur in.
across, the sepals and petals greenish-yellow, mot-
tled with brownish-crimson, the lip large, French
white, striped and veined violet. This species
will do well in the cool house ; the temperature in
winter should range from 40° to 50° by night, with
a rise during the day, a little air being given on
mild days, and admitted just over the pipes. In
summer, if hot and dry, give an abundance of air
and water, and dispense with five-heat.— Gardene?-' s
Chronicle.

Roses at the London Exhibition.— One
whole side of the great tent was occupied with cut
Roses. No such Roses have been shown before
this season, and they literally made of it a " Rose
Show," the profusion and the quality of the flowers
making an end instanter of all possible question as
to the excellence of the exhibition. There were
no less than twelve boxes from Messrs. Paul & Son,
of the Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, and six boxes
from Mr. C. Turner, of Slough. This was a grand
sight — the flowers were so fresh, so perfect in char-
acter, so various in selection. Amongst the varie-
ties were fine examples of IMarechal Neil, the best
of all yellow Roses, Anna Alexiefi", Anna de Dies-
bach, Beauty of Waltham, Charles Lefebvre, Com-
tesse de Chabrilliant, Due de Rohan, General
Jacqueminot, John Hopper, Jules Margottin, La
Ville de St. Denis, Lord Macaulay, Louise Odier,
Madame Clemence Joigneaux, Madame W. Paul,
Madame de Cambaceres, Madame Julie Daran,
Madame Vidat, Marechal Vaillant, Maurice Ber-
nardin, Mrs. C. Wood, Olivier Delhomme, Prince
Camille de Rohan, Senateur Vaisse, Vainqueur
de Goliath, Alphonse Belin, Admiral la Peyrouse,
'Baronne de Kinkelin, Centifolia rosea, Eugene
Verdier, Kate Hansberg, La Duchesse de Morny,
Louise Damaizin, Madame Victor Verdier, Pavil-
ion de Pregny, Paul de la Meillerez, Triomphe de
Villecresnes, &c. Among the smaller exhibitions

of cut Roses was a collection from Mr. Holland,
gardener to R. W. Peake, Esq., Isleworth, wliich
were equally remarkable for size and fre'^hness, and
fot the remarkably fine quality of a few peculiar
varieties which are rarely well shown. In this col-
lection were examples of August Mie, Paul de la
Meillerez, Marechal Forey, Alpaide de Rotalier,
Victor Verdier, Duchesse d' Orleans, Louise Odier,
General Washington, Narcisse Admiral Gravina,
Souvenir de Leveson Gower, Gloire de Dijon, La
Reine, Madame Victor Verdier, La Ville de St,
Denis, Madame Charles Wood, Lamarque, George
Prince, Deuil de Prince Albert — this flat, curious,
ugly, and yet (if the anachronism may be allowed)
beautiful Rose was better shown in this collection
than in any previous case this season ; John
Hopper, Madame Vidot, Francois Arago, Jules
Margottin, Lord Raglan — here was another bad
but beautiful Rose wonderfully well done, and
looking like a gem of the first water, the color
unique and exquisite ; Acidalie, Madame C. Crape-
let, Mrs. Rivers, Senateur Vaisse, Comtesse de
Chabrilliant, Praire de Terre Noir, Anna Alexielf,
General Jacqueminot, EmpereurdeMaroc, another
of the quasi-good Roses in charming condition,
the form being in this case very nearly that of a
perfect Rose, and there need be nothing said of its
matchless color; Beauty of Waltham, Triomphe
de Rennes, very pure and golden ; Eugene Appert,
here again Mr. Holland distinguished himself, this
bad, but charming Rose had such a character as
proves it to be capable of better things then rosa-
rians usually make of it. Good collections were
also shown by Mr. Vockins, of Lewisham, and
other exhibitors. — Cottage Gardener.

Lord Palmerston Geranium. — This variety
has only been introduced into American gardens
during the last year. The following account of it,
when it first appeared in England, is from the
Cottage Gardener: —

There are a very few of j'our readers who do not
regret the absence of Mr. Beaton's articles from
your Journal. Those' of us who are interested in
the cross-breeding of flowers, especially bedding
plants, have felt disappointment as week after
week your Journal has appeared on our tables,
and no Hvely pleasant page with the well-known
signature at the bottom. One of his articles, by-
the-bye, sent me on a fool's errand, for no sooner
had I seen the Crimson Minimum and l^ord Pal-
merston, especially the latter, than off I went to
the nearest nursery in hopes of obtaining both.
But I was told at once, "Oh, you are too fast, sir,

^^

6-

by a year or two; these Geraniums are only sent
for trial, and will not be in the trade for, perhaps,
' a year or two." That same Lord Palmerston,
however, has appeared this year. Lord Palmer-
ston is a magnificent Geranium. There was, I be-
lieve, only one bed of it last year at the Crystal
Palace, on the east side of the Rose Mount — one
of the round beds — it caught my eye directly. Its
color is very bright, and the trusses are absolutely
immense. For large beds and where a strong and
attractive effect from a distance is required, it is
the finest of the whole breed. I confess, however,
to a weakness in favor of a more dwarf style of
growth. If such a truss as L^^rd Palmerston could
be obtained on a more prostrate-growing and
shorter jointed Geranium, I should say that, so
far as that color is concerned, we had reached per-
fection.

30

M)t gardener's ^'floufblir.

FuNors Spots on Pears.— These spots have
undoubtedly originated in the growth beneath the
real cuticle, of a minute brown parasitic Fungus,
Cladosporium dendriticum, which has destroyed
the vitality of the subjacent tissue, but has not suf-
ficient vigor of growth or greediness of moisture
to make it penetrate deeply into the fruit. Where
moist decay has supervened, it is apparently due
to other Fungi which have accompanied or replac-
ed the Cladosporium. This mould has of late
years been a dreadful pest both to Pears and
Apples, in some cases being virulent enough to
destroy or ^reatly impair the young shoots, and
its growth beneath the cuticle makes it almost im-
possible to apply a remedy. After a time, indeed,
the cuticle bursts, to allow the fertile threads to
break out into the air and bear fruit, but the mis-
chief is then already done, and it is notorious that
even were the habit different, dark threaded Fungi
are far less destructible than those which are color-
less.— M. J. li., in Gardener's Chronicle.

Seqttota OIOANTEA. — Professor Brewer, a dis-
tinguished American Botanist, in a letter to Sir
W. Hooker, says :

" An interesting discovery this year has been of
the existence of the big trees in great abundance
on the western flanks of the Sierra Nevada, in
about lat. .36° or .37°. They are very abundant
along a belt at .5000-7000 feet alt., for a distance
of more than 2r> miles, sometimes in groves, at
others scattered through forests in great numbers.
You can have no idea of the grandeur they impart
to the .scenery, where at times a hundred trees are
in sight at once, over 15 feet in diameter, their

rich foliage contrasting so finely with their bright
cinnamon-colored bark. I found trees larger than
they occur further north Ciu the Calaveras and
Maipula groves). The largest tree I saw was lOfi
feet in circumference at 4 feet from the ground.
It had lost some butteresses by fire ; it must have
been at least 115 or 1:20 feet when entire ; it is 276
feet high. The Indians tell of a much higher
tree' which I did not ."ee.

"There seems no danger of the speedy extinc-
tion of the .species, as it is now known in quite a
number of localities, and, contrary to the popular
notion, there are immense numbers of younger
trees of all sizes, from the seedling up to the
largest. There has been much nonsense and error
published regarding them.

" I have no doubt of the true generic relations.
I think that no one who is familiar with both
species in situ would separate them generically
from the Sequoia scrapervirens, also abundant in
this State, and fully as restricted in its distribution ;
nor do I think the names of Wellingtonia and
Washingtonia can be duly respected

Sensitive Leaved Plants.— The extreme sen-
sibility of the leaves of Mimosa sen.'^itiva and
pudica, not only to light, but to the slightest touch
of any extraneous body, is a good example of the
exquisite sensibility of leaves. In dull, sunless
weather the leaves never fully expand ; whilst at
night the leaflets fold up close together. But the
most remarkable instance of the kind is, perhaps,
to be found in the spontaneous n)otion of the leaves
of that very singular plant the Hedysarum gyrans.
Its motions are independent even of the agency of
light, or of any other stimulus whatever, only re-
quiring the warm temperature of the stove, with a
perfectly still atmosphere, to be performed in per-
fection.— Cottarje Gardener.

Cool Orchids. — In the following are a fine
showy species, that will succeed in a house with a
temperature varying from 4.5° to 50° in winter: —
Anguloa Clowesii, A. unifiora, Arpophyllum gigan-
teum, yErides ^Yarneri ; Barkeria spectabilis, B.
Skinned, Brassavola Digbyana ; Cal,tle.ya Skinneri,
Coelogyne cristata, Calanthe vestita, Chysis Lim-
minghi, Cypripedium barbatum, C. venustura, C.
insignis; Dendrobium speciosum, D. nobile, D.
pulchellum ; J^pidcndrum amabile, E. atropurpu-
reum, E. macrochilum, E. aurantiacum, E. Skin-
neri, E. vitellinum ; Loptotes bicolor, Lycaste Skin-
neri, L. aromatica; Mormodes aromatica ; Odon-
toglossum grande, 0. Insleayi, 0. membranaceum,

— «K§^'

C|t ©urdnttr'j

31

0. iian'ium, O. Pescatorei, Oncidium ampliatuin,
O. flexuosum, 0. divarlcatuin, O. cupreura ;
Pleoine lagenaria, P. maculata, P. Wallicliiana ;
Sophronites cernua.

New Roses op 1865. — It was anticipated some
time ago that the fine seasons of the two or three
past years would be productive of great numbers
of seedling Roses. From the inforniation received
from various quarters the anticipation is likely to
be fully realized. It is quite natural that the raisers
of seedling Roses should be de.sirous of putting
forward their productions. It is quite right that
their merits should be recognized ; but the experi-
ence of the past shows that the improvements
effected in the " queen of flowers," are gradual,
and that out of the great number of varieties an-
nually sent out very few retain a place for a length
of time. A word of caution to our Rose friend
will not be deemed out of place. They will do
well to be careful in their selection of new kinds,
and not to slight the information that appears in
these columns from time to time from various
sources.

Among the earliest announcements are those of
M. Eugene Verdier, of Paris — a name that has ac-
quired honorable distinction among rosarians. —
Making a slight allowance for differences of cli-
mate and soil, M. Verdier's descriptions have
proved truthful as regards the kinds he has hither-
to offered, and reliance may be placed upon his se-
lections. It should also be remembered that to M.
Verdier we are indebted for Prince Camille do
Rohan, undoubtedly the best dark Rose j'et sent
out ; also for Madame Charles Wood, Duchesse de
Morny, Rushton RadclyfTe, Madame Victor Ver-
dier, H. Laurentius, and other fine varieties. He
also sent out, but did not raise Marechal Neil, the
greatest acquisition to our yellow Roses since the
appearance of Celine Fore&tier, and promising to
surpass all that we yet po.ssess of that color.

The following are M. Verdier's announcements
for the next season. The translation is made from
his own circular. The first two are Bourbons, the
remainder Hybrid Perpetuals: —

Julius Ccesar, very vigorous, with stout dark-
green branches ; thorns almost straight, strong and
blackish ; leaves composed of five broad and thick
leaflets, delicate green ; flowers large, about 10 cen-
tin^etres (4 inches) in diameter, in clusters of from
three to eight, very full, well formed, beautiful
deep rose cerise.

Madame Charles Baltet, seedling fi-nni L;iuise
Odier, very vigorous, branches rubu t distinct

green, thorns strong, straight and reddish ; leaves
composed of five bright green leaflets ; flowers
large, about 9 centimeters in diameter (3^ inches,)
in clusters of from four to sis, perfectly imbricated ;
beautiful fresh delicate rose.

AJba mntahilis, seedling from Jules IMargottin,
very vigorous, with brownish-green branches ;
thorns long, straight and blackish ; leaves compos-
ed of five bright green leaflets ; flowers large,
about 9 centimeters in diameter (31- inches), full,
white, tinged with rose, becoming completely
shaded with rose in the course of expansion.

Charles Roinllard, very vigorous, with straight
dark-green branches ; thorns few, straight or near-
ly so, reddish ; leaves composed of three to five
leaflets, deep green ; flowers large, about 10 centi-
meters in diameter (4 inches), of the most perfect
form, full; beautiful delicate rose with brighter
centre.

FUher Holmes, very vigorous and free-blooming ;
branches dull green ; thorns short, straight, and
yellowish , leaves composed of five dark-izreen leaf-
lets ; flowers large, aV»out 9 centimeters in diame-
ter C^i inchesj, full, imbricated like a Camellia;
magnificent scailet red ; very fragrant.

John Gn'er, very vigorous, with dark green stout
branches ; thorns strong, slightly curved, yellow-
ish ; leaves composed of five apple-green leaflets;
flowers large, from 8 to 9 centimeters in diameter
(3^ to 3s inches), full, well formed, globular, very
fragrant ; beautiful clear red or dark rose, reverse
of petals silvery.

Jean Lambert, vigorous, with davk-green bran-
ches; thorns numerous, straight, atul yellowish;
leaves composed of five dark-green leaflets; flowers
extra large, about 12 centimeters in diaujeter C4|
inches); flame color, shaded fiery red ; the buds
are often extraordinary, and resemble a pigeon's
egsr.

MdVe. Marguerite Domhrain, seedling of Rose
de la Reine, very vigorous, with straght, bright
green branches; leaves composed of five to seven
delicate green leaflets; flowers extra large, from 12
to 14 centimeters in diameter (4| to SJ inches),
full, globular, well formed, and very fragrant ;
beautiful blush rose, very delicate, and very fresh.
Prince de Porcia, very vigorous, with dull green
branches ; thorns sharp, numerous, yellowish ;
leaves composed of five deep green leaflets ; flowers
large, about 10 centimeters in diameter (i inches),
full, well formed; deep vivid vermilion.

Professeur .Duchartre, very vigorous, with bright
green bi-anches ; thorns short, slightly recurved,
yellowish ; leaves composed of five pale green leaf-
lets ; flowers large, from 9 to 10 centimeters in
diameter (3^ to 4 inches), in clusters of four and
six, full, globular, well formed, very fragrant;
bright red, reverse of petals silvery.

Souvenir d'Ahrahani Uncoln, seedling from
Cardinal Patrizzi, vigorous, with reddish branches ;
th^rns sharp and brown : leaves composed of five
to .seven reddish green leaflets ; flowers medium
from 7 to 8 centimeters in diameter (24 to ol

¥1

32

S;iu; (SardfUi^r's (^lanthlg,

-CSS. ^ A'»i *

inches), full, wtll f'irnio<l; criinson, tincreJ with
fiery red, purple, and ro-e.

Wi/liam Rullisson, very vigorous, with briirht
greeu branches; thurn-* ^liurp and slightl}' curved,
yellowish-brown ; leaves conipo-ed ot five bright
green leaflets ; flowers large, about 9 contimetcr.-i
in diameter (oi inches), full, globular ; magnificent
vivid cherry red.

The following new Rn.'<e3 were obtained by
Messrs. Gautreau and Granger, and rewarded with
medals at the exhibition of Brie-Conite-llobert : —

(liimllle Brrnardin (Gautreau^, seedlin? from
General Jac(}ueminot, very vigorous, with dark-
green branches; leaves composed of five bright
green leaflet.s ; flowers large, about 10 or 11 eeiiti-
mcters in diameter (A and \\ inches^, full, well
formed ; vivid red. cdired with white ; free bloom-
ing and very iragranf.

C(irl Cocrs (Granger), "very vigorou.s ; wood and
foliage dark, green; thorns rather numerous;
flowers very large, from lU to 12 centimeters in
diameter (\ to -4] inches), full ; deep purple.

Exposition He Brie, very vigorous, with reddish-
green branches; thorns short and reddish; leaves
composed of five deeply-notched leaflets, apple-
green ; flowers large, about 12 centimeters in dia-
meter {A\ inches), full, well- formed; beautiful daz-
zling vivid red.

From the forcgoins copious, and in some respects
superfluous descriptions it is ea>y to point out one
variety likely to prove an acquisition — viz : Mdlle.
Marguerite Donibrain. That it is the best of M.
Verdier's Feedlings is evident from the description.
and from the fact that he intends to publish an en-
graving of it. The la^t three are probably good,
and .«ln)uld they turn out .-o. Carl Coers will also
be an acquisition for the sake of its color, wliich is
still a desideratum. Nearly all the others are too
8mall for the prevailing'' ta-te. although under the
high cultivation of the Rose in this country, the
actual size of the flnwers obtained is greater than
in France. — .\i)i.i,. \[. Ke.nT, Bli'chmgli/, Snrm/,
in Cotfof/r (larilriifr.

J^orHfuffiirsI HofifFS.

FRUIT-GROWERS SOCIETY OF EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

! The Annual Meeting of this Society will be held

i at Harrisbtirgh, Pa., on the 17th of January. IsGf).

I This, though one of the youngest of our Pomo-

1 logical Societies, has achieved an eminent position

in character and usefulness. From the central point

selected lor this meeting, it will probably be one of

the best attended of all that have been held. The

Rev. James Colder is the IVesident of the Society.

PENN'A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The November meeting was held on the 21st. of
that month. Among the most attractive objects on
this occa.sion were some some splendid specimens
of Pifcfiirnf a Rplmdrns, from W. Joyce, gardener
for M. W. Baldwin. The Pitca'r ica belongs to
what is known, amongst gardeners, as thcPine-ap-

l)le family. The leaves of this species are longer
and larger than most other species usually grown.
The spikes of scarlet crimson flowers were about 2
feet long. It is one of the most showy hot- house
l^lants blooming at this season.

The same eslubitor had a very fine Soncrilld
inarf/arifdcrn, covered with bloom ; and we believe
the finest ever shown before the Society, — al.-<o a
Very fine specimen of Maxilhiria pictti, a curious
orchid of delightful fragrance, which has al.so the
merit of being growable in a warm greenhouse.

Messrs. P.Mackenzie & Son exhibed the twilled
Japan Chrysanthemum, ( C. jopoin'ciDn) also the
beautiful hu-iniated Jai)an variety, of which we
gave a handsome illustration in our last volume.

The exhibition of Chry.saiithemunis was not near
equal, in the good growth of the si)ecin)ens, to for-
mer years. The first ami only premiums in all the
classes were awarded to Donald McQueen, gardener
to Joshua Lon^streth.

To Mr. Hibbert, gardener to Fairman Rogers,
the best display of Greenhou.«e ])lants was awarded
— mostly kinds we have named on former occasions.

There were the usual fine displays of bouquets,
de>igiis and baskets of cut-flowers, for which J)on-
ii!d McQueen had prtniiiums for the fortuer, and
W. Joyce for the latter.

The best 12 varieties of Pears was awarded to
Ffon Vj. Satterthwait, — they were Lawrence. Ka.s-
ter Beurre, Doyenne d'Aleneon, Chaptal, Catillac,
Vvinter Nelis, Beurre d'Anjim, Duches.«e d'An-
gouleme, Y. of AVinkfield, llrbaniste, (J. Morceau.

The best three bunches of foreign Grapes to W.
Joyce, for Black Frankenth;il. and Pale.-tine.

To Mr. A. L. Feltcn, the A^egetable Committee
awarded the premium for the best collection of
vegetables, which were equal to any ever before
exhibited at this .season. We noticed anionirst the
novelties fine specimens of Early (iroodrich I'otaio.

The best stalks of Celery was nwarded to F.
O'Keefe, gardener to L. Ileyl. The best Bro(;oli
to A. L. Felten, also the best Cauliflower; and to
F. O'Keefe for Brussels Sprout.s.

A j)remiuni having been oftered at a past meet-
ing for a collection of Vdriefiatrd-Jenf plants, aiid
another for a collection of ornmnojfdJ lenf plants,
■ iiHi a plant of ^'l/Zorr/.s/Vf mpfd/h'ra having been in
the former lot, which gained a premium, objection
was made to the premium being confirmed by the
Society, on the ground that when such a classifica-
tion was maile by the Society, it should not be con-
sidered a "variegated-leaved plant." The question
was referred to the Committea on Botany for de-
ci.>-ion, which reported that it was not to be consid-
ered a variegated-leaved plant.

The following gentlemeu were elected officers for
the en.5uing year :

Premlrnt — D. Rodney King.

Vicc-Prexidenfx—M. W. Baldwin, Caleb Cope,
Robert Buist, Charles Harmar.

Cnrrrsponih'nr/ Srcrrtnri/ — Thomas Mechan.

Rrcordinfi Srrrrt'ny/ — A. W. Harrison. *

Trciisiirrr — 11. A. Drcor.

Proff'sxor of Bofrmi/ — Thomas P. James.

■Prof, of Ilnrt. C'hemisfn/ — James C. Booth.

I^qfessor of £}ntumologi/S. S. Rathvon.

D3VOTEID TO

iFfiruffur?, ^pfeririilfiiFF, ^Peleeg %• p.iire! ISl^feirs.

THOMAS IMEITHAW, Kditor "1?T?"RP TT A t? V 10f>f»

W. G. P. BRIJSrCKLOB, Publisher. -*^ il«l>ii U iiH X , ibbb.

VOL. VIII..-NO. 2.

ijmps por ^pmerg

GROUND.

There are few things which add more to the
beautj' and interest of a place at all seasons of the
ye^than the judicious employment of hardy
lowering shrubs.

Of those which are beautiful and can be readily
and cheaply obtained, we may name Dwarf Horse-
Chestnut, flowering in June; the different Dog-
woods, Cornus Florida, C. sanguinea, C. mascula,
C. alLa, and particularly the variegated English;
the Hawthorns are very pretty when in a cool soil
and situation, partially shaded from the sun in
summer— there are many fine double varieties of
the English which do best when grafted on Ameri-
can stocks: the Double White and Double Red
and Pink are particularly desirable ; the Labur-
num is rather a strong-growing shrub, also wanting
a cool soil and situation. When the season happens
favorably, it is the most ornamental shrub we have.
The Sea Buckthorn is very desirable for its pretty
silver foliage ; but it should not be set on a lawn,
as it suckers somewhat : the shrubbery border is
the place for it. Of the silver-leaved class the
Oleasters are very desirable. The yellow is not
hardy north of New York ; but the small-leaved
[jEleagnus parvtfolia) is perfectly so ; it has in ad-
dition very sweet flowers and pretty berries to re-
commend it. The Silver Bell or Snow-drop tree
is also a large shrub; but its early white flowers
give it a claim on most shrubberies, especially as it
blooms quite young. The Magnolias purpurea
and glauca are very desirable. The latter, as it
grows in swamps when wild, is not often seen cul-

tivated, as it is supposed it will not do in dry soil.
This is a mistake. In a deep rich soil it thrives
amazingly. It requires a free use of the pruning-
knife on transplanting. The European Bird Cherry
is one of the handsomest strong-growing shrubs of
its season — June. For a single specimen on a
lawn it is not to be excelled. Its habit is good,
and its flowering abundant ; its berries are also very
enticing to birds, which form no mean addition to
the pleasure of a garden. The Pyrus japonica
every ones knows : the white variety is desirable,
though it is more pink than white. The Mist tree
is indispensable, from its striking peculiarity of
flowering. The White Fringe, with leaves like the
Lilac, and large pendant clusters of white flowers,
no less so. There are several Willows which, as
shrubs, we would on no account be without, for
their flowers large and sweet, so early that the first
sun that thaws the iMarch snow, bring them out
also. The Goat Willow and the Villars Willow-
male varieties of course — are especially to be men-
tioned. The Indian Cherry {AmeJanchier), follow-
ing the Willow in flowering and very beautiful ;
and the Double Pink, and Double White Dwarf
Almond, are also early and pretty. The Yellow
White and Crimson Azaleas, are magnificent, but
so scarce in nurseries, we are almost afraid to have
them in this list. The different Berberries can be
scarcely spared for their pretty red berries in fall.
The Sweet Shrub or Virginia Cal3'canthus, is one
of the sweetest of all flowering shrubs ; though its
color is dull. The Bladder Senna is very desira-
ble for its love of our summer heat, flowering pro-
fusely during July and August. The Mezereon is
particularly sweet and attractive, blooming very
eai-ly, but like the Azalea, rather scarce in nurseries.
The Deutzias are well known, — scabra and gra-
cilis are the two best. The Burning bushes are
beautiful in the fall, — the Mississippi Purple {atro-
purpurea), and the European, are two most desira-
ble. The Golden Bell and early Spiroeas, (as pru-
nifolia, Blumeana and Reevesii), every one wants,
as well as the Weigelia rosea. The public taste is

■3

®)m

34

£hc ©ardentr's (ploni!)ln.

If

divided on the Althea, yet there are few gardens i
without some one variety or other. The variegated
leaved is scarce, but as desirable as any shrub \
grown. The Oak-leaved Hydrangea uiakes a very \
striking object in a collection ; and the common
garden Hydrangea indispensable for dense shade, j
For flowering in August, and for dwarf compact j
habit, Hypericum Kalinianum,or the H. prolificum,
is perhaps unrivalled. A rather scarce, but particu- .
larly pretty native shrub is Itea Virginica, which, '
like the Magnolia glauea. a swamp plant, cultivates
well in dry ground. The Jasminum nudiflorum
should be trained to a stiff stake, and get a pruning i
with the shears twice a year ; it then grows very
compact, and will support itself after the stake rots
away ; then it makes one of the prettiest .'shrub-
bery bushes imaginable. As an oriental looking
plant, the common privet is good ; indeed, its pure j
white flowers, fragrant as they are, and jet black
berries, alway.s attract attention. It is a plant that
will thrive in the most gravelly soils. The Upright
Honeysuckles are perhaps the most common in
gardens; the Tartarian deservedly so — few things
are prettier. The Fly Honeysuckle is also desirable,
for though the flowers are noi quite as showy as
the Tartarian, the habit is most graceful. Then
the Mock Oranges or Philadelphus, though all 1
white flowering, afi"ord, by their diversity of habit, \
many good shrubs. The sweet one, [P. coronnriiia), \
one of the oldest and best, is least common. The i
Large-flowered and Gordon's Upright are the two
next best. The Tree Paeonies, though rather ex-
pensive, every one wants. The Ked and White
iSnowberry make good show in winter by their in-
teresting fruit. As for the Lilacs, we need scarcely
recommend them : common as they arc, no garden
is complete without them. The Persian is a very
distinct one from the common kinds. There are
many new varieties, but they are but shades of old
colors.

The Tamarix is not often seen, but a great fa-
vorite of ours. In the class of ^'iburnums the
Snowball is well known ; also the high bush or false
Cranberrj', the Black Haw and the Wayfaring tree
are the best.

For a collection of desirable trees, not particularly
scarce, but which couM be had in most nurseries,
we would select the Norway, Ilcd, Sycamore and
Sugar Maples: Engli^h Horse-Chestnut, where the
soil is not too hot and dry ; English White Birch ;
English Hornbeam, a rather small tree ; Judas
tree, cither English or American ; European Beech,
also the Blood caved variety ; European Ash, in-
cluding the \/eeping variety and Flowering Ash

{ormis) : European Larch, and the Anierienn to
make a pretty tree when mature ; the Sweet Gum ;
Magnolia tripetala ; IMimosa tree (JiiJihn'ftsin),
south of l*hiladelphia ; Paulownin, for those who
like sweet or showy flowers regardli>ss of an ugly
growth ; Oriental Plane for grandeur and rapid
growth ; and of the Oaks, the English, Scarlet,
Mos.sy cup and Swamp White are the best. The
deciduous Cypress, American Linden, and where
the Elm-worm is not troublesome, the American
Elm.

Bearing our Southern friends in mind, so many
of whom are again amongst our regular readers,
we may add here, what for northern readers would
be better said next month, that all pruning opera-
tions be ended as soon as possible, lawns rolled as
soon as they can be after the frost leaves them,
and while still wet, in order to fill up the inequali-
ties, apply a top-dressing of bone-dust, guano,
wood ashe.s, or whatever other "seedless" manure
may be adopted, before the rolling. Arrangements
should be made also for spring planting, by getting
good soil hauled near where it may be wanted, for
it is a sad loss of time to plant in poor ground, and
the holes may even now be dug and the new soil put
in. Planting, however, should not be done until tha
.soil is quite dry, so that the earth can be crushed
finely in about the roots by the feet, instead of be-
ing pressed closer together. Avoid watering the
roots at planting. If they appear dry, dip them
in a tub of water if small, or sprinkle with a water
pot if large, before setting. The soil immediately
about the fibres will then adhere to them, and
while the water thus benefits, the soil is not render-
ed a mass of mud. If the trees a])poar very dry,
prune accordingly to the degree of probable injury.
If a tree have a large mass of fibrous roots, and
these not dry, and the top not very large, no prun-
ing will be necessary. If the roots are injured,
prune them too a little. If the injury to the root
or top be very great, prune the top severely. No
tree or shrub need die of transplanting, no matter
how great the injury, unless entirely dead. If there
be any life at all a severe pruning will save it. It
is often recommended to bury up entirely in soil
for a few days plants that become dried somewhat
during removal, which usually does pretty well;
but we would prefer to prune away ^ portion of
the branches.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Pruning of fruit trees, when required, should be
proceeded with at favorable opportunities.

im^

@T

t ©nrbencr's Hloutljlg.

35

n-^^

The rule, in pruning grape-vines, is to shorten
the shoots in proportion to their strength ; but, if
the advice we have given in former summer hints
has been attended to, there will be little dispropor-
tion in this matter, as summer pinching of the
strong shoots has equalized the strength of the
vine. Those who are following anj' particular sys-
tem will, of course, prune according to the rules
comprising such system. As a general rule, we
can only say, excellent grapes can be had by any
system of pruning ; for the only object of pruning
in any case is to get strong shoots to push where
they may be desired, or to increase, with the in-
creased vigor of the shoot, which pruning supposes
will follow the act, increased size in the fruit it
bears.

Manuring of grapes should be regulated by the
nature of the soil. If it be damp — in tiiost cases
a bad condition for grape-growing — stable manure
in great quantities means diseased vines. In dry
ground, it has a beneficial effect. Many persons of
small places have grapes in damp ground, or can
have none. They must take care to keep the roots
near the surface ; never Top the ground about them
to destroy the small fibres, if it can be avoided ;
and even good may often follow, when the vines
seem fliiling, to carefully follow up the roots, lift
near the surface, and encourage, as much as possi-
ble, there remaining there. Wood-ashes, bone-
dust, and such like fertilizers are best for grape-
vines in low ground.

All fruit trees like a rather dry. rich soil. On a
cold clayey bottom, diseases are usually frequent.

As to whether undordraining, although a benefit
in the abstract, is sufficiently so as to be a profitable
operation in many cases, is a question deserving
pome thought before embarking largely on labor
and inaterials, costing say a dollar against an im-
provement not worth more than one or two per cent,
per annum, is not the most judicious expenditure.
When one has a very wet piece of ground there
can be no mistake about the value of underdrain-
ing it, providing one has no other ground fit for
fruit trees that is not wet ; but when the ground is
naturally in fair condition, it would be well to go
by the advice of some practical man, or at least ex-
periment on a small .scale first, before embarking
largely in the improvement.

Do not plant deep ; cut off tap roots, and do all
you can to encourage surface fibres. Surface ma-
nuring is tlie b»st way of doing tliis after the tree
is planted. Do not allow any thing to grow vigor-
ously around your trees the first year of i)lanting,

nor allow the soil to become hard or dry. Let trees
branch low, and prune a little at transplanting.

The Strawberry, where it has been covered du-
ring the winter, should be uncovered as early as
possible in spring, that the warm spring suns may
exert all their influence on producing an early crop.
As soon as growth commences, a sowing of guano
has been found to be of great benefit to the crop of
fruit.

Raspberries and Blackberries may be planted
towards the end of the month ; they should be cut
down to within a foot of the ground at planting ;
they will, of course, not then bear the next season
after planting. But this is a benefit ; no fruit tree
should be allowed to bear the same season.

VEGETABLE GARDSJJ.
A south-eastern aspect is best for a hot-bed, and
it should be well sheltered from winds on the cold
quarter.

All those kinds that are grown for their leaves
or stems, require an abundance of nitrogenous ma-
nures ; and it is useless to attempt vegetable gar-
dening without it. To this class belong cabbage,
lettuce, spinach, etc. The other class -which is
grown principally for its seeds or pods, as beans,
peas, etc., do not require much manure of this
character, in fact they are injured by it. It causes
too great a growth of stem and leaf and the earli-
ness — a great aim in vegetable growing — is injuri-
ously affected. Mineral manures, as wood ashes,
bone-dust, et\ are much better for them. For
vegetables lequiring rich stable manure, it is best
that they have it well rotted and decayed. Noth-
ing has yet been found so well fitted for the pur-
pose as old hot-bed dung; though to the smell no
trace of "ammonia" remains in it.

In managing the vegetable garden the highest
excellence should be aimed at. This is the chief
source of pleasure in a garden. If one can take no
pleasure in his garden, — if the watching of the
beautiful processes of nature in furnishing him
food, and the many lessons they teach him, which
he in a thousand ways can so pleasurably and pro-
fitably apply, have no charms or attractions for him,
—he had better give up gardening, for assuredly in
most cases,— even to 99 in 100 instances,— the mar-
ket gardener will bring the vegetables to his own
door cheaper than he can grow them. Amateur
gardening should primarily be pursued for the les-
sons it teaches, and the pleasure it affords ; when
it ceases to do this it should be abandoned.

^t^

(^

36

®lu (Saibcntr's Hlonthlg.

Those who have hot-beds will now sow Tomatoes,
Egg-plants, Peppers, and other vegetables that can
be forwarded by this means ; and those who have
not, will sow them in boxes or pans, and forward
them in windows. Every garden ought to have at
least a few hot-bed sash to forward early vegetables ;
for if they have no means of applying artificial heat
to them, the sash will of itself forward some things
con.-iderably.

Many parties like to have Turnips sown in spring.
The only way to succeed with them is to sow as
early as possible, and on a very rich piece of ground,
where they may grow speedily. If they do not
swell before the hot weather comes, they will cer-
tainly run to seed.

About the middle or end of the month, or still
later at the North — say the middle of March — Cel-
ery and late Cabbage may be sown. Here we usu-
ally sow the second week in March.

All gardens .should have beds of herbs. They are
always looked for in the fall, and nearly always for-
gotten in spring. Now is the time to plant Thyme,
Sage, Mint, Balm, and other perennial herbs, and
Parsley and other seeds of hardy kinds may be
sown. When we say noj«, it is of course, under-
stood to mean where the frost has evidently broken
up for the season. Our readers in less favored
climes will not forget it when it does.

(Jomniunirafions*

ROGERS' HYBRID GRAPES.

BY JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON, D. C.

There appears to be considerable diversity of
opinion respecting these Grapes. I am one of those
who think favorably of them after fruiting the same
three or four sea.^ons. When Concord was fir&t
sent out, many excellent cultivators condemned it as
" too Foxy," '• very pulpy" " and inferior;" carried
south and south-west the grape improved ; what
was an inferior grape in New p]ngland proved a
very superior grape in this latitude — the pulp
nearly or quite di.sappearing — and further south
still — in Georgia for instance — it is again better —
an excellent grape. What is true of the Concord in
this particular, will, I have no doubt, be equally so
of these Hybrids ; the fartlier south they are carried
the better they will be found. I arrive at these
conclusions from the fact, that with me many are
excellent, far superior to any descriptions I have
read of them from northern growers.

That they are true Hybrids there is not the least
doubt in my mind.

I will describe a few of what I consider the best.

No. 1. Strange that the first should, with me,
prove the best, but so it is — the bunches are large,
with large oval berricSj light reddish color; no trace
of pulp; exceedingly sweet and delicious; late,
ripening with Isabella ; one of the finest of grapes.

No. 2. Berries round, black, good flavor ; a fine
grape, but not to be compared to No. 1.

No. 4. Is early, very sweet and pleasant ; berries
globular, black ; a little pulp, but in all an excel-
lent grape and deserves an extensive trial.

No. 9. Appears to be between Chasselas and a
native; bunches medium sized, compact; berries
globular, reddish color, bearing, in appearance and
flavor, a resemblance to Grizzly Frontignac;
scarcely a trace of pulp ; a superb grape.

No. 12. This variety has not been noticed as
much as others, yet I am inclined to think it will
l>rove valuable south; it should have a trial. —
Bunch and berries large, the latter globular, deep
amber color, the side next the sun suffused with
red ; very sweet, but pulpy.

No. 13. Has bunches of medium size; berries
globular, reddish color ; very sweet and good, but
has pulp.

No. 15. This variety has probably been descri-
bed oftener than any other, and it remains for me
only to say it retains, with all, its good qualities
here. Berries reddish ; flavor rich and fine ; an
excellent grape.

No. 19. Here we have an early and very good
grape ; berries globular, black ; flavor sweet and
rich ; a good bearer, and may be classed among our
best early grapes.

No. 22. Has compact, well formed bunches ;
berries globular, very sweet and delicious, with a
trace of pulp ; a very fine grape.

No. 33. Bunches well formed ; berries oval, black,
sweet and good, with little pulp ; early and good.

No. 34. Has large bunches, with immense globu-
lar berries, as large as moderate sized plums, black,
sugary and good, with little pulp ; may prove an
excellent market grape.

[Varied experience with fruits in different sec-
tions of the country is the best way to form an idea
of the general character. This is the first series of
observations on llogers' Hybrids from the neigh-
borhood of Wa>hiiigton we have had, and as such
very interesting.— Ei>. J

■M,^.

v2/T

tm^

%\^ §arbnier's Hlontljln.

37

'f^

VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY.

BY J. STAUFFER, LANCASTER, PA.

The acconipanj'ing illustrations show the branch
of a youn.ff Pear tree before separating it from the
trees. The historj' is briefly this :

Mr. Daniel Engle, of East Donegal Township,
in the County of Lancaster, Pa., has a thriving
Pear tree, a branch of which was broken during a
storm in January 7, 1857. ^Ir. Engle tied up the
broken branch, and left it, hardly expecting it to
keep up its vitality. However the branch kept a
green liealthy color, and threw off branches of
young wood from 12 to 14 inches long, during the
following spring and summer.

The leaves were healthy and indicated no want
of nourishment. In March, 1858, his attention
was arrested by the singular condition of the
wounded branch, on inspection he found that the
lieart-wood was perfectly dry and dead for at least
one inch in length, while on either .side were large
granular tubers of sap formation, having minute
spongiolc-like points or filaments ; although the
branch and leaves appeared quite healthy, the un-
sightly appearance induced him to sever the branch,
which he afterwards regretted, as it prevented the
further development of a desirable result, as to
how long the branch would survive and flourish in
such a condition.

Mr. Engle brought the branch to S. S. Rathvon,
of this city, to exhibit the dead, dry central core
of the branch, who gave it into my hands for fur-
ther inspection. I took an accurate drawing of the
same and recorded the facts with the following
note: —

"It is evident that vitality was kept up during
the spring and summer of 1857, through the frac-
tured wood above it, some remaining vitality must
have aided in keeping it alive by a minute quanti-
ty of sap still finding its way, if not fed by the
numerous rains, developing spongy granules, which
seemed disposed to send out rootlets or spongioles,
and would, no doubt, have thrown out regular
roots had .clay (properly prepared) been put around
the base of the fractured stem, and kept moist ; in
in due time it might have been separated and plan-
ted, and formed a new tree on the Chinese plan."

In 1864 I stated the facts of the case in a letter
to Dr. A. Gray (Harvard University), he deemed
it of interest, and desired me to publish it for the
benefit of fruit-growers.

I have deferred doing so until now. In my letter
to the Dr., I indulged in Philosophising, somewhat

•$4j^

38

§th^ hardener's <plontIiIg.

Co).

after this fasliion — " Nature is as ))rolific in re-
sources as in means — means are infinite — that is.
without number, the case of fracture, above noticed,
is an apt illustration. The natural forces of the
tree all co-operate to repair the injurj- and concen-
trate their jiowers upon the nearest possible point
to the seat of the injury, or we may say, upon the
extreme line of demarcation between the sound and
the broken parts. It is not alone by the agency of
the sap, that the life forces of the tree are kept in
circulation, but the imponderable element of vege-
table od, or, if you please, the refined particles of
electricity, which ever clothe and i)rotect and facili-
tate trrowth and restoration may in cases of injury
be seen by the highly clairvoyant eye, to throw
themselves out as by a projectile force from oppo-
site directions on the line of fracture, as if to bridge
the channel rent.

The grosser electrical then having acquired velo-
city by the new demand upon its powers, flies, as
it were, to fill the vacuum, or to leap the point of
disruption, and pursues its natural course, while
the od reaching out on each side, with its strong
attraction comes so nearly in contact from diverse
directions as to cause a reconstruction of the parts,
and we may see the finer streams or threads of
electricity springing across from side to side. This
is .something on the principle of lightning flashing
from onje cloud to another less highly charged.

Now, if atmospheric conditions were observed,
and conducting elements were bound closely to the
wounded parts, there would be no difficulty in res-
storing the mutilated limbs in the case described.

When there is enough of woody fiber or texture
to prevent separation, take a narrow strip of bark
from any tree of the same species to carefully
bridge or unite, waxing the outer edge of this bark
and thus making it impervious. Then make a
mixture o fresh earth and barn-yard Inam, sprink-
ling in the mixture a handful of iron filings, which
pervading the mass will facilitate the electric flow ;
or in many ca.ses the bark operation may be dis-
pen,sed with, an excrescence will be formed gradu-
ally extending from either side till a new covering
of bark will Ite formed.

This is again on the same principle that a severed
artery will put out a new section and restore the
communication."

Dr. Gray objected to my term " od" and "clair-
voyance," as belonging rather to a new school of
tran.scendentalism with which our savans have no
sympathy as yet. But terms mean nothing if we
but get the idea of two conditions of electric mat-
ter, though invisible acts ; nevertheless, just as the

magnet upon the needle, the interposition of gla.ss,
although a non-conductor to electricity, is no im-
pediment to the magnetic force.

Dutrochet points out many resemblances between
the common electric actions, and those of endos-
mose, concluding that in every essential circum-
stance these phenomena are exactly similar, so that
very little dou])t can be entertained that the pas-
sage of fluid.s by endosmose and exosmose depends
on electric influences; in short, that on the internal
and external surfaces of the membranaceous bags be
ing brought into opposite states of electricity, by the
action of the fluids, differing in density, or chemi-
cal composition, and ai)plied, the one internally,
and the other externally, the phenomena takes
place.

One very striking point of argument confirma-
tory of this conclusion, .seems to be that an eleva-
tion of temi)erature powerfullj' increases the elec-
tric action, as well as ascent of vegetable juices;
the great difliculty hitherto encountered in the
theories, explanatory of the circulation of the juices
of plants, was to explain by what means the sap
both ascended from the roots upwards, and descen-
ded by the leaves and bark. This difliculty can,
however, be satisfactorily overcome by the ingeni-
ous discoveries of Dutrochet. It maybe remarked,
also, how appropriately the spongioles of the radi-
cles are conotructed to produce endosmose.

I forbear to say more on this tojjic. as my com-
munication is already much longer than it was in-
tended to be.

P. S. — By placing a cambric needle on one side
of a plate of gla.ss and a common hor.sc-shoe magnet
against the glass on the opposite .side, the needle
will follow the magnet to the top of the gla.ss and
be found to leaj) to it. The intervening plate of
glass is no obstacle to the attractive force ; this is
known to many school boj's, and yet some men are
wholly ignorant that such is the case.

POraOLOGT.

BY YK COMMin'KE-MAN.

Your strictures, Mr. Editor, on the so called
Science of Pomology, were, no doubt, well meant,
and I am not prepared to .say that 3'our ridicule of
Con)mittee-men was not well deserved ; but had you
reflected on the difficulties they have to contend
with in the performance of their duties you would
not have called them such hard names ; and 1 now
propo.se to give some few of the qualifications
nece.s.sary for yc Committee-man.

Wc will take it for granted that he is perfectly (^

familiar with all the lesser fruits, and that he
knows at a glance the 400 varieties of Strawberries,
and 493 of Gooseberries, described by Johnson
above 20 j'cars ago ; but also the 400 of Cherries,
71 of Raspberries and Blackberries, 65 of Currants,
Mulberries and Berberries, together with 348 of
Peaches, 420 of Plums, 216 of Apricots, Necta-
rines and Figs, and 112 of 3Iclons, &c. , all of which
are described by Downing in 1857 ; and with which
ye Committee-man must be familiar, together with
all the new sorts introduced since that time ; many
of these, it is true, are synonyms, and some of
them were out of fashion before ye Committee-man
was born, but that is neither here nor there, he
must know them all or he is not fit to be ye Com-
mittee-man.

Now having disposed of the smaller and com-
paratively trifling sorts we will proceed to the more
important and well known sorts, viz. : Grapes,
Apples and Pears.

Of Grapes (without going back to the times of
Noah and Speechly) we have it stated that there
are about 2300 varieties, 1400 of which were tested
at the gardens of the Louxemburg about 60 years
ago; Johnson describes 489, and Downing 312
sorts, many of these, are of course, synonyms and
duplicates, the Black Hamburgh having 39 diffe-
rent names — these are all known as the foreign va-
rieties ; but we now come to the natives, of which
their name is legion — the writer has seen 100
named sorts, not one of which was a decided im-
provement on the well ripened Catawba or Isabella,
yet each of these has, doubtless, been at some
period of its history "the very best native grape
known," yet ye Committee-man must know all of
these, and is expected to taste them too, at some
period of his life. These do not include the count-
less seedlings, the 45 hybrids of Rogers and the
cross breeds innumerable of other growers, on all
of which ye Committee-man must keep himself
posted up, or he is not fit to fill the office.

Of Apples Downing describes only about 1100
sorts (including synonyms, ) and as this is a strongly
marked fruit, ye Committee-man would have an
easy time of it, were it not that no two apples of
the entire crop of one kind and exactly alike, ye
Committee-man must, therefore, first master the
1100 named sorts, and then study the individual
character of each apple before he is competent to
act knowingly and not to quarrel with his col-
leagues as to the identity of those sorts, one sour
the other sweet, and the third entirely different in
shape and flavor from either, which is true, because
ye Editor says so.

We now come to Pears. It has been stated that
we have above 2000 varieties, but Downing only
gives us 1239 names, all of which ye Committee-
man knows perfectly, but he is not prepared to say
that he is as well acquainted with Van Mons' 80,000
seedlings, and a few thousand more of Knights'
crossbreeds; to be sure many thousands of these
were tested and discarded before he was born, but
he is expected to have enjoyed a sort of pomologi-
cal, antedated existence, and to know all of those
sorts accordingly. Supposing ye Committee-man is
now perfectly familiar with the 2000 well known
kinds, the 80,000 each of Van Mons' Seedlings and
Knights' cross breeds, he is also expected to know
that the Butter Pear is not the Butter Pear, but
the Doyenne Blanc, or any other of 29 names you
may choose to call it.

The remarks already made in reference to the
diff'erence in the appearance of the same sort of
apples, apply also to pears, only more so. The
Rev. Beecher tells us of a tree "producing 184
bushels of pears of tolerable flavor," but as he
gives us no name for them, we have of this quan-
tity no two pear.>5 exactly alike, and no name to any
one of them ; add to this the efforts of that rascal
the curculio, who adds to the confusion by stinging
them into all sorts of grotesque shapes.

Taking it for granted that ye Committee-man has
mastered the 7775 varieties of the various well
known sorts of fruits, he finds, also, that his trou-
bles are just beginning, for he has yet to dispose of
the new sorts, and in so doing he must be very dis-
crete, for the sale of a great many plants may depend
on his dictum.

He must not admit, for a moment, that the last
new " Sugar Grape" is not quite as sweet as sugar,
nor that it resembles in the least an old and dis-
carded sort , but he must say that " it is a great im-
provement on all others, and should be in every
one's collection" — or should some one assure him
" that he has a grape superior to all others," he must
at once admit that this grape is better than all the
grapes owned by other people ; and he would J)e
most ungrateful if he did not say so, for has he not
already been presented with a strong two year old
layer, and a basket of the fruit, which he should
say is " richly flavored and vinous, having an ex-
quisite briskness that excites the salivary glands,
and cleanses instead of clogging the palate ;" and
when an apple is shown for the first time, he must
consult Downing to be sure it is not one of the 1100
sorts already known ; and if a new pear is presen-
ted he must run through the 2000 well known
kinds, and 80,000 seedlings and cross breeds innu-

^^.'g^^.

m

iC)

40

3f^ Oiardciw's c^onthlg,

4i

merable, to be sure that some old sort is not to bo
palmed off as a new and superior one.

Now having got through with the legitimate bu-
siness of ye Comniiitee-nian, he must be on his
guard as to the tricks of the trade, which he is ex-
pected to detect and expose, for if a " Duchesse"
of 2 lbs. weight is shown, he ma}' justly suspect she
has been subjected to washing of" copperas water,"
and he must see that the bloom on the big "' Black
Hamburghs" is not "calcined magnesia," or that
the overgrown, watery "Isabellas" have not been
effected by "ringing" — and should the "Bonny
Lass" come before him, he must not only see tliat
she is "white, hardy, oblong and very handsome,"
but must look sharp that her 21 dwts. and 10 grains
have not been produced by "suckling."

And now. Mr. Editor, you must agree with ye
Committee-man that the Study of the Science of
Pomology is the acquisition of knowledge under
diflBculties, both mental and pl)j'sical, for it has been
estimated that ye Committee-man must eat about
a peck of pears and apples, and several ])onnds of
grapes in tasting through a large display of fruits —
if, therefore, you insist on him being a "humbug
of the first water," do, I pray you, add some brandy
to the water, or he may die of the cholera — and
finally, Mr. Editor, do please hurry up "the pro-
per person who is to be paid handsomely for doing
this business well," and we will checri'uliy resign
in his favor.

CLERGYMEN GAROENEHS.

BY ENTIIU.SIAST, ADRIAN, .MKII.

Friend Meehan — You must have some minis-
ters on your subscriber's list. !May 1 preach a little
bit of hortirullure to them from your pages.

I have discovered a new system of gymnastics ;
rather newer I think than thai of Dio Lewis. It
is a curious question, quite too abstruse, which is
best, heavy iron dumb bells, bladders, hooks and
infinite tumblings and contortions at infinite risks
of your neck ; or wooden bells, and a small i)oll a
la Lewis. Never mind! Don't puzzle your mind,
or break your back to settle this question. 3Iy
newer system only dates back to

" wlien
A'j.iiii rIclveJ Hnd Eve iipun
Making it doiibtfal who was the gentleman."

I discard dumb bells and sticks altogether, and
go in for cow-bells and sticks with spades or hoes
on the end of them. Why not? If you mu.st go
through all those gyrations why not do it out doors,
and in such a way as to stir the dirt? I like Mr.

Lewis' music to time the movements, but why not
sing Hood's measures in the garden?

A spade, a rake, a hoe,

A pickaxe or a bell,
A hook to reap, a scythe to mow,

A flail or what you will.
AuJ here's a ready hand

To ply the needful tool,
And jkilleil eumigh Viy lessons rough,

lu labor.s' ruf;ged School.

But to the point. Ten years ago T graduated
from college a poor student, with a sickly, dead
light of scholarship playing around my brain, and
a body that had neither thought nor endurance. It
was according to sj'stem. It was after the pattern
of modern education. I had read and studied and
crammed, and gradually woven my shroud around
me to die in.

Never mind how, but gradually I began to culti-
vate flowers, my time was more and more spent in
the garden — laying out a landscape parterre and
cultivating such of God's thoughts as He entrus-
ted to me. The result, briefly told, is a healthy
body, a mind under control, seldom clouded by
dyspepsia ; an inestimable amount of joy and com-
fort in my work.

What I wish to say to ministers is, get out of your
study, throw away pork and hot bread and mince
pies and go to raising flowers ; you preachers have
not time to farm it extensively. Get on a bay nag,
with a thunder storm coming up and you must start
instanter for a sick bed, or to attend a funeral. —
But a good, large flower garden you can attend to,
and be on hand for all calls of duty. My custom
is to walk a mile to my garden — which embraces
one and a half acres of lawn, with about 00 beds
of flowers — to worL nearly every forenoon of the
working season — come back with my basket of
Roses, Dahlias, Fuchsias, Gladiolus, Heliotropes,
Verbenas, etc., etc., and then, fresh from God's
children, study and write. I write two sermons
a week, superintend my Sabbath- school of 3t)0
scholars, a Sabbath-school prayer-meeting, attend
other prayer-moeting.s, and a boys' social in my
study, and don't intend to break down so long as
my flowers last. jMinisters' sore throats voted a
bore— dyspepsia kept out of sight — reason, /lowers.
And don't you .see while you are at work thus over
and beside your La Reines, Sydonies, Hcrniosies
and Malmaisons. they compose your sermons for
you, all you have to do is to put it down in ink.
Rely upon it that one-third of your time thus em-
ployed will enable you to do twice as much mental
labor in the rest of the day, and with far less effort.

First get Buist and Bicck, take the Monthly,

buy a select list of seeds and plants, and go to work.
You have preached patience, practise it now. Keep
at it for a year, and then gold won"t tempt j'ou to
stop. Throw tea and coffee to the pigs, for minis-
ter's nerves won't bear them ; detest tobacco and
get your stimulants in the garden. You will love
plants, and sow your seeds too deep and have lots
of trouble ; but patience worketh experience, and
experience hope — until you won't be ashamed of
your garden.

I forget my text at the beginning, so append it
as a peroration.

"Behold the lilies of the field."

J ^i

0,

@

FOHCING CHERRIES.

BY GERALD HOWATT, TONKERS, NEW YORK.

Forcing Cherries has not had the attention here
that it deserves, perhaps from the fact that it is
generally supposed that it cannot be done with pro-
fit ; and gardeners and amateurs have a prejudice
against them, it being considered useless to try
them ; it is something of the old saying, "you had
better kill a dog than give him a bad name."

As I have had general success with forcing them,
I shall lay before your readers my system, hoping
that it may be an inducement to them to try the
forcing of them.

I, in fact, consider them less trouble and expense
to force than any other fruit — grapes and straw-
berries excepted — and if they do not thoroughly suc-
ceed the first season, they will be sure to succeed
fully the following, as one will then be able to no-
tice an-y item rejected in the first season's working.

The late Mr. Caton Aiton, director of the Royal
Botanical Gardens at Kew, in examining candi-
dates for admission, one of his questions would be
"could they force cucumbers, and how? did you
ever lose any? No! Then you do not know how
to save them."

So with the above cherry forcing.

Cherries are a fruit that require a house to them-
selves to be properly managed at best to perfection.
I secure trees in the spring from the nurseries,
half standards, from six to ten years old, as I can
get them ; the stock that I get for forcing are the
refuse of the nursery, not minding whether they
are straight or crooked, barked or split, deformed
in any way except the roots, those you can generally
get at your own price. t get them in April,
pot directly into my fruiting pots, which are six
gallons ; head well in, prune roots pretty close and
clean. Compost, three parts good, strong yellow
loam, got from fence or road side, fresh with the

grass attached, one part rotten dung, one quart of
coai'se bone-dust (to each plant) well mixed together,
drain your pot well with broken shreds and laying
the lumps of your soil at the bottom, when finished
plunge them to the rim in a full south aspect, wa-
tering moderately when your wood (young) is about
6 inches in length ; shorten to get fruit spurs, and
water once a week with liquid manure, three parts
water and one part liquid, June twice a week ; July
and August three times with half liquid and half
water : after August clear water during their growth;
they must be stopped to encourage fruit spurs and
remove all water shoots ; let your trees remain out
of doors generallj' to the first of December to ripen
the wood ; remove to the forcing house on the 1st
of January if wanted earlier ; for the first ten days
give plenty of air during the day, at night just
sufficient heat to keep the frost out ; the next ten
days, thirt3'-five at night and forty-five by day ; in
a sun-shiny day admit air fully, bottom and top
lights, you may raise your heat until your trees
are in flower, from thirty-five to sixty ; after the
flower is shown and until the fruit is set is the
critical point and the only one in all their manage-
ment; this can be obviated easily, at least I have.
Keep your house as near as you can from forty-four
to fifty degrees ; when your blossoms are about
breaking, lay j'our plants down on their side, com-
mencing at each end and laying towards the middle,
letting your lower branches touch your floor or
border of your house, placing under the stem a
flower pot or two sticks thus X, letting your stem
rest in the centre ; up to this use liquid once a week ;
in this position they will not require much water ;
when doing it, turn them up and water. My rea-
son for adopting this system is to obtain an unifor-
mity of temperature which will be the case, they
being in that position. We are all aware that
a sudden rush of wind coming in will drive the
heat to one particular part of the plant ; sun will
also affect one part of the house more tjian the
other. I have even, in late forcing of cherries
gathered green branches and thrown over my trees
when in flower, during heaty sunshine. I keep my
plants in this condition until they are stoned, then
take theni up, plunge or let them stand on the
floor — I prefer plunging ; I then syringe once a
day, apply liquid manure, half and half, twice a
week, until the fruit begins to color, then clear
water and sparingly; after the stoning do not let
yDur pots get dry, if so you will spoil your fruit in
size; when swelling keep them going, temperature
may run from fifty to seventy-five, this I regulate
according to the time that I want my fruit ; of course

'\m

42

Cljil Oiardciur's ^lonthln.

J^

the higher the temperature the more moisture
j'ou require. Give all the air you can when color-
ing during the day, avoiding chills in any case ; when
your fruit is set your troubles are over, and rest
assured if you follow out this plan you will not say
that cherries are not the hardiest of all fruit to
force. If not near to nurseries and where it will not '
pay to get cherry trees from a distance, every spring
after fruiting turn them out of the pots, shake off
about one half the ball, head well in tops and
roots, transplant them three or four feet apart, '
giving them one year's rest and commencing again j
as directed. But I prefer buying trees every spring,
they are cheaper than all this transplanting by one '
half. ^ I

The following are the sorts that T use for forcing: '
Downton, Early White Heart, Elton, Kirtland's
May. May Duke and English Morello.

The above citations may encourage the western
corres{)ondents of Mr. H. in the continuance of his
labors towards getting a jnire yellow Verbena ; for
my own part I would not value the latter so much
as a real celestial blue one, as the yellow color is
the most common with annuals and perennials, and
the blue in flowers of all sorts are the rarest of the
three principal colors of flowers — it is very seldom
found in the ligneous plants, therefore I take this
oi)portunity of rceommeniliiig the following shrubs
which are only half hardy, but deserve a place in
every greenhouse, they are Ceanothus azureus
grandiflorus, bunches of flowers 7 to 8 inches long,
of the finest celestial blue; and C. divaricatus,
flowers on a little smaller scale, this one with ever-
green foliace.

COLORS OF FLOWERS.

BY E. FKRRAND, DETROIT, MICH.

" Errnre hununium est."
Mr. Peter Hender.son in an article published in
the Monthlym March last, headed " Nature's Law
of Colors, makes some very strange statements, he
says:-—

" / tliink this fact cannot he too strongly jmt he-
fore your readers^ these colors — scarlet^ hlne and yel-
low—in varieties of the same species, have never yet
occurred^ and are never likely to occur."

Now, I do not clearly understand what Mr. H.
means, or Mr. H. is greatly mistaken, f jr without
theleastdifhcuhy I will name to him several species
which contain in their respective varieties the three
colors, j'ellow, scarlet and blue. We have for in-
stance in perennials : Lupinus polyphilla, L.
nanus, both of the hene of Delphinium formosum,
D. sulphurous and several others, unmistakably of
a golden yellow ; L. Dunnettii and L. superba,
scarlet red. In the Pentstemon, other perennials
which Mr. H. cultivates, there are P. Dixonii, P.
Hartwegii, P. Jeffreyanus, &c., fine blue flowers;
P. Pei ho, P. sjilendens, P. Compte de Lambertii,
vivid scarlet, and there is P. Lobbianus of a rich
y(;llow color ; in the Aquilegia we find also those
three colors: we equally find them in the Hyacinths
and Crocus. We have Habrothamnus elegans,
red ; H. magnifica and H. tomentosus, j'ellow ;
H. c.vaneus, blue. We have also those colors
in OroV)us azureus, O. aureus and 0. vernus flora
roseo pleno and very likely we have also in many
other species.

FORMATION OF DEW.

BY A. FENDLER.

[Continued from j^age 9.]
Any thing incapal)le of producing heat, and
placed so that it cannot take heat from adjoining
objects will, in losing caloric, manifest very soon its
reduced temperature to a thermometer brought in
contact with it. As regards the crust of the earth,
diminution of temperature one or two inches below
the surface of the ground cannot so rapidly take
place all at once by radiation ever so powerful even
in clear calm nights, for after the ground has been
warmed thoroughly by the sun, it does not so easily
part with its amount of caloric, the latter being
slowly conducted from particle to particle until it
reaches the uppermost or radiating film of the sur-
face and the radiating o])jects upon it.

The parallel drawn in the Magazine's article be-
tween the pitcher containing ice-cold water and the
earth is not well chosen, for the whole mass of the
earth, wiih the exception of a comi)aratively thin
crust, down to its very centre contains constant
heat. But the course of conducted heat through
thick layers of rock is much slower than that near
its surface. Hence, after an uninterrupted radia-
tion of several days towards a clear sky, if the rays
of the sun were extinguished for that period, the
thermometer would soon show a considerable lower-
ing of tempeiature even two or three inches below
the ground in mid-summer, as it even now does
two or three feet below the surface in the winter
season of northern latitudes, when the sun sends
his rays obliquely over those regions, imparting
much less heat to the ground than is carried off by
radiation.

If there was no radiation, vegetable and animal

^P^i

life would be destroyed by excess of heat, and on
the other hand, if radiation were going on in cloudy
as well as in clear weather, organic life would be
destroyed by excess of cold. But fortunately the
laws of nature are well regulated, and operate har-
moniously for the well being and the very existence
of the inhabitants of this earth. So that when,
with a clear sky and a calm atmosphere of a long
summer's day, the sun is pouring his fiery caloric
into the soil, the great excess of this heat is taken
off again by radiation ; and if on the other hand
the sky is heavily overcast with clouds, so as to
shut oif the sun's warm raj^s from above, they at
the same time shut off the escaj^e of the rays of
radiant heat from below.

But, although in summer the ground two or
three inches below cannot show a very rapid dimi-
nution of temperature by mere radiation, there are
many things upon its surface that will do so. —
There are the blades of grass, leaves of herbs and
trees, bunches of hay and straw, wool, feathers,
chips and planks, especially the latter when laid
over hollow places, so as to rest only with their
ends upon the ground. Still these and many more
objects cool down so rapidly because being bad con-
ductors of heat they lose it by radiation much
faster than they can receive it by conducting from
below, especially when they project into the air, as
grass and herbs do, which lose their heat so rapid-
ly that under favorable circumstances their tempera-
ture has been observed to fall from 11 to 16 degrees
F. below that of the superincumbent air.

From this it will be easily understood that in
clear and calm nights, if the lower strata of the
atmosphere contain a sufficiency of moisture, the
first dewdrops will be condensed and deposited on
those very objects above named, and frequently not
only after sunset or towards morning, but even
long before sunset. In windy weather, however,
the cooling effect of radiation is nearly altogether
neutralized, for the radiating objects on the earth's
surface being constantly brushed by fresh particles
of air, have their loss of caloric promptly restored
by abstracting it from the passing air, and hence
cannot acquire a temperature lower than that of
the moA'ing atmosphere, consequently no dew can
be formed.

In connection with this subject may be mentioned
another interesting phenomenon. Why is it that
basin-shaped depressions of ground, especially when
formed and encircled by long sloping declivities
bare of timber but clothed with grass, are more
subject to early frosts in autumn, and late frosts in
spring, than elevated ground, ridges and summits

of hills? The answer is this : When in clear and
calm nights radiation goes on rapidlj' through the
blades and spikes of grass all along the sides of
that basin-shaped valley, the particles of air in im-
mediate contact with the radiating bodies are cooled
first. Being cooler they sink to the ground and
glide down to the lowest place they can find (for
there is no wind to disturb them)." Here they ac-
cumulate until the grass in the bottom becomes
immersed in a shallow lake, not of water, but of
cold air. Even after immersion the radiation from
the grass is as active as ever, and thereby still more
lowers the temperature of its surrounding medium.
The elevated slopes and ridges fare much better,
for the}' get rid of the cold particles of air almost
as fast as they are cooled, and receive in their stead
fresh, warm ijarticles settling down from above, to
take the place of those gone below. This pro-
cess continues until the raj^s of the sun strike the
bottom of that basin, warm the ground first, then
the lowermost strata of the air, and in this way
dispel fog and dew ; or until a breeze springs up
and spoils the whole operation at once.

The accumulation of cold air in such localities
may sometimes be so great as to rise to a considera-
ble height. And as this stagnant atmosphere is not
only cold but also damp, it is very apt to kill the
tender just opening flower-buds of peach and other
trees, marking thus the very height to which that
body of cold air has been standing.

A member of the Illinois Horticultural Society,
in one of the meetings of that body, gave his ex-
perience in the following statement :

'' It (the frost) took all the old trees, perhaps 10
feet from the ground, and you could see the level
of the frost very plainly ; it was as level as if it had
been run through by a Surveyor's instrument."

This took place although the trees were protec-
ted from the north and northwest.

Another member, trying to correct his predeces-
sor's views on the cause of the above disasters,
gives to radiant heat quite a new and strange effect,
viz. : heating the trees instead of lowering their
temperature. He says " the radiant heat develops
the buds in a certain horizontal line, and the buds
that have arrived at a certain stage of maturity
perish on a line as level as the surface of a lake,"
and "were it not for the radiated heat the moun-
tain tops would be first to show foliation."

These are curious doctrines which, however, re-
fute themselves and need no comm.ent, except that
the speaker may have had in view the reflected
rays of the sun instead of the radiant heat of the
earth. They go to show how little the true charac- I (^

'Ci-^

41

£|)C (Sardcncr's c|llontj)tn.

d

a-i

ter of radiant heat and tho manner in wliicli it
affects vegetation generally, and trees in particu-
lar, is understood.

The term rddiunt heat is also often i)roniiscu-
ously used and substituted for reflected heat, whieh
it is not, although it may be turned into reflected
heated by reflecting surfaces. Radiant heat always
cools the body from which it proceeds and follows
its inherent tendency to diverge in all directions to
spaces and objects of less caloric. Reflected heat,
on the other hand, is bound to go wherever it is re-
flected to, whether it be upon objects of high or of
low temperature, and never cools the body from
which it is reflected. For an energetic display of
reflected heat a polished metal surface is indispen-
sable, while that same surface is the most retard-
ing one to rnd'tnnt heat.

There is no doubt that trees, especially when
standing by themselves, lose heat by radiation from
their branches, twigs and leaves as well as the more
humble representatives of vegetation. The feeble
caloric that, in radiating from the earth's surface,
may liappen to strike them is no compensation for
what they lose so rapidly from the same cause.

Large bodies of smoke have an effect similar to
that of clouds in retarding and partially shutting
oflf radiation. Hence, in raising thick laycis of
smoke in clear, calm nights, at the time of flower-
ing, the crops of whole peach orchards and vine-
yards may sometimes be saved, for by shutting off"
radiation we .stop not only the cooling of the sur-
face but also the cooling of the opening buds and
flowers of trees and the air that surrounds them.

The most superficial observer, when looking to-
wards any of our large manufacturing cities, must
have noticed, especially in calm weather, the dense
layers of smoke slowly drifting along or lazily float-
ing over those busy centres of commerce and
manufacture. The inhabitants of such a city, in
looking up towards the sky, cannot form a correct
idea of the heavy covering that floats overhead.
To them it appears merely as a light haziness in
the atmosphere.

That this smoke obstructs radiation, and con-
siderably raises the temperature of the city atmos-
phere throughout the night from sunset until sun-
rise, the writer of this has endeavored to show in
an article published in one of the Annual Rei)orts
of the Smithsonian Institution.

In some instances the temperature of the central

part of St. Louis was found to be at sunrise as

J much as eleven degrees higher than the tem|>era-

^ ture two miles west of the court-house in a thinly

built part of the city. It was only in the evening.

night and morning in clear, calm weather that these
differences of temperature were noticed to take
jilace, especially when there was a very light mo-
tion of the atmosphere from the west, so as not to
allow the smoke to spread over that part of the
city where my observations were made. At 2 P.
M. the temperature at both places was nearly the
same. Whenever a strong breeze was prevailing,
or when the sky was overcast, no difference could
be noticed in the thermometers of the two localities.
Here then we may find the reason why grape-
vines and peach trees about the time of bloom, in
the midst of large towns are in less danger of hav-
ing their flower-buds injured by late frosts in spring
than those outside.

GRAPES versus GRAPE-VINES.

BY J. M. JORDAN, ST. LOTUS, MO.

Friend Meeii.\n— It would do my heart good
to meet you ; and if I do not take root, go to seed,
or get so severely pruned tlua season, I hope next
year to visit the east again, and then feel, for the
first time, your friendly hand, and look on one I
have long imagined to be a sort of living, moving
monstrosity, from the many prunings, pinchings,
smothering, cutting back, bending down, shortening
in, and twisting on the one hand ; and by the steam-
ing, stretching, sunning, sprouting and propaga-
ting on the other, that you get from we poor
miserable ignoramuses of grape mongers.

Well I suppose the reason we have never heard
you complain is, when you have attempted to open
your mouth to speak, we have filled it with a grape
vine. Mucli like the stammerer who tried to explain
to his nurse that he must be dipped but once, but
could get no farther than "dip, dip, dip," until
his head was again under the water.

So I imagine you are about to open your mouth,
and here I hurl a grape-vine again at you, but I
hope to have a little fruit on it.

I have been reading, with much interest, the
many fine written articles on the vine and particu-
larly the new era in Grape Culture, Nos. 1 and 2,
by our friend llussnian, as published in the llorti-
ciihiin'st, and he shows by statistics that the propa-
gation of vines are very profitable, he advi-ses
layering vineyards the first year planted, putting
the green wood under the ground, and if it pays
well, layer the second year.

Now, I have often seen vineyards tuined into
propagating fields without allowir)g them to fruit.
So long as in these can be grown $?, to $500 worth of

m^w^

She C5ardini^r'3 cploutljlj.

vines to the acre, and until the vineyards are entire-
ly ruined for fruit.

I have this year examined many vineyards. I
have seen those in fruit and those la3'ered. One
man informed me he expected to make 2000 gallons
of Concord wine per acre, had then made 1000
gallons from half acre (Sept. 20th) worth $2.50
per gallon.

I have the reports from a large number of fruit
growers of Concord, Hartford Prolific and Clinton,
and $1000 per acre has been the lowest estimate
any one has put on the fruit sale, some as high as
$5000 per acre. Now I will challenge any vine
propagator to show a like return.

I have spent the last seven years as a propaga-
tor, but being convinced that fruit raising and
grape growing was the most profitable, I planted,
in the spring of 1864, a vineyard, kept the vines
well cultivated and tied up, and this year (1865)
have realized $600 per acre for fruit. If I wish to
have one or five thousand vines to layer, I plant
them 2 to 6 feet for that purpose exclusively. In
selecting vines and planting a vineyard one should
not? do any thing without a reason; should study
closely the nature of the vine, from whence it draws
its nourishment; the best way to keep those compo-
nent parts from being exhausted. We have done
too much as others do, without knowing the reason
for so doing. Every year's experience with the
vines add many new ideas, and show a great amount
if ignorance still on hand to be disposed of as best
we can ; but when I see the rolling hills and undu-
lated prairies glowing with the luscious fruit of the
vine ; knowing we of Missouri are adding about
2000 acres of vineyards yearly, and believing the
States of the west are doing the same. Seeing the
amount of instruction furnished us through our
valuable Horticultural Journals, 1 do believe there
is a brighter day dawning when we shall plant the
vine with as much certainty of success as we now
invest in Government bonds, plant corn or wheat.

9 .'-Jh

NOTES ON THE DECEMBER NUMBER.

BY R. DOUGLASS, WAUKEGAN, ILL.

On reading the MontliJy for Dec, the following
brief notes suggest themselves :

' ' Familiar Birds. ' '

The writer is mistaken when he says " the Brown
Thrush never disturbs fruits."

The Brown Thrush is rather partial to all soft
skinned, pulpy, small fruits, without much acidity,
such as Raspberries, Blackberries and the sweeter

O)

variety of Strawberries, showing his good taste in
prefering a Hooker, or Triomphe de Gand, to a
Wilson. He likes a good, ripe May Duke Cherry,
but you cannot fool him with an Early Richmond.

He is justly entitled to all he takes, as he has
benefited the fruit grower by' the destruction- of
insects alone, before the earliest fruit is ripe, enough
to compensate for all the fruit he will destroy.

And who would not give a percentage of his
small fruits in summer in exchange for the song of
the "Brown Thrush" in spring.

" The Effects of Cold on Fruit Buds/'

I agree with Dr. James Weed that the germ of
the Pear is often uninjured when the cambium of
the fruit spur is discolored in spring, for we rarely,
if ever, see a Bartlett Pear tree that is not dis-
colored, yet we get some very fine crops of fruit,
and on cutting the spur, even at the time of gather-
ing the fruit, we find only the current year's growth
in a healthy state.

''''Sowing Forest Iree Seeds."

I never remember of having seen so much valua-
ble matter crowded into so little space, " a long
article would tell a larger," but I doubt its telling
' ' a clearer story. ' '

If these less than 20 short lines were well studied
by every grower of seedlings, I think 20.000,000
plants a low estimate for the number that would be
grown ammally in addition to what are raised in
this country.

' ' Nursery Valuation. ' '

In this State growing crops are exempt from
taxation, hence nursery stock is not taxed.
" Standard Pear Early Bearing.''

Standard Pears will bear on warm, gi-avelly soil
much younger than on heavy, clay loam.

If root pruned, or transplanted when 2 years
from nursery they will bear sooner than when trea-
ted in the ordinary way, summer pruning also expe-
dites bearing.

On any ground Bartletts bear from at 4 to 5 years
from graft ; Belle Lucrative, Onondaga, Steven's
Genesee, Flemish Beauty, about 6 years ; White
Doyenne, Seckel, 7 ; Buffum 8 ; Urbaniste, Tyson,
9 : Dix, Beurre Bosc, and a few others of the
" commonest kinds," have not fruited yet, although

10 yeafS from graft.

«•••»

FRUITING OF STANDARD PEARS.

BY MR. CHARLES P. SCHMIDT, PALISADES, N. Y.

In answer to an article on Standard Pear Trees
in the December number of the Gardener s
Monthly, I give my experience with about 600

■^[O

CN'^-

-i^*

46

ijjc Ciardnicr's (Pontl)Ig. ^

If

Standard Pear trees, planted in 1859. Although I years ago. The Judge particularly dwelt on the
many of them bore a few specimens in 1863 and } many valuable additions which have been made to
18G4, they began only thi.s reason to produce what j our list of Fears within that i)enod, and imi>re.ssed
might Ix) called a small crop. Some half a dozen ] on his hearers the importance of directing their ut-
Bartletts from a lot of 50 trees, which all had some j tention to the raising of new varieties from seed.
fruit, bore about lialf a bushel each, [t was nearly He also directed some observations combating a
the same with Onondaga and Flemi.sh Beauty, of ! prevailing fallacy that six, eight, or ten varieties
which, however, many trees had no fruit. Belle embraced all that were really desiiable or valuabK

Lucrative had, in proportion, the most bearing
trees. Out of a lot of 50 Bufl'um there was one
tree with a good basket full of fine Pears, the bal-
ance showing very little fruit. A great many Seckels
bore for 2 years from 6 to 12 pears, one small, rather
stunted tree had every year, since 1863, from 20 to
30 jjears. All other varieties began in this season
only to i^huw fruit, the proporti(!ii ot which is shown
in the following list :

The earliest in bearing were Beurre Clairgeau,
Bartlett, Belle Lucrative, Flemi.sh Beauty, Onon-
daga, Seckel, Buffum, Sheldon. Beurre d'Anjou,
Doyeime Gris, Doyenne de Hiver. Lawrence and
Be!in*e Hose.

The following .standard trees have not borne yet :

Ty.-on, Beurre .Superfin. Dix.

Of the above kinds, dwai-fs. Belle Lucrative ha.s
borne full for 2 years; Buen-e d'Anjou, Beun-e

to cultivators, and demonstrated that instead of be-
ing limited to half a score of kinds, that there are
hundreds of varieties deserving the attention of the
amateur if not of the commercial fruit grower.
Meditating on the remarks of Judge Hoadley.
memoiy reverted back to twice twenty years ago,
at which time I was quite familiar with the London
fruit market and the varieties of Pears then sent
there for .sale, and thinking some of the readers of
the Gardener s Monthly might feel an interest in
such by-gone matters, will give you a list of Pears
which supplied the London market about the year
1825, with the order of season of ripening.

The earliest in the market, about the end of Jidy,
was a small green, almost glol)u'ar fruit, called the
Green Sugar ; this was eatable while the seeds were
quite white and soft, scarcely any flavor more than
sweetened water. 1 have never seen this variety in

Supcrfin and Doyenne d" Hiver for 1 year; dwaifi this country. Shortly following the above came (he

Windsor, a rather handsome, showy iruit, but most
deceptive in character as when it was in its nioi^t
handsome state it had become unfit to eat, and a
mass of corruption under the fairest skin. This
variety is grown to some extent in this vicinity.

Ty-on had some fine fruit this season.

The stan<lard tree.s. even the Dix, are now full of
fruit buds, and give pro!ni.«ie for a good cro}) next
.season. The standard trees are from 8 to 14 feet
high, and from 9 to 15 incites in circumference 2

inches from the ground. Belle Lucrative, Seckel, , Our Horticultural Society, a few years since, had a
Dix, of course the smaller one, Flemish Beauty report of one tree of this producing fruit to the

She'don, Bartlett. BufTuni. the larger sized. They
are all trained to a blunt p\Taniid. the top and upper
branches being on the ends only a little higher than
the lower branches, and from 18 to 22 or 24 branches
to the tree. All the branches are summer and win-
ter pinched and broken so that there are no wood
limbs on them, but only fruit buds and spurs, ex-
cept on the last }'ear's (1864) growth whereon the
wood shoots have been pinchiMi in summer.

REMINISCENCES AND RECOLLECTIONS
OF PEi^RS.

value of $96, and several successive years yielding
near $50.

Following the Windsor came the Jargonelle, ibis
was the first good Pear, and when gathered beibre
ripe and packed in sweet, dry hay, it was a fine,
juicy, sprightly fruit; when left too long on the
tree it would rot at the core, be flavorless and in-
sipid. Next came the autumn Brrr/aviot (called
Berjamy by the Londoners), this was also A No. 1
quality, and better there than I have ever tasted it
here ; about in season with the latter was an in-
ferior variety Calhitrose, a dry, insipid thing not
worth natning ; then came the Pear of Pears, the
Gansel's Bergamot, which .stood in reputation head
and shoulders above all others, and ju.'tly did it
I have fruited it here.

BY W. HE.VVER, CINTINNATI, OHIO.*

Tin able and interesting address of welcome,
delivered by Judge IToadlef/ at the late meeting of deserve its high character.

the Ohio Pomologujal Societji, wa* replete with and think highly of its qualiiy, but find it a shy,
wise suggestions and encouraging remarks on the uncertain bearer.

present condition of Pomology in compari>on with j In season with the foregoing was the Brown Ben,
the state of knowledge which existed only twenty ; also a poi)>iIar variety in its day, its flavor waspecu-

P\/^

(Q>-

'/1v/ -

^t Carbcnen Slontljli;.

47

liar and distinct; ihe only approach to it I have
seen in this country is the Cahot. The Swan's Egg
was the next in succession, which lasted into Nov. ;
then followed the Chauniontell, which completed
the list of desert Pears, and with careful handling
would sometimes keep till Christmas ; the forego-
ing, with the Black Worcester (or Iron Pear, as it is
there called) completed the li.st of Pears generally
known at the period stated.

About 1826 or 1827 the William's Bon Chretien,
(our Bartlett), was beginning to be imported from
the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and exhibited
and sold in London as the Guernsey Chanmou telle.
There may have been some other kinds known to
amateurs, and in the possession of the wealthy
classes, but they did not find their way into the
pulilic markets at the period named.

Compare the foregoing limited number of varie-
ties, and several of them of veiy inferior quality,
with the collection of fine varieties of Fears shown
at our Horticultural Exhibitions, here even in this
out of the way neck of woods, and how miserably
meager does our table of Pears, prepared for Lon-
don palates, show in 1825 with those of Cincinnati
in 1865.

Mr. Editor, I may be in a gossiping mind at this
jiresent writing, but are not such reminiscences and
retrospective recollections sometimes necessary to
enable us to fully realize the progress made, and
teach us to not only enjoy the advantages within
our reach, but stimulate us to fresh exertions in the
march of improvement.

If our learned mentor agrees with the writer, I
may, at some future time, provide some Pomologi-
cal reminiscences of this neck of woods. — [Do. -Ed. ]

UMITS BEAUTY WITH FRAGEANGg IN
ORNAMli^TAL GAHDSN!?s?G.

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

The beauties of plants, or that which pleases the
sight, are neat habits, graceful forms, various sizes,
color and appearance of foliage, splendor of blooms,
&c. ; and that which pleases the scent is fragrance,
which differs in odoriferous plants. Where beauty
and fragrance are harmoniously combined into eye-
sweet arrangements upon well kept grounds, either
in groups, rows, or singly along the sides of plea-
sant walks, or near to the mansions, wc know of
nothing earthly that nearest approaches a paradise.
The more showy may be called illuminators ; and
the sweet scented are the perfumers ; some plants
are both, but not all. We will here name a few of
the showy, and mate them with the fragrant.

Of vines that ornament and perfume verandahs,
arbors and trellis work, &c.. Wisteria sinensis,
Chinese and Japan Honeysuckles, sweet scented
Grape-vine, Jasminum officinale, Clematis flammula
and Ccerulea, Climbing Everblooming Roses, &c.,
give fragrance from April till December. Let us
plant alternate with them the following beauties
and our gratifications are satisfied. Clematis, all
the large flowering varieties; Cypress Vine, Con-
volvolus, Ipomea, Manettia, Maurandia, Thun-
bergia. Passion Flower, Cobea scandens, &c., and
we will have beauty and fragrance for several
months of the year, out doors in the latitude of
Philadelphia.

In the flower garden, we may plant, for fragrance,
in shady places, Epigoea repens, Violets, Lily of
the Valley and Mimulus moschatus ; and for show,
Periwinkle, Lysimachia, Phlox subulata. Fuchsias,
Ferns, &c. ; and in sunny places, Monarda, Mint,
&c., are as early up in the morning of spring as
Snowdrop and Crocus, which they perfume. The
fragrance of Hyacinth gives gladness to Ciown Im-
perial ; the odor of Narcissus makes Tulips more
lovely. Next follow Wall-flowers, Gilly-flowers,
Roses, Carnations, Picotee Pinks, Lihes, Heliotro-
piums, Mignonette, sweet Alj-ssum, Aloysia, scen-
ted Geraniums, &c., which give out sweet odors
for nine months in the year, and give joyfulness to
all the more showy genera.

In the shi'ubbery, Daphne mezereuni is as early
at its work as Forsythia, which it perfumes. Arte-
misia gives sweet odor to Deutzia gracilis. Then
follow Calycanthus, Sweet Brier, Lilacs, Philadel-
phus, Hawthorn, Magnolia purpurea, glauca and
venusta. Berberry, Privet, &c., which delight the
more showy illuminators with their pleasing per-
fumes for four months in the year.

And among trees, there are many of the Magno-
lias of large growth. Locust trees. Lindens, Pau-
lownia, all the Fruit trees, &c., have fragrant
blossoms. American Arborvitse and English Wal-
nut trees have sweet scented leaves.

The following will keep the atmosphere of green-
house, hothouse and conservatory sweetly perfumed
all the year :

Mignonette, Sweet Violets, Hyacinths, Narcissus
of varieties. Lilies of varieties. Polyanthus, Prim-
rose, Cowslips Wall-flowers, Gilly-flowers, Jasmines,
Daphne odorata. Orange and Lemon trees, Pittns-
porum, Clerodendron fragrans, A^iburnums, Olea
fragrans. Gardenias, Tea Roses, &c.

Even the beautiful lawn is made fragrant bj" the
sweet scented vernal grass and Trefoils.

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®|)e (iarkncr's Pontljln.

Cl)c iiarkufr'5 Montljli);

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O "o

* HILADELPHIA, fEBRUARY, lb66.

tj- All Communications for the Editor should be addressed.
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tors directed to " W. G. P. Brisckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Tcrin.s of Adverti;'in.c see pasro 3.3.

Volumes l.$I; 2, 3. 4, 5, G.and 7, unbound. $2eaeb.

GARDENING AND GARDENERS.

Tiio followinir letter explains itself:

Editor of Gardener's ]\Ioiith/i/— You will re-
uieiuber tbut .souietime ago we sougbt your advice
about a foreman for our nurserj' establishment. —
We had difficulty for j-ears in keeping a good man,
and after stating exactly our situation, you kindly
replied to our letter that you thought we did not
pay our foremen enough to make it worth their
while to stay with us. ^Ve determinid to follow
out your suggestions, and employed soon after Mr.

, whom you know well. He seemed to suit

us admirably, and he evidently liked our place.—
We thanked you often for j'our advice to us, and
built large ranges of glass, and gave him his way in
every thing. All at once our neighbor across the
way offers him a partnership interest in their busi-
ness, he accepts; and now what are we to do. —
When we gave low wages we could not get a good
man to 'come for that,' the higher wages seems to
' hasten hi.s going,' which is the best .system to
follow?'

This labor question is getting to be a very trou-
blesome one to all of us, and particularly to us in our
position. We have at least Jiflij letters similar to
this, in that they want first-chiss foremen ; and others
who want gardeners, all received within the past
month. For a while we replied to these letters,
but it has becfjme an impo.ssibility to find the time
to oblige our friends, especially as no gardeners
oflFer.

We take the opportunity, however, to say to gar-
deners that we do not think they ai)i)reciate the ad-
vantages they have for elevating themselves. An
idea is generally prevalent amongst them, that gar-
dening and gardeners are not honored as they
should be, — hence they y>ecome di.s.satisfied with
their profession, and losing all desire for imjjrove-
ment, talk merely as to how they can make "a
dollar or two," and evidently leave their profes.sion
for any thing from pig killing to the office of petty
constable, that may present itself.

It is not to be expected that a gardener should
be satisfied with wages lower than the pig killer or
policeman. He will go to that whieh pays him
best; preach to him as we may about the nobiiitj-
of gardening, or the many beauties attached to bis
profession, — the mistake he makes is rather in not
seeing that there is profit in his business, if he will
but take the proper steps to realize it.

The great field for gardening talent in this coun-
try is diflferont entirely iroiu that which prevails in
Europe. There the gentleman's gardener takes a
position higher than a mechanic as a rule, — here
he ranks rather below. In Europe the young stu-
dent looks forward to the time, when as gardener
to "my Lord," he can have "big wages," wear
kid gloves, and " walk about like a gentleman with
nothing to do;" but in our country the "gentle-
man" (so called), in any walk of life, is not respec-
table ; it is labor which is honored, and the nian
that can achieve most, is most thought of, and be.st
paid.

It is becau.se good gardeners expect to find places,
with us, that cannot be found — that they fall out
of the ranks. They look for what does not exist,
and then complain of the non-existence.

There are a few places in the Union which hi any
of the chief P]uropcan gardeners would be proud
to fill, but these will never be numerous. The
four great classes into which American Horticul-
ture divides itself, are, the amateur, the landscajje
gardener, the vegetable and fruit growers for mar-
ket, and the nurseryman and seed trade. The
American gentleman is not usually the emj)loyer,
as he is understood in Europe, who has ceitain
wants he wishes filled, and employs the gardener
who knows his business, to see to the.se wants, and
then asks no further questions, — he is nothing but
an amateur on a large scale. He would do all the
work of his garden himself if he could, even to
the painting, glazing, fencing and other outside
matters ; but as he cannot do the.se things himself,
he gets a gardener to stand in his place to do what
he bim.self would do if he could.

A gentleman's gardener is then a substitute, or
.sub-amateur; and he will "get along" the best
who appreciates the i)osition. We know many
men who understand this, that receive the highest
wages, — men of refinement and culture, and whom
their employers regard and treat as their equals.

It is a great error to believe that a " sham" can
"get along as a gardener" as well as one who
knows his business, — yet we have often heard this
excuse given for indolence in the pursuit. If the
man who really is an intelligent gardener does not

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49 If)

" get along well" in the business, it is usually from
some weakness of character, — and the "sham,"
if he be really a "sham," soon exposes himself,
and goes out ; or his energy of character makes
his few good points show so as to cover a multitude
of sins. These, however, constitute not the rule. If
in any pursuit in America knowledge is power, we
are quite sure it is in gardening, — not only power
but profit also.

We measure success here by wealth. Honestly
got, it is a fair measure ; and if we compare the
positions gained by many gardeners here, with that
of European gardeners ; or of our gardeners with
any other classes in similar circumstances here,
wc find the test in favor of the gardener. There
are a few such as Paxton, Mcintosh, Ingram, Bea-
ton &c. , who have risen to wealth in European
gardening ; but the great majority look forwal-d to
the "Gardener's Benevolent Society," as their
possible support in old age.

Here a young man, who really understands his
business, need not stay in any sub- position long.
We have never known one who had sense enough
to be a gentleman in his haljits and conduct, who
had tolerably good judgment, and who had a real
love for his business ; but who had, or can have,
offers of atiy amount of capital for a start, in
some one or other of the branches of commercial
gardening; and as for foreman or manager, with
salaries equal to what the best mechanic can get, —
did we keep an intelligence oflice, which we do not
mean to do — gardeners and gentlemen please take
notice — we would guarantee to get a hundred good
men good places within a week. But they would
have to be good men, not "shams."

It will be well to point out to our young garden-
ers what particular courses will be likely to render
them intelligent members of their profession. The
names of plants, fruits and vegetables, will of course
be of first importance. A man may grow a geranium
or a cabbage, without simply more than seeing how
others grow it, — as a man may talk who never knew
the alphabet ; but he cannot improve much. No
opportunity should be lost to learn the names of
every thing he sees. How to propagate and in-
crease them comes next in order ; and then how to
grow and sustain them. He can get to a great pro-
ficiency in these matters, however, without knowing
much of Botany, Geology, Geography, Hydro-
statics, Hydraulics, Latin, Greek or Belles Lettres ;
but after he has got a considerable experience by
personal observation, and reading or hearing the
experience of others, he will be much assisted by
any study whatever that he may have an inclination

to pursue. AboA^e all things a young gardener
should habituate himself to notice results, and en-
deavor to trace out causes; he will learn more by
understanding what to avoid. It is in short a sharp
habit of observation, and reasoning on observation,
that makes the good gardener.

The young gardener who wishes to become ac-
complished in his profession, should by all means
make English Grammar a special study. It will not
only enable him to express himself properly, but to
understand better what he reads or hears, and be-
sides be the first step towards his becoming a true
gentleman. At the same time it accustoms him to
habits of accuracy, which will assist him wonderfully.
Botany, Physiology, and the laws of heat, will also
prove eminently useful. Indeed he will soon find
out himself what studies will serve his purpose best.
A knowledge of languages serves a young gardener
particularly, helping his memory, and also leading
him to understand better his own language, as well
as the many technical terms he is likely to meet with
in his regular duties.

Taste in gardening is rather a gift ; yet can be
learned -to a considerable proficiency. How to lay
out ground properly, he will observe by studying
models of good places, and comparing them with
principles as laid down in good works. And in the
execution of ground work he will learn much by
seeing how it is done, and trying to repeat it him-
self on a small scale. Drawing, measuring, and
what is usually known as the principles of Engineer-
ing assist him, but will not take the place of Hor-
ticultural experience and observation.

Horticultural schools, colleges, or experimental
gardens, are not what we want so much just now,
as inducements for young gardeners to study the
business. Our private gardens, nurseries, seed
stores, and market gardens, are better educators ;
what we want is to convince young Americans that
there really is " money in it," if they will take the
proper pains to study it properly, and they will soon
find the schools for themselves.

In any walk of life good business habits, and a
knowledge of commercial calculations and customs,
are essential to every American who would ' ' rise' '
and particularly to the gardener. Enough of this
for his purpose he can learn himself if he is " smart"
enough, and we will guarantee that it "will pay."

It does seem strange that with the hundreds of
places ofiiering, and the heavy salaries they are
willing to pay for men to suit, there are few men to
be found who do suit ; and this is more strange
when we know in every large city there are dozens
on dozens of "gardeners" seeking situations, who
will not be comforted because they are not.

It will not do lo sit and deplore that American
Gardening is not what it is in other countries; but
rather understand clearly, what trardeninir America
does want, and arise, and do it. She will paj' well
for what she wants ; what she does not want she
holds dear at anj' price.

THE PITCH AND WIDTH OP VINERIES
AND PLANT-HOUSES.

It is not easy to follow gardening by " principles"
alone. Almost all our operations are such a mix-
ture of good and ill, that it becomes very hard to
give perfect reason for everything we do.

Such must be the reflections of one who, about
to build a greenhouse, asks the opinion of practical
men, as to its construction. He will find that what-
ever plan he wishes to adopt, some one will object
to, and generally have some reason for the objection.
The wide and short house will find advocates, and
the long and narrow ones have as earnest defenders.
Some like low houses, others prefer lofty roomy
structures. Steep roofs are the preference of many,
but flat ones are in just as good repute in other
quarters; so it is with the interior arrangements,
heating, aspect, and so on. The most contrary
j views have earnest and sensible advocates.
I j . It will be found however, that as to which variety
I ■ is really best, will depend on the object which it is
particularly designed to accomplish. To take the
question of pitch for instance, one will tell us that
a steep roofed house costs more to build than
a flat one. That is to say, it takes more glass,
more feet of rafter, more labor, and more feet of
air inside to heat. So it does. But on the oppo-
site side we are told, that a steep roofed house is
stiffer than a flat one, hence it does not require such
strength of wood work, nor much contrivance for
supporting it. j No snow lays on it to smash it in.
There is no springing of rafters and consequent
cracking of glass in cold weather ; and that, in
short, though there may be more glass and lineal
feet of timber required, the extra lightness, and
less subsequent repair.s required, give the balance
of expense during a series of years in favor of the
steep pitch. Moreover the steep pitch advocate,
when it comes to a question of drip, has all the
argument on his side.

In regard to the growth of plants, the preference
will dejtcnd on what the opposing advocates grow.
In the steep house the man who has a cold grapery
finds many objections. The upper part is warmer
than the lower, and his grapes break irregularly.
The top buds naturally start first — and with the
help of the extra heat, get a good growth before

3

the lower bnds actually burst. This is a serious
objection. Then the steep house in summer is so
hot, that the grapes are more apt to burn than in
a flat house, "which is cooler. ITonce for a cool
grapery, a flat house is the most desirable, setting
aside all questions of strength and cost. For
him, however, who wants grapes early, the extra
heat which the steep pitch gives is a valuable item,
and he may come to regard all the other objections
as lesser evils compared with the one great object
of earliness.

The late house man must fight the drip for the
sakfe of the coolness. The early forcer must bear
inequality of temperature, first cost, and so on, for
the sake of the heat.

There are however, many men who are not
wealthy, who want greenhouses, and these houses
for no particular thing. They are not grape houses,
or plant houses, or propagating houses; but houses
of all work. We think for them houses with a
steep roof are in the main the most economical.
The extra cost of material, is equally n)atched by
the less need of subsequent repairs, while the help
of the more direct raj's of the sun in winter, has a
great influence in keeping down the coal bill.
Moreover sun heat makes plants grow, and grew
more healthily than fire heat, which is by so much
an absolute gain. The plants perhaps tend to grow
side ways more in such a house than in a flat one,
but an occasional turning around will not cost much
to remedy.

So also with the width of houses — a long narrow
house can be heated more cheaply than the same
amount of space in a wide one. There is alwaj's
more or less obstruction to the passage of heat in
the bend of a flue ; and the flue bej'ond the bend
will never be so warm as it would be in a straight
line from the furnace. Hence the atmos])here beyond
the bend does not become heated as readily as if the
flue were straight. However much of the ease with
which a house can be heated depends on the ra-
pidity with which the air can be made to circulate
inside the house, as it is by actual contact with the
flue that it becomes warmed — passing on to make
place for the cooler, and going the rounds of the
house until it again becomes the coolest, when it
again forces itself to the flue, to be again warmed.
Of course, the quicker this^ circulation can be in-
duced, the faster the house is warmed ; and ; a
wide house which has the best circulating arrange-
ments has the advantage over a narrow house with
the worst. But all these things being equal, the
narrow house has the best chance ; because, the air
circulating has a less distance to travel before it is

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51

again in contact with the warming surface of the
flue.

Thus, we see, that in Gardening, questions of
practice resolve themselves into no absolute rule ;
but are to be taken by the balance of advantages ,
and whether one course is best, or another, will de-
pend on what particular object we wish to gain.

EDITORIAL NOTES.

WATBRINQ WITH WARM WATER.

Many of our readers have no hotbeds or Green-
houses to bring forward their seeds of early flowers
or vegetables, but have to depend on boxes in the
sunny windows of their rooms. Let them remem-
ber always to water with water about 60° It has a
great influence in hurrying things along.

FALL CAULIFLOWER.

Our Garden Books and Garden Calendars are in
fault with regard to the time of sowing of this de-
licious vegetable. It should be sown at the same
time with Drumhead Cabbage. In the Middle
States, early in March. Every garden ought to
have it as easily as Cabbage, yet it is seldom seen.

EARLY VEGETABLES.

It is often asserted by those " who have tried,"
that there is little gained by attempts to get early
vegetables, extra early, by potting them. This is
rather because too poor a soil is employed, or that
red spiders or fly are allowed to attack them. They
get sometimes, too much water, or are allowed to
become pot-bound, or some other evil allowed to
happen to them.

With proper care the Lima Bean, Egg Plant,
and others usually supposed not " to pay" for this
extra care, are really great successes ; but great
care must be exercised to guard them from any
check whatever, or all the labor will b? lost.

PORTLAND CEMENT.

In our last number we observed an advertisement
of this article ; and it reminds us' to say that we
have found it a very useful article to the gardener.
Made into a thin solution like white-wash, it gives
wood-work all the appearance of having been
painted and sanded, and may, for aught we know,
have as preservative a property. Piles of stone
may be set together with common mortar, and
then the whole washed over with this cement,
making it look Hke one immense rock of grey
sandstone. For temporary use, a flour barrel
may have the hoops nailed, so as not to fly apart,
and the inside washed with ten cents worth of

Portland Cement, and it will do for a year or
more to hold water. Boards nailed together, and
washed with it, make good hot water tanks; and
in so many ways is it of use, that we have come to
look on it, as one of those peculiar things in a
garden which it is "always good to have about."

DEATH OP PROP. J. J. DSAPES.

Amongst the deaths for the month, that of this
distinguished gentleman, occupies a prominent
place. He had barely reached the allotted period
of three score and ten ; but fewer names have
achieved so wide spread a reputation, as that of
Mr. Mapes. It is very difficult to form an esti-
mate of his character as an agriculturist. One
large section look up to him with almost reverence,
as if to the founder of a new and admirable school ;
while another classes him with successful empirics.
Rarely, indeed, do we find one passing away, on
whose merits the line is so clearly drawn between
friends and opponents.

If Mr. Mapes had not attempted to practice his
own teachings, it is probable he would have de-
parted with a reputation for scientific knowledge,
which many an inferior mind to his has achieved.
But, defining successful agriculture as that which
from the smallest expenditures, derives the great-
est efiects, it has been questioned whether the
Mapes' Farm was really a success ; whether, in fact,
there was not the heaviest expenditures for com-
paratively small efi'ects. The actual results were
unquestioned, for his originally barren New Jersey
Farm was a sight which brought many a wonder-
ing eye a long way to see.

Mr. Mapes began his career as a sugar refiner,
in which business he failed. The chemical knowl-
edge he possessed for this pursuit, he turned to
agriculture, and became famous as the proprietor
of an artificial manure, the sale of which, the great
reputation of his farm helped considerably; but
whether the farm did justice to tha manure, or the
manure to the farm, is one of the open questions
to which we have referred. As his business ope-
rations, however, generally resulted unfortunately,
it is fair to infer, that the farm was really a paying
institution, which held on, when the rest broke
down.

Personally, Mr. Mapes was a genial, jolly and
companionable gentleman, who loved a joke, and
to enjoy life pleasantly. It is questionable with
his friends, whether the mesn\erisms, spiritualisms,
Cora Hatchisms, and other isms, with which of
later years his name has been conjoined in the

MC)

52

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1^

public prints, had any deeper conviction than his
fondness for fun and humor.

Be all this as it may, Mr. Mapes was the instru-
ment by which much atttMitinn was drawn to seion-
tiGc agriculture, and his writings and labors have
done immense good. May his name ever be held
in lasting remembrance in its annals.

Some School, or Farmer's Club, we believe, in
his own neighborhood, bestowed on him the title of
"Professor of Agriculture," but which one, we do
not now remoiiiber.

slowly and cools slow. About one pound of glue to
twenty gallons of water is sufficient to restore heat
by Dr. Uhler's method, and a gallon of the glue
water is enough for a cubic yard of material. The
glue is simply dissolved in warm water.]

j5rrap anb <^u?riFS»

53" Communications for this ilppartmeot must reach the Editor
nn or before the lOtli of the month.

JCj^lio Editor cannot answer letters for thia department pri-
Tately.

Forcing Strawberries in a Dung Bed —

^^ Anxious Inquirer," N^ew ITnven, Conn. — " Having
latel}' withdrawn from the bustle of a city life, I
have found horticulture an unfailing .«;ource of in-
terest. I have become a subscriber to your invalua-
ble magazine, and have procured from the publisher
the entire series of volumes, which I find a vast
storehouse of instruction and entertainment, and
for which I cannot forbear from expressing my
acknowledgments. As you so readily afford the
benefit of your experience to inquirers, I venture to
ask one or two questions.

I have constructed a brick wall, for a cold
pit 15 by 6 feet, and 4 to 5 feet deep, in which I j
propose to bring forward some Strawberries that I
now have in pots. How early is it expedient to pre-
jjare the hotbed and start the Strawberries? Will
the heat be sufficiently enduring to mature the
fruit, or will it be necessary to renovate the heat?
If necessarj', is the method of Dr. Uhler, referred to
in your first volume, suitable ? And what quantity
of the solution of glue is required per superficial
yard? and how prepared?

Uhler's method appears to have boon pub-
lished in your " specimen No.," and I do not find
it reprinted."

[Strawberries do not do well if the heat is much
above 55°, nor if there be much decrease of tem-
perature after they have once started. Hence, it
has always been found difficult to force Strawberries
in a dung bed, it generally becoming too hot at
first, and without great care too cool afterwards. It
would be best to use a good portion of old hotbed
manure, — say one half with your new, or old tan or
saw-dust, leather parings, or any thing that heats

Adirondac Grape — C. R. IT., MantorviJlr,
Minn. — Can you or any of your correspondents tell
me whether the Adirondac Grape is less lial)le to
be injured by the cold in winter than the Isabella?
Will it withstand as many degrees of cold as Con-
cord? What arc its merits compared with the
Concord for general cultivation ?

[We believe the Adirondac will stand as much
cold as the Concord. We cannot speak from wide
experience, as the Adirondac has not been long
enough known in many jilaccs to have a fair trial
with Concord ; but our impression is, that it is not
so reliable as Concord, but as early, and of better
quality when under favorable circumstances.]

Aouicui.TURiST Strawderhy — C. R. II.. Man-
torviUe, Minn. — " Is the Great Agriculturist Straw-
berry bi-sexual or self-producing ? (1. ) Will it pro-
duce under ordinary culture as much fruit as Wil-
son's Albany ?C2.^ Is the fruit uniformly large ?C3.)
Finally, is it what it is represented to be? (4.)

[We did not get any plants to test until last
spring, and all we have .seen seems as weak as ours,
and not in a condition to give a fair opinion of its
merits. Our answers to your questions are, there-
fore, only " to the best of our judgment," under
these circumstances. 1. It is hermaphrodite. 2.
About the same, but certainly no more. 3. We
think it is. 4. In the locality where it has origi-
nated we have no doubt it is, as we have every
confidence in the honor of tho.se who have sent it
out ; but the Strawberry is a very fickle fruit as to
localities ; and as to whether it will be elsewhere,
what we believe it has been in New Jersey, we can
only say as yet, " not proven."

Underdraining in the West — /. L., Bur-
lington, lotvn. — " Many scores of acres are being
planted with the vine in this locality, and attention
has been awakened to thorough drainage, but
nothing has been done yet in this State in this
direction worthy of the name, and we are all, in a
measure, ignorant, and want a little light to go
ahead in this matter. 1st. What kind of tile is
the most suitable, the "horse-shoe" or round tile?
2d. How are they manufactured, by machinery or
not? 3. How and where can such ma-ihines be
had, and what the probable cost? A number of

us would unite to start a man in the business, if tte
man could be found who understood the business.
Thousands of acres would soon be drained, if the
draining material could be had at a reasonable rate.
If you can throw any light upon this matter, please
do so through the Monthly, as many in the West
are interested.

[The low lands of Iowa, Indiana, and Illinois
would be particularly benefited by underdraining.
The horse-shoe tile is rarely employed now, being al-
most entirely superseded by pipe tiles, which are
made by machinery. The machinerjns simple, and
is made in Philadelphia, Baltimore, and pjrobably
other places. For one proposing to go into the
business, a visit to Philadelphia, or where pipe tiles
are made by machinery, could jiot be but advanta-
geous. The tiles advertised in our last year's
paper, by Mr. Lippincott, of Philadelphia, are
machine-made. Klippart's "Farm Drainage"
should be read by eveiy western man who has land
to underdrain.

Mr. Moore, of the London " Gardener's
Chronicle." — A friend from Matteawan, N. Y.,
obligingly corrects our biographical sketch of this
gentleman given in our last. We spent an hour
very pleasantly in Mr. Moore's company once, but
it was so very long ago, and so many of the same
name and pursuits near each other, that we had
some misgivings, as we expressed, about the iden-
tity of the real gentleman. He says :

"It is undoubtedly a mistake of Mr. Thomas
Moore coming from Scotland. I question if ever
he was in Scotland till last year, when he was
down to the Horticultural Exhibition. I am very
well acquainted with that gentleman, and I think
can throw some light on the subject. I have heard
his history several times over, from a friend of
his, who wrought as journeyman along with me,
and I believe he is a native of Dorking, Surrey.

In the j^ear 1847 or 8 he succeeded Mr. Fortune
as Curator of Chelsea Botanic Garden. Previous
to his appointment at Chelsea he acted as sub-
editor to the " Gardener s Journal,'^ under Mr.
Marnock ; during which time there was a Charles
Moore, a Scotchman, who was foreman of the
Herbaceous Department, and was shortly afterwards
appointed Curator of the Sidney Botanic Garden,
a short while after Mr. T. Moore went to Chelsea.

A friend of Dr. Lindley remarked : "He wondered
why he appointed one of Mr. Marnook's men
to Chelsea." "It does not matter," replied the
Doctor, " he is a good plantsman."

[Our correspondent good-humoredly threatens

us, in a post-script, with "an article." Our
motto is, "justice above all." As we have made a
small fault, we deserve punishment, 80 friend C,
let the article come. We appeal to your sense of
justice to write it.]

Cocoa-nut PtEFUSE — '■^Amateur,'" Detroit,
Mich., writes : — " When in England I used it very
successfully for growing Ferns, and in fact, found
it useful for Chinese Primroses, and almost all
other soft wooded plants. Cocoa-nut refuse has
the appearance of mahogany saw-dust, or brown
snuff, and is the refuse from the Cocoa-nut mat
factory. Can you inform me if it has been used in
this country, and with what success? Where it
may be obtained, and at what price?"

[We believe our correspondent, Mr. Peter B.
Mead, has experimented somewhat with this sub-
stance, and knows where to get it. We should be
obliged if he would inform us.]

Exhibition of Pears at the Penna. Hort.

Society. — ^Amongst the superb display at the
Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society, were thirty-two varieties of Pears from
Mr. Abraham Barker, whose name did not occur
in our list of exhibitors. We made up our record
of names from a memorandum, which the Secretary
very kindly made at our request ; and we suppose
Mr. Barker's very fine contribution could not have
been entered by the exhibitor on the Secretary's
books, or we should have had the pleasure of in-
cluding it in the list we gave.

Severe Weather. — On the night of the 7th
of January was the lowest temperature ever re-
corded in Philadelphia. The thermometer at day-
break, on the 8th, marking 13° below zero, against
10°, the lowest heretofore known. By the tele-
gaph we notice that the extra cold has been in
about the same proportion over all parts of the
countr}'. Vegetation, however, does not appear to
have suffered much, as so early in the season the
vessels are not gorged with sap as they will be a
month or more later.

Propagating Camellias, Azaleas and
Heaths— (7. T. S., Tishilwa, 7S.— Will you give
in your paper some hints on the propagation of
the CameUia japonica, also of the Azalea indica
and Heath.

[The Camellia and Azalea are propagated from
cuttings taken ofi' early in December, or early in
June. The Camellia is cut into lengths of a sin i e

7^)^

MC^lgk'

eye, each piece cut just above the eye, and tliis
piece of stem inserted down to the eye in sand. A
very high bottom heat (90° or 100°) is essential to
much success. In a lower temperature many die
from various accidents before rooting. Azaleas are
cut into lengths of about two inches, and set in sand
in a bottom heat in the same way. Attention
must be given to keeping the atmosphere about
the cuttings regularly damj) while the cuttings are
rooting, or the leaves will wither. This is done by
using a house naturally moist, or by shading, or by
covering the jilants particularly with glass cases.

The Heath is struck in the same way as the
Azalea, except that its very delicate leaves require
greater care, that the air does not get too dry
about them.]

Treatment of Orchard House Trees — ^^ Anx-
ious Jnqui'rer," ]^ew Haven. — "I have thought of
erecting an orchard-house for Peaches and Necta-
rines in pots, without fire heat ; but Hovey in his
journal states that in some of the best houses, Hunne-
well's and Hubbard's, the trees have not withstood
the frost of winter and spring. Is it expedient
to house the pots for the winter in a good
cellar? Should the cellar be light or dark?
How early should the pots be brought into the
orchard-house? Should the roots be encouraged
to run into the borders? As the house must be
opened for ventilation, will it be safe against the
curculio ? and will this insect injure the fruit after
it is — say half or three quarters grown ? Should
the sashes be made to remove entirely for the ripen-
ing fruit, or is it better to set the pots out of doors
for this purpose?

I have River's and also Brehaut's essays, but
they do not supersede the importance of practical
experience in our widely different climate.

[Orchard-house trees in pots are best kept in a
shed or barn during the winter, with leaves or straw
tightly stuffed in about the pots or tubs, to keep
off the severest weather from the roots. They do
vei-y well in a dark cellar if it is never much above
or below freezing. Warm cellars injure them as
badly as a very cold orchard-house would do ; where
there is no flue in an orchaid-house, which is, after
all, what is understood in ICurope by an orchard-
house, it would not be safe to bring in the trees be-
fore the 1st of March at New Haven. The roots
should not be suffered to run into the borders, but
the pots be twisted around about once a month,
to prevent any such effect. Curculios do not
travel much by day, when ventilators arc open.
Gauze over the openings will be a sure safe-

guard. It docs not much injure the fruit after it is
stoned, if the tree be healthy. The fruit will
ripen very well under glass ; but removal of the
l^lants to the open air, plunging the pots in the soil
to guard against injury to the roots from too much
or too little water, renders the fruit much superior
to any which complete the riixining under glass.
These foreign works are valuable in so far as they
afford suggestions on which we are to approve or
improve as experience in our climate warrants.!

Hotbed by Hot air— A^ T. C, Milford,
Del. — I contemplate erecting a propagating frame,
5J by 40 feet, which I propose to heat with a small
furnace and flue running the whole length. Can
you suggest any imjirovements or modification to
the plan, through the columns of the Alunthhj.

Have you used anything of the kind, or is there
any reason why that mode of heating would not
be more advantageous, than an ordinary hotbed.
I intend using it as any ordinary hotbed, and also,
for starting Grape-eyes.

[There is a peculiarity about the moisture and
heat of a dung hotbed so favorable to vegetation,
that no adaptation of hot air has ever been found
a satisfactory substitute. Possibly, if a sort of
false bottom could be made to the pit, over the
flue, and a few feet of stable manure put on, the
flue would help to maintain the regular tempera-
ture, which it is so laborious to maintain with
manure alone ; and thus combine the advantages
of both hot water and ammoniated atmosphere
together.]

Inmury to a Grape-vine Border. — The fol-
lowing from " C. 11.," Palmyra, N. Y., will interest
Grape growers, who wish to know "what to
avoid : ' '

I have a lean-to Cold Grapery 50 feet long by 14
feet deep ; six year ago I planted my vines, a row
of Black Hamburgh, on the back wall, and some
of the newer varieties in front. For three or four
years they grew well, and looked healthy. Two
years ago last Spring, I had the inside border
thickly covered with old refuse lime and hair from
a tannery, which had been exposed to the weather
for many years, and I supposed most of the strength
of the lime was exhausted. In the Fall, my gar-
dener spaded this lime into the border, aniong the
roots of the vines. The next season they bore a
fair crop of fruit, but some of the vines made but
little growth. This year, .some did not bear at all,
the foliage had a sickly appearance, and some of
the leaders grew but a few inches. The Black

m

fl

«K£

iji^t €mk\\tu Sontljli!.

55

Hamburgh on the back wall, grew well, and bore
a fair crop of fruit, but all the other varieties in
front, where the moist lime was put, look verj'
badly and scarcely bore at all.

Late this Fall, I had all the earth to the depth
of 12 inches removed from the inside of the front
border, and found that all the inside roots were
black and decayed, with no vitality in them; the
roots running outside seem to be healthy, but all
inside of the place entirely dead. Now I wish to
know, whether I had better remove these vines
entirely, "root and branch," and put in new ones
in the Spring, or can I make good vines of those I
have, by cutting them back severely, removing all
the decayed roots and burying the cane a little
deeper than before, so as to coax out new roots,
about o??iS /la//" of the roots, those running into the
outside border, are perfectly sound and healthy.

[These are evidently suffering from an over dose
of lime, and loss of surfiice roots by digging. The
remedy is to remove the poisoned soil, replacing
by sweet fresh turf soil. The vines may recover,
but we would plant young ones between them, so as
to have them coming on, in case the others should
be too far gone to be easily recovered. ]

Weather and Soil op South-eastern Ten-
nessee— If. F., Cleveland, Tenn. — Weather mild
and fine, with frequent rains, Thermometer ranges
from 28° to 68° twice below the min. No., Wheat
fine.

This seems a healthy locality. The best of water
and timber, and hofh in unlimited quantity ; soil
moderately fertile, and very agreeably diversified
with wooded bills, and fertile vales. Cleveland is
about midway between the Alleghanics, S. E., and
Cumberland mountains, N. W., (about 40 miles
each way,) and water power abundant of best
quality ; only 40 miles to the great Copper mines,
of Ductown ; and already nearly 1,000,000 pound
ready for shipment. R. R. communication re-
stored to all points in every direction. Peace and
quiet reigns. All seem anxious for emigrants to
come with their capital an! enterprise, to help
repair the ravages of war.

Land at present cheaper than ever known before,
though some are still held comparatively high:
but $8 to $20 for good lands near R. R. it seems
to me are cheap enough.

41

Railroad Char(3ES— TK J. M., Pontine, III.,
remarks : " Weather variable, but rather mild, but
Kttle snow, good wagoning, money scarce, the first

time in four years. Corn only 20 cents per bushel,
and is being burned up for fuel, and that too, in
locations where a dozen coal beds are within 15 to
20 miles, with good coal ot $2 50 per ton. Rail
Road monopolies and exorbitant freight tariffs the
cause, from which, both western farmers and east-
ern operatives are equally suffering."

[That goods cost more for transportation now,
than formerly, is undoubted ; but the tariff rates
themselves, are not higher — speaking at least for
Pennsylvania roads, in proportion to the difference
between gold and currency, than they have been in
past years : while for travelling, a dollar in paper
carries one as far as a gold dollar used to do. Very
few railroads are more than spasmodically dividend
paying. Public spirited individuals build them
for the benefit of Stock Gamblers. Express Com-
panies, Agencies, Porterages, Commissions, and
middlemen generally swallow the profits of rail-
roads, while they have to bear the stigma of
"exorbitant charges" from the public.

A bos that costs us two dollars from Pittsburg
to Philadelphia, 350 miles; costs us three, after
going ten miles fui-ther, to Germantown, by "ex-
press;" and we have no doubt this is the experi-
ence of every one in other towns and places.

No community is more interested in cheap and
rapid transportation than the Horticultural and
Agricultural ; and attention is sadly needed to
the evils that have crept in.

As a rule, we do not think railroad rates ruling
now are exorbitant ; but if the companies could
control the "handlers" who shave them and the
community, it would be to the profit of the com-
panies, and a blessing to us.

The Distribution of Flower Seeds.— We
see b}' the proceedings of the American Farmer's
Club of New York, that through them, over seveii
thousand persons applied for, and received pack-
ages of flower seeds, freely contributed for that
purpose, by Mr. W. R. Prince, of Flu.shing.
Mr. Prince has, through the same source, dis-
tributed last fall, thousands of flower roots, and
we hear he has promised the Institute fifty thou-
sand packages of flower seed for this Spring's
distribution. Thousands of people by these simple
means, are having the foundations of future plea-
sure, in floral pursuits laid in their hearts ; and
Mr. Prince's energy and liberality are worthy of
all praise.

Apples for Isuiediate Profit. — Alpha, Doug-
lassville, Penna. — Your list is a very good one.

t

56

®^j)t gardener's ^mitjilg.

except too many of Northern Spy. This one is
very profitable when it tloes come, but as j'our
object is immediate profit, we would replace the
whole of them, bj' Baldwin, which will commence
to bear tolerably, at from 5 to 7 years old. The
Rhode Island Greening, would also come into full
bearing before the Northern Spy, though not so
soon as the Baldwin. They arc both reliable fruits
for your sections-central Pcimsylvania.

P.iEO^Y Seeds— A".— We are obliged by the
hybridized Seeds, and will try to raise them as
you de.'jire.

N.\.ME OF Pl.ANT— /?. /?., Hagcrstoum, Md.—
Your single flower appears to be of Aphelandra
Ghiesbrechtii, a very valuable winter flowering,
warm greenhouse plant.

Wild S.\oe. — A correspondent asks, what the
plant is that is so abundant in our Western country,
that is there called wild sage, with some account
of its uses, &c. We suppose it is some species o '
Salvia, but know no one particularly called Wild
Sage. Can any of our readers inform us ?

New White Violet— ^1. L. C, Albany, K
Y. — Inquires where the new white violet, refeiTed
to in our December No., can be obtained. We
(iiiiitted to credit the extract to whatever foreign
paper we took it from. [t is not, probably in
the countjy for sale yet, but such enterprising
importers as Panson & Co., Buist, Peter Hender-
son, B. K. Bliss, or others who advertise their
new plants in our columns, will not be long before
the}' have so desirable an addition to offer.

Sheldon's Blight and Boker Co.mposition —
H. I. 7/., Monticello, I If., asks where it may be
found? Wo do not know. We have doubts of its
value for the ])urposos stated. A vender whom
we saw in the West, was using verj' freely the
names of respectable nurserymen, in Western N.
Y. as endorsing the character he gave of it ; and we
made the paragrajdi as much for the purpose of
gaining further infurmation ourselves. At the
time we had the address of the manufacturer, but
have nut now.

Name of Chrvssanthk^mjm. — A correspondent
says the name of the Chry.santhemum, that pro-
duces sometimes white, and sometimes yellow
flowers from the same stem, is " La Fiancee."

OBITUARY.

R. REID.

" Died, December 24th, 1865, at No. 22 Thir-
tieth Street, New York, Robert Ileid, Florist, aged
70 years, a native of Langholm, Dumfrieshire,
Scotland. ' '

This simple announcement in the death column
of a daily paper, had no particular interest to any,
except to the immediate friends of tlio deceased.
But his death has left a gaj) in the Horticultural
ranks, very diflicult to fill, and a blank in the hearts
of his many friends, not soon to be forgotten.

Although more than half a century has passed
away, since the days when our old friend first
learned to " swing the scythe and wield the sjiade,"
yet his active and energetic mind was ever the first
to note improvements in Horticulture as soon as they
appeared ; and perhaps his thorough and compre-
hensive knowledge of all its departments, was un-
excelled by that of any other man in the profession.

Modest, unassuming and unambitious, Mr. Reid
was but little known outside of his immediate lo-
cality. Yet in whatever place he made his home,
his rare merits were never overlooked. He si)ent
many years of his life in the vicinity of London,
and was an honoraiy member of the London Hor-
ticultural Society, and long enju^'cd the friendship
of Dr. Lindley, Donald Beaton, George Gleimy,
and other eminent Horticulturists of the time ;
Mr. Reid was also a clear and pleasing writer,
and some of the best practical articles in the pages
of the Gardeners Chronicle and Gardeners Ga-
zette of twenty-five years ago, were from his pen.

If, as the poet says, "an honest man is the
noblest work of God," then Robert Reid was
one of his no))lest works, for he was emphatically
an honest man ; his sterling integrity, and utter
scorn of wrong or meanness, made him an uncom-
promising foe to all who wandered from the straight
path.

In all valuation of stock and chattels connected
with the trade, in the vicinity of New York, the
services of Mr. Reid were invariably in demand.
And in all matters of dispute, the decision of
Robert Reid, as referee, was never questioned.
Such was the veneration and respect in which
the judgment and integrity of the good old man
was held. p. H.

Upto anb Plerp ^puih*

Buffalo and McAyoy's Seedling Straw-
berries.— Mr. Hovey's article respecting them is

..(^J

%^<>l'

'n)^

^

*(&

Cj)^ @arbiitr's Poittljlj,

running the rounds of the Horticultural press, and
with your permission, I will aid in setting the
matter right.

Mr. Hovey is doubtless coi-rect, respecting the
varieties he has, but it is evident he has not the
Russell.

Early in the growing season, the Russell and
Buffalo resemble each other very closely, and when
the question of identity was first raised, I compared
the foliage very closely, at different times, and the
only perceptible difference to my eyes was a more
hairy surface of the leaf of one than the other.
And at this period, T doubt if the "waviness and
indentations" mentioned by friend Buist, or the
"curved and bluntly sen-ated" of Douglass, would
enable them or " a committee-man" to separate a
lot of leaves with any degree of accuracy.

Later in the season, the runners of Buffalo show
a marked difference, being longer and more slender
than Russell, and the fruit is darker, softer, richer,
and in eveiy way superior to the Russell. The
Russell is larger, coarser, and not more than second
or third rate in quality ; I place it in the latter
position.

Now, in reality, there is no Buffalo. It is only
another name for McAvoy's Superior, and the
sooner we convince the public of this fact, the
better. Our Horticultural friends of Western
New York may not agree with us in this respect;
but that is readily accounted for, when we state,
that their McAvoy's Superior, and the McAvoy's
Superior of New York City and vicinity, are two
very different berries. The Sujjerior I have had
from Rochester, twice ; and is what is known here as
Extra Redj an intensely acid berry. There is still
another Superior that was formerly grown, in this
vicinity, which corresponds to the published de-
scription, and is much better than the Rochester
berry, but not equal to genuine rebaptized Buffalo.

These facts will probably enable friend Hovey
and others to understand how this " triple mistaJce"
could occur. If friend Douglass has the Eastern
N. Y. Superior, soil and climate must make a
greater change than I am willing to credit it for,
if he places it below the Russell, but if he has the
West N. Y. berry, I coincide with him, and that
is not saying much, for after two years trial, I dont
consider either worth growing or eating.

One grower, in his Spring circular, o^ers genuine
Buffalo's, direct from Smith & Bryant, but this
does not alter the case. Its a libel and counterfeit any
way. My plants come from the fountain head,
two lots to the amount of $14, and both prove to
be McAvoy's Superior, ivhich I already had. This

practice of rejuvenating old varieties with a new
name, and a monstrous cut, as in the case of the
Buffalo, is a growing one ; and deserves and should
receive the severest censure. We live in an age of
humbugs and swindles, and I regret to say, our
horticultural ranks are not exempt.

If the excellent advice of P. B., page 6, Jan.
No. were followed ; and the community would not
take hold of new things, merely on the recom-
mendation of the seller; but wait till the "second
season's experience" has been had, and the testi-
mony of competent judges to back it; we would
encourage true merit more, and suffer from swin-
dlers less. — E. Williams, Mont Clair, N. J.

Hybrid Grapes from Canada. — I have just
received your November number, and have read
your remarks upon a bunch of one of my Hybrid
Seedling Grapes. I felt sure that you could not be
otherwise than pleased with its fine size and ap-
pearance, but had ray doubts as to your liking its
flavor, from the fact that it was cut before it was
ripe, through fear of the fruit being taken by
thieves.

I now send you another small bunch, of the
same variety, cut a few days after, or about the
last of September. I trust this will enable you to
give a more fiivorable opinion of its flavor. The
male parent of this grape is the Black Hamburgh ;
the female parent, is of the wild frost grape family.
I preferred the Vitis Cordifolia, for the female,
from the fact, that it is the most hardy, grows farther
North than any other species, less subject to dis-
ease, and is entirely free from that peculiar smell
and taste called foxiness, which is offensive to most
people.

Please taste the fruit now sent with the Diana
and Delaware, grown side by side with it. The
Delaware was cut at least two weeks later, and the
Diana nearly four weeks later. A few years ago
I had a Catawba growing within a few feet of
where this seedling vine now stands ; and the fruit
was invariably as green as grass when the winter
frost set in. • I scarcely think we get so rich a
flavor to any grapes grown here as you do in Phila-
delphia. If so, it would be scarcely fair to judge
my seedling by comparing it with grapes grown in
your section. — Charles Arnold.

[These grapes enable us to say, what we could
not of the first samples sent, that its flavor is of
the highest excellence. — Ed.]

m

?:^^^

m^

— ^,s^

58

S^he (Sarbcncr's OTonthlii.

GRIMES' GOLDEN PIPPIN APPLE.

This is a seedling found in Brooke County, Va.,
about seven miles from the Ohio River, about 80
years since, by Samuel Wood, of JeiFerson County,
Ohio. It has been cultivated by the descendants
of Mr. Wood, and is largely disseminated through
Ohio and parts of Indiana and Illinois. Mr. S. B.
Marshall, of Massillon, Ohio, (a son-iu-law of Mr.
Wood,) has done, perhaps, more than any other
person, to make it known. He has grown and
handled it for twenty years, during which time it
has never failed to produce a fine crop of fruit —
nor, as long back as he can learn, from those who
arc acquainted with its history.

It may be described as follows : Form roundish,
rather oblong ; size medium ; color golden yellow ;
dots, small, brown ; basin nearly regular, rather
large ; eye medium, closed ; cavity narrow, deep ;
stem long, slender ; core small, closed ; seeds
plump, brown ; flesh yellow, fine grained ; flavor
sprightly, sub-acid, excellent; quahty first; use
table ; season from December to February, or
about the same as Prj'or's Red.

[The above memorandum we have through the
kindness of Mr. George W. Beeler, one of the best
authorities on apples in the West.]

Hp&i anb 8S.arp planh*

Descriptions of some New Flowering Plants : —
"Having been solicited many times by letter to

give descriptions of some of those plants lately'
introduced fi-om the Rocky Mountain country, I
take this method of answering all at once :

Callirhoe involucrata. — This fine trailer is a
native of the Upper Platte country, and is also
found sparingly on the head waters of the Mis-
souri ; and also in some parts of Utah Territory.
It is a malvaceous plant, perfectly hardy, and a
very free bloomer, the flowers varying in color from
pure white to the deepest crimson, — the writer
having plants producing white, light rose, deep
rose, light purple, scarlet and crimson, all seed-
lings originally from one plant. The root is shaped
like a Parsnip, and is used considerably by the
Indians as an article of food. It has a pleasant,
sweetish taste, and contains a large per cent, of
starch. In growth it somewhat resembles the
Verbena, branching off" from the roots in all di-
rections, plants frequently covering a space of six
feet in diameter. The flower-stalks rise from the
axils of the leaves, bearing a single -flower about
two inches across. It may be termed a ])erpetual
bloomer, as it commences to flower in May, and
continues in bloom until killed by frost in autumn.

Bartonia or Mentzelia nuda. — This is an-
other hardy perennial, and is to my mind one of the
finest plants in cultivation. It usually grows two
feet high, though well-established plants frequently
grow to the height of three or more feet. The
name of this plant has been changed from Barto-
nia to that of Mentzelia, and is now known in

most Botanical works 'by the latter name. Its
native habitat is Western Nebraska, along the
base of the Rocky Mountains, and it is also found
high up in the mountains, on the table-lands and in
the guelches. It sends uv) very strong, woody flower-
stalks, much branched towards the top, producing
flowers in great abundance. The flowers are very
large, being two and a half inches across,
and nearly pure white. The numerous, long,
feathery stamens, gives the flowers a very beautiful
appearance. They commence blooming in May or
June, and the flowers are produced in succession
nearly the whole season. There are several other
varieties indigenous to the Rocky Mountain coun-
try, but this is the only one that 1 have succeeded
in perfectly bringing to a state of civilization. — H.
A. Terry, Crescent City, Iowa.

The following New Plants were recently exhibi-
ted before a Committee of the London Horticultu-
ral Society.

Drac(EXA Cooperi (Messrs. Veitch and Son). —
This was one of the red-variegated forms of i)ra-
coena, and well marked, but differed from D.
terminalis in having leaves of an arching or pend-
ent character. They were of a deep bronzy-purple
tint, recurved, and freely marked with deep rose-
red. It had been introduced from New Caledonia.

Franciscea calycina major (Messrs. Veitch
and Son.) — This had larger flowers than in the
ordinary form, the color being also of a more
intense violet-purple. It appeared to be a free-
flowering plant.

Gymnostachyum Versohaffeltii (Mr. Bull.)
An elegant dwarf stove herb, with broad, long-
stalked, cordate blunt leaves, conspicuously veined
with red. It had hitherto, when shown in a less
developed state, been considered identical with the
plant mentioned as Eranthemum rubronervium,
which it closely resembled in habit of marbling,
but it proves to be freer in habit, producing larger
leaves.

Phal^nopsis Ruckeri (Mr. Bull. ) — A distinct-
looking form of Phalrenopsis, imported from some
of the Indian Islands. The small plant exhibited
had short, oblong leaves, and a dwarf stem, bear-
ing four or five flowers, which were yellowish at the
back, and had the anterior half of the lateral arms
of the lip, and the entire apical lobe, including the
horns, stained of a deep yellow color. The broad
roundish flabellate petals were white. Its affinity
was with Ph. grandiflora; but it appeared to differ
in the points just indicated. The plant was, hoW'
ever, small and weakly.

Rhododendron Nuttallii CMr. Williams.) —
This was a cut specimen from a fine plant bearing
eighteen trusses of flowers, blooming in Mr. Wil-
liam's Victoria Nursery, at Highgate. It is now
well-known as the flnest of the large white Indian
Rhododendrons ; the flowers measure some six
inches across. These were the flrst flowering speci-
mens which had been exhibited before the Com-
mittee.

The following are figured in the Moral Maga-
zine :

Aquilegia C(Erulea. — Native of the Rocky
Mountains, originally discovered by Dr. James,
and raised by Mr. Thompson, of Ipswich, from
seeds sent home by Dr. Parry. Flowers violet
blue and white, with long spurs.

Clerodendron TnoMSONiE, var. Balfourii. —
Raised by Mr. McNab, of the Edinburgh Botanic
Garden. Flowers large, crimson and white.

Primula intermedia. — Raised by Mr. Fullar,
Headingly, and now in the hands of Mr. Bull, of
Chelsea. Flowers resembling a small-flowered
Auricula, mauve ; trusses composed of numerous
pips.

Rose Duchess of Medina-C^li. — This beau-
tiful Rose was obtained from seed three years ago
by M. Marest & Son, horticultural gardeners in
Paris, who are accustomed to successes in this line.
Since that period they have studied it carefully,
and have not brought it before the public until
they felt convinced of its originality and qualities.
We are ignorant of its parentage, which is to be
regretted, but producers in general do not keep
sufficient account of these matters. If gardeners
would but place upon a register the names of the
fathers and mothers of the plants they rear from
these mixed parentages, they would do what would
prove generally useful both to individuals and to
science. It is of large size, richly colored dark
crimson, is finely formed, and has abundant and
beautiful foliage. [It is very seldom raisers of new
varieties know which the fathers or mothers are.
With all the subtle talk about hybridizing, the
best hybrids are those of nature's crossing. Often-
times the genealogies off"ered us are shamefully
untrue.] — Gardener's Weekly.

Cham^batia foliolosa. — A correspondent of
the Cottage Gardener, says : — " One of the prettiest
plants in the greenhouse here is Chamsebatia
foliolosa. It does not often occur in collections,
but is well worth growing for the extreme delicacy

M)

60

®j)C (Sctnlfiifr's ^tlonlljli}.

of its foliage. The leaves are about three inches
long, and something like Cheilantbus tomentosa,
combined, if it were possible, with those of Tansy.

r^

^^-^

"%

[Chamaebatia foliolosa.]

The flowers which I have seen resemble those of
the common Blackberry, and soon fall to pieces;
in habit the plant is an undershrub."

Begonia Digswelliensis. — This was a very
free-flowering dwarf hybrid variety, something like
B. Saundersii, but a more abundant l)loomer, and
the flowers opening better. Regarded as a verj-
useful decorative or market plant, and is also
likely to be an acquisition for supplying cut flowers.
The leaves were uarrow-ovatc lanceolate ; and the
flowers of a bright pinkish-red, very freely pro-
duced.

New Fuel. — A newspaper of Tepic, Mexico,
speaks in high terras of a late discovery that has
been made to apply to purposes of fuel the stone
of the guacoyal, the fruit of a species of palm that
grows on the Pacific side of Mexico. From experi-
ments made on board of English war steamers, it
has been discovered that, used as a fuel, the stone
of the guacoyal is equal to the best coal, both for
the length of time it burns and the intensity of
heat produced. It has likewise the advantage
over coal, that there is no disagreeable smell. from
the exhalation of gas, nor does it dirty the holds,
nor the persons who have to take it out ; its shape
is also in its favor for employing directly, and it is
not subject to spontaneous combustion, or damage
by leakage of the ship.

The guacoyal, as already stated, is the fruit of
the palm with which nature has covered the Mexi-
can coast of San Bias and the valley of Bandcras.
The quantity of this fruit, which can be collected
annually, is incalculable. Thousands of tons, says
the Tepic newspaper, can be gathered at a very
slight expense, and easily supply all the steamers
of the Pacific coast — the difl'erence of price be-
tween it and coal at San Francisco being about one-
half The objection is, that the supply can only
be temporary, as the daily consumption of one
vessel would take the produce of thousands of trees
to supply it, — Mining and Petroleum Standard.

Public Parks in Cincinnati.— The city coun-
cils of Cincinnati have secured one hundred acres
on Mount Adams and Garden of Eden for a
Public Park. Cincinnati is more sensible than
Philadelphia ; when she began to have parks, she
established the ofliice of " Superintendent of Parks,"
and took care to have some one in the ofiice who
understood the business. Philadelphia makes of
her "Parks" a hospital for crippled politicians, —
the "superintendent" of one of her best parks,
and one of the best sites in the world, being by
trade a butcher. We cannot help contrasting
these things, envying, at the same time, cities which
have not politico-ridden Parks.

Greely ]*remiu.ms on Apples and Pears. —
On December i2th last, the committee, after a long
con.sultation, decided to award the premium for the
be.st apple for general cultivation to the Baldwin,
and for the best pear for general cultivation to the

Bartlett, on pear stock. The best bushel of each
was exhibited by W. R. Ward, of Newark, N. J.,
and the prizes go to him. While this decision,
probably, will not satisfy every one, we think that,
taking all the circumstances into consideration, the
committees have made the best possible selection. —
American Agricuhurist.

An Important Select Fruit List. — The com-
mittee on the Greely prizes at their last meeting
fixed upon two varieties each, of summer, fall
and winter apples and pears, to recommend for
general cultivation. Although this they consider
as extra official, we are very glad that it has been
done, and our readers will attach much importance
to it, when they know that it is the result of the
deliberations of pomologists of such large experi-
ence as Chas. Downing, C. M. Hovey, Dr. J. A.
Warder, Dr. I. M. Ward, V/m. S. Carpenter, and
others.

Apples — Summer. — Primate and E.ed As-
trachan.

Autumn. — Porter and Gravenstein.

Winter. — Hubbardston Nonsuch and Northern
Spy.

Pears — Summer. — Rostiezer and Manning's
Elizabeth.

Autumn. — Seckel and Sheldon.

Winter. — Lawrence and Dana's Hovey.

[The above we find in the American Agricultu-
rist, and is a good list, though perhaps Dana's
Hovey may excite surprise at being in a list recom-
mended for general cultivation. It is one of the
best fruits we have ever tasted ; but we doubt
whether it has been yet fruited in more than a
score of places in the Union ; and that it will do
well everywhere, should, we think, rather favor a
probability than a certainty. — P]d. G. 31,]

Colors. — ^There are three simple colors — red,
yellow and blue — and, by a mixture of these, all
others are mad.e. The way these are mingled to
form the seven colors of the rainbow, is best seen
by observing their position in the solar spectrum.
When light passes from one medium to another of
different density, it is always bent or refracted from
its straight course, some of the rays being refracted
more than others. Of the primitive colors, the
red ray is refracted the least, yellow next, and blue
the niost. By passing the light through a triangu-
lar prism, it is twice refracted in the same direc-
tion, and as the more refrangible rays are, of
course, bent the most at each refraction, the colors
are in this way as widely separated as they can be

by any process, though they are not completely
separated even by this plan, for the different
colors lap over each other on their borders. It is
by this lapping over and consequent intermingling,
that the other four colors of the spectrum are
formed.

Orange is a mixture of red and yellow, and the
position of orange in the spectrum is between the
red and yellow. Glreen is a mixture of yellow and
blue, and the position of green is between the
yellow and blue. Indigo and violet are mixtures
of blue and red, and the position of these is be.yond
the blue. This is the most curious and mysterious
thing in the spectriim ; while the red are the least
refrangible rays of light in the sunbeam, a portion
of them are found beyond the blue. Indigo and
violet are formed as they would be if the spectrum
were bent in a circle, and blue were thus made to
touch red at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Most observers now recognize a third color result-
ing from the mixture of red and blue, which they
call lavender. The position of this is beyond the
violet.

Beside the seven or eight colors of the spectrum,
a great many others are found in nature and art,
and all these are seen, on examination, to be mix-
tures in various proportions of red, yellow and
blue ; scarlet is a mixture of red and yellow, with
a larger proportion of red than in orange. By
adding blue to red in increasing proportions we
have, first pink, then crimson, then purple, then
indigo, while violet and lavender seem to be fainter
shades of the mixture. By looking at the trees of
a forest, we see that there are not merely several
shades of green, but innumerable colors of green,
resulting from the different proportions in which
blue and yellow are mingled.

The endless variety of colors with fancy names,
invented by traders who sell dry goods, or women
who purchase them, will be seen on examination to
result from mingling in different proportions of
red, yellow and blue. Finally, white results from
blending the three primitive colors in the exact
proportions they occur in the sunbeam, while pure
black is simply the absence of any light whatever.
— Scientific American.

Fruits for Western New York.— The follow-
ing fruits have been recommended by the Fruit-
Growers' Society of Western New York :

Pears for General Cultivation — Summer
Sorts. — Giffard, Tyson, Doyenne d'Ete, Rostiezer,
and Osband's Summer.

62

Cjje (S;tri)tner's S^ontljln.

Autumn Sorts. — Bartlett, Sheldon, Angouleme, !
Louise Bonne de Jersey and AnJDU. |

Waiter Sorts.— Lawrence, Winter Nclis, Easter
Beurre and Wink6eld.

Apples for Market. — Baldwin, Rhode Island
Greening, Jonathan, Roxbury Russet, Westfield
Seek-no-Further.

Best Varieties of Hardy Grapes. — Delaware,
Diana, Isabella, Hartford Prolific, Rebecca, Con-
cord, Creveling.

The Best Straicberries for FayniJy Use. — Tri-
omphe de Gand, Early Scarlet, Russell, Wilson,
Hooker, Burr's New Pine, Hovey's Seedling.

Ra.<iphcrries. — Brinckle's Orange, Hudson River
Antwerp, Franconia, Knevett's Giant, Hornet and
Black Cup. — The American Farmer.

yoFFign InfpIligFnrp.

The Durion.— Durio zebethinus, the Dnrion, is
the tropical fruit to which I now wish to draw at-
tention as one likely to become, hereafter, very use-
ful for the dessert. This tree, of which there are
many varieties, is a native of the warmest parts of
southern Asia, where it grows very rapidly, and
attains the height of 30 feet. The leaves are about
4 inches long, verj- smooth at the edges, and shaped
somewhat like those of an Apple. The flowers,
large and fragrant, are produced in small bunches,
and are of a yellow color. .The fruit, which is
covered with a hard knotty rind, is about the size
of a child's head, and is not unlike a Chestnut in
appearance ; when ripe it becomes of a dark yellow,
and cracks at the top. Inside, the fruit contains
five or six large cells filled with the pulp mixed with
seeds. This pulp or cream is of a pure white
color, very thick, and highly nutritious ; the taste
is peculiar, but very agreeable, and although of the
verj- richest nature never palls upon the appetite,
or injures the most delicate digestion. For an in-
valid the fruit is invaluable, its only drawback be-
ing the disagreeable odor when ripe.

When growing the Durion for fruit, it should be
planted out in a border within the stove, and is
best trained up the roof like a Vine; indeed,
where the room can be spared, an entire house
should be devoted to its culture, as few plants will
thrive under the shade it causes. When in full
bearing such a house presents a striking appear-
ance, the large fruit hanging down in all stages of
growth from amongst the leaves and flowers.

Unlike the Mango and Mangosteen, this tree
requires a season of complete rest, and directly the

fruit is all off, which will be by the end of Novem-
ber, the temperature should be at once rodueed,
lowering it to from ()()° to G5° by day, and from 55°
to G0° by night. No water must be given unless
the border becomes very diy. Never mind a few
leaves falling, the trees will be all right, and the
better for it in the next .spring, as it is vain to ex-
pect fruit on the Durion unless the tree has previ-
ously had at least two months' rest.

Towards the middle of Februarj' the trees will
start again, and the temperature mu.st then be
raised to from 75° to 80° by day, and from 05° to
70° by night, at the same time keeping the house
close and moist, and watering the plants frequently.
When the flowers open, the temperature mayngain
raise to from 85° to 90° by day, and 80° to 85° by .
night, giving air freely in fine weather, and occa-
sionally syringing the trees overhead.

The flowers will set freely, and little attention
will be needed until the fruit is half grown, or about
the size of an Apple. This is a critical time with
the Durion, as much fruit will then fall off, some-
times nearly the whole crop. The only way to pre-
vent this is by maintaining a high temperature, and,
at the same time, admitting plenty of fresh air,
care being taken that the air is well warmed by
passing over the hot- water pipes or flues before it
reaches the trees, as the least chill stops the new
growth, and materially injures the fruit.

As the fruit ripens, the heat may range between
90° and 95° by day, or even higher, and 80° and 85°
by night. It is of the greatest importance that
the trees at this time should be frequently syringed
— twice a day will be by no means too often ; unless
this is done the smell of the ripe fruit will be very
strong and revolting. The crop will continue riiion-
ing for some weeks, all stages of the fruit being
seen on the trees at the same time. When ripe
the fruit must be cut, or it will soon putrefy, and
aflfect the rest ; by not attending to this, many fine
fruit may be lost. It should also be eaten fresh from
the tree, as it very rapidly deteriorates, and will
not keep more than twenty-four hours. If it is
wished to send some of the fruit to a distance it
should be cut before it is quite ripe, and it will then
keep two or three days.

On account of the great size and weight of the
fruit it is advisable to give it some support just be-
fore it ripens ; this may easily be managed by tying
it up to the tree with two pieces of matting, about
an inch wide, placed crosswise under the fruit, and
tied over the branch.

The border in which the Durion is planted should
be the entire length of the house, about 3 feet wide.

§fh^ iJarkner's (^ontMg»

18 inches deep, and well drained. As this fruit
delights in rich food, the soil should consist of one
half good leaf mould, one quarter sandy loam, and
one quarter rotten manure taken from a spent hot-
bed. These ingredients, thoroughly mixed together,
should be sifted through a sieve, adding now and
then a little charcoal, broken into pieces the size of
a hazelnut, and a few whole bones. In planting be
careful to spread out the roots, pressing the soil
firmly around the trees. When once fairly estab-
lished the trees will require very little attention
beyond renewing the top soil occasionally, and
keeping the roots well watered. For a house 20
feet long two trees will be quite sufficient.

The Durion, though by no means so handsome a
tree as the Mangosteen, is, when loaded with fruit,
a very beautiful object ; the flowers, too, are very
fragrant, emitting a peculiarly grateful scent. The
fruit is particularly valuable for invalids, uniting,
as it does, in itself the flavor of a delicious fruit
with that of a delicate animal food ; it is also very
useful for the dessert ; and as it bears freely with
proper treatment, and grows rapidly after the first
year or two, it is, I think, well worthy of cultiva-
tion.— Journal of Horticultures

Strawberry Culture in France. — It ap-
pears they are beginning to appreciate the stool
system of culture in France, as well as we, thanks
to the labors of Mr. Knox. Mr. Gloede, in his
recent work on the Strawberry', " Xes Bonnes
Iraises, maniere tie les Ctiltiver pour les avoir au
maximum de heaute,^' says the diff"erence of pro-
duce between that of a plant with the runners
regularly cut ofi^, and one left to emit them freely,
is, he says, incredible. Digging between the rows
is to be avoided ; and the old leaves should be
left for the protection of the plants till February
or March.

Climbing Devoniensis — In Thos. Elver's De-
scriptive Catalogue of Roses, the 32d Edition,
he remarks: "Some persons, ignorant of the
nature of cultivated Roses, have disputed the
claims of this Rose to be a climbing pillar Rose.
It evidently originated in some strong shoot of
Devoniensis, and has retained its character by bud-
ding. Here it has made shoots 15 feet long with-
out .putting forth any blossoms ; these generally
break forth in autumn. The climbing deviations
are no rarity. Geant des Batailles has sported
into a climber."

What Darwin has Done— is thus summed up
in the Natural History Review :

"1. To show that the operation of natural se-
lection must eventually result in the co-ordination
of the derivative individuals into more or less
definable groups, which we call species, genera,
orders, &c.

"2. To demonstrate that such a process actually
takes place in minor groups, both of the animal
and vegetable kingdoms.

" 3. To show how the main facts of classification,
development, and geographical distribution are all
consonant with, and explicable upon, the hypothe-
sis that organized beings are all derivative, and
have been ruled by natural selection in every thing
relating to their development, whether'^as to grade
of perfection, numbers, magnitude, or diff"usion
over the earth's surface. It is the application of
this demonstrably proved law of natural selection,
together with the fact that the struggle for exist-
ence must lead to the extinction of the weaker
races, to the speculation of the derivative origin
of species, that is the novel point which Mr.
Darwin has brought out, and which raises the said
speculation to the rank of a legitimate hypothesis ;
and it is the fact of the derivative origin of species
being no longer a speculation, but an hypothesis
(or as some say a theory) that has necessitated its
careful consideration by every scientific biologist,
and its acceptance by many at once, and by more as
time advances."

mim

ILLINOIS HOETICTJLTTJRAL SOCIETY.

The following interesting essay was delivered by
Dr. S. Shroeder, detailing a new system of Grape-
culture and Preventive of Grape Rot :

"Revolution everywhere! So in Grape-culture.
Much is said and written in regard to the most
dreadful disease, the Grape Rot ; underdraining,
ditching, subsoiling from 18 inches to 3 feet, long
and short trimming. Sulphur, Lime and Sulphate
of Lime, most every thing is tried to prevent or to
cure the Grape Rot, but all failed, more or less.
New varieties, it was hoped, would not be liable to
the rot, but this also has failed in most of the
cases. The vine that rots the most, is surely the
celebrated Catawba, and let me tell here, my
friend, that where ever the Catawba will ripen, and
in its perfect state free from disease, it is a splen-
did Grape, spicy, showy, aromatic and vinous, and
makes a superior wine ; a wine that speaks to our

f

f^V>-

-MCV

^,

64

Slh^ gardener's (Plonthlg.

r&i

heart, as it is said that it has such a fine effect on
our heart organs. Pitj* that the Catawba, in con-
sequence of the awful rot, became so much dis-
carded, and I do not blame its antagonists among
Vinej'ardists, as they had suflPered so much from
its culture.

Years ago I noticed that the fir.>^t crop of Catawba
vines was not injured by the rot, as well in other
people's vineyards, as in my own. I never forget
the sight of my first Catawba crop, when the fruit
on my neighbors vines were rotting, mine stood
there in perfect health and glory. This I noticed
on all my first fruiting Catawbas, as niy vineyards
were planted in successive years. I further noticed
that the fruit on my old wood layers that I used to
make everj' year were free from rot. I then laid
down several old wood layers and cut them oif from
the mother vine in the fall, and found this year
that the fruit on the.se new vines was perfectly
healthy, when the fruit on older vines rotted en-
tirely.

This last year was the hardest j'ear for Catawba
vineyardists, and the losses can be counted by near
two millions of dollars in the West alone.

As proof, I want to say, and to prove the truth
of ray system, that the Catawba vineyards bearing
first time (Mr. G. Lange's and 3Ir Schonebeck's)
were a perfect exhibition of Grapes, when older
vines close by rotted entirely. Years ago it was said
Mauvoo, Warsaw and Alton, in our State had a
peculiar soil to perfect the Catawba. But I denied
it in our public Horticultural gatherings, and it has
been shown the Catawba will rot as well there as in
Cincinnati and Hermann, or elsewhere. The Is-
lands in Lake Erie, it was said, were entirely free
from rot; but the demon went there too, and will be
worse next year, when the vines will become older.
All these facts led me to a new system of Grape-
culture, as mo.st all our grape-vines growing older
will be more or less inclined to the rot. I claim
this as my own discovery.

Remedy: After preparing your land for the
vineyards, plant the same with good, strong layers
or first-rate cutting plants from 8 to 12 feet apart,
in a square, in the usual manner. When your
vines come into bearing, the first big crop, say the
third or fourth year after planting, take one strong
cane of the bearing vine raised for this purpose,
close to the root of the vine make a little ditch
with the hoe or spade, from 4 to 6 inches deep, in
the row up to the centre between your bearing
vines ; let this cane stick about one foot out of the
ground, and after covering your ditch cut it off.
As I said one foot above the ground, this I will

>, ,jjjj_ — .

^5kj

call the first reverse. Let from this grow three
unchecked vines ; two of them are for fruiting the
next year, and can be cut long, to give a good crop
of fruit. The third cane is for the second reverse.

Cut your first reverse loose in the spring from
the mother vine ; let the mother vine bear a good
crop or two, if you choose, as the case may be ;
then chop it away to give room for the second, or
third reverses.

Let us go back now to the second reverse. Take
the third cane of ihefiist reverse, lay it across the
row up to the centre of the row, as before de-
scribed, 4 to 6 inches deep, and one foot above the
ground cut it off.

Now you have instead of one, two rows of vinos.
Let again three canes grow of the second reverse
(two fruiting and one for the third reverse. ) The
third reverse is made by layering the cane of the
second reverse in the new row up to the center of
the new row, and treat it the same way as the
other reverses were treated. The fourth reverse is
made by taking a cane (in the second year after
fruiting) from the first reverse, and after chopping
the original mother vine out, to become the
mothers place one-third of the vines, or as the
case may be, one-fourth are removed every year by
chopping out, and thus making room for other
reverses, and so go on till the 'day of judgment.'

You will have this way, by little labor and with-
out any doctoring, always a new and vigorous
vineyard, free from disease, and paying well for
your labor, superior fruit and wine. It may be
that in some slower growers than Catawba or Con-
cords, that you can make the reverse only every
two years, but good healthy vines in good soil and
locality will stand the reverse almost eveiy year.

This is mainly written or recommended for Ca-
tawba and other varieties of great value, but
adapted and inclined to rot. Whenever a variety
proves free from disea.se, grow it as long as you
can profitably without rever.se. But one thing is
sure, the finest fruits always grow with me on
young vines. So, a gentleman told to-day, it was
with Peaches in the Southern part of our State.
1 hope that every one who grows a Catawba
vine, or any other vine inclined to rot, will give my
new system a fair trial, and report publicly the
result. Anything not plainly understood, I will ex-
plain on application, with the greatest pleasure.
My object is only to save good varieties of fruit (in-
clined to disea.se) for the benefit of my fellow-man ;
and to help the often di.scouragcd, poor, hard-
working man ; and if this, my new discovery, shall
do them good, it will make me happy.

^^^^ ^A|^

DSVOTED TO

THOMAS MEEHATT, Editor.
V/. G. P. I3E,IJ>JCKIjOE, Publisher.

MARCH. 1866.

VOL. VIII— NO. 3.

'^m
^W^

GROUND.

So far as we can learn, the very severe weather
we had in earlj' Januarj' has not been so destruc-
tive to vegetation as the usual severe weather we
couinionly have later in January or February.
This is no doubt owing to the smaller amount of
moisture the plants contain at that season than
they do later. The roots are storing up sap all
through winter; and towards spring when the ves-
sels are filled to their utmost expansion, the addi-
tion of heavy frost is probably more than they can
bear. At any rate when injury is ai>parent. the
best remedy is the pruning knife. Half dead
shoots continue to evaporate the plant's moisture,
which leakage, as we may say, is stopped by cut-
ting away the branch as soon as possible.

Many delay pruning Shrubbery imtil after severe
weather passes, so as to see what injury may be
done, — but with March all should be finished, —
taking care not to trim severely such Shrubs as
flower out of last year's wood, as for instance, the
Wiegelia — while such as flower from the spring
growth, as the Althaea, Mock Orange, &c., are
benefited by cutting back vigorously. '

If flowers have been growing in the ground for
many 5'ears, new soil does wonders. Eich manure
makes phxnts grow, but they do not always flower
well with vigorous growth. If new soil cannot be
had, a wheelbarrow of manure to about every fifty
square feet will be enough. If the garden earth
looks grey or yellow, rotten leaves — quite rotten
leaves — will improve it. If heavy, add sand. If
very sandy, add salt — about half a pint to nfty

square feet. If very black or rich from previous
year's manurings, use a little lime, about a pint,
slacked, to fifty square feet.

If the garden be full of hardy perennial flowers,
do not dig it, but use a fork, and that not deeply.

Dig garden ground only when the soil is warm
and dry. Do not be in a hurry, or you may get be-
hind. When a clot of earth will crush to powder
as j'ou tread on it, is time to dig — not before.

If perennial plants have stood three j'ears in one
place, separate the stools, replanting one-third, and
give the balance to your neighbor who has none.

Set out the annuals you may have got forward in
windows or frames — that is the hardy ones. The
plan u.sed to be to set out in a shower; but that
plan is barbarous. No wonder with such old fogy-
ish rules our handsome young ladies are disgusted
with gardening. Let the. girls lift the seedHngs
carefully from the soil in the pots, sets the roots in
a saucer of water, take them to their assigned
places in the garden, and from the water dibble
them at once in. Cover for twenty-four hours with
an inverted flower-pot — next day cover only six
hours during the middle of the day, — next but an
hour or so during hot sun, if there be any ; and
the plant is safe. Study the difference between
hardy and tender annuals. The latter must be set
out only in April. In the North — extreme north
— also of course, our rules are too early. Go by
the season, not the almanac. March is rather a
treacherous month, even in our favored latitude.
Plants that have been covered by leaves may be
undressed if they show signs of growth, which is
the best rule for uncovering all kinds of protected
plants.

Prune Shrubs, Roses and Vines. Those which
flower from young wood, cut in severely to make
new growth vigorous. Tea, China, Bourbon and
Noisette Roses are of this class. What are called
annual flowering Roses, as Prairie Queen and so
on, require much of last year's wood to make a good
show of flowers. Hence, with these, thin out weak
wood, and leave all the stronger.

65

To Tnakehanil.soiue, shapely specimens of Shrubs,
cut them now into the forms you want, and keep
them so by pulling out all shoots that grow stronger
than the others during the summer season.

The rule for pruning at transplanting is to cut in
proportion to apparent injury to roots. If not
much the worse for renioyal, cut but little of the
top away. Properly pruned, a good gardener will
not have the worst case of a badly dug tree to die
under his hands. In a nursery, where these mat-
ters are well understood, trees " never die."

Box edgings lay well now. Make the ground firm
and level, jtlant deep, with tops not more than two
inches above ground.

Roll the grass well before the .softness of a thaw
goes awaj\ It makes all smooth and level.

Graft trees or shrubs where changed sorts are
desirable. Any lady can graft. Cleft grafting is
the easiest. Split the stock, cut the scion like a
wedge, insert in the split, so that the bark of the
stock atid scion meets ; tie a little bast bark around
it, and cover with Trowbridge's Grafting Wax, and
all is done : very simple when it is understood, and
not hard to understand.

Prepare for some little ' out of the way' notion
in the gardening way. The great Landscape Gar-
deners will tell you to make every thing look as
natural as may be. Perhaps they are right in a
general way ; but we never see in nature a pole
with a hoop at the bottom, leading a dozen of
strings to the top of the pole like a sugar-loaf, with
scores of Cypress-vine branches running over tlitjm ;
trees trained like fans, or a dozen of colors grafted
on one bu.sh ; or upright Irish Junipers, or Weep-
ing Willows, or, for the matter of that, double
Roses. In fact, in some things, the more unlike
nature, if not ridiculous, the better it will please.

Shrubs are not near enough employed in plant-
ing small places. By a judicious .selection, a |)lace
may be had in a blooming state all the year ; and
they, besides, give it a greater interest by their va-
riety, than is obtained by the too firoquent error of
filling it up with but two or three forest tree.s of
gigantic growth. Plant thickly at first, to give the
place a finished appearance, and thin out as they
grow older. Masses of shrubs have a fine effect on
a small place. The centre of such mas.ses should
be filled with evergreen Shrubs, to prevent a too
naked appearance in the winter sea.son.

This is the proper sea-son to lay down box-edg-
ings. To make them properly, the soil along the
line of the edge should be first dug, and then trod
very hard and firm, so that the soil may sink even-
ly together, or the line will present ugly-looking un-

dulations in time. Rooted plants .should be em-
ployed ; cuttings are sometimes used, but frequent-
ly die out in patches ; a good edge can rarely be
made from them. The plants should be set pretty
low down, leaving the plants, when set, one or two
inches above the soil, according to their stockiness.
Sometimes box-edgings are laid around beds formed
in gras.s. When so, a few inches of clear ground
should be kept clean between the grass and the
box, or the weeds will be so intermixed with the
box, after awhile, as to render it a nuisance.

Chrjsantheinums are now indispensable for au-
tumn decoration of the flower garden. Now is the
time to procure a suppl}'. They do well in any rich
garden soil that is not too dry. The Liliputian,
or Pom pone class are .still popular for conservatory
or pot culture, but the large flowering kinds still
remain the gems of the open ground.

Hyacinths, Tulips, Liliums, and other hardy
bulbs set out in the fall, and covered through the
winter, should be occasionally examined, and when
they show signs of active growth, must be uncov-
ered ; in this latitude this is not safe until towards
the end of the month.

The improvements that the last few years have
made in the Hollyhocks have rendered them very
popular for ornamenting .shrubbery borders, to
which they add verj' great interest, and are peculi-
arly apjiropriate. They may be transplanted quite
early in the season, and flower the more freely for
it. They are propagated by dividing the roots in
the spring, or by seeds sown as soon as ripe in sum-
mer. The choice kinds are increased by eyes made
by cutting up the flower stems. These are struck
in a gentle bottoui heat.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Where there is danger of choice fruit suffering
injury from late frosts, protect by a few" evergreen
branches, or muslin. Some trees can be trained so
as to be suited easily to different modes of protec-
tion.

Take borers out of fruit trees, and wrap oiled
paper round the stem at the collar, to keep theni
out for the rest of the sea.son.

Wash the bark of trees, where not done, to kill
the eggs of insects, and soften the old .skin so as to
permit it to swell freely.

For small places, a plentiful supply of Straw-
berries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Gooseberries,
and Currants should be provided, and the Grape-
vine by no means forgotten. These seldom fail to
d^well. Strawberries do well on a rich, dry, but

M)

ih^ ^arkni^r'^ Panthlg.

67

T^

deep soil. On banks that are not too poor or dry,
they seldom fail to do well, and are often three
weeks earlier than when on level soil. Tlie Black-
berry also will do on a dry, rich bank. We mention
this as there are often such spots in small gardens
which it is desirable to render useful. Sfrawhcm'es
seldom do tcell in lotv, wet ground. Raspberries
and Gooseberries do better there.

In planting Raspberries they should be cut down
nearly to the ground when planted. You lose the
crop, of course, but you get good strong canes for
next year. If you leave the canes long enough to
bear, it will probably be the only crop you will ever
get from them. Never expect any thing to hear the
year after transplanting. It is generally at the ex-
pense of the future health of the tree.

Grapes that have become weak from age may be
renewed by laj'ering down a branch some feet just
under the surface, and then cut back, so that one
good eye only be left at the surface of the soil.

Any choice fruit may be grafted, at this season,
on others less desirable. The scions should be cut
before the buds begin to swell, and set in the
ground as cuttings. But they should not be grafted
till the stock is just about bursting into leaf Those
who have much of this work to do begin earlier —
we speak principally to amateurs with but a few
things to graft.

Pruning of most kinds of fruits has been accom-
plished through the winter. It is customary, how-
ever, to leave the Peach till towards spring, in
order to cut out any wood that may be injured
through the winter. In other respects, the Peach
should have little pruning at this season, as it tends
only to make it grow more luxuriously; and a too
free vigor of growth is a fault of the Peach in this
climate. The only pruning admissible is that which
has for its object the production of shoots in naked
or desirable places.

The Strawberry, where it has been covered du-
ring the winter, should be uncovered as early as
possible in spring, that the warm spring suns may
exert all their influence on producing an early crop.
As soon as growth commences, a sowing of guano
has been found to be of great benefit to the crop of
fruit.

In vineries where they have been forced early,
the fruit will be setting, when it is usual not to
syringe so freely about the flowers as before. Cold
vineries will be about bursting their buds, and
should have every encouragement to break regular-
ly, which is most usually accomplished bj'^ bending
the canes down as horizontally as possible. Most
vineries are now built much flatter than formerly,

and less anxiety is therefore felt in regard to this
bursting trouble. Where vines are grown inside
altogether, care must be used to guard against the
soil becoming too dry. Usually about the time of
stoning, a thorough soaking is given to the soil
about them. Where vines grow in outside borders,
the objection is that melting snows cool the roots
too much, and make too great an extreme between
the temperature of root and branch. The best
English gardeners now place hot stable manure on
their borders, and cover these with boards, so dS to
throw off the rain.

It may be said of all fruit trees, they should
be severely pruned at planting, and every other
means i-esorted to in order to produce a vigorous
healthy growth. Fruit, worthy of the name of
fruit, is the result of healthy growth the season
previous, and it is impossible to obtain both the
same season of planting. If any fruit sets in "a
transplanted tree, it should be remorselessly torn
off and cast away.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

This is a busy season south of Pennsylvania in
this department ; here, we must wait till the end
of the month, and northward, still later. The
crops noted, will, of course, be dependent on the
arrival of the season, which is rather indicated by
the ground becoming warm and dry, than by the
almanac. It is very important to have croj^s early ;
as soon as the ground is therefore in good condition
put in the seed. Possibly a cold rain might come
and injure them, and you may lose and have to
make a new sowing. Even so, it is but the loss of
the seed and labor, while, if the seed do not die,
the early crop will more than repay that risk.

In the hotbed. Pepper, Egg-plant, Tomato and
Cucumbers may be sown, — and in a |^ler hotbed
frame, Early York Cabbage, Cauliflowers and Cele-
ry. Those who have not got a hotbed can sow a
few pots or boxes, and keep them near the light in
a warm room.

In the open air. Peas and Potatoes are about the
first crop to be attended to ; of the former, the va-
rieties have now become so numerous that even
' new grapes' will soon have to give way in that
respect. Of new early Potatoes, we think Good-
rich's Seedling is the best ; the best older variety
is perhaps the Early White Sprout. Beets, the
Early Six Week Turnip-rooted, is perhaps the ear-
liest. Carrot, the Early Horn. Cucumber, the
Early White Spine or Early Cluster. Lettuce, the
Silesian, or Early Curled — to cut before heading ;

•<^c ^

68

Clu cSarbcntr's Monthb.

and the Early Butter left to head, are the fi^^■t in
season. Anionir the K-.ulishes. the Old 8hort-top,
and the Kod and White Turnip are still ahead.
Spinach, the Old Hound-leaved ; so that on the
whole there has been little advance made on early
kinds of vegetables.

In adilition to sowing of the above, Onions,
Leeks, Parsnips and Parsley must be sown at this
sea.son — not for the main crop, but to have a few
in advance of the rest. To keep over the winter,
almost all kinds of root crops become tough or
coarse if sown to soon.

In the open ground Peas and Potatoes receive
the first attention. Then Beets and Carrots. —
Then Lettuce, Radish, Spinach, Onions, Leeks and
Parsley. Beyond this, unless in more favored lati-
tudes than Pennsylvania, little can be done until
the first week in April. There is nothing gained
ij\ working soil until it has become warm and dry.

41

HOT AND GREENHOUSES.

Look out for a good stock of bedding plants in
time ; by striking cuttings of such things as grow
rapidly and speedily, and sowing seeds of such an-
nuals as may be advanced to advantage.

Fuchsias may now be readily struck from the
young growth of the old plants, which will make
excellent blooming plants for the next summer
season.

Dahlias .should now be brouglit forward. A good
plan is to shorten the extremity of the roots, put
them in six inch pots and place in a warm green-
house. In a few weeks they will sprout, when
they should be shaken out, divided with a piece of
root to each sprout, and separately i)otted in 4-inch
pots.

Pansies are coming now into flower. They like
an air>- frame, where they will not be roasted in
mid-day unexposed tit drying winds, and yet have
a free circulation of air and jik-nty of light. Planted
out in such a frame, and the old shoots cutaway
as soon as the jjlant has done flowering, the plants
will keep liealthy over till the next sea.son. Supe-
rior varieties can be raised from seed. Choo.se
those with the roundish petals, best colors, and the
first flowers that open, to rai.se seed from.

Camellias will require rather mure water while
growing than at other times. Just before they
grow is a good season to graft. Cut down the stock,
cleft graft in the crown, wax, and plunge in a bot-
tom heat of TO'. A great many kinds may be had
on one plant by the bottle .sy.^tcm : A shoot about
to grow is obtained, and attached to the stock as in

inarching, the end of the shoot being put in a
small phial of water suspended beneath it. This
plan dues best, ln)Wovor, with half ripe wood in
July.

(Jeraniums, Pelargoniums, Cinerarias, and Chi-
nese Primroses, must be kept as near tlie glass ami
light as i)OS!<ible ; they do little good in shady places.
Keep off" the green Aphis — for this on a small scale
there is nothing like hot water; on a large scale,
tobacco-smoke, in several succes.sive light doses, is
still the best remedy.

Azaleas succeed well by grafting with the lialf
ripe shoots of the present sea.son' s growth on plants
rai.sed either by seeds or cuttings. Old wood docs
not take readily.

Auriculas, Carnations, Pinks, and I'olyanthus —
the prettiest of florist's flowers, must be kept cool,
just free from frost, with plenty of air, if the best
results are desired.

Chrysanthemums should now be raised from cut-
tings for fall flowering. They make better bloom-
ing plants than oflTsctts.

New Holland and Cape plants, such as Epacris,
Acacia, Heaths, etc., are now the glory of the
greenhouse ; hot bursts of sun on them should be
avoided, as it lays in them tlie seeds of ' consump-
tion,' which freijuently carries them off the follow-
ing summer.

d

HOW TO PLANT.

BV CHARLES REESE.

As is my custom once a week, I drove out yester-
day to the miniature fruit farm of my protege
Grape-vine. The weather was unfavorable for out-
door work ; and I found him, like a true worshipper
of Pomona, in his co.sy library, with books, maga-
zines and papers sjtread out before him in generous
profusion, on a large oak table, and pens, ink and
paper, close at hand for notes, suggestions, &c.

His charming wife and daughters were sitting
near him ; one reading, another drawing, and a
third sewing; altogether forming one of the i)ret-
tiest tableaux 1 had ever seen. Hai)py fellow
thought I, as I crossed the thre.shold, what does
he care for the rise and fall of 5-20's or 7-."50's, the
fluctuation of the gold market, or the changes in
sugar or cotton ? lie has all the heart really needs
for its advancement, liealtli, happiness and sweet j-,
contentment, the true riches which neither moth P
nor rust can currupt.

u

^yr

^fti

Nor more visible to my outward eyes were the
little statuettes of Faith, Hope and Charity, on the
marble mantle before me, than to my interior per-
ceptions were the presences of the bright angels
they were intended to represent ; and little vases
of rosebuds, the last of the season, and bouquets
of Heliotrope, Mignonette, Fuchsia, Salvias and
fragrant Grasses on little wall brackets, seemed to
whisper "The world is full of beauty when the
heart is filled with love."

After the usual salutations were over. I approach-
ed the table, and found a host of familiar friends ;
The Gardener s Moiifhh/, Horticulturist, Couutrij
Gen tlcm an. Agriculturist. Downing' s Essays, Barry' s
Fruit Garden, and My Farm of Edgewood ; and
turning to the library case I saw Stephens, Norton,
Johnson, Thaer, ThnmaS, Meehan, Buchanan,
Allen, Browne, Quiniby, Flint, Todd, Dana, and
many others, equally indispensable to a Horticultu-
rist's library; all bearing unmistakable signs of
having rendered good service to their owner.

"Ah!" I exclaimed, "here are authors whose
names will live until men cease to love bright
flowers and luscious fruits, green fields and sweet-
scented lawns."

Sauntering leisurely round the room to admire
for the hundredth time the pleasant landscapes and
glowing portraits adorning the walls, I became com-
pletely absorbed in delightful reflections, and throw-
ing myself into an easy chair I exclaimed, " Come,
my boy, lay aside your note-book for a few moments,
I am so charmed with your rural life that I have
resolved to become a farmer. There is something
so grand and elevating in the thought of being a
producer, — of being an agent, however humble, to
receive direct from the Almighfy's own hand the
riches of His earthly kingdom, for distribution far
and wide, that all may be better prepared to inherit
the riches of His eternal kingdom ; that my fond-
ness for city life, an active business, banks, brokers,
&c. , &c., which for some time has been growing
small by degrees, and beautifully less, has totally
departed ; and in its place I see before me a vision
of such exquisite loveliness, beckoning me onward,
that, come what may, I will follow it.

" A few years ago you came to me for advice ; I
gave it ; you followed it and were successful. In
return for this you have given to me, from your
own experience, a select list of fruits suited to this
latitude. In other words, you have already told
me what to phint, and I now wish you to tell me
hoio to plant, and also, when to plant, that I may
proceed in true order."

Looking at me with a surprised, yet quite pleased

expression, he calmly replied : "I am truly thank-
ful dear uncle for your wise decision, and will aid
you in every way that I can ; but you must follow
strictly my advice, for although younger in years I
an somewhat older than you in knowledge of hor-
ticulture, and so will begin with lesson No. 1 :

"In the first place you can afford it and you
must subscribe fin* every one of these magazines
and papers. They will be worth to you ten times
the cost of subscription. The community owe a
debt of gratitude to these publishers for their
energy and enterprise that it will not be easy to re-
pay. You must aiso read what Downing, and.
Barry, and Thomas say about transplanting, and
then engage the most skillful and highly educated
gardener you can find, no matter what his terms
are, they cannot be unreasonable, as the supply and
demand regulates this, as it does the value of every
other commodit}'. If he is a thorough expert,
and understands the selection of good trees ; how
to plant, prune, bud, graft and propagate by cut-
tings; three months service of such a man, if he is
willing to teach, and you humble enough to be
taught, will be worth more to you than three years
labor of one of those 'experienced' gardeners 'with
the best of recommendations,' who ' know how to
do eveiy thing upon a farm' before you engage him,
but whose entire stock of knowledge upon the very
points most desired by you, will be summed up in a
few days after tis wife and nine children, and pigs,
and goats, and cats, are settled on your domains, in
this wise : ' As to them cuttins, and graftins, and
buddin!^, I niver had good luck with the likes of
them in the whole course of me life ; and as to
plantin' a tree, divil a tree did ever I plant, but one,
and that me brither shtuck in, and it wasn't a tree
neither, but was a goord, that he tied to a shtick to
keep it from running afther the potatoes. '

'• No matter how much you may read of these
interesting operations, you must, like the young
disciples of Esculapius, enter the arena with knife
in hand, and actually assist in performing them, be-
fore your knowledge will be of much practical use
to you ; and it is surprising how much more readily
you compreheiid the best authors upon these sub-
jects, after you have witnessed the operation by a
masterhand.

" Having said this much by way of preface, I
will now proceed to answer your questions, begin-
ning with my favorite No. 1 —

Strawberries.

" If you have a fine open field, with a gently
sloping southern aspect, and a good, deep, rich,

-(r<S)

Mi

moist soil, you have all the requisites for good fruit.
After a tliorough plowing, puh-soiling and liaiTOW-
ing. lay off your row.s fully four feet apart, and
plant four feet apart in tlie row, just as if you were
planting corn ; and as you resolve when planting a
hill of com, that not more than two stocks sshall
grow there for the next six months ; so resolve that
not more than two plants of Triomphe de Gaud
shall occupy that hill f >r the next three years. Be
sure to get good healtliy ])lants in the first place ;
then dig two holes, six inches apart, about three
inches deep and six inches wide ; make a small
mound one inch high in the centre of each hole,
and sprinkle around the foot of each mound a small
handful of finely pulverized })one dust, and si)read
out the roots of the jilant like the ribs of an um-
brella on the mound and fill up with fine dirt gently
pressed down on the roots, until the crowns of the
plants are just even with the surfiicc an.d then re-
move one h:ilf of the leaves and tlie work is done.

"In one year, if properly cultivated, each hill
will be fully one foot in diameter, and in the second
or third year, two feet. This will leave but two feet
between the hills for the cultivator to pass each
way. By this plan you may have 2500 hills to the
acre, which will produce the fii-st year one quart,
the second two, and the third year three quarts
each, or an average of 5000 quarts ; which at ten
cents per quart, would be worth ten times as much
as the product of an acre of corn, with no more
labor in one crop than the other, when we con.sider
the planting and replanting each j-ear, and the hill-
ing, and ])lowing. and husking, and shelling, before
it is ready for n)arket, to say nothing of failures,
now and then, from cut- worms and crows, and
droughts, and storms, &c.

Of course this plan is for field culture. They
may be planted two feet apart, and each plant kept
singly in garden culture.

" We will now ]jroceed to favorite No. 2, the
delicious melting marvel of one season, to say noth-
ing of ' four' —

Ra.spberries.

"The.se must be planted five feet apart each way.
It is a very common error to plant small fruits too
clo.se togcth«'r. Because they look small and slen-
der when received frojn the imrserv, thoy arc too
often crowded into small places, so that when they
begin to grow, it is almost impossible to tell which
is the parent plant, and it is impo.ssible to have
good fruit without due attention to this point ; as
.«oon as they are planted they n)ust be cut down to
within one foot from the ground ; must not 1)0 per-
mitted to boar any fruit the first year ; if any blos-

soms |a]>pear, cut them off, encourage the growth
of laterals as much as you can, and, in the autumn,
cut all laterals back to six inches. Do not permit
any suckers to grow for a year or two. If you do
not like to see so much ground idle, a row of To-
matoes, or Potatoes, or Mangel Wurtzel may be
planted between the rows f^- one or (wo years. —
After that time you will find the spaces between
the hills not any too large for the necessary cultiva-
tion. After the plant has become fully established,
five or six canes may be left in each hill for bearing
wood the following year.

" Blac-kberries must be planted six feet apart and
treated just like the Ilaspberrie.s.

"Graj)es must be set out eight feet apart each
way, Dwarf Bears ten, Peaches twenty, and Apples
forty.

" The particular directions given above for plant-
ing Strawberries will apply to each of the others.
Be sure to have the lioles large enough and deep
enough to accommodate all the roots without
cramping them ; cut away all the maimed and dis-
eased portions, if any, with a sharp knife, and
spread out all the the fibres so that their hungry
mouths will just reach to the feeding troughs at the
foot of the mound, well filled with bone dust or
finel^'-pulverized well rotted barnyard manure, and
then shovel in the "dirt.

" In setting Dwarf Pears, I have found it best to
plant the strong and vigorous grov^ing sorts from
four to six inches below the junction with the
Quince, so that after bearing for a few years as
dwarfs, they n)ay root from the Pear and become
standards.

Do not, on any account, ])ermit very small trees
to bear fruit the first year after transplanting.

" When you see the blossom bcirst, and the little
green fruit set so beautifully on its slender stem, it
will be a trial to remove it ; but if you value the
health and future usefulness of your jjets, let them
have one year of rest after their removal.

"Remember it is the great business of every
plant to ripen seed that it may ' bring forth fruit
after its kind ;' and one pear or i)each on a small
and delicate tree, will exhaust its vital energies
more the fir.st year, than will half a dozen, the
second or third year after it has become accustomed
to its new hou»e and new fare.

" It is from this cause more than any other, that
so many thousands of j'oung trees annually perish.
The removal from the nursery temporarily checks
the flow of sap and changes the leaf-buds prema-
turelj' into fruit buds, wlii(-h blo.^som and show fruit
in the earl}' part of the sea.son, but like the fund

¥1

Mt (^i\r&mtf% Jflontljig.

71

mother who gives her life's blood to her hungry
babes, they struggle on, taxed to the very utmost,
until the hot breath of August passes over them
and thcj'^ wither away. There ' must first be the
blade, then the car, and then the full corn in the
ear' — if you look for a healthy and orderly de-
velopment of all the faculties. The operations of
nature are slow, but the unalterable law of cause
and effect is written in characters of fire all over
the Universe, and if we expect good results, we
must obey her commandments in every particular."
Promising my young friend that I would try to
obey nature by putting into practice forthwith the
excellent advice he had just given me, I rose to de-
part, and all the way home had the most delight-
ful anticipations about model farms, orchards, vine-
yards, conservatories. Sac, &c. Who knows?
perhaps before the next numljer of the Monthhj
makes its ai'>pearauce I maybe the fortunate owner
of one, and you may hear again from my young
friend.

NEW ROSES OF 1834.

JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON, D. C.

During the past summer and autumn T have
made notes, as usual, on the New Roses of 1864 ;
those on a few of the best varieties I thought
would be acceptable to some of your Rose-loving
readers. The great fault with many of the newer
Roses is sameness of color ; raisers run too much on
Greant des Battailles and Cleneral Jacqueminot,
though many are now breaking into more distinct
strains. We have now got some good whites —
but they are delicate, or, at most, moderate growers.
We want some of this color of vigorous growth,
with healthy enduring foliage and vigorous consti-
tutions. English growers have, of late, given much
attention to foliage, ^without healthy foliage no
plant can have a good constitution. A yellow Per-
petual has been sought after for some years, and
this a French florist now promises us ; it is to be
hoped we may not be disappointed, as it too often
happens when these novelties are "let out."

The present year a magnificent yellow Rose,
" Marshall Neil," made its appearance. My plants
of this have not yet bloomed — but from the glow-
ing descriptions given of it when exhibited in Eng-
land, there can be but little doubt of its beauty.

HYBRID PERPETUAL ROSES OP 1864. -

Abbe Raynaud — Is a large full beautifully formed
flower, of a dark violet color.

Andre Leroy d' Angers — Ought to be good, as so
it has proved, being large, full and finely shaped,

of a dark velvety purple ; a very fine and distinct
rose.

Alphonse Belin — Has large, full, well formed
flowers ; of a clear, distinct cherry red ; very beau-
tiful.

Centifolia Rose — This very distinct rose is a ro-
bust grower, having large, full, finely shaped
flowers, perfect in form ; of a bright clear rose
color ; very distinct and fine.

Claude Million — Here we have a beautiful imbri-
cated flower, of a velvety crimson scarlet ; distinct
and fine.

Duchess de Morney — Cultivators in Europe re-
garded this as the finest flower of the season — with
me it has proved very fine, and a free autumnal
bloomer; flowers large, full, beautifully cupped, of
a deep rose color ; a distinct and beautiful flower.

Eugene Verdier — A flower of fine form, large
and full ; color a dark violet ; a superb rose.

George Prince — This vigorous growing variety
has large, full globular flowers, of a dazzling crim-
son, shaded with deep rose; a first-class new flower.

Jean Touvais — Flowers large, full and beautifully
cupped ; color a dazzling crimson ; a beautiful new
rose.

Leopold Premier — Has very large, full flowers,
perfect in form ; color a brilliant crimson ; veiy
vigorous in growth ; an extra fine flower.

Madame Victor Verdier — We have here a flower
large, full and of exquisite form, finely cupped;
color a beautiful cherry rose ; growth vigorous ;
one of the best new roses.

Marechal Souchet (Damaizin) — Have large, full
flowers ; perfect in form, of a beautiful rosy car-
mine ; very distinct ; a superb rose.

Pierre Notting — Flowers large, full and globular ;
color a very dark red ; exceedingly distinct ; this
will prove one of the finest Roses.

Prince of Wales — This magnificent Rose was
raised by W. Paul, the celebrated Rose Grower,
and is considered the finest he has sent out. I
have, however, found it at times variable. Flowers
large, double, of fine form, beautifully cupped ;
color a light vermilion ; a beautiful flower.

BOURBON ROSES OF 1864.

Madame de Stella — Flowers large, full, perfect
in form, beautifully cupped ; of a bright light rose
color.

Madame Joseph Guyot — Has large, full, finely
formed flowers ; color a deep crimson ; a beautiful
new flower.

TEA ROSES OF 1864.

Jaune d'Or — A seedling from " Gloire de Dijon,"
not quite so robust a grower, but a free bloomer ;

>bJL_

'm

Ch^ ©ardentr's dttout^lij.

flowers large, full, globular ; of deep yellow color ;
ver>' fine ; an exceoilingly valuable now flower.

Lays — Flowers medium size, full ; of a pale yel-
low ; a very fine new Tea Rose.

Among the Roses of 1863 the following have
again bloomed superbly:

Baron de Rothschild, crimson scarlet; Deiul du
Prince Albert, (hn-Ic vrlvefjf crimson, ahnost hinck;
Ilortense Blachett, ichi'te ; Lady Emily Peel, ichite,
occrtslonnlly edged ivith curmiiie ; Lord Clyde, crim-
son, sluuUd with purple; Lord Macauley, brilliant
vtlvet crimson; Madame Freeman, /7es^, changing
to white ; Madame William Paul, deep crimson ;
Murillo. deep carmine ; Prince Henri des PaysBas,
hriUlant crimson ; Seur des Anges, delicate rosy
Jlesh ; Vanqieur de Goliath, crimson scarlet.

MT CALADIUMS.

BY SWIFT.

The meaning of the word Caladium seems to be
lost in obscurity ; though so far as the cultivation of
this class of plants is concerned, or any other for
that matter, whether we know the meaning of the
name, or the name itself is of little moment, for

" If we can name a ibiog,
We name it anJ pass on to what is next ;
But having not this substitute to bring.

Are by the wonder fixed."

For indoor decoration there are some plants that
are indispensably u.seful, which could not well be
dispensed with ; but the Caladium i.s not one of
them. Beyond a ]>rettily painted leaf, they have
little to recommend them, bearing insignificant
flowers and no fragrance. Inasmuch as they grow
and thrive best at a time when flora has deserted
indoor.5, and is bestowing, with a prodigal hand,
her smiles and her beauties in the hedge-rows and
along the waj-.side; and as they flourish in a tempera-
ture ill suited to many plants, they ))rove very use-
ful in hiding the nakedness of the greenhouse
during the summer months.

Before treating of the Stove varieties allow me
to introduce that glorious old plant, Caladium Escu-
lentum.

Tn one part af my garden there is a brick walk
six feet wide — leading to a pump — down the centre
of which runs the waste water to an underground
drain. The third week in May 1 planted two small
roots about the size of a walnut, one on each side
of the walk, opi)0.site to where the water enters I
the drain. They soon began to grow, and each
succeeding leaf increased in size until they had at-
tained the goodly proportions of two feet in length
by twenty inches in width. '

But now an evil presented itself for which I was
unprepared. The last leaves in forcing their way
from the .'^heath that enclosed them had cracked
considerably, and whou unfolded presented a ragged
aj)pearance, detracting from the beauty of the
plant. Being at a loss to know the reason, and
judging it to be either in the soil, or the roots or
both, I spread some old hotbed manure on the
ground around both plants.

Liiagine my surpri.<e when the next leaf on plant
No. 1, o]iened whole and sound and one foot longer
than its predece.s.sor. Plant No. 2 divided, and in-
stead of one leaf a dozen small fry made their ap-
pearance.

The largest leaf of the season mea.^ured Knir leet
in length and thirty-five inches wide. If to the
leaf be added the leafstalk which was fifty inches
long, we have the enormous size of one leaf measur-
ing eight feel two inches. When the* first frost
nipped the leaves the i)lants were lifted and stowed
away in the cellar, being no more trouble to keep
than .<J0 many Dahlia roots.

Every cottager in the land who is in possession
of the smallest patch of ground should grow this
l)lant. The leaves have a bright silvery color, and
are shield-shape. The whole plant has a grand
and imposing effect that will help the head and the
heart to apjireciate and love the beautiful works of
the Creator.

GROWING NATIVE GR^IPES IN POTS OR
BORDERS.

BY GERALD IIOWATT, YONKERS, N. Y.

Noticing an article in the ^^ American Agricultu-
rist'^ of January, on growing Hardy Grapes in pots,
vs. Gpen Air, signed "Nurseryman," 1 thought
my experience in both sy.stems (of vineyard cul-
ture.) would not at present be out of place. First, I
wish it to be understood distinctly, that I am no
Nurseryman, nor either have I any plants to sell,
either in or out of bed, in or out of pots ; in fact,
no axe to grind or razor to sharpen. My object is,
to give my opinion, reasons and practice, hoping they
may be the means of saving th.c public. This past
Fall, I have planted a vineyard of over four thous-
and plants, three thousantl five hundred of those
are plants that were grown in pots ; these though
being raised in pots I could plant in September,
the balance of my varieties I could not get in pots,
and consequently were obliged to wait until No-
vember, to get them out of the wide harder. While
this item alone is greatly in favor of Pot Cidture, my
principal reason for liking the pot culture system is,
that they can be removed at any time, saving their

hmgs intact, you can take them without injuring a
fibre ; the freight is certainly more, but that is cer-
tainly better than having a lot of mutilated, dried
up roots coming to hand, with probably half a
dozen fibres attached to each plant, with all your
mulching in mud and water ; the first year your
growth is nothing ; then again, when you go to a
Nursery to select your plants when grown in pots,
you can do so ; pick out the strongest. Go to a
Nursery where they are grown on the border sys-
tem, say even six inches apart, can you select the
strong fronf the weak plants? Echo answers, de-
cidedly not. You tear off the fibres of those that
you take, and those left behind are spoiled; to any
practical man this will be obvious. As " Nursery-
man'' remarks, what sane man would take a hot-
house grape-vine, grown in a Border, to plant in
his vinery ; and certainly if we want excellence in a
vinery, we want it in a vineyard ; as that is now, 1
am happy to say, becoming one of the institutions
in Horticulture that will pay, when properly man-
aged. Not that I can agree with a very compe-
tent writer, who says they can be as easily raised,
and at the same expense as a hill of corn ; but that
they will pay a large per centage, two to five hun-
dred dollars net, an acre. I think that I am within
the mark, when the proper varieties are grown.
Perhaps the great reason may have been, why Nur-
serymen have not gone into the Pot Culture of
Hardy Grapes, that the public would not pay for
them ; they must not suppose that plants can be
raised for the same price in pots, as they can on the
border system : it will pay the Nurseryman better
to sell Border plants at six dollars a hundred,
than it will at $50 a hundred grown in pots ;
and I assure j^our readers, that I would rather pay
$75 a hundred in pots, than ten for those grown in
borders. To the amateur this may seem strange,
but such is a veritable fact ; I am no novice in Vine-
yard and Wine making, having made over 500 gal-
lons a year, besides our Market Grapes ; and I
assure them if I had a hundred acres to plant, I
should have all Pot Plants ; as I am confident by
experience, that I would save over 100 per cent by
it, as it is natural, that when we invest we wish as
large a return as possible.

As to the wood ripening better in pots, than in
borders, that must be a foregone conclusion to the
greatest novice or supporter of Broad Borders.
Grown in borders they are like the stage of a lean
to greenhouse, packed with plants ; the front side
shows a good appearance, but look at the ba'ik ;
where are they a spindling set. When grown in
pots, staked, tied and nipped, and placed at a

good distance apart, the sun and air have free
access around them, and your wood and roots are
both ripened.

This past Fall I had to travel around the Nur-
series a good deal, to try and get the vines I
wanted ; a good many of those that I visited, say
that they are going into the Pot Culture, as they
see the other will not take. I may now say, that
the majority of what I saw in Broad Borders, did
not average over two feet high, and looked niore
like a strong blade of Timothy hay, than they did
a vine ; those on the other hand grown in Pots, run
from four to six feet high, and wood well ripened ;
such plants pay to plant, and your returns are sure.
The others 1 would not plant if they were pre-
sented to me.

The following are the Nurserymen that I find are
making a speciality of growing- Hardy Grapes in
Pots. I do not do it to advertise^those^gentlemen,
or their wares, but to inform your readers that they
may be saved the expense and time that I was at
in finding what I wanted, which was a considerable
item, there are so many Nurseryman : Mr. D. D.
Buchanan, of Elizabeth, New Jersey ; Mr. Peter
Henderson, Jersey City; Mr. G. Marc, of Astoria;
and Mr. J. Cadness, of Flushing ; those four em-
brace all that I saw around New York. If your
readers may make use of them, these should remit
to you the price of an advertisement, as it will save
them a great deal of travelling and disappointment.
I think that we can safely predict, that growing
Hardy Grapes in pots, will become the rule ; not as
it unfortunately is at present, the exception ; or
at least when growers will see that it is to their
interest to have them in pots. In a future number
I shall give you my system of Planting Primary
Varieties for different localities, varieties for Mar-
ket, Wine-making, &c., &c.

ACHYRANTHES VERSCHAPF2
IHESINS HERBSTil.

<TII, OH

BY G. SUCH, SOUTH AMBOY, N. J.

This plant, so highly esteemed for its ornamental
foliage, was found thirty years ago, and dried spe-
cimens sent to Dr. Hooker. Since then it has been
entirely overlooked, until ]Mr. Hcrbst lately intro-
duced it into England, from South Brazil, and Mr.
Baraquin, Collector for Mr. Verschaflelt, sent him
a plant from Peru.

It is about 18 inches high; having roundish
leaves of light carmine, heavily shaded with brown-
ish purple maroon, veined dark carmine. The stem
is carmine, and there is not a spot of green about

the plant. The mixture of colors is most harmoni-
ous and eflFective.

So far it has produced neither flowers nor fruit ;
being increased by cuttings, which root as quickly
and easily as Verbenas.

Most of the florists in England and on the Conti-
nent, are loud in their prai.^ of the Achyranthes
as a bedding plant ; disjigreeing, however, as to
whether it prefers moist and cool weather, to warm
and dry, or clay soil to sandy. A writer in the
Garileners Chronicle says, it does well with him
in light, rich soil, and a moist and sholterod situa-
tion. Another replies, that it does adniira])ly with
him in clay soil, on high ground, fully exposed
South and West.

What concerns us on this side of the water is
this: at the close of the season all agreed in saying
the beds of Achyranthes, or Iresine, began to have
their best appearan'^e only towards the end of
August. A flerce enemy of this plant for outside
decoration, asks the British Florticultural public
what value a bedding plant can hare, that only
puts on its fine appearance late in August, He is
aware he says, that it was very beautiful at Kew,
and elsewhere about London, in the Autumn; an
Autumn, however, the 7nost brilliant within the
memory of man. "Very eflfective in bright and
delightful weather," he owns.

My conclusion is, that, since " brilliant" weather
is needed to bring the Achyranthes to a state of
" perfect beauty," this happy condition will be re-
alized in our climate, verj- early in the season, and
continued until late in the Fall ; and verj' late, too,
as the plant endures several degrees of frost.

[The whole tribe of Amaranthaceous plants to

which the Trosine belongs, is perfectly at home in

the United States ; and we guess from this, that

this new introduction will be very desirable to us. —

Ed]

««■■»

ROOT PRUNING AND WINTER PROTEC-
TION OF FIG BUSHES.

BV WILLIAM FOWLER, IJ.ALTIMOHE, MD.

The following method I have practised here for
the last nine years, of protecting Fig bushes in
winter: from the 10th to the 20th of November dig
a trench around them, cutting away about one half
of the roots they have made the past season, bend-
ing down the branches to the ground, and covering
tlicm with the earth out of the trench, from two to
three inches in thickness; and in Spring uncover
them, from the 1st to the 10th of April. They
bear fruit abundantiv, ripening from the 5th to the
20th of July, and continue bearing until Novem-

f5— ^ac

,5>T5

ber; and later if not destroyed by frost. Of about
20 Fig bushes, each covering at an average uu area
of about 18 feet in diameter, we have in one week
4 bushels of ripe fruit, four of the fruit weighed
1 pound 2 ounces.

The kinds that produce most fruit, are the Brown
Turkey, and White Marseilles. We have some
other kinds on trial, amongst them the Caslle Ken-
nedy Fig, and some seedlings raised here, of which
I maj' report at some future time.

[Mr. Fowler had on exhibition at the last Fall's
meeting of the Penns3'lvania Horticultural Society,
the best and finest American grown Figs we ever
tasted. We are very much indebted for the fore-
going remarks from so successful a cultivator. —
Ed.]

*»m«*- ■

FEARS AT HARRISBURG, OHIO.

BY E. MANNING.

Another years experience, has fully convinced me
of the variableness of the difl"erent varieties of
fruits; and as the pear appears to be subject to
greater variation, in different soils and localities,
than any other fruit which I am acquainted with,
it is difficult to know what varieties are suitable in
this or that locality, only as we can sec them grow-
ing in their difi'erent places.

But as the different varieties of pears vary in
their chemical compounds, it is but a just conclusion
that soils varj'ing equally in different compounds,
must produce different results. For example : can
we suppose that a strong calcareous soil would pro-
duce the same results, as the sandstone formation?
Soils deficient in different compounds, then must
produce quite opposite results. The soil here, is
clay, with a strong limestone and pebble subsoil ;
and for the benefit of those who are similarly
situated, and contemplate planting, I will give you
my experience, as far as I have sufficiently tested.

The different varieties in quality, are as follows :

Bartlett ; a good and regular bearer ; quality,
first.

Bloodgood ; early, of medium size, with same age,
a good bearer, nearly first rate.

Brandywiiie ; of medium size, good bearer, of first
quality.

Doyenne D'Ete; small, or below medium size;
a great bearer, nearly first rate.

Kingsessing ; rather large, of good second rate
flavor ; not a very early bearer.

Madeleine; medium in quality, and a tolerable
bearer.

Osband's Summer; nearly first rate, a good
bearer, very handsome, and an early bearer.

^

Beurre Amanlis ; tree thrifty; a great bearer, fruit
worthless'; a hog would not eat them unlessbeing
very hungry.

Tyson ; of medium size, a good bearer, nearly
first rate, tree thrifty.

Queen of August; (Syn. Moore's Pound,) of large
size, first quality, tree thrifty.

Rostiezer; the richest highest flavored, with a
delicious aroma, superior in flavor to any other
pear yet tested ; not quite as sure a bearer, nor
yet at all handsome.

Beurre Bosc ; I can well indorse all that Mr.
Downing has said of it, large, beautiful, of first
quality, a great and regular bearer.

Beurre D'Anjou ; tree healthy, vigorous, fruit
large, only second rate flavor, or hardly that, is
from home here.

Beurre Diel ; tree very vigorous, fruit large, dull
green, little or no flavor, entirely unworthy of cul-
tivation,

Beurre Clairgeau ; very large, of first quality,
tree of only medium vigor, a good and regular
bearer, fruit very handsome.

Beurre Grolden of Bilboa ; large, very beautiful,
of the highest flavor, the very best pear of its sea-
son, a great and sure bearer, ripening some time
before the Bartlett. Its paradise is here.

Belle Lucrative ; tree of medium vigor, a great
and sure bearer, fruit entirely worthless, never have
seen one fit to eat.

Duchess D' Angouleme ; fruit very large, of
second rate flavor, tree thrifty and productive.

Doyenne, White ; tree of medium vigor, fruit of
first quality, sometimes cracks and spots badly,
showing conclusively the decline of the variety.
Cannot depend on it.

Flemish Beauty ; tree vigorous, fruit large, not
quite first rate, a good and regular bearer.

Louise Bonne de Jersey ; fruit large, good bearer,
second rate, tree thrifty, sure bearer.

Onondaga ; tree very thrifty, great and sure
bearer, even while young, not quite first rate, but
its large size and vigor render it one of the most
valuable.

Paradise D' Automne ; tree vigorous, fruit large;
very handsome, of first quality ; a great and sure
bearer, even while young one of the best.

Seckel, quality first ; fruit improved in size by
good culture.

Urbaniste ; tree thrifty, fruit large, have never
ate one more than second rate.

Pius IX; fruit very large, nearly first rate, tree
very vigorous.

Doyenne du Comice ; fruit verj^ large, a great
and sure bearer, of the highest excellence.

Beurre Bachelier ; fruit large, second rate, a
great and sure bearer.

Vicar of Winkfield ; fruit large, not quite first
rate, when well ripened not very many better, tree
vigorous.

Pound or Uvedale St. Germain ; worthless.

Ijawrence ; fruit medium, second rate, tree good
bearer.

Winter Nelis; fruit small, hardly second rate,
unworthy of cultivation.

Doyenne d'Hiver d' Alencon ; fruit medium,
nearly first rate, a good bearer.

Besides quite a number of other varieties less
known to the public, which I think not worth
while to mention ; all of which I shall top graft.

All the varieties I have mentioned, I have pretty
well tested, and this is the result here.

THE JOURNAL OP COMMISRCS ON " DARK
COLOKED FRUITS."

BY DR. J. STAYMAN, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

In a late number of the New York Jonrnnl of
Comvierce, under the head of Agriculture, we find
some criticisms upon our articles in the Horticultu-
rist and Gardener s Monthly., upon the color and
hardiness of plants, &c.

We would have preferred the name of the writer,
and received from him a copy of the Journal con-
taining his criticisms ; but we have, through the
kindness of a friend, received a copy, and presum-
ing the writer to be an editor of the Journal we
shall reply accordingly.

He charges us of using expressions that have a
"poverty of meaning" and "outrageous assump-
tions," when we say that health and hardiness of
plants is in proportion to the amount of heat, elec-
tricity and carbonic acid absorbed (other conditions
being equal.) "One who can, with confidence,
use such language concerning heat and electricity
must be either far behind or far before the science
of the age." " One who can make such a sweej)-
ing assertion as to plants, should at least have tried
some experiments upon their powers of absorp-
tion." From the above remarks we would infer
that he does not admit i\\d.t plants absorb heat an]
electricity.

If he will refer to Tonman's Atlas of Chemistry ho
may perhaps find who is behind the age of science.
Oapage 92 we find the following remarks upon the
subject: "The extent of the antagonism of vege-
table and animal life may be more clearly displayed
as follows : ' The vegetable absorbs heat and eleo-

\ _

eCl)^ C^ardciier's Iplon(hlj).

tiicitj', the animal produces heat and electricity.'^'

It would appear from this quotation that we are
in verj' respectable scientific company.

Again our antagonist says, " We are obliged,
however, to infer from the articles already publish-
ed, that so far as color is concerned, he has ascer-
tained nothing which was not previously known,
naiOL'Iy. that it has some connection with the vital
functions of vegetation, and that an expert can
prognosticate somewhat upon that basi.s. We do
not intend to deny that dark color in fruit is an in-
dication of hardiness."

Here we have an admission that hardiness has
some relation to cnlnr, and that it '''' was previously
hiiown.'^ Yet he saj-s, " If any one can prove it,
we would like to have him do .^o." "We and
manv others are interested in knowing the exact
truth."

Here wo are led to inquire why prorfi what was
previously known?

Again he says, "The physician considers the
color of his patients as among the .symptons to be
noted ; yet no one argues that black men can endure
cold better than white because they absorb more
heat."

From those remarks it would ajipear that he
either supposes we will admit his deductions or our
arguments will make us do .so. neither of which
must follow.

In the first place we have not been .simply discu.s-
sing about plants withstanding cold, but all the
conditions which lead to debility and disea.se. —
Secondly, we cannot contract animal life with vege-
table, unless what we wi.sh to compare is common
to both, which will be apparent from the follow-ing
quotation : " Plants and animals are both endowed
with vital or living properties ; they both grow, re-
produce their kind and perish." " Yet the life of
these two orders of beings is of a different nature,
and depends upon different — nay oppo.'^ite — condi-
tions." The actions and changes in which vegeta-
ble life e.?.sentially consists are exactly reversed in
the case of animal life." — Atlas of Chemisinj.

Although we admit the law of color to be of uni-
versal application and to apply to animal life as
well as vegetable, yet the conditions upon which
they depend are ^^ exactlij reversed," namely, the
health and hardiness of animals is in proportion to
the amount of heat, electricity and carbonic acid
produced, and this is in exact relation to their color
all other conditions being equal. The dark color
repre-cnting the positive and producing power,
and the light the negative.

ITc further says, " Such logic is easily revers:cd

when applied to fruit, in the style of this writer."
" If dark colored fruits absorb more heat than
light ones, then they need more heat in order to
supply their absorption, and in that proportion are
less hardy."

We shall now try this writer's logic and see if his
deductions are correct, namely, that they are less
hardy, bj' the following illustration :

If hardy, healthy persons consume more food
than debilitated and diseased persons, then they
need more food in order to supply their consump-
tion, and in that proportion are less hardy and
healthy.

The absurdity of the conclusion is so apparent
that we do not think it necessary to give another
illustration.

Again he says, " He, however, is not alone, in
fact he rather goes with the multitude in using
language upon these .subjects which would be alike
puzzling to Urs. Black and Franklin, of former
days, and to Farraday and Leibig, of modern times. ' '
In reply to this we would like to ask this writer to
tell us by what means he knows " w^hich would be
alike puzzling" to tho.se r/rat? and <Z('s/rt«« philo.so-
phers. He .should be careful that he does not fall
into the same errors he accuses othens of making,
" outrageous assumptions."

He says further, " He has not given us one iota
of new or valuable information, or proved one item
of his theories." In reply to this we would say it
has not been so much our object to prove theories
as to establi.sh fact.'<, and if .some of our deductions
should be incorrect, it does not follow that our jire-
mi.ses are also false. We have demonstrated them
by years of careful ob.'^ervations, we now a.sk them
to be tested by facts. Finally, he has made an at-
tempt to meet our arguments by apparent facts
which are worth some consideration.

He says " New England white grapes grow wild,
that not only surpass in hardiness the toughest of
his list, but seem to equal the darkest of their
sylvan companions." Here we are naturally led to
inquire from his po.sitive exin-cssions, when and
where did he conipare his New Pjugland white
grapes and find them to ^''surpass in hardiness the
toughest" of our list, namely, the Native Hamburg
and Osee. " One who can make such .sweeping a.s-
sertions about" grapes " should at least have tried
some exi)eriments" with them and be acquainted
with " the toughest of our lis»."

But as his arguments might appear plausible to
some, we .shall be more explicit and .show wherein
his illustration and argument are deficient.

We have stated that the conditions must be

^#^

equal, therefore tlie comparisons should be made
with the same classes, and to be exact thej' should
be made with the same varieties.

For instance, we cannot compare our native
grapes with foreign, neither can we compare wild
Fox grapes with improved and cultivated ones, but
we maj' white Fox grapes with black Fox grapef
of the same order under similar conditions; but the
most accurate and satisfactory examples are those
produced from the seed of the same flower or fruit,
and their Hght colored products compared with
their dark ones. It appears to be very unfortunate
for this writer, that out of all the various orders of
vegetation he could only find " Nefio England tchife
grapes^ and they " hiit seem to equal the darkest of
their sylvan companions."

But yet it is still more unfortunate for his case
that he made that selection, for we have from the
woods of New England the lohite grape that grew
wild, and it has been fully tested and proved tender
both here and in Illinois ; while the black grape of
the same class from New England has proved hardy.

Here we have the facts, and if they are "ic/vb«.s
deficiencies^ we will have to submit to them.

In conclusion, we would say that we have stated
the facts in regard to our experiments and observa-
tions, and whether they have been chemically or
physiologically considered, makes but little differ-
ence, so we arrive at the facts. kSuppose an indi-
vidual should discover that all the plants he had,
that were very light colored, did not equal, in
health and hardiness, the darkest colored plants of
the same class, and that it was confirmed by the
observation of others, and that he found this to be
in relation to the amount of heat the plants absor-
bed. We ask, what difference does it make in the
facts themselves, how, or in what manner the sub-
ject was investigated?

[It may add to the interest of this disciif^«iof5 if
we obsen'e, that the "Massachusetts white" grape
is admitted by grape culturists to be a type of the
White Fox Grape of New England ; and though it
grows with great vigor, as we should expect in a
natural Fox grape, it does not grow with near the
same luxuriant vigor the black Fox does. — Ed.]

DISEASES OF THE FEAR.

BY THOMAS JIEEHAN.

Readhefore the Fenna. Ilort. Society, Feb. 6, 1866.
Though I have made the " Diseases of the Pear"
a matter of long study, I must confess that I am
not satisfied with what I have learned of it ; of one
thing, however, I feel pretty certain, that many

separate causes often tend to produce Pear diseases,
and that any course, of study that proposes to look
for any one cause for any one form of disease in
this tree, will lead to disappointment.

Unfavorable soils, unfavorable seasons, unfavora-
ble stocks, unfavorable parent trees from which
scions are taken; parasitic fungi both precedent
to, and accessory with, the phenomena which mark
disease — all these have their separate advocates in
the accounting for causes, — but, if I mistake not,
none of them will satisfactorily account to me for
the trouble ; but frequently several of them, and
perhaps all at times, are banded together in the
production of certain forms of disease.

The most usual Pear diseases are called —

1. Fire Blight, which has been sub-divided by
Pomologists into two classes, namely, "Insect
Blight" and " Frozen Sap Blight."

2. Canker.

3. Leaf Blight.

4. Knotting, or hardening of the fruit.

5. Cracking.

Fire Blight is known by its effects, which are
often made painfully visible to the Pear grower du-
ring the early summer months, by the sudden death
of branches of any size or age.

When the disease is confined to small shoots, of
one or two years old, it is usual to refer the death
of the branch to the attack of a small insect called
Scolytvs Pyri by Entomologists ; but I do not
think this insect is liable for near all the damage
that is placed at its door; for we find in almost
all cases where injury is done to the wood of trees
by insects, the damage is done after the egg is de-
posited— either by the injecture of a species of gall
with the egg, which circulates through the sap just
as we feel after the bite of a musquito in our flesh ;
or by the effects of the larvae in sustaining itself
The eggs of the Scaly tus Pyri, are said to be de-
posited in July or August, but I do not remember
ever noticing a case of insect blight after August.
Most of this damage occurs in June and July. I
may observe, however, that this insect is almost
unknown in our neighborhoods, and what I have
seen of its eflects has been but casually in distant
parts. The other section, of Fire Blight — as it is
usually called where the distinction is made —
Frozen Sap Blight, is unfortunately too common
with us. In June and July the branches of some
Pear trees die away as suddenly as if they had been
stricken by fire. The small branches are not mere-
ly attacked, but frequently half the tree will die in
one night. Some seasons it is worse than others,
but it is evidently no worse npw than it was a hun-

£jjc 05ardciur's JRonl^In.

dred years ago, — and in this there is some comfort ;
for as fine Pears have been h;td for nian.v years past,
we very reasonably hope that we shall, at least, do
as well as our forefathers have done in Pear rais-
ing ; for all the injury Fire Blight can do us, annoy-
ing as it is, is to cause us once in a while, to lose a
fine branch or tree.

I caimot help believing that this blight is in
some way connected with injuiy received in the
winter time ; though I, at the same time confess,
that I fail to trace very cleaijy the way in which
this in brought about. My only reason for looking
to frost for the cause, is one of analogy. I have
seen the Prairie and Noisette Roses, and the
common Sweet Jasmine get through the winter
apparently uninjured — that is to .say, the bark ap-
parently green and fresh, and the buds full and
plump, — so apparently healthy in fact as to push
out as freely into leaf as the .shoot of a Pear tree
blighted, as we are now discus-^iug, and during a
hot day in June or July die away as suddenly as
the Pear shoot.s. On examination, such shoots
have been found to have had the heart wood entire-
ly decayed, and the sap not being able to get up in
sufficient supply to make up the waste of a hot
summer day, the life had to give way. But herein
is the difficulty of this theory of winter injury. In
all of these analogous cases of injury from winter
causes, it is the .shoots of the past year or two's
growth — while in injury by fire blight the past sea-
son's growth is rarely injured, except by the death
of parts below it. It is branches of three, four,
five, or more years' old that are stricken, causing
tlie death of all above the fatal spot.

The whole theory of fro.st injury is also weakened
by the fact that if it is in any way to be attributed
to the influence of climate on unripened wood,
trees growing in wet or cold soils should show fire
blight more readily than those on a warm or dry
soil. But as I had an excellent chance of observ-
ing this year, by a widely extended tour through
many parts of Penn.sylvania, trees growing on the
drye.<t, and, we will thus suppose, most favorable
condition for the health of the Pear, suffered as a
rule as much as any other. One of the worst cases
of fire blight I saw this year, was an orchard about
fifteen years old, near Coatesville, which was grow-
ing on excellent Pear soil, as the otherwise general
healthiness of the trees atte.sted, on the side of a
gentle limestone hill, with a South-eastern aspect,
protected on the brow of the hill by the North,
with extensive farm buildings, and a very healthy
old apple orchard.

We all know what an admirable protector a

thick coating of old bark is, as a protective against

the weather ; and we cannot but feel surprised that

wood, under such thick old bark should suflFer first,

leaving the young, and we may suppose more

sappy and immature wood of the past season, to

go unscathed. If we are to allow there is any force

Vin the analogy, that if ro!-es und vines are injured

I in their young wood, in the manner of fire blight,

j the Pear blight may be possibly owing to the same

cause.

I I am sorrj' that I have not had the time or op-
portunities to make microscopic investigations of
all the phenomena accompanying the disease. I
.strongly suspect, that in some way the vessels in
■ some parts of the plant would be found weakened
I perhaps by frost or other injury, and that some
species of fungi, the spores of which are always in
waiting for their proper opportunity of developing
the species, finding their proper nidus, at once de-
velop themselves ; and as we know, when once a
spore of fungi gets started on a disea.sed vessel, its
myceluim or thready spawn will spread and kill all
the healthy cells in the vicinity, with almost light-
ning rapidity. Wherever this rapid destruction of
the cells takes place, completely through the stem,
of course the transmission of fluid through that
part is at an end, and all above speedily dries up
and dies away.

One thing seems to be well established, that on
very old trees, or say trees over twenty years old,
the fire blight is very rarely seen ; and on highly
cultivated trees, it is worse than in less vigorous
and slow growing ones.

The Oinkir is a very common disease in the
pear, which usually attacks the bark of the stand-
ard Pear. It does not penetrate usually into the
inner bark until some time has elapsed ; and if it
be taken in time, and .scraped away, anointing the
cleaned part with sulphur and soap, it generally
recovers. I hazard a guess, as in jthe fire blight,
that microscopic observations would show this to
be the doings of a minute fungus, perhaps of a
species allied, without the power however, of pene-
trating far in from the external air, as that has.
This form of disease seems to have been overlooked
in American fruit books, although the disease is
by no means a very uncommon one.

Leaf BU(j1d is entirely unnoticed by Downing,
and only by Barry, in so far as it interferes with
propagation, by budding of young stocks ; but it is
one of the greatest foes to the ripening of the fruit
of the Pear that the cultivator has to contend
with.
J^af Blight is, I suspect, a sort of premature

J3j^

Cjj^ ©arbnur's ^m

maturity. The plant is lulled as it were with a
state of rest, while other active forces of nature
are still urging on the necessity of growth ; and we
know how things work, when drawn by contraries, —
something breaks. This is often beautifully illus-
trated in the Fall blossoming of fruit trees, — giving
way to the voice of the tempter, the trees imagine
it is time to rest, and throw off their Summer
green leaves, the guardians of their growth and
strength ; but the proper time is tiot come, and re-
gretting the ease with which the charmer gained
the victory, they try to repair the injury by again
expanding into leaf, throwing open in the effort
their prospective Spring blossoms, but too late to
repair the mischief done. No tree that takes time to
ripen its wood in the proper time nature intended
it should occupy for this purpose, ever blooms in
the Fall. It is universally a premature ripening of
the foliage, and those trees which flower the most
profusely, in the Pear family, are those which have
suffered the most from the leaf blight, or early
falling of the leaves. Pears cannot ripen if they
have not matured before the leaves fall. They will
soften, and become in some sense eatable ; but this
is a chemical operation, and one deriving no aid
iVom the vital functions of the tree, and conse-
quently the flavor is insipid, and the fruit worth-
less. Many persons have thought it strange in the
rij ening of Winter Pears, say the Easter Beurre
ihat they will preserve them in a certain manner
one year, and *hey will ripen excellently in Feb-
ruary or March, while another year they will en-
tirely fail, though preserved precisely in the same
manner. They continue green and shrivelled until
the end. This is owing to the trees having suffered
from leaf blight. No fruit can ripen properly
without the leaves continue healthy, up to the
time of full maturity. They are the nutritive
organs of the plant, without them, everything is
at a stand still.

The best preventive of leaf blight is a cool
soil — not cold and wet — and a situation which is
not likely to suffer great alterations of heat and
cold. Though differing perhaps from some of my
friends, 1 believe that the leaf blight in Pennsyl-
vania would be nearly unknown in large trees if
Pear orchards were kept in grass, and the grass
prevented from growing too long, so as to exhaust
the soil, by either grazing, or having several mow-
ings through the season. A sod of short grass
keeps the soil cool, open and porous ; and is one
of the best conditions for healthy Pear tree
growth.

Knotting or Hardening of the fruit is another

disease I have never seen noticed, by fruit writers.
It is not very common, but occasionally affects a
whole tree. Last year I saw a tree of St. Germain,
that was otherwise remarkably healthy, but the
fruit of which were all as hard as stones, and re-
mained so to the last. The tree, I was informed,
had been getting more and more so every year. I
suspect this also to be of fungoid origin, and should
recommend such trees to be regrafted with other
kinds, or from healthy tiees of the same variety.

CracJiing, as it is often understood, is confined
pretty much to the White Doyenne, or Butter
Pear. This is certainly of fungoid origin. About
July veiy small discolored patches are discovered
under the tissue of the leaves and young fruits,
which become blacker, and spread perhaps a quar-
ter of an inch, and then seem to have reached
maturity, and cause a check to any further growth
in that immediate quarter. In the fruit which has
to swell, the parts unaffected have to separate
from the affected parts which do not swell ; hence
the cracks which we are so familiar with. The
fungus does not seem to spread much, and is other-
wise short lived, for it does not wholly destroy the
leaf, as the usual leaf blight does. The leaves of a
Butter Pear affected by this disease, will stay on
the tree until quite late in the season.

The spores or seeds of this fungus, are probably
in the cells, and not in the sap; for if a tree af-
fected with this disease of the Butter Peai-, be
grafted with any other variety, that variety is free
from the disease. If it were in the sap, it would
of course circulate through with the liquid drawn
up through the stem of the Butter Pear. Yet
some people assert thatf spores can be made to enter
the plants system, with the moisture it absorbs
through its roots, and that these spores can be
made to germinate when they come up into the
leaves, in the most perfectly healthy plants. I
remember some years ago, readincr of some experi-
ments made by a celebrated vegetable Physiologist,
Edward Queckett, who watered wheat plants wiih
water in which smut, a species of fungi, had been
mixed, and these healthy plants watered, bore
smutty wheat. But the fict that these wheat
plants were perfectly healthy, had to be assumed
of course, and so far the argument is not quite
conclut!ive.

There is another kind of cracking which is becom-
ing quite common among Pears. Just before the.
fruit is ready to mature, one or two deep cracks from
skin to core, makes your promised fiuits as bad as
the fruits of the Dead Sea, which ought, if travel-
ers tell true, turn to ashes on our lips. The Beurre
Gifl"ard has with me, a provoking habit of this
kind, so as. to make it nearly worthless, as a de-
pendable fruit. I can detect no trace of fungi in
this appearance, and am uttterly at a loss to offer
any explanation. Most probably some of our
friends have had more opportunities of observing
this disease than I have ; and as the main object of
what I have said, is rather to bring out the
opinions of others, than to offer any convictions of
my own, I beg here to leave them atter open to
your further discussion.

:j

80

2;j)c ©ardnicr's ^oiitbln.

Clje (iarbcncr's S^mitljlg.

PHILADELPHIA, MARCH, 1866.

E3= All Conimnnications fjr the Editor should he aiUvp-'si-il,
"Thomas Mf.ebas, Grnn3ntown,Philadeli>hiH,"und Business Let.
ters directed to "M'. G. P. Bkiscklob, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertisinir see page 33.

Volumes 1,$I; 2, 3. 4, 5. t),and 7, unbound, $2 each.

ARE DARE COLORED PLANTS OR FRUITS
HARDIER THAN LIGHT ONES?

It is not more than two years ago. wo believe, in
an article on Raspberries and Blackberries, that we
pointed out the probability of light colored fruits
being the tenderest,— but by the articles of Dr.
Stayman, who had, previous to our suggestions,
been experimenting particularly on this subject,
the matter has become one of great interest to in-
telligent cultivators.

We stand, we believe, entirely alone in sustain-
ing Dr. Stayman' s views,— all of our contempora-
ries, who have noticed the subject at all, oppo.^e it.

It is not unfrequent — indeed it is the rule, when
any new subject of philosophical inquiry is pre-
sented,— that controvertisfs mistake the position
they oppose, and hence mystify and obscure what
otherwise would be clear enough. Dr. Stayman's
views are going through this ordeal.

A writer recontly remarked, that "if this new
fledged science of the Kansas philosopher were a
living thing, the black man would stand cold better
than the white ; and the ]ilack IIan)burgh (irape
be the great vineyard grape, and the White Fox
tribe of Maxatawneys and Kebeccas, only to be
grown in hothou.'ses or glazed structures, — butasi/;e
know this IK not the case, the animal is little more
than .slill-born at best."

The only merit of this criticism lies in its fancy.
The real matter is this :— paleness has long been
identified with sickliness; that is to say, the pale
man or the jmle j>lant is not considered so hale and
liearty as the ruddier neighbor; paleness being
used as a comp'imtive term hrficeen closely allied
indirl'lnnh. Varieties of fruits we class di.stinct
from species of fruits — varieties of fruits, in fact,
are precisely as individuals amongst men. No
dozen children, from the same parents, are like
each other ; and no dozen seedling apples arc more
like their parent fruit than these. As the pale-
faced child will generally Ije more tender than his

brother who is darker, — Dr. Stayman so shows the
rule holds good with seedling fruits of the same in-
dividual families.

This we believe to be our correspondent's claim
to a new discovery, and no more — and they have
our hearty endorsement. No writer has before put
them into a shape to be of practical use to cultiva-
tors,— and Dr. Stayman deserves the credit of dis-
covering a valuable rule in pomological science.

NEW BUILDING FOR THE ACADEMY
OF NATURAL SCIENCES OF FHILA.

The readers of this journal have no idea how
much they are indebted to the Philadelphia Acade-
mj' of Natural Sciences, of which we gave some ac-
count a few months ago. The widely extended
popularity and favor with which the Gardener's
JiJoiitJdi/ is every where received, comes home, of
course, directly to the editorial management; but
we do not conceal from ourselves that very much
of the information we are able to impart to our
readers is due to our connection with the Academy,
and to our acquaintance with other persons who
are more worthy members than ourselves.

Horticulture is immediately connected with the
Natural Sciences, — and their advancement is there-
fore the interest of Horticulture. • It will, we are
sure, gratify our readers to learn that the Academy
propose to build a magnificent fiie-proof )>uilding,
to hold the collections for which ^ic i)roseiit lai-ge
structure is entirely inadequate, — and, further, we
are sure that every intelligent Horticulturist, who
has the means, will contribute liberally toward the
object.

On the 24th of March the Society will have been
incorporaled fifty yi'urs. and what it has so far done
has been by the unaided exertions of its niciulxrs
alone. lis library contains 30,000 volumes. The
collection of birds exceed 25,000 mounted speci-
mens. Its Herbarium is second, probabl}', only to
that\)f Dr. Asa Clay's, in the United States; and
its other departments are i)rop()rtionately full.

Although all this is, as it were, the private pro-
perty of the members, it has been freely at the use
of all the world ; and thousands annually visit it,
and hundreds have been afforded there the means
of becoming proficient in various branches of science
witliout fee or charge, but rather encouragement.
Students, from all parts of the States, educated in
Philadelphia, well know the advantages this Socie-
ty have afforded them, and through them to all
the i)eople of the United States.

$100,000 are required for the contemplated build-

ing, which it is to be hoped, will be one of which
the whole Union may be proud. Many gentlemen
of Philadelphia, have already contributed $1000
each, and we trust our readers will not be back-
ward in helping on the good cause.

Every subscriber of $1000 or upwards, will re-
ceive the thanks of the Society, handsomely en-
grossed, signed by the officers, and mentioning the
amount contributed. He will be entitled to life
membership in the Society, free admission to all
the lectures, and to receive all the publications of
the Society for life. P^very subscriber of $100 or
upwards, will have free admission to the Museum
of the Academy, and to the lectures, and the right
to purchase the publications on the same terms as
members. The subscriptions will be so worded,
that the subscribers shall not be liable, unless at
least one hundred thousand dollars are raised.

We should be very glad to receive the names
and amounts, which any of our friends are willing
to contribute, to hand to the Building Committee.
The money will not be called for before next
Spring ; but we want the names now.

GRAPE GROWING.

Go where we will just now the subject of all
subjects is the Vine — the Grape-vine. No branch
of American Gardening has progressed so fast as
Pomology, — nor any section of Pomology so fast as
Grape Growing. We hear much of grape failures,
yet the success is marvellous, and far beyond what
a few years ago, would have been thought vision-
ary notions.

The first attempts with the foreign grape were
disastrous. It became a fixed principle, that for-
eign grapes were not adapted to our climate, and
foreign grapes were universally abandoned. Then
came attempts with natives, in Pennsylvania,
Maryland, and Ohio ; but all these proved failures,
with the exception of Mr. Longworth's vineyard,
at Cincinnati. We believe the latter was the
Noah's Ark, which carried Grape Culture safely
over the deluge of disappointment that followed the
early attempts of the grape culturists.

To be sure, of late years Cincinnati has lost
ground as a successful grape region ; but we take
it this is but a temporary check, with which
nature seems to delight to toy with her most
favorite fruit regions, at times, in all seasons,
and in all countries of the earth. On the Schuyl-
kill river, in Pennsylvania, where the early at-
tempts at large vineyards of Native grapes were
once so successful, and then so entirely abandoned as

con)plete failures, are now some of the greatest suc-
cesses of the State ; and we know of many similar
instances in other parts of our country.

To our mind no reason for failure has ever been
entirely satisfactory : some will tell us, they must
have a deep and well trenched soil; but then
some other ones point to their thin, rocky soils,
where their grapes arrive at great perfection. But
yet, again, the deep soil man will show how ad-
mirably his do, against some neighbor's miserable
things on shallow soil.

We find them, sometimes, doing very well in
expo.sed places, at others suffering; and again,
with the same contrasts, where they are well
sheltered. So with regard to soil : though it is
generally assumed they must have a dry bottom,
we have recently seen some remarkably fine fruit,
and healthy vines, where the roots were almost
alwa3's, and almost wholly under water, in a swamp.

And so we find the different systems of pruning,
long cane or short cane — tall trellis or wide trellis :
it seems to make no difference how opposite the
theories ; all find strenuous advocates, simply on
the ground, that they have been successful, while
others have not.

We have endeavored to weigh well, all the con-
flicting evidence, and to deduce some general
principles from it, that would serve as a guide in
general cases. We can find plenty of exceptions to
these rules, but we think on the whole, they are
as near correct, 'as the present state of grape knowl-
edge will warrant : —

A compact soil, loamy or clayey, that bakes in
Summer time, is not good for the Grape-vine.
The best soils, are those of a shaly or stony na-
ture; what are called by geologists, "drift" for-
mations, are usually preferred by the Grape-vine.

When these favorable soils can be employed, it
is not necessary to underdrain or subsoil in order
to have healthy vines, or very good fruit; a deep
plowing is all that is necessary, to prepare the
ground for the vines.

The best manure, is well decaj^ed stable dung,
spread several inches thick, say in the average of
cases, two or three inches on the newly ploughed
ground, and well harrowed in.

The top of a hill is not the best position for a
vineyard, nor is a low place in a valley ; but either
is better than the side of a long hill, which is faced
within a half mile or so, by another long hill. The
currents of wind along such hill sides, are unfavor-
able to good Grape-vines. The best position, is the
South-east slope of a roundish piece of rising

y^^v^

-^€)

*(m

m^

82

She gardener's (^onljjk

ground, that has no other rising ground compara-
tively near it.

Shelter of any kind from cutting winds, is ad-
vantageous; but that from evergreens particularly
so.

Vines do best on upright poles ; and when these
are so constructed, that the little tendrils can find
something to attach themselves to, they do still
better. This is apparently the reason they usually
do better when running over trees, than elsewhere ;
why, no one knows, except that it is a whim of
theirs.

'•'Tis no nie to arjrue, fur whoa they won't, they won't,
And when they will, they will ; and there 's an eni on't."

Pruning the Grape, is for the purpose of keeping
the vine within bounds ; for inducing vigorous
growth, where it is wanted ; for checking vigorous
growth where it is not ; or for improving the size
and quality of the fruit. We are writing in this
chapter, only of practices as they influence health.

^«o one system of pruning is more injurious than
another, — nor very injurious any way.

When hrnnchea are cut away, some roots die. A
vine constantly pruned severely, does not extend its
roots far, and the continually accumulating debris
of its own decayed roots, in time may be injurious
to the health of the plant. Additions of new .soil
may help it ; very severe Summer pruning, which
is fur the purpose of checking too vigorous a growth,
may be overdone, and as it is a well known fact,
that Hemlock hedges, severely Summer pruned,
are subject to a mildew, which unpruned ones
never are ; it is fair to infer, that severe Summer
pruned vines, might lie more liable to grape mil-
dew, than others would be.

PEACH CULTURE.

We have good authority for saying that Peaches
which are injured by the Yellows, can be restored
to health by a severe cutting back to the main
stump, so as to secure a thoroughly new growth of
branches, — and that trees so restored, will not be
again attacked ; but live to a good and honorable
old age.

There is a strong opinion existing, that Yellows
is caused by injury to the sap vessels, by which the
fluid is prevented from flowing i)roperly, — by open-
ing up new channels from the sound wood, this is
remedied. Again, it is well known that after a
Peach gets over three or four years healthily, its
age is indefinite. This severe trimming seems to
help it over this critical time.

Perhaps, whether a three j'ear old tree had the
Yellows or not, this severe treatment might benefit
it, but this is a mere surmi.se.

!!j="Communic.Ttious for this drpartmeut must rcacli tlio Kditor
an or liefore :he 10th of the month.

iTj^Tlio Editor cannot answer letters for this dopf\rtniont jiri-
rately.

Pears at Canton, Miss— ^. IT. G. writes: —
"This is a great country for fruit, particularly
Pears, Peaches and Grapes. 1 am dabbling a little
in Pears, and am much pleased with the Dwarf
Pear. 1 have Duchesse d'Angouleme, 6 years
old from the bud, which bore last year over 100
specimens, many of them weighed over 1 pound
each ; I had one Julienne, 7 years old, from which
I gathered last year 62 dozen fine specimens ; one
Glout Morceau, G j-ears from the bud, from which
I gathered 100 beautiful specimens. The Louise
Bonne has not done well with me — it bears freely
but rots badly. Flemish Beauty, spare bearer but
beautiful. Winter Nelis, magnificent, have kept
specimens till Christmas. Julienne is my favorite
summer variety.

The principal manures I use are ashes and hen
manure, which I ai)j)ly in the winter, although I use
every thing which will decompose — rags, feathers,
leaves, &c., &c.

HoKT. Reading Koom at Fort Wayne. — A
circular signed by I. D. G. Nelson, Mr. W. Hux-
ford and H. J. Ruddisill, committee of the Agri-
cultural and Horticultural Society, of Indiana, gives
the details of a Reading Room established in the
Court-house at Fort Wayne, where Horticulturists
and Agriculturists, from any part, can always go
and get the latest information of interest to them all.

Lettuce and Rhubarb — A Suhscrlber, Chi-
cago, i?/., says: — "Will you, through the Gar-
deners Monthly, please give me a plan of a cheap
house that will do to grow Lettuce and Rhubarb
through the winter ; one that the .sa^h can be re-
moved and used for frames during March and
April, if needed. I have a ridge of 3 or 4 acres,
laying North and South, and wi.sh to make the
most of it?"

[This query is much like one below, although evi-
dently from another correspondent. The remarks
to J. M. will also apply to the Rhubarli one,
forces well in a temperature of 55°, but does not
need light as Lettuce does.

We should suppose it would be very easy to make
a span roofed frame to hold sash, which could be
taken apart readily, on which to set the frames,

^^or^

^^.

6(^

^

8>|e gardener's (Ploutjjlg,

83

and when set, let them run up and down the hill.
A furnace which could also be constructed tempo-
rarily for a few dollars at the one end could have
flue-pipe in three feet length, connected with the
furnace, and run in an ascending line through the
centre of the house. This would give quite heat
enough in a house 100 feet long to force Lettuce,
Rhubarb, Asparagus and Strawberries. The pipes
could be taken down and put away in a half a day,
— and in a day's work for two men be put together
again when wanted next "winter.]

American Ferns and Lycopodiums — J. B.
Gardener, Boston, Mass., Inquires for the best
work on these. Dr. Gray's Manual of Botany is
the best. A species in each genus is illustrated
and all the others fully described.

Maryland Agricultural College. — Our cor-
respondent, Mr. Daniel Barker, has been engaged
as superintendent of the grounds, — which are to be
improved and made of first-class character, for the
education of students — N. B. Worthington, Esq.,
formerly of the American Farmer, is the principal
professor, and the intention is to make it one of
the principal institutions of the United States.

Gardening and Gardeners — '' A subscriber '
writes that he has "patronized the Monthly'' for
some time, but owing to our "attack on gardeners"
in our article, he means to "stop the paper at the
end of the j'ear." This was an entirely new view
to us. We supposed we wrote that paper entirely
for the elevation of gardeners. Certainly our inten-
tion was to do them good, and we know all the real
gardeners in the United States appreciate it. We
have before heard that to help a pig up a plank by
pushing him, is the surest way to have him back
down on you. We did not suppose we had anj' of
this quadrumanous genus amongst our readers.
Finding there are a few, and we wish to do good to
all, we will pull their tails some day, instead of push-
ing them along, when they will, no doubt, go on
their way rejoicing, — and "patronize" us im-
mensely.

Lettuce in Winter — J. 31., Jefferson, Cook
Co. , Ills. , wants the best way to grow Lettuce in
winter. This vegetable does not do well in a tem-
peratvire over 55° — or away more than two feet
from the glass — any house or frame that will com-
mand these conditions will prove a success on your
southern ridge, we should judge common hotbed
sash would bring them forward sufficiently for your
purpose.

Standard Pears Bearing Early.— Our types
made Mr. Douglass say his experience was derived
from Pears on "any ground" instead of "my
ground. ' ' Mr. Douglass was speaking only of his
home experience.

A Weekly Paper— ^ Correspondent from, Cin-
cinnati says: — "1 wish you could get subscribers
enough to start a weekly paper some thing like the
Gardener s Chronicle in England. I think this
country would support one." [We have no doubt
of it, and would like to see it tried. Our friend,
however, has no idea of the immense capital it
would take to insure its success without embarrass-
ment at the start; and the amount of labor and
close attention it would take to conduct it. We
have no heart ourselves for any such heavy work —
though we would like to see others in it. 1

Fruit Preserving Rovsk— Patented by J. R.
Bechwith, Cleveland, 0. — We have a circular in
onr drawer of this department, describing this ; but
so far as we judge without comparison it is but
Nyce's system under a new name.

Gardening in Utah— .4 Correspondent from
Gr&'t Salt Lake City, U. T., writes :—" There
has been great progress with regard to the raising
fruits which seems to most absorb the minds of the
settlers. As we had to raise what we needed for
our sustenance, Wheat, Oats, Barley, Potatoes
are raised to great perfection, though in some
localities very light; but on the best soils 60 bushels
of wheat is raised per acre. We have as fine a
samf)le of Apples as any part of the States. —
Pears do well ; that is some kinds. Plums are very
prolific. Cherries are scarce. Gooseberries, Cur-
rants and Raspberries do very well. The Wild Cur-
rant [Ribes Missonriensis), is mostly raised at pre-
sent. We use the Cottonwood and the Box Elder
for shade trees, but they are now giving way to the
Locust. I am of the opinion that the 3Iaples
would do well. Black Walnuts are coming into
reputation, there are some trees here that are as
much as 25 or 30 feet high."

Color of Varieties— ifr. J. Stayman writes :
— " I send by mail to-day a package of Scions that
will illustrate the truth of the principles which I
have advanced better than any article I could write,
which I wish you to carefully examine, and if
worthy any remarks, would be glad to hear from
you through your Monthly.

I have put them up in small packages represent-

\k

^\t gardener's dRontl)!]].

ing their colors, and they are herein named in the
order of their hardiness, both the parcels and the
varieties in each, except some seedlings (named)
amongst some of the packages which arc less hardy
and lighter colored than their parents.

1st. 8 Scions — Duchess of Oldenburg, Early Red,
Ben. Davis, Wine Sap, Red Astrachan, Red Russet,
Lady Apple, Oskalousa.

2d. 3 Scions — Rod June, Early Joe, Fleiner.

3d. 4 Scions — Talman's Sweet, Keswick Codlin,
W. W. Pearmain, White Pij>pin, light colored fruit,
but dark wood and hardy and healthy.

4lh. 1 Scion — Fort Miami, dark wood but much
speckled and less hardy.

5th. 2 Scions — Vandevere Pippin and a Seedling
from it less hardy and of lighter color. Indiana
Favorite.

6th. 4 Scions— Yellow Bellflower, White Bell-
flower and two Seedlings from the Y. Bellflower, of
lighter color and less hardy ; Selby Green and
Selby Bellflower. I place the W. Bellflower in this
list supposing it may be also a seedling of the Y.
Bellflower.

7th. 3 Scions — Buckingham, Rawles' Jennctting
and a Seedling from Jennetting, of lighter color
and les.s hardy. New Jennetting.

8th. 3 Scions — Jonathan, Fulton and Milam.

9th. 2 " Hover, Herman.

10th. 1 " Hetrick.

11th. 2 " Nickajack, Kittageskee.

By comparing the extremes, the first and last
packages named, you will see plainly the diflTerence;
and the others in like proportion.

12th. 2 Scions — Cazton Crab, Hughes' Crab, of
the same class, but less hardy and lighter colored.

13th. 2 Scions — Showy Crab and Yellow Crab,
both of the Siberian class and the latter less hardy.

14th. 2 Scions of Seedling Peaches, one red and
the other white and less hardy, and healthy, and
lighter color.

15th. 2 Scions of Grapes, Native Hamburgh, a
black grape and the other Red Fox of lighter color
and less hardy, of the same class.

16th. 2 Scions— Black Taylor and Taylor's Bullitt
a white grape of exactly the same class and less
hardy, of lighter colored wood.

17th. 1 Scion — Osec, the mo.st hardy grape, dark
shining black and dark wood.

18th. 1 Scion — lona, killed all except what was
covered; light wood and fruit tender and unhealthy.

All these Scions were under as near the same
condition as they could be placed.

[This set of specimens prettily illustrates Mr.
Staj'man's position. Buckingham, and Rawlc's

Jennetting, and the Caston Crab, were not so well
marked as being in regular order as the others ;
but in other respects the illustration was perfect.]

Profit of Figs — A Correspondent from BaJti-
n)07-e, says : — " I see noj-eason why Figs might not
be grown in every garden in the Middle States. —
My employer prizes them much, eating a few every
morning before breakfast. We generally send from
12 to 14 bushels to market of our surplus crop,
and we have got as high as $10 per bushel from a
huckster. I think it would pay as a market fruit.
So far as I know the Fig is exempt from disease
and insects in out door culture.

Wi.NTEu Blooming Flowers — G. S., Soitth
Amhoy^ N. J. — In your January No. I notice your
selection of Flowers for winter bouquets. Among
the verri best for that purpose }'ou will find Double
White Primula and IMonthly Carnations. Within
a year several vJu'te Monthly Carnations have been
sent out, just as free bloomers as the best of the
old colored ones.

[Another very nice thing which was not named
is Lantana delicatissima, which has beautiful Lilac
shaded white flowers on long stems. The flowers
do not drop or wither as early as the varieties of
the common species of Lantanas do, and it is of
the easiest possible culture, and flowers profusely. 1

Virginia Fruit and Farming — Our old friend
Oliver Taylor, icrites from the Va/lr)/ : — "I have
just been able to raise $2, which find enclosed, for
the ensuing year. I do not wish to miss all the
good things of life though money is hard to get here.

We have had a very regular winter here so far,
the thermometer only 4° below zero, though I see
by the papers in nearly the same latitude near the
sea, in Delaware, it was Jl° below zero. I think
the Peach buds safe bore j-et. Tell the nursery-
men North to grow largely of fruit trees to send
South, as they cannot send us more than ought to
be planted ; but al.'^o send us some more Northern
men, as we like to see a good many more farmers
than we used to have. Carpenters and all sorts of
mechanics are much needed here to help build up
our burnt barns.

" What to Plant— G B. 0.,.Buc1:s Co., Pa.,
says : — "On thy 4th page of the present volume of
the Monthly, 'What to Plant, by Charles Reese,'
I think you ought to give Mr. Reese's place of
residence, because beginners in fruit culture in our
section of the country would surely be led astray
with the list of Apples he recommends, except the

Baldwin. The Newtown Pippin is a miserable
thing here, and as to the Bellflower I would about
as soon expect a crop of I'ruit from Willow trees.
I think you should make a note of llie above before
planting season begins."

[Mr. Reese is writing for the neighborhood of
Baltimore, Md., where the kinds of fruit he named
do remarkably well. As C. B. 0. remarks, that
region of Pennsylvania is imfavorable to JNewtown
Pippin and Bellflower. The latter, however, does
pretty well near Philadelphia as well as near Balti-
more. The Newtown Pippin, however, is nearly
worthless. Baltimore seems to be the new world
for the Newtown Pippin — we were presented, last
year, with some sjjecimens from there by H. B.
Chew, Esq., from his farm, which were equal to
the finest we ever saw.

Crops in Geneseo, Ills. — J. S., Ills., writes:
— "This is a country village, not a county-seat. —
We go out a few miles and cut great quantities of
hay from the uncultivated prairies, but there is
improved land, patches about. Grain, mostly corn,
comes in every day in the year, often 50,000 bush,
of grain in a week. Corn is again being burnt for
fuel, it is cheaper than coal for farmers. Corn 125
cents per bushel, delivered."

Lead Labels for Fruit Trees— TF! // TF.,
Reading, Mass. — ''Enclosed I send you a sample
of home-made labels, which I have found better
than any thing else I have ever used. I generally
bend the lead around one of the lower branches, or
if these are too large, .suspend it by a piece of lead
wire. The name is distinct and indelible, and the
lead is flexible as to yield readily to the expansion
of the limb."

[The names are punched in the lead by iron
letters. There are few better— probably on the
whole no better plan than this one.]

New Chinese Yam— J//-. Pmice says: — "I
have prided myself on having first introduced the
Chinese Yam, or Bioscorea Batatas, now called
Dioscorea Japonica. The great objection to that
esculent was its length 2^ to 3 feet. I have obtain-
ed from Asia a short oval variety, about 6 to 7 in.
long and 4 to 5 inches in diameter, equal or supe-
rior in excellence to the former variety. It is, I
assure you, the greatest acquisition in the depart-
ment of vegetable food we have ever obtained, and
I look to its future career as completely surpassing
our ordinary Potato."

The Late Prop. Mapes. — A friend thinks we
have not done full justice to this distinguished
gentleman — we think it quite likely — and may take
occasion to explain the difficulties we lie under in
making out our sketches.

When a man departs, who is distinguished in
politics or science, a newspaper writer has but to
turn to his Encj'clopaedia to make out a pretty full
article, — there are no such advantages to a Horti-
cultural editor, who would honor the memory of
the distinguished men of his circle. We could do
as was done before our day, simply say such and
such a person died dul}' lionored and respected by
his friends, with all the "compliments" u.sual to
such literary notices, — but we have thought it due
to our co-laborers to say more than this, and to en-
deavor to give a truthful analysis of their public
lives and especially in relation to their Horticultu-
ral career. We have no sympathy with the maxim
which teaches us " to say nothing but good of the
dead," — but rather what is just. We write not
for the dead, but as an example to the living.

With this view we endeavored to get friends of
deceased Horticulturists to furnish us with me-
moirs,— but we found some ^vanted many months to
do it in— others a whole number occupied, — others
fulsome adulation of good points, or vindictive ex-
positions of weak ones, — and we soon found that
to give any notices at all suited to our notions of
the wants of Horticulturists, we had to give our
own impressions, and trust to subsequent correc-
tions of others for imperfections where necessary.
We are satisfied that had we not adopted this
course, liable as it must be to occasional errors,
scores of our friends, to whose memories we have
been enabled to do some justice in our pages, would
have passed away without a tribute but what their
grave-stones might offer them.

We had this diflBcul ty with Prof Mapes — we
never had the good fortune to meet him ; never
saw his farm. On several occasions we sought him
in New York, without success. What we said of
him was a fair judgment on his career as generally
understood throughout the country. He had warm
friends and bitter enemies, as many a good man
has. We summed up between the two to tlie best
of our honest belief We shall be very much in-
debted to any friend who may supply omissions, —
not only in this ease, but in any similar sketch it
may fall to us to have to give of others who reay
follow.

i®

(C)

T^

86

£|)e ©ardrnrr's J!lontMi).

T®

Fall Cautjflowers and Egg-plants—^.,
Sprinrrfield, J 11., says: — "In the Editorial Notes
of your February number you say ' every gardener
ought to have Fall Cauliflowers as easily as Cabbage.'

I have always failed with Cauliflower plants star-
ted in the spring. They suflfor greatly from our
excessive summer heat, and do not form their
flowers before frost ; and come to nothing if trans-
planted with earth in the cellar, as recommended.
If you know how to obviate these difiiculties you
will do a favor to many in this country, who like
myself, have not succeeded with the Cauliflower,
by giving your views.

In the same article you say, ' that with proper
care Egg-plants may be successfully potted.' I
find no diflBculty with the vegetable in new ground,
but after a crop or two, a small dark-colored fly
appears on the leaves in vast numbers, and com-
pletely destroy everj' plant. The gardeners here
call it the ground flea. It is very brisk in its move-
ments. I have for several years tried many
remedies that I heard of, but without any success."

[This seems one of the cases we had reference to,
and which early sowing would remedy. We re-
commended to sow with late Drumhead Cabbage,
middle of March. This will do in most ca.ses. If
in any climate or soil, even this fail, sow yet earlier.
In February with early Cabbage for instance.

With regard to the Esg-plant fly we have heard
it stated by good vegetable growers that by sowing
Turnips between the Egg-plants, the fly will prefer
them to the Egg-plants, and when the Egg-plants
are large enough not to be much injured by the fly,
to hoe the Turnips out.]

Prick.s of Strawbf.rrie.s— J; M. M., New
Brclfonl, Mass., Siiys : — " May I call your attention
to the fact, that W. R. I*rince & Co., advertise in
thi'ir la.st fall's Catalogue the Jucunda Strawberry,
at 50 cents per dozen? and to ask if they sell the
genuine, how it is that J. Knox, of Pittsburg, ask
a price for the same strawbeny so much more than
above?"

[The prices of all goods, we take it, are regulated
by what the holders think they will bring. If VV.
11. Prince & Co. supposed, when about to fix the
price at 50 cents per dozen, their stock would disap-
pear "like hot cakes," in two or three days, they
would have hesitated about offering it. We suppos
they did not appreciate the variety, supposed others
did or would not, or had an immense stock, which
they would be glad to have " a run on" at a low
figure. It is the probable demand, as the holders
expect it to he, that regulates prices. ]

TiLDEN Tomato — "A triend has called my at-
tention to an article in the Gardener's Monthly,
for December, under the heading of the ' Tildcn
Tomato,' by ' Novice.'

As I am a great lover of that excellent and
healthful esculent, I have for years past cultivated
it with extra care, trying in succession most of the
new varieties that have been introduced to the
l)ublic, through laudatory editorials, and equally
commendatory certificates of superior quality,
early maturity, and unsurpassed productiveness.
But of all, I have found nothing superior to Fejec
and the old Smooth Red. Tilden, it seems, is
now the new candidate for public favor, backed by
similar endorsements to those which have from
time to time ushered in its many defunct predeces-
sors, and though it is presented to the public by a
new "Novice," under but one j'ear's trial, I must
confess that my weakness for novelties has triun) jibed
over my teachings of the past ; and this failing,
which, as you are aware, is by no means uncommon,
says, "try Tilden," while judgment says, "don't
touch it." Now, to compromise the matter be-
tween these two conflicting monitors, I have con-
cluded before investing to propound a question to
" Novice," whose answer will settle the matter for
me, and perhaps many other equally doubting
gardeners, and fully reconcile our monitorial friends.
Weakness and Judgment, and at the same time
afford your corrosiiondeiit an opportunity to clear
up a point upon which its only merit over others
rest — early maturity.

" Plants," says ' Novice,' " from latesoicn seed set
out ten days after the ' Large Red' variety, may
tured their first fruit twenty days in advance of
the latter. From this statement we are led to
believe that Tilden will mature its fruit thirty days
in advance of the Large Red. Ten days later in
setting out, and twenty days earlier, makes, as you
see, thirty days in favor of Tilden.

Now the question is, tvere all things equal, the
seed sown at the same time, in the same or adjoin-
ing l>eds, both under glass or in open culture,
similar soil, treated in the same way, and equally
forward when .sot out, and afterwards manured and
treated in the same way, in the same soil, and
cultivated in equally favorable exposures? An
answer in the afllirmative will settle the question
greatly in favor of the 'Tilden,' as to early maturity.
As to productiveness, if it is equal to Fcjce or old
Red, it will answer my purpose.

[We handed our correspondent's note to " Nov-
ice," and append his replj':

" The seed of the Tilden Tomato was sown in

J^li

m^

f!

®1)^ ©arbnur's Hlonfljln.

87

the same bed as the Large Smooth Red and
Fejee, though a day or two later, and were
planted in the open ground May 9th. Their cul-
ture, manuring, distance of planting, soil, and
exposure were alike ; and all were planted in the
open field, and received only field-culture. The
Tilden first ripened July 10th, and continued in
bearing all through October. The Large Smooth
Red was fii'st gathered July 31st, and the last of
the Fejees on the 22d of September.

The Large Smooth Red is oftener wrinkled than
smooth, and the Fejee in wet weather cracks, and
decays rapidl3^"

Peek, (Jefelogups, %'t.

Nursery Catalogues. — As usual, at this sea-
son, our table is covered with the Catalogues of
nurserymen. Among the wholesale list we find :
R. Buisf, Jr., Philadelphia, Garden Seeds. D.
D. Buchanan, Elizabeth, N. J., Fruit Trees, &c.
J. N. Darlington & Co. , West Chester, Pa. , Fruits,
&c. Frost & Co., Rochester, N. Y. , Fruits, Orna-
mental Roses, &c. Hoopes, Bra. & Thomas,
West Chester, Sheet List of Fruits, &c. R. Buist,
Sr., Philadelphia, Greenhouse Plants. W. S.
Little, {II E. Hooker & Co.,) Rochester, N. Y.,
Fruits and Trees. A. Douglass, Waukegan, 111.,
Seed List. J. M. Thorhum & Co., N. Y., Seed
List. Mahlon Moon, Morrisville, Pa.

Descriptive List.— These are unusually full,
showing great activity in the retail trade. We
have: J. Vick, Rochester, N. Y., Seed Catalogue.
The most beautiful one we have. Hoopes Bro.,
& Thomas, West Chester, Pa., Ornamental Trees,
33 pages, the largest published on trees alone.
H. A. Dreer, Philadelphia, Garden Calendar, 76
pages. Ryan & Dempsey, Rochester, N. Y. , a
large full list of Fruit and Ornamental, 30 pages.
Hoopes Bro. & Thomas, W. Chester, Fruit Depart-
ment, 30 pp. B. K. Bliss, Springfield, Mass., 112
pages, beautifully illustrated, rather a book than a
catalogue, and well worth the 25 cents asked for it,
the plates alone being worth the money. R. G.
Hanford, Columbus, 0., Trees, Flowers and Fruits,
52 pages. F. Trowbridge, Milford, Conn. J. W-
Bailey & Co., Plattsburg, N. Y., Grape Vines
M. W. Johnston, South Bend, Ind. Prince &
Co., Flushing, N. Y., Grape Vines. H. Michel,
St. Louis, Mo., Dahlias. Hargis & Sommer
Quincy, 111. Henderson & Fleming, N. Y., FloweJ-
and Vegetable Seeds. Frince & Co., Pseonies.
R. Buist, Sr. Philadelphia, New or Rare Plants,

G. Marc, Astoria, L. I., Roses. D. D. Buchanan,
Elizabeth, N. J., Trees and Fruits. A. Bridgeman,
N. Y., Vegetables. B. Doiding, Philadelphia,
Flower Seeds. Peter Henderson, Bergen, N. J.,
New Plants. F. G. Yeomans, Walworth, N. Y.,
Fruits. Jahez Capps & Son, Mt. Pulaski, 111.
J. W. Mattison, Jacksonville, N. Y. H A. Terry,
Crescent City, Iowa, Flower Seeds. G. W. Thiir-
low, Newburyport, Mass. J. W. Adams, Port-
land, Maine, Evergreens. Francis Brdl, Newarkj
N. J. A. W. Corson, Plymouth Meeting, Pa.>
Small Stock. Ellioanger & Barry, Rochester, N.
Y. Fruits, 60 pages. T. G. Anderson, Moores-
town, N. J., Strawberries. John Saul, Washing-
ton, D. C, General Stock. J. C. Smith, Des
Moines, Iowa. Barnes & Kelley, Coal Creek,
Iowa, 16 pages. Dr. W. A. Royce, Newburg, N.
Y., Grapes. E. A. Barnum, Rahway, N. J.
T. D. Ramsdell & Co., Adrian, Mich. J. Perkins,
Moorestown, N. J. F. K. Phosnix, Bloom ington,
111, Topage, Walker & Co., Roxbury, Mass., 25

pages.

Transactions of the Worcester County Massa-
chusetts Horticultural Society, from 1857 to 1864,
in one volume, from Ed. W. Lincoln, Secretary.

Southern Journals.— Amongst our this year's
book-table, are some Southern Journals :

The Southern Cultivator, W. N. White and D.
Redmond, published at Athens, Georgia, was well
inown to our readers before the rebellion, and
alone of the agricultural press survived the general
wreck.

It was particularly distinguished before the war
in preparing the way for the new order of things,
which it did with an energy and spirit which was
at least intelligent and able ; and we cannot but feel
a regret, in view of the efi"orL3 making to produce
a thorough reconciliation and fusion of sections,
that much of what we cannot but think this mis-
taken course still insjiires it. In a recent number
we find an article published without comment, in
which the writer tells us that henceforth "the
cultivation of cotton, rice and sugar, on the best
land of the Southern States, can be set down as
dead institutions." " White men cannot work,
and black men will not.'' Schemes are spoken of
for "confounding the everlasting Yankee, and for
causing the mills of Lowell to be the habitation of
bats and owls."

Disregarding these unfortunate blemishes, the
Cultivator is an admirably conducted paper — we 1
worthy of the support of even the "everlasting
Yankee," the " bats and owls of Lowell," or " any
other man."

;s —

-JVL.

83

&^ (Sardfnrr's (plonthIg»

Improvemknt in the Chinese Asters. — The
Aster has been introduced within the memory of
the writer. It was a large coarse flower, with a
yellowish centre, and a single row of flabby, dirty
rose petals around the base of the clumsy central
disk. The plant was about a foot or so in height,
and bore but a few flowers on the rough single stem.

The French and German cultivators took it in
hand, and there are now as many races of them as

there are of dogs, — and many of them as far be-
yond the original rough introduction as the beauti-
ful greyhound is to the original wild foxy type.

On a glance at the collection of Mr. Henry A.
Dreer, Seedsman, of Philadelphia, we observe that
the Aster fanciers have enumerated at least forh/
Jistiuct strains, with as many odd names as if they
were so many fancy chickens.

We have taken for illustrations some of the most
distinct classes, which will give a pretty good idea
of the various forms into which the original Aster
has run.

( ig^r.'''- .

0'

Fig. 1.— 1-lOth the Natural Size. Fig. 2.— 1-2 the Natural Size.

Figs. 1 and 2 is the class culled " Rose Aster," and is one of the most showy of all the classes, as
it should be, as by its name it would aspire to a comparison with the rose. It reaches usually about
2 feet high, and grows pyramidal in shape.

^yay '

ib (Sardmr's Jlonf^Ij.

l-lOth the Natural Size.

Fig:. 4.— 1-2 the Natural Size

Figs. 3 and 4 represents the " Hedge Hog" Aster, in which the petals are turned iti like the quills of
a porcupine. It grows about eighteen inches high, and the plant is of a dense globular form.

Fig. 5.— 1-lOth the Natural Size.

Fig. 6.— 1-2 the Natural Size.

Figs. 5 and 6. " Poeony Perfection Asters," does not seem to be a class with any striking habit of
growth, but the flowers are the most perfect in form of all the Asters ; being as perfect as Eclipse is
among Chrysanthemums, which these flowers somewhat resemble in form.

Fig. 7.— 1- 10th the Natural Size.

Fig. 8.— 1-2 the Natural Size.

90

Sbh^ iSardrncr's (Plonthln.

Figs. 7 and 8 " The Pompone Asters" are suiall, taking the place of Poinpones in the Chrysanthemum
class. The flowers are partly anemone-flowered, and partly broad petaled, so that besides their small
size they have a special feature of their own.

..■K^

y^

Fig. 9.— 1-lOlh the Natural Size. Fig. 10.— 1-2 the Natural Size.

Figs. 9 and 10, " Reid's Improved," is another rather straggling grower, but a very distinct class
from all the rest. It is what is known as Anemone-flowered, having few or no ray florets, but a com-
pact mass of beautiful minute florets in the globular disc.

rmw0

Fig. 11.— 1-lOth the Natural Size.

Fig. 12.-1-2 the Natural Size

Figs. 11 and 12, " The Imbrique Aster" is peculiar from its recurved petals which are also prettily
imbricated.

ihi[ (Sardenijr's cPonthlg.

91

Fig. 13.— 1-IOth the Natural Size.

Fig. 14.— 1-2 the Natural Size.

Figs. 13 and 14, "Robust Dwarf Aster," this will be the most popular for pot culture. The foliage
is so remarkably healthy, the flowers large and full, and the plants profuse bloomers.

Mr. Dreer informs us that in almost all the
classes, nearly all the colors and shades from deep
carmine and crimson to purple and white, are now
to be had of all the different classes.

The most remarkable thing about these classes of
Asters is the comj)lete "quietus" it gives to the
old Linnsean definition of what is a species — that
which from " like seed produces like." We know
these to be varieties, and yet the different classes
when once produced reproduce tliemselves with as
much regularity as if they were real species. So
to its great beauty which, as Queen Margaret,"
has made the Aster popular and welcome every
where, a scientific interest is also added.

Latin Made Cheerful. — Though every garden
boy is sensible of the benefits derived from a knowl-
edge of the Latin language, they often shrink from
the task because they see no "fun in it. " We
extract for them the following from a London
paper, and give the translation for the benefit of
those who wish to find out the "color of a white
Blackberry when it is green." We may add for
the benefit of the boys learned in family history,
that the original name of the Elderberry was
Samuel Bucus, or, as we used to call him at school
for short, Sambucus. But this they will see in the
Latin text :

Morum te nigram juraveris : morum vero albam
fecisti. Solvi. vixdum rubum coesium, vaccinium
tuum myrtillum : teste virgine berberin ciroumvoli-

tante, at bacca sambuci patre tuo. Dederas
et cheirographum : sed atramentum oxycoccus
palustris. Equidem non pendo unius fragarii ribes
taxi baccse simile : permittem tamen omnibus
chiococcum, te rubum Idfeum prosus exstitisse:
vaccinium autem, senior, die, which is translated :
You may swear yourself black, Berry ; but you
have made a mull. Berry. I paid your bill, Berry,
as soon as due. Berry ; as the young woman in the
bar. Berry, and your father, the elder Berry, know.
I don't care a straw. Berry, for a goose, Berry,
like you. Berry; but I'll let folks know. Berry,
that you've made yourself a regular ass. Berry :
and whort'U Berry senior say?

Plants for Conservator^ Pillars. — Twelve
of the best plants and climbers for the pillars of a
conservatory are, Jasminum gracile variegatum,
Lapageria rosea, Plumbago capensis, Rhyncosper-
num jasminoides, Cestrum aurantiacum, Luculia
gratissima, Habrothamnus Aubletii, H. elegans,
Sollya linearis, Tacsonia Van Volxemi, Tecoma
jasminoides, Bignonia grandiflora, and none of
these are more graceful than Mimosa prostrata. —
Cottage Gardener.

West India Fibres are produced by the follow-
ing:—
Abelmoschus esculentus, Okro (cultivated. )

" moschatus. Musk Okro.

Adansonia digitata. Baobab Tree.
Ananassa sativa. Pine-apple.

Anona pakistris, Cork- wood or Alligator Apple. i k
" muricata, Sour Sop. %Js)

/^^-3-

92

-MC?

S;|e %x\\m\i Honf B.

Agava Keratto, American Aloe.

^" "sissilana."
Anini macrorhizon.
Artabotrys odoratisslnia.
Biinibiiso gigaiitea, Bamboo.
Bechmeria nivea, Rha;a fibre of India.

" cordata.

Bixa Orellana, Arnotto.
Brouielia Pinguin, Piuguin.

" Karatas.
Calathea zcbrina, Zebra Plant
Carlndovica pabnata.
Caryota urens, Kittool fibre, a Palm.
Cariolinea insigiiis.
Cocus nucifera, Cocoanut Palm.
Cordia macrophylla.
Curcuma longa, Turmeric.
Cocbli").-;])ermum hibiscifolium.
Daphne tinifolia, Burn-nQse Bark.
]"]riodondr()n anfractuosum, Silk Cotton Tree.
Gos.-^ypiuni hirsutum, Cotton Shrub.
Gauzuma ulniifolia, Bastard Cedar.
Helicteris jamaicensis, Screw Tree.
Ileliconla braziliensis, Wild Plantain of Brazil.

" Bihai, Wild Plantain of Jamaica.
Hibiscus rosa sinensis, Shoe-black.
" Lam pas.

" Sabdariffa, Indian Sorrell.
Israene calathina, a gigantic Lily.
Kleinhofia hospita.
Kydia cal^cina.
Lagetta lintearia, Lace Bark.
M^alachra capitata, Wild Okra.
Malvaviscus arborcus, Wild Mahoe.
Momordica Luffa, Vine Strainer.
Musa sapientum, Bjjinana,
'■ paradisiaca, Plantain.
" Cavendi.shii, Chinese Plantain.
" violacea.

" textilis, Manilla Hemp.
" Ensete.
Ochroma Lagopus, Down Tree.
Pandanus spiralis. Screw Pine.
" moschatus, Screw Pine.
" variegatus javanica.
Pothos violacea, Wild Cocoa.
Paritium eiatum, Mahoe or Cuba Bast.
" tiliaceum. Sea-side Mahoe.
" latifolia.
Ricinus communis, Castor Oil Plant.
Sanseviera, zeylanica, Bow-string Hemp.
" guineensis.

<s 1 " angolensis.

/^ Sida jamaicensis, Broom-Weed.

m

m

Sida mollis.

" dumosa.

" hirsuta.
Triumfetta semitriloba, Burweed.
Theobroma Cacao, Chocolate.
Tilland.sia serrata, Wild Pine, Epiphytal.
Urena sinuosa.

'• TyphalKa.
Varronio curassavica, Black Sage.
Yucca aloifolia, Dagger Plant.

" gloriosa.

" filamentosa, &c.

Arundo con.spicua. — Seeing this plant noticed
last year as being a rival to Pampas Grass, I ob-
tained a plant early in the .spring ; it has grown
pretty freely, but has not shown any symptoms of
flowering, although the Pampas Grass near to it
has done so profusely. Will some reader be good
enough to inform me what sort of a bloom it has,
and whetlier the plant requires a wet situation or
not? ^Nliiie is planted on good ground, rather dry
than otherwise. Perhaps it is not old enough yet
to bloom, yet it is a full yard in diameter. If it in
a smaller degree re.sembles the Pampas Grass it
will be a great acquisition, but if it blooms spar-
ingly, and requires special treatment, not easy to
be given everywhere, it will not become popular. —
J. W. C. [It is a native of New Zealand in moist
places, grows 8 feet high, and has large white pani-
cles of flowers from 1 to 2 feet long, with drooping
branches. — Gardener's Chronicle. ]

Eugenia Ugni.— This is grown at Lower Knowle,
Kingsbridge, in the open air, and is trained against
a south wall, where it receives no protection. It
is in fact quite hardy in Devonshire. In summer
it is studded all over with beautiful fruit, of the
size of a large Black Currant. It is my imi)ressioti
that the Eugenia will become an important plant,
and that it will be much valued and cultivated for
its fruit alone. We have this season preserved
four jars of the latter, and it is said by all who
have tasted it, that it is the richest and best pre-
serve ever eaten — it has a delightful aromatic flavor,
which partakes something of that of a Pine-apple.
Even when gathering the fruit a rich odor is left on
the fingers. So freely does the plant bear, that I
have even seen bushes of it only 1 foot in height,
with fruit on them. — Gardener s Chronicle.

Wi\^ darkner's cponthlg.

93

NATIONAL POMOLOGICAI SOCIETY.

The President, Hon. M. P. Wilder, has fixed on
September 4th, as the day of meeting for the Na-
tional Society, at St. Louis. •

Everything denotes the probability of this being
one of the most interes.ting meetings ever held by
the association.

Mr. Wilder's health has improved much the
past year, and we hope it will enable him to pre-
side personally.

««•«♦ — —

PENN'A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

DISCUSSIONAL MEETING, FEB. GTH, 1865.

President D. R. King in the Chair.
Thomas Meehan presented an Essay on
"DISEASES OF THE PEAR.".

{For Essay seej^age 77.)

Mr. Schaffer remarked that his Pear trees had not
been much affected bj' sap or fire-blight, but during
the past season were badly injured by Leaf blight,
thinks it is possible it might have been caused by
cultivating the ground in root crops, after it had
been left in the grass for several years. But on
the other hand he had trees of the same age in a
healthy condition and of more vigorous growth in
his cultivated vegetable garden, not affected with
leaf-blight, and bearing as well as any he had in
uncultivated ground or sod. In regard to Fire-
blight he instanced the orchard of A. Barker, of
Chelton Hill, who had lost many trees by blight,
but for several years past his trees had been healthy
and productive. Mr. Barker attributed the im-
proved condition of his trees, in a great nieasnve,
to the use of rusty iron, which he hung upon the
trees, as suggested to him by Mr. Baxter, of this
city, who had adopted it, and whose success in cul-
tivating Pears was well known to this Society. Mr.
Schaffer suggested that the advantage derived from
the use of rusty iron might be the production of
oxide of iron, which was said to be beneficial to
the Pear tree. His (Mr. Schaffer' s) summer, au-
tumn and winter Pears were equally affected the
past season with leaf-blight, many had cast their
leaves early, and the fruit was nearly worthless.
Has frequently had trees on Pear stocks injured by
borers similar to the Apple tree borer.

W. Parry had no experience in cultivating trees
in grass sod.

T. Meehan referred to A. Barker's orchard, said
they were all standards, and had been planted, he

thought, about 13 years. The orchard was culti-
vated for some years, during which time it was
seriously affected with Fire-blight, and apparently
failing, when changing the mode of treatment by
leaving the orchard in grass sod, it had continually
improved to the present time, and was now a suc-
cessful orchard, bearing abundantly, as he under-
stood. T. Meehan thought the grass should be
frequently cut, which would prevent it from ex-
tending its roots so deep as to conflict with the
Pear tree roots, whilst at the same time the sod
would become compact and keep the surface soil
cool, which was of much importance in Pear tree
culture. Dwarf Pears on Quince stocks are not
as much subjected to diseases if cultivated, as stan-
dards, and he would prefer having them cultivated.

Mr. Crucknell was of the opinion that Pears on
Quince stock would never prove successful, — on
Pear stocks and transplanted one year after graft-
ing they could be perfectly trained and dwarfed.
During the past season the leaves of those under
his charge on Quince stocks fell in August, whilst
those on Pear stocks remained perfect till October
and November. Had no trees planted in sod, be-
lieved the injury done by cultivating in orchards
was the cutting of the roots ; was also opposed to
Quince stocks from their making the tree so short-
lived, not lasting longer than 12 years, though he
knew an orchard older, but believed the trees had
all rooted from the Pear stock above the graft.

W. Brinckloe spoke of an orchard in Bucks Co.,
part of which had been cultivated in root crops
annually, and part left in grass for several years ;
the latter had grown and produced finely, whilst
the former were failing.

T. Meehan had rarely known roots to be pro-
duced from Pear stocks above the Quince, believed
it was more an exception than a general rule. —
Thought in nearly all instances where attempt had
been made to dwarf the standards by severe prun-
ing it had proved unsuccessful. He said that Mr.
Saunders, when in Germantown, had tried it, but,
with all his well known skill, did not succeed. Also
remarked that the object of planting dwarfs was to
obtain fruit earlier than could be had on standards.
It was never expected the trees would continue to

live to a great age.

<«■»»

FRUIT-GROWERS' SOCIETY OF EASTERN
PENNSYLVANIA.

The Spring meeting was held at Harrisburg, on
the 17 th day of January, partly in the Court
House, and partly in the Hall of the House of
Representatives, where a session was held, by the

(Ui-

94

^?^

Cht (Sarbtncr's ||lonthIj.

invitation of the members of the liOgislature, one
of whom, Hon. Edwin Sattertliwait, is an active
member of the Fruit Growers' Society.

favorable reports of tlie Delaware, were mostly
confined to last year, when most grapes did badly.
Mr. Mish suggested, whether propagating from

Tiie first jtart of the session was taken up, in the ■ immature wood, might not enfeeble vines in their

discu-ssion of the Curculio, in the Plum question.
Mr. Hildrup had success by covering the surface of
the ground around the tree, with coarse wool. Mr.
David Miimma had good crops, where ashes were
put thick under the trees. Mr. Shaffer had seen
them bear good crops in chicktn yards. Mr. Ellis
had seen good crops, where the fruit was dusted
with air-slacked lime. Dr. Kellar had seen good
crops, where the fruit hung over water. So far on
the favorable .side. On the rever.se, Mr. S. Miller
had abandoned liope, and lion. E. Satterthwait
coiL^idered Plums might be raised in districts
where the Curculio was not abundant ; but where
much wild fruit abounded, and gave encourage-
ment to the enormous breeding of the Curculio,
he feared all these plans would fail to produce good
crops.

The election then took place for members for
the ensuing year, which resulted in Dr. Gross, of
Ilarrisburg, for President ; II. Shellenberger, Har-
risburg, Secretary ; C. Dingee, Westgrove, Cor.
Secretarj- ; Treasurer, Robt. Otto, West Chester;
Vice Presidents, A. W. Harrison, Philadelphia,
S. W. Noble, Jenkintown. A. Bombaugh, Hairis-
burg.

Discussing the best Grapes for table u.sc, Hon.
G. Seller, member for Dauphin county in the
House of Representatives, gave his experience in
favor of Diana. It improved in quality with the
age of the vine, and was less subject to di.sease,
than the Delaware, Catawba and li^abella, under
the same treatment.

Mr. Knox, of Pittsburg, valued Diana for its
keeping qualities, but it bore less, and was not i^o
free from di.*ea.=e as some others ; with which view
Mr. Merceron of Catawis.'^a coincided, with there-
mark, that it did best when close pruned. Dr.
Kellar of P^lizaliethtown, Pa., had seven years ex-
perience with Diana, on rich .sandy .soil ; it bore
well for two or three years, but poorly since. Mr.
Fehr, the large wine grower, of Reading, found
Diana very liable to di.sease. Mr. Miller, of Leba-
non, had similar experience with Mr. Fehr; and
with Mr. Mumma of Dauphin, the Diana fruit
cracked.

Of the Delaware, Dr. Seller spoke well ; but Mr.
Knox spoke of it with some reserve. Mr. Fehr
spoke of it as an entire failure. Dr. Kellar had
good success at first ; but the last few years could
not perfect them. Mr. Mumma thought the un-

after growth. Mr. W. Saunders referring to Mr.
Mumma's remark, believed the Delaware always had
a great tendency to mildew. Last season, however,
was a bad one — saw even Concord mildewing badly
in Indiana. The mildew was not so bad under
covered trellises. Several gentlemen expressed
their belief, that the Delaware's bad character
during the past year, was but temporarj', and
would be fully made up hereafter.

On the L)na, Mr. S. Miller fruited it last year,
quality of the fruit , best ; but the vine mildewed
badl}'. Mr. Knox found it mildewed very badly,
but the fruit equal to a first class Catawba ; sin-
cerely hoped it would prove more reliable than he
feared it would, for its quality was excellent. Mr.
Parry had not fruited it, but it made a very healthy
growth on his soil — better than Delaware, Re-
becca, or Diana alongside of them. Mr. Knox
said that in the extremely favorable region of Lake
P^rie, Mr. Griffith has had excellent success with the
lona, as he has with the Delaware and Catawba.
Mr. Hoopes said they mildewed with him, last
j'ear, at West Chester; but so did 100 other va-
rieties, all, except Hartford Prolific and Northern
Muscadine.

Of the Concord, many members spoke, all that
it retained its character as the most popular grape
known ; Rev. Mr. Colder only objecting, that its
skin might be thicker, to make it a first class va-
riety for transporting long distances. On the
Creveling being called for, Mr. Merceron was
asked for his exprience, but, he said he would
rather others whom he saw present, and who saw
his vines last year, would speak of it for him. The
bunches he said were long and loose ; but were
rendered compact by planting a Concord alongside

of the Creveling vine.

Mr. Harrison testified to the beauty and health
of Mr. Merceron's Creveling last year, [t was a
better grape than Isabella, but not quite as early as
Hartford Prolific; the berries were improved in
size, and the bunch in comjiactness, by planting
Concord with the Creveling vines. Mr. Knox
spoke very highly of Creveling, as to its general
health, earliness, productiveness, and capacity for
wine. It was unfortunate, he thought, that it
originated so many years ago — were it now only a
new grape, while the tempest of fashion for novel-
ties, not half .so good was raging, it would make a j]
large fortune for its raiser. He praised Hartford *
Prolific, for its freedom from thrip and mildew.

5J

^^M

®j)c ©arbcntfs fflonfjjls.

The Yeddo, Mr. W. Saunders very highly
praised for its encouragement of mildew^ where
superb specimens of mildew were desired by the
curious in such matters. Mr. Harrison, Rev. Mr.
Colder, Mr. Fehr, Mr. Merceron, all preferred
Clinton to any other, as a Wine grape. Mr. Har-
rison valued it as a table grape, Mr. Fehr said it
took \^ pounds less of the fruit, to make a gallon
of wine, than the Isabella or Catawba did. Mr.
Miller thought the Concord a good parent grape ;
had raised several good seedlings from it. The
Franklin was thought well of as a Wine grape, by
Mr. Miller and Dr. Kellar.

The old Elsinboro, Mr. Hoopes and Mr. Knox
praised, for general reliability, and good quality for
table and for wine ; and Mr. Saunders remarked,
that vines from the family of the Vitis CordifoUa,
were best adapted to our climate.

Some one inquired, if any members had experi-
ence in growing grape vines in sod. Mr. Harrison
said, he had had strong growing kinds in that way,
which did verj^ well, but the grass must not be left
to grow long ; and the mowings may be left to rot
where it falls. Mr. Knox thought it a very im-
portant question, and had not been able to decide
it. Certainly, where he had Strawberries and
grapes together, and the soil little disturbed in
the culture of the Strawberries, the Glrapes did
best. He had come to think Strawberries and
Grapes in this way, were made to grow together ;
he opposed deep trenching for Grapes, encouraged
surface roots. Mr. Satterthwait advocated rich
culture, and soil stirring; might as well try to grow
corn in sod, as grapes. Stirring the soil might in-
jure the roots in a small degree, but those which
were left, were benefited to so great an extent, as
to throw the balance of advantages largely in its
favor.

Mr. Saunders thought there was much truth, and
much error on both sides of this question. Mr.
Satterthwait' s views were con-ect, where luxuri-
ant growth was desired, but when fruit was wished
for, vigorous growth must be checked.

It was sought to be ascertained, whether the
views of the Society, as to the best Grapes for
general cultivation, had undergone any change
since last year. A vote was taken, with the under-
standing, that only those who had actual experi-
ence, should take part in the vote. The following
was the result : —

Concord, 25, For Wine.

Creveling, 19. Clinton 15,

Hartford Prolific 16, Franklin 6.

Elsinboro, 9,

Clinton, 9.

These were named as the hardiest, easiest of
cultivation, strong growers, subject to few casual-
ties, and affording most profit with least labor.

STRAWBERRIES.

Mr. Knox was asked for information of bis No.
700, H. He said it was the most valuable variety
he had. He had endeavored for several years to
trace its name. Most well informed pomologists
had settled on it, as being Jucunda, which he
believed it was. Mr. Saunders considered it a very
fine fruit, very productive, high color, holding its
fruit well up; but not of first class flavor. Mr.
Parry had not found it to make a good growth on
his sandy soil ; Samuel Miller found it this season
equal to any 25 varieties he grew. Mr. Evans, of
York, has fruited Jucunda, which agrees with what
has been said of Mr. Knox's 700, except it is not
as firm with him, as 700 is represented to be. Of
the Agriculturist, Mr. Parry gave a very favorable
opinion, as it does on his sandy soil. Mr. S. Mil-
ler considered to promise well on his heavy soil, so
far as succession of fruit was concerned. Plants
were two months in fruit. Russell's Prolific, P.
Mr. Miller found a fine variety, Mr. Knox also ;
different from McAvoy's Superior. Mr. Parry
termed it one of the best pistillate varieties.

With regard to the distinction between these
varieties, a motion was made and adopted, by the
meeting, that Russell was a distinct Strawben-y ,
but that Buffalo and McAvoy's Superior, were iden-
tical. Lady Finger, Mr. Pany said was raised by
Benjamin Prosser, Burlington, New Jersey, a good
and profitable market fruit in some soils. Green
FroVfic, P., the parent of the Agriculturist, did well
on Parry's sandy soil. Fillmore did not do at all
with him. On Knox's clay soil it was one of his
best. Hoopes on his clay soil, would not like to do
without Fillmore. French's Seedling, H., origi-
nated near Cinnaminson, N. J. Parry said, in
their sandy soil, was ripe 17th of May, and their
best early beiTy. Mr. Knox had not found it
worth much at Pittsburg. Golden Seeded, Knox,
Hoopes, and Harrison, praised it simply for its
earliness. Ahington Bhish, S. Noble said was
distinct from Lennig's White, and of superior
flavor. ]\Ir. Parry spoke of JVeio Jersey Scarlet, a
seedling of Benjamin Prosser, as the most promis-
ing of any new early ones he knew, as large and
line as Hovey, and ripe by 17th of May. Of the
Tribune Strawberries, the Brooklyn Scarlet was
considered best.

ON RASPBERRIES.

The discussions were spirited and interesting,
turning chiefly on whether it would pay, as Mr.

96

C-jjs; (Sardtatr's (Plonthln.

Knox contended it would, to protect the best varie-
ties, as Hornet, Brinckle's Orange, &c., or whether
it would not, as Mr. PaiTj- upheld ; but that hardy
ones, though inferior somewhat in flavor and size,
should be the fruit. The Philadelphia was unani-
mously considered the "Concord" amongst Rasp-
berries; "lona," "Delaware," and "Rebecca"
men being typified by Hornet., Orange., Sou-
chetli, and so on.

On Blackberries, tliere was not much discussion,
Mr, Parrj- thought KX) bushel to the acre, an
average yield. Thought Kittatinny and Wilson's
Early, would prove superior to Lawton and Dor-
chester. Knox's experience was that with the
same care that has been given to Strawbenies and
Raspberries, they might make a better return.

Of Currants, many spoke as as a profitable crop,
except Hoopes, who had not found it so. Mer-
ceron could make 1600 gallons of Wine to the
acre, always worth $2 50 per gallon ; 1 gallon of
juice required 2i pounds sugar, and 2 gallons of
water. Ilarri.son remarked, good Currant Jelly
always sold well. The GarJcner's Mnn thi i/ rccorpt.,
made the best Jelly of any he had ever heard of.
The Cherry, Versaillaise, and White Grape, were
named as the best.

On the Apple Question, a very interesting discus-
sion took place. Samuel Miller's had not done so
very well the past year, but the Krauser i^or baking
and the Keini for table, proved the most reliable.
The Falloicater or Tnlpcliocken was F. F. Mer-
ceron's favorite ; Mr. Hoopes objecting to it, that
its large size and .short stem permits it to fall from
the tree too much before maturing. J. E. Mitchell
exhibited specimens of an a]iple, the tree bearing
which was said to be the produce of a bud of Tal-
mau's Sweet, and Rhode Island Greening, cut
each longitudinally through the ej'C, in halves;
and the two halves of each set together forming
one bud. The fruit resembled Rhode Island
Greening, but had a slight trace of sweetness in it.
It was from the farm of Lnrin Blodgett, Esq., in
Warren county, Pa. S. Noble named the Princely
as growing rapidly in favor, in his section of Mont-
gomery county. In E. Satterthwait's region, the
apple crop was of little account, — through fruit
dropping young. He approved of high cultivation
and manuring

Rev. J. Colder gave an interesting account of a
friend's orchard, in Lebanon county. The Apple
crop this year was poorer than UvSual in most
places ; but this orchard had a very fine crop of
splendid fruit. The owner trimmed out his branches
where required; in Summer, kept it regularly in

sod, which he manured on the surface every winter,
and cut the grass early, leaving it to decay where
it fell. A vote was taken on the best apples, re-
sulting in, for Summer 3 : Red Astraehan, Pri-
mate, Sweet Bough ; 4 Fall : Maiden's Blush, Por-
ter, Fall Pippin, Rhode Island Greening ; 6 Winter :
Baldwin, Smith's Cider, Fallowater, Hubbardson
Nonsuch, Long Island Rus.set, Talman's Sweet.

Pears : A vote on the best resulted in 3 Summer :
Julienne, Doyenne d'Ete, IManning's Elizabeth ;
8 for Fall: Seckel, Bartlett, Beurre d'Aiijou,
Beurre Diel, BufTam, Sheldon, Beurre Bo.'^c,
Howell; 3 Winter: Lawrence, Winter Nelis,
Columbia.

In a discus.sion of the merits of other varieties,
S. Noble found Rostiezer do with him well, E.
Satterthwait spoke both against it and Sheldon ;
ho thought Howell more profitable than Bartlett;
Both Doyenne d'Ete, and Beurre GifTard cracked
with him ; Tyson he praised, though not so i)ro-
ductive as others ; the Dwarf Pear generally did
well with him, though he believed most of them
sent out Pear roots after a few j^eans. W. Parry
thought no Pear would in a series of years, excel
Bartlett in point of profit ; Bloodgood was the
best early Pear for profit, though no earl)' Pear he
thought very profitable ; Beurre Giffard had done
badly last year. Mr. Hoopes spoke well of Doy-
enne d'Ete, Howell, Sheldon, Buffam, Beurre
d'Anjou, and Julienne ; he liked the Ott, par-
ticularly, as it held its leaves late.

II( nry Engle has about 2000, about five years
planted, so far the experiment was very encourag-
ing. The Pear slug E. Satterthwait had cured
b\' using fine air-slacked lime.

PcacJicx : W. Parry had formeily grown TO va-
rieties, of these he would now select Hale's J'^arly,
Troth's Early, Early York, Crawford's Early,
Crawford's Late, Old Mixon, Ward's Late Free,
Smock's Late, Stump the World, and Late
Heath Cling. His Jiiost approvtid waj of culti-
vating, is to prepare the ground thoroughly, grow
garden crops between the trees, then do nothing
but keep the coarse weed cut down. The Yellows
had nearly disappeared from his section.

On motion, the list of W. Parry was adopted by
the Society for recommendation. The thanks of
the Society were presented to the citizens of Har-
risburg, for their kindness and hospitality ; to the
Legislature of Pennsylvania, for their courtesy ;
and to L. Blodgett for his collection of Apples, and
on the motion of Mr. Sliellenbcrgcr, that

Whereas, much delay in proceeding to business
is occasioned by a want of preparation of subjects
in advance, it is Jirsolird, that Messrs. William
Saunder«, A. W. Harrison, J. E. Mitchell, and
Thomas Meehan constitute a committee to prepare
business for the next meeting, and that they be
requested, to add to their report, any suggestions
that may facilitate the proceedings.

T

<^|.% --r^P^

DEVOTED TO

THOMAS MEEHAISr, Fdttor,
W. G. P. BKIJSrCKIiOB. Publisher.

APRIL, 1866.

VOL. VIII—NO. 4.

FLOWSn-GARSSrj AND FLSASURE-
GROUNB.

Prepare ground for planting. Soil loosened two
feet deep dries out less in summer than soil one
foot deep. Rich soil grows a tree larger in one j'ear
than a poor soil will in three. Under-drained soil
is cooler in summer than soil not under-drained.
The feeding roots of trees come near the surface ;
therefore plant no deeper than necessary to keep
the tree in the soil. If there be danger of its
blowing over, stake it, but don't plant deep. One
stake set at an angle is as good as two set perpen-
dicular. Straw or mat set round the tree keeps
the bark from rubbing. Large stones placed around
a transplanted tree are often better than a stake.
They keep the soil moist, admit the air, and en-
courage surface roots. Shorten the shoots at trans-
planting. This induces growth, and growth pro-
duces roots ; and with ne^ roots your tree is safe
for another season. Unpruned trees produce leaves,
but little growth, and less new roots.

Place broad-leaved evergreens where they will
get no sun in winter, yet away from where the roots
of trees will make the ground dry in summer. Deep
soil, but shallow planting, is all important for them.
In transplanting, take care of the roots. Good
roots are of more importance than good "balls."
Balls of earth are useful in keeping fibres moist ;
but don't sacrifice the best fibres five or six feet
from the tree for the few fibres in the ball at the
base. When roots are rather dry, after filling a
portion of soil, pour in water freely. After all has

^<ii
^J

settled away, fill in lightly the balance of the soil,
and let it rest for a few days. This is as a remedy,
not as a rule ; for watering this way cools the soil,
ultimately hardens it, and in other respects works
to the injury of the transplanted tree.

Unless inside of a round ring, or circular walk,
don't plant trees or shrubs in formal clumps. They
are abominations in the eyes of persons of taste.
Meaningless irregularities form the opposite ex-
treme. Remember, "art is nature better under-
stood."

In your flower-beds, if the plants sickened last
year, change the soil. Renovated earth is renewed
health to consumptive flowers. Sow Annuals as
soon as the ground is warm. Too early sowing and
deep covering rots seeds very often. This is fre-
quently the cause of one's seeds being "bad."
Prepare flowers in their winter quarters for the
summer campaign, by gradually inuring them to
the air before setting out finally. Set out when all
danger of frost is over. Don't set out a plant with
a dry ball ; but water well while in the pot an hour
or so before.

Arranging flower beds affords room for adisplaj'
of taste. Narrow, thin beds as a rule, have better
efi"ects than thick or heavy ones. Edgings to beds
are common. The evergreen Ivy is good — so is
Periwinkle. The variegated, large-leaved Periwin-
kle is a treasure. Daphne cneorum is also good — •
for large beds, Shrubland Pet Rose Geranium is
very effective. The new Iresine Herbstii will,
no doubt, prove a very popular bedding plant, —
better even than Coleus Verschaffieltii. The old
tribe Scarlet Geraniums make splendid American
bedders, Lord Palmerston and Stella are two of the
best, but yet scarce and high priced. Lanata,
Rosamond, Christine, "Really Good," Chance and
Lallah, are six of the best bedders. The old Hark-
away is an enormous bloomer, though for the
single flower poor enough ; it is one of the best
bedders.

97

4 WD

^m

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

South of Philadelphia, the more tender kinds of
garden vegetables may now be sown, beans, corn,
cucumbers, s«iuashes, etc, that it is not prudent to
plant in this latitude before the first of May ; and
tomato, egg-plants, etc., may also be set out in
those favored places. (/Ucumbers, squashes, and
such vegetables can be got forward as well as toma-
toes, egg-plants, etc, by being sown in a frame or
hotbed, and potted off into three inch pots. They
will be nice plants by the first week in May. Rot-
ten wood suits cucumbers and the squash tribe ex-
ceedingly well as a manure. Tomatoes and egg-
plants that are desired very early are best potted,
soon after they come up, into small pots. They
can then be turned out into the open air without
any check to their roots. Of course, they should
be gradually inured to the open air — not suddenly
transferred from a warm and moist air to a very
dry one.

Bean poles maybe planted preparatory to sowing
the Lima bean in May. Where bean poles are
scarce, two or three hoop-poles, set into the ground
one foot from each other, and tied together at the
top, make as good a pole, and perhaps better. j

Dwarf beans should have very warm and deep
soil, — sow them only 2 inches apart. The Valen-
tine is yet the best early, take it all in all. I

Peas should be sown every two weeks for a suc-
cession,— do not make the soil very rich for them. I

Lettuce, for a second crop of sa'ad, should be
sown about the end of the month. The Drumhead
cabbage is usually sown for a .summer crop ; but the
old kinds of Cos lettuce would, no doubt, be found
very valuable in rich soils. |

Early York Cabbage for early use should be set
out early this month. It is an excellent plan to
make the holes with a dibble first, where the cab-
bage is to be set; then fill up the holes with ma-
nure-water ; and, after the water has soaked away, '
set in the plants. It is rather more laborious than :
the old way ; but the cabbage grows so fast after- (
wards that it pays pretty well.

It is not a good plan to cut all the asparagus as
soon as they appear. A few sprouts .should always
be left to grow from each, to strengthen the ]ilants. j

Celery, with most families, is an important crop,
and should be sown about this period. A very rich
moist spot, that will be shaded from the mid-day
April sun, should be chosen ; or a box in a frame ,
by those who have tlw; conveniences. 1

Few things mark a well-kept garden better than
an abundance of all kinds of herbs. Now is the
time to make the beds. Sage, Thyme and Laven- j

der, grows from slips, which may be set in now pre-
ci.sely as if an edging of box were to be made of
them. They grow very easily. Basil and Sweet
Marjoram mu.st be sown in a rich warm border.
Sal.safy and Scorzonera like a damp rich soil.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Grafting can be contlnu.3d till the buds of the
trees are nearly pushed into leaf. Sometimes, from
a pressure of other work, .some valuable scions have
been left on hand too late to work. It may be in-
teresting to know, that if such scions are put into
the ground much the same as if they were cuttings,
they will keep good for six weeks or two months,
by which time the bark will run freely, when the
scions may be treated as buds, and will succeed just
as well as buds taken from young summer shoots.

In planting dwarf Pears, it is very important to
have them on a spot that has a moist subsoil, either
naturally, or made so by subsoiling or mixing some
material with the soil that will give out moisture in
dry weather. Trees already planted on a dry grav-
elly-sub.'^oil, .'should have a circle dug out two feet
deep and two or three feet from the tree. This
should be filled up with well-enriched soil. If the
dwarf Pear does not grow freely, it is a sign that
something is wrong. It should at once be severely
pruned, so as to aid in producing a vigorous growth.

Strawberry beds are very frequently made at this
season, and though they will not boar fruit the same
year, are much more certain to grow, and will j)ro-
duce a much better crop next year than when left
till next August. Though it is a very common re-
commendation, we do not value a highly manured
.soil. It .should be well trenched or subsoiled : this
we consider of great value. In rich soils there is
too much danger of having more leaves than fruit.

Buds that were inoculated last fall should not be
forgotten, but as soon as vegetation has pushed
forth, the buds should be examined, and all other
i.ssues from the old stock taken away. It may also
he necessary to make a tie in order to get the young
slioot of the bud to go in the way from which you
would not hereafter have it depart.

Above all, do not allow the month to pass with-
out posting yourself afresh on the various methods
recommended for destroying insects, or preventing
their attacks. The advantage of a stitch in time is
never more decided than in the great struggle with
fruit de.-troying insects. A mass of information on
these points lies scattered through our past volumes,
that will well repay a careful reperusal for the pur-
pose alone of refurnishing ones ideas in that line.

J)

m

3Chf[ ®ardnw's (plonthlg.

GREENHOUSE PLANTS.

To turn all the plants out in " the first week in
May," without reference to any contingency, should
not be done. All plants should be early inured to
the open air — the ventilators and sashes should be
kept open as much as possible, yet by degrees. —
Sudden changes of temperature engenders mildew,
and a species of consumption fatal to many plants.
The hardiest things should be placed out first, in a
somewhat shaded spot, and if possible on a bottom
of coal ashes, to keep out worms — Azaleas and
Rhododendrons, Daphnes and Camellias may go
out when their growth is finished ; no spot will be

Souvenier de la Malmaison^ salmon white ; Devoni-
ensis, pale lemon ; Hermosa, rose ; Agnppina,
crimson ; Lyonnais, pink ; and, as a free-blooming
white, Cels.

Justicias, Aphelandras, and Acanthaceous plants
which have been the mainspring of beauty in this
department most of the winter and spring, and
have now done flowering, should have the lightest
and driest part of the house, to ripen well their
wood, preparatory to being cut back and repotted
for next season's flowering. The Achimenes and
Gloxinia will be coming on to take their places;
they like a moist heat circulating among their roots.

too shaded, provided they can get an abundance of , and do well with much rough material in the soil.

a

air all around. If plants are well rooted, and have
not been repotted, they should be so before setting
out, as they will, otherwise, suff'er at times for want
of water. It is objectionable to turn out every
thing, leaving the greenhouse for the season like a
lumber loft — -such as will stay in advantageously
should be left, and the idea is becoming prevalent
that Cape and hard wooded things are better io
than out.

Abutilons, Habrotharanuses, and Cestrums, in-
deed many similar plants, if taken out of their pots,
turned out into the open border, and lifted and re-
potted early in the fall, will make fine growth and
do well. As fast as Hyacinths in pots are done
flowering, turn them out into beds. Calceolarias
should be kept in the coolest part of the house, and
have a good supply of water ; as they frequently
die after flowering, cuttings of desirable kinds should
be taken off now ; if they show signs of flowering
before fall, do not allow it. Cinerarias should re-
ceive the same attention, as they also die out after
flowering. As soon as the Chrysanthemums, plan-
ted last month, have shot forth, take cuttings for
next season's show; they strike very readily in
sandy soil, in a somewhat moist and shady situa-
tion. Dahlias need not be put out before the second
or third week in May ; they do not like the scorch-
ing heat of summer, and if put out early become
stunted and do not flower till later. Pelargoniums
should have all the light possible till they begin to
open their flower-buds, when they should be some-
what shaded and kept cool ; by this the flowers are
rendered finer, and last longer. Everblooming
Roses, grown in pots, should be pruned-in a little
after their first flowering, kept a little drier for a
week or so, then repotted, and placed where desii'ed
out of doors; they delight in a rich loamy soil, and
are benefited by manure water while growing ; those
who have not a collection should begin ; there is no
finer class ; six of the best for pot culture may be

Pentas carnea, or similar soft-wooded plants grown
for flowering early in the fall, may be still repotted
if the pots become filled with roots. As the
weather becomes warm, shade the house a little to
keep the sun from scorching. We like to see all
plants under glass have a slight shade in summer
time. Water in the morning, keep the syringe go-
ing in the evening, keep the temperature regular,
between 60'' and 70", and all will go well.

DRAINING FLOWER-FOTS.

BY "young learner."

I observe some writers are endeavoring to show
that it is a waste of time to "crock" pots. My
opinion is that many old fashioned notions are not
of much account; but in this matter I must say I
think our reformers are too fast. If pots had no
holes would the plants thrive? assuredly not. The
hole in the bottom is for a good purpose, that is to
admit of the escape of moisture, and any "crock-
ing" or drainage that will permit or aid the hole to
perform its functions as it was intended it should,
must be beneficial. I think your position, in the
December number, I believe, that plants must get
dry at times, so as to make them get fresh water,
with fresh food continually about them, before they
can grow well, is a correct one. Certainly, my
plants never seem to grow so well as when they
want watering often. Drainage assists this process,
and is so far good. I put a little broken charcoal
for drainage in all my pots, and sure I am that it is

not time lost.

*•••*

NATURE'S LAW OF COLORS.

BY PETER HENDERSON, SOUTH BERGEN, N. J.

When I sent you the article under the above cap-
tion, I certainly thought that some of your amateur

100

iu — :.;j^J

€])t §'d\)imxs IHontljIn,

readers might take exceptions to some of its points;
because in my experience as a florist I have been
asked scores of times for black Roses, bhie Dahlias,
&c., particularly' by old ladies of an enquiring turn
of mind ; and it was partly to endeavor to save my-
self and others in the trade from such inflictions,
that I penned the paper ; but I never dreamed that
any gardener of Mr. Ferrand's intelligence would,
at this day, attempt to controvert an opinion
which is now almost unanimously acquiesced in by
the profession. But in making the attempt I think
he has misunderstood my subject.

As I wrote, and as Mr. Ferrand quotes me, 1
said that "^ scarlet, blue and yellow colors never
occur in varieties of the same species.^' Mr. F.
gives examples, — not from varieties of a species,
but from species of a genus. Mr. F. will see that
particular stress is put on their difl"erence by the
sentence being italicised. A wide diff"erence often
exists between different species of a genus, the dif-
ference often being apparently much more marked
than in diff'erent genera. But conceding this, in
the examples he takes, he saj-s "we have Lupinns
polyphilla, blue; Lupinns sulphtn-eus, yellow; and
Lupinns Dunnettii and snperhn, scarlet." The
mo.'^t charitable view that I can take of this, is that
Mr. F. does not mean by the term "scarlet" what
1 do ; for Lupinus Dwmettii and superlxi are not
scarlet.

In Pentstemons, he is quite as far fnirn being
correct, — here we have a violet, called in descrip-
tions a "bluish violet," which is scarlet this time
true enough, — but have we yellow? I do not know
Fentstemon Lohbiani, that Mr. F. describes as a
"pure yellow," nor no list or work that I have
access to de.^^cribes it as such. Has Mr. F. seen it
him.Nclf, and is he sure it is really yellow? May it
not be of allied genus Linaria or Antirrhinum, and
not a Pentstemon ?

He gives examples of Aquilegia and Hyacinths
as combining the three colors — scarlet, blue and
yellow. Mr. F. can scarcely have seen a scarlet
Hyacinth or Aquilegia, or even a clear yellow of
either, any more yellow than the Verbena before
referred to. What I understand by .«carlet is the
color of Salvia splcndens or Verbena Defiance. —
The very convenient and comprehen.sive term "red"
which Vr. F. uses as if synonymous with scarlet, is
not a very clear definition of color when applied to
flowers, yet it is often very loosely used. I once
had a salesman who was not much of a jdantsman,
in fact he hardly knew one plant from another, but
whenever "Mac." was questioned about the color
of any particular variety, of which he knew

nothing, he was almost sure to answer that it was
a kind of a red ; for "Mac." had discovered that
there were more flowers of a " red" color than any
other, and hence, in the condition of his knowl-
edge, judged it his safest reply.

I trust, Mr. Editor, 1 am not occupying too much
of your valuable space with this matter, yet 1
think it of importance enough to be briefly brought
before your readers, some of whom may yet save
in pocket by being set right on the subject. I re-
member some dozen years ago that my attention
was called to an advertisement of Roses to be sold
by auction in New York ; they were offered by a
gentleman from France, who described himself as
the grower, and that the new varieties of all colors
were to be shown by colored plates ; such an un-
usual announcement drew a fine crowd, and Johnny
Crapoau was beginning to have golden dreams. —
The plates were hung around the room, fortunately
for his modesty, rather a dark one, — but their color-
ing embraced every hue of the Rainbow, and some-
thing more, for he had them of Coal Black. Time
was up, and the auctioneer began, and most unfor-
tunately, began to illustrate his first sale with a
plate daubed as dark as Erebus. New York auc-
tioneers make no special study of Floriculture, and
the vender of Monsieur's Ro.<;es looked as innocent
as the drawing itself; but his eff"orts to sell were
short-lived, for such a storm of laughter and ridi-
cule saluted his ears which I have no doubt he will
remember as long as be lives. The gentleman from
France had made a mistake, — he had laid the paint
on much too varied, — New Yorkers were not quite
prepared to invest in Black or Blue Roses, and he
no doubt betook him.self to some more congenial
atmosphere, where his genius and stock were more
apj)reciated.

I will again fay that there is no record of ever
blue, scarlet and yellow colors ever having occurred
in varieties of the same species of plants.

Mr. F. flatters him.self that my remarks will have
the effect to i)revent an effort to produce that yellow
Verbena that my Ohio correspondent was sure he
had found. But as an inducement to Mr. F. to
use his pcr.son<al efforts in the matter, I will make
him the following oft'er :

For a .single plant of Verbena (of the Melindris
type,) that will produce flowers of a clear yellow,
I will pay $1000. For a scarlet Aquilegia, having
flowers of the color of Salvia splcndens, I will pay
$2000. For a bulb of a scarlet Hyacinth of the
color of Verbena Defiance $4000, and for a blue
Dahlia, when any one gets it, $10,000, and to the
Editor of the Gardener's Montldy, who allows

m^

thus to advertise my wants in the reading columns,
I will present a most unexceptionable beaver.

[Mr. Ferrand evidently overlooked Mr. H.'s dis-
tinction between varieties and species ; yet it may be
said in behalf of Mr. F. that although Mr. H. is
propably correct in the abstract, it is rather a nice
point to decide when purple or violet exactly passes
into a blue, or a red into a scarlet. To our mind
the purple Crocuses usually railed blue are not very
far from it.]

••o>>

KIY CALADIUMS.

BY SWIFT.

In May I received my stock of Caladiums, all
differently named, and every one of them misnamed,
two out of the lot proved to be identical. They
were potted in three-inch pots, and placed in the
propagating pit, where they remained during the
winter, and as they advanced in growth were shifted
until I had them in ten-inch pots. In July they
were set down in the tank which held about two
inches of water, and in which they seemed to thrive
admirably.

I have before remarked that I had two of one
variety, that being BicoJor pictaratnm. One was
put in the tank, the other on the side bench, both
received the same care and attention throughout.
Now mark the difference : the largest leaf of this
variety in the water measured fifteen inches by
seven, fully twice as large as any produced on the
plant standing on the bench, and the bulb weighed
(in February) twice as hea\^. A difference of some
importance to the commercial grower when we re-
member each small plant brings, in the spring of
the year, from fifty cents to two dollars, according
to the kind offered for sale.

In October, as they showed no signs of resting,
they were placed in a row on the ground, the rims
of the pots touching the flues, and the pot nearest
the furnace not more than twelve feet distant. The
want of room alone prevented me keeping them
growing through the winter. Every bulb kept
sound as could be wished for, although they had no
water given them from October to February, and
were so situated as to receive none from any other
source.

I am of the opinion that one proper way to win-
ter these bulbs successfully is to keep them perfect-
ly dry and in a temperature not less than 55° or 60°.
A low confined atmosphere and damp soil are al-
most invariably fatal. I have conversed with men
on the subject, whose well known success is prover-
bial, and they too concur in this opinion.

Compare this with the advice given on page 275

of last year's volume : — A friend sent to me, in
midsummer, a small bulb of C. Van Voorsti, and he
took the unnecessary precaution of cutting away
the leaves. It is now pushing for the first time
since sent to me, having remained dormant nearly
seven months, during which time it got no water,
yet it retained that fresh plumpy appearance sug-
gestive of a healthy condition.

I prefer February to any other month for starting
them, as then I have time to increase them at
pleasure, and the offsets make good plants for sum-
mer use. For this purpose I fill one of my hot-
beds with fresh stable dung and plunge the pots
therein. In two or three weeks the leaves \<ill
appear above ground when they are knocked out of
the pots the soil shaken from the roots, and
wherever a bud has grown it is cut clean out, with
a piece of the old bulb and rootlets attached. I
give each one a separate existence in a three-inch
pot and return to the hotbed where they grow
rapidly.

C. marmoratum, the leaves white and green, is
a strong gi'ower, and makes an excellent bedding
plant. 6'. arf/i/rites, is a very dwarf growing va-
riety, six or eight inches high. The leaves are ir-
regularly blotched, being nearlj' all white with faint
markings of green. I think this one the prettiest
and most interesting of any, and the best adapted
for making a specimen. The way this is done is by
planting twelve or fourteen bulbs equidistant in a
twelve-inch pan, keeping it near the glass which
will need shading to prevent the leaves burning.

From a collection of twenty varieties I select the

following best six, which are all good, and will do

to form the nucleus of a collection : Baraquina,

Belleymei, Brogiiarti, Chantinii, Neumani and

Wightii; the last named has a rich olive-green leaf,

marked with white and red in such a manner as to

forcibly remind one of the odd looking characters,

whereby the Chinese hand down to posterity the

chronicles of the past.

<•»>»

IS THE QUALITY OP FRUIT CHANGED
BY HYBRIDIZATION?

|bY dr. J. STAYMAN, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

In reading j^our article in the October number of
the Gardener s Monflihj upon the change produced
by hybridization, we were much interested with
your remarks upon the subject, and hoped it would
call forth the opinions and facts of others based
upon accurate observation.

Believing that Horticulture should rest upon a
scientific basis founded upon facts, and that conjec-
ture, imagination and mere opinion should give

m

CO>

<^>m

102

Cb^ ©ardnur's ^onthln.

If

place to a more sound philosophy, and belie\nng
these views to harmonize with yours from the able,
scienti6c and independent manner you have dis-
cussed the various subjects since you have edited
the Monthly. With these considerations we beg
leave to make the following remarks upon the sub-
ject :—

It is a true saying, that it has become a popular
belief that melons, squashes, cucumbers and pump-
kins mix and affect the quality of the fniit the first
season when grown close together.

There is, apparently, some plausibility in the
theorj' from the well known fact of the seed hybri-
dizing and producing mixed varieties very different
from the original.

Your illustration of "Indian Corn" is a very
striking and apparently convincing example of the
effects produced which might satisfy the minds of
many.

The hybridization and crossing of sorts when
grown in close proximity, and the immediate effect
produced upon the seed perhaps few will deny ; but
that it effects the quality of the fruit in any respec-
tive thing may be doubted.

The example of Indian corn is a very positive
proof that hybridization does not effect or produce
any change except in the serd^ for the covering and
receptacle of the seed remains the same as if not I
h3'bridized, which bears the same relation to the
grain that the fruit does to the seed.

It may be supposed by some that the cases are
not analogous, for the covering of the corn is on the
ear before hybridization takes place, consequently
it cannot change it; while in the fruit it is different,
because it takes place in the flower before there is
any fruit, therefore it effects both.

It is very true that the arrangement of the organs
of reproduction are different ; but that does not
effect the general principle, for there is a great dif-
ference in every order, species, and variety of vege-
tation and the various clas.ses of animals, yet we
have no authenticated case of the effects of hybri-
dization extending beyond the ovules and ovum.

Whatever difference may exist in the various
orders of vegetation the pollen has no effect except
upon the organs of generation for the purpose of
perpetuating their species, which does not extend
to the pericarp, &c. . for they have nothing to do
with the germ, except to shield, protect and nourish
it until it arrives at maturity.

In a physiological point of view, it appears im-
possible that the fruit is effected by the pollen, for
the stigma absorbs and conveys it through minute
pores to the ovules which contains the undeveloped

seed and then stimulates them to action by its pre-
sence which increases in size by absorption from the
ovar>' which gives them nutriment and protection
until they arrive to perfection, consequently the
pollen has no power to change the pericarp, nor
the pericarp the seed, any more than it can change
the stock or plant.

It is as it were grafting in the germ by the pollen
of some other variety or species, and has no more
effect upon parts not engrafted than top or root
grafting has.

The pollen when convej'cd to the germ-cells sets
up a vital electrical action, which produces a chemi-
cal change in the molecules in exact relation to the
impression produced by the con.stituent elements of
the pollen, whether of its own order or different
species. This action might be called a living or-
ganic fermentation, for the cells increase in size
and multiply rapidly as soon as the stimulus im-
presses them, but they generally a.ssumc a different
form in harmony with their order.

Many facts might be given in illustration of these
principles in vegetable and animal physiology to
prove that each .system is distinct, although they
bear a very close relation to each other. Such as
seed without a pericarp and a pericarp without
seed ; and in the animal a foetus without a placenta ;
and in hybrids and crosses no change of the pla-
centa, dccidua, chorion, &c. , while the ovum and
foetus partake of the character of both.

And in the oviparous we find eggs without a yolk
and neither the albumen which form the white
nor the shell membrane with its testaceous cover-
ing exists in the ovarian ovum, yet in hybrids we
perceive no change in either.

In leaving this part of the subject, we shall give
the result of our experience. For many years we
have grown numerous varieties which mix easily in
close proximity, and also separately for the object
of saving pure .seed ; and having observed closely
the result, and in no case have we been able to per-
ceive the least effect produced upon the color or
quality of any i>art except the seed ; .so well are we
.satisfied of that fact, in i)lanting we pay no atten-
tion to the matter except when we wish to preserve
pure seed.

We had once a controversy with a President of
a college upon the mixing of potatoes in the liill;
he was firm in the belief, and gave what he sup-
po.sed jjroof, namely, that he found different varie-
ties from what he supposed he had planted.

A very similar case, thi.s season, occurred with
us. we bought .some large yellow-skinned potatoes,
and selected with care about half a bu.shel of the

m

•3^

largest which we thought were pure seed, we cut
and planted them alone, but in taking them up we
found some red sort mixed with them, but the dis-
tinctness and uniformity of that variety and its dis-
tribution amongst the rest, proved conclusively that
it must have been overlooked, and cut and mixed
in the planting, as all similar cases are.

BLACE KNOT ON PLUM AND CHERRY
TREES.

BY HORTICOLA.

Although I have but few varieties of the Plum
and Cherry, yet I am every year troubled with a
pest so destructive in its effects on such trees as
suffer from it. Among them is also the so-called
English Hawthorn [Cratoegiis oxi/cantha) and its
double red and white varieties. The sporets of the
fungus, however, inducing the black knot are not
so easily received by the bark of the Hawthorn, a
circumstance which affords great facilities for
watching the incipient growth of the fungu.s. That
it is a fungus, was proven many years ago, (see
American Agriculturist, 1863, Ajiril.) I have ex-
amined it myself repeatedly' by the aid of a micro-
scope of no great power, and have always arrived
at the same result that is reprinted in the number
of the Agriculturist referred to.

Mr. M. D. Brown (see American Agriculturist,
1865, August, p. 289,) advises to cut the knot off
and to pare it even with the healthy bark; then chlo-
ride of lime, in the proportion of a tablespoon full
dissolved in a quart of water must be applied.

Knowing that common salt destroj'^s, with cer-
tainty, fungoid growths in hotbeds and on the out-
side of flower-pots which are often covered by little
green plants of the lowest order; and knowing also
that a solution of copperas (sulphate of iron,) pro-
tects the timber used for building against destruc-
tion from fungi; I experimented with both of
these solutions combined on Plum and Cherry trees,
always with perfect success. For this purpose I
dissolved as much salt as a certain quantitj' of water
will take, and add as much sulphate of iron as that
solution will dissolve. It has exactly the same
effect as the chloride of lime. I have never seen a
black knot in the same place again when so treated.

Last summer I found on the trunk of a beautiful
double white Cherry tree, which is very mxich dis-
figured by frequent excisions of the black knot, a
place where the bark was raised a little. It yielded
to pressure, and when cut open showed thatspongj'
texture which is an inf^illible indication of the be-
ginning developments of the black knot. I imme-
diately applied the solution of salt and sulphate ot

iron, introducing it with a sharp-pointed goose
quill as deep into the wound as possible. The
wound healed and the black knot was destroyed.

This is all good enough as far as it goes, but it
does not go very far ; for the remedy cannot be ap-
plied before the fungus actually appears, and has
made some progress in its growth. Might it not
be useful to wash the trees or sprinkle them over
either with the salt solution or that of chloride of
lime in the spring before the leaves expand? The
solution of salt after that would injure them.

Dr Trimble mentioned recently in one of the
meetings of the Farmers' Club, that lime was a
certain remedy against the black knot ; but did not
explain how it is to be applied, nor whether it
would destroy it when it showed itself, or whether
it acts as a preventive. I am inclined to think that
ichiteivashing the trees in the spring would make
them proof against the fungus, the spores of which
cannot grow in a crust of lime. I shall try it this
season. The readers of the Gardener's Monthly
will be informed of the result.

[The cause of the black knot was thoroughly dis-
cussed in our volume for 1862, and proved conclu-
sively to be a species of fungus, and not the curcu-
lio, as it was previously almost universally believed
to be (see page 196, 232, &c., 1862),— there is,
therefore, every reason to confirm " Horticola's"
experiments, which afford good hopes that we have
got on the track of a remedy if not a preventive.]

MR. FENDLER'S THEORY OF DEW.

BY YARDLEY TAYLOR, LINCOLN, VA.

In the last two numbers of the Monthly, is an
essay on the "Formation of Dew, by A. Fendler."
As some of the views of the wi'iter are, I conceive,
at variance with facts, I shall take the liberty of
criticising them ; and in doing so I will say my ob-
ject alone is to arrive at truth — nothing else.

The idea generally with philosophers is, that
the heat we have on the surface of the earth is de-
rived from the sun, and that a large part of the
heat rays are reflected again into space. These
rays are supposed to pass through the cold regions
of space without diminution, and even lose but
little in passing through our atmosphere,, as it is
well known that the snow line exists even under
the equator. I apprehend that there are fiicts, that
if duly weighed will prove this theory erroneous.

And first let me say, that such, a supposition
would make nature act extravagantly, which she
never does ; her laws are always perfect, and no more
power is used than necessary to accomplish the ob-

m

104

t ^Hrdnicr^s JRontjjtg.

ject designed. What need so much heat to be cast
off into space where it can be of no possible use.

Again consider, we can have no idea of heat
emanating from a body without diminution ; as heat
is ponderable and must liave body, it enlarges sub-
stances brought into contact with it. The earth
is but a mere speck in the Universe, and can re-
ceive only the smallest possible proportion of the
rays emanating from the sun ; and even taking all
other planets into account, the amount thrown off
into space must be inconceivably great. To suppose
such an amount given off without diminishing the
sun's body, is taxing philosophy rather heavily, as
there is no evidence of diminution.

Light, we know, does emanate from the sun ; but
may not heat belong to this earth, and had its
origin in its creation. We can have no conception
of heat on the surface of the earth, without contact
with air, and the air will become heated; and heated
air, if unobstructed, will rise until it meets with a
space of equal density, when it will stop and can
rise no further. Even the heat in the air can warm
the cool strata above but little, and can rise but
slowly. Witness the cold region on high moun-
tains in tropical countries, and the reports of asrial
voj'agers in balloons, always reporting cold in high
regions.

That there is a warm belt a little above the sur-
face of the earth is being understood generally. —
Around the Southern AUeghanies is a remarkable
evidence of that fact. There the mountains are
higher than any where else in the United States
this .side of the Mississippi River, and the valleys
are proportionally deep. Along the valleys of the
branches of the Upper Tennessee River, there is a
space of about 250 feet in height where frost and
dew are seen as in other places, and where frost
sometimes injures fruit while in blossom. Above
this is a warm belt of about 300 feet in height
where frost or dew are never seen, and where fruit
never fails. There wheat is never subject to rust
or mildew; while it is in the lower region. Above
this region is a colder one again, with a more rari-
fied atmosphere ; and where on the summits of
those mountains the Strawberry does not ripen till
the latter part of 7th month (July,) while in the
same latitude, on tidewater, this fruit ripens two
month earlier. Something of the same is wit-
nessed here, as we often see our mountains covered
with snow or sleet when it is raining here, show-
ing that it is warmer below. Sometiinos only the
highest summits are covered, this again partly
down the sides, then sometimes the whole moun-

tain is covered to its base, and not in the valley
below.

To suppose that the rays of light emanating from
the sun, and coming in contact with our atmosphere,
and thus producing heat by friction, and carrying
the heat back again to the earth, is not more op-
posed to what we conceive to be the laws of nature,
than to suppose this heat can be passed through
the cold regions of space, and thus conducted to
the earth. Of the two this seems the most rea-
sonable. We have evidence in fcrolites that they
in coming in contact with our atmosphere, do gene-
rate heat, and give out light : and the rnys of light
far less solid, yet they move with flir greater rapid-
ity, and may they not be able to thus generate heat
that accompanies them. This theory recommends
it.self for its simplicity at least.

The essayist, in speaking of heat radiating, says:
" heat pa.s.ses through air scarcely warming it at
all," and instances the fact of heat from "a glow-
ing fire in the open air ; we feel the heat at a con-
siderable distance from the fire, although the inter-
vening air is far below the freezing point."

This does not seem to be well taken, for it must
be a fact, that a large part of the heat from the
fire is carried off by the air, and must to that ex-
tent be heated ; but if the fire is in a room, the
air, however cold at first, will be heated, and he
would be warmed by contact with warm air as well
as by direct rays of heat. There can be no contact
of heat with air without warming it.

In speaking of " a perfectly clear sky," he says,
"by its deep azure tint that gives proof of a pure
transparent atmosphere not laden with any large
quantities of moisture or vapor." There is reason
to believe that the most transjjarent atmosphere is
often heavily laden with moisture. One evidence
is, that such an occurrence is a pretty good pre-
cursor of rain. We know that water in evapora-
tion is perfectly transparent, and it is only when it
becomes condensed into vapor that it is visible at all.

We had here last sun)mer a beautiful illustration
of the fact of a transparent atmosphere being
heavily laden with moisture. One day there was a
heavy and dark cloud rising from the north-west,
and had overspread the whole horizon, from a little
beyond the zenith to the entire west, with its east-
ern line well defined, the rest of the horizon east-
ward was very clear and of a deep blue ; and while
watching this, I observed clouds began to form in
this clear blue sky. At first I could just discern a
little mist, not larger than "a man's hand," as the
servant of the prophet reported to his master, but
presently it increased, and that rapidly, until it

formed a considerable cloud, at the same time it
moved upward briskly, and at last joined the large
approaching cloud. There were many, very many,
small clouds, thus formed in this clear atmosphere,
all moving rapidly and absorbed by the larger one.
There must have been a strata of air heavily laden
with moisture and meeting with a colder strata it
condensed and formed vapor, but this air was per-
fectly transparent and the sky was very blue.

The essayist asks the question, " why is it that
basin-shaped depressions of ground," "clothed
with grass are more subject to early frost in autumn,
and late frosts in spring, than elevated ground?"
and then undertakes to answer it ; but I do not
think his answer strictly philosophical.

He conceives that the particles of air in imme-
diate contact with "radiating bodies are cooled
first," and "being cooled they sink to the ground
and glide down to the lowest place they can find."
Now, I presume the fact is, that the heat or caloric
in the air rises in a still time, as is common at night,
and thus produces the cold in the valley ; for cold
is the negative of heat and is not positive as heat
is, and if this using of caloric is continued long
enough frost will ensue. He further says, in rela-
tion to thawing, "the rays of the sun strike the
bottom of that basin warms the ground first, and
then the lowermost strata of air, &c. " This is not
strictly true, for many times the ground is covered
with grass or other matters — and the rays of the
sun striking the crystals of frost dissolves them
first while those in the shade will not dissolve until
the sun shines on them or they melt by the heated
air. This takes place often when the earth is not
heated at all, being covered up, but is done by the
direct rays of the sun. He also speaks of the set-
tling down of the colder air of the higher grounds
into the lower grounds, but I coneieve the true fact
is the rising of the caloric from the lower parts
gives protection to the higher grounds. There was
a remarkable illustration of this view here some 30
years ago. Just after the leaves of the forest trees
had attained their full size and were very tender,
we had here, three nights in succession, frost severe
enough to make ice on pools of the thickness of
window glass, the consequence was that fruit was
killed, and even the leaves of forest trees in low
£ituations suffered. Near Alexandria, Va., a
broad valley opens up from the river with branches
into the hills on either side, passing along the road
that crossed one of the three branches was a plain
instance of the foregoing theory. At a particular
height was the division between the green leaves

and the killed leaves on the trees ; below this all
were killed and above it they were not.

This height was as level as water, up the hollow
the height reached the ground as the bottom of the
valley rose, but downward it reached higher up the
hill, the leaves on the lower branch of trees stand-
ing a little below the line were killed, while those
on the upper limbs were not, plainly showing that
degree of cold sufficient to kill the leaves, reached
only to a certain level. Experiments have been
made here by placing two thermometers in diffe-
j rent elevations, say about fifty feet, one above the
other, and in summer mornings there would often
be as much as six degrees difference, the upper one
that much higher. A few degrees difference this
way explains why it is that orchards in low grounds
suffer from frost, while those on higher grounds do
not ; for four degrees below the freezing point
would do injury, while two degrees above would be
harmless.

It would seem to be quite as reasonable to sup-
pose that heat belongs to the earth and is kept
there, as to suppose that all the heat in the air is
drawn from the sun, and that most of it again flies
off into space. Why may not the rays of light in
passing through the air carry down with them a
portion of the heat in the air, as the two substances
(if substances they can be called) are so similar in
many of these manifestations. Convex glasses
concentrate light to a focus, and thus manifest
heat ; while the prism decomposes light and shows
heat only in the red rays. May it not be the fact,
that heat only is reflected at the same angle that
the red rays are, and not at the angle of other
colors ?

There is one tiling in connection with air, and
what it contains that would be well to consider. The
laws that govern other fluids do not govern air.
Other fluids, as water for instance, will not mix
with those of different densities, but will settle one
above the other. Oil we know will always flow on
top of water, and so of other things, if heavier
they will sink, if lighter float. But the three gases
that make up the air are of different densities, yet
in thin mixture they are alway and in all places,
whether high or low, in the same proportion, and
float equally alike. It holds water, that is a much
heavier fluid, as it were in solution, and may it not
hold heat without its flying off into space. I think
it will be found that there is always, particularly
in still time, a warm stratum a little above the earth
with colder above, and that at such times the mer-
cuiy fjxlls lower than in windy weather, when all is
mixed together.

106

Uti dsardtiur's ^ont^k

GRAPE GROWING IN KANSAS.
BY A. M. BURNS, MANHATTAN, KANSAS.

I find, through letters hy mail, that many of your
eastern peoi)le are anxious to learn how the grajie
succeeds in our locality. Our goograiihical ]iosi-
tion is peculiar, half way between the Atlantic and
Pacific Oceans, as well as mid-way north and south.
Those desiring information about the temperature
for ripening grapes are referred to the reports of
the Department of Agriculture for lS(i3, where
they will find, that of ninety-seven localities rei)or-
ted from the loyal States, that we have a higher
temperature for ripening any or all of the native
grapes than any other part, and that it is great
enough to ripen the most tender foreign wine
grapes. I can hardly realize the fact that the re-
port from our county shows we have the best region
of any loyal State in the Union, and that 1 60 acres
of good grape land can be procured under the
Homestead Law, by residing on it for five years.

I have fruited the Concord, Diana, Delaware,
Isabella, Catawba and Clinton four years, and con-
sider them suited to our climate. Although some
of my vines are nine years old, I have a great many
varieties too j'oung to produce grapes. I planted
about fifty varieties last spring, which, with those
planted in 1864, will not bear fruit for two or three
years yet. I expect to fruit twenty or more varie-
ties next year. The first grapes I had was in 1859,
and more or less every year since, — during these
years I have not seen a single bunch or berry dis-
eased, yet the mildew is within one hundred and
ten miles of us, on the Mi.ssouri River, but we are
free from the atmospheric humidity that visits
other regions, which may account for it. I have
had some yellow leaves on yearling vines, propagated
from green wood, yet the second year they sent
forth healthy verdant foliage. From my reading,
and the little experience I have hail with the grape,
I am satisfied that the bluffs of this region are the
homes of the different varieties of grapes, not even
excepting California, which boasts that the cast
will be supplied with the best wines as .soon as the
Pacific Railroad, which will pa.ss through our city,
(they are at work now and the cars will be here in
spring,) is completed. Let me say to our California
friends that the reports show that our temperature,
at the right season of the year, is better than
theirs, although our mode of culture may have to
be different. We are in about the right position
for N., S., E. and Western grapes. I believe that
any grape that will stand the hot days of summer
can be successfully grown here ; in fact the eastern
people don't know what a real "out-door" ripened

grape is; some of them appear astonished when I
tell them the Concord, Clinton and other grapes
are very excellent here. Even the great William
Saunders, in a derisory way, said, " I suppose your
climate will not change a Turnip into a Pine-apple. "
All I can do is to refer thoni to the article of J. S.
Lipi)incott, Esq., pages 494—496, of Agricultural
Report for 1863, if that is not sufficient they must
come here and judge for themselves, then they will
believe.

I am anxious to test every native grape, and
would be thankful to every grape-grower to send
me their grape catalogues, it would facilitate me in
making my collection. I would be glad to test any
new seedling not for sale, giving a pledge not to
distribute any wood, and make its merits known.

RECOLLECTIONS AND REMINISCENCES
OF PEARS, NO. 2.

BY W. HEAVER, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

My last had reference to Pears in the London
market, about the year 1825 ; in the present article
I shall confine myself to recollections of the Pear
about Cincinnati for some 30 years back. About
the period named, the late Capt. Brigham, for-
merly of Boston, and afterwards President of the
Cincinnati Horticultural Society, imported from
France a large (or what was then so esteemed)
variety of Pears, embracing among other whose
names are still well known, were also the following
which are not found in the catalogues of the pre-
sent day: Bezi Conchatan, Beurre la Devore,
Beurre Angleterre de Noisette, Beurre Angloterre,
Beurre Spence, Colmar, (this variety was introdu-
ced with highly landatory character, it was after-
wards questioned or doubted whether we ever had
the genuine, I have yet never seen the fruit;)
Catillac, (now called Pound Pear,) Bourgo Meister,
(now Beurre DieI,J Holland licrgamott, Prince
du Printemps, Russet Girs, Sagret. I have fruited
the majority of the foregoing, most of them are
worthless or cooking winter fruit.

About the year '36 the late A. H. Ernst, com-
menced making collections, and to the time of his
death paid great attention to the cultivation of the
Pear, yet so little was really known about them
that in '54 or '5, on .some specimens of Onondaga
being .sent to the Horticultural Society from West-
ern New York, without name, they were pronoun-
ced Bartletts, the difference in their season being
attributed to their place of growth. For many
years it was considered that our soils or climate
was not adapted to the Pear, owing to the preva-

.^>r

-c^^

Clje #m-btncr'8 ilantljlu.

lence of blight (Fire blight or frozen sap-blight, as
it is variously called, and for which as many reme-
dies have been recommended as in the case of the
curculio,) with an experience of twenty-five j'^ears
in the growing and cultivating of the Pear, I can
positively say I have found them to bear and pro-
duce more regularly and certainly than any other
fruits, and the supply in our markets is increasing
with every successive year, both in quantity and
variety. Twenty years ago it was a rarity to see
Pears exposed for sale in our market, except an
occasional bushel of the Pound, the White Doyenne
or the Summer Bon Chretien ; now we have Pears
fully six months in the year, although they are still
in limited quantities, except in the late Summer or
early Fall, when so many fine varieties ripen about
the same time.

One of the most popular Summer Pears, with
us, is known as Mear's Summer Butter, or, accord-
ing to Elliott, the Summer Butter of Cincinnati ;
its true or original name is still a matter of doubt,
and uncertainty with Pomologists, it is believed to
have been introduced into this vicinity by Silas
Wharton or Worton, a nurseryman from New Jer-
sey, a member of the Society of Friends, and one
to whom this section of the country is largely in-
debted for the early introduction of many of our
best varieties of fruits. I have no record of the
date of his first settlement in Ohio, or the time of
his death, but certain it is that we owe him a debt
of gratitude for the dissemination amongst us of
many of our finest Apples and Pears of the present
day.

Experience is fast removing the unfounded pre-
judice of past years as to the unfitness of this re-
gion to the growth of the Pear, and the demand
for Pear trees is increasing every year ; whilst time
and opportunity is fast improving our knowledge of
the pleasures and profits attending the cultivation
of this fine species of fruit.

I am not acquainted with any species of fruit
that possesses such a diversity of character in
quality, color, form, or appearance, as the Pear; it
may take an enthusiast to realize that full enjoy-
ment or measure of pleasurable interest which the
tending, cultivating and watching, and discussing
all the variable points of character exhibited by
this fruit, and if so, Mr. Editor, I am content for
you to class the writer in the category of Enthu-
siasts, for certainly I experience no greater pleasure
in any pursuit than when discussing the merits of
my favorites with some intelligent or experienced
Brother Pomologist.

GROWING GRAPE-VINES FOR VINEYARD
PLANTING.

BY CHARLES GRUNEBERG.

There is a good deal written about the cultivation
of Grrape-vines for the above purpose in various
periodicals. The vague manner in which the sub-
ject has been treated has prevented young growers
from profiting by their reading. One writer directs
or rather suggests that Grape-vines should be en-
tirely and individually cultivated in pots to ensure
strong growth ; and another even goes so far as to
recommend the use of exciting composts, and still
more exciting liquid manures, which is like making
a short cut at the edge of a precipice ; all this is
very good and may be over done, but so long as the
vulgar notion prevails, that size is the criterion of
a good vine, fit for planting out, and so long as the
nurseryman has to use every means to produce
artificially and apparently strong grown vines, so
long will the vineyards be supplied with a stock,
which sooner or later will prove the fatal effect of
nursing Grape-vines into large size the first year.

The Grape grower should study the after treat-
ment the vine requires, and begin its cultivation
accordingly, from its infancy, and not place it in
a narrow compass, in which the naturally spread-
ing roots of the Grape-vine must be confined,
and through which process an unnatural dry-
ness is occasioned, which can only be prevented by
saturating the plants in pots with water. It is
like confining a young healthy youth to a straight-
jacket ; besides, measure only the surface of a 4, 5,
or 6 inch pot, and one will find a great surface ex-
posed to the heat and dry atmosphere of a hot
summer's day, which must effect the roots; many
in order to avoid this exposure plunge their pots,
and then the evil is worse, the plants rooting
through.

I have visited many of the first vineyards in
Italy, Styria, Cretia, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary,
Germany and France, but I never have seen one of
the millions, nay billions, of Grape-vines grown in
a pot, which have supplied these thousands of
acres of vines ; nor have I seen any means used to
obtain that strong growth so much desired and
spoken of in pot culture ; and still there they are
from generation to generation, without being pre-
viously grown in pots.

Even during my stay at Cincinnati, in this coun-
try, during two years, I have seen the Grape (espe-
cially the Catawba) cultivated on a rather large
scale, but not any cultivated in pots for vineyard
planting.

103

WM ^ardracr's ^onthlg.

It is an easy task to grow Grape-vines for show
of size, but they are like the countryman's wagon
mnde "to sell."

If any one ought to know any thing about the
subject, I ought to, for I have fond inclination and
love for it, devoted my whole lifetime to this busi-
ness, and worked in it in the leading establishments
of the world practically, and therefore think I have
a right to speak candidly, and in the interest of the
promoters of Horticulture. I have learned through
experience how to produce good healthy, .stocky
plants, to give every satisfaction to the cultivator
and also a i-easonable profit to the grower, and to
enable the vinej-ard proprietor, who intends culti-
vating largely, to procure his supply to advantage.

One can easily conceive the impossibility and
impracticability of growing vines in pots, when
the demand in the American market, at the pre-
sent day, exceeds the supply by hundreds of thou-
sands.

I am at this present moment engaged in growing
for the coming autumn rather more than 200,000
Grape-vines, the larger quantities consisting of Con-
cord, Delaware, Hartford Prolific, Rebecca, Diana,
Catawba and also a considerable number of lona,
Maxatawney, Adirondac, etc., for the sole purpose
of vineyard planting, and I can pride myself, with
good conscience, that the plants produced by me,
for that purpose, shall be second to none.

My method is simple and practical, ray vine eyes
are already struck, and most of them planted to
ensure a long sea.son for their development without
forcing them to monsters.

Any one wishing to see my operations is kindly
invited ; or if desired, and I am permitted, I will,
in a future number, detail my method for growing
Grape-vines for vineyard planting in this country.

[With a superabundance of strong cuttings and
a favorable climate, it will be readily understood
that Europeans will be able to raise all their young
plants entirely in the open air. As we understand
the argument of the pot-men, it is mainly that if a
little bottom heat, potting, sand-boxes, forcing-
houses or glass-frames of any kind is so good for
eyes early in spring, instead of putting them at once
in the open air as they do in Europe, — why may
not a little longer than some persons advocate, be
also good ? If Mr. Gruneberg means that he raises
his grapes from the first, entirely in the open air,
from eyes, as they do in Europe from cuttings ; and
the vines as good as by any artificial aid, his plan
will be a great boon to Grape growers.]

ORNAMENTAL PLANTING OF GROUNDS.

BY C. U. MILLER, CfERJLA.NTOWN, PA.

Read be/ore Pa. Hort. Society, March 6th, 1806.

Gardening as an art, has flourished in all coun-
tries and in all ages; and has possessed in all times
such distinctive features as the climate, the nature
of the soil, or the physical formation of its surface,
as well as the character of the people have created.
In the several branches of gardening, art is chiefly
cmploj'ed in the cultivation of })lauts, fruits and
vegetables, with a view to obtain their product ;
but in the branch now under consideration art is
exercised in disposing of ground, building and
water, as well as the vegetating materials which
enter into the composition of verdant landscajjc.

This is what is called landscape gardening or the
art of creating or improving landscapes ; and land-
scape gardening, as actually practised, may be de-
fined as the art of arranging the different parts that
enter into and compose the external scenery of a
country residence, so as to produce the diff"erent
beauties and conveniences of which that scene of
domestic life is susceptible, what the beauties and
convienences are must of course greatly depend on
the locality, climate and taste of the individual.

This art would be, and is a very simple one in
new countries or settlements, where men have few
wants, and scarcely any desire for refined enjoy-
ments, but like all other arts, would become more
elaborate as mankind became wealthy and more re-
fined in taste and manners.

Taking a glance at the past and present state of
landscape gardening in all countries, we see that
the objects desired in the country residence of the
wealthy who wish to display their taste and wealth,
are fundamentally the same. These were and are
adaptations to the habits of more gentle life ; as to
matters of use and convienences for the time being,
and in general a distinctive character from the
common scenery of the country in matters of taste
and beauty. Thus the first aim would principally
be directed to the mansion and surrounding build-
ings, and these would at first be merely of greater
dimensions than those of the common people ; but
as society improved, this would be distinguished
by the greater taste and more perfect execution in-
cident to the habits and character of more genteel
life. The second object distinctive in the surround-
ing scenery, was and is affected by such dispositions
of the common materials of the landscape, as
ground, water, trees, etc., as indicate the employ-
ments of art and labor. In the first stage of the
art, this would produce regular level or sloping

^

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^^

C^^ §arbnur's IHontjjIj.

grades and surfaces of grounds, water and trees
bounded by straight and geometrical lines, would
distinguish the country residence from the more
natural-like scenery of the surrounding country.
This has often been condemned by men who advo-
cate a wilder style as unnatural and absurd ; and so
it is if we look upon it merely as an imitation of
nature ; but as it never aspired to this, but oh the
contrary, is avowedlj' a display of the power of art
over nature, it ought to be judged like any other
work of man by the end in view, and be considered
as designed to distinguish the garden scenery of the
man of taste and means from the common unim-
proved scenery of the surrounding country.

Since the introduction of the modern, or as it is
termed, natural style of gardening it has been the
common practice of some to condemn indiscrimi-
nately any other mode as unnatural and absurd.
Now, if the modern or natural style be considered
as merely planting and dotting trees, shrubs, &c.,
indiscriminately over the whole surface of the park
or enclosure, as has been in many cases adopted
here, to the manifest injury of gardening as an art,
I must confess I fail to appreciate the natural sys-
tem, and would fain look on nature in another form.

Gardening as an art is destined to create scenes
in which both beauty and utility are combined, ad-
mitting, therefore, that both styles are alike con-
vienent and disapproving therefore, of absolute
preference of the modern or natural style to the
total exclusion of all others. 1 have in many cases
successfully appropriated, or rather adopted, in my
practice, a mixed or transitional style, combining
the uniform formality of the one sj'stem with the
freedom and natural grace of the other, at once
showing the effect of art and design in the improve-
ment of nature.

The expression of design is displayed by such
forms and dispositions as shall at once point out
that they are works of art, thus regularity and uni-
formity are always pleasantly recognized in the
rudest works of man, and point out his employment
of art and expense in their construction.

Thus the lines, surfaces or forms of geometrical
gardening should be different, and in some way op-
posed to those of general nature. Irregular lines,
surface, or forms, are alike equally useful works of
art, and considered with reference to other beauties
may be more agreeable than such as are more regu-
lar, but if too prevalent they might be mistaken
for the production of nature, in which case they
would loose the beauty and expression of design,
but form perfectly regular and uniform, immediate-
ly excite the belief of art and design, and this be-

lief creates the admiration which follows the em-
ploj'ment of skill and expense.

Ground laid out in regular slopes, or in hills or
dells of symmetrical shapes; plantations of straight
line boundaries ; trees planted equidistant in masses
or in straight rows ; water in architectural basins,
regular lakes and fountains ; walks and roads of
uniform width and perfectly straight ; handsome
walls and their hedges, are all easily distinguished
from nature's management of those materials and
highly expressive of the hand and art of man.

The ambition and aim of the landscape gardener
should mainly be directed in uniting utility and
convienence with beauty, no design, however beau-
tiful, will compensate for entire want of utility in
any scene of architecture or gardening : objects at
first sight thought beautiful, soon lose the expres-
sion of design when found to be useless and incon-
venient. To unite different kinds of beauty to
dignify ornamental forms by use, and to raise mere-
ly useful forms into beauty, is the great object and
science of landscai^e gardening.

Some of the various forms and modifications of
utility and convenience blended with beauty and
expression of design as applied to the improve-
ment of country residences may here be enume-
rated.

The dwelling and offices first demand attention,
as the centre figure of art and design. In selection
of situation a great variety of circumstances, sonje
of a general and others of a local nature, require
to be taken into consideration, for example, good
air and water, a genial climate, fertile soil, cheerful
prospects, and, which is all important, a suitable
neighborhood ; the shapes of the ground near the
house, the views from the several apartments, and
the character of the surrounding scenery than can
be appropriated. The art of appropriation is a
very important one in creating landscapes, or such
an arrangement as shall either in reality or appear-
ance render all or the greater part of what can be
seen from a countiy seat to have a real or apparent
connection with the principal. The simplest way
of effecting this is by planting out all objects that
do not correspond with the idea of appropriating
and harmonizing the scenery, by adopting some of
the forms, colors and arrangements which appear
in those of the neighborhood situated in the sur-
rounding country, and as seen from the dwelling
and other prominent points of view.

The line of sight from the principal rooms should,
if possible, traverse the whole extent of the park
or enclosure in the direction of the most prominent
objects of interest. The outline of the planting or

m^^

110

©^e hardener's Jtlont^lg.

belting should be of that character that would at
once stamp it as belonging to the place, and not to
that of a neighbor; a view from a dwelling, situa-
ted near a neighbor's improved grounds, or from a
public sqiftire or park, is to say the least of it cheer-
f j1 and beautiful ; but it wants the appropriation,
it wants that interest, that charm that belongs to
ownership, the exclusive right of enjojmciit with
the power of imparting or refusing that pleasure
to others.

Ornamental planting of trees, as a material, enter
largely into the operation of landscape gardening ;
and here I will take the opportunity to say that
the verj' grevious error, and much to be lamented
system adopted by some persons in this country, is
the method of planting or dotting in a confused
manner over the whole surface of the lawn, in the
immediate proximity of the dwelling, all kinds of
trees that come to hand ; shade is their only and
grand idea in planting, ignoring altogether the fact
that too much shade imparts a gloomy and melan-
choly feeling about the place, almost intolerable in
damp weather ; this mistake has been brought
about, I have no doubt, by a futile effort on the
part of the operator, to carry out a strictly natural
system — at once losing sight of all idea of appro-
priation, artistic design or arrangement. This un-
scientific way of planting trees close to the house
defeats the great object designed in the comforts of
a country home, namely, that of shade with a free
circulation of air and wholesome sunshine, which
is so necessary to our whole existence, by leaving
open spaces or plots of grass in the arrangement
formed by planting intersecting groups of trees at
a distance where their shadows fall on each other,
a free circulation of air could be facilitated from
all points of the compass. Those groups should
mainly consist of deciduous trees such as Maples,
Lindens, Chestnuts, Magnolias and others that
make good .-hade ; tall Evergreens, such as Norway
Firs, Scotch and Weymouth Pines arc too large,
and should ho .'jparingly used near the dwelling, as
they ob.struct the view of the lawn, effect stagna-
tion of air and completely shutting out the cheerful
rays of the sun .so desirable to health and comfort.
Moreover, the effect produced by planting tall
Evergreens in close connection with the house has
the effect of neutralizing the appearance of the
mansion as the principal feature, giving a low
squatty inferior look ; as the trees increase in height
and size, this defect is especially noticeable in flat
surfaces, and in such .situations the sf)ace3 on open
grass plots should be roomy and the glades wide
and sunny.

In relation to the material employed in landscape
gardening generally, there are none more neglected
and misunderstood than the skillful management of
Ornamental trees, in the difference of their relative
uses, as to use and ornament, or in bringing out
their value as to form and color. The designer or
operator should thoroughly understand his business
in detail, and be competent to so arrange his ma-
terials in a way to prevent such a confusion in
arrangement one so often meets with, and which is
so often justly complained of A few tall growing
Evergreen trees di.'^tributed here and there in groups
around single specimens, about the park will have
a fine effect. They should also form the principal
masses for screening the ofiices and vegetable gar-
den, and other less sightly objects. They also form
good shelter, and should be liberally used on the
north and east side of the dwelling and other build-
ings that require shelter and protection, — but I am
disposed to think that in the park and pleasure-
ground the large Pines and Firs should not be plan-
ted in separate groups or used as a screen along the
boundary lines, without a judicious mixture or
blending of Deciduous trees. Evergreens, even in
winter, are lightened up and set off to an advantage
by intermingling of trees of a different character.

In Summer and Autumn the harmonizing effects
of the mingling are even more striking. In fact,
one cannot conceive any thing more grand, more
varied, or more beautiful than a diversified planta-
tion of trees and shrub.s — during the Autumn
months. Take for instance, the side or breast of
one of our fine woodlands, where the Evergreen
or Deciduous trees of great variety and luxuriant
growth, commingle in one broad bank of parti-
colored verdure — ^what delicate tints wave and lift
their perpetual changes from the deep green of the
Hemlock Spruce to the .silvery tints of the White
Mai)le, Poplars, Beeches — and when the frost of
Autumn has mellowed and toned their foliage, what
can compare with the beautiful golden orange and
lemon tints of the Sugar and Norway Maples, the
fiery brilliancy of the Gum and Dogwood and many
other of our Deciduous trees when relieved with
the unchanging hue of Evergreens, Water, as a
material in landscape gardening, is so captivating
and interesting, .so varied in the composition of
natural and artificial scenery the temptation to
achieve something grand on the part of the opera-
tor is almost irresistible, and the many failures so
often met with, almost excusable.

The general impression, that no view in land.scape
scenery can be considered perfect without this fea-
ture, I think is about correct ; and this prevalent

'jr<E

idea has often induced persons to imitate lakes,
ponds, &c. , on so small a scale that borders on the
ridiculous,— lakes and ponds are the most beautiful
forms in which water can be displayed in the park
of a country residence, and should be some distance
from, and considerably below, the level of the line
of sight from the house.

They should never be introduced where there is
not a sufficient quantity of running water at all times
to maintain an overflow, for nothing can be more
unpleasant than a green, slimy, stagnant pool ; as
nothing is more delightful and beautiful than pure,
clear, limped water. But, however beautiful and
grand is the effect of water in the landscape, it
greatly depends on trees as an accompaniment.
The variety and intricacy of outline, the reflection
of forms, and the shadowy recesses, and stay lines
of light all depend on trees planted along and around
the margin. Water, as a material, generally forms
a part in the ancient or geometrical style of gar-
dening— waterfalls, cascades and fountains are most
charming and elegant decorations for the pleasure-
ground ; but fountains of a highly artificial charac-
ter are happily situated only when in connection
with buildings or ornamental and architectural
forms ; a single fountain in the centre of the flower
garden, or in the neighborhood of a terrace walk is
an appropriate place for it, there the spring drain-
ing and spreading in the sunlight or a summer's
evening is an agreeable feature in the scene, as seen
from the windows of the principal rooms.

In the landscape gardening the term residence
denotes not only dwelling but the whole place occu-
pied by the proprietor, and employed by him for
domestic use. The term villa is applied to places
of considerable variety in dimension from the house
with a small plot of ground attached, to one sur-
rounded with several acres of pleasure-ground and
park. The park villa is generally considered to be
an enclosure of seven to ten acres, with one-half or
two-thirds taken up with the pasture land, ar-
ranged in one or two small lots, and the remainder
by the house, offices, gardens, lawns, &c. In this
way the whole should be planted and arranged so
as to present a perfect representation of a park and
pleasure-ground on a large scale. The pasture field
should be planted with intersecting groups of trees
for shade and effect, and to impart a park-like ap-
pearance, it should be divided from the lawn with
light iron fences or light iron hurdles, which are
better adapted for such purposes than the common
wooden fences, wails or hedges.

A curtain or belting of trees should encircle the
lines of the enclosure so as to screen the boundary

fences which are too conspicuous. It sometimes
happens, however, that the extreme verge of the
park may seem to pass imperceptibly and har-
monizingly into the adjoining property, and if no
unsightly objects require planting out, the view may
thus be deepened. The lawn or dressed ground
should be between the house and the park, and
should be laid out and arranged so as the one should
appear to be a continuation of the other.

Abrupt terminations, however, are often unavoida-
ble as in examples of small villas, where the owner
having but a small plot and no control beyond his
boundary fences, all that can be done, therefore, in
such cases is to create as much beauty and interest
as possible within the given limits. Where one
villa joins another this abruptness is in some mea-
sure lessened and seldom felt as a deformity, though
connection and general harmony with the outside,
will add interest and beauty to what is within.

Far behind as we are in Horticultural attainments
compared with the people of England and Western
Europe, where so much wealth and patronage
abounds, we are modestly and hopefully, according
to our opportunities, diligently following in the
track which may lead to matured excellence in this
interesting and delightful science and art. When
through the execution and taste of individuals and
the efforts of our Horticultural Societies, we are
still aiming to accomplish that perfection so delight-
ful to an enlightened community.

NOTE ON THE BROWN THRUSH.

BY "a boy reader."

Mr. Editor ; In looking over the Gardener s
Monthly for Dec, I noticed some statements from
Mr. J. P. Norris' article on "Familiar Birds" at
variance with my own observation in this region. Of
the Brown Thrush he says, that it usually builds
its nest in hedges or on shrubbery. This is in ac-
cordance with Wilson. I have been a close ob-
server of its habits in this region for years, and I
have never found a nest of the Brown Thrush any
where but in a brush heap, or on the ground.

Of its food, he says, it consists entirely of insects
and seeds, but it never disturbs fruit. In this lo-
cality it is one of our most greedy fruit devourers.
I love it for its glorious song, as it sits perched on
the topmost bough of some tall tree, and therefore
cultivate its friendship ; but it is trying to have it
eat our choicest cherries, raspberries and Lawtons ;
even the strawberries do not escape his keen vision.
Wilson says he feeds on berries, as well as insects
and worms, still we should not grudge him the
fruit he eats, when he destroys so many of the
worst enemies of the farmer and gardener ; my ob-
servation agrees with Wilson in regard to its eggs,
which are five in number.

c<^'

io<

m

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v^C-

f

112

oLlu (Sartener's Hlonthb.

\n

C(je ^arhucr's Moiitljln.

0 'o

PHILADELPHIA, APRIL, 1866.

'P;:^ All Ci-raniiinications for the EJitor should be addressed,
"TnoMAs Mef.han, Gormantowu, Philadelphia," and Business Let.
ters directed to "'W. G. P. Briscklok, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes 1,1^1; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, unbound, $2 each.

NURSERYMEN AND THEIR CUSTOMERS.

WlieiiL'ver one atteiiii)ts to write on a jiorsonal
subject, he is sure to get into hot water. We have
been scalded several times. One supposes we are
"hitting at him;" another concludes we mean
something else than what we say; and another
cla.ss, of which there are alwaj-s some in every com-
munity, assume from the start that j'ou are " op-
posed to their interest,"' and see a good chance for
a glorious fight. Mr. Downing and many of the
most delightful writers and best wishers to our
cause, have hesitated to point out evils that may
have existed in the profession, through a di.>r-inclina-
tion to jirovoke enmity from these several quarters.
We arc not ourselves amongst those who "love to
be despi.sed," but we do think it our duty to prune
away any rotten branches that may, from time to
time, appear on the horticultural tree, without
being frightened at the crashing noise they make
as tliey fall. i

Our article on Gardening and Gardeners has
received strong and marked attention throughout
the United States, and will be the means — subject
to the drawbacks above noted — of our receiving the
thanks of hundreds of employers who are embar-
ras-s^ed by pretenders and mountebanks, and by the
good gardeners whom these ignoramuses disgrace.
We hope to see the time when good gardeners will
be appreciated — when they will be paid as well as
they are appreciated ; and that they will study, by
the energetic love and pursuit of their profession,
so to thoroughly understand it as to merit the
appreciation they deserve. This subject we think
we exhausted at the time, and we now propose, in
the same candid spirit, to say a few words on some
of the complaints made between Nurserymen and
their cuslorners.

We are in receipt of letters on this as on the
other branch of the subject, some of them taking
the form of communications ; but as it is one we do
not care to see the pages of our journal employed

in debating, we decide, as we did before, to insert
no articles of this kind, but to say a few words our-
selves, and there let the matter rest on the well-
favored maxim that a word to the wise is sufficient,
while any amount will be lost on those who are not.
A few will, no doubt, abuse us, but if we feel the
cause will be the better, we do not mind. One
letter says the writer ordered " 10 Ott, 10 Cauan-
daigua, and 10 Winter Nelis pears, amongst many
others named; and had sent him 10 Bartlett, 10
Seckel, and 10 Lawrence pears, the nurseryman
assuring him that they were "quite as good as
those he had named;" "which," says our corre-
spondent, "might be all true, but I already had
the others, and wanted the ones I named. On
complaining, I received a' bill-head on which was
printed in veiy small letters, ^^ Vnless other icise in-
structed with the order ^ we consider ourselves author-
ized to substitute other varieties tchen out of those
desired.^' And he asks " Is this honorable?" We
think not.
Another writes : "I ordered a lot of plants from

& Co. I heard nothing that they received

the order. Two months after [ received a lot of
plants, not one-fourth of the number I ordered, and
three-fourths of these what I did not order, al-
though I ordered the day after receiving a new
catalogue. I got no advice of shipment, nor any
invoice to compare with the plants till long after-
wards."

Another says : " Mr. is very much lauded by

certain horticultural editors as a garden architect.
My house cost me a heavy sum, and is an entire
failure. I hardly know which to censure most — the
papers which praise what they know nothing of, or
he who undertakes whereof he is ignorant ; but as
a victim entitled to grumble, may I not ask, should
not such things be exposed as a warning to others?"
Still another says, " Tn sending remittances to
nurserymen, I frequently receive no reccii)ts with-
out having to write again for them, and at other
times receive them without stamps attached. I
could affix the stamps myself, to be sure, but as the
law requires the signer of the receipt to cancel the
stamps with his initials, my stamping them is of no
use. It looks mean to comjilain, and yet seems
mean in the nurseryman to neglect compliance with
the law for the ?ake of saving two cents. AVould it
not be as well for you to give a hint as to what the
law requires."

These ha])pen to be all the grievances we have
just now on hand, but we could name scores of
others which we have had during the past, and
many others which we have had by word of mouth

I 1

I .

many and many a time.

We ihink precisely the same line of argument
may be adopted here, as we employed in the article
referred to. There are "shams" among business
men as well as among gardeners. A botch tailor
mvLy make a sorry garment out of a good piece of
cloth, as well as a botch architect spoil what might
have been a good conservatory, — and the man who
sends you an elephant when you merely ordered a
horse, is no better than the one who sends you a
Seckel when j'ou desired an Ott. These sort of
things are found in all professions, — and the only
remedy we know is to do as we would do with our
tailor — try to find out those which are prompt and
punctual, have good business habits, and have the
iiiieiiigeuue to know your wants and energy to sup-
ply them. Nurseryman, like gardeners, will find it
to their interest to study their profession thoroughly.
He who knows the most, and has the best business
habits, will be found most likely to " win."

So much for the customers— and now a word for
the nurseryman.

Many start with the idea that "there are more
rogues than honest men in the busiiiess,"and when
a mistake occurs, as in such a very intricate busi-
ness must occur at times, it is at once attributed to
the " rascality of the profession." A man basin
his catalogue a plant which is veiy rarely called for —
he has perhaps but half a dozen specimens which
he supposes may meet the demand for as many
years — all at once, by some chance, they all go, and
the next applicant considers his catalogue a fraud
and a swindle. Not knowing the 1 alf of his cus-
tomers personally, he is much more often the victim
of swindlers than customers are victimized by him.
A very common dodge is some thing like that of
one, something like which we have recently had our

attention called to. "To , Chester Co , Pa.

Send us thousand grapes at , and collect

on delivery. , St. Clair Co., 111." They are

sent. Then comes: "Gentlemen, the boxes were
so rotten they broke to pieces. The grapes will
most probably many die. Please direct that the
box be delivered to us, and for what live, of course,
we shall pay you for." Instead of this, the box is
ordered returned to the shipper, and found all right,
and everything in good order ; an expense, to be
sure, but yet less than the losses thousands suffer
every year.

He sends things to some customers who complain
of such "stunted looking squabby things;" and to
others, who rebuke him for such tall "whip
switches." One hates the "miserable cutting;"
the other the "old stunted plant." The seeds

which were sown too deep, or too shallow, or too
early, or too late, or were too wet and rotted in the
ground, or too dry to sprout at all, were "very
bad;" just as often, probably, as the really old
seeds sold by some sharp dealer rotted because the
"customer did not know how to manage them."

There are real causes of complaint on both sides,
and many imaginary ones. We have endeavored
to point them out in a spirit of " charity towards
all and malice towards none." Many are the re-
sults of haste, thoughtlessness, and want of system
which consideration and intelligence would remedy;
and others could be avoided by dealing cautiously
with ignorant or stranger customers or nurserymen.

EVERGREEN SHRUBS.

The past winter has not been very injurious to
coniferous trees and shrubs, but the few bro;)d-
leaved Evergreens we have, suffered terribly. Most
of the Euonymus japonica have been cut to the
ground, but they grow so readily, and can be raised
so cheaply, and do so beautifully in partial shade
three j-ears, at least, out of four, that this Winter's
trial will not ruin its reputation forever.

Evergreen shrubs are a great want with us, yet
those we have are not appreciated. The Mahonia^
though suffering always a little, gets through tole-
rably well. There are two good things, however,
which are almost neglected. One, the Whi'fe-bern'ed
Pt/racantha, is quite hardy, which the common one
is not, and which makes a compact bushy growth,
which the common one is not either. It is one of
the most desirable hardy Evergreens we know.
Though not a shrub, as a hardy Evergreen the
Yucca filamentosa is particularly^ striking. Large
masses of it have an admirable Winter effect, and
its sweet waxen flowers — pure as the purest lily —
make it seem strange that we do not see lots of it
in every yard.

ORCHIDSOUS PLANTS.

We have often directed attention to these rare
and curious plants, and we are quite sure, if all our
readers could have seen the two beautiful specimens
of Dendrobium nobile exhibited by Mr. Wm. Joyce,
the excellent gardener to Mr. Baldwin, which were
exhibited before the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society at its February meeting, not one but would
want to have something of the kind, if any means
were at hand to manage or care for them. These
magnificent specimens were grown in 12-inch pots,
and the stems neatly tied to light stakes. On one

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114

Ch^ (SardciurV) dtlonljjln.

plant we counted 125 flowers, and on the other 110.
This variety is not of difficult culture, and any one
who has a greenhouse could nianaire it ; though, of
course, not one in a hundred would be able to pro-
duce such superb plants as what Mr. Joyce is able
to exhibit

EARLY FLOWERING AZALEAS.

There are some varieties of Azalea which have a
natural tendency to flower much earlier than others.
althouirh they may be grown all alike under the
same circumstances. Pas.^-ing through the green-
houses of Mr. Bui.st recently, we saw a very beauti-
ful white one that was in full bloom, while most of
the others did not appear to be near opening by
perhaps several weeks. It is worth while to mark
such varieties particularly, and we should be very
glad if Mr. Buist or others, who have large collec-
tions of Azaleas, will give us lists, with colors, of
these desirable early kinds.

a

t3=Coniinanications for this drpartment must reach the Editor
Dn or before •.he lOlh of the month.
!!3=^lie E<litor caoDot answer letters for thin dop.-irtment pri-

Tatcly.

The Madras Radish is one of the latest novel-
ties in the Engli.sh market. It is adverti.-ed— Price
in .sealed packages, tJaee seeds, half a guinea
($2.50). Seven seeds, one guinea ($5).

This has been "kicking about" over the United
States for the past twenty years. The pods are a
little more succulent than the common lladish, and
may be eaten as radi.shes or pickled as Na.-<turtiums.
Our people have never seemed to value it at 10 cts.
a i)ackct. It will be curious to see whether they
think more of it when introduced from England, as
it will, no doubt, be next year at a high figure.

AcKNOWLEDflMENT OF FlOWER SeEDS. — We
are indebted to Mr. Benjamin Dowling, Seedsman,
Market St., Philadelphia, for a lot of the rarer
kinds of flower seeds out this season. We take
every opportunity to learn everything that is going
on for the benefit of our readers, but with all we
are a])t to miss some. We are, therefore, obliged
when any of our friends kindly help us to see for
ourselves, at home, the things that are to be seen.

Fly on the Egg Plant. — A correspondent
says, dusting the plants with gj'psnm or plaster
drives away the insect and improves the growth of
the Egg plant.

Wintering Cabbage. — "An Orange County
sub.-^cribcr," N. Y., writes: " I came here first from
England last year, and got a place near New York,
where I saw for the first your Monthly, and have
subscribed to now. I do not quite hold with your
remarks on Gardeners, but yet would not stop your
paper for that, as your other subscribers will. But
let me say, I think, to do right, you should not
advise any interference at all with a jiroperly learn-
ed gardener, who understands his business, and who
has studied in the best places in the old world. To
show how this interference works, I may tell that
last Fall, when the time was come to save our cab-
bage for Winter, the boss laughed at the jtit I was
making for to save them, and bid me plant them
in the ground with their heads in and the roots
a sticking out. I thought at once he was running
me, but when I saw he was in earnest about such
a foolish idea, which he probably read in some
paper, I thought it my duty to stick out agninst
such absurd notions of dictation, and of course I
left. I think it is quite plain that when a gardener
knows his business, it is not fair to interfere with
him. For those who do not know, your remarks
should have the good will of all gardenens. "

[Our friend writes kindly, and we have, there-
fore, given him full space to be heard, merely cor-
recting the spelling for him. Why cannot objecors
always write in as good temper? Still we think his
instance an unfortunate one, and he had better not
"have left;" for without any "running ol' him,"
the plan he speaks of is as good a one to keep cab-
bages as to keep situations. ]

Grapes in Pots. — In order that the discussion
of this suliject may not extend far into the future,
we insert the following here, although rather later
in the month than we usually' p.ass to the printer
matter for this column : —

"Cleveland, 0., March 14, 18G6.

" Friend Median : Permit me to ask a few ques-
tions of your intelligent correspondent, Mr. Gerald
Howatt ; and as it is fashionable to cast a slur on
any one who has anything to sell, as if thereby
there was a jjrinui facid presumption against their
honesty, permit me to say I have not had half
enough vines for my customers, and that without
any advertisements. I have an axe to grind, how-
ever, for the benefit of my customers, that is, to
grind out the best vines I can for them. I hope I
may be honest in that. But I have no razor to
sharpen, for I do not believe in saying or doing
sharp things. 1st. Is there anything medicinal in

n

th« pot to promote the health of the vines? 2d.
Does the coiHng of their roots promote their health
and vigor? 3d, If the plants be placed the same
distance apart in the pots and in the border, why
should thoj' be better sunned and ventilated in the
pots than in the border? and why taller and more
stocky than the other under the same treatment?
Why should not ihe. freight be as much on the one
as the other? Cannot as much moist earth or moss
be put around the one as the other if the plant* are
equally heavy? I suppose, of course, you shake
out the pot earth and spread the roots before plant-
ing. Suppose the nurseryman should decline dig-
ging you one here and there, but require you to
wait, as I suppose any nurseryman would, until
they were all taken out with their roots whole,
could you not then select from the assorting table
as well as from the pots? What does 'echo an-
swer?' Presuming that it is as little labor to plant,
take care of, and dig fr m the pot as the border, do
both cost $44 per 100 to make the difference you
state? Were the borders you refer to under glass
or in the 'open air.' I presumed, from your refer-
ence to 'open air' in your first paragraph, that it
was out-door culture you are running a tilt against.
I have grown them in pots under glass and out in
the open ground, putting (hem out as soon as I feel
secure against frost, in rows 30 inches apart and 6
inches in the row, and cultivate them as I would
corn, pinching back in sea.son to ripen wood and
roots, and, with varieties not much subject to mil-
dew, I can make better plants, shorter jointed,
stronger, and heavier both in top and root, for they
will coH'espond usually, by fifty p^r cent., out doors
than any I have ever raised or seen raised in ordi-
nary pot culture. I can get all the roots too. If I
can get a plant with well-ripened wood that will
weigh four ounces instead of one grown in pot
weighing two ounces, 1 must beg leave to prefer it,
as I have no doubt Mr. Howatt or any other sensi-
ble man would.

" Yours very truly,

"Edward Taylor."

[It was our fault that Mr. Howatt' s reflection on
the motives of those who may have anything passed
into print. We are quite sure Mr. H. meant no
insinuations against any one, but we have never
permitted any one to impeach another's motives in
our pages ; and if we had supposed that the renuirk
might bear that construction, as we now see it
could, it would have been struck out.

We scarcely think the remarks of our correspon-
dent, Dr. Taylor, require any reply from Mr. How-
att. The case stands thus : Persons who, perhaps.

have very indifferent vines grown in greenhouse
borders, contended that they were much better than
good plants raised by others in pots. Mr. H. asked
in his way, as Dr. Taylor has in his, "whether
there was anything medicinal in the border more
than the pots," and "whether crowding the plants
in a border was better than giving them room in
pots?"

The open-air question is a sort of side issue, and
resolves itself into the form exactly which Dr. Taj'-
lor has put it. " If one can get a perfectly healthy
vine weighing four ounces instead of one not weigh-
ing two ounces," it will be preferred by any one
without inquiry whether it was raised in a pot or in
the open air. It is evident that superior healthy,
and in every way desirable plants can be raised in
pots, as also can they be in the open air — which
waj' is best depends on circumstances.

Dr. Taylor and IMr. Howatt do not differ so
much, we think, as they may appear to do at first
thought.]

Double Flowers. — A. 11. , Rochester, N. Y. —
Will you please inform me, through the Monthhj,
whether there can be any such a thing as a double
Dahlia, a double Zinnia, or any other double com-
posite flower, botanically speaking?

[The florist has two kinds of double flowers. One
as in the Rose, where the stamens are transformed
into petals; the other as in the plants our cor-
respondent refers to, where the petals or corolla are
considerably developed beyond their normal form.
In composite flowers like Dahlias and Zinnias, the
stamens are very seldom transformed as they are in
the Rose and other double flowers, but they are, no
doubt, sometimes. It is, at anj' rate, not impossi-
ble. It makes this difference, that where " double-
ness" is the result of transformation of stamens and
pistils, there can be no seed ; hut where, by a mere
extension of the corolla, it makes no difference to
its reproductive organs.]

Hawthorn as a Live Fence. — A Rockford
corresponden.t of the Canada Fartner finds the
Hawthorn to make a beautiful fence, but the borer
is so destructive on it that it must needs be aban-
doned in that part.

The Fungus on Black Knot, Dr. Fitch says,
is a species of fungus of the genus spharia. The
learned gentleman, however, does not decide, we
believe, whether the swelling is by a disease, and on
which the fungus afterwards grows; or whether it
is caused by the fungus.

116

Cl;c ©ardnur's JRonthI]].

^1 . — ■ ^

Wild Sage. — A. H., Rochester^ N. Y. — I see
in the February number, that u curre.-pondcnt a.^ks
what the plant is that is so abundant in our West-
ern country, that is there called Wild Sage, with
some account of its uses, etc. It is Salvia lyrata.

It is also called Meadow Sage, Cancer- weed,
Lyre-leaved Sage. The Salvia, as also the whole
order to which it belongs, is pervaded by an aro-
matic, volatile oil, and a bitter principle; the for-
mer rendering them eminently tonic, cordial, and
stomachic ; the latter, where it prevails, febrifugal.
None of the species are poisonous.

[We did not suppose our correspondent could
mean any Salvia, least of all aS'. lyrata. Since we
wrote that paragraph we note that Dr. Torrey, in
one of his works, sueaks of some of the western
Artimesiaa as "Wild Sage," and we suspect this
is the plant the lady refers to.

We are, nevertheless, obliged to our correspon-
dent for his suggestions. ]

Roots of Calypso bouealls. — If any of our
readers who have this native orchid growing near
them would send us a few roots, we should be very
much obliged.

CORRKCTION OF Mil. HkaVKR's AnXIOLK —

Which reads about Gaii.seU's IJerganiot, "the
Pear of Pears," should read '' tliiir Pear of
Pears. ' '

Ci'RioT's Sport in a Camellia. — Mr. Zimmer-
man, of Lancaster, writes: " I have now opening a
Camellia that I consider a curiosity. There are
three flowers growing out of one flower, making
four flowers on a single stem. The first is a regular
Camellia, out of which there is no other flower
growing ; and out of the second flower there are two
distinct flowers about half blown."

[This is a verj- curious and interesting case of
vegetable morphology.]

Average Age of a Dwarf Pear.— J. T. N.,
La Porte, Ind. — " lY^rmit me to a'^k you a question
through the columns of your valuable Monthly.
What is the average lifetime of a Dwarf Pear tree?
allowing that it is well and properly cultivated.
By a dwarf tree I mean one growing on Quince
stock. There is considerable diversity of opinion
amongst the members of our Horticultural Society
on this subject, but as we have no person amongst
us that has any long experience in Pear culture, we
would be pleased to learn from one who has.

[Tho.se kinds which bear very freely and young
may not live as long as le.ss productive ones. If we
take the average of a Dwarf Pear, including all the
risks from borers and other external injuries — igno-
rance of culture, and so on — it would make the
average very low indeed, perhaps 10 years against
a Standard's 30. But if a tree have the care and
attention it requires, we believe the Dwarf Pear
will live at least two-thirds as long as a Standard —

say 25 or 30 years. ]

The Greely Awakd. — We find all of our con-
temporaries, that have noticed the matter at all,
agree with us in expres.^ing surjirise that a Pear not
so far grown ycnernlhi anywhere should be recom-
mended for general cnltlcation. Our remarks on
the Committee's course with the lona Gra|)e led it
to retrace its steps. May we not hope that it will
now do so with the Hovey Pear? It is to be
regretted that Mr. Greely's good intentions should
meet so p<Jor a result.

OiTR Apvertiskmk.nts. — The increasing popu-
larity of the (jarilencr'x Moiitlili/ cannot be more
pleasantly attested than by the immense amount of
advertisements sent to it. The publisher has no
agents conva.«.sing for advertisements, and very
rarely, indofd, is any one solicited for them. They
are the willing orders of good business men, who do
it because it pays them.

Our last month's issue we think contains the
heaviest amount of advertisements ever given in
one month's number by any Horticultural or Agri-
cultural Journal on this (Joutmcnt— forty-four pa (/p.f.
But this is not all, as our paires, being wider and
longer than is usual to Horticultural Journals, ad-
mit so much more matter.

To sum up in i-'quare measure, there were in our
last over 2000 square inches of advertising, by over
one hundred advertisers.

Flour of Bone. — Our excellent correspondent,
Mr. Walter Elder, acknowledges the receipt, last
j'ear, of some "flour of bone" fertilizer, sent him
for trial by Messrs. Briggs & Bro., of Rochester, in
con.«equencc of some remarks on Fertilizers in one
of his articles. Mr. Elder finds it a valuable sub-
stance, and very justly remarks that there is no-
thing like the Gardener's Monthly for making
things known to the Horticultural community.

The advertising columns of the J7o/(//i((/ alone arc
worth the price of the subscription to every Horti-
culturist, as it is a fair reflex of the condition of the
market all over the Union.

,@>^

mw^

^

^

§h£| #ari{?ner's (planthig*

117

Disease in the Ivy. — "Can you tell me, through
the Gardener s Monthly^ what is the cause of, and
remedy for, a white gummy substance which exudes
from the leaves of my English Ivy? It is kept in
a sitting-room and treated the same as those of my
friends, who never heard of anything like it.

"A Lady Reader. Boston, Mass."

[We should be obliged by specimens, as we have
never seen any disea.se of the kind in the Ivy.]

Concentrated Manure. — ./. W. M, Lcvm-
town, Pa , asks us "to recommend the best concen-
trated manure for garden purpo.ses. "

[It is difficult to .«ay what is the best. They are
all, when honestly put up with the ingredients they
profe.ss to be made of, good in certain soils and
situation.s. For an average of circumstances, we
believe the "Plant food" of Alexander Harrison,
of Commerce Street, Philadelphia, as good as any
offered.]

Advertising. — " I was sorry to see in the March
number of your valuable MonthJi/ an article by Ge-
rald Ilowatt made the occasion for advertising the
business of certain parties near Yew York, 3Ir.
Howatt's disclaimer to the contrary notwithstand-
ing. Let every sj'stem of culture have a fair hear-
ing, and then stand or fall on its own merits ; but
pray do not let any article on the science of Horti-
culture be the pretext for advertising anybody. It
is certainly out of taste, and scarcely fair towards
those who pay j'ou for advertising their products in
the proper place. Ordinary newspapers puff every-
body and everything indiscriminately for which they
receive large pa}', which the public are supposed to
understand ; but we scarcely look for such a course
in a magazine of Horticulture, and sincerely hope
you will not allow your columns to be prostituted to
such unworthy purposes.

"A. C. Fish, Rochester, N. Y."

fWe have zealously guarded our columns against
the nuisance of free advertising. Not one cent has
ever been received for anything out,side of the ad-
vertisers' columns directly or indirectly, or ever will
while the present editor has charge of it. When
we read Mr. H.'s manuscript, our first impres.sion
was to run our pen through the sentence of which j
complaint is now made ; but on second thought, it |
was clear the writer was not ndvertising anything of
his own ; that the parties he named were, all of
them, liberal advertisers in the regular columns of
the MontJdy, and consequently not men who would
wish to take any unfair or indirect ways of advertis-
ing ; and, lastly, the pot culture of the vine is so

distasteful to thousands in the country, that instead
of considering these men favored by the notice, we
supposed, from this point of view, the majority of
our readers would think we were injuring their
business — holding them up to public scorn rather
than to public favor ; and thus we concluded Mr.
H.'s remarks not under the general rule we had
formed against gratuitous advertising.

It is not always easy to draw the dividing line
between giving gratuitous advertising and giving
information. For instance, if we were to .';ay, as we
could with a clear conscience, that some of the best
layers of Delaware Grapes we ever saw were at Mr.
Fish's establishment, it would bear the construction
of a free advertisement, and is yet very much like
information we have every day to lay before our
readers. I

Fall and Winter Apples. — A correspondent
very justly calls our attention to the fact that the
Fruit-growers' Society of I]ast Pennsylvania has
probably transpo.<ed Rhode Island Greening from
the Winter to the Fall list, and Tallman's Sweeting
the other waj'. Certainly Tallman's Sweeting is
ripe in this region before Rhode Island Greening.

OBITUARY.

death of GEORGE M. BEELER, OF INDIANAPOLIS.

We are quite sure that the whole Horticultural
body will hear with deep pain of the death of this
promising Pomologist and most estimable young
man. Though but twenty-five years of age, his
knowledge of some branches of Pomology was so
complete and thorough that he was an admitted
authority in many cases where those who had spent
a long life in the study would hesitate to decide.
So scrupulously accurate was he in forming an
opinion and coming to a conclusion, that whenever
he gave a positive decision in a disputed case, it
was generally held sufficient to say " that George
Beeler said .so."

Like most really intelligent men, he was mode.st
and unassuming in his manners. The great object
of his life was to see, and learn, and understand ;
and no labor or expense deterred him from satisfy-
ing himself on any point on which it was possible
for him to come to a conclusion. Very few such
earnest, active, intelligent young men have appear-
ed on the Horticultural stage, ready to take part in
the great drama of life with so much promise of
vigor and successful u.sefulness.

In most cases, when a successful Horticulturist
departs this life, wo mourn him as a loss to the

^JL

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118

§j)t (gardnicr's dfiOniMij.

I whole community collectively ; but in this case the
individual feeling prevails over all, for no one who
ever knew George M. Bcelcr but will feel for him
as much fur a brother as for a friend.

He was but twenty-five years of age, and died
during the first week in March, after a short but
suffering illness, having been for some months j)re-
viously indisposed.

Death OF AN Exolisii Landscape Gardener.
— Mr. Joshua Major, a well knowu and talented
author, died near Leeds, England, on January 2C),
aged 79.

pooh, (JshloguFS, %t.

The AMERICA^f Exchange and Review. Pub-
lished by Fowler & Moon, Philadelphia.
The February number of this Magazine is before
us, and we find in it a paper on " Our American
Sylva," by a distiniruishod authoress of Philadel-
phia, being the twelfth and concluding one of the
series.

The particular object of the papers is to draw at-
tention to the necessity of protecting, planting and
preser^'ing trees throughout the country ; but so
many incidental matters are referred to that the
paper is, in fact, a miniature history of forest trees
and forest laws.

In this one paper reference is made to the influ-
ence of trees on purifying the atmosphere, the
beauty of woodland scenery, and the influence it
I exerts on a healthy mind. Some of the laws of the
ancient Anglo-Saxons against injuries to trees, some
of which are incorporat(!d in the Magna Cliarta —
the protest of New England men against the king's
''broad arrow" being set on their best timber trees
— the enactments in Germany, and the influence of
all of thorn on preserving forests are dwelt on. In
the hi.story of wars it appears that in times past it
w:ls as much tlie object of rtur ancestors to destroy
forests, as we would now destroy railroads. In one
of the invasions of Scotland, 24,000 men were set
to destroy the forests of Caledonia.

The importance of speedy attention to the pre-
serving of our forests is ably pointed out, and tree
societies recommended which will offer prizes to
those who plant or s(>t out the greate.-t number of
trees snccessfully. Railroads and canals could in-
crease their profits immensely by planting trees
along contiguous ground. If the Pennsj'lvania
Central Railroad would plant along its lioe on Itoth
sides Oaks or Locust, the value produced would be

$2, .534. 400 in five years; but this is, no doubt, cal-
culated on an average of a number of years, as the
first five }"ear.s they would not, of course, be worth
S3 per tree, or 00 cents per year per tree. The
calculation is based on some English figures, which
take a mile of English oaks, planted 10 feet apart,
as the basis. One tliinL' is quite clear, independent
"I any data, and arguing from every-day facts — the
railroad companies would find it much to their
interest to investigate this matter. Timber must
get scarce along the line of railroads in time, and
those which, in 20 years, have their own grown
sleepers, will have a great advantage over those
which have not.

A very interesting part of the paper is that de-
voted to the legends connected with trees. The
protection which they give to the birds, which add
.so much to our pleasures by their songs and mo-
tions, and to our wants in aiding in keei»irig dowti
the hordes of noxious insects which otherwise would
swarm and cat up everything — and passing from
this to the street trees of Philadelphia, a well-
merited rebuke is given to the abominable practice,
now so jirevalent, of heading off or " Pollarding"
the trees.

It has not been our good fortune to meet with so
instructive and entertaining a paper on a rural sub-
ject in any purely literary Magazine since Donald
Mitchell's " Wet Weather Work" in the Afhmtic
Monthh;, and wo should like to sco it published i.i
a .separate foru) as that was, that it might ibrm a
companion volume to it in our sylvan libraries.

B^to enb P.BF? f?mH.

Foote's Early Orleans Plum. — Chas. Down-
ing, in a communication to the Ilorticnltitri'st re-
specting this new Seedling, says : "Through the
kindness of the Hon. Asheal Foote, of Williamston,
Mass., I have received specimens of a new Seedling
Plum, raised by himself from seed of Wilmot's
Early Orleans, and although not .so rich and luscious
as some of the later varieties, it is of very good
quality, and, taking into consideration its other
good qualities — earliness, hardiness, productiveness,
and freedom frou) rot — it will, no doubt, prove a
valuable acquisition to fruit growers, especially for
early marketing. Description— size medium, round-
i.'ih, inclining to oval, without suture ; a mere dot at
apex ; skin very black, covered with a blue bloom ;
stalk of medium length, inserted in a large, deep
cavity; flesh greenish; moderately juicy, with a
sweet, rich, pleasant flavor; qtiality very good;

adheres to the pit, which is oval and thin. Young
wond slitjhUy downy, greyish. Tree hardy, vigor-
ous, spreading, very productive.

Mr. Parry thus couipares two Blackberries
mucli spoken of"; —

"T])8 KiTTATINNY has the habit of continuing
long in bearing, yielding its luscious fruits through a
period of six to eight weeks. We have eaten of it
fresh from the vines on the 30th of August. This
property will make it a favorite with the amateur
and private gardener, who grow a little fruit for
family use, and would not desire many bushels of
blackberries at one time ; and if the garden should
be already stocked with New Kochelies, they can
easily be rooted out, when the Kittntinnies shall
become so well established as to furnish a full sup-
ply of better fruit for house use.

The. Wilsnii s Early has the habit of ripening its
crop mainly together, and is principally over in two
weeks, and before the height of blackberries come
on ; like the early pea, its whole crop is gathered
at a few pickings, while the price rules high, there-
fore it does not come in competition with any
other Blackberry, but is ahead of them all in
market, and brings more mone\^ Fruit growers
who already have as many acres of the New Ro-
chelle as they can properly attend to, would not
want manv more riDeninsr at the same time, yet
thej: might with great propriety add another field
of an earlier variety to come ahead and precede the
New Uochelles in market.

Washington and Chenango Strawberry
Apple. — When at the New York State Fair at
Urica, last September, I noticed several plates of
apples from diiFerent persons, and all marked Wash-
in :^ton Strawberry, which, from all I can learn from
various sources, is incorrect, and should be Che-
nango Strawberry.

Washington Strawberry originated with a Mr.
Whipple of Union Village, or Greenwich, Wash-
ington Co, N. Y., some 15 or 20 j'ears since;
while the Chenango originated in the town of
Lebanon, ^formerly Chenango) now Madison Co.,
N. Y., on the farm of Mr. Buckley, and said to
have been raised from seed, or brought into notice
by a colored man named Frank, some 50 or 60 years
since. The young wood of Chenango is much
lighter colored than Washington. Both are vig-
orous growers, and said to be good bearers, pro-
ducing fair, handsome fruit.

Washington Strawberry is roundish oblate, in-
clining to conic. Skin yellowish, mostly covered

with stripes and splashes of deep crimson. Flesh
yellow, a little coarse, crisp, tender, juicy, with a
brisk rich subacid flavor. An excellent fruit of its
season for all purposes. Core, medium. Ripe,
Sept., Oct.

Clienaiigo Strawberry is oblong conic, angular.
Skin whitish, striped and splaslied with light crim-
son over half or two-thirds its surface. Flesh
white, very tender, juicy, with a pleasant mild
subacid flavor, of very good qualitj'^, and much
prized in the neighborhood where it originated. It
is probably too tender for a market fruit. Core
large and open. Ripe, Sept., Oct.

The following are the synonyms, of the Chenan-
go Strawberry : Frank, Buckley, Strawberry, Jack-
son, and Sherwood's Favorite. —C. Downing in
Country Gentleman.

New Pears. — The following new varieties have
been described by Mr. Hovey, reeently in the
''^ Magazine of Horticulture,'' viz:

GooDALL. — Raised by S. L. Goodall of Saco
Maine, from the McLaughlin. Size large, about
three and three-quarters inches long, and three and
a half in diameter: Form oblong obovate, large
at the base, slightly contracted in the middle, aiid
very obtuse at the .stem : Skin fair, smooth, green,
changing to a yellowish green at maturity, thickly
dotted or traced with russet about the crown,
broadly tinged with pale red in the sun, and in-
distinctly speckled with russet dots : Stem short,
less than half an inch long, stout, and inserted
without any cavity, with a siight projection on one
side : Eye small, closed, and set in a small, con-
tracted, puckered basin ; segments of the calyx
short, sharp, stiff, projecting : Flesh yellowish
white, coarse, melting, slightly buttery, with a vin-
ous, refreshing juice, and pleasant flavor : Core
medium size : Seeds medium size, rounded, short-
ly-pointed, plump. Ripe in November.

President. — Raised by Dr. S. A. Shurtleff, at
Brookline, Ma.ss. Size large, four inches long and
four in diameter : Form roundish, slightly obovate,
with an irregular or uneven surfiice, somewhat
ridged or angular, largest in the middle, narrowing
towards each end : Skin slightly rough, dull pale
green, very broadly tinged with pale red in the sun
thickly russetted at the base of the stem and
around the crown, and rather evenly and thickly
overspread with tracings of russet and very large
conspicuous russet dots : Stem short, half an inch
long, quite stout, curved, and obliquely inserted in
a small, compressed, moderately-deep cavity : Eye
medium size, open, and slightly depressed in a

aer ^

ctg;^

'^g>>-^

120

Mc^^

'■S)4

C|)e ©urbtncn Pontljin.

>iiiall, not very deep basin ; segments of the calyx,
short, stiff, projecting: inwards : Flesh yellowish
white, coarse, slightly buttery, melting, and full of
a refreshing, slightly vinous, and pleasantly per-
fumed juice: Core large, long, slightly gritty:
Seeds medium size, shortly-pointed, full light
brown. Ripe in November.

The Lansinburo Applk.— This long keeper
was shown at the recent meeting of the Ohio Pom-
ological Society, at Columbus. The history of the
fruit is involved in obscuritj'. The name would
indicate its origin in llon-ellaer county, N. Y., but
it is only found in a few western collections.

The tree is exceedingly vigorous, hardy, healthy,
and quite productive; form upright ami rather
branching, making a thick top ; young branches
almost thorny. The fruit is of medium size, globu-
lar cylimlrical, unequal or somewhat lop-sided and
often higher on one side, somewhat angular. The
surface is smooth, of a deep green, bronzed dull
red, until ripe, when the ground color becomes a
rich yellow, and the shading, which is seldom in
stripes, assumes a brilliant carmine, making a fine
contrast, and pre.-enting a very attractive appear-
ance thniugh the polished surface. The dots are
gray and slightly indented ; on a light ground they
appear black, and have green ba.se.s. The basin is
abrupt, deep, and folded or plaited ; the eye small
and clo,>5ed. The cavity is acute, irregular, rough
.smutchy, or russet ; stem short, inclined, knobby ;
core, small rather open ; seeds, numerous, large,
brown ; fle.sh, j-ellow, breaking, firm, not very juicy ;
sub acid, rich. March to June.

This variety is valuable for its fine keeping quali-
ties, and beautiful appearance in the spring and
early summer, when it is very saleable at fancy
price.s. It sustains very little 1o.<js in keeping, as it
neither shrivels nor decays. — Dr. John A. War-
der, III Ohio Farmer.

Six Best Swef;t Appi>?;.s.— Mr. Suel Foster,
of Muscatine, Iowa, gives, in the Prairie Farmer,
as his selection :

l.st. Svicet June comes up to the requirement;
good tree : hardy, early bearer, productive ; fair,
handsome, sweet, very rich and good. August.

2d. Golden Sweet is a little inferior in some
respects, but most of the above description will
answer tolerably well for this variety. Two weeks
later.

3d and 4th I don't know. The Sv:eet Pear
Apple I am grafting for a late Fall Sweet. It will
come up to the requirements if it proves produc-

tive. It is a hardy and very good tree. The
Haskcl Sweet may an.swer. The Messrs. Avery,
of Burlington, Iowa, have as good a sweet apple as
I ever ate, called Jersey Tender Siceet. Season,
September. It is green, covered with a slight
russet, medium size, pyriforra, very tender and
ri h.

5fh. Winter Siceet Paradise, a most beautiful,
upright, hardy tree ; a very rich, handsome apple.
December and January.

6th. Sweet Romanite, small, but hardy and pro-
ductive. Season next year.

The Hartford Sweet has proved the most jirofila-
ble apple tree out of one hundred varieties 1 have
in bearing. It i.-s only half sweet, or as 1 would
say, sub sweet. I have planted the Hartfird to
raise apples for both man and beast, for cider and
vinegar. As a nurseryman, selling trees, I find
that sw^et apples are not |)opular. I believe if
every farmer having eighty acres, would plant one
acre of sweet apple trees, for his cattle, hogs,
horses and sheep, he would find it more profitable
than two or three acres of corn.

The Warfikld Apple, raised by Suel Foster,
of Iowa, is a very beautiful A])ple, and worthy of
a place in every Nursery and Orchard if it does as
well elsewhere as here. It is a very thrifty and
beautiful Nursery tree. It. bears yonpfif. Color,
waxen yellow with a blush ; season, Aug. and Sept.

HpJn anb PLarp fhvH,

The Journal of Botany, Dr. H. F. Hance, Ph.
D. , describes the following plants from Southern
China : —

NASTirRTruM Cantoniense. — Found in the en-
virons of (Janton, on the margin of a pond. Its
nearest ally is N. hispiduyn (De Cand.), from which
it differs in its nearly entire leaves, subglobose fruit,
and much longer pedicels.

FIypericum Sampsoni. — A very di>tinct species,
found on Mudd}' river banks in the neiu;hborhood
of Canton. It has opposite connate leaves, and
iliffers from its allies chiefly in its perfectly smooth-
edged .sepal.9.

Senpum Drtnarioides.— Found in damp crevices
and hollows of limestone rocks in the province of
Kwangtung, growing along with Pilea j^f^Uata. An
extremely pretty and delicate i)lant, with white
flowers of exceeding tenuity.

Ophioxylon CniNENSE. — Met with by Mr.
Sampson in a palm grove in the province of Kwang- /^

^&

m^

^^ €mkm% Pontljli;.

121

tun.ff. It approaches nearest to 0. serpent inuni^
but has a darker-colored bark, nan'ower and more
attenuated leaves, looser cj'mes, and green, not
red, pedicels and calj'ces.

The Botanical Magazine contains figures and
doscriptions of the following:—

Rhododendron Hodgsoni. — One of the grand-
est of the many fine species that adorn the Eastern
Himalayan Mountains, discovered by Griffith in
Bhotan in 1838, and gathered by Dr. J. D. Hooker
in the alpine valleys of Eastern Nepal and Sikkim
at elevations of ten to twelve thousand feet. It
flowered in the temperate house in Kew in April of
last year. It is one of the finest of all the Rho-
dodendrons in foliage; the leaves often attain 18
inches in length ; they ai'o coriaceous, glossy above,
but clothed with silvery or ferruginous tomentum
beneath. The flowers are broadly campanulate,
the color pale purple.

L.ELI A Grandis. — This fine Lselia first made its
appearance in the establishment of M. Morel, of
Paris, where it flowered in the sprir)g of 1850. In
the j'ear following it was exhibited at one of the
great London shows, and then disappeared until
reintroduced in 1864 by Messrs. Low and Co., who
received a few plants from their collector in Bahia.
From the same localitj', and about the same time,
speoin'^ens were sent by Mr. Williams to the Royal
Gardens, Kew, where one of them flj)wered finelj'
in the summer of 1865, when it was drawn by Mr.
Fitch, and the result is a faithful portrait of this
beautiful species. Peduncle two flowered, sepals
nankeen colored, petals rather wider in the middle
than the sepals, and of the same color, lip whitish
with purple veins.

Sompsfir InfFliiifFfirF*

•p^

Destri:ction of Canada Thistles. — Every
one knows how great a pest to the country the
Canada thistle is, but it is not every one who
knows, in like manner, that there is a caterpillar
which devours immense quantities of this noxious
plant. Let us see, then, what this friendly cater-
pillar is like, that we may know better than to kill
him, when he next comes in our way. From May
until September (for there is more than one brood
in the year), there may be found feeding on the
leaves of the Canada thistle, and other similar plants;
specimens of this caterpillar, either solitary, or two
or three near each other. Each one spins for itself
a slight web, on the upper surface of the leaf

which it draws over in such a way as to form a
shelter for itself. Under this covering it devours
the skin and pulp of the leaf, without touching the
under skin ; and when all within reach is consumed
it removes to another part, and constructs a new
habitation, of Targer dimensions, of course, to cor-
respond with its own increased size. When full
grown, the caterpillar is about an inch and a half
long. It is dark-brown or blackish, with narrow
yellow stripes along the back and sides ; its head is
black and its feet reddish ; on each segment except
the first, there are several whitish, black-tipped
spines, varying in number from two up to seven,
the greatest number being in the middle. The
chrysalis is about three-quarters of an inch in
length ; it varies in color from light grey or a^^hen
to brown, and has three rows of golden or silvery
tubercles on the sides and back. It is usually sus-
pended from the bars of fences or other objects
near the plant on which it has fed. In this state
it continues for about a fortnight in the summer —
in the autumn for nearly a month — and then comes
out in the form of a beautiful butterfly, the Painted
Lady, {Cynthia cardui, Linn.)

The fore-wings above are tawny, with the middle
almost rosy red, and spotted with black, while the
tip is widely black, spotted with white ; the hind
wings are principally tawny or reddish, with three
rows of black spots near the edge. On the under
side the fore wings are marked as above, but the
red is much brighter, and the black paler ; the
hind wings are dappled with brown, white, and
grey, and have near the outer edge a row of five
beautiful e.ye-like spots, the two middle ones being
the smallest. — Canada Farmer.

Building for the Academy op Natural
Sciences. — It is gratifying to report that there is
every prospect that the $100,000 required for this
building will be raised. $31,950 has been sub-
scribed already ; among the names received are the
following for $1000 each :

J. S. Haines, Joseph Jeanes, Samuel S. White,
Alfred Cope.' J. B. Budd, Geo. W. Trvon, Jr.,
George W. Childs, W. P. Wilstach, A. E. Borie,
H. P. McKean, Chas. S. Coxe, M. Baird, John
Rice, Joshua T. Jeanes, Wm. Bucknell, S. Morris
Wain, Thomas Sparks, F. R. Cope, Thns. P. Cope,
Ed. Roberts. J. G. Fell, Clement Riddle, Jay
Cooke, Isaac Barton, Samuel Jeanes, E. W. Clarke
& Co.

122

-C-(0

\^\i^
-il^$

Clu (Sarbtiur's Hlouthln,

yorpign InfpnigpnrF.

juice might take its place. The fruit, when in
perfection, consists of succulent pulp, pleasantly
acid and sweetish, and is used for the same pur-
poses as the orange ; but it is said to be far more
beneficial in ca«es of fever and other diseases for
which usually oranges are prescribed. The rind of
the fruit and the flowers contain a large proportion
of a wholesome astringent ])rinciplc, and are the
parts principally used for medicinal purposes. The
high reputation of the pomegranate has caused a
demand for it wherever it can be cultivated ; and
nowhere out of its native country has it been so
successfully grown as in the West [ndies, where
the fruit is of the finest quality, and is produced
in great abundance. The dwarf red kind is grown
in the West India Islands as a hedge plant, and
makes a splendid apjiearance when in flower ; it is
indeed so beautiful that it ranks high among the
ornamental stove plants grown in this country. —

Gardeners' WeeMi).

Early Greknhouse Work in England. —
From the early vinery many of the plants placed
there to force, will be coming into bloom, and the.se
will in themselves be amply sufiicient for frequent
changes of the plants in the rooms, during this and
next month. We may, in addition, calculate on
Tropreolum tricolor, Jarritti and Brachyceras, which
are handsome on trellises, and so is T. azureum ;
also Lithospernum fruticosum, Acacias grandis
and juniperina ; and Chorozemas, Kennedj-as too,
bloom finely on trellises at this sea.son, and we may
expect some this month from cool houses. The
stove will afl"ord a few forced plants, and the other
winter-flowering jilants will come in, or continue in
duciions of the Elysian fields, and there is a pretty j bloom until this period, it being understood, that
story of Ceres beseeching Jupiter to restore her the stove is not so much occupied with summer as
daughter, Proserpine, in which the pomegranate with winter-blooming plants.

figures in a way to show that it was considered fit AH plants coming from the rooms should be
refreshment for the gods. The tree was introduced ' again placed in the structure they were taken from,
to Rome from Carthage in the days of the murder- I If from the stove, they should be rested for about
ous Sylla. Pliny, the 21.st chapter of his 1.3th | a month, and may then be cut in, and have the
Book, gives a description of the tree and its fruit, plots plunged in the early vinery, which will set
lie enumerates nine varieties, (Book 23, chapter 6) thorn going. Camellias and Azaleas done bloom-
and .says the bark of the s )ur kind was used by j ing, to be placed in the early vinery to make wood
tanners and curriers, and the flowers of other kinds I for the next year's early blooming, which as re-

Tfie Pomegranate. — Pomegranate is probably
a compound word signifying "grained or kernelled
apple." At first thought on the subject, any one
accustomed to etymological analysis would consider
such a derivation satisfactory, but in Bailey, and
other authorities who follow him, there is a sugges-
tion of another, in these terms — "q. d. Punium
ffrtinntnni L., or Granatense, a kernelled apple, or
of Grenada in Spain." But there are not wanting
authorities who affirm that instead of the fruit
being named from the place, the place has been
named from the fruit, Grenada being ?o calltnl from
being the province in which the grained fruit was
first cultivated when it was introduced to Europe
from Africa. The capital of the province has a
split pomegranate for its arms, which is seen on the
gate-posts of the public walks. Grenada is undoubt-
edly a grand place for the pomegranate ; and still
further cast and the various species of pome-
granates are found abundantly. The bast brief
histor>' of the pomegranate is to be found in Phil-
lips' "Pomarium Britannicum," from which the
facts nan'ated in Paxton's Magazine, and indeed
in most recent papers on the subject, are derived.
The numerous notices of the pomegranate in Scrip-
ture prove it to have been held in high repute in
ancient times in Syria and Palestine. It was
selected as one of the principal sacred symbols,
and the Jews still use it in the decoration of their
synagogues. The Greeks esteemed the fruit so
highly that it was clas.sed among the principal pro

f>r dy(!rs to dye cloth.

The pomegranate was first cultivated in England
in the year 154"<, during the reign of Henry VIII.,
and Phillips says, " 1 find it mentioned among the
trees that fruited in the orange-house of the unfor-
tunate Charles I." Gerarde raised plants from
seed in 1597. Lord Bacon recommended wine

made from pomegranates for diseases of the liver ; introduced to fill up blanks in the early vinery
and if wine could not be had, the freshly expre.s.sed Sow Primulas and Cinerarias for an early bloom

gards the first, will, in the current year, occur m
October and onwards. The first lot of Gloxi-
nias, Achimenes, and Gcsnerias will be forward,
and be placed in their blooming-pots, more
being introduced for succession. Pot varie-
gated Begonias, and the better kinds of Ilanly
Ferns; they are charming for in-door decoration in
Summer. A few more i)lants for forcing, may be

^3m

See that Aphelandra cristata, Porteana, Leopold!,
and other winter and autumn-bloominoj plants are
cut in, and cuttings made of all winter-blooming
plants if still delayed. Pot those previousl5' struck,
and grow them on ; many of them will do well in
the early vinery. Pot more Fuchsias, and put in
cuttines of the early plants for autumn-blooming.
Impatiens Jerdonije is a good stove plant for au-
tumn work ; plants now potted and grown in the
stove will be found useful. Select a few of the
better kinds of bedding plants, as the different
variegated and Zonale Geraniums, and especially
Nosegays; also Verbenas, Petunias, &c., potting
and growing them on in the cool vinery. They
will be useful when the Pelargoniums are over. A
few plants of Pinks and Carnations, potted now,
will, though they come in little earlier than those
in the open ground, be none the less sweet in vases
in the house. Epacrises to be cut and placed in a
cold frame. Cuttings of Heliotrope, to furnish
plants for winter and spring blooming, to be in-
serted forthwith ; also of tree Carnations. Sow-
more Cockscombs, Celosia pyramidalis, the first
Balsams, and Thunbergia alata, for training to
sticks in the form of pyramids, or any other shape.
They will do now in the early vinery. Encourage
plants of Sericographis Grhiesbreghtiana in a cool
house. Lot them grow freely until June; then
stop the shoots, repot, and grow on until October ;
then place in the stove. They will bloom in
November. Fuchsia serrulata and its varieties
floribunda and alba are valuable winter-blooming
plants. Cuttings put in now, in a little heat, soon
strike root; grow on until July, plnce out of doors,
then take up in September, and place in the early
vinery, which will by that time be cool enough for
anything. Sow Mignonette in pots, for autumn
blooming, in a cold frame ; it will require to be
potted when the plants are large enough to handle,
and grown on in a frame until June, to be then
placed outside in an open, but not very sunny
place. Remove to the frame in September, keep-
ing stopped and potted through the summer as the
plants grow. Rhodanthe Manglesii and Acroclin-
ium roseum, are nice Everlastings for pots; seed
may now be sown in a little heat. Cypripedium
insigne and ^venustum are of the best of winter-
flowering plants ; plants of them should be potted
and encouraged in the stove or vinery now at work.
The old Phajus grandiflorus is a glorious plant for
blooming in early spring ; it should have sweet
soil, plenty of drainage, and a place in the stove
to make growth, with abundance of water and
moisture. The very best of room-plants, Richardia

.nethiopica, should be potted, and increased, if
practicnble, by dividing the roots. It does well in
a cool vinery. Cuttings of Chr3'santhemums to be
put in ; they make nice plants for autumn. Inga
pulcherrima to be cut in, and grown in a frame ;
endeavor to have the shoots well ripened before
or by autumn. It will require potting after it
breaks. Hoitzia coccinea to be cut-in, and potted
after the new growths are an inch long ; it is a
stove plant. — G. Abbey m the Cottage Garden.

The Hanoverian method op training Fruit
Trees. — The cultivators of my country, such as
practice the training of fruit trees for entertain-
ment, and the beautifying of gardens, have much
skill in training the growth of trees to resemble
objects of taste, and these trees do contribute to
the entertainment of the garden. It is no use to
make these trees if they are old ; they must be
young ; it is the sapling, we say, which bends, and
if the sapling is trained in its first growth, the dome
or goblet may be made perfect in a few years.
When the sapling is planted one year after the
graft has grown, if it is a grafted tree, the shoot
is pruned to about three of the lowest buds, and
the shoots which these make are trained out in the
forms which they are to have for ever. But the
goblet or umbrella need not be made until the tree
has grown two or three years, and then it must be
made very strong, to last for a long time. When
the trees are growing in the summer, the shoots
must all be tied into their places with soft worsted,
and in winter must be much pruned, or the lowest
parts of the branches will become bare of shoots,
which is much detriment to the beauty of them.
As they are much pruned, and by training so as to
place every shoot outside — for these trees have no
shoots inside, and are never crowded, so that light
is not obstructed as in common bushes — they get
very hard, and are soon covered with the little hard
twigs which afterwaixls bear fruit. These trees
exhibit all the fruit at once, and most beautiful are
pretty cones and towers with hundreds of ripe
pears hanging all round.

The most "beautiful of these kinds of trees, are
the currants and gooseberry trees, which are most
easy to grow. They are first struck with only two
buds on the shoot, which are trained horizontal the
first season. The next winter these two shoots are
cut back half their length, which causes five or
six shoots to grow the next spring, and these are
also trained out by means of sticks to the horizon-
tal. The next year the urn or goblet is formed
with some iron and wood hoops ; it is made very

^^J-

124

ih^ gardener's (Monthly.

.«trong but light, and as the tree is young a few would not bo able to make them a good form at the
stout staves are thrust into the ground to keep it ' bottojii. We know by the bottom of the cup if
in its place ; these are removed when the stem is the cultivator has boon much skilled in his work,
stout enough to carry all the weight of the frame , because it is easy to have plenty of shoots and fruit

and the fi-uit. Having been trained out horizon-
tally, it is easy to form the bottom of the cup in
a neat manner, as I have shown in the pictures of
two of my best bushes, which are very complete;
and if they had not been trained horizontal, as if j respondent of Gardener s Weekly
the tree was to be made like a table at first, 1 1

up the sides of the cup ; but if they are not trained
horizontal at first, and be pruned much in winter,
the lowest parts are bare, and the hoops are much
more conspicuous than the leaves and fruit. — Cor-

[TUK (ioULKT-tiUAPED CUKRA.NT.]

inrfiruifural Hofirpx.

AMERICAN POMO.LOGICAL SOCIETY.

In conformity with a resolution adopted at the
last meeting of this National Association, the
undersigned give notice that its eleventh session
will commence in the City of St. Louis, Mo., on
Tuesday, September 4th, 1.S06, at II o'clock A.
M., at Mercantile Library Hall, and will continue
several days. All Horticultural, Pomological, Agri-
cultural and other kindred institutions in the

United States and British Provinces, are invited to
send de'egations, as large as they may deem expe-
dient ; and all other persons interested in the cul-
tivation of fruits, are invited to be present and
take seats in the Convention.

And now that the rainbow of peace has again
spanned the arch of our Union— now that our
.southern brethren, after a painfid separation of
years, are again to be united with us in full fellow-
ship and communion — now that our our meeting
is to be held for the first time on the "Father of
Waters," in the (jrreat West, — we invite all the

.^hr

1^

®h^ (Sardeiier's MonftlJJ.

125

States and Territories to be present, by delegation,
th;'t the amicable and social relations which have
heretofore existed between the members oi' the
Society, may be fostered and perpetuated, and the
result of its deliberations, so beneficial to the coun-
try at large, be general!}^ and widely diffused.

Among the prominent subjects which will come
before the Society at this session, will be that of
the revision of the Society's Catalogue of Fruits.
The special Committee appointed for this purpose
are now, with the various State and Local Com-
mittees, actively engaged in collecting such infor-
mation as will aid in determining what varieties
are best adapted to the different sections and dis-
tricts of our country, and this information, in the
form of reports, will be submitted to the action of
the convention. In compliance with a resolution
passed at the last session of the Society, the several
Srate Pomological and Horticultural Associations
are requested to compile lists for their own States
or Districts, and forward them at as early day as
possible, to P. Barry, of Rochester, N. Y., Chair-
man of the Committee on the Revision of the
Catalogue.

Members and delegates are requested to con-
tribute specimens of fruits of their respective dis-
tricts, and to communicate in regard to them what-
ever may aid in promoting the objects of the
Society and the science of American Pomology.

Each contributor is requested to come pnpared
with a complete list of his collection, and to pre-
sent the same with his fruits, that a report of all
the vai'ieties entered may be submitted to the
meeting as soon as practicable.

All persons desirous of becoming members can
remit the admission fee to Thomas P. James, Esq.,
Treasurer, Philadelphia, who will furnish them
with transactions of the Society. Life membership,
ten dollars ; biennial, two dollars.

Packages of fruits with the name of the con-
tributor, maybe addressed as follows: "Ameri-
can Pomological Society," care of C. M. Saxton,
corner Fifth and Walnut streets, St. Louis, Mo.
Marshall P. Wilder, President.

James Vick, Secretary.

PENN'A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The March meeting of the Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society, was held on the 20th, Vice-Presi-
dent Charles Harmer, in the Chair.

The exhibition was not equal in interest to what
has been seen in the corresponding months of past

(3U;

ears, but there were many things of novel inter-

est and great merit. Mr. F. O'Keefe, gardener to
J. B. Heyl, E.-q., had one of the most tempt-
ing displays of mushrooms we have seen for a long
time before the Society, — not merely accidental,
but the product of a Mushroom skill. In the col-
lection of Mr. Hibbert, gardener to Fairman
Rogers, Esq., was a very fine MedmiUa magvi-
Jica, and Frandacea eximia, both pretty well
grown and splendid plants when they are well
grown. He also had a flowering specimen of iScdla
ciliata, a desirable bulb.

Messrs. Peter Mackenzie & Son, who are ever
zealous in importing and exhibiting new things for
the interest of their fellow members of the Horti-
cultural Society, had on this occasion several novel-
ties ; but there were two that mu.st become ex-
tremely po])ular. One Ahutdon niveinn had blos-
soms like the well known A. striatium in form but
of a clear and pure white ; the other was also an
Abutilon called vexdiarum, with a long, colored
.calyx, and rosy pink petals.

He had, also, a dwarf, hardy Spircva called Thun-
bergii, covered with small white flowers, — the
plant growing something like Deutzia gracilis.
The same firm had a collection of new Azaleas, —
One, Pelargonceflorn was a very fine shaped flower,
and showy variety, of a rosy pink color. Another
struck us as particularly beautiful, of a light pink,
with carmine stiipes called Jacques von Artcxelda.

Fortune's new double white Camellia was also
on exhibition in another collection, the name of the
owner we did not observe. The official report is
not yet before us, as we are going to press before
they are ready,— but there was a highly interesting
exhibition of fruits from Mr. Nycc of Cleveland,
and also address from the same gentleman of such
value, that rather than pinch in a mere line here,
we shall reserve for a future number.

The death of Col. Robert Carr was announced to
the Society by Mr. Thomas Meehan, who made
the following remarks. The resolution was adopted
by the Society, — also that Mr. Meehan's address
should be published in the transactions : —

Mr. President.— " Yesterday afternoon the
grave closed .over all that was mortal of one of the
founders of this Society,— the last but one still
living. Col. Robert Carr, distinguished alike in
the arts and sciences,— in the histoiy of our coun-
try, our city, and our association,— departed this life
last Friday, the 16th of March, at the ripe age of
eighty-nine years.

I, who am but a junior member of this time-
honored Society, would have preferred that it had
fallen to the lot of some one amongst the veterans

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126

V^t (fraxmns ^^ontbln.

in horticulture to call your attention to the fact,
who could from personal knowledge of his services
in our cause, tell you more than I can do ; but it
seemed to my fellow members that I, who from an
intimate acquaintance of fourteen years, could, at
least, testify to his worth, !>hould call the attention
of the Society to his death, and show how much
the Society owes of its present prosperous existence
to the assistance of our friend in times gone by.

Col. Robert Carr, was born in the parish of St.
Andrews, in the County of Down, in the north of
Ireland. His maternal grandfsither, and it is be-
lieved his paternal one, were natives of Hanover, in
Germany, who joined themselves to the fortunes
of the Prince of Orange, follnwing him through
the English revolution, to the wars in Ireland,
where tiiey settled, a.s so many of William's sol-
diers did. His father first came to this country as
supercargo of a vessel, which was wrecked and the
cargo in which he had a large interest, lost. It
preyed considerably on his mind ; and in order to
retrieve his losses, he determined to settle in
this country, went back to Ireland, and immedi-
ately returned with his family to Philadelphia.
Kobert was at this time eight years old. The losses
he had suffered however, preyed very much on the
elder Carr's sy.stem, and in .'^ome aberration of
intellect, he wandered away and was never heard
of more. His son Robert had already received the
rudiments of a first-class education, which he sedu-
out-ly continued to self-improve after the family
troubles came on him. He was earlj' put to work
and by his own choice was set to k-arn the ])rinting
bu>iness, under Mr. Bache, the soninlaw of Ren-
jamin Fianklin. He has often spoken with much
gratitude of the advice given him by Franklin
on the occasional visits of that great man to
his son-in-law's establi.shment. While in this office
he set up wilh his own hands the works of Priestly,
and the Poems of Moore written in this country,
and always felt a pride in this remendjrance of his
boyish skill. When a young man, his cousin Wil-
liam Miller, who was one of the chief grocers of
Philadelphia at that time, died, and sub.sequently
Mr. Carr married the widow, by whom he had
several children, all of whom died in infancy,
except John, who lived until thirty-four. Mrs.
Carr died in 1808, and Mr. Carr, who had kept on
the business with her, sold all out, and the war
with England breaking out at that time, he under-
took with the money to raise and equip a regiment
at hi.s own expense. At the head of his regiment
he joined Scott in the operations along the lakes,

distinguishing himself gallantly at the battle of
Chippewa, where he had one of his heels shot
away while riding liis horse, by a cannon ball. He
returned from the campaign beggared and worn —
$25,0110, it has been estimated poorer than he
went, — but which with the generosity which char-
acterized him to his dying day, and which left him
scarcely a score of friends to follow him to the
grave, he never .sought recompense from the coun-
try he helped to save. Soon after he returned from
the war he married again to the youngest of the
two daughters of William Rartram, then jnoprie-
tor of Rartrau) Gardens.

From this time forward Col. Carr's career as a
horticulturist begins. Wdliara Rartram died about
this time, and Mr. and Mrs. Carr continued the
nur.«ery busitiess at the gardens, — which were, as
you know, the cradle of botany and horticulture, on
this continent, — which gave American Rotaiiy and
Horticulture a distinguished position in the liter-
ature of the old world ; and which was the jnidc
and glory of every Philadelphian for so many yeais.

At the formation of this Society in 1827, Col.
Carr was amongst the first lot of members elected.
For several years he was with the elder Laiidreth,
Maupa}', and D'Arras, among the chief executive
men ; and in 1834 was made Vice-President, which
office he held many j'cars. At almost every meet-
ing he exhibited something of interest from hisgar-
den, — usually loading in the new thing.s. Jn 18.S0
he exhibited the Petre Pear, since so famous. He
also was noted when the Dahlia first came here,
about this time, and set cultivators nearly as crazy
as the tulip did the Dutch. When the native
wine excitement first originated, he led in that
also. His garden was the .seat of very large exper-
iments in the vine-growing and wine-making. 'J'he
Powell and possibly the Delaware, as it is now
called, had a cherished home here amongst others,
and it is on record that in 1828 Col. Carr exhibited
before this Society superior samples of his Amer-
ican Wine.

Sixteen years ago, when the gardens through a
series of misfortunes, owing to his liberal spirit,
passed away from him, saw a serious blow to horti-
culture. The history of Rartram, as a source of
l*hiladeli)hia pride ceased then ; and all that re-
mains in the history of its last family possessor —
once so famous all over the world — is obscurity and
the memory in the minds of thousands of the
liberal patron, energetic associate, and kind friend.
For many years he acted as Ju.sticc of the Peace
for his district, — and such was his character for
probity and honor, and such the regard in which /^

every one held him, — that the contending parties
forgot in him the favorite maxim that "to the
victor belongs the spoils," and regulaily re-elected
him in continuous succession. It was his boast
that he never would allow a case to go to court, if
by any possibility he could get the parties to make
friends over their quarrels, — and that he never took
a fee from any one during his long term of service.

Col. Robert Carr, Mr. President, leaves no rela-
tions I believe, to mourn his loss. We cannot, as it
is often our painful course to do, send our sympa-
thies to them ; but it is a duty we owe to ourselves
to engrave on our own tablets our sense of the
worth he has been to us, and I therefore beg to
move the following resolution :

ResoJccd, That in the death of Col. Robert Carr,
at the advanced age of 89 j'ears, the Society
mourns one of its founders, and mo.st active and
honored members; and that as marking particularly
our sense of his worth, this resolution be engrossed
in the minutes, and be published in the regular
transactions of the Society.

THE CINCIJINATI HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

Saturday, March 3, 1866.

The Cincinnati Horticultural Society was called
to order by the Vice-President, Dr. Whipple.

After the adoption of the minutes of previous
meeting, a general discussion was held on the cul-
tivation and varieties of that popular fruit, the
Currant.

The following report on this subject was read
before the Society, and ordered to be printed :

ORIGIN OF NAME.

The name Currant, I need hardly remind intelli-
gent horticulturists, is derived from, or rather a
corruption of Corinth, the small dried l?.ii>in of
commerce, which is said to have originated in the
ancient Grecian Republic. (A somewhat amusing
instance of the corruption of common names re-
cently fell under my observation in a catalogue of
one of the most extensive nurseries of Continental
Europe ; among the li.st of Currants was Bank
Hup ; this was a French corruption or translation
of Bang Up, a superior variety of Black Currant.
The name in the English vernacular is synonymous
with our term first-rate).

VARIETIES.

The last edition of Downing' s Fruits and Fruit
Trees of America contains the names and descrip-

tions of twenty-seven varieties with twenty-one
synonyms. A more recent European catalogue has
an addition of thirteen varieties not mentioned in
Downing, that have been introduced since the last
revision of our standard work on Fruits.

As with the Pear, and other species of fruit, the
French take the lead in the introduction of new
varieties from seed, and the numerous French names
appended to the recent introduction of new varie-
ties attest the fact that the Currant is much more
prized in France than in the United States. Dana's
V/hite, a new variety, originated by the gentleman
after whom it was named, and highly recommended
by Colonel Wilder, and the Fruit Committee of the
Massachusetts Horticultural Society, is the only
one of American origin indorsed by competent
authority as a valuable acquisition. That so little
attention should have been bestowed in this coun-
try on this easily produced and most healthy fruit,
is somewhat surprising. Is it another instance of
the old adage, "Familiarity breeds contenipt !"
So because the fruit, such as we usually see in our
markets, is produced without any effort or atten-
tion to cultivation, we fail to appreciate it at its
proper value.

ITS USES.

The varied uses or modes by which this fruit
may be prepared for the gratification of our sense
of taste, as well also as its being in season at a time
of j'ear when its pleasant acid is most acceptable to
the palate and refreshing to our relaxed system,
are strong arguments for its more extended cultiva-
tion ; for nearly three months during the hottest
parts of the summer it can be used as a pleasant
condiment or article of food, and it can be pre-
served in the various forms of jams, jellies, dried
or canned, and thus be available at all seasons of
the year, and even retain its good qualities unim-
paired for several years. With all these good qual-
ities to recommend it to popular favor, I a.-;;k again
if it is not surprising that .so little attention should
be paid to so desirable and useful an article of
domestic consumption ? Thei'e are few articles so
easily prodiiced that are more gratefully refreshing
to the fevered invalid, whose lips are parched with
burning thirst, than a small portion of currant
jelly to give piquancy to the cooling draught.

I will not undertake to draw a comparison be-
tween our domestic currant wine and our popular
Catawba and other wines from native grapes, but
would remind my fellow-members that many of the
mothers of our countrj' feel as much honest pride
and self-gratulation in hearing the praises bestowed
upon the merits of their favorite beverage as our

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123

ffhc ©ardfnrr's c3Jlonthk

friend Mottier, when receiving the premium silver
cup awarded at our State Fairs.

Having thus endeavored to show some of the
reasons why this fruit should receive more attention
than has hitherto been given to it, 1 will now pro-
ceed to detail the

MODES OF PROPAGATION.

Cuttings of the previous year's growth may be
taken off early in the spring, some ten or twelve
inches long ; the terminal shoot should be cut back
to a strong, prominent bud; these cuttings planted
in mellow ground, well prepared, will readily take
root ami grow, and the next fall or spring may be
planted where they are permanently to remain.

Many writers — practical men, too — Downing
among others, recommend disbudding of the cut-
ting previous to planting ; in other words, to cut
out all the eye- or buds, which would be below the
surface of the ground. This is the common prac-
tice with English, and I believe many Eastern gar-
deners, but a somewhat leng'hy experience in this
locality .satisfies me the practice should not be fol-
lowed here. I have with one exception lost all my
imported standard stock-plants from the attacks of
the borer, which perforates the stem and com-
pletely eats out the entire centre, or pith, and thus
destroys the plant. When the cutting is allowed
to retain its lower bud.s, should one column be
destroyed, the i)lant will throw up strong shoots
below the parts injured, which extends generally
near the surface of the ground. I su]»pose from
the general adoption of the mode first described,
our Ea-stern and European authorities are unac-
quainted with the enemy to the currant that we
have here.

PLANTING.

Various di.stances arc recommended. I think the
best is five by five. This will allow ample room
for working and picking. Cultivating may be done
by the plow ftr the first two or three years, after
which time the roots near the surface would be
liable to injury by that instrument; shallow, sur-
face working should then be adopted, and the
plants sustained, and the weeds kept down in early
summer by mulching. The currant makes one con-
tinued growth in spring and into the summer, but
when it once stops, does not break out into a second
growth through the summer, hence the importance
of stimulating and encouraging a strong and early
growth.

PRUNING.

In the early life of the plant the object should be
to get a strong, vigorous shoot upon the root. This
can be best attained by cutting out all inferior and

twiggy wood each spring, close to the ground,
reserving the strongest for fruiting next and suc-
ceding years.

The shoot or shoots left for after-fruiting should
be shortened from one to three inches according to
its strength, and this will induce it to throw out
lateral branches the following season, which should
be cut back the next spring to spurs from two to
four inches in length ; and this treatment should
be repeated each successive season until the fruit-
ing stock shows signs of weakness by the produc-
tion of small and inferior fruit, when, having pro-
vided previously a succession stock, the old bearing
stem should be cut away near the root.

RED VARIETIES.

Red Dutch ; good and productive.

Cherry Currant ; very large and productive ;
needs rich cultivation. Cerise de Tours : resem-
bles the foregoing. La Versaillaise : said to be one
of the best. Red Gondoin : fine, late variety.
Fertile dePallnau: very productive. Victoria: I
have not found come up to its English reputation.
Berton's Seedling, La Elative, Fertile de Angers,
and .some others, are new varieties I have not suffi-
ciently tested to venture an opinion on their
merits.

White varieties — White Grape, the best white
table, being less acid than others.

White Dutch, good and productive. White Gon-
doin, good. White Transi)arent, White Imperial,
I Dana's White, are all comparatively little known
with us.

Black Currants — This, as a class, is not appreci-
ated in this country as it is in England ; Black
Naples, Black Bang-Up, and Ogden's Black are
the best I have tested.

Gloire de ^ah/ons, is the latest novelty in Cur-
rants furnished us by our French friends. It is of
an amber ground color, prettily striped with red,
presenting, according to the picture description a
very unicjue ajipearance. Of its table qualities I
have no jjcrsonal knowledge ; it has been, however,
highly commended.

Respectfully subniitted by

WM. HEAVER.

Mr. Vincent preferred the Red Dutch and White
Dutch varieties to any others for general cultiva-
tion. He had planted his Currants in the spaces
between the dwarf ])ear trees, and had found them
to thrive better in a partial shade. This is about
the southern range of the growth of this fruit, as
it naturally prefers a cooler and moister climate.

Mr. Jack.son preferred the Versaillaise variety
to any other for its vigor and productive quality.

II)

"c<c);

DEVOTED TO

THOMAS MBEHAN, Editor.
"W. G. P. BRIJJf CKLOE, PuBusnER.

MAY. 1866.

inh Per Jleg.

FLCWEIS-GARDEFJ AKfD PLEASUSIS-

Flowers in pots and tubs, for adorning roads and
gardens, now spring like lovel.y butterflys from their
winter's hiding places. Cellars give forth their
treasures, and barns, pits and greenhouses bring
forth their lovely things each after its kind.

This bi-anch of gardening has not been enoiigh
valued. There are many things, which do not well
endure our winter, that are truly beautiful when a
little protection is afforded them, — but because they
are only half hardy, are not grown at all. The fol-
lowing are well worthy of being grown in this way :

Magnolia fuscata, Pittosporums, Clerodendron
Bungei, Hydrangea, Figs, Oleander, pink and white;
Pomegranate, single for fruit, and double for show ;
Bignonia Capenses, Bouvardia triphylla, Oranges,
Lemons, Laurel, Bay, Laurustinus, New Zealand
flax, Mahonias, particularly M. Darwinii, Euony-
nus japonicus, Aloes, Agaves, and others. In very
cold climates Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots and
Plums might be grown in this way, and would not
only charm the eye during the flowering season but
add their mite to more material pleasure in a way
agreeable to most persons of taste, if not of refine-
ment.

The first week in May is usually the time to set
out Dahlias. They do best in a trenched soil, say
18 inches deep at least, and prefer cow-manure to
any other when it can be obtained. If planted on
thin or dry soils, they will not bloom till near the
approach of frost, when the chief enjoyment of the
Dahlia is lost. It is best, where possible, to plant
a duplicate of each kind.

VOL. viir.--2sro.5.

. Tuberoses and Grladiolus like a warm rich soil,
and may be set out at once.

In transplanting any thing that has roots large
enough to admit of the practice, it is best to dip the
roots, immediately before planting, into water. This
will obviate the necessity of after-watering, and its
consequent injurious effect. If the plants appear to
flag, shade or put an inverted flower-pot over the
plant for a few da3's ; if this do not bring the plant
to, it must have water. '

Flower-gardening, as we have often said before,
affords scope for many pretty fancies, besides ar-
rangement of color, which, in the hands of a per-
son of taste, render a garden a paradise of enchant-
ment. Borders and edgings of Ivy, Periwinkle or
variegated plants, may be made to appear as frames
to the pictures of pretty flowers enclosed by them.
Waves and fringes of green may be led along
through a large flower-bed, and the various divi-
sions formed be filled with its own color, making a
natural and living bouquet ; different colored gra-
vels may be chosen for paths between beds ; diffe-
rent shades of green may be made by the selection
of grasses of different hues, where grass walks are
employed. Old stumps or roots may be occasional-
ly introduced in the centre of beds, and covered
with green vines, or flowering climbers, as taste
may dictate ; rustic baskets and vases, and even in
many instances where artificial styles prevail, the
topiary art may be called in, and good effects result
from the use of the knife and shears on certain
plants.

Trellisses and stakes for climbing plants and vines
should be put in at or before setting out the plants.
These plants always seem to grow with more fi-ee-
dom and vigor when they can find something at once
to cling to. Climbing vines add greatly to the in-
terest of a garden. They can be trained into all
sorts of forms and shapes ; and many of them, for
gracefulness of form, or beauty of their flowers, can-
not be excelled by any other tribe of plants.

In planting extensive flower-gardens, it is best to
retain a few plants in pots, in case a frost or other

129

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130

£j)c (L5;ir(Inur's dtlontjjlii

accident should, by chaijce, destroy some of those
set out earlier.

Pansies and Daisies should be set out in rather a
shady and moist place, — not under the shade of
trees, as the roots of these dry the soil too much.

The Hollyhock has become one of the most pojm-
lar and useful of summer bedding plants. Thoy
like a rich, warm, and rather dry soil.

The Carnation likes a deep, rich soil ; the plants
should be raised from layers afresh every year, July
is the time to do this.

FRUIT GARDEN.

If larcre fruit is wanted thinning assists. Straw-
berries are increased in size by watering in a dry
time. Fruit should be allowed to bear only accord-
ing to their strength. If a transplanted tree grows
freely it may bear a few fruits, — but bear in mind
growth and great fruitfulness are antagonistic pro-
cesses.

Handsome forms are as desirable in fruit as in
ornamental trees. No winter pruning will do this
exclusively. It may furnish the skeleton, — but it
is Summer pinching which clothes the bones with
beauty. A strong shoot soon draws all its nutri-
ment to itself Never allow one shoot to grow that
wants to be bigger than others. Equality must be
insi.sted on. Pinch out always as soon as they ap-
pear, such as would push too strongly ahead,— and
keep doing so till the new buds seem no stronger
than the others. Thus the food gets equally dis-
tributed.

Whether Strawberries should have runners cut
off depends much on kind and soil. Free growing
kinds grow too freely often in rich soils. Allowing
them to exhaust themselves and the soil by grow-
ing thick together is an advantage, shyer grow-
ing kinds would do no good under such treatment.
Moist garden soils are rich — but on the whole the
most profiuble and best plan is the cutting runners
off, system.

If there be any Blackberry really earlier than
Dorchester, it will be well for those who love this
fruit to look out in time and satisfy themselves.
They will be in bloom about the end of the month
in verj' early places.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

" When the first Swallow comes plant dwarf
Beans," Lima Beans and all other Beans. When
Beans sprout tie them up to the poles, it hastens
their bearing. Sow Endive for Winter, and Drum-
head Lettuce for Summer Salad.

Egg-plant. Popper, Tomato, Brocoli, Cabbage,
and a little Celery for early crops may be set out —
taking care that the plants should not meet any
check from want of water, poverty of the soil, loss
of leaves or other kind. A check is a great enemy
to early crops. "The first shall be last, and the
last fir.<t" is often very true in gardening, and at
times the facts in such cases would put many an
early fjuned variety out of an unde.«erved eminence.

{Jommunirafions^

THE GARDENER.

BY "BH.'K AI'RON."

I am a gardener, the son of a gardener ; my
fathers were gardeners, my sons are gardeners. At
said business I have been serving my ai)prentice-
ship during all my workable life, and in all proba-
bility shall continue so for the rest of it. I have
had m\' hand engaged, more or less, in every de-
jvirtment thereof, from dibbling leeks to forcing
Cherries, (I prefer the term to Cal'bages and Pine-
apples, for 'V'arious reasons.) Well, what of all
this? Oh, not much, only it need be no marvel if
I feel interest in every thing pertaining to ,said
"ancient and honorable craft." The father of
everybody was a gardener. Amongst other things,
even the name of your MonfJih/ should call forth
my sympathy. You have chosen a befitting name,
and as long as you retain it, and prove true to its
association, as you now do, I will never desert the
ranks of your subscribers ; as I am fully of the
ojunion it is the plainest, most practical and useful
periodical of the kind I know of. The IJortlniltu-
.ist, and Country Gentleman, and some others, are
excellent — very excellent — especially for such as
follow their callings — but, I am a garJener, Sir — I
am !

Were I able, and were it requi.site, I would con-
tribute some items to your columns; but as I said,
I am serving my ai)prentice8hip ; and having failed
many times in doing things as some people said
they should be done, and growing things up to the
prescribed mark of excellence, in quality and quan-
tity ; such, for instance, as raising Oxalis crenata
roots, equal and superior to potatoes ; and Cauca-
.'^ian Cow Cabbage (I think that was the name,)
large enough for each head to feed four sheep for a
a day, as the recognized authorities of those days so
commanded. I have failed, moreover, in more
modern times, to raise a regular and full supply of
fruits, vegetables and flowers for the use of a genteel

®^e ^anlener's c^ontljlj.

131

family, their friends and acquaintances, off of one
acre of laud, or thereby — marketing the surplus and
pay expenses. I am afraid, therefore, it would
ill become me to intrude upon your columns. But
whenever I succeed to my own, and other people's
satisfaction, with all sorts of Patent Office seeds
and manures, Dioscorea Battatas or Potato of
Terra incognita and a few other notions, I will let
you know.

Meantime I send j'ou herewith some ''''rhyming
ware,''^ although I have grave doubts of its admis-
sibility in your pages ; however it is somewhat in
our line, its aim being to magnify our calling. It
is written, to be sure, not in legal " King's English;"
but this is a land where kings don't reign. Besides
it is my venerable mother tongue, and to my certain
knowledge, that too, of a very goodly number of
your subscribers, mayhap, some of whom have still
a relish for the words they spoke " in days o' Auld
Lang Syne :"

The long cauld days hae come again,

The ruefu' days o' March,
Wi' hail, an' sleet, an' frost, an' rain.

An' wins that keenly search.
At times it tries a body sair —

Toiling the lang, dreigh hours,
At outside wark, to earn his fare,

Exerting a' his powers.
Delving, aft times wi' aching back

The bushes an' the trees,
Their limbs to prune, or stem to hack,

Wi' fingers like to freeze.
But, wi' it a', I like it wee),

Auld Adam's heartsome trade ;
Cheerfu' an' Strang it makes me feel.

An' aye ensures my bread.
Midst a' the elemental strife.

Peace reigns within the mind ;
Syne, Spring comes aye wi' jojrfu' life.

An' sun an' clouds prove kind.
The weaver, snug, sits at his loom,

An' tailor on his board.
But health demands mair scope an' room.
Her blessings to afford.

The learned clerk, an' merchant great,

Wi' fame an' riches rare,
I envy nae their in-door fate

Unblest wi' cauler air.

0, Nature's works — 0, Nature's ways!

Hae many charms for me,
I wadna pairt wi' what she pays

For a' the warld can gie.

There's beauty fair in ilka scene,

Music in ilka soun'.
Let fields be bare, or clad in green,

Nature still smiles aroun'.

Its gude to be whar' birdies sing,

An' breezes freely blow ;
Whar' verdure waves and flowers springs,

An' trace God's han' in a'.

There's inspiration in the blast.
That leafless sweeps the tree ;

An' bends the tall, top-gallant mast,
An' stirs the mighty sea.

To Him, O, meditative mood,
Wha' ponders well God's plan

His dealings a', seem wise and gude,
Ad' fraucht wi' love to man.

MR. SHEPHARD.

BY B. "yOUNG CONTRIBUTOR."

A biography of this excellent man and friend of
mine, the Rev. Mr. Shephard, is not attempted
here. The writer of this article has the rod of the
Editor before his eyes, and has a wholesome fear
of it, else he would state and fondly dwell on the
many good points in the character of Mr. Shephard,
— he would show that this clergyman works not onlj'
on the Sabbath, but also on each working day of
the week, tending his flock every day, with care and
self-sacrifice, — that he himself takes the benefit of
his own sermons and lives practically up to them ;
that with him the clergyman is not outside only,
but inside too, — that he considers himself and his
community as but one variety of the many kinds of
worshippers, looking upon all the rest like his
equals and his brethren, and deeming them just as
good as himself and as his variety under the great
dome of the eternal Temple. Nor will I mention
the struggles of Mr. Shephard to make both ends
of family wants meet. I will refrain from telling
how he labors in heat and in cold ; by daylight and
by lamplight; at such heavy, dull and dry work, as,
for instance. Cyclopaedias and other job work, for
the sake of the indispensable wages. Nor shall I
as much as touch on his great erudition, still less
on his rare conjugal and social qualities, which
so eminently distinguish him and so justly endear
him to his friends and to his family.

No, not a word of all this shall be said, or the
Editor might, in his wrath, turn me out of the
Gardener s Monthly, and I would never dare to
knock at its door evermore. Besides, and more-
over, the readers of the G. M. would, in this event.

p,"^^

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132

^\\t^ 6ardnur's (Ploutijln.

be sure to lose the Horticultural acquaintance of
Mr. Shephard, and they might not forgive nie for
that ; for let it go forth at once, that the amiable
Mr. Shephard loved gardens. He could not help
it ; he loved all nature, how could he help loving
gardens? The beautiful to him was ever the Divine.
"And," said he, "though we are sent into this
world as mortal men, still the mind has been given
us; and in the study of the creation .iround us, and
of the teachings of the great minds before us, we
t^hall perfect ourselves and enter the next world a.>J
divine angels." Could he help loving nature?

" Good morning to you, Mr. Gripenkurl."

" Good morning, Mr. Shephard. good morning,"
said Gripenkurl, putting down a couple of Hoses
which he was going to lift, and coming to the fence.
" Pleasant morning, Mr. Shephard; fine weather
for bringing the plants into winter-quarters."

And G. smiled whilst he spoke ; it always seemed
to do him good when Mr. Shephard stopped against
the fence when pa.ssing. Was there not a brother-
hood between them, were they not both good men
and lovers of plants? And was not Mr. G, besides
of a jolly turn of mind, and round, rosy configura-
tion of body, with nothing at all odd or uncouth
about him except his name, and that not his fault,
but the fault of his grandfather iVom Brabant.

" Very favorable weather for such operations, in-
deed. There is a mellowness in the air which
seems to belong to our Indian Summer. And there
is a happiness in the air, I might say."

" Certainly, there is a happiness in the air, Mr.
Shephard ; if we had not better say at once it is in
us, and not in the air."

"Why, how .so, Mr. Gripenkurl?"

■'Why, as far as I am concerned, I am happy,
happy all over. I want nothing except the whoop-
ing-cough ; no, I mean I have every thing I wish
except the whooping cough ; that is — I mean — the
children have the whooping cough, and I don't want
that; I want that to leave. Well, such mornings
as this, I come out, see every thing in tip-top
order and condition, the season making a long and
stately bow before leaving us, and just enough gar-
den work left to keep one pleasantly going."

"That's it, Mr. Gripenkurl, it is the work that
keeps you bright andcheerj'; and maybe, whilst
you garner your pots and plants for the winter, you
think of the coming spring, when you bring them
out again, when they will flower again and show
new l>eautie9."

"Well, perhaps I do, Mr. Shephard."

" Believe me, that's it. But now— give my res-

pects to your lady, Mr. Gripenkurl. Good morn-
ing."

" Good morning. Sir, good morning."

And the good, long pastor stalked on up the hill,
but not a great distance, for there he brought up
already before 3Ir. Skinner's.

Now, the writer's jilace is just between Mr. Skin-
ner's and Mr. Guipenkurl's, and so, — will I, — I
am often obliged to get to know what is going on in
the grounds of either neighbor.

■' Is that you I\Ir. Skinner? could not see j'ou for
the bushes. Was going to come in, Mr. Skinner,
to hear about your Emily's health ; how is the
young lady getting on ?' '

" Not very well, Mr. Shephard, not very well.
And they have a fire inside, and I can't stand it,
and so I came out."

" Let your folks come out too into this blessed
sun, Mr. Skinner; your daughter will feel all the
better for it."

"That's what I said, Mr. Shephard, that's what
I said; but somehow they won't, they tvill make a
fire, and stick in the house."

"Well, the garden, ))erhaps, has no attraction
lor them, it docs not look exactly tidy, I must say.
It looks a little forlorn, you'll confess, Mr. Skinner."

" Why, Mr. Shephard, one sees at once you are
a Horticultural amateur, ain't you, now? Bless
your soul, Sir, you would not have me keej) the
beds trimmed, and the lawn raked, and all that sort
of thing, when nothing grows any more. And you
would not have the paths swept, would you ? what
would be the use of that when the leaves are fall-
ing fast and thick as they do ?"

" It is strange, Mr. Skinner, but you remind me
of Dean Swift."

"Of whom. Sir?"

"Dean Swift, Mr. Skinner."

"I'm not much acquainted amongst clergymen,
Mr. Shephard."

"No; after all you could not very well know
him, as he is dead a long time now, and was an
Englishman, and in England."

" And what of him, Mr. Shephard ? "

•' Why, he used to travel on horseback through
the country. And once upon a time, it was in the
fall of the year, he and his servant stopped over
night in a tavern. In the morning, after breakfast,
they were going to continue their journey ; and the
servant brought the Dean his cloak, his riding
boots, etc., etc. ' I say, Tom,' said the Dean, ' my
boots arc quite dirty, why do you not clean them as
usual? ' ' What's the use of it? ' said Tom, your
Grace knows very well how the roads are, and that

Cjj^ §arkntfs |ilanfj)lj.

133

they'd be as dirty as ever, before night.' ' Do you
really think so, Tom?' said Mr. Swift. ' I do, in-
deed, Sir,' answered Tom. After a five hour's hard
ride they came to another inn, where they halted.
The Dean ordered the horses to be fed, and a pretty
good dinner for himself He was sitting a while in
the parlor after dinner, when in comes Tom with a
long face. ' What's the matter now, Tom ? we
shall be off directly. Got the horses fed? got your
dinner?' 'Horses all right, your Grrace, but I
can't get any dinner here' 'Why not?' 'They
say it's against your orders.' ' Why yes, to be
sure, Tom, I recollect now I told the landlord you
did not want any dinner, for what's the use of it,
I thought you would get as hungry as ever before
night. And now let' she off, Tom,' said the Dean. "

"Excellent, Mr. Shephard, a good joke, I must
say; and then Tom, I expect, cleaned his master's
boots very nicely the nest morning?"

"And ever after, Mr. Skinner, so rumor has it."

" Served the fellow right; the Dean did no more
than right. If such notions were to prevail. Sir,
there would be no end of ways of applying it ; a
fellow might say he need not shave but once a year,
say at haying time, (and Mr. Skinner laughed
horse-like at his own joke) for what's the use of
shaving if beards will grow again ? ' '

And whilst he spoke he fumbled at his chin and
felt his semi-weekly beard, and as he fumbled he
laughed less and less, feeling the misapplication ;
for sooth to say, Mr. Skinner was not liberal, not
even in shaving himself Mr. Shephard, however,
seemed not to notice how the man had exposed him-
self, and —

"You say right, Sir," said he. "The sun gets
up every morning, the tide comes and goes, rota-
tion, system, order, cleanliness."

"That's so Mr. Shephard. Sj^stera and order;
order and s\'stem, that's my motto in the tanyard."

"It is the motto of the universe, my dear Sir.
Then why not add cleanliness?" (and Mr. Shep-
hard looked hard at the rubbish and litter which
characterized Mr. Skinner's place almost as much
as neatness did Mr. Grripenkurl's).

"Cleanliness," drawled Mr. Skinner, "is next
to godliness."

" And positive religion. Wickedness and dirt go
equally well together. Do you know the Chinese ?' '
Mr. Shephard interrupted himself.

"I don't know, but I don't," replied Mr. Skin-
ner," except they supply us with tea and won't take
any trade of us ; the heathenish rascals won't take
any thing, I understand, but silver, and you know

I your.self how scarce that is, and what premium gold
' and silver have come to."

"True, Sir. And you called them heathens, and
justly, for they worship before innumerable idols,
images of pure gold. ' '

"And that too raises the premium on the arti-
cle."

"And their rulers and priests keep the people in
darkness. Nevertheless, these heathens beat us
enlightened and progressive people of the West at
some things."

" Do they, indeed? Why you don't mean China-
ware, Mr. Shephard."

" Nothing of trade, I mean they beat us in essen-
tial functions of the soul, such as we would fain call
the prerogatives and consequences of our religion.
Take for instance the fearlessness of death. They
cheerfully rip their bowels open in obedience to
a suggestion of the superior Mandarin ; they die
all manner of deaths with coolness, with indiffe-
rence even. One should think mirs were the privi-
lege not to tear death, and not theirs. Again, look
at their gardens. I will not take up your time, Mr.
Skinner, and tell you how fond they are of plants ;
what large accessions to our stores of plants they
have made us, how much we are indebted to them.
I will only remark how trim and neat they keep
their gardens, — taste apart — infinitely trimmer and
neater than we even do in this country, or in Europe
either, and yet we style ourselves the civilized na-
tion. Anomalies, in fact, Mr. Skinner, which I
cannot clear up ; anomalies all the more startling
when we see the number of slovenly gardens in this
American country of ours. Isn't it to bad, Mr.
Skinner?"

" I always thought so, Mr. Shephard, if I did
not always act so."

" Here comes your Emily, Sir. Glad to see you
Miss, very glad, you look rather better, I believe.
'Have to be patient,' you say. Of course you are
patient ; a patient patient, ha, ha — roses icill bloom,
never fear. But you must not stand, you must
walk about, so good morning, Miss Emily, good
morning, Mr. Skinner."

Mr. Shephard went further on. Perhai^swe will
again bring up with him.

[Probably our "Young Contributor," in the line
of fancy sketches he has chosen, may not be fully
up to the excellence desirable in composition of this
class. However, it is a very readable production ;
and will interest our younger readers in horticul-
ture,— stimulating them to order and neatness in
their garden management, and laying the founda-
tion of an excellent character in them which, like

;j —

nm

I

13i

S'jje ©ardfner's (^ontl^In.

^

the roses the writer spoke of, may blossom in beauty
in future years.

We hope to hear again from our young friend —
commencing with an interesting scientific note and
following with a clever literary sketch, he evident-
ly wields a pen which will ultimately furnish first-
class matter for our readers. ]

GLASS RANGE AT G. J. WHITNEY S, ESQ.

BT JOHN CHARLTON, ROCHESTER, N. T.

In a recent numlicr of the Montlthj you srave us a
fine plate of the Conservatory at P]uville Hall, Eng-
land. I now send j'ou a drawing of a fine range of
gla.-?s, recently erected by G. J. Whitney, Esq., of
this place. It is a lean-to range, and as the plate
shows, plain, fancy appearances not being allowed
to dominate at the expense of utility. The work-
manship on these houses is, we think, about the
best we have seen in America ; though plain, every
thing is very good ; the back wall (brick) is a boun-

dary line, the front of the houses, resting on stone
postal, to allow the roots of the vines finding their
way outside of the graperies, on which is laid stone
capping, the front wall resting on the same. The
stage in the greenhouse is built of brick and stone,
is well proportioned and no danger of its ever de-
caying.

The design and drawings was furnished by Mr.
Wm. Webster, of this city, who has furnished so
many evidences of his good taste and skill as a
landscape gardener both in this and other neigh-
borhoods, especially in and around Buffalo, New
York. The pipes, boiler, etc., for heating the same
was supplied by Mr. Hitchings, of New York City.
The whole cost of building and heating, etc., being
about $3700, this docs not include the cost of the
brick wall at back, this having been erected previ-
ous to the houses being built.

No. 1 is end section of Grraperie.s, 2 of Green-
house, and 3 of Fernery.

ROfiM O

FOP.CI,\C GRAPERY

IT/ALK

COLD GRAPERY

NOTES FROM JAPAN.

BV THOMAS HO(;r..

To the west and northwest of Yokohama, at a
distance of about twent3'-five or thirty miles, is a
range of mountains, a portion of the great range
that extends itself across the Wand of Nii)pon to
the western coast. The eastern termination on the
plains at the head of Odawara Baj- is an abrupt
peak, styled Oyama, a sacred mountain, the resi-
dence of an evil spirit, to whom an idol is erected
on the summit, and to which, at a certain season
only in the j'car, pilgnmages are made.

A large section of the country between the hills

and valleys of the coast is an elevated plain which
extends many miles into the interior, and mainly
cultivated with the Mulberry for the production of
silk, the chief .source of wealth to its inhabitants.
Tlie town of Hachoji, situated in a large valley that
intersects the plain near the base of the mountains
a trifle beyond the strict limits to which foreigners
are f)ermitted to travel, is the centre of a large silk
trade, and of considerable commercial importance,
is not unfrequently visited by parties from Yoko-
hama.

To make a vi.^it, not only to Hachoji but a tour
' through the country to Oyama, had long been my

^

desire, but it was not until last Summer and
Autumn that opportunity presented itself when I
had the pleasure of twice doing so, on foot and af-
terwards on horseback.

My first journey did not estend itself as far as
Hachoji, which I visited on my second trip, and
otherwise varied in direction from the second. The
possibility of a pedestrian tour had frequently been
the topic of conversation between mj^self and seve-
ral friends, until at last we decided to try it. On
the morning of September 5th, we started off, ac-
companied by two attendants to carry necessary bag-
gage and provision, and took the road direct to the
mountain. After passing over the Tokaido several
miles, we turned off into a broad and fertile valley,
gradually ascending until we reached the table-land.
Our course laid directly over the plain, meeting
numbers of pilgrims going to and returning from
Oyama. We soon met with Mulberry trees, our
road passing through an almost continuous planta-
tion of them. The point at which we ascended the
plain is about the lowest towards the sea, some
eight or ten miles distant, at which the Mulberry
is cultivated ; beyond it gradually descends into a
lower plain cultivated with Gereals. Occasionally
we would descend into a small valley in which
places the population chiefly reside, but where the
Mulberrj' is no longer cultivated. It is character-
istic of the people to choose valleys and retired,
shaded nooks for their residences, and the absence
of inhabitants on the plains was a marked feature of
our journey. In a few instances we met with vil-
lages not in valleys, but they are rare exceptions to
the general rule. In the afternoon of the day we
passed through one of these, which, with its broad
street in the middle of it, reminded me of those
seen in other lands. . Still later in the afternoon we
descended into a valley through which flowed a
rapid stream called the -Sangami River; at the
time we crossed, it was but a narrow stream not
over one hundred and fifty yards in width, but the
wide extent of large pebbles and gravel on either
side was an indication of the volume of water and
force of its current in rainy season of the j^ear.

As we approached Oyama the land became more
undulating until at last we reached the village of
Koyasu at its foot, and sought lodgings for the
night, which, after some delaj% were procured. We
had proposed to ascend to the summit of the moun-
tain the nest morning, but our intentions were
thwarted by a guard of officers stationed at a large
gate on the road to prevent the intrusion of obnox-
ious persons : they were very firm and decided in
their refusal to permit us to proceed, and there re-

mained no other course for us but to return home-
ward. Our route laid up an extensive vallej' run-
ning parallel with the mountain range, between
which was a range of high hills separating another
smaller valley on the other side of them. We as-
cended one of these hills, where we had a fine
prospect of the whole country before us. The
mountains before us were so near that we could
plainly discern their features ; they are very rugged
and precipitous, divided into many sharp ridges,
extending from their summit to the base, and only
partially covered with forest. In this respect they
much resemble the mountains of lower California,
as seen fi-om the sea sailing up the coast. This re-
semblance of the mountainsgenerally of Japan with
those of that country has been remarked by others
who have had opportunity of observing both, and
would point out their common volcanic origin. The
vegetation of the countrj'^ was very similar in char-
acter to that of the neighborhood of Yokohama,
the greatest novelty being a species of Hydrangea,
or an allied genus, found growing on the banks of a
stream of water. I had previously found it culti-
vated by the gardeners of Yokohama and already
sent it home.

After following the valley several miles, the road
suddenly led up to the table-land again, and once
more we were among Mulberry trees. The un-
varied character of the landscape only relieved by
the mountains on our left, combined with the heat
of the day, rendered our journey rather wearisome,
and, I felt glad when, in the afternoon, we made a
sharp descent from the plain into the valley of the
Sangami. and sought refreshment at an inn on its
banks. The declining sun after a while admonished
us to proceed on our journey to our proposed stop-
ping place for the night. The next morning our
road still continued over the plain and between
rows of Mulberries. The manner of planting them
is b}^ laying out the ground either in squares 80 to
100 feet on either side, or in larger sections of 100
to 200 feet in depth, the trees being planted on the
margins at a distance of about 6 feet from each
other, forming an enclosure inside of which is cul-
tivated with various crops — Sweet Potatoes, Taro,
Beans, Upland Rice, Buckwheat, &c. In cultiva-
ting the trees, the system pursued is to confine them
to a stem to the height of about 4 feet, and then
allowing them to branch off to form ahead. When
feeding the worms the leaves alone are not gathered,
but the shoot of the previous year with all the
fresh leaves on it is cut off close to the main stem,
and when all are cut off the tree is left to produce
new shoots for the succeeding year. In process of

m.'^^-

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136

£h£ (Sarkiur's Hlonthlj.

I

dd

^®^

time, by this j'early close pnining, the top of the
tree becomes a thickened mass of spurs, but without
any apparent diminution of vigoi" in tlie tree to
throw out new shoots ; when first planted they are
not subjected to this treatment until four or five
years old. They endure the process many years
before they show symptoms of decay, and when
this begins a new stem is allowed to start from the
root, and eventually the old one is cut out.

Subsequent to my trip, I was informed that in
other parts of the country the practice is not to
allow the Mullxirry to form a main stem, but to cut
the shoots oflF close to the surface of the earth.
The soil in which they grow is light and black, not
retentive of moisture, and can be supplied with but
a small amount of fertilizing material owing to the
extent of cultivation, the comparatively great dis-
tance from the habitations of men, and the necessi-
ty of its use to other crops in the valleys. The
crops too within the boundaries of the trees were
not heavy and showed an evident want of manure
in the very limited amount of yield. The almost
entire want of cattle, except pack-horses, contri-
butes greatly to this want and consequent decreased
production of the soil. The division of the land
into small sections, and the mod^of planting the
^Mulberrj' around them, entirely preventing the ap-
plication of any but manual labor, must also ojjcrate
against increased production.

During the last day's walk we were surprised to
meet, in several places, extensive plains of unculti-
vated land covered with short grass and a few
dwarf bushes. Their exact area we could not as-
certain but one of them, the largest we crossed, was
two or three miles in width and more in length.
A part of one of them was covered with a dense
growth of Shrubbery, and it is probable they all
had been similarly covered at some former time ;
small portions on their margins were being gradu-
ally brought into cultivation.

In the latter part of the journey the size to which
the Persimmon tree grew attracted our attention.
Instead of being confined to farmj-ards they were
growing in the open fields among the Mulberries ;
whether they were grafted fruit I am unable to say,
but [ had never before seen any so large, and their
dark green shining leaves rendered them quite
ornamental.

In the afternoon we struck the head of a long
valley leading towards Yokohama, reaching our
homes in the evening, somewhat wearied by our
walk of over sixty miles and amply rewarded by the
new scenes we had witnessed.

My second trip, as I have before stated under-

taken on horseback, presented very little of horti-
cultural interest beyond the first. I observed, in a
few places, the Mulberry planted in rows by some
innovation of time-honored custom, even in this land
of fixed habits. I also met, in many places, grow-
ing by the side of water courses, a very beautiful
annual Balsam with large flowers of a fine purple
color. It appeared to me quite new, and have
transmitted seeds of it home, where I trust, next
summer, you will be able to judge of its merits
yourself.

YoKAHAMA, January I2th, 1866.

A PEW NOTES ON 1865.
BY ENTHUSIAST, ADRIAN, MICHIGAN.

Bedding Fuchsias — The newer more delicate
varieties do not thrive in the hot suns, but succeed
admirably in arbors ; plunge the pots. The older
and tougher varieties, and a few of the new ones
bear the hottest suns, and bloom wonderfully. None
surpass the Meteor, whose rich golden and crimson
hues are born of tropical heat. The more sun the
better. A bed of Coccineaand Meteor will delight
the most refined taste.

Herbaceous Phloxes — This is incontestibly
the flower for the millions, needing but little care
or toil ; of most exquisite shades of color ; showy,
delicate ; profuse flowering, hardy, easily propa-
gated ; subject to no insect, and very few varieties
to any ailment ; it is absolutely invaluable. A
few hints on its culture may, however, be servicea-
ble. The soil should not be too light or sandy, for
the colors are less distinct and bright. Plant in
heavy rich loam — mulch with manure in the fall
and work this under in the Spring. Too high ma-
nuring makes the colors run; yet it will bear'a very
generous supply. If the climate inclines to be dry
keep the soil mulched all Summer with a little
mowed clover or litter. To keep up a supply of
bloom move the old plants to a new bed in the
Spring, and they will bloom at the usual time ;
while from the roots left in the old bed will insure
stalks that will bloom admirably later in the season
and down to the severest frosts of November. 01'
all my varieties I still most delight in Juliet llussel,
exquisite white, with a superb scarlet eye.

A hint on making flower-beds will not come amiss
to some of our friends. After bordering your beds
with Sedum or Thrift, leave a little alley one foot
wide around each bed in which you can work with
a hoc. No root of grass can then sneak into the
bed or border without being surprised on its march.
This will save pulling the borders in pieces and

avoid some unpleasant weedings. I have reference,
of course, to beds cut in a lawn.

A feature of magnificent interest in any garden
is a tropical bed. Plant the better varieties of
Ricinus, especially sanguineus, to the tallest and
richest Cannas, an abundance of Gladiolus, Lobelia
cavdinalis, Yuccas, etc. Allow a generous room
for the Ricinus to expand in ; but if the Lobelia
runs its magnificent scarlet stem up through the
foliage of the former all the better. The Gladiolus
can crowd also, the closer the better. A few Eu-
phorbias and Coleus, work in well near the border.

The best Geranium for bedding purposes I have
ever obtained is tho Attraction (not the Attraction
of the catalogues^, obtained of Mr. Howard, ot
Utica, who has, this Spring, sent out the new pink
Sarah Howard. It bears magnificent trusses and
is admirable for foliage. I have counted 136 buds
and blossoms in one truss; it is also a profuse
bloomer.

Another flower adapted to all is the Tropasolum.
Even a vegetable garden looks charming with its
beds of Onions, Beets and Carrots bordered with
the common Nasturtium. But plant a bed with
the newer varieties of Tom Thumb, Crystal Palace,
Gem and the delicate shaded varieties, and what
for fragrance and color can surpass it. King Theo-
dore, the new black variety, will doubtless be a great
acquisition. But let the amateur be sure to make
his TropaBolum bed of coarse and sterile soil. Ma-
nure or light soil runs them to vines and no flowers.
The poorer the soil the better.

Can any body give us a rule for raising first-rate
Wallflower ? Mine are by no means up to the En-
glish standard.

It may not be amiss to remind amateurs that in
setting out their Dahlias, Pinks, and in fact, almost
any plant, they should after having set it, wind a
bit of paper about the stalk. Press the paper
close into the soil, and let it rise an inch above the
soil. This left on for two or three weeks will pre-
serve the plants wholly from the cut- worm.

MISCELLANEOUS SKETCHES.-THE WILD
CHERRY.

BY ORCHIS.

" Oh, — there never was yet so fair a thing,
By racing river, or bubbling spring.
Nothing that ever so gayly grew
Up from the ground when the skies were blue,
Nothing BO brave — nothing so free
As thou,— my wild, wild Cherry Tree."

Barry Cornwall.

With the rapid decrease of the Indian tribes, are
the grand old forest trees that sheltered their

homes, rapidly disappearing before the onward
march of civilization(?) ; and yet in all the lapse of
years how little veneration or love for these native
trees has been practically shown by their white suc-
cessors. We of the present generation should,
therefore, inaugurate a new era in this respect, and
prove to ensuing arboriculturiots, that with all our
love for the beauties of other lands, we still retain
an admiration for those beautifal trees that afforded
us shelter in childhood's happy days, and keenest
pleasure in manhood's riper years.

These remarks suggested themselves to my mind
on reading a spirited little poem on the Wild Cherry
tree, by Barry Cornwall, and from which the head-
ing of this article was extracted. I advance its
claims as an ornamental tree, and desire that every
admirer of the beautiful in nature may not over-
look its merits. It is of medium size, or occasion-
ally when growing in rich, deep, alluvial bottoms,
quite large ; spreading in outline and graceful in
construction.

The leaves are lanceolate and serrate, bright
glossy-green in color, and very handsome. But its
greatest attraction is during the month of May, —
it is then in its glory. Every short branch is ter-
minated by a raceme of pure white fragrant flowers,
and frequently so numerous as to appear like a per-
fect mass, at a short distance.

About August the fruit, which is a small globular
drupe, is ripe, and is of a dark purple color, very
bitter to the taste, but with a pleasant flavor. It is
consequently much sought after by the numerous
vendors of patent medicines, that " cure all the ills
that flesh is heir to ;" as well as entering into the
formation of those beverages that are too frequently
meted out to thirsty frequenters by "mine host"
of every little groggery in the land. To such a base
use has the fruit of a valuable tree been applied,
when its worth in the materia medicals of no mean
order ; the bark also ranking as an excellent tonic.
The timber is of excellent quality, and highly priz-
ed by the cabinet-makers for its hard, cross-grain-
ed texture, and pale reddish-brown color ; it likewise
takes a beautiful polish.

The caterpillars are very fond of the leaves of
this tree, and, if not removed when first noticed
will completely strip it of every vestige of vegeta-
tion. Their destruction, however, is quickly and
readily performed by fastening paper or rags
(sprinkled with some inflammable fluid, such as
turpentine or coal oil) on the end of a long pole ;
when lighted and placed directly beneath their
nests, they are destroyed in an instant. The robin
is exceedingly partial to the fruit of the Wild I /g\

m^

^^

Cherry, and during thfe month of August they may
alwa.vs be found in large flocks, in the close vicinity
of these trees. This fact is well known to our
sportsmen, who are more fond of destroj'ing one
of the best " insect rernovers'' than they are grate-
ful for the advantages derived from its labors to-
wards encouraging perfect crops of fruit.

This species is the Pninua semtina of Ehrhart,
but long known as the P. Yirginiana of Linnneus,
until Professor Gray pointed out the error. It be-
longs to the Fmhis sub-genera ; and until the
somewhat recent change was called Cerasus Vir-
ginianaaud C. serotina. It must not lie confounded
with the f/v;''Prunus Yirginiana of Linn:v;ns, which
is the Choke-cherry, a tall shrub, producing bright
red fruit. The Wild Cherry is found mostly on
low moist grounds, in close proximity to streams of
water, and although it will succeed on high, eleva-
ted situations, its greatest luxuriance is secured by
planting it in the former localities, when accessible.
We repeat, that it is well worthy of the care and
respect of all lovers of trees, and particularly of
our own cultivators in this country, and is only
one of the many native trees that have been neglec-
ted heretofore, — not, we trust, from a decided wish
to ignore their merits, but simply from a careless
habit that we are all apt to acquire, — a longing for
novelties of which we read glowing descriptions,
but which, in the majority of cases, prove mi.serable
failures when tested on our lawns.

The "moral of our tale," and what we wish to
impress upon our readers, is, to study the habits
and characters, as well as the manner of all the
productions of our soil ; notice the many little pecu-
liarities incidental to each ; the favorite haunts and
objectionable features ; and in the end, he who ae-
compli.shes this will learn to love our trees and
plants for them.selves alone, and will find new
beauties, within their con.struction, that he was al-
together unaware of. Oh ! American planters, let
not a mania for the trees of other lands entice you
from the allegiance that you owe to the production
of your native soil. Beware of too great a longing
for the uncertain plants of warn)er climes, and
gather into your collections those native trees that
are the pride and glory of your own native wood-
lands.

GROWING GRAPES OUT OF DOORS.

BY A SUBSCRIHKR, AVASHINdTON, PA.

We have read attentively several articles that
i. have lately appeared in loading Horticultural papers,
. in relation to growing hardy Grape-vines in "broad
/ft) I borders" and "in pots." From tho tone of these

iJ^i^o)^ :

articles it would seem that aside from these two
sy.>Jtems there was no other way of producing c/ooiJ
vines. Doubtless there may be good vinos produced
in "broad borders" also "in pots." It is not the
use of either plan, but the abuse of~it, that should
be ignored ; but more uniformly good jilants, and
we think hrtter, can be and are produced every
year by starting under glass, growing in pots until
fibres are induced to start, then after frosts are past,
planting them in rows three feet apart, and ten
inches apart in the rows; one such plant well
grown, is worth two "pot plants," as we are pre-
pared to show, having them side by side for the
last two years with plants grown by a strong advo-
cate of " pot plants," from whom we have already
heard, if I mistake not. The "pot plants," though
of more vigorous growing variety than their neigh-
bors in the next rows, are far behind in health or
size; some have actually dwindled away. I neglec-
ted to say that the pot-grown plants were marked
"extra," and were also "extra" in price.

We send you, by u)ail, a sample of the average
of vines produced last year from single eyes by the
plan mentioned. Should be glad to have your
opinion of it.

It is well known that the majority of vines grown
in "broad borders" are under glass as well as those
grown in pots, and for economy to the producer
they are grown too close together under both .sys-
tems ; they may make canes "four to .six' ' feet high
in either case, if " tied and nipped," and will ripen i
their wood. The canes will be weak or strong, in j
proportion to the sjiace between them, and the |
cleanliness of culture. We repeat, therefore, that |
good vines may be produced by either system, but |
we think more uniformly good i)lants would be pro- |
duced, when grown in the open air, as spoken of \
■vi'iiYi clean culture \ " tying and nipping," though j
probably they cannot be produced as cheaply as
"broad border" plants, but much cheaper than
those grown in pots.

We venture these few remarks, if any of them
are worth notice, give them to your readers.

[The roots were very fibrous, and some of them
5 feet long. The plant strong, weighing .3 ounces.
No one could wish better Concords. We cannot
help thinkingour correspondents misapprehend one
another. We do not think any of them assert pot
vines to be better than good vines raised out of
doors ; but that good pot vines are better than had
out-door ones. There are many kinds which no one
could grow out of doors equal to these Concords.
In that case pot plants may be better.

J

1^

ih^ hardener's Ponthlg,

139

The whole of this controversy arose, as we un-
derstand, from the opinions of some, that "poi
plants are good for nothing.^' — Ed.]

@

^,?i

ON THE R50VSMSNT OP SAP IN THB
SHELLBARK HICKOHY.

BY JOHN TOWNLEY, MOUNDVILLE, AVIS.

In the fall of 1864 I cut down three trees of the
Shellbark Hickory after the nuts had fallen, but
while the leaves were j'et green. They were allowed
to remain as they were felled until the approach of
winter, when the branches and upper part of the
trunks were cut oiF. The butts being to heavy to
load in a wagon were left until we could use the
sleigh. A deep snow fell which remained late, and
the logs were consequently not removed until most
of the snow had melted away.

On passing them on a sunny day, when the stumps
and the upper jjarts of the logs were bare, I noticed
that sap was oozing from the stumps, and that on
the south side especially there was a quantity of
froth which showed that air as well as fluid was es-
caping. On examining the logs I found that sap
was exuding from them also, most from the latest
formed layers of wood, gradually lessening in quan-
tity towards the centre ; many of the oldest layers
of heart-wood being dry. As the sap was sweet
and seemed as if it would flow from the logs, I
placed a platinum crucible, I happened to have by
me, under the end of one of them, intending to
evaporate the sap to see if the hickory would afi"ord
sugar as well as the Maple, but only a few drops of
a viscid and very sweet fluid were collected.

In the last week of 1865 I cut down another tree
of the same species. The branches were at once cut
off" and the trunk was cut into four lengths. On
the 8th of January I was led, by something I had
been reading, to examine the transverse section of
a veiy dry piece of oak wood, and as there appeared
something very difi'erent in the ai'rangement of the
tissue than I had seen figured or described, I was
led to go, axe in hand, to the woods for other speci-
mens, and thus came across the hickory I had re-
cently felled, and was somewhat surprised to find
that now, in the very midst of winter, the tree be-
ing severed from its roots, and the temperature be-
low the freezing point, the sap of the hickory was
fluid and in motion. At sunrise on the 8th the
temperature was 10° ; towards noon the wind was
southerly and the sun shining brightly, but not
able to melt snow where the edges of patches rested
on bear earth. Up to this time very little snow
had fallen, the ridges of corn land being bare, and

on the 15th of December when a grave was dug in
the town, it was found that the frost had penetra-
ted the ground about two feet deep, and from that
time to the 8th of January there were eight days
when the temperature was at or below zero. From
a branch of the hickory I cut a piece 7r inches
long, and If inches in diameter, this I took to the
house to see what would be the effect of a higher
temperature on the flow of the sap, and whether I
could ascertain by the aid of my lens from what
part of the wood the sap issued. The room was
heated by a stove and the sun was shining freely
and warmly through the two south windows. I
held the wood in a slanting position, near one of
the windows, and so that the sun could shine upon
it. The sap began to flow almost immediately the
wood was brought into the room, and seeing that it
was going to run off", I held a saucer underneath it,
and drop followed drop in quick succession ; I did
not count them, but judging by the quantity ob-
tained as compared with that of subsequent trials,
there would probably be about twenty. The drops
seemed limpid as water as they formed and fell, but
of a pale straw color when several had collected in
the saucer. This sap was not viscid to the touch,
and though sweet, not of that concentrated rich
sweetness I had tasted that day on the trunk, and
on the logs and stumps of the trees cut down the
preceding year. When the sap had ceased to flow,
the surface was wiped dry, and the wood placed on
the window sill ; on examining it near noon of the
following day I found that nearly all round where
the wood and bark joined, an irregular band of the
viscid, concentrated sap had issued. On directing
my attention first to that part where it was in great-
est quantity, it appeared as though it had come
from between the wood and the bark, resting about
equally on both ; but, on tracing further, I found
minute drops of this fluid which did not touch the
wood and which had evidently come from the bark;
still further on I found a part about fths of an inch
long where the bark was distinctly detached from
the wood, and on this bark there were small drops
of the thick fluid but none on the wood. Several
minute dots of fluid were noticed about mid-way
between the pith and the bark, on the aj)parently
compact wood between the concentric circles of open
vessels (vasiform or pitted tissue), which mark each
year's growth, but in no instance issuing from these
vessels.

Near noon on the 9th of January I again visited
the hickory ; the day was densely overcast and no
sap was flowing. I found that the trunk measured
26 feet long and was jjartly hollow, and that so far

ij«^

^y:r

iT

140

ij^([ (§mAtims (Ponthlj.

t^m

as stains caused by the running of the sap may be
taken as evidence, sap had apparently issued in
greatest abundance from the second cut of the trunk;
there were ten dark stains at each end where sap
had run down the wood ; there were no such stains
on the stump nor on the butt end of the first cut,
but some of the sap-wood had been evidently wet
with sap ; more had flowed from the upper end,
and more from the lower end of the third cut than
from the upper ; there were only fourstains on the
top end of this cut, and one had not reached the
pith ; there were no stains on the lower end of the
top-most cut, but sap had evidently oozed from
the wood ; the upper part of this was shaded from
the sun by branches which were laid across it, but
the others were alike, and freely exposed. From
observations on the wood of a tree, since cut down,
I found these stains were caused by the trickling
down of sap from the upper part of recently formed
layers of sap-wood, across the heart-wood and older
layers of sap-wood which were, at the time, dry and
from which no sap had oozed.

I cut down another hickory on the morning of
the 10th of January ; on the 10th, 11th and 12th
the temperature was 32° at sun rise, 17° on the 13th,
S° below on the 14th and 20° above on the 15th.
The weather was cloudy throughout, with light
showers of rain and sleet at first, and a howling
storm with much snow on the two last days. On
the morning of the 16th the temperature was 7°
the wind blowing fiercely from the west, the sky
cloudless and brilliant. The tree leaned to the
northeast, and the trunk was first cut half through
on that side, no sap was visible ; before I had cut
half through the opposite side, I noticed that sap
was springing from four or five of the last formed
layers of wood at the southeast corner. When the
tree fell the trunk was supported in a slanting posi-
tion by the branches, the butt end resting on the
stump, the southeast corner of the cut-surface be-
ing lowest. I took two nearly equal pieces of a
branch from this tree into the house ; one I set up
as nearly perpendicular as it would stand, in a cor-
ner of the window where the sun could shine upon
it, to ascertain if sap would flow from the upper
part when in that position ; the other piece I held
on my hand as before, the top part of the branch
being lowest. These were taken into the house at
9h. 45 m., and at 9h. 53 m. the fir.st drop fell, and
ten others as follows: 9h. 54 m., 55}, 662, 58, 50 ;
10 h. 1 m., 3, 4 J and 10. Sap had issued from the
piece set in the window suflicient to trickle two or
three inches down the bark. Both of these pieces
had a lateral branch which had been lopped off and

no sap had flowed from them, owing, apparently,
to the wood being sheltered. Another piece which
had two side branches cut off, .showed sap only at
the lower part, this was a clean solid cut, the upper
part and the two side branches were sheltered. A
branch about three inches in diameter had been cut
half through on one side, then turned over and cut
through on the other side ; one was a clean smooth
cut, the other had shattered the wood, the sap issued
from the part which was solid, but not from the
other ; there is an apparent dampness but no sap
flows. Sap, however, will flow if there is merely a
crack in the wood, it will also ooze from pieces of
the trunk when split as for stove wood, providing
the part whence the sap issues is compact and solid.

On visiting the tree about two o'clock I found
the sap flowing freely from both the .stump and the
trunk, and that an icicle of sap about 4 of an inch
wide, and one inch long had formed on the south-
east corner of the trunk, and sap was then flowing
over and dropping from it. After sundown I found
the wood still moist. I detached the icicle of sap,
for such it proved to be when taken into the house.
From the 16th the temperature continued so low
that no more sap issued from the butt of the tree
until the 23d. On the 17tli the temperature, at
.sunrise, was 1°, on the 18th 8° below zero, on the
19th ?, and on the 20th 14° below zero, and remain-
ed below all day with brilliant sunshine. On the
21st it was 10° below, and on the 22d 8° below. On
this day, the temperature at the time being 5°, I
cut a branch from the tree and took a piece into
the house to see whether and how soon after cxjjo-
sure to this protracted low. temperature the sup
would flow, and in 8J minutes the first drop fell.
This branch had grown more vigorously than any I
had previously examined, it was often years growth
and measured 2lth inches in diameter, the sloping
surface of the cut being 3] inches ; the last formed
layers of wood were also wider than the central
layers ; this afforded me a better opportunity of
determining from what part of the wood the sap
first appeared, and by directing my attention to this
from the first movement of the sap, I found that
it issued first and most abundantly not only from
the mo.st recently formed layers, but from the cir-
cumference of each layer ; I mean that of the
layer of wood last formed, the sap started from the
part next to the bark, and in each preceding layer
from the part adjoining the circle of vasiform tissue
of the succeeding years growth, so that there were
at first, bands or zones of fluid alternating witli dry
spaces.

A piece of branch from which the sap had ceased

.^

Sth^ hardener's (paniMg.

flowing, was put upon the snow outside ; another
similar depleted piece was placed in the cellar; they
were brought into the house again on the following
day, when sap oozed from the bark but none from
the wood.

Another piece of branch, about 15 inches long,
was cut in two immediately after the sap had ceased
flowing and again brought into the house, but no
sap appeared on the newly cut surface.

Two pieces of a branch were cut early one morn-
ing, one was laid across a plate in the warm room,
the other was put into a room without fire, and with
windows only to the W. and N., and in which water
would have soon frozen. When examined at noon,
sap had run from both ends of the former, the
latter had remained quite dry, but the sap sprung
from it soon after it was exposed to a higher tem-
perature.

On the 23d of Jatmary the temperature about
noon was 14°, and I noticed that globules of sap
had started on several layers of the wood on the S.
E. side of the butt end of the trunk, and that these
globules were as viscid and as sweet as the sap from
the bark, but of a paler color, looking very like
small drops of a thick solution of gum Arabic.
Nearly every drop contained a cluster of small air
bubbles. These drops were seated on the compact
wood, between the circles of vasiform tissue. From
the stump the sap appeared in greater quantity and
distinctly most from the circumference of such
layer of wood.

( Continued in our next. )

141

TH^ATMBBIT OP DAHLIAS.
BY J. P. NORRIS.

We believe that we do not exaggerate when we
state that more imperfect specimens of Dahlias are
seen than of any other flower. This is almost entire-
ly due to errors in their treatment. We are sensi-
ble of our lack of experience with this class of
plants, and only take up the subject because we
have seen but little written about it in the MontJdy,
and because we feel that we may be able to off'er a
few hints that may prove of benefit to the Horti-
culturist.

The Dahlia is, perhaps, one of the easiest of all
plants to degenerate. This is owing to two reasons
— first, that the root is often allowed to increase in
size, and is not properly divided ; and second, that
they are frequently planted too near together, and
the pollen of one plant impregnates another; an
imperfect flower being the result in future seasons.
Of this latter assertion we are not positively sure,

"■^SKT

but it is the only reason that we can see to account
for the alarming change in color in the flowers of
Dahlias planted near to each other.

If a Dahlia root is allowed to increase in size
from year to year, it is almost certain to produce in-
ferior flowers. The roots being so very large has
so many sprouts that each sprout chokes its neigh-
bor, and, hke a hill of corn, not properly thinned
out, the result of the whole is inferior. A medium
sized root will produce much finer flowers than a
very large one. But it is possible to go to the
other extreme and make the root too small. This
is frequently done by dishonest florists who are too
eager for gain. If you are buying a new and rare
Dahlia, however, you must not expect to get a very
large root. In the latter case it is advisable to
allow the root to expand all its energies on its growth
and not allow it to flower the first season.

Again, many Dahlias are much injured by allow-
ing them to flower as soon as they show any incli-
nation to. All buds that appear while the plant is
growing should be cut off; and although you de-
prive yourself of early flowers by this process you
secure much finer ones in the end. And who would
not have one perfect flower than a whole bunch of
imperfect ones?

Very many Dahlias are injured by planting too
early in the season. They spring up and make a
rapid growth and are in flower in July. The sun
being too hot for them at that time the flowers are
necessarily imperfect. We are of the opinion that
from the first to the fifteenth of June is quite early
enough to plant. Dahlias when planted at this
time, flower in September and October, when
the raj's of the sun have lost a great deal of their
power. Besides, in the fall there are comparatively
few flowers and it is then that Dahlias are apprecia-
ted ; but when they come in the full height of the
flower season, when roses and other finer flowers
claims the attention, they are very apt to be forgot-
ten or overlooked. The fall is undoubtedly the
time for the Dahlia.

During the Winter, Dahlia roots may be kept best
in some cold gi-apery that is unoccupied, or, if the
owner do not happen to have a house of that des-
cription, the cellar of a house, where the mercury
never goes below 40°, answers admirably for the
purpose. They should be spread on the floor and
kept constantly turned over to prevent sprouting.
In fact the same treatment that answers for the
potato, during winter, is just the thing for the
Dahlia.

When you are going to plant them, separate the
roots into parts consisting of one, two, or three

-MCll

m^

142

3^'he C^ardcner's J|lonthln.

tubers, according to its size. Before taking them
up the color and name should have been marked on
them, ?o that you can plant them with regard to
their color, and not indiscriminately as we have
seen them done.

We may be mistaken in our views of the cau>e
of the Dahlia degenerating, and if so will be happy
to be corrected through the columns of the Monthly.

l<»^.

THEORY OF COLOR ON HARDINESS.

i;V I). W. ADAMS, WAUKON, IOWA.

In regions like Pennsylvania, where the climate is
comparatively mild, the hardiness of different va-
rieties of cultivated trees and plants is a subject of
considerable interest ; but to us, of the extreme
northwest wheie the cold of Winter is so terribly
severe, absolute hardiness in tree or shrul) is the
yery first requisite. All other qualities are second-
ary in importance to this. During the last nine
years I have grown fruit trees by the 100,000 and
had them frozen to death by the 10,000 and had
other 10,000 so injured by freezing as to be utterly
worthless. Beside the discnuroQcments attending
this destruction, the loss pecuniarily has not been
small.

In view of these circumstances you will readily
believe that I should be more than ordinarily in-
terested in the discover}- of some rnle of general
application by which the hardiness of trees might
be approximately a.scertained without resorting to
experiments so costly in time and materials.

When Dr. Stayraan first advanced the theory that
color might be emploj'ed as a guide, I at once de-
termined to ascertain by actual application to prac-
tice, whether it was sufficiently correct to be of value
to the practical cultivator ; and most reluctantly I
have been obliged to decide that it is not of the
smallest po.ssible use here. His theory I will not
attempt to combat,— (perhaps I do not comprehend
it)^ — i,ut of its value as applied to actual opera-
tions in the field, I certainly think my very sure and
.somewhat extensive experiment qualifies me to
speak.

Dr. S. sent you .scions, which, as you truly said,
very prettily illustrated the correctness of his theory.

Now, if you will allow me, I will refer you to a
list of varieties that will prettily illustrate the con-
verse.

First, I will mention the Golden Russet (not
American), one of the most vigorous, hardy and
productive of all Apples, and having such light
colored, speckled shoots as to be quite conspicuous.

The Douglass is the lightest colored, both in tree

and fruit, in my collection, and fully equal to the
Russet in hardiness.

Kirkbridge White, tree and fruit very light and
extra hardy.

Tallman's Sweet for all the good qualities of tree
and fruit is A No. 1 in this climate, is a white
Apple and except the 1 j'ear shoots, a light colored
tree.

Jjarly Harvey, light wood, green fruit and hardy.

The well known Yellow Bellflower is also tolera-
bly hardy.

Ilawley, very light in tree and fruit, is above the
average in hardiness.

Lowell and Ilolden Pippin are light fruit, but
rather dark wood and extra hardy.

Tulpehocken, R. I. Greening, Fall Pippin and
Spire Sweet, are same color in tree and fruit as last
two, and verj- tender.

Black Gilliflower, Primate, Roman Beauty and
iNIother are dark in wood and fruit, and very
tender.

Baldwin, Beauty of Kent and Red Juneberry,
are dark wood and fruit, and are the three ten-
dere.st Apples on my list. After nine years ti'ial, I
have not a tree, of either, six feet in height.

I have 10,000 seedlings, eight years old, and am
unable to detect any difference in hardiness between
light colors and dark. I have 200 Pear seedlings 5
years old and the hardiest one in the lot happens to
have the lightest colored bark.

I have tried al)Oiit forty sorts of Pears. They
are nearly all dead, but of those that remain the
Winter Nelis is as hardy as any, and the lightest
colored.

Of Grapes I find the Northern Muscadine as
hardy as Concord. I find Delaware hardy as Hart-
ford Prolific. I find Catawba hardier than Isabella ;
Diana hardier than Union Village, and Rogers'
No. 3 hardier than No. 33.

Brinckle's Orange Raspberry hardier than Fas-
tolflF.

Now in view of these facts, is color of the least
particle of i)ractical value in determining the hardi-
ness of fruits. I am a laboring Horticulturist, in
a vigorous climate ; u\y bread and iw/to* depends on
my .securing hardy sorts of fruit.

Now, Mr. Editor, do yon advise me — in selecting
sorts — to take color of tree and fruit as my guide.

ARRANGEMENT OF PLANT-HOUSES.

BY AN IGNORAMUS, CINCINNATI, OHIO.

I have been studying, lately, the best way of con-
structing plant-houses, and the direction that they

m^

Carbtncr's Blon

Cbi'

should be placed, and I have come to the conclu-
sion that, with only one house to keep j'our bed-
ding plants, and to keep up a constant display of
flowers all winter, as I have to do, a low span roof
running east and west is the best foru) and direc-
tion for that purpose ; and I am convinced that a
good flue is the best mode of heating. By starting
the flue, on the south first, we have the heat on the
side where the light is.

I have a small house of this description, and the
south side has been a mass of flowers all winter,
while the north being from five to ten degrees
cooler, and not getting so much sun, does very well
for my bedding plants.

I have a pretty good collection of plants for one
small house.

I had in flower at one time Begonia fuchsoides
and alba, Sandersii, parviflora, and Verschaff'eltii ;
Ageratum, Heliotrope, Passiflora, Justicea, Ascle-
pias, Poinsettia, Heterocentron, Ilabrothamnus,
Stevia, Tropoeolum, Daphne, Euphorbias, Salvia
splendens major, Abutilon and several' others. I
have plenty of all colors but blue, — nothing but
Ageratum and some Heliotropes. Could Salvia
patens or the Delphinium formosum be made to
bloom through the winter it would be desirable ;
the Eranthemum pulchellum is one of the best of
blues, but as a general thing it does not make much
show, as one flower drops before another is open.

I am afraid that your advice about keeping plant-
houses diy in winter in the December number is
unsound.

I have an old boiler on my flue that I evaporate
water from to keep the house moist.

After reading your article I thought there might
be some sense in it, and so I put on the lid during
those two or three zero nights, and the result was
that the leaves of my Salvia, that I prided myself
so much on, for they were so fine and broad down
to the pot, turned yellow ; Heliotrope the same.

I will now give you a perfect and sure remedy
for the red spider. Take about a quart of fresh
lime, two handsful of sulphur, put into a tin vessel
and fill it full of water, and spread it on the flue
near the fire ; always keep it full of water, and you
will never see a red spider.

1 had written thus far when I received the Janu-
ary number of the 3IonfhIy, in which is a notice of
a Spring-house, in which some one keeps plants in;
and I almost think you were joking when you wrote
the article on letting out moisture, as it does not
accumulate much on the glass except in very severe
weather, when it is next to impossible to let it out.

We are having a very hard time of it with the

black fungus on the Verbena; unless we find some
remedy for it, we shall have to leave ofi" depending
on it for a bedder. If you know a remedy I wish
you would let us have it, and confer a great favor.

[We are always glad to hear from this correspon-
dent, who is one of the best practical gardeners we
have.

The object of the article in the December number
was to show how much moist air is a consumer of
heat more than dry air, — and how plants in an at-
mosphere saturated with moisture cannot grow be-
cause they cannot exhale. If plants do grow in an
atmo.'^phere considered to be moist, moisture must
escape some where, and the air is not continually
saturated. The fact that our correspondent had to
keep a pan to evaporate moisture, shows there was
a continual want to be supplied, and the air was not
saturated.

The Spring-house is no contradiction. The plants
were only there to be preserved in a state of rest,
not to groio ; and, moreover, the continual heat of
the spring kept up a continual warmth.

The Verbena rust is kept down by a continual re-
potting. We know a house of several thousand
that are in remarkable health. They have been
repotted three times through Winter — though now
but in 3-inch pots. — Ed. ]

TIMELY SUFFLIES OP GAEBEN SEEDS.

BY CHRONICLKR.

The hint given in the Monthly last spring, of
putting up seeds in boxes, in sufficient quantities
to crop gardens of various sizes, I observe has been
put into practice by the leading seed houses of
Philadelphia, and probably other places. The plan
works admirably ; scores of gardeners have told us
that they now can look before them to plan in ad-
vance, and execute with dispatch, and employers
enjoy the benefits thereby.

PROTECTION AGAINST RABBITS.

BY A. FENDLER, ALLENTON, MO.

After having tried, in vain, many things strongly
recommended as preventives against the gnawing
of the bark of young fruit trees by rabbits, I
find the mixture of slacked lime with a strong de-
coction of tobacco, applied with a brush to the
lower part of the stems, a most siu-e and reliable
means of keeping the rabbits away from the trees.

M)

144

Cbe @:irhntr's Hlontljlir.

Cl)t darkttcr's S^ontl)lg.

PHILADELPHIA, MAY, 1866.

23» AH Communications for the Editor sliouUl Im aJdresscJ,
"TnoMAs Mp.r.nAX, Gcrmantown, Philadelphia," and Business Lot.
ters directed to "W. G. P. Bbi>ckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertisins: see price 33.

Volumes 1,$1; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and7,unlionnd, $2 each.

IS THE QUALITY OP FRUIT AFFECTED
BY HYBRIDIZATION?

We have ever held to the doctrine, that a wide
spread belief in anything has some grains of truth for
its basis. Occasionally these may be very small,—
even to being of a different nature to general ideas
— but jet the foundation is there.

So when we started to examine the popular belief
that the flavor of the fruit of Squashes, Melons
and the like, is affected by hybridization, we were
predisposed to expect some facts might be found to
warrant it.

Until the past few years we have joined with
those intelligent Horticulturists who have taken the
negative view. Our Tomatoes, Squashes and other
vegetables have been set side by sido-in the full secu-
rity that only the seedlings from the hybridized fruit
would exhibit any change, — but the remarkable
difference in the characters of some fruits, as given
by different growers of the same varieties in sepa-
rate localitie.?, led us to suppose some other expla-
nation neces.sary than tho.se u.«ually given, — and
the result of our observations was, that there was a
great probability that the popular view of hybridi-
zation was ahead, for once, of philosophy and learn-
ing.

We gave our views fully, as far as our limited
ob.servations enabled us, in our last October num-
ber. Our "always welcome correspondent. Doctor
Stayman, in our last number, ably reviews the sub-
ject,— and leaves an impression on the reader's
mind, that there is not, and cannot be, any such
change as popularly supposed.

But to our mind, our intelligent correspondent
has not given as much weight to the Indian Corn
illustration as it deserves, — and for this reason —
what we call a pei-icarp is the covering to the
seeds? which changes its form after fertilization, be-
coming a very clo.se part of the fruit. The Indian
Corn has no perianth or pericarp to change,— and
there is no evidence to show that it might not

change if it had, — on the other hand the fact that
the quality of the seed is changed, and the testa or
outer skin of the seed is also changed in color form
and nature, is a fair ground for sujiposition that if
it had a pericarp in close relation to the seed, such
a structure might change.

Since we wrote our chapter we have met with
some further facts which confirms the affirmative.

During the discussion on Grapes in the Hall of
the House of Representatives, at Harrisburg last
winter, Mr. Mcrceron stated that sometimes the
Creveling Grape set with loose thin bunches, but
this he remedied by planting an occasional Concord
among them. This made the bunches compact,
and the hcrrics larger than when fertilized l>y its
own pollen. Mr. A. W. Harrison confirmed Mr.
Merceron's statement. Now, it seems to us that if
the berries, which are botanically fleshy pericarps
are increased in size, by hybridization, why may
they not be in other particulars? Certainly it
proves this much, that there is an influence exer-
cised on the fruit to some extent.

We have now before us a very interesting paper
jn the Comptes Rendus, a popular French scientific
periodical, by Monsieur Henri Couschet, (tome GO,
page 229), " On the effect of crossing some of the
southern vines of France with the variety Le Tein-
turier. " This variety of Grape was crossed with
the varieties I'Aramon, la Carignane, le Grcnache,
all white kinds. The bunches on these hj'bridizcd
plants had grapes of two kinds, as in our hybridized
corn, some with white berries and others with the
colored le Teinturier.

This fact tells its own story so clearly, that we
think we may take it for granted that populiar
opinion is correct, — that fruits are affected, injuri-
ously or beneficially, by the pollen they are fertil-
ized with, — and that it is of first importance to
cultivators to recognize the fact.

In Strawbeny culture the importance of the
principle is manifest. Many have a preference for
growing pistillate varieties, and procure a few pollen
bearing kinds to fertilize their beds. If they want
good flavored fruit, it will be important to have
this quality in the fertilizer. If size is an object,
this also can be assisted in the selection of the male
parent.

And again it will be well for the much abused
"Committee-man" to assure himself that when
praising up some extra fine Crevelings he has got
the real thing, and is not robbing the Concord of that
which is due, — and more than all "Ye Committee-
man" himself will learn not to laugh too heartily
at the mistakes of his compatriot, who may happen

.i/V

Clje ©arbcntr'ri |Hout|}li|,

145

not to see wherein his Mcx\voy differs from Russell's
Prolific, — nor, in truth, will "Ye Editor" have
much reason to complain in his turn if some strange
decisions are sometimes made in view of the strange
developments herein recorded.

A CHAPTER ON OAKS.

"We have before us the 16th volume of De Can-
dolle's Prodromus, issued about aj^ear ago. It com-
prises the natural order of Cvpidiferce, of which
the oak constitutes the greater part. The volume,
of course, is devoted strictly to the science of
Botany, — but there is so much that will interest
the American Aboriculturist, that we have thought
a chapter might interest many of our readers.

The author includes only four genera in this
natural order. Quercus, or the Oak familj', em-
bracing 281 species; Castanopsis, a genus partak-
ing partly of the character of the Oak and partly
of the Chestnut, 14 species; Ca.stanea the Chest-
nut, 3 species; Fagus the Beech, 15 species.

The geography of the Oak is interesting. It
seems to take its rise in the British Isles with what
is known as the Quercus rohiir or British Oak. As
it extends southwardly to France and Spain the
species increase, but not much, until touching the
jMediterranean a natural boundary is reached in the
Atlas Mountains in Africa, beyond which the Oak
is unknown. Indeed, but a single species has a
foothold in Africa, and that merely in the narrow
strip of land between the Atlas Mountains and the
sea, — for after all it seems mountains and not seas
govern the distribution of plants over the sur-
face of the globe. Running eastwardly along the
Pyrennean Mountains to the Mountains of the Cau-
casus the number of species is continually on the
increase in all the paralells of longitude north of
this line. This boundary here deflects southwardly
following the line of the Himalaya Mountains to
the eastern side of the Bay of Bengal, continuing
on to the I^Ialaccas, Sumatra and crossing the line
to Java where it stops, as does, indeed, most of the
European and Asiatic forms of vegetation ; giving
place here to the curious Australian types. North
and east of this line is the home of the Oak in the
Eastern Hemisphere. Europe having about 28
species and Asia 121 — some of these, however,
bordering along the Black and Caspian Seas, being
common to both quarters.

Crossing from the British Isles over the Atlantic
to about the same parallel of latitude, the Oak com-
mences at the Grulf of St. Lawrence with the Red
Oak [Q, rubra) and White Oak (Q. alba), they

increase, but not considerably along the line of the
Alleghanies, until pa.ssing around through Tennes-
see to Texas into Mexico, they find themselves at
home again in great numbers, decreasing to its
southern point in New Grenada, where the last is
found. The number of species on the American
Continent De Candolle makes 119.

As in every new arrangement of plants the names
of many of these Oaks are disturbed. As knowl-
edge increases the new facts must necessarily influ-
en e new views. In some points, however, we
should differ with the learned author. He, for in-
stance, concludes on reducing our Black Oak ( Q.
thictoria^ of Bartram) to a variety of Scarlet Oak
( Q. cocdnea, Warg).

He takes four varieties and classes them all under
the name of Quercus coccinea. But the scales of
the cup in the Scarlet Oak are always united to the
cup, — which in the Black Oak are always free, giv-
ing the cup a burred appearance ; and the flesh of
the scarlet nut white or yellowish white, while in
the black it is orange, and these characters seem
so regular and constant to each kind, that in addi-
tion to the other points marked by Michaux, Wan-
genhiem, and others, we might hoi)e to see it con-
sidered a distinct species.

The much disputed Bartram Oak ( Quercus hefer-
ophyUa) the author classes as a variety of Q. aqua-
tica, the southern water Oak, — in which he is cer-
tainly mistaken. Its proper alliance is with Q.
Phellns as its seedlings satisfactorily show. It has
the Polymorphous foliage, but not the persistence
which marks the leaves of the water Oak ; which
last is one character particularly and justly pointed
out by De Candolle himself as distinguishing the
water from the willow Oak.

In speaking of the Quercus fnstigiafa, or as we
call it in our garden language, the Lombardy Poplar
Oak from its fastigiate habit, the author sajj's it
grows "in woods in Calabria, and in the southwest
of France." We had always supposed this to be
a mere nursery form, and not a fixed wild form.
If this be so, it should reproduce itself from seed
which it produces freely when young, — and thus
make this beautiful and picturesque tree as common
in our landscape scenery as it deserves to be.

Of the Oaks of the Atlantic States, we are re-
minded by this enumeration of one which few lovers
of American Oaks know to exist — Quercus Geor-
gi'ana, described by A. Curtis in the American
Journal of Science and Art, in 1849. It is inter-
mediate between the Pin Oak and the Scarlet Oak.
It is a bush, — probably confined to Georgia, and
does not exceed 10 feet high.

m-^

(m

146

f |e ^iiihntH lllontljtn.

STUPENDOUS AMERICAN ENTERPRISE.

Uncle Samuel has often astonished Master Bull
and Johnny Crapeau by some wonderful feats of
Necromancy. These venerable gentlemen had no
sooner shouted "the great Republic is no more,"
than they were astonished by the re-appearance of
the young fellow in full dress. TTncle Samuel intends
again to astonish the Barbarians ; this time in the
arena of peace instead of the arts of war. In
the person of bis distinguished representative the
Honorable Isaac Newton, he intends to try the
wonderful feat, perfirniod for the "first time on
any stage," of sending ^n* American fnrm to Europe.

In the monthly report of the Department of
Agriculture for February, 1806, we find the follow-
ing a.stounding proposition :

" Our country has many such farms" (that is
grain producing, grazing, mixed husbandry, etc.,
which no doubt foreigners will think very remarka-
ble), "and it ought to bo, as it doubtless will be,
the pride of individuals, of county Societies, but
especially of State Boards of Agriculture to hive
them properly exhibited in such an European expo-
sition as that in Paris certainly will be."

After the exhibition of the great resurrection
feat, this n<'W illustration of our amazing power in
sending a real farm to Europe may seem trifling to
foreigners, — but to us who have to foot the bills it
may afford some explanation of the Honorable
Isaac's answer to the question of the Committee of
Congress as to where the money went to, that his
exi>enses " had certainly exceeded his most sanguine
exjicctations. "

NYCE'S SYSTEIW OF PRESERVING FRUIT.

The system of Prof. N3ce, which we believe our
journal was the first to bring prominently into no-
tice, has not only sustained the promise we per-
ceived in it from the evident correctness of the
principles on which it was founded, — but in prac-
tice it has fully come up to the best anticipations
formed of it. Very few u.seful inventions have
been at once perfected, and there can be no doubt
this one of Prof Nyce will receive numerous
" finishing touches" before it leaves the hands of
our successors.

Those of our readers who are convenient can see
a house in practical working at Trenton, New
Jersey, and which fully corroborates all that has
been said of it.

We take it for granted, from what has already
been done, that these houses will be established
eventually in every large town, — and it opens up a

brilliant prospect to the fruit grower, to whom any
thing that tends to ])rolong the marketing seasons,
or adds to the consumption, must possess a great in-
terest.

When the discovery was first madeof the method
of preserving Peaches in "self-scaling" and other
cans and jars, — we poiiited out to the Peach grower
what an immense influence this practice was going
to have on widening the market, and consequently
raising the price both for trees and fr\iit. Many of
our readers took the hint, and planted largely.
Some of them to the great amusement of their
neighbors who abhor "book learning," sowing
from /«!/?• to six hundred bushels of Peach sfotien in
a single season. Yet these men were soon sold out
of stock, and at this moment a man with a million
of Peach trees could readily sell them all, and any
amount of fruit find a ready market and at high
prices.

Prof N3'ce's sy.stem, so far as we have been able
to judge fairly of it, has not been completely siic-
cessful with some kinds of fruit — we have no doubt,
such is our faith in the soundness of the principles,
that all these difficulties will be overcome ; but in
some the success is all that can be desired. Of
these successful classes are the Apple and the Grape.

We feel quite safe in predicting for these two
fruits what we heretofore did of the Peach, an
"immense run." Notwithstanding the heavy
amount of these things that have been demanded
by the j^ublic, during the past few years, it is
nothing to what it will be ; and he will be wise who
looks ahead and prepares for it.

23^ Communications for tliis d.-partmeut iiiiist reach tlio Editor
-)a or before :lie 10th of the month.

JCj^rho Kditor cannot answer letters for this liepartment pri-
vately.

Treatment of Raspijerrtes — J. IT. F, says :
— " In looking over my No. for March, page 70,
article 'How to J*lant,' subject ''Raspberries,' I
noticed the following" (speaking of newly planted
Raspberry plants), " If any blos.soms appear, cut
them off, encourage the growth of the laterals as
much as you can, and, in the Autumn cut all laterals
back to six inches. Do not permit any suckers to
(jroio for a year or two.' The italics are mine, and
embrace the portions needing the main explana-
tion. What does the writer mean by the portion
quoted?"

®h^ (gardener's JHonlMg,

147

Souii AND Sweet Apples on one Tree —
^^ Many Readers," West Newton, Fa. — "I quote
from page 96, ' Proceedings of the Fruit-Growers'
Society, of Eastern Pa.,' subject 'Apples.' J. E.
Mitchell exhibited specimens of an Apple, the tree
bearing which was said to be the produce of a bud j
of Talnian's Sweet and Rhode Island G-reening, I
cut each longitudinally through the eye in halves, i
and the two halves of each set together forming
one bud.

"Is it possible to produce a tree in the manner
above described ?

" I have repeatedly heard practical nurserymen
state that it could he done, but they were persons
who were totally unacquainted with the science of
vegetable physiology. I have never been able to
meet any person who had performed the operation,
j'et many, as in the above case, ' know it had been
one.

[These Apples were from thefarmof L. Blodgett,
Esq., in Warren County, Pa. If we correctly un-
der.'^tand the statements of facts, it is that, " hun-
dred of buds" were experimented with, but "only
this one succeeded."

We believe they all failed, and always will fail,
from the impossibility, as we think, of ever divid-
ing the minute single cell which must constitute
the germ of the bud, so keenly as to unite them
again, and which we take it, would be necessary
to the perfection of the experiment. To our ob-
jections, we have been n)et with the remark,
" what signifies j'our theory when the facts are
against you, — theilJ are Talman's Sweets, and
there are Rhode Island sours — how else could they
come?"

How could a Nectarine spring out from a Peach ?
Any one can tell blindfold whether he is eating a
Peach or a Nectarine, they are as distinct in flavor
as these Apples, j-et it did so spring.

Sweetness or acidity in fruit is to some extent a
chemical rather than a totally constitutional ques-
tion.

The Vihiirmnn opuhis of Europe produces a bitter
disagreeable berry, — while the same species in
America bears them of so pleasant an acid as to
obtain the name for it of Mock Cranberry, — and
we know all our fruits vary individually in this res-
pect. There are no boundary lines between sweets
and sours therefore in nature. There must be some
place where there is a fusion — why not in the same
tree ? — in the same fruit ? The Rhode Island Green-
ing is one of those fruilts which is on the boundary
line between the sweet Apples and the sour Apples.
It is often a first-rate dessert Apple, — at other times

only fit to cook. We can readily understand that
with such differences in different trees, it is not im-
possible to see such an anomaly even in the same
fruit.

We should say that in this "one bud out of hun-
reds" which grow, the Rhode Lsland Greening germ
was uncut, and survived ; and that to the variable
character of this variety we owe the very remarka-
ble fruits exhibited.!

Nurserymen and their Customers — J. M. 31. ,
Neto Bedford, Mass., says : — " Your article on
Nurserymen and their Customers, in the April No.
tempts me to state a little grievance of my own.
I bought last spring (1865) twelve dozen of the

newest Belgium Strawberry plants of The

plants reached me in poor order, and some in a. state
of rapid decay. With the exercise of all the skill I
have, I could save but about one-third. Of one
dozen (Souvenir de Kieff) I lost all. Of another
(Lucas) I saved o)ie. Of another (Quinquefolia)

tico, and so I wrote to Mr. , stated the facts,

and asked him, not to replace the whole, but to
give me a dozen of the Souvenir. I am still wait-
ing for an answer to my letter. The result is, that
this Spring, when Mr. tempts me by adver-
tising another lot of still newer plants, I cannot buy
them — though I want them — for I cannot afford to
pay the price of a dozen for one poor decaying
l^lant. "

[We have cut out the name and address of the
Nurseryman referred to, as the object of our jour-
nal is, as we have often said, not to attack indivi-
duals, however much they may deser\"e attack ; but
to establish principles.

Another friend writes : — " I received eight weeks
since a case of plants from London. By bad pack-
ing the plants were destroj'ed. On hearing of what
happened they wrote, promising to duplicate the
whole lot next Fall. My experience of our dealers
is unfortunately such as to make me wish they
would imitate the high toned principles in which
the English and French houses conduct their busi-
ness." The morning of the day we got our friend's
letter, we happened to be talking to the Deputy
Collector of a large shipping port, who said that
the number of French nurserymen who attempted
to get goods into America on fraudulent invoices was
astonishing, — and equally astoni\shing was the num-
ber of American nurserymen who came forward
voluntarily to expose the fraud, abandoning the
profits to which they might be parties, for the sake
of an honorable principle. So much for the honor
of French nurserj'men, as opposed to dealers at

^"aa.

148

£hi* (Sardcntr's Jtlontjiln.

home. With respect to "English nurserymen," a
Ferlploca graca on our own grounds, sent us by a
famous London firm, which was to be a uhite Big-
nonia capreolata, tells its own tale. English '' high
toned" houses sent over last year jDof<Wd' Deutzia
crenata which proves to be the old single one, — and
we know of hundreds of similar instances.

We have found first-class houses in Europe.
There are first-class houses in America. With a
very extensive acquaintance all over the world, our
experience is that a larger per cent, of nurserymen
in America are intelligent and upright than in any
country on the globe.

We wi.>«h to be severe on all ignorant pretenders
and dishonorable practices,— and while fearlessly
exposing these we must be careful to do full justice
to the intelligence and honor which abundantly exist
among us.

Preservino Cabbage — P. aS. K., Cincumnti,
Ohio. — " In your last you refer to a plan for pre-
serving Cabbage through the Winter by burying its
roots upwards in the earth. I have never had the
best of success by various plans I have tried, and
jiropose to try this one next Fall, — but it is neces-
sary that we get at our's continually through the
Winter. By the plan referred to, can they be got
out of the earth? Further details of this plan
would olilige an interested reader."

[The way to presence Cabbage with the head
down is a very simple one. Choose a dry day, just
before Winter maybe expected to set in in earnest,
pull up the Cabbage and select all the good heads.
Those which are not veiy hard are better than
those ready to burst. Leave all the old, loose leaves
on. Select a piece of ground where the water will
not lie ; a long narrow piece is best — say 4 feet wide
and as long as may be desirable. Throw out the
dirt about ibur inches deep. The Avhole four feet
width, into which ditch pack the Cabbage closely,
and upside down. After they are all in, throw the
earth, previously thrown out, in amongst the roots
over the heads. A little rye straw or corn stalks
may be thrown over to keep the frost from pene-
trating deeply, — but this is not very essential, as a
hollow space being of course under the frozen earth,
it is fractured very easily by a blow from a mattock
or old axe, and the only leaves that adhere to the
frozen ground are the old leaves left on for this
purpo.se. In short, go ahead with the plan — you
will find there is no difficulty in getting out the
heads in the severest weather.]

J/,'7/.s, Wis., asks our opinion of the Honey Locust
for hedges. For lazy men who intend to neglect it,
it is one of the wor.st, as it soon grows up to be a
tree and a nuisance. A slow growing bush that
will not make a hedge in ten years is best for them;
but to him who can spare $5 per mile per year to
mow it in June, it is one of the very best things.
In very rich .soils we jirefer Osage Orange, but in
poor soils, or those that are thin and rocky, or
where the temperature is too cold for other things,
it is the best hedge plant we have.

Sawdust Stable Manure — J. 7)., Chicago,
III. — I can make arrangements with a large Express
stable in this city l()r all the manure made, by keep-
ing it hauled away Cgriitis) ; the bedding they u.se
is sawdu.st. My ground is a clay loam, with a stiff
calcareous subsoil, resting on a gravel bottom. Can
I use the above manure to advantage on my ground ?
I am informed by a Mr. Heath, (an amateur gen-
tleman) that he thought well of it. From your
high position as a Horticulturist and a practical
worker of the soil, your opinion through your
valuable Montlihj will be anxiously waited for by
your subscriber.

[You had better compost it one year before using,
mixing with it about half bushel of slacked lime
and half peek of coarse salt to each load ol' manure.
This will make of it an excellent fertilizer.]

The Honey Locust for Hedges— J. A. , Lake

Wild Sage. — Dr. Asa Gray kindly contributes
the following note: ''In reference to the Wild
Sage (.see Gardener's Monf1ih/,'A])Yi\ number, page
116)Lewisand Clarke, in their travels aero.'^sthe Col-
umbia River, fir.st speak of it; and all travellers over
the plains arc most familiar with it. It is their
fuel in certain parts of the Winter. The name
"Wild Sage" is giveji to several species of heavy
Artcmeslas, — specially to Jl. crtH«and A. tridentata.

Annoying to Contributors. — All of the cor-
respondents of this journal write solely for the
public good, without ]iay, and with no other expec-
tation of reward than the consciousness of adding
to the general stock of information. It is a great
favor to the public to have the experience of these
individuals, many of whom are distinguished in
their several branches of science and art. It is not
fair to "bore" them afterwards with i)rivate letters.
Because a man is willing to give information to ten
thousand at once, he may not be willing to write to
ten thousand individuals. The annoyance from
well-meaning men is so great that many do not like
to write to us at all, and others only under irutials

(3>>i

or assumed names, — and all of us are losers. A
correspondent sends us a sample one he has re-
ceived, containing a score of questions for answers,
which would require a large book to explain ; and
twentj'-five cents for a bundle of cuttings, which
the gentleman asks for, — which would scarcelj' pay
for the time, postage and labor of cutting.

No gentleman corresponds with a stranger with-
out some well founded grounds that such a liberty
would be excused, — and if such letters are always
thrown into the rubbish box, it might stop the nui-
sance, and give more encouragement to intelligent
correspondents to write for us.

Salt for Fungus in Hotbeds— J! G. B.,
FishldlL N. Y. — "Having read a communication
from Horticola, page ]03, in which he speaks of
common salt destroying fungoid growths in hotbeds
and on the outside of flower pots, please allow me
to inquire, through the MonthJjj, how and in what
state it must be applied in each case."

[The salt is simply sprinkled thinly over the sur-
face of the hotbed. It will kill plants, and of
course must be kept from them.]

Pears on Pear Stock— C. C, Germantown^
Fa. — "In the published report of the discussion on
'Diseases of the Pear,' of the Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society, to be found on page 93 of the
March number of the Gardener s Monthh/, the
writer is inade to say that Pears on Pear stock
transplanted one year from the graft could be per-
fectly trained and dwarfed, which is correct so far
as it goes. But he also .said they could be so ti-ain-
ed and dwarfed as to be made to bear as early as
those on Quince; that the trees wei-e healthy, and
retained their foliage till late in the sea.son, and
consequently matured their fruit to perfection,
while the contrary was the case with the Pear on
Quince. In proof of these facts he pointed to the
trees under his charge, many of those on Pear
stocks bearing the tJw-d year from the graft ; and
in particular to a ' Seckel' five years grafted, from
which was gathered, last season, a hitshel of that
delicious fruit.

I presume the reporter became so interested in
the discussion that he forgot to make notes, and
trusted entirely to memory for making out the re-
port, and thus overlooked the most important point
of the argument which I contended for, namely : —
that the Pear on Pear can be made to bear as early
as the Pear on Quince ; that the tree is longer lived,
is less subject to disease and the attacks of the
borer ; that the foliage is healthier, and the fruit

finer-grained and larger ; that the Pear is by con-
sanguinity the nearest relative of the Pear, and is,
of course, the true stock to graft on ; that the
Quince being short-lived, very subject to disease,
and having no affinities in common with the Pear ;
in short, having been tried and found wanting it is
time to dispense with that stock for grafting pur-
poses, and trust entirely to the natural mode of
grafting like upon like."

[It is but justice to our regular reporter to say
that he was unavoidably absent, and that the notes
furnished were the voluntary contribution of a
member of the Society, to whose kindness we are
much indebted.!

Effect of Wind on the Thermometer— J.
G. B., Fkhh'll, iV. Z— "Does wind affect the
mercury or simply the atmosphere ? I ask this as
I frequently meet persons who in.sist it does, while
I am of the opinion that it does not."

[Wind does not affect the mercury. We feel
cold more in windy weather than otherwise, because
by the mechanical force the cold air penetrates cre-
vices in our clothing or skin, and drives out the heat.
There are no crevices or pores in the glass of the
thermometer.]

Old but Beautiful Plants.— On a casual
visit to the nursery of R. Kilvington, the well
known Florist and Botanist of Philadelphia, we
were pleased to see many old things nearly forgot-
ten, that are very beautiful and well worthy of culti-
vation; among others Coronella varia, the old Bridal
Rose, Anemotheca cruenta. Cineraria amelloides,
Saxifraga umbrosa or "London Pride," Iris Chi-
nensis and Cereus Scottii.

Chili Strawberry— J". M. W. asks what are
"the peculiar excellencies" of the Chili Strawberry
"advertised in some catalogues." We do not
know, — nor to what catalogue he refers. Nothing
of the kind has come before our notice.

Ants in Hotbeds— JT G. B., FishJcill, JSF. Y. —
" Having been seriously interrupted by small brown
ants or mires working in my cutting bench, digging
holes down the side of my cuttings, thereby arrest-
ing the process of rooting.

" I have tried lime water, whale oil and soapsuds,
but with ill success. Is there any remedy? A
reply through the Monthly might, perhaps, be of
service to others as well as myself."

[Sulphur dibbled in the ant holes is the best
thing we know to drive ants away.]

E^Ao)

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150

Oi'jj^ Oiardmtr's (plonthlu.

La Constante and Kitley's Goliath Straw-
BEKUIES— .7. M. W. a-^ks for their history. The
last is an English variety, — the tirst was raised by
De Jonghe, of Belgium.

Communications. — Our first form, containing
communications, goes to press about the tenth of
the month. We have on hand several very inter-
esting ones which, b>it for this fact, would have
appeared in this number.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Charles N. Fiot, one of the earliest friends
of the Gardener s Monthhf, and a distinguished
amateur Horticulturist, died on the 8th of April,
at his beautiful country seat, at TJethlehem, Pa.

3Ir. Fiot came to this country from France many
years ago, and amassed a fortune as a dealer in
musical instruments. When he retired from busi-
ness he had the good sense which so few active busi-
ness men understand, that a life of mere "retire-
ment," without some object of interest to pursue,
would not long be a happy one. He therefore,
though considerably advanced in life, commenced
the study of the natural sciences, and was an ardent
lover of Horticulture. He became quite distin-
quishcd as a Botanist, — and his beautiful grounds
at Bethlehem showed that his studies in the art of
landscape gardening had al.^o been very effectual.

Mr. F. took a great interest in .seeing America
independent of all the world in wine manufacture.
A good judge of the wines of France, he assured
us, the last time we saw him, that tho.se produced
in tlio neighborhood of Bethlehem were equal to
tlie best wines of his own country, and the fact
seemed to give him great satisfaction.

As is the case with most men who keep up a
taste for gardening and natural hi.story to their ap-
proaching " three score and ten," Mr. Foil was
strong, active and a useful member of society to
the last days of a good old age ; and departs
sincerely mourned by a very large circle of friends.

jpooks, (Jaffllogupx, %r.

Country Life.— By B. Mc^rris Copeland. Bo.s-
ton : Published by Dinsmore & Co.
It is very plexsant to notice the passage of this
beautiful work through lis Jiftli (dUion.

A work .so well known and apjjreciatcd as this of
.. Mr. Copeland'.s, scarcely needs a full description
/^ from us, — especially for our readers, many of whom.

no doubt, already have it on their library shelves.
For the benefit, however, ol'the few who have not,
we may say that the work treats of the erection,
arrangement and management of greenhouses and
plant structures of every kind, with all their vari-
ous details and matter of arrangement.

The flower-garden, kitchen and fruit-garden, the
farm and the garden, — in fact "country life," in
its widest acceptation — all have a due share of the
author's attention, — arranged in chapters suited to
each month in the year.

In a work, and so large a work, mainly filled
with practical directions, it is to be expected that
something would be recommended on which practi-
cal men would not agree. We notice many of those
"bones of contention," — particularly one, on an ac-
cidentally open page before us as we write, that the
Butter Pear can be kept from cracking by a thick
mulching of old chips and river waste. We have
the.se two articles in abundance in this neighbor-
hood, and those who have faith in the plan can
settle here and plant a hundred acres of the White
Doyenne, and if they will only produce the Pears,
we will guarantee a hand.some fortune on them.

We do not regard any of these matters as any de-
fect in the work, — on the contrary, we are the rather
pleased, as it shows in Mr. Copeland that desire for
originality and an independence of thought which
always distinguishes the real and useful author
from the mere book maker.

HFbi enb ^orp 'JPIenh*

New Pink. — Mr. Peter Henderson is sending
out a new hybrid Pink called 'iSarah Howard."
It is double wliite, with much of the Cliinese habit,
and judging iVom a flower we have seen, we take it
to be a very desirable plant.

Variegated Antirrhinum, "Silver Belt." —
This we also have fronj IMr. Henderson. It has
very pretty variegated leaves. The flowers we havi;
not .seen.

A New Edible Plant op California. — Col.
A. B. (rray discovered a singular plant, which
grows parasitically on old roots in a shady, forlorn
desert in the Gulf of California. It is said to be
very luscious when fresh gathered and cooked, re-
sembling in taste, but more delicate than the Sweet
Potato. It is allied to the Monotropa and otiicr
Orobanchaceous Plants of tht- l<>astern States. Dr.
Torrey has described and figured it in the 8th vol.

'Ti^ ^'

^m.

i■;^JC^-

! i

M\\\ darbener'fi (Blouthlg.

151

of the Annnls of the Lyceum of Natural History
of New York, and calls it Ainmohroma Sonorce —
" Sand foot of Sonora."

Begonia baccata.— Discovered bj- 3Ir. Gustav
Mann, collector for the Roj^al Gardens, Kew, in
the Bight of Benin. It is a robust Begonia, with
a baccate fruit ; hence its name (curiously confound-
ed with B. Mannii in Dr. Hooker's description,
which perhaps would lose nothing by being rewrit-
ten). The stem is tall and stout, leaves six to ten
inches long, broadly orbicular-cordate, suddenly
tapering to a long point. Flowers monoecious, two
inches and a half across, white, or white and pink.
— Botanical Magazine.

Cereus Macdoxaldl-e. — A magnificent Cereus,
which bloomed first in 1851, was figured a few years
ago at table 4707 of the Botanical Magazine under
the name of Cereus Macdonaldise, having been re-
ceived from Hondurus from Mrs. Gen. Macdonald.
A casual observer, as Sir W. J. Hooker remarks,
might pass the plant as an unusual large flowered
night-blooming Cereus, but the slightest inspection
of the stem and branches and the different nature
of the flower-bud, the patent petals, and above all
the great size of the flowers — 14 inches in diame-
ter from tip to tip of the sepals, and 14 inches
from the base of the calyx to the tip of the stigma
— all indicate a most distinct species. The plant
is now out of flower, but a comparision of the two
species even in this condition is quite enough to
justify their separation.

Sir W. J. Hooker, in a letterreceived very lately,
remarks, " It has. been justly observed in a note to
the description of this plant in the Botanical Maga-
zine, vol. 79, t. 4707, that the figure reduced to
one-half its natural size gives no idea of the magni-
ficence of the flowers themselves. The plant at
Kew, covering a great extent of wall and the rafters
of the hothouse, has blossomed most freely during
the present suuiiner (i8G5);" and Mr. Gower, fore-
man of the propagating house at Kew, has com-
municated the following memorandum on the sub-
ject:— "The Cereus Macdonaldioe having flowered
remarkably well this season, I have ventured to
trouble you with the following note concerning it.
The period of flowering has extended over six
weeks. Upon one occasion (May SOih) eleven
blooms were expanded at one time ; upon another
ten, and several times seven blossoms were open in
the evening. During the month of May 37 blooms
expanded, and in June 46, making a total of 83
blooms. A very great many more buds were form-

ed, but the plant had not the power to open them."
It is greatly to be regretted that this and other
nocturnal species of the genus can be seen by those
only who watch the progress of the flowers and
visit the houses after sunset in the evening, or be-
fore sunrise in the morning. — (jard. Chronicle.

Sparaxis pulcherrima.— One of the many
gems for the herbaceous border introduced by
Messrs. Backhouse, of York, who flowered it in
October last. The specimens were produced from
the district between the Keiskamma and Buff"alo
Rivers, on the eastern side of South Africa, and
grew in a rich black soil. The leaves are sword-
shaped, rather thick, scape very tall and slender,
attaining six feet in its native habitat, branches
curved from the weight of the pendulous flowers,
which are campanulate and a dark blood- purple
color. "A more lovely and graceful plant, from
its extremely tall and slender stems and tiers of
drooping flowers, cannot well be imagined." — Cot-
tage Gardener.

Epidendrum myrianthum.— This charming
Epidendrum has been in the country many years,
but could never be induced to flower, having proba-
bly leea kept too warm. The plant flowered in
June last in one of the coolhouses at Knypersley,
and continued long in beauty. The flower stems
are a yard high, and carry numerous racemes den-
sely furnished with spikelets of small flowers of a
brilliantpurplish-ro.se or magenta color. — Botanical
Magazine.

inmmit im

mn.

Sweet Apples in Illinois. — I am pleased to
see the much-neglected subject of sweet apples
attracting some attention just now. I have taken
pains to collect nearly all the sweet api)les that I
can hear of, and am in hopes in a few years to be
able to recommend a list of six or eight that will
give F. G entire satisfaction. From my expe-
rience thus far I recommend the following :

1. Sweet June is all that can be asked of it.
(August).

2. Golden Sweet, is the best of its season. Fruit
large but not very good. Tree hardy and produc-
tive. (September).

3. Sweet Nonsuch, Tree hardy and productive.
Fruit medium, very sweet, crisp and juicy, (Octo-
ber to January).

m

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152

She Cl^arbtufr's Hlonthln.

C:-*

4. Ramsdell's Sweet. Tree productive. Fruit
large, very handsome, and good. (October to
Januar}').

5. Paradise Winter Sweet. This fills up the bill
completely, except that it is not a very early bearer.
(November to February).

6. Broadwell Sweet. Tree hardy, and very pro-
ductive. Fruit always fair, large, handsome, sweet
and juicy. Not very rich, but we can't do without
it.

The above all coik well, e.xcept the Golden
Sweet. That I am a.shamed of, and am in hopes
it will soon have to give way fir something better.
— \V. Cutter in Frairie Furmer.

A Quick Process to Make Tar.— Split up a
parcel of rich light-wood — enough to fill a large pot
or kettle ; put it in end-ways, not quite so long as
the pot or kettle is deep ; put it in tight so that it
will not slip when the vessel is turned uj) .side down ;
have a smooth, slanting place to put it on ; when
it is placed, have mortar made of clay, put it round
the edge of the vessel except at the lowest side ;
have a hole in the ground for the tar to run in ;
make a fire on the vessel and around it except
where the tar is to run out, and you will soon be
the owner of a lot of tar. Quantity according to
the size of the pot or kettle, and richness of the
pine.

A short time since, I commenced after breakfast,
split up the light-wood, put it in a fifty gallon ket-
tle— rather poor pine — and a little after dinner I
had upwards of four gallons good tar. — J. Farrak
in Southern Cultivator.

Dr. Thomas B. Wilson.— We gave a short
notice of the death of this distinguished, but sin-
gularly modest and unassun)ing devotee of science,
at the time. The following details of his life, in
addition to what we have said, deserves a place in
history :

Born in Philadelphia in 11^07, he went to Eng-
land with his father in 1S20, and was placed at
school in Darlington in the north of England. Re-
turning in two years he h»ecame an aj)preMtico to
the study and practice of Pharmacy in Philadel-
phia, which gave him great opportunities for gain-
ing a knowledge of the wonders of the physical
universe. These studies fitted him for cfjlloge and
he graduated from the University of Pennsylvania
in ls.30, and thenceforth devoted his time and talent
to the study of the Natural Sciences, pursuing
them both in this and foreign countries ; and in
order to become better acquainted with subjects

that engaged his special attention,. making exten-
sive tours of observation in Europe and America.
Besides making excursions as a naturalist through-
out our own countrj' and Canadas, he made five
visits to Europe, and traveled in England, France,
Switzerland. Italy. Belgium. Holland and (xorniany,
in pursuit of that knowledge and information which
conies onh' from jiersonal observation.

He wasone of the imncii)al founder of the Acade-
my of Natural Sciences of thecity of Philadelphia —
and of the Entomological Society of Philadelphia —
a young but most useful and worthy institution, and
the only one of its kind in this country. To these
associations for the advancement of science. Dr.
Wilson was most strongly attached, and was muni-
ficent in his donations to them. To the former, in
money, books and articles for its museum, lie gave
$200,000, and to the latter $26,000. He also gave
his entire medical library to the Philadelphia Medi-
cal Society, and books to the value of $1,500 to the
Pennsj-lvania Historical Society. To all there mu.st
be added his entire time and energies during his
whole life. Other men have donated larger sums
for benevolent objects, but Dr. Wilson's great merit
consists in this, — that he appreciated the paramount
claims of the Natural Sciences, especially at a time
when they were much more overlooked than they
are now.

Yield of Yokohama Squashes. — T find that
they yielded with us the past sea.*<on from 20 to 30
Squashes to the square rod, averaging four or five
pounds each. Tliey are very heavy in proportion
to their size, the seerls being small, and contained
in a very small cavity. The flesh is very dry, sweet,
fine grained, and of a rich orange color. When
cooked they make the best substitute for Sweet
Potatoes of any thing I know of; and for i>ies I
think them equal to any other Squash. They ri-
pened here in Connecticut the past sea.son, but re-
quired the entire season in order to mature before
frost. The Squashes keep very well, but I think
not quite as well as the Hubbard. The stems of
the Yokohama, where they join the Squash, are
nearly square, a peculiarity I never saw in any
other Squash. — CoR. OF Country Gentleman.

Plum Stocks for the South. — We have only
succeeded with two kinds of stocks — the Harpeth
and the large Chickasaw, (not the broad leaved
sloe). The Harpeth Plum is a thrifty, strong grow-
ing sort tJiat lives from cuttinr/a and never suckers.
We prefer it to all others. We like the Chicka-
saw nearly as well, but only to be u.sed for grafting,

-r<^'

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Cjje Carbtiun S^o^ttj'K*

153

and in this way : Take pieces of the root, four or
five inches long, and graft upon it, by the splice
method, a scion of the variety you wish to propa-
gate, fully eight inches long. Bury the junction at
least four inches beneath the surface of the ground
in planting, and in two or three years you will have
a Plum tree on its own roots, independent of the
weak growing Chickasaw, and with no tendency to
sucker. — Southern Rural.

Black Warts on Plum Trees : A Remedy.—
It is now 30 years since I set out Plum trees in my
garden ; when they began to blossom, black warts
began to grow, and in three or four years all were
dead. After that I procured ten trees of a nur-
seryman and set them, and when they began to
bear, black warts made their appearance. Haying
seen an account in the Cultivator that iron turn-
ings, if applied to the ground round the tree, would
stop their growth, I tried them. I procured a
quantity from a machine shop, applied about a
quart to a tree, hoeing it in all round, two feet from
the tree; at the same time, (it was Spring) removed
the black wart ; I did not see any more, except two
or three which I supposed escaped my notice at the
time of the application, for more than 12 j^ears.
The trees after bearing first-rate, have mostly gone
to decay, three only remaining. This last Autumn
1 discovered a few warts on one of the remaining
trees. The account above alluded to said, if a few
nails were driven into the ground, it would answer
the same purpose. — D. Fisher, Boston Cultivator.

A Large Vine. — On the seacoast, between Tyre
and Sidon, is a very ancient mulberry garden, sur-
rounded by some enormous Olive trees, whose hol-
low trunks attest their great antiquity. By the
garden side stands a cool fountain, fed by one of
the mountain streams, so welcome to the traveler
for his noontide rest when travelling through that
thirsty land. After resting awhile at this pleasant
spot, we rambled through the garden of Mulberry
trees, partly for the sake of taking the fruit, but
more with the intent of learning something about
the rearing of silk-worms, which was there in full
operation. Whilst admiring the great size of the
fine old Mulberry trees, I happened to notice the
bark of a tree which appeared so vine-like in its
character that I stopped to examine it, and, to my
surprise, found that it was really a Vine of most
enormous dimensions ; it rose by two main stems,

and fairly rested upon six or eight of the large
Mulberry trees around. I measured the two stems
a few inches above the ground ; the larger one was
50| inches in circumference, the smaller 40 inches.
I endeavored to trace out the area covered by its
branches, but could not obtain an exact measure-
ment, for the branches had rambled most irregu-
larly. It had a splendid crop of very large bunches
of grapes then, but in an early stage of growth,
and I was told that it is a black variety. My
impression is that it is one of the largest Vines in
the world, and it would well repay a visit to Ein-
el-Kanterah," for that is the name of the spot, if
it be sought for by any of your readers, whose
rambling propensities may carry them along that
seashore. — W. Wankltn in the Cottage Gar-
dener.

A New Work on the Strawberry has ap-
peared in Europe, called :
Le Fraizier. Par Le Comte Leonce de Lamber-

tye, Paris: 8vo., pp. 392.

This is a work extending to nearly 400 pages on
the Botany, History and Cultivation of the Straw-
berry. The author recognizes eight species, dis-
tributed as follows: — three European: Fragaria
vesca, F, elatior and F. collina ; three American :
Fragaria chiloensis, F. Virginiana and F. Grrayana ;
two Asiatic : Fragaria Daltoniana and F. nilgher-
rensis.

There are numerous varieties of F. vesca ; but
the best, and most generally cultivated, is the sem-
perflorens, comprising the Red Alpine, and its sub-
variety the White Alpine. The Red and the White
Wood Strawberries cannot be considered distinct
from the Red and AVhite Alpines, for these if not
renewed by .seed will degenerate and become similar
to the wood varieties ; that is to say, instead of be-
ing tolerably large, conical and sometimes cocks-
comb-shaped, they will assume a small and round-
ish form. There is a sub-variety, Fraisier de Gaillon
{efflagellosa semperflorens) which does not emit run-
ners, and is also known under the name of F. dcs
Quatre Saisons sans Coulants. The variety called
muricata, or-F. de Plymouth, was described by
John Tradescant, in 1633, and he states that it was
cultivated as a curiosity by a lady at Plymouth.
The original has, no doubt, been lost; but it ap-
pears to have been only a sport or monstrosity from
the Alpine, with the petals and stamens transform-
ed into leaves. F. vesca var. monophylla, a Feuilles
simples, is a variety raised by Duchesne, at Ver-
sailles, in 1761. The leaves consist of only one
leaflet instead of the usual number, three. K

c

MC)

154

h^ (gardener's (plonthli).

Mi

(d

vcsca var. cjihigrUis, Fraisier sans Coulants and F.
Buis-son, Bush Alpine, is like the Wood Straw-
beriy. but makes no runners. Tliis was formerly
much used for edgings, and is still sometimes em-
ployed for that purpose. It must not be confound-
ed with the variet}', des Quatre Sai.son sans Filets,
which, however, may be substituted for it. F.
vescn var. muUipkx Fraisier a fleur double, the
Double-flowering Strawberry, had, it is stated, dis-
appeared from the gardens in France, but had been
latterly reintroduced by M. Gloede from England.
Another variety of F. vesca is still cultivated in
some districts near Paris, under the name of Fraise
Petite Hative de Fontenay-anx-Roses. It ripens
five or six days earlier than the earliest of the other
varieties.

Frar/nri'i ehitior, Caperon commun, F. Caperon,
is the Ilautbois of the English. It appears that
the French have employed the term Cajteron as we
have done that of Hautbois, to designate not only
the Ilautbois proper, but also any other large
Strawberry of the Pine or Chili breed ; and hence
a considerable amount of confusion arose. Comte
de Limbertye reduces the varieties to four, besides
the Belle Bordelaise, and this he might have in-
cluded with the Caperon Iloj-al, our Prolific or
Conical Hautbois, which it has proved to be. It
may be useful to give the synonyms of the Haut-
Ixjis according to the author's arrangement, as he
has evidently taken great pains to ascertain them
according to the different authors who have written
on the subject. The Caperon Royal, Caperonier
Royal, Caperonier parfait, Caperon hermaphnKlite,
Caperon de Bruxelles, Caperon de Fontaineblcau,
Prolific or Conical "Strawberry" (Hautbois), or
Double Bearing, is very well described ; but the
description of the Caperon Frambois, taken from
Duschesne, is somewhat imperfect ; it is probably
the Large Flat Hautbois. The Caperon Abricot,
Caperonier Abricot, le Caperon abricote, la Fraisier
abricotoe, is described as roundish or ovate, very
large, brown-red, its flavor being the same as that
of the common Hautbois. The Black and the
Monstrous Hautbois are also mentioned ; and final-
ly the Belle Bordelaise, stated to have been ob-
tained in lti54 by M. Lartey. This last appeared
in foreign and English catalogues as a new sort ;
but on fruiting in this country it was at once re-
cognized as not differing from the Prolific or Coni-
cal Hautbois ; and with the latter Con»te de Lam-
bertye's description of La Belle Bordelaise perfect-
ly agrees.

Fragarla colluia. — Six principal varieties are
enumerated, and numerous sub-varieties, which

have given rise to a confused nomenclature, which
the author has cleared up to a considerable extent,
though practically, as regards cultivation and utility,
they are really not worth the trouble. Such for in-
stance is the Fragaria colUna ahorlioa, F. Ct)ncon,
Breslinge Concon, Breslinge Borgne, F. Aveugle
des Anglais, &c. The only one which, in our
opinion, deserves notice in this group is the Grreen
Strawberry. It is very different from the Alpine
varieties, and from all other.^. Its flavor approaches
nearer to that of the Pine-apple than does perhaps
the flavor of any other fruit. The question is, will
it hybridize with the Scarlet Strawberries? Doubt-
ful. Or with the Pine or Chili? Very doubtful.
But with the Hautbois there is every probability
that it would cross, and something very remarkable
might be the result. Many years ago it was found,
we believe, growing wild, at a place called Gofton-
burn, near Belsay Castle, in Northumberland. At
all events it doubtless exists somewhere in Elngland
and consetjuently may be obtained.

From the remarks in the second part of the
work, which relates to the geographical distribu-
tion of the Strawberry, it appears that Fragaria
vesca, from which the cultivated Alpine Straw-
berry has been derived, is the most widely dispersed
si)ecies of the genus. It is foumi indigenous in
certain localities from Iceland to Madeira ; and it
grows in Lai)land, the Caucasus, Siberia and the
Mongolian frontier of China. In the Alps it bears
fruit at the height of upwards of 5000 feet ; at
1400 feet it ripens in the beginning of July ; at
3300 feet a])out the middle of July ; and 4600 feet
in August and September.

The third part contains descriptions of 40 varie-
ties which the author considers proper for cultiva-
tion. The.se are arranged into several categories,
according to different points of merit. — Gardener's
Chronicle.

Races of the China Aster. — M. Carriere
writes as follows:

" When first introduced from China into France,
towards the middle of the 18th century, the China
Aster had single flowers of a pink, violet, or lilac
color, but the stems were slender, so that the flowers
were apt to droop. At the present time, from the
numerous seedlings which have been raised from
the Asters, plants have been obtained of great di-
versity in habit and appearance. Some are tall,
with rigid erect stems, others are almost stemless,
and all intermediate forms betwc^en these extremes
may be met with. Tiie flowers of these varieties
present the greatest differences one from another in

m

.^^/^

-(^1

Stjie ^ardcua's dltontjjtg.

155

color, in form and in size, and what is most remar-
kable is that they all .reproduce themselves (keep
true), and so form distinct races, even though
grown side by side.

" Some of the races are so entirely diflFerent from
the others that if their origin were not known, they
would be taken for diflFerent species. It will readily
be admitted tliat all these forms of Asters are the
result of natural selection and not of hybridization,
for with what pollen could the Aster be fertilized,
since it is the only species of its kind, and there is
no other species in cultivation among allied genera
sufficiently near it to allow of cross fertilization ?
Again, these plants are rarely visited by insects(?),
and these latter would have difficulty in reaching
the stigma, as this is much shorter than the tube
which contains it. ' '

Horticultural Congress in London. — Dur-
ing this month one of the largest gatherings of
Horticulturists the world has ever seen will take
place in London. We have not heard that our
country will be at all represented, all to whom invi-
tations have been extended, finding it not possible
to go, — the proceedings will be looked forward to
with much interest.

One Hundred Varieties op Hybrid Per-
petual Roses, classed in colors, that flower
FREELY IN FALL — Rose and Red. — xllpaide de Ro-
talier. Ales. Fontaine, Alphonse Belin, Alphonse
Karr, Anna Alexieff, Anna de Diesbach, Baronne
Prevost, Beauty of Waltham, Belle de Bourg la
Reine, Colonel Rougemont, Comtesse de Chabril-
lant, Comtesse de Courcy, Duchess of Sutherland,
Emile Dulac, General Wa.shington, Gloire du Sacre
Coeur, Joseph Fiala, Jules Margottin, Kate Haus-
burg. La Esmeralda, La Tour de Crouy, La Duchesse
de Morny, La Reine de la Pape, La Ville de St.
Denis Le Geant, Louis Van Houtte, Madame Dom-
age, Madame Eugene Verdier, Madame Hector Jac-
quin, Madame Knorr, Madame Victor Verdier, Ma-
tliurin Regnier, Marechal Canrobert, Marechal
Vailiant, Olivier Delhomme, Souvenir de la Reine
d' Angleterre, Victor Verdier, William Griffith,
Baron Gonella, Modele de Perfection.

Light. — Ange Gardien, August Mie, Caroline de
Sansal, Duchesse de Magenta, Duchesse d' Orleans,
Emotion, Imperatrice Eugenie, Lady Emily Peel,
Louise Darzins, Louise Magnan, Madame Alfred
de Rougemont, Madame de Canrobert, Madame
Derreus Douville, Madame Freeman, Madame
Rivers, Madame Vidot, Mdlle. Bonnaire, Virginal.

Crimson and Crimaon Shades. — Admiral Nel-
son, Alphonse Damaizin, Admiral la Peyrouse,
Baron Adolphe de Rothchilds, Baronne Pelletan
de Kinkelin, Bernard Palissy, Charles Lefebvre,
Claude Million, Clement Marot, Comtesse de Se-
guier. Due de Rohan, Due de Bassano, Eugene
Appert, Francois Lacharme, General Jacqueminot,
Gabriel de Peyronnj', H. Laurentius, John Nas-
myth, John Hopper, La Brilliante, Le Baron de
Rothschild, Lord Macaulay, Madame Charles
Wood, Madame Julie Daran, Maurice Bernardin,
Mrs. William Paul, Princess of Wales, Senateur
Vaisse, Sovenir de M. Rosseau. Vainqueur de Sol-
ferino.

Dark. — Abbe Reynaud, Alex. Dumas, Alfred
de Rougemont, Admiral Gravini, Deuil de Prince
Albert, Due de Cazes, Emperor de Maroc, Eugene
Verdier, Jean Touvais, Marechal Souchet, Monte
Christe, Prince Camille de Rohan. — Gardener s
Weekly.

FireProof Paint. — The following recipe for
fire-proof paint, is recommended by. an engineering
firm in New York, and indorsed by insertion in a
good English authority, the Building News : — 1 lb.
best blacklead, 1 lb. of fine gilders' whiting, and \
lb. of Quarterman's patent dryer, the whole ground
together finely with linseed oil, and then thinned
for use with linseed oil alone, and applied like
other paints. Wood thus covered will not take fire
from sparks.

Vintage of 1865. — The extreme heat which
prevailed during the vintage, produced a curious
result. The grapes being in general very ripe fer-
mented in the vats with extraordinary rapidity. A
great portion of the saccharine matter had not
time to be converted into alcohol, and in countries
like Burgundy, where wine-growers do not leave
the wine very long in vat, fearing it may become
hard and rough, the wine, on account of the sac-
charine matter remaining in it, will ferment for a
long time in the cask. These wines will conse-
quently require much care, not only from the dan-
ger of excessive fermentation during their trans-
port while young, but even after they are lodged
in the consumer's cellar. The excess of saccharine
matter will render the wine liable to ferment at
every change of weather, and if the cellar is not
sufficiently cool the fermentation may produce
acidity. There is no doubt that the wines of this
year's growth are of excellent quality, but they
will require great attention before they arrive at
maturity. — London Times.

Taking I>rpRESsiONS of Ferns. — In an article
•which appeared in your Journal of the 14th, copied
from the American Gardener' s Monthly, a plan is
recommended for making impressions of ferns by
means of paper sensitized with nitrate of silver.

It does not there state that the paper ought
either to be salted or albumenized. If any person
wishes to try to albumenize the paper himself
instead of buying it ready prepared, let hira take
the white of three or foiir hen's eggs, and to every
ounce of white of egg add half an ounce of water,
beat it all up together till it is all frothed, adding
ten grains of common salt to every ounce of solu-
tion. Previous to beating it up, pour it out in a
flat porcelain dish to settle. When all the froth
has settled, and there are no bubbles left, take a
sheet of paper by two opposite corners and float it
on this solution, taking care that the middle part
of the paper touches the solution first, then gently
lower the corners, leave it on for five or six min-
utes, then hang it up to dry. If kept thoroughly
dry it will last good for a long time.

To sensitize it, dissolve one ounce of nitrate of
silver in from eight to ten ounces of distilled or
pure filtered rain water, float the paper, the albu-
menized side downwards, for five minutes, taking
great care to allow no bubbles to intervene between
the paper and the sensitizing bath. Hang up to
dry in the dark, and place in sheets of blotting-
paper to press it flat previously to using it. It
ought not to be kept more than twenty-four hours
before using it. Sponging or brushing the solu-
tion of silver on the paper with a camel's hair-
brush does not answer, as it is almost sure to leave
streaks, and it washes some of the albumen ofi"
before it gets fixed by the nitrate of silver. Print,
tone and fix as recommended by the American
journal, only it is better to take a second impres-
sion from the paper, the first being a negative —
(i. e., the fern appearing white on a dark ground,)
— by printing from it again j'ou obtain a dark fern
on a white ground.

The above process is, however, far more trou])le-
some and costly, and less artistic and durable than
the following : Obtain some oil paints in tubes.
The proper colors can be obtained from V. H.
Searle, Stationery Court, Crystal Palace ; the most
useful being chrome yellow. No. 1, Antwerp blue,
and bumt sienna. Gum or jiin a sheet of foolscap
jtaper on a board. Squeeze from one of the tubes
about as much color as would cover a sixpence of
chrome yellow, and about half the quantity of
Antwerp blue, and add a few drops of sweet oil,
(Lucca salad oil). Make a dabber of some cotton

wool tied up in a rag of cambric or fine calico, and
rub the color over the paper till it is well mixed,
and is about the consistency of printer's ink. Then
take a fern leaf, or any other leaf which you wish
to copy, lay it on the color, and dab it well with
the dabber on both sides till the color seems to
have covered the leaf all over without looking too
wet. Take some plain white paper without any
size on it — the best is good white demy, or lining
paper, used by paper-hangers for ceilings or walls,
double the paper, and place the fern flat between
the folds of the paper, rub it carefully with the
finger firmly all over, not allowing the leaf to move
then open the shoot of paper and 5'ou will find a
perfect imitressiou of the leaf. The same loaf will
do over and over again if it is only fresh dabbed
with color, and more color and oil added when the
color is too diy. Of course by a careful selection
of blue and yellow, and toning with red or sienna
if required, it is easy to match the exact color of
every leaf, which can be readily told when the color
is first laid on the leaf

I have used this process with great success in
making ornamental paper borders for rooms. It is
exceedingly quick work when once the proper con-
sistency for the color is found, and a few experi-
ments will enable any one to do this. Stems can
be painted in afterwards to join the foliage
together, and any imperfections can be filled in
with ordinary water colors, if a little ox-gall is
used. Very beautiful effects can be produced, too,
by printing lightly and painting in shadow with
water colors, or, if a leaf is much veined, ))rinting
in a dark color, then washing the impression over
with a light color in water colors. By printing
leaves in varieties of colors, tipping the ends of
ferns with brown or sienna, and painting in the
stems arti.stieally, very striking efi'ects may be pro-
duced.

The great advantage of this over the photo-
graphic process is, that being printed in oil the
impression is quite permanent, no washing, fixing,
or after-toning is required, and with three tubes of
color costing 6d. each, and wall lining paper from
Is. to Is. Gd. per piece of twelve yards, many hun-
dreds of impressions can be taken, and any size or
shape of paper can be used, whereas in photo-
graphy you are limited by the size of the porcelain
floating bath. It is of great advantage in wood or
stone carving where an accurate shape of leaf is
required, as one can take specimens during the
summer of any kind of foliage, and they are much
easier to carve from than dried leaves, as they are
much less perishable. — X. Y. Z., in London Jour.

Mt &mAmf^^ M^wihh

To Make Superphosphate. — A correspondent
of the Irish Farmer's Gazette, wants to learn the
best method of making superphosphate, with pro-
portion of bones and acid. The editor gives the
following directions :

" Saturate the bones with as much warm water
as they will absorb, without running off; open the
heap as if for making mortar, pour in the sulphuric
acid in the proportion of j cwt. to 1 cwt. of dry
bones, and mix the whole well up ; make into a
heap, and cover well with fine, dry earth, turf
mould, a^hes, or saw-dust ; leave it to digest for a
week or ten days, and then mix some of the above
drying stuffs to absorb the superfluous moisture
and render it of easy distribution."

The Cedars of Lebanon. — The cedars grow
on a rocky knoll lying in the embrace of a great
semicircular basin in the mountain side. Thej^
stand alone, as best befits them, without any other
tree near. About 400 of them remain, but only a j
few of these heard the sound of Herman and his j
axe-beaving host. If these few had been more |
accessible, I believe the modern Hermans would |
soon have demolished them. They all stand within
a very small circuit, and the seven oldest are called
the Apostles. These seven alone are believed to be
real ancients, i. e., to date from a time before the
kings of Israel, mighty, wise and strong. They
stand in the centre of the whole group, surrounded
and guarded by their descendants and kinsfolk.
The natives almost worship these trees, and ascribe
to them a sentient existence. They hold an annual
festival beneath their branches, which, being now
near at hand, we have been strongly persuaded by
the chief of a neighboring village to stay and wit-
ness. All the world and his wife comes up to it ;
and the feast, though nominally a religious on§, is
said to lead to a good deal of irregidarity. So it
is now, as of old, when the prophet accused the
people of asking counsel of the stocks, they sacri-
fice upon the tops of the mountains, and burn
incense upon the hills, under oaks and poplars, and
elms, because the shadow thereof is good. It is,
however, a glorious place for solemn worship —
truly a temple not made with hands — in the bosom
of the great hills, and beneath the shade of trees
pregnant with solemn associations of the past. —

Good Words.

to witness, and it is a sight that- might have been
witnessed a few days since, if it may not even now,
in Mr. Warner's Orchid House at I^roomfield, near
Chelmsford. And such blossoms too ! Not puny
things with washed-out colors, or pallid from swel-
tering in excessive heat, but located in a ventilated
house, quite enjoyable, and presenting richly-
marked colors in marvellous variety, and in all the
vigor of robust health — the individual flowers
measuring some 7 or 8 inches across, and the petals
in some cases, being as much as 3 inches in
breadth. Mr. Warner has certainly learnt the
secret of managing Cattleya Mossioe to i)erfcction ;
and consequently such a picture as his show-house
presented at the time of our visit, is not, we ven-
ture to say, to be paralleled in England, or Europe,
or the world !

No one who has not seen a large disjilay of
these charming Cattlej'as in blossom at the same
place and at the same moment, can have any idea
of the endless variety which occurs amongst them.
Scarcely two plants are alike, and some are most
remarkably distinct from each other, so that in
future it will not be enough for the Orchidophilist
to place Cattleya Mossiaj in his collection ; he must
I make up his mind how jnany of ito forms he will
\ admit, and then set about seeking out those which
best suit his fancy. — Gardener s Lhronide.

A Magnificent Orchid. — Four hundred
J '^ blossoms of Cattleya Mossiae at one view ! This is
/-£\ a sight truly worth a journey from the Land's End

A Fossil Sequoia in England. — The plant
which, from the abundance in v.iiich its remains
are scattered over the whole of this formation,
from the highest to the lowest of the beds, seems
more than any other to have supplied the material
for the Bovey coal, is nearly related to that giant
of the vegetable kingdom which has been found
living in Cahfornia. The name, indeed, applied to
the fossil plant is Sequoia, that to the living one is
Wellingtoiiia — the specific name of Couttsiae being
appended to the former to testify the large share
that lady has had in its discovery; but the best
botanists are of opinion that its cones, branches,
leaves and shoots, all of which have been exhumed
from the Bo.vey formation, concur in indicating at
least a general resemblance to the V/ellingtonia.
And, what is still more remarkable, this same tree,
or one nearly allied to it, spread during the tertiary
period over all Europe, from Greenland to Italy,
and extended even to Vancouver's Island, in North
America. How, then, are we to reconcile its pre-
sent contracted range with its wide geographical
distribution ? Not, as it would seem, by appealing
to a change of atmosphere ; for if that had been

^y^

i

158

^ht (Sardcnrr's (Itlonthb.

the cause, it would still have maintained its ground
in Italy and other warmer regions, from which it
has now entirely disappeared. Nor are its only
living congeners — namely, the Cupressus (or Se-
quoia) sempervirens, and the Wellingtonia (or Se-
quoia) gigantea — i>articularly susceptible of cold.
On the contrary, the fornicr will grow in sheltered
situations throughout England, ami the latter
resisted, in 18()()-I, weather so inclement as to have
proved fatal to the deodar in various parts of this
country. The present limitation, therefore of the
Wellingtonia within .^o narrow an area, seems to
point to a natural law, which wc recognize by its
eflfects, without being able fully to divine the means
by which it is carried out. This law is, that a cer-
I tain linjit has been assigned to the duration of
I species as well as of individuals, and ihat this limit
is approaching in the ca.-^e of the monster of the
vegetable kingdom alluded to. Like the Dragon-
tree of Tenoriffe, or the Callitris quadrivalvis of
Algeria, it is indeed vigorous where it still lingers;
but, like these and others that might be named,
the conditions of the climate in other respects seem
to have become less propitious, although it remains
to be seen whether the si'ecimens introduced by
Messrs. Veitch i^lc Pince into their gardens at Exe-
ter may not show that the tree will still flouri.-h in
a country where its congener, the Sequoia Couttsioe
once so luxuriated. — Dr. Dnubeny in ad'lress td
Devonshire Science Association.

Grafting ox IT.vp.dy Stocks. — There is a pre-
vailing inipre-ssion among gardeners that the stock
communicates to the species or variety of tree or
shrub gi-afted upon it a portion of its own power
lo bear cold without injurj'. This idea, however,
is wholly erroneous, as is amply proved by the ten-
der kinds of Roses on the briar being destroyed by
severe frost, and al.so by the circumstance that the
branches of every variety or species of tree are
much more easily destroyed by frost than its roots.
Physiologists agree in their views as to our graft-
ing on stocks which are of less growth than the
.«cion, and consider the practice wrong where
extensive growth and durability is wanted, but
eligible whenever it is desirable to diminish the
vigor and growth of the tree. Mr. Knight draws
these conclusions from his experience :

" That the stock of a species or genus different
from that of the fruit to be grafted upon it can be
used rarely with advantage, unless where the object
of the planter is to restrain and debilitate ; and
that where stocks of the same species with the bud
or graft are used, it will be found advantageous

generally to select .such as approximate in their
habits and state of change, or improvement from
cultivation, to those of the variety of fruit which
they are intended to support." Mr. Johnson, in
the Science and Practice of Gardening, p. 200,
states — ''The only situation in which we can
believe that the stock of another can be advan-
tageously employed, is where the soil hajipens to
be unfriendly to the species from which the bud or
grat't is taken." — Journal of IJorficuJfitrr.

— ^B-l— gaM^»» l»l II li—— III III ll'MH.— Mi^

]&orfiru!!upaI Hoflrps,

STRAWBERRY SHOW OF THE PENN-
SYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
These meetings, inaugurated a few years ago,
have proved very popular. The Society ha.s voted
to hold the exhibition this year in Germantown, at
the Town Hall, in June, the exact day to be fixed
and announced so as to exactly suit the season.
It will be aniiounced in our local jiapers, and in
the June Number of the 3/oiith/i/.

PENN'A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The Ajiril meeting was one of the most adniir- !
able ever held — not perhaps in grandeur or extent, j
but in the real merit of the objects exhibited. The
Azaleas of Mr. Robert Buist, exhibited by his j
foreman, Mr. Chinnick, were most admirable. |
They were ex.actly our idea of what good specimens
should be. not monstrous i)lants in i)ro(ligious pots, '.
but well grown plants in small pots, which would
encourage every one of even limited house-room, i
to try and grow a collection like them, and compete
with them, which is the main object of a llorti- j
cultural Society. None of the i)lants were over
three feet high, and projected very little over the
.sides of the pot, but they had hundreds — we might
nearly say a thousand — flowers on each specimen.
The form, too, in which they were trained was
very good. A pair of wings, .slightly curved, pro-
jected from the sides, and took awa\^ the .stiff
appearance of the mere conical or round shape so
often employed. This was particularly well accom-
plished in an "Iveryana," which was particularly
pretty, and a very good variety for this style of
culture. Of the varieties exhibited Alexander the
III was our favorite. This is a largo white, with
heavy crimson feathering, and prettily corrugated
edges. Bernard Andrenc is also a good one to grow,
from the fact of its putting up a few green blades
between the deep vermilion rosy flower.

f^

®h^ i^ardcntr's JHonthlg,

159

On another table was a gorgeous display of
hj'brid Rhododendrons, from the green-houses
of Peter Mackenzie & Son. There were over
twenty varieties, and great improvements on what
we have hitherto had, beautiful as our readers
know they are. Glennj^ana, a pure wliite, was
very fine, and amongst others of the best we noted
Prince Caraille de Rohan, Souvenier de Jean Byls,
Maculatum, Bylsianum, and one with double
fl(Mvers called Fastuosum plena.

Messrs. Mackenzies also had a fine collection of
new Azaleas, small and well bloomed plants.

In their collection of new plants we noticed a
pretty variety of the common Saxifraga sarmen-
tosa, with striped leaves, called "tricolor," and a
variegated-leaved Rhyncospermum ja^minoides.

Mr. Dreer had some Roses in bloom, of very fine
varieties. Triomphe d'Alencon, a fine, large
double crimson, hybrid perpetual being one of the
most striking. He had also some very fine German
Pansies. Mr. James D. Whetham's gardener had
also some of the pretty French strain of fancy
Pansies, which were well growa and much ad-
mired.

There were several collections of Cinerarias, but
showed no improvement either in growth or varie-
ties over past years. In the collection grown
by Mr. Hibbert, gardener to Fairman Rogers,
Esq., was a plant with a fine bloom of A. J. Down-
ing Camellia, (the spotted variety,) showing it
when well grown, one of the most desirable of the
family. In new Camellias, Mackenzie & Son had
tricolor imbricata plena, of the color of the old
tricolor, but large and double, and will prove a
favorite variety. Mr. Donald McQueen, gardener
to Joshua Longstreth, had one of the best grown
Lycopodium densas we have ever seen, looking
like an immense pincussion of green velvet.

Strawberries were exhibited by Mr. Blaine — Tri-
omphe de Gand — though forced, they were as
large as natural raised fruit, though rather paler
in color.

In the vegetable line there was not much par-
ticularly worthy of note, except that some of the
finest Salsify we ever saw came from Mr. James
McDonald, gardener to M. Baird, Esq.

LEAVENWORTH HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

GRAPES IN MISSOURI AND KANSAS.

The extraordinary success of the grape in Mis-
souri and Kansas renders everything relating to its
^ prosperity of value to our readers. The Leaven-

worth Horticultural Society, appointed a committee
to report on the condition of Horticultural vine-
yards of that section last fail. It is better pub-
lished now, as it will prepare our friends for taking
notes of growth and other points of value, now
that we are entering on another grape season. It
may be interesting to.note that at a large meeting
at Hermann, Mo., the speakers were almost
unanimous upon the following points :

" First — The Concord and Hartford Prolific are
the best tSble and market grapes for Missouri, the
latter ripening about two weeks in advance of the
former, and these with the Norton's Virginia,
Herbemont and Clinton, for wine, should constitute
the vines of Missouri, at least until something
better turns up.

" Second — That the close pruning of this coun-
try, which has been adopted from the^jractice on
the Rhine is altogether wrong.

" Third^That vine growing is to become the
great business in the soutliern half of Missouri,
and the products of our vineyards will in a few
years exceed in value any staple crop of the State."

The following is the

REPORT OF THE COM.^IITTEE ON GRAPES.

The undersigned committee appointed by the
Leavenworth County Horticultural Society, to ex-
amine the different vineyards and vines in cultiva-
tion in our vicinity, and report their condition to
the Society, submit the following report :

Having examined the vines and vineyards of the
following per-sons — Dr. W. Housely, Dr. J. Stay-
man, Dr. J. Davis, Wm. Tanner, E. Lallier, F.
Goddard, xM. J. Parrott. F. P. Grant, S. R. Put-
nam, C. B. Brace, P. Liberton, M. Rivord, J.
Galliard, E. P. Goddard, and Mr. Backus, we find
the Catawba principally in cultivation and generally
very much diseased. About two-thirds of the
crop has rotted, and the leaves have dropped from
the vines, so much so that in many cases the fruit
will not ripen. Mr. J. Galliard's vineyards appears
to be an exception, his Catawbas being tolerably heal-
thy, and the fruit has rotted but little, but the spring
frost had so much injured the vines that he did
not have half a crop. As this vineyard is one of
the oldest in the county, and has always produced
the finest grapes, and has been free from disease
we will be more particular in its description. It is
located twelve miles southwest of the city and
river, and about two miles west of ' Big Stranger,'
on the Lecompton road, and within thirty feet of
the highest land, and well exposed to the north
and south winds. Though this vineyard lays high,
it is within ten feet of the lowest ground immedi-

^

.^W

atcly around it. The soil is rich, black, porous
loam, with a small quantity of fine sand, from two
to three feet deep, on a clay subsoil formed from
the decomposition of the limestone bluff immedi-
ately above it ; with a gentle slope towards the
east, and a small creek running close by the whole
length of the east side of it, with a steep bank of
about ten feet, the water clear and apparently
drained from under the vineyard, which is narrow
and extends along the stream, and contains tliree
acres; the rows running east and west, btyng eight
feet apart and five between, and trained on stakes
on the bow and spur sj'stera, not different from
others.

Mr. Grant's vineyard is located on a steep hill,
well exposed to the east, and a portion of it is on
a rich bench just below the bluff, and at the same
elevation as the first described, and contains three
and a half acres. The rows being four and some
eight feet apart, and four feet between the rows;
being principally Catawba and Kabella. The first
rotted very much, but those left will ripen tolerably
well ; the latter has not rotted much but dropped
their leaves and will ripen poorly. The soil of this
vineyard varies from the richest black loam to light
sandy gi-avelly soil. The vines had a very heavy
crop set, and had it not been for the rot would
have been an extraordinary yield ; the quality of
the grajtes which had ripened were excellent.
This, and the first-mentioned, are decidedly the
best we saw.

Mr. Putman's vines are located on the same ele-
vation, but the greater jiroportion were not in bear-
ing, and those that were had nearly all the fruit
gathered, .'^o we cannot report so definitely respect-
ing the rot, but from what we saw they appear to
be as healthy as Mr. G-rant's.

Mr. Parrot's vineyard is located on the top of
the hill, back some di.>5tance fnjm the bluff. His
vines are not in bearing, but they have dropped
their leaves and look unhealthy, excejjt Concord,
Hartford Pn^lific, Norton's Virginia, Clinton and
Taylor.

The vineyard of Mr. Tanner, located at Tongi-
noxie, on the first bench below the bluff, within 30
feet of the highest ground, on a very rich, black
loam formed from the wash and decomposed lime-
stone, and sloping to the east, mostly Catawba, are
healthy, and have no appearance of rot, but too
young to bear much.

Dr. Stayman's vineyard, located at the same
place, and like elevation and exposure, were too
young, but the Catawbas look sickly, and had made
a poor growth, were unhealthy. The Catawba,

Isabella, I)iana, Delaware and Rebecca, back from
the bluff and on the top, were sickly, and drojtped
their leaves, but the Clinton and Concord were
healthy.

Dr. IIou.<Iey's vineyard is located on lower grouml
than those above mentioned, on rich, black, porous
loam, formed from the wash and decomposed lime-
stone, on a clay soil. lie has numerous varieties
in cultivation which have dropjicd their leaves and
rotted badly, excopt Hartford Prolific, Concord and
Clinton.

Mr. Backus' and Liberton's vineyards are on
about the same level as Dr. Hou.sley's, and are in
about the same condition, except the highest jjart
of Mr. Backus', which is more healthy, and v.ill
ripen the fruit left tolerably well. The rows of this
part run east and west, and are eight feet apart.
The soil is a rich, black loam.

Mr. Liberton's vinej'ard is a thin, sandy gravel,
to a rich, black loam, with a stiff clay subsoil, and
trenched, exposed to the east, and trained on stakes,
four feet by four apart, and being about four acres
— all Catawba. This vineyard has nearly failed the
last three years, and appears to be badly disea.sed.

All the other places examined are on lower
ground, and much more diseased, the leaves and
fruit having dropped, and the small portion left
will not ripen, and may be considered a total loss,
except Mr. Lallier's Catawbas which are on the
lowest ground, on the bank of the creek, about 30
feet above the water. They look tolerably healthy,
but were injured by the spring frost so he had no
fruit.

At Mr. Tanner's vineyard, and also at Dr. Stay-
man's, in the valley, we found a large quantity of
the Concord which bore a heavy crop, and were
perfectly healthy and numerous; other varieties were
in various conditions, but not considered worthy to
rei»ort on at this time, except the lona and Adiroii-
dac, two very high priced and extolled Grapes,
which we found had dropped their leaves and were
very much diseased, and Creveling, which promises
well. In every location, without an exception,
we found the Isabella, Diana, Delaware and Re-
becca, they had dropped their leaves and were un-
healthy.

And in every location, without an exception,
where we found the Hartford J*rolific, Concord,
Norton's Virginia, Clinton and Taylor, they were
healthy.

Wm. T. Housley, Chairman,
J. Stayman,
t. goddard,
Eugene Lallier.

DEVOTED TO

THOMAS MEEHAN, Editor.

"W. G. P. BRIJNCKIiOE, PUBLISHKR.

JUNE. 1866.

VOL. VIII.--NO,6.

Inh for

FLOWER-GARDEN AND PLEASURE-
GROUND.

Towards the end of June propagation by bud-
ding commences. This is verj' commonly employed
with the rose ; but ornamental trees and shrubs
may be increased in the same way. Closely allied
species must be chosen to work together.

Evergreen hedges will require attention as they
grow. Where the height desired has been attained
the top and strong growth should be cut back while
they are still watery. The side shoots need not be
touched till past midsummer. All wise people now
employ the conical shape for hedges. In cutting
back the top growth at this season, the conical form
can still be preserved.

Cut oif the flowers of roses as they fade, — the
second crop will be much better for the attention.
Seeds of all flowering plants should be also taken
ofi"; all this assists the duration of the blooming
season.

Bulbous roots, when done flowering, and the
leaves have faded, should be taken up and dried, —
mixed with chafi", or other light loose material,
placed in paper bags and stowed away in a dry
place till Fall.

Dahlias should not flower early. Keep them
growing till Fall, when they will flower finely.

Propagation by layering may be performed any
time when strong vigorous growing shoots can be
had. Any plant can be propagated by layers. Many
can be readily propagated no other way. Cut a
notch on the upper side of the shoot, not below as
all the books recommend, and bend down into,

1^

and cover with rich soil. In a few weeks they root,
and can be removed from their parents. Stakes for
plants should be charred at the ends before using,
when they will last for years.

ilower-beds should be hoed and raked, as soon
as the ground dries after a rain. Loose surface soil
prevents the under-stratum drying out. Peg down
bedding-plants where practicable. Split twigs make
the best pegs. In dry weather do not water flower-
beds often ; but do it thoroughly when it is done.
See that the water does not run off", but into and
through the soil.

Mow lawns often, if you would have them green
and velvety. Keep the scythe sharp ; usually
mowers do not use the grindstone often enough.
Common farm scythes are not fit for lawn use ; riv-
etted, and short scythes are the kind to get. If a
lawn is mowed often, the grass need not be raked
clean, — the sappy blades soon wither, and make a
manure for the roots. The longest should be raked
off, or the lawn will have a littery appearance.

Peg down Roses where a heavy mass of flowers is
desired. The side shoots push more freely for this
treatment.

When the Rose-bug makes its appearance, have
them shook into a pail of water and destroyed ; and
when the little "worm" or larvfe of the Rose-bug
follow, with their damaging depredations, have
them crushed as fast as they appear.

No trees, Evergreens especially, should be suf-
fered to have grass grow about them for a year or
so after planting. It becomes " rank" in the deep-
ly loosened soil, abstracts moisture, and otherwise
seriously interferes with the tree. When the tree
gets a fair start, grass does less injury, and when it
becomes a tough sod, and the tree by its shade, or
say by frequent mowing keeps the grass short, the
grass roots do not penetrate deep, and the sod is
benefit, by keeping the surface spongy, and the sub-
stratum cool.

Many herbaceous plants, such as Phloxes, Holly-
hocks and similar plants, that are scarce and valued,
may be propagated now very easily, by taking por-

161

cy^

-^ci'

9^

162

£h^ OJSardentr'fi (Ponlljln.

tions of their flower-stems before the flowers open,
and inserting them as cuttings in a halt' shaded,
cool, and not dry situation. Layering of many
things, shrubs, half-shrubby perennials, etc., should
be done before the young wood becomes too hard,
if good plants are required the first year. Most
plants root more quickly by having a notch cut in
the layered shoot. Good, rich soil, put just about
layers, is very important. Good soil favors an abun-
dance of roots. One of the greatest mistakes in
gardening is the prevalent notion that plants in a
poor soil have a greater proportion of roots than in
a rich one.

All those who have set out trees the past Spring,
should take the first chance of a dry spell to loosen
the soil deeply about them with a fork, and imme-
diately after beat it down hard again with the heel,
or some better "clod crusher." Innumerable lives
of trees may be saved by this simple practice.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Grapes first coming in bearing should not be per-
mitted to perfect large crops of fruit while young. It
is excusable to fruit a bunch or so on a young vine,
"just to test the kind," but no more should be per-
mitted till the vine has age and strength. Vigor-
ous growth, and great productiveness, are the anti-
podes of the vegetable world. Encourage as much
foliage as possible on the vines, and aim to have as
strong shoots at the base as at the top of the cane ;
this can be done by pinching out the points of the
strong shoots after they have made a growth of five
or six leaves. This will make the weak ones grow
stronger. Young vines grow much faster over a
twiggy branch, stuck in for support, than over a
straight stick as a trellis, and generally do better
everj' way. Where extra fine bunches of grapes
are desired, pinch back the shoot bearing it to about
four or five leaves above the bunch. This should
not be done indiscriminately with all the bunches.
Too much pinching and stopping injures the pro-
duction of good wood for next season. These hints
are for amateurs, who have a few vines on trellisses;
for large vineyard culture, though the same princi-
ples hold good as far as they go, they will vary in
their application.

Grapes in cold vineries will now be of a size fit
for thinning. In those cases where the bunches are
intended to hang long on the vines, they should be
thinned out more severely than those expected to
be cut early. A clo.se, compact bunch favors mil-
dew and early decay.

Fine, rich color is always esteemed as one of the
criterions whereby to judge of the excellence of a

fruit. Sun-light is of first importance ; but it is not
generally known that this is injurious when in ex-
cess. In a dry atmosphere, with great sun-heat,
where the evaporating process goes on faster than
the secretive principle, what should become a rich
rosy blush in a fruit, is changed to a sickly yellow ;
and the rich jet black of a grape become a foxy
red. Some Grape-growers of eminence, in view of
the facts, shade their vineries during the coloring
process; but others, instead, keep the atmosphere
as close and moist as possible. The latter course
detracts from the flavor of the fruit. The best plan
is that which combines both practices.

Watch newly planted fruit trees. If they have
but a few weak leaves only, it shows the roots have
been injured; then prune them severely, which
will make them grow freely. It should be a main
object to make all transplanted trees not merely
have leaves, but have new shoots at the earliest
possible moment. If they are growing very well,
they may be allowed to perfect a few fruit. Over-
bearing on a newly planted tree is, however, one of
the best ways of making it stunted for years.

Strawberries, when grown in hills, — the most la-
boriousbut mostproductive method of growingtheni,
— should have runners cut off as the}' grow, and
the surface soil kept loose by shallow hoeiiigs occa-
sionally. Short litter, half rotten as a ujulch, is
also beneficial. Lawn mowings are often applied,
but with little benefit. Where they are grown in
beds, they should not be too thick, as they starve
one another, and the crop next year will be poor.

Blackberries are not always ripe when they are
black. Leave them on till they part rea<lily from
their stalks.

Currants are so easily grown as to require few
hints for their management. If they throw up
many suckers, take out a portion now, instead of
waiting till Winter to cut them away. The Currant
borer is a great pest, eating out the pith of the
young shoots, and causing them to grow i)Oorly, and
bear but small fruit next year. Gummy "fly-paper"
is, we thing, the best thing to catch them.

Gooseberries should have the soil, and even the
plants, if it were practicable, shaded a little. Dry
air about them is one great cause of mildew.

In the interior department. Peaches that have
been slightly forced will be about maturing, and the
atmosphere must be allowed to become dryer, by
admitting more air and using the syringe less freely.
This is necessary, not only to perfect the flavor of
the fruit, but to mature the wood properly for next
season's fruit. All of this has to be done with cau-
tion, as a sudden change from a moist system of

-CK>.

mxt (Bmitmf^ ^o\\%.

163

culture to a dry one will be certain to injure the
tissue and breed disease.

Red-spider and other insects closely follow on the
heels of a dry atmosphere. They must be watched,
and nothing suffered to injure the leaves till by na-
tural matvirity the plant has no longer use for them.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Peas for a Fall crop may be sown. It is, how-
ever, useless to try them, unless in a deeply-trench-
ed soil, and one that is compai-atively cool in the
hottest weather overhead, or they will certainly
mildew and prove worthless. In England, where
the atmosphere is so much more humid than ours,
they nevertheless, have great difficulty in getting
Fall Peas to go through free from mildew ; and to
obviate these drying and mildew-producing in-
fluences, they often plant them in deep trenches,
made as for Celery, and are then much more suc-
cessful with them.

Cabbage and Bi'ocoli may still be set out for Fall
crops, also requiring an abundance of manure to
insure much success. Lettuce, where Salads are
in much request, may yet be sown. The Curled
Indian is a favorite summer kind ; but the varieties
of Cos, or Plain-leaved kinds, are good. They take
more trouble, having to be tied up to blanch well.
Many should not be sown at a time, as they soon
run to seed in hot weather.

At the end of June some Celery may be set out
for early crops, though for the main crop a month
later will be quite time enough. It was once cus-
tomary to plant in trenches dug six or more inches
below the surface ; but the poverty of the soil
usually at this depth more than decreases the balance
of good points in its favor. Some of our best grow-
ers now plant entirely on the surface, and depend
on drawing up the soil, or the employment of boards
or other artificial methods of blanching.

In our second volume a correspondent described
a mode of employing charcoal for the purpose, which
produces fine, firm and crisp stalks. Sawdust, sha-
vings and similar matters have also been used with
beneficial results. Very rich soil is essential to fine
Celery, and well-rotted cow-dung is one of the best
of manures for this crop.

Beans produce enormous crops in deeply trenched
soils, and are improved as much as any crop by sur-
face manuring. We hope this method of fertilizing
the soil will be extensively adopted for garden crops
this season. Those who have not yet tried it will
be surprised at the economy aud beneficial results
of the practice.

Cucumbers for pickling may be sown this month,
and Endive for Fall Salad set out. Parsley for
Winter use may be sown now in boxes of rich soil,
and set in a cool, shady place till it germinates.

Asparagus-beds should not be cut off after the
stalks seem to come up weak, or there will be but
a poor crop the next season, and the beds will " run
out" in a few years.

Tomatoes do best when suffered to grow flat on
the ground ; but in such cases the soil should be
covered with a mulch of straw or litter to keep the
Tomatoes from getting soiled and rotten by damp-
ness. Brushwood is an excellent material for them
to lie on, and they seem to thrive well with it about
them.

Herbs for drying for future use should be cut just
about the time they are coming into flower. Dry
them in the shade, and after sufficiently dry to put
away, tie them in bunches, and hang in a cool shed,
or place them loosely between the paper, and stow
away in cupboards or drawers, — the last mode is by
far the cleanest and most approved plan with the
best housekeepers. Some, indeed, powder the
leaves at once after drying, and put away in bags
ready for use.

<J

MY SYSTEM OF GROWING GRAPE-VINES
FROM EYES FOR VINEYARD PLANT-
ING IN AMERICA.

BY CHARLES GRUNEBERG, WEST GROVE, PA.

There are two different methods I practice in
this country, after many laborious experiments,
valuable time and cost.

The first plan is the out-of-door propagation of
the readier and more willing kinds. For these I
procure well-ripened wood, as late as possible in
the Autumn before the severe frost sets in, cut it
into single eyes and plant them without delay in
rows on a bed cross- ways in the open ground
(rather exposed than sheltered) which is 5 to 6 feet
wide and in length according to the quantity of
vine eyes, and prepared with the best possible soil
as generally used for that purpose. After planting
them I give a cover of two inches of half well sea-
soned loam, and half coarse sand well mixed, and
do not water them but let the soil be tolerable damp
in good working order. After two weeks planting
or more, if the weather permits, it not being wet,
I cover the bed 3 feet with half decayed horse-
manure, mixed with half fallen leaves, and lastly
line the whole bed 3 feet with the same material,

16-i

S^^c ©nrdrner's (plonfljln.

no frost or moisture being able to penetrate, — not
even 20" below zero.

In the beginning of April I remove the lining and
covering, and place over the beds frames with
sashes, and in a very short time the eyes make
their appearance ; by degrees I give air when the
weather requires it. As the plants grow I raise
the fi-ames, and ultimately remove sashes and frames
altogether, and leave them to the open air without
disturbing or transplanting.

The more obstinate kinds I raise indoors with
and without bottom heat in sand beds only 3 to 4
inches deep ; the eyes being covered half an inch.
I have now two beds in full operation, one cold, one
warm ; the cold bed is arranged on the front plat-
form of a greenhouse, 100 feet long ; the warm bed
is in a half lean-to propagating house, also 100 feet
long, now filled with a second crop.

Of these latter I likewise procure the wood and
cut it up as above, but instead of planting the eyes
at once on the beds, 1 for two months place them in
barrels between laj-ers of moist sand. About the
middle of February I plant them on these beds in-
doors, and as soon as struck, plant them in well
prepared pits and treat them as the out-of-door
eyes.

This is the mechanical part of that business and
my method here, and if the watchful eye of the ex-
perienced propagator but assists, final success is
unavoidable.

[There are many useful hints in Mr. Gruneberg's
paper that our readers will value very highly. We
fear, however, we misunderstood the purport of
our esteemed correspondent's first article. By his
contrast of the vineyards of Euro}>e, the vines of
which are raised wholly out of doors, — with the
American methods, we supposed his plan was some-
thing of the same kind,— but it now appears the
condemned glass raised vines are to a great extent
the result of this plan as much as the abused one
of Mr. Howatt— Ed.]

WHEN DOES NEW BARE FOKWI?

BY FOX MEADOW.

A neighbor of mine, a Mr. Archer, has an Apple
tree growing near his stable and rather in his way
of driving in and out, and as the tree annually pro-
duced nothing but small, scrubby, wormy fruit, he
determined to kill the poor tree. A cat will some-
times play with a mouse a long time before she
devours it, .so my friend Archer thought he would
eke out his revenge on the profitless tree in some
other way than by chopping down, so he began

stripping the bark from the tree as high up as he
could reach, which was about seven foot from the
ground, and tore it down in strips until he had torn
away every bit of the bark from the trunk as well as
the large roots leading into the ground ; so cleanly
was this done that not a particle of the bark, new
or old, remained on the trunk.

Happening to look across our line fence one day
I wondered what my friend Archer had been put-
ting on the the trunk of this Apple tree, for the
appearance at a distance looked something like a
cream color paint ; so I went across the lot to see,
when I beheld to my surprise that the poor tree
had been flayed alive !

"Ho, Archer," said I, "this is too bad."
" Well," said he, " I thought I would make him
wince and die by degrees for his base ingratitude ;"
and he replied, " if he gets over that why he can
live as long as he pleases."

"Well, it will soon die," said I, "for now the
middle of June, full leaf and Apples nearly as
large as hickory nuts it cannot sustain itself many
hours. ' '

The tree is alive to-day, and the Summer that it
was barked as described, it produced the best crop
of perfected, sound fruit that Mr. Archer had ever
seen on the tree.

I watched the result of this "flaying alive" at-
tentively, expecting every day to find the tree dead,
but nothing of the kind. I perceived in the course
of a week or so, small, warty excrescences being
exuded from the pores of the wood. These were
minute and intense globular cells in fact, which in
a short time united on and over the whole surface
of the wood, forming ultimately a new bark for the
tree. This tree has produced good clean fruit ever
since, which is now some six years since it was
barked.

I once had a pet bird belong to the genus " Psit-
tacus" who once took the liberty to get out of her
cage which hung in an Orangery during the Winter,
and " Pretty Polly" amused herself nearly a whole
day on a fine specimen of Lemon tree by biting the
bark off and lacerating the wood. In many places
on the trunk and branches every portion of the
bark was bit away, in fact the tree was so mutilated
that it was removed to a " lumber hole" out of
sight, where it neither got water nor light. In the
month of May when "turning-out" time came, we
discovered this i)lant still alive, when it was then
put out of sight behind some Shrubbery, where it
stood all the Summer, getting no water but that
which fell from the clouds of heaven. However,
accidentally falling on it in the Fall of the year, the

plant was still living and growing, with new bark
covering Polly's rough surgical operations.

From these and similar facts, we may well inquire,
"When Does New Bark Form?"

j We have seen exactly the same process, as des-
cribed by our correspondent, on a Cherry tree bark-
ed in June. It is worthy of a close study. — Ed.]

REPLY TO "BOY READER."

BY J. P. NORRIS, PHILADELPHIA.

In the April number of the Monthly, a corres-
pondent, who signs himself " Boy Reader," makes
a few remarks criticizing our article on the Brown
Thrush, that appeared in the number of the Montlily
for December, 1865, and reflecting upon our knowl-
edge of oology.

" Boy Reader" does not state where his " region"
is, and, therefore, we are unable to saj^ where the
Brown Thrush breeds in his locality. Audubon
says that this bird makes its nest in a '"''hrv'r hush,
a sumach, or the thickest parts of a low tree, never
in the interior of the forest, but most commonly in
the bramble patches which are every where to be
met with along the fences or the abandoned fields.
Sometimes it is laid flat on the ground. To tJte
eastward, where the clenseuess of the population ren-
ders the bird more shy, the nest is placed tcith more
care.'' The italics are our own, and will serve to
show that we were correct in our description of the
site of the nest of this bird ; for we described the
site of their nest as it is most commonly to be found
in the Eastern States. The other principal writers
on Ornithology all give like sites for the nest of this
bird. We have found several hundred nests of the
Brown Thrush in our lifetime, and we have yet to
find the first nest that was not on a hush or in a
hedge. We refer to the locality of West Chester,
Pennsylvania. We have also received very many
nests of this bird from our egg-collectors in differ-
ent sections of the country. We have never yet re-
ceived any eggs of this hird found in a nest built on
the ground. We must therefore draw the conclu-
sion that it is only the exception when the Brown
Thrush breeds on the ground.

In regard to the number of eggs, we have never
found a nest, or received one, and in fact have not
one in our cabinet, that has over four eggs in it.
Out of twelve nests from Winnebago, Illinois, none
contained more than four eggs, and all were found
on Osage hedges. Out of a hundred or more eggs,
all entered on our Egg Register, all were found on
small trees, bushes, or hedges^ and no nest con-
tained more than four eggs. We are aware that

Wilson gives the number of the eggs to be five,
and Audubon from four to six, but still we can only
state, that, so far, we have never found a nest of
this bird, or received, or even heard of one that
contained more than four eggs.

In conclusion, we would recommend "Boy Reader"
to extend his observations, and then he will, no
doubt, have the pleasure (?) of finding that we
were correct in our statements.

NATURE'S LAW OF COLORS.

BY E. FERRAND, DETROIT, MICH.

I have just received the Monthly, in which I find
a very valuable article, in answer to mine of Febru-
ary, of Mr. Henderson on which I beg to say a few
words.

The allusion to the "gentleman from Fiance" in
connection with the reply to my article is, at least,
out of place here. When I replied to Mr. Hender-
son I was not moved by such a s])irit.

To avoid any mistake from Mr. H. 's "illustra-
tions," allow me to state here that no trees, or plants
or roses of any kind have ever been .sold at auction
in New York coming from my father's nurseries in
France.

As regards the colors, I had a good idea before
that the scarlet of Mr. H. was something like the
purple of Tyre, — a color lost to the living age.
But I maintain that I find the three colors alluded
to in varieties of the Hyacinth (to name one plant
that all your readers are acquainted with) to wit:
scarlet, blue and yellow. As regards the botanical
distinctions between species and varieties or genus,
I am not prepared to discuss that point with Mr.
H. , lest he might have known some other gentleman
from France, 20 or 30 years ago, who could have
sold a worthless thing, and afterwards sworn to
his customers that he would not deceive them again
till the next time.

GROWING GRAPE-VINES UNDER GLASS
-POT PLANTS AGAINST BROAD BOR-
DER PLANTS.

BY GERALD HOWATT, YONKERS, N. Y.

I will assure Dr. Taylor that I meant no slur on
the opinions of any one who has things to sell. I
am a seller myself, both of fruits and vines. I
meant to assert no more than I hope to prove that
pot growing vines are most profitable to vineyardists
to plant.

As to their being any thing medicisal in the pots,
the makers who know the ingredients ean tell him
better than I ; but as to growing them better aiMl ( (^\

nag'

ft :

66

£!)C e^ardrncr's Jtlontljlg.

stronger in pots than in borders, which is the real
question, I say docidedl.v that there can be few
practical plant growers but will say so. The atten-
tion they get promotes better growth and vigor
than they can get any other way.

Can Dr. Taylor or any other man take a vine just
struck in the cutting pot, put it into a frame, shade
and treat it in the best possible way, produce as
good a plant as a grower that .«hifts from the cut-
ting pot into a thumb pot ; when that is filled with
roots shift to another pot, and so on to a six inch
pot ; those vines get four or five shifts before they
reach the vineyard. If he will produce as good a
plant by his system in August and tell us how to do
it with the .«ame number of roots he will do more
for the grower and vineyardist than any man has
yet done.

The coiling of the roots I don't mind ; only get
them. In pot growing vines yon get the fibres in-
tact, and when planted, in three or four days by
lifting you will see all around this ball a mass of
white fibers to fill your ground.

All practical men know the evils of " over-pot-
ting;" so it is by putting struck vines from the cut-
ting pot to the bed. I plant in September this
Spring's struck cuttings, I then save one year's
growth, as those plants have more roots than two
year old" from broad borders. The roots are not
shaken out, neither is there any necessity ; j'our
plants receive no check as it is like shifting from
one pot to another; your roots all start. Will a
nurseryman take up his plants out of broad borders
and exhibit them on an assorting table in Septem-
b(^r? Will a grower plant thom shaken off leaves
all on? Certainly not. If it can be done I should
like to know how to do it, and save the plants alive.

I am running a tilt against no system. I wish
merely to prove that vines cannot be grown as large,
with as many ro<^)ts, and be planted in the Fall out
of borders, as they can out of pots ; thus saving one
year. If it can be, let us hear how it can be done.
Potting them 30 inches, and six inches apart, is
done to work a cultivator. I promise, if he can at 6
inches apart, and on this system, produce me as
many roots and as much wood as pot vines ; then I
will go for Spring planting.

As to stopping the vines the first year (eyes), I
do not believe in it ; I want to grow them ten feet
long if I could out doors ; under glass I have grown
them 2.'> feet, hothouse varieties. By growing the
leader you get the more roots,— the borders I referred
to had glass over them, I presume, as they were in
hotbeds, size 8 and 10 feet long, and the sash bars
on, and no stronger growth than I refer to. Short or

long jointed the first year is of little consequence as
they are cut down to two or three eyes from the
root in the Fall and in the Spring only one eye left
to grow the second season. The roots of one Sum-
mer's vines grown in pots are riper than two year
old out-door vines, — at least all that I have ever
seen.

Mr. Fish, of Rochester, is greatly ofl^(Midod for
my naming parties as being growers of pot i)lnnts ;
I did it to let people know where they could be had ;
as few make a speciality of it ; and that information
was as useful, under the circumstances, I contend,
as any that could be put in the Monthly. It cost
me a good deal in tinje and money to find them
out, and in justice to those gentlomon named, I
will state that none of them were aware that such
information had been given by me until they saw it
in the Monthly; since then I have.«een twoof them,
and they were displeased that I did so. Had any
one done it before I had, it would have saved me
the time ?LX\dL expense of going to Rochester. I went
there tliinking to find what I wanted, but I could
not. Had I got them there I should have said the
same of Rochester as I did of New York and New
Jersey ; but that is not the point that Mr. Fish,
Dr. Tavlor or Mr. Gruneberg are driving at, — their
assertion is, that broad border plants are best.
They do not say this because they have them to
sell, for they say that they cannot fill their orders;
but it is clear it costs less to raise broad border
plants than it does pot-grown plants ; and with the
same expense they would have still fewer plants
to sell ; but we, as consumers, want what will pay
us the best, not regarding the first cost. It may be
.said, why is it that tho.se who have found it pay
have not kept it to themselves and have the mar-
ket. Experience has proved that the more fruit
there is in market the more the consumption ; and
quick sales are what pay. Men I have known to
keep Grapes until middle of Winter, expecting a
high price, had to sell at first price. The simple
reason is, that the public generally are not aware
that Grapes can be had then.

Mr. Editor, if j'ou will allow me to state that I
propose putting out a vineyard of from 4000 to
f)000 plants this coming Sept. ; if Dr. Taylor, Mr.
Fish, Mr. Gruneberg or any other gentleman in the
business will furnish me plants from 4 to 6 feet
high CI have had them 8 feet in pots) roots as good
and ripened as well as pot-grown, insure all their
growing, I will let them i)lant them. I shall be
very happy to make a contract with them, as it will
save me a good deal of money in not having to buy
the more expensive pot plants. When I make the

contract I shall remit to you $10 for this advertise-
ment, and which I shall consider the best invested
money I have ever used.

The advantages of Fall planting you will find
fully explained in my article on Vineyard Grrowing.

[This article we shall give next month. — Eu]

ON THE MOVEMENT OF SAP IN THE
SHELLBARK HICKORY.

BY JOHN TOWNLEY, MOUNDVILLE, WIS.
[Concluded from page 141 )
At sunrise, on the 27th, the temperature was 7°
below zero, on the 28th it was 33° above and 42° at
noon, sap flowed freely this day from the butt of
the trunk, and from the places where branches had
been cut off. I put a saucer underneath the S. E.
corner of the butt where the icicle had previously
formed, and obtained a quantity of sap, notwith-
standing the saucer had slipped away by the melt-
ing of the snow underneath it. I enclose a portion
of the evaporated product, which I take to be
sugar, chiefly. On the 29th the temperature was
34° at sunrise, I did not notice it higher than 38°
during the day, which was sunless, damp and chilly ;
but as the temperature was high, I expected the
sap would be flowing freely as on the preceding day;
and as Lindley and Balfour say, that the office of
the vasiform tissue is to convey fluids with rapidity
in the direction of the wood, I cut ofi" a side
branch of a thrifty young hickory with a view to
watch the vasiform tissue from the first movement
of the sap to ascertain whether the sap would now
flow from this tissue while it was yet in communi-
cation with the roots, or from the more compact
part of the wood, as T had hitherto found. But
after wat hingsome time no sap whatever appeared
from the cut surface of the tree. I now took a
portion of the branch to the house ; the tempera-
ture of the room was 72°, and instead of sap flow-
ing speedily from the wood as on all previous trials,
a ring of the concentrated sap immediately issued
from the bark, encircling the wood both at the
upper and lower end, but no sap issued from the
wood. As the branch was only iths of an inch in
diameter, and smaller than any I had previously
used, 1 cut from the branch of the tree felled on
the 16th, a piece about H inch in diameter, and
from the upper part of the same branch another
piece Iths of an inch in diameter. 1 noticed that
no sap was issuing from the stump nor the trunk ;*

* A young black ash which had been cut for a binding pole
when hauling, say about the middle of February was laid on a
fence near my stable, I noticed that sap oozed from the cut iurface
every morning when bright warm sunshine succeeded a compara'

but from the two pieces of wood sap began to flow
on the inside bark before I reached the house, and
not exclusively from a few of the external layers of
wood on the side of the branch which had been
exposed to the sun as had previously been the case
if sap showed at all. When exposed to the higher
temperature of the house the sap soon issued in
quantity from the bark, but not sufficient to run ofi"
or drop, owing, however, rather to the viscidity of
the sap than to a lack of quantity. The wood of
the smaller piece remained dry. In the course
of about a half hour globules of viscid sap appear-
ed on the wood of the larger piece, but instead of
being confined at first, chiefly to the circumference
of each layer of wood as I had observed on the 22d,
the globules of fluid of the last formed layer were
confined to the innermost half, the part next to the
bark being dry. On the wood of the second layer,
from which more sap issued than from any other
recent layer, and on the wood of the third and
fourth layers, the drops of fluid were about equally
distributed as I had previously observed, when the
same kind of sap issued from the butt, but sap in
no instance that I could find issued from the vasci-
form tissue, nor did the sap of the outside layers
issue in sufficient quantity to spread over or over-
flow this tissue, before it began to evaporate or to
be reabsorbed by the wood. Neither in the sap of
the bark nor in that from the wood were there any
bubbles of air observable save in one isolated drop
resting on the compact wood.

Another anomaly here noticed was that apparent-
ly crude sap, (for it formed a drop which ran) issued
in a circle about fths of an inch in diameter sur-
rounding the pith. In all other pieces of wood
previously examined, including that three inches
in diameter, there was no heart wood properly so
called, that is, none which had the reddish-bloom
color of the heartwood of the hickory, but several
circles of'wood surrounding the pith invariably re-
mained dry, unless overflowed, however copiously
the sap might flow from the more recently formed
layers.

From the 29th the weather became gradually
colder. At sunrise on the 30th it was 27°, on the
31st 18°, and on Feb. 1st 14°, On this day I cut a

tively cold night. On Sunday last, February 25th, the tempera-
ture was 20° below zero at sunrise, at zero on Tuesday, and rose to
38° during the day, with sunshine most of the time; yesterday and
to-day have been densely overcast, and the temperature on both
days has been as high as 54°. Yesterday I noticed that the wood
of the ash was dry, but sap had oozed from both ends of the re-
maining part of the trunk of the hickory ; but to-day at noon, on
running my finger over each end, I found that it was now dry also
— early in the morning there was a thick fog with a light drizzling
Scotch mist.

^jm>

bran rh from the tree felled on the 16th to ascertain
what wouM be the behaviour of the sap now ; four
drops fell from the upper and three from the lower
end of a piece when taken into the house. As the
branch from which this was taken was cut from the
wider side of the tree, I thought it possible that
watery sap might have settled in it by gravitation ;
I therefore cut off another branch from the upper
part of the trunk, and a piece from this now
afforded crude sap also ; I did not, however, count
the drops, my attention, after noticing that watery
sap was about to run, being mainly directed to as-
certain the source of the air bubbles.

The temperature of Februarj' 2d, at sunrise, was
9° ; near noon it had got no higher than 10°, the
sky cloudless, with a strong west wind blowing. I
now took another piece from the branch cut the
day before from the upper part of the trunk, it
measured two inches in diameter at the lower and
lUh at the upper end, and was about eight inches
long ; and instead of sap now showing at the bark
as on the 29th, it was apparent before being taken
into the house, on three or four of the last formed
layers of wood on the side exposed to the sun.
This was taken into the room at 12 minutes to 12,
in nine minutes the first drop fell, at lOj minutes
past 12, twelve drops had fallen from the lower, and
three from the upper part ; at the end of this time
the sap was still flowing; but having other business
which required my attention I laid the wood across
a plate, and on my return to the house, near one
o'clock, found that more sap had fallen from each
end. The bottom end of this piece was held lowest,
as from some cause or other the sap Seemed dis-
posed to flow from it.

In order to determine whether the sap would
flow with greater facility from one end than from
the other, I cut off another l>ranch on the morning
of the 3d of February, the temi)eraturc at sunrise
being 11° below zero. To avoid injury Ijy the axe,
and that both ends might be alike, I sawed ofi" a
piece 8i inches long, averaging two inches in
diameter, this was laid horizontally across a cup
where the sun could shine upon it, time about half
past ten, and 10 drops fell from the lower and seven
the upper end. In the afternoon a similar piece,
measuring 10| inches long and 2J in diameter, was
sawed from a branch of the tree felled in Decem-
ber, this was also laid across a cup, and from 2 h.
36 m. to 2h. 58 J m. thirteen drops fell from the
lower and ten from the upjjcr part. These pieces
were each .sawed in two after the sap had ceased
flowing ; but the newly cut parts remained dry.*
Concentrated sap oozed from the bark from the end

whence the watery sap had flowed, but a few drops
only, smaller than ordinary pin's heads were noticed
on the bark where the wood was last sawed through.
I prefer not to make any comments on, nor to
hazard any conjecture founded on the above obser-
vations at present, at lea.st. I had intended to
have added a few words on the source of the air
bubbles or gas as the case may be, but as this dry
narrative has already extended to a considerable
length, and as there has been a remarkable differ-
ence in the amount of air emitted, I desire to ex-
amine further into this matter, and to send you
the results hereafter.

GARDENING IN ENGLAND.

BY J. M.

I some time ago promised to give you some fur-
ther accounts of objects of Horticultural interest
that I met with in my travels in England last Sum-
mer. A few weeks of my time there was spent in
the extreme southern counties, where the climate
much resembles Morthern France, and where the
Winters oftener pass with no frost and snow than
with it. I was surprised and delighted on visit-
ing .some of the large estates there to find several
of my greenhouse acquaintances flourishing in the
open air, in such a way as seemed to say to me,
" see what we can do without you." It seemed in-
deed like being transformed into the cold conserva-
tory of some Botanical gardens, to see the variety
of plants and shrubs growing unprotected out of
doors there.

The Veronica Andersoni and Hydrangea hor-
tensis were the most striking of what I first saw ;
true, the latter will occasionally live out with us,
but not to bloom ; the one above referred to h;^<^
been planted out about eight years; it was a mass
of bloom when seen by me, and in height 6 feet by
8 feet in diameter, it was in a .somewhat cool situa-
tion, and shaded from the sun by trees, at times
throughout the day. The American species H.
quercifolium was within a few feet of it, also in
flower, its russet colored leaf in strong contrast with
the bright green of the former.

The Veronica was a splendid specimen, its height
was 10 feet by 8 feet in diameter, the numbers of
its pale blue flowers being not the least of its attrac-
tions ; its variegated variety also lives out, quite
hardy, and was very thrifty.

Another plant or shrub, tender with us, the Ley-
cesteria formosa, had formed a specimen 8 feet high
by 6 feet through, making a contrast of singularity

by its long purple, pendent racemes of flowers, and
stiff reed-like appearance, to the other shrubs near
it.

The absence of such shrubs as the Spiraea,
Deutzia, Wiegelia and such others as are common
here, will strike the mind of a visitor to any of
those gardens.

The broad-leaved Evergi'eens are planted almost
exclusively in them, very few deciduous shrubs be-
ing used. I met with several specimens of the New
Zealand Flax, Phormium tenax, doing well in the
open air: its leaves are of a remarkable strength, it
is almost in)possible to break it by pulling; its
leaves somewhat resemble, in shape, an Iris, or
nearer perhaps the Gladiolus. The Camellia japoni-
ca will live out, but from what I saw of them, evi-
dently not to their advantage.

Edwardsia microphylla, on a southside wall,
flowered and perfected its seeds well. 1 had the
oS"er of some seeds of it by the obliging gardener,
but did not stay in the neighborhood until the rip-
ening of them. Noisette and Tea Roses, Myrtles,
and other tender plants were entwined around the
base of the Edwardsia.

Jaune Desprey Rose being remarkable for its frag-
rance and beauty, is always met with at the horti-
cultural shows there.

And now for a word about the shows. It would,
I am sure, be a source of delight to any lover of
Horticulture to see the interest taken in such affairs
by the gardeners at these shows. The day of my
visit to one it rained the whole morning ; neverthe-
less the tent in which was held the display, did
not, I think, miss a single article that was intended
to have been taken there.

Three classes are made of exhibitors, 1st. Employ-
ers who keep gardeners. 2d. Tradesmen or persons
without gardeners, i. e. amateurs. 3d. Laboring
persons whose earnings do not exceed 15 shillings
($3.75) per week. At the close of the exhibition,
at dusk, the premiums in money are at once distri-
buted to gainers of them. They are held three
times during the summer, and at the admission fee
of 50 cents, leave a handsome surplus after paying
the premium money.

But I fear this is digressing from my subject. So
to my trees again.

Of American trees very few seemed to thrive as
they should do. The Quercus rubra, Catalpa
bignonoides and Quercus nigra were stunted speci-
mens ; Rhus typhinum and Acer rubrum being ex-
ceptions ; what a gorgeous sight the large groups of
Rhododendrons must be when in flower — under the
shade of trees they thrive admirably. I saw masses

of several hundreds of them, 8 to 10 feet high, in
perfect health.

On walking near the sea shore, the only plant we
usually meet with is the Tamarix, the species I did
not know ; it stands the cold sea breezes in Winter
where nothing else will live. I could tell you, I
think, some interesting facts in regard to flowers
and flower-beds, but fear I have already gone far
enough, however I will venture to say a few words
about them.

In the first place what a beautiful contrast is
formed by the planting in a bed of plants of Alma
Geraniums and some purple flowered plant. The
one I saw used was Verbena venosa, a hardy species,
it formed the most beautifiil bed of any I saw. I
suppose the Verbena aubletia of our borders would
answer as well. The Alma, a variegated Geranium,
has been in the States some years. The Missouri
Primrose, (Enothera Missouriensis, is used for
forming permanent beds of yellow flowers.

To what a large extent are the white or variega-
ted leaf plants used as edgings to beds ! Every bed
has usually a border or edging of something of the
kind. The Coleus usually grows too high, as also
will the Achyranthes ; both are fine for centres with
something white leaved for an edging. The Achy-
ranthes from what I observed of it would I think
be best suited by being planted in partial shade
here. I saw it there in every situation, — the best
were in the moist or shady places, its color I think
was brightest out of doors. I suppose from its be-
ing now so largely distributed here, we shall be able
to form a tolerable fair opinion of its merits by the
ensuing Fall.

MORE ABOUT THE "BLACK ENOT."

BY "a reader," SALEM, MASS.

The fungus named by Dr. Fitch (see April No.,
page 115)is the Sphaeria morbosa of Fries, and may
be found described in his Systema Mycohgium,
vol. 2, p. 418. The late Lewis D. de Schweinitz,
in an article on the North American Fungi, commu-
nicated to the American Philosophical Society, in
1831, makes mention of the same, and describes its
various effects on the best varieties of the Plum
and on the several Wild Cherries in Pennsylvania
and North Carolina. It is evident, however, that
the "Sphaeria" is the subsequent condition of the
"knot," and is not the cause of the destruction
attributed to it. Other species of Sphceria may be
found on other trees — the swellings on the oak for
instance, are infested by Sphaeria fungus.

170

Cl;^ (Sardtwr's (plonthln.

We are inclined to think that some ingredient in
the soil is the cause of the mischief, and that a
remedy may be discovered by which the evil can be
avoided. The Wild Choke Cherry in some places
is nearly disjiatched by its ravages, and the worst
infected of this shrub are found near old stone
walls, where vegetable mould accumulates. Salt,
lime and sulphate of iron (copperas) have been
used as topical remedies applied to diseased limbs ;
perhaps these elements are needed at the roots.
Sections of such diseased branches exhibit accu-
mulations of deformed biuls crowded together in
the tissue as if produced by repletion. By cell
prrowth this unusual form rapidly increases when
the sap is most active ; and a succumbent spongy
mass is the consequence. By extraordinarj^ pres-
sure the bark or cuticle bursts and the timber weeps
and bleeds, inviting first the weevil, which mistakes
it for an unripe fruit, and next the cynips which
deposits its egg in the hatched larva or maggot,
and finally the invisible spores of the Sph<pria,
which rapidly vegetate and crowd the surface with
opaque black spherules, containing within a whit-
ish flesh filled with myriads of seeds, to spread and
be dissipated by the atmosphere, when ready to fall
from the deadened and brittle branch.

Such in fine is the epitome of the history of the
Black knot. Who shall discover the preventive or
the cure? Time and experiment may yet tell.

DOUBLE FLOWERS.

BY X.

To A. IT., in the April No., page 115.

The Dahlia and the Zinnia belong to the second
order of the nineteenth cla.s3, Syngenesia superflua
of the Linn.nean arrangement, where the outer rows
of florets, simply pistiliform, and incapable of im-
pregnation naturally are called superfluous. The
rest of the florets are hermaphrodite, or have in
each of them stamens and pistils, these produce seed.
The organ on which the ray or superfluous, and also
the disc florets are inserted, is called the receptacle,
and structurally considered is a .shortened and flat-
tened top of branch or apex of a stem.

In what is floriculturally called a double Dahlia,
no seeds are produced, the entire number of florets
become whorls or circles of ray flowers. It is only
when a few disc florets escape this general change
that the seeds are found, such seeds are thin, poor
and starved, though capable of germination, the
petal or ray florets absorbing the nutriment. The
more meagre the seeds in the Zinnia too, the more
double or multiplex will the composite flower

head be. Whatever increases the whorl of ray
florets inward or toward the apex, diminishes the
chance for hermaphrodite florets, and annihilates
the stamens on whose produce the future seeds
depend.

This may be high cultivation, or a very rich soil,
or some unknown art of the florist, giving a plethora
or diseased condition, which being multiplied from
cuttings or from seeds, becomes permanent, and
seldom if ever reverts to the simple and original
type.

ON STANDARD ROSES.

BY E. FEHRAND.

By standard roses, I here understand roses bud-
ded on the top of a stem varying in height from 3
to r> feet ; mere height would be a mere matter of
taste, but most persons believe that a rose ought to
be seen from above in order to enjoy all its fragrance
and beauty. I think these lines may be of interest
to the lovers of roses, and particularly to those who
to the effect of obtaining a greater display of flowers
than is commonly seen with out-door roses would
be willing to bestow on standard roses a particular
attention, ju.st as much at least as is given to more
common plants that are taken in and out every year.
For if a rose tree, when left to itself, is a beautiful
thing ; it should be known that when taken care of,
it will be remarkably more beautiful.

Besides beauty a great advantage with the bud-
ded rose is that some kinds give a greater quantity
and of larger flowers than the same when grown on
their own roots, and with some care the perma-
nency of some sorts tending to degenerate can be
checked by observing the following, which apply also
to fruit trees. Pears especially. It has been re-
marked that some roses which were beautiful at the
first have in some instances and in peculiar localities
lost all their fine qualities; some profuse bloomers
degenerating to give none but a few flowers, others
being altered in the color, others in the shape and
size of flower. With some Pears the quality of the
fruit has also degenerated and the fertility of the
tree reduced. These questions have been studied in
the horticultural bodies of France, the country 2^(tr
excellence of Pears and Roses ; experiments have
been made, and it has been found that in order to
secure the stability of a ro.se no propagation should
be made but from branches having actually bloomed
profusely, and those grown early preferred. The
late grown shoots and those having no tendency to
give bloom, in no case being used. The same selec-
tion was ob-served for the pear — the buds taken

from a limb showing more disposition to fruit. It
has also been remarked, and that in every instance,
with every kind of plants, as well as in all countries
where horticulture is honored, that the character
of a plant is better fixed when propagated by graft
than by a rooted cutting — take a variegated-leaved
plant for instance : in most cases, if propagated by
cuttings you will loose the variegation of your
plant, but you steadily fix it by grafting.

Some amateurs object to the cultivation of bud-
ded roses on account of the trouble they give with
the suckers, and also of standard for the difficulty
of covering them in Winter with straw or manure,
when short roses are easy to cover ; this is right ;
but I think a handsome rose tree well worth the
trouble to be taken up in the Fall and buried in the
ground till Spring when it is planted again ; and
note this, in France where the frost is not dreaded,
skillful amateurs take up all their budded roses
every year in order to trim the roots, carefully cutt-
ing off" all suckers very close to the stem, and rub-
bing off" with the knife those which show them-
selve like small protuberances ; the branches are
then cut quite short and thus a much better flower-
ing is obtained than when the plants are left un-
touched. It should be recommended to spare less
wood with roses than is generally done. Roses
bloom on the wood of the j'ear, and when too much
wood is left in Spring it weakens each bud in pro-
portion. To illustrate this, I will say that a rose
tree is never more beautiful than the first year of
its growing from the very bud. The greatest trou-
ble with standard roses is, that in this country a
proper stock is wanting, the Manetti being not at
all proper for that. The only good stock being yet
the common European Dog Rose : it must be well
ripened before used, none but three years old stems
being desirable. It can be sown easily or propa-
gated by roots ; it stands the the greatest cold of
this climate.

Of necessity the standard rose must be budded,
because but very few kinds grow strong enough to
form a stem of even 2 feet, which is rather low for
a standard. Moss Roses have also a greater tenden-
cy to grow suckers from the roots than the Dog Roes
has, and consequently give more trouble than it.
Whenever it is tried to form a head on a stem with
roses or other plants no suckers should be permit-
ted to show themselves out of the ground.

To this I will add that last year I received from
Europe 100 standard rose trees with a large invoice
of fruit trees, mostly Pears, for a collection for my-
self, they having by mistake been shipped on board
a sailing vessel, were over six months in the pack-

ing and did not reach me till the hottest days on
the 20th of June. I pruned them veiy short and
planted them at once in the open ground, and in
the Fall 50 had survived and made the most bril-
liant show and a vigorous growth. I had even
more success with the fruit trees, having two-thirds
of them, all of which are now very fine, but had I
not cut all so severely as I did, leaving but a bare
stem to the fruit trees, I would not have saved one
hundred on the whole lot.

My roses were buried in the Fall and I am get-
ting ready to set them in their places, and take
them up again in November.

ESSAY ON GROWING SPECIMEN PLANTS.
BY CHARLES CRUCKNELL, GERMANTOWN, PA.

Read hefore Fa. Hort. Society, April, 3d, 1866.

In introducing the subject for discussion this
evening, I wish to be distinctly understood that it
is chiefly with the view of inducing others of more
enlarged and varied experience to give their views
and the methods which they adopt in growing plants
for ornamentation.

It should be the desire of every gardener to es-
tablish a system of fraternal sociability and encour-
age a spirit of honest enquiry with each other, not
only to aid in promoting one another's interest, and
break down the narrow-minded selfishness that
hides its Hght under a bushel for fear our neigh-
bor might have something that would accrue to
his benefit; but also for exerting the influence which
we posses individually, and as a body, in spreading
broadcast a taste for plants and flowers which seem
to have been created for the single purpose of ad-
ding to the happiness of man.

It matters not how competent or skillful a man
may be, he is never so far advanced but what he
may add to his store of knowledge by drawing from
the experience of others, and the sure way to gain
this is by social intercourse.

It is not to be supposed that the gardener, with
one small greenhouse, can successfully compete with
those who have several ranges of glass built es-
pecially for the purpose of growing in each a par-
ticular class of plants that require special treatment,
which it would be impossible to give them where a
single house alone exists. But as straws show which
way the wind blows, so will the energetic gardener
— whatever position he may fill — by a few masterly
touches of skill show that he has the abilities with-
in him which he is ready to put forth when the
opportunity occurs. It is not the position which
makes the gardener, the reverse is often the case : /^

\f9)'

172

2Ih^ (gardener's ^lonthlj.

he gives to the place a "local habitation and a
name."

An idea is prevalent that unless a plant be new,
or rare, or co.stly, it is not worth spending time to
grow it well. This is all wrong. Fa.ehlon is one
thing, but beauty is another; and many of the
common flowering plants are amongst the most
lovely objects in the Floral kingdom, and not the
less so because they are easily grown. In fact, it is
the ease and simplicity with which they can be cul-
tivated that gives to them the charming grace and
loveliness of character which they pos.sess, and has
made them universal favorites.

There are plants in every collection that await
only the magical touch of the skilled workman, to
be moulded into whatever form or shape, fancy or
taste may dictate. Take as an example the Fuchsia.
To my view there is not a more elegant plant in
cultivation. To the stateliness of the Norway
Spruce is blended the light graceful character of
the Hendock. Every color and shade of color in
the spectrum finds a reciprocal in its flowers. And
where can jou find such rich varied foliage?

You point to the rich leaves of the magnificent
Cyanophyllum, the metallic-lustred Alocasia, to
the low-growing Sonerilla with its delicate fairy-
like flowers, or the wonderful Anasctochilus whose
rich velvety-textured foliage has often fascinated
the gaze of manj' an envious mortal ; you remind
me of the stately Marantas, the grand old Dracoe-
nas, the gloriously painted Crotons, and the luxu-
riant Mu.sas, all of which are exceedingly beautiful;
but neither of these, nor the Gesneria with its
handsome foliage surmounted with a plume of
gaudy flowers, can excel the inimitable grace, the
infinite variety, and ever changing colors of a bed
of well-grown Fuchsias.

Happily the cultivation of the Fuchsia is of the
simplest kind. It may be managed entirely as an
annual with the exception that it is grown from
cuttings, and these can be rooted any time in De-
cember or Jaimary. For the first eight or ten
weeks of its existence it requires hothouse culture ;
and as .soon as one set of pots are filled with roots
the plants should be .shitted into a size or two larger,
and so on till they are in ten-inch pots, which for
all practical purposes are large enough. The writer
of this essay has counted as many as five hundred
flowers and buds on a single plant of Guiding Stnr
the first week in June, that had been grown from a
cutting rooted in the month of January. The
wood should not be allowed to harden under any
circumstances until they have nearly finished their
growth. Whenever a plant shows a disposition to

harden its wood in the early stages of growth it is
better to discard it, as in nine cases out of ten if
one plant be retained disappointment is sure to
follow.

Many of the soft wooded plants do better and
give more satisfaction by being renewed annually
fi-om cuttings or seed than if the same plants were
kept to do duty continually. It is not in the order
of things, for an old plant to bloom so free or look
so beautiful as one with youth on its side.

From the early dawn of intelligence in childhood
to its hastening decay in old age, we associate in
our minds the pure and the beautiful, as depend-
ing on, and forming an integral part of youth, and
as closely connected with that period of existence
as life itself.

The most difiBcult branch of the art of jtlant-cul-
ture, and that which reflects the highest credit on
the gardener, is the growing and training of hard
wooded plants. The Camellia and Azalea are fami-
liar instances. Any one at all acquainted with the
rudiments of plant-culture may if he chooses grow
many of the .soft-wooded plants, providing he has a
structure suitable for the purpose, as they possess
a natural tendency to a.ssume a gay and lively charac-
ter, combined with a form at once symmetrical and
graceful, — independent of the skill of the grower.
This is particularly true of many of the Ferns, the
Centradenias, the Fuchsias, the Cyanophyllum
magnificum and many others. But the habit of
the hard wooded plants is entirely different. The
Azalea for instance, if allowed to follow the bent of
its own inclination, will grow into the most ungrace-
ful form that can well be imagined, which in the
hands of the skilled workman will become a thing
of beauty that neither time, nor age, nor neglect,
nor even mismanagement itself can wholly efface.
Let skill once set its seal upon it, and so long as the
plant exists, will it remain.

"We would have our Azaleas as handsome as
the best did we but know how to make them so,"
is the earnest wish of every one who truly loves
this desirable Winter blooming cla.ss of i)lants. To
help those who feel this need, a few words of ex-
planation on the whole subject of training will not
be out of place.

We will suppose the plant to be trained is three
feet in height from the pot, and in form very like
an inverted cone, which is the appearance an un-
trained hardwooded plant generally presents when
left to care for itself. It would seem almost an im-
po.ssibility to reverse the position of the form of a
plant of this description but with care and patience
and observing a few simple instructions it may be

iti

§h^ #arkncr'» IRonthlg.

@1

done. The followinfij treatment has been found to
do its work effectually, and has brought some of the
most uncouth specimens imaginable into better
shape : —

Drive a stake into near the centre of the pot, of
the height desired, and to it tie a strong shoot
which will form the leader ; next fasten a piece of
wire round the pot, below the rim, and to it tie
strings sufficiently strong for the purpose, these in
turn to be passed over the lowest branches, which
must be bent down carefully for fear they break,
till a circle of branches be formed round the base ot
the plant. With the base and the apex formed, no
difficulty should be experienced in training the re-
maining part of the plant.

It will be found necessary to use the knife in
shortening any branch that may interfere with the
symmetry and roundness of the specimen, and also
to give it a finish. This had better be left undone
till the branches are all tied in their places, as then
one can see better which may require it. No un-
easiness need be felt on this account, as there is no
plant in cultivation which is more benefitted by
pruning than the Azalea.

Before concluding I would remark that the gar-
deners of this city — both commercial and private —
rank high in this particular branch of the profes-
sion. Philadelphia, at one time could boast of the
rarest collection of well trained Azaleas on this
continent, or in the world probably.

As the rich tones of the organ swell and reverbe-
rates through the dim aisles of some old cathedral,
tilling the vast edifice with the mystic power of
music, so does the magnetic presence of flowers in-
fluence our whole life, enriching the mind with new
ideas and noble aspirations, enlarging the heart, ex-
alting the imagination, and expanding the whole
soul with intellectual forms of beauty, truthfulness
and love.

We envj^ not the man who, with untold wealth,
is ever in pursuit of happiness which he finds not ;
who cannot see in the innocent gaze of an unfolded
blossom the great lesson which is there plainly
written, that the truest of all human enjoyments is
the love we bear for flowers.

CACTI FROM THE IMPERIAL GARDEN
OF ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA.

BY HORTICOLA.

Several years ago (March, 1861, p. 84, and July,
1862, p. 344) Dr. Kegel, Scientific Director of the
Imperidl Garden at St. Petersburg, Russia, gave
in his monthly Garden Flora, ( Garten Flora) a

description of a beautiful Cactus, belonging to the
tribe of the Phyllocacti, by many even now called
Epiphj'lla, and produced by artificially crossing the
Phyllocactus crenatus, Salm., with P. Ackermanni
or some other large blooming red variety. The des-
cription is accompanied by a picture. Being very
fond of Cacti, a large collection of which I had un-
der cultivation in Germany, I wrote to Dr. Kegel,
and requested him to send it to me in exchange for
other plants from this country. He was kind
enough to comply with my request, and added other
crosses from the same mother plant, fertilized with
the pollen of varieties similar to that which pro-
duced the variety in question, viz., Vogelii, lateri-
tius, amaranthinus, splendens and grandiflorus.

The Phyllocactus alluded to was called, by Dr.
Kegel, Phj'llocactus crenatus Salm., var. rosea
grandiflora, Kegel. The habitus of the plant is not
so robust as that of the mother plant, Phyllocactus
crenatus, nor does it grow so rapidly and large.

As I had two specimens of it in bloom last Sum-
mer I can corroborate what Dr. Kegel says about it.

The Editor of the Gardener's MonOdy repeated
the statement of Dr. Kegel in a condensed form in
January, 1864, p. 25.

While the two plants were in flower I was sick,
and con.sequently prevented from taking notes and
measurements ; all I could accomplish was the im-
pregnation of one of the flowers with the pollen of
P. splendidissimus.

The fruit which I picked ofi" last week was as
large as a walnut, of a beautiful vermilion color.
When I opened it the whole room was filled with
an indescribably delicious perfume. Its taste was
peculiarly aromatic, but too sweet for me. The
ladies eat it with delight. The two other flowers
not fertilized artificially did not produce fruit.
The seeds I shall sow; I shall most -certainly suc-
ceed in raising some fine varieties from them.

The object for which I write the lines is to call
the attention of amateurs to the flower of the
plant. As the Night-blooming Cereus (Cereus
grandiflorus) is so widely known, I deem it suffi-
cient to say that the flower of the Phyllocactus
crenatus var. rosea grandiflora, is very similar to that
of the Night-blooming Cereus in size and form, it
is very little smaller. Its color is rose, of such a
purity and beauty that it was beheld with the great-
est admiration by those who had an opportunity
of seeing it.

I must confess that I never saw a Cactus flower
that has struck me so much by its wonderful ele-
gance and color. Even when the lamps were lit in
the evening, I had it placed on a table before the

•ft

174

i

©jje ^arhncr's S^^iit^ln.

couch on which I was laying, surrounded by lights,
that I might enjoy it as long as possible.

It may find its way into this country soon, or
may have found it already. If these lines should
have the effect to induce amateurs^ to procure it, it
would give me pleasure, for theirs would be mine.

HOW TO SHADE A SPAN-ROOF GRAPE-
HOUSE.

BY MR. J.\MES LA.MO.NT, GARDENER TO C. ZUO,
ESQ., PITTSBURGH, PA.

My plan of shading is simple and cheap. I think
it will be useful to others. It will help the Grapes
to color, which is a great desideratum.

In the first place stretch a good strong wire the
whole length of the house, four inches from the
ridge pole, and then the shade must hang four feet
from the ground level, and the space between these
lines filled with muslin ; then divide the house into
two or three section. Then cut the muslin to the
same lengths: when this is done, line your muslin
well, and along the toj) cut button holes, say one
font apart, so that you can fasten it to the wire,
which can be done with good twine. In the next
place fix rollers to roll them up on. These rollers
I would make of iron well painted. Wooden rollers
would warp, and I would not recommend them.
To each roller put two cords. The cords must
be fastened to the ridge pole and then pass the
cords through under the rollers and up to the ridge
jKjle. Have two pulleys on the ridge pole and pass
the cords through them, and from that point it can
hang down, so as the hands can lay hold of them,
and by pulling you can raise your blind (or in other
words centre wall) at any time when it is not
needed.

I think six feet apart will be a good distance for
the pulleys, three feet on each side of the centre,
and pulling fair with both cords in the hands
together it will go up very nicely. Then have a
hook or weights to hold it up. On cloudy days
this will not Ije required.

If the south end of your hou.se is all wood and
glass, I would say shade itlikewi.se from 10 o'clock,
A. M. , until 2 o'clock P. M., and the centre blfnd in
the heat of summer days, I would leave^he blinds
down from 8 o'clock, a. m., until 4i o'clock, P. M.
My reasons for recommending this shade is to
equalize the heat, and to keep down or stop the
focus in the oppo.site sides. When the sun is in the
southeast the focus is in the west side doing the
mischief; and the same where the sun is in the
southwest, just vice versa.

I favor span-roof Grape houses, and we can get as
good Grapes out of them. I hope a few may try
this way of shade this Summer so that it can be
tested. I can say a good deal in favor of it, but I
will keep back till I here what maybe said about it.

[All first-class gardeners know how important it
is to have a partial shade to a grapery while the
fruit is coloring. We should be very glad to hear
from such of our correspondents who may have a
better plan than this one of Mr. Lamont's to pro-
pose, if such there be. Mr. Lamont's plan has
many advantages. — Ed.]

WHY GARDENERS CHANGE THEIR
PLACES SO OFTEN.

BY CHRONICLER.

There is a species of grievous tyranny to which
many good gardeners are subjected, unknown to
their employers, and we think its publicity will
cause it to be ended. Where there is a farmer
upon the place he is Lord of the manor; if the
gardener needs manure or the use of a horse and
cart he is repeatedly put off with a civil anstver,
until it is long after the time for him to put in his
crops. If he is bashful or indifferent he will wait
and all his crops will be late. If he is a man of
anxiety, he will crop without manure. The lady is
perplexed at her vegetables being too late or poor,
and the flowers don't do well. The gentleman is
reproached for having such a poor gardener; and
the pleasure of the family is destroyed for that year.
The gardener is rebuked for his incapacity; his
only defence is telling the truth, and is discredited ;
the farmer gives him the lie, and is believed ; and if
the gardener boards with him, tcoe to him! the whole
people upon the place are against him. He is with-
out an equal, companion or friend, and he must
either leave or continue in his degradation until
his time is up ; another comes in his stead to be
treated in the same way, and the emploj'crs lament
over the difficulty of getting a good gardener. If
they would make the farmer and gardener change
places for one year, truth would unveil the mys-
tery: the gardener would become energetic and
cheerful, and the farmer would be gloomy, and
would be apt to say, what many a one had said to
us, "I would rather serve twelve months in States
prison than work in the garden one year." The
spade is a laborious, back-breaking tool ; carrying
manure in a wheel-barrow is harder work than
hauling dung with horse and cart ; and pulling the
heavy garden roller is harder than sitting upon the
field roller and guiding the horses.

§h^ (Sardm^r's JSlontltlg,

175

1^$

When a gardener goes upon a new place he is a
stranger to all upon the place, his employers should
not allow him to be treated as an outcast, but should
see to it, that all the wants of his business are fur-
nished him before he needs them ; he should never
have to board with the farmer, nor have any con-
nection with him. The farmer's complaints should
never be taken about him ; let him be judged by his
doings ; he will have many difficulties the first year
that he will not have after that. Frequent changes
are losses to both the employee and employer.

NOTES ON THE MAY NUMBER.-PLASTER
FOR MILDEW.

BY CHARLES CRUCKNELL, GEHMANTOWN, PA.

"Ignoramus" gives a remedy for red spider,
the meaning of which is not very clear to me ; he
says " take about a quart of fresh lime, two hands-
ful of sulphur, put into a tin vessel and fill it full
of water and spread it on the flue near the fire ;
aboays keep it full of icater and you will never see
a red spider. ' ' What is it that is kept full of water ?
and what is it that is spread on the flue? Is the
work " spread" a misprint?

The Verbena rust is kept down by keeping the
plants cool and near the glass, and admitting a free
circulation of bottom air on warm days. Our Ver-
benas are particularly free from disease this year,
which we attribute to this kind of treatment. We
have always been bothered with rust in former
years when we pursued a diiferent method of treat-
ment.

We can very well understand when two or more
varieties of Dahlias are planted in close proximity
how the pollen of one plant may impregnate the
other; but we cannot comprehend how the im-
pregnation of the flowers can by any possible means
effect the roots so as to produce imperfect flowers
the following season. This is a new feature in vege-
table physiology.

. Double flowers and broken or variegated colors in
flowers have a natural tendency to degenerate or
return to the originals. By striking cuttings an-
nually they will neither degenerate in color or form.
We allow but one sprout to grow from each root,
and use a half a shovelful o^ fresh cow-dung to each
hill. We plant out the third week in May, and
never cut off" any flower buds for the simple reason
that we keep the plants growing vigorously through
the Summer, and consequently they do not show
any signs of flowering till August, from which time
they keep in bloom till frost destroy them.

For five years we planted the old roots in succes-

sion, simply dividing them, and we risk nothing in
saying our flowers were finer and larger at the end
of that time than when we commenced, the colors
generally coming true.

" Enthusiast" by referring to the sixth volume,
p. 104, April number of the Gardener's Monthly,
will find the rule he seeks, for raising first-rate
Wallflowers. In addition to what is there said of
this flower we may add that they do not do well in
a greenhouse with fire heat. The dwarf Amaran-
thus makes an excellent border for the tropical bed
described by this correspondent.

For a number of years we have used to advan-
tage gypsum or plaster for driving away insects
from all of the melon tribe, Egg-plants, Cabbage,
&c. , by dusting the plants while the dew is on
them. We have likewise used it to exterminate
the Rose slug and bug with success. The plants
look unsightly for a while, but we can tolerate this
evil sooner than have our Roses destroyed just as
they are coming into bloom.

Plaster is a good thing for arresting mildew. Last
season our Gut-door Grapes were attacked with mil-
dew and after dusting them well early in the morn-
ing the disease seemed to vanish, for we ripened an
extra fine crop of Grapes, consisting of Concords,
Isabellas and Catawbas. Now is the time to take
advantage of and test this matter.

IMPORTING ORCHIDS.

BY GEORGE SUCH, SOUTH AMBOY, N. J.

As you seem to take great interest in Orchids, I
take leave to inform you that I have established a
correspondence with several persons favorably situa-
ted for making collections of Orchideous plants.
The consignments are made in small lots, as you
will see by the following list, from a correspondent,
showing the contents of a case received about ten
days ago :
One fine specimen of Epidendrum elongatum.

" " " Catleya, with 2 flower buds.
One specimen of Catleya.
One fine specimen of Oncidium ceballa.
One Epidendrum biloba, with flower.

The stock must not be cut off, as it from time to
time produces flowers.

Three received from South America as Lycaste.
One fine specimen of a rare Epidendrum, the leaves

bluish-gray.
One small pot with a fine pink Orchidea.
One ? ? — purple flower."

All those plants were in perfect health. During
the cold pinch of last Winter, I had a basket sent
from the steamer to me here, and had the misfor-
tune to lose by the cold a noble Catleya labiata,
two Oncidium variegatura, a Brassavola from Hon-
duras, and one or two others.

|To those who may have chances of communica-
ting with Orchideous latitudes, Mr. Such's account
of his successful importation will be encourage-
ment to go and do likewise. Our country is much
more favorable to Orchid growing than Europe,
and they should be very popular.— -Ed. J

;n

176

ih^ (gardener's JRonthlg.

Clje ^ariicncr's STont|Ig.

PHILADELPHIA, JUNE, 1866.

53— All Commnnications for the Editor should be addressed,
"Thomas Mef.han, Gennaatown, Philadelphia," and Busiuess Let.
terg directed to "W. O. P. Bbiscklob, Box Philadelphia."

(Il

For Terms of Suhscription see seconri page cover.

For Tortus of Advertising see page 83.

Volumes 1,|1; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7, unbound, $2 each.

OIL AS A REMEDY AGAINST INSECTS.

Many years ago we were interested in some ex-
periments made by some medical students on the
destruction of insect life by oil. The slightest drop
of sweet oil. put on the back of a hornet, beetle,
bee or similar thing, cau.'^ed its instant destruction.
"We were told the breathing pores were closed by
the oil, — and life was literally smothered out. In
after life greasy water was always a favorite mode
with us of destroying insects, — and we have repeat-
edly urged it upon the readers of this journal.
Yet we are astonished to find liow little the hint
has been acted on. Almo.st every day we meet
people who ask how to destroy this insect or that,
— and our drawer is filled with s^imilar inquiries;
and to all the idea of grea.se or oil seems as new a
one as if wc had kept the matter a most profound
secret.

Of the millions of people in the United States
how few are there who would not " give any thing,"
as they say, to know how to keep away the Cabbage
fly from their seed beds, — yet about a tablespoonful
of coal oil put in a common garden water-pot of
water, sprinkled over the seed bed, when the little
jum]iing beetle is noticed as having appeared, will
instantly destroy the whole brood.

A correspondent of this journal recently gave us
an article on the virtues of coal oil in killing scale
insects. We have repeated the experiment on
some Daphnes with entire success.

In .short wc have no doubt that coal oil, wel^ di-
lutcdwith water, is death to all kinds of insecis,
and there is no rea.son why it should not be in as
general use as tobacco is for killing aphides — more
valuable in factbecau.se it can be applied in so many
cases where smoke cannot.

One great point in favor of coal oil is that it acts
as a manure to vegetation, while dealing out death
to insects. We have seen Cabbage beds nearly
destroyed by the Cabbage fly, have the whole crop

of beetles destroyed almost instantaneously, — while
in a few days afterwards the plants, as if by magic
would cover the bed with luxuriant leaves.

We do not believe that the undiluted oil would
prove injurious to the leaves, but such extravagance
is unnecessary, as the small quantity we have given
is effectual.

No doubt the Egg-plant fly, and all insects that
can be reached by the oil can, be destroyed.

There is scarcely one of our readers to whom we
are sure this hint alone will not be worth many
annual subscriptions.

We may add that any oil is as good as coal oil, —
but that being likely to be more easily obtained
when wanted is recommended, also care must be
used to keep the water in the pot stirred when
used so that a portion of the oil gets out as the
water runs, — otherwise the oil floating on the top
of the water will stay there till all the water goes
out and only the oil be left for the last. For this
reason a syringe, in many cases, will be preferable
to the water-pot, as the oil and water will have a
better chance of gettinc out.

PUTTING DRAINAGE INTO FLOWER-
POTS.

In one of our earliest numbers, Mr. Peter Hen-
derson assumed the ])Osition, unqualifiedly, that
crocking pots is unnecessary. From time to time
statements and counter statements have been made,
and the matter continues unsettled. It seems very
easy to decide this question, — but first let us see if
the champions of the different practices are not
more nearly on the same platform than they suppose
they are.

We know why plants want water", — all the nutri-
ment a plant receives is taken into its system with
the water it absorbs. A continuous current of
moi.sture about the roots is therefore essential to all
but swamp plants.

If we take two pots, one containing earth only,
the other having a plant growing healthi]3f in it ;
give to each exactly the same quantity of water,
and .set both in an exposed place ; the one with the
plant is dry long before the other. The most of
the water goes not through the hole at the bottom,
or through the porous sides of the pot, but through
the thousand of little s])ongioles up into the leaves
where it is evaporated, leaving only the solid mat-
ters it took up with it. The oftener such a plant
dries, and can again get its water renewed, the
oftener in fact is it taking its food, and getting fat
according to good philosophy.

i®

Cj)i| §mhmxs Ulantjjlg.

A plant, therefore, that is so full of roots as to
be able to suck up easily all the water given to it,
needs no "crocking," — but until it gets to this full
rooted condition, the rapid transition or circulation
of moisture through the soil must be accelerated
by artificial means, or the plant will stance.

In very small pots on a dry shelf, although the
plants may not fill the pots with roots and so suck
up the moisture to any great extent, very much
will go through the pores of the pots, and in such
cases drainage will be unnecessary.

In short, and to crowd the argument into as few
words as possible, plants in pots, to keep healthy,
must have the soil about their roots regularly moist
and dry by turns, — when this can be accomplished
without "crocking," this drainage will be unneces-
sary,— when there is danger that this will not
freely ensue, plants should certainly be drained in
order to assist the process.

Our friend in a recent paper has a pleasant allu-
sion to an old fogy who always planted a grain of
wheat or oats with the seed in his pot.

We think we have met that old fellow in our
time, and have had our laugh at him also, — but we
have lived to learn that he had a good ground for
his practice, though the reason for it was no doubt
unknown to him. And the reason is this :

There is no "medicinal" virtues in a grain of
wheat — but it is of a coarse, strong nature and a
sour soil will not easily kill it. It sprouts imme-
diately it gets in the ground, and lU roots ramifying
in all directions suck up all the superfluous mois-
ture in the pot that otherwise would stagnate, sour
! the soil, and rot the roots of more delicate and
slow rooting things.

Most of us know that when we get any choice
seeds, we generally take especial pains with them
by careful watering and zealous guarding of the
young seedling plants from the intrusion of the
minutest'Veed, — and yet in the majority of cases
more "damp off' under this cautious policy than
when they are entirely neglected, — and it has come
to be a rule with gardeners, that to raise seed suc-
cessfully in pots, more attention should be given to
the matter of watering than to any other process of
the art whatever.

Now when seeds are somewhat neglected, weeds
spring up and the coarser roots of the weeds taking
up the superfluous water keeps the soil from souring.

We gave, last year, the result of an experiment
a friend made with Egg-plants. One half the bed
he hoed and kept clean from the start, — the other
was left weedy for a long time, until the Egg-plants
had a fair hold of the ground. They were then

cleaned and the crop was earlier^ larger and^ner
every way than those particularly cared for.

We know that all such accounts excite the ire of
the clean and careful cultivator. He is so embit-
tered against weeds that he will not see in them
any uses, only their abuses ; and the philosophy of
the past so impregnates his bones that he feels a
sort of mental rheumatism whenever any new idea
is propounded of a progressive kind. When he
reads our remarks that even weeds have a benefi-
cial effect in guarding the roots of more tender
things, — we have no doubt he will imagine we are
praising the management of that gardener

"Whose days were all spent in yawning or slumber
While his garden bore thistles and weeds without namberi'

And indeed there is no doubt many a lazy laborer
might take advantage of the idea, and excuse him-
self for neglecting crops on the plea that " here the
Gardener s Monthly says weeds are good things to
have in a garden."

However, we are dealing with facts, and' have to
risk prejudice in our statements of them, — and we
have no doubt, from our own observations, that the
grain of wheat man, — and the weed-among-the-
Egg-plant man have more of common sense in their
practice than many of us, with old fashioned no-
tions of propriety, are prepared to give them credit
for.

All this has a close connection with this subject
of draining pots, — and it all amounts to this, that
the fibres of plants must be kept in a condition to
have repeated changes of water, — when this can be
done without "crocking" that process is unneces-
sary,— when it cannot or is not likely to be, crock-
ing should be done.

THS STRAWBERHY SEASON.

It cannot have been concealed from our readers
that we have a very poor opinion of the majority
of the new seedling fruits annually foisted on the
public at an enormous expense. The intelligent
portion of the horticultural community feel as we
do, — but they cannot help themselves. The ten-
dency of the people to try to make large fortunes
in a few minutes, added to their supreme ignorance,
creates an enormous demand for every "novelty"
that any ignoramus or sharper, starts as a " won-
derful" fruit, — and every nurserjTuan has to have
it or be thought by half of his customers to be
"behind the times."

Our annual Strawberry shows used to be looked
forward to with interest as showing how this delici-
ous fruit had been "improved," — their chief uses

"oar

i^

Mci)^.

178

Sth^ (Sardeiur's dRonthlg.

now are to weed out worthless things, and to show

how many new onis are but new names under false

colors.

It may be worthy of inquiry at our forthcoming

Strawberry show?, whether if so many persons

have thought Buffalo Seedling so superior a new

kind as to be worth paying a high figure for, and it

is yet nothing but McAvoy's Superior, — whether

Strawberry varieties have improved much during

the last 15 years that 3IcAvoy's Superior has been

before the public.

«»■»>

WINE TURNED INTO VINEGAR.

Last year several wise men from the east came to
Philadelphia, and bought up all the Linnaeus Rhu-
barb plants they could get at ten dollars per hun-
dred, and after taking them to Binghamton, Jer-
sey City and other places, cut them up into little
bits, and have scattered the fragments widely over
the country as wine plants at forty dollars per 100.
Lately they returned here. Among the " Putch,"
in Montgomery county, they gathered a rich har-
vest into their garners, — hundreds of farmers there
are at this moment who are " down on book larnin',"
but who are in the holy hope of $6000 per acre
clear profit from their wine patches, from which
pleasant dreams they will not awake until the de-
cease of all their hopes about this time next year.

Having well bled " the Dutch," they went down
among.st the Quakers of Delaware and Chester
counties, —but they fell into the hands of the Phil-
istines, and brought up in sadness in the county
jail of Media.

Andrew W. Brown, Andrew Boyce and G. A.
Martin, of Binghamtqn, were arrested for obtain-
ing money under the false pretence of selling roots
as "wine plants," knowing at the same time that
they were nothing but Rhubarb plants. After a
hearing before the Alderman, they were handed
over to the authorities of Media " to do with them
as seemed good unto them." When they get out
wc fancy they will give Philadelphia " Quakers" a
"wide berth," and go where "book larnin' " is
at a heavy discount.

^rrajis anb <^uprips.

H. W. Sargent, in his letter dated York, England,
speaking of his visit to Knowlsley Park, near Liver-
pool, the seat of the Earl of Derby, described a
new seedling Grape he saw there, the Mu.<cat Es-
cholata. There certainly must be some mistake
about this Grape being a new seedling, as we fruited
it (or at least a Grape by this name) at Longleat
Wilts (the seat of the Marquis of Bath), as early
as 1854, and considered it but a synonym of the
Muscat of Alexandriia, as much so as the Totten-
ham Park Muscat. The house being devoted to
Muscats only, the varieties being the Cannon Hall
^luscat, the Muscat of Alexandria, the Muscat of
Escholata and the Tottenham Park Muscat, but in
point of truth two varieties only.

[Mr. C. is right. We have known this Grape
for thirty years, and it is much older than this. J

il

53"Commanlcatli}nii for this department rnuBt reach the Editor
an or h^fore the 10th of the month.

53""Tbe Editor cannot answer letters for thia department pri-
TBtely.

Muscat Escholata Grapb-f-J. C, Rochester,
N. Y. — In a recent number of the Monthly, Mr.

Hamburgh Grape— "'^ Suhscriber," we do
not know where from, sa3\s: — "I enclose some
young blossoms off a large old Black Hamburgh
Grape vine. All the roots of the vine are outside.
The blossoms are shrinking or damping off on one,
and the leaves look pale and thin on the other. I
would be very thankful if you would please to give
some explanation through the 3JuntMi/.

[The roots have got injured some way. Perhaps
they are wet so that the fibres have rotted, — perhaps
you have been in the habit of digging over and
cropping the border, thus destroying the surface
roots. You must encourage healthy fibres, near
the .surface somehow before your vines will recover.
Without knowing all the circumstances the best
thing we can advise you is put a compost of coarse
vegetable refuse and sand, say two inches thick
over the border, and leave it that way for a couple
of years, merely keeping down weeds.]

Grape Sugar— Sacciiarometers— J!/., IlarrLs-
hurff, Pa. — " If you can, will you please state in the
3IonfhIy whoilmr Grape or Potato Sugar, such as i.s
used in Germany in wine making, can be procured'
in this country? I should also be obliged to know
where Acetometers and Saccharometers can be had.
No doubt many of your readers, besides myself,
would be thankful for the information requested."

[We suppose any large chemical house could fur-
nish the sugar ; and the instruments can be proba-
bly obtained from most of the large Opticians and
makers of Mathematical Instruments.

In Philadelphia you can try McAllister & Bro.]

S1l^

i^hij #arkncr'!i JRonthlB.

Seedling Pelargonium, from John Hirst, Neic
PhiladelpJtia, OJiio. — "I send you a flower of a
seedling Pelargonium, seed from Jennj' Lind crossed
with the Emperor. Please give your opinion in
the Gardener's Monthly.'"

[Tho, flower, packed in damp moss in a small tin
box. came in first-rate order (a hint to those who
send (hem in dry cotton and pasteboard). The
flower is not superior to many of the known fancy
varieties, but it is a first-class variety, and well
worthy of propagation.]

CniLi Strawberries — J. M. M., New Bed-
ford, Mass., writes: — "Your answer to my enqui-
ries about the Chili Strawberries puzzles me very
much.

"Mr. Prince's CFlushing, L. I.,) special Cata-
logue of Strawberries, August, 1865, Nos. 133 —
HI inclusive, are set down as true Chili Straw-
berries, with magnificent descriptions, and equally
grand prices. I have a few of No. 133, but they
have not fruited, and having bored my horticultu-
ral friends with inquiries, and got no answer, I
thought I would try you.

"Again Nos. Ill and 123 of the same catalogue
are set down as hybrid Chilis, as though the infu-
sion of the Chili added some especial excellence to
the pine stock."

Foreign Strawberries — " My inquiry about
La Constante seems to have been misunderstood.

" I have not raised foreign Strawberries, and made

twenty or thirty kinds my pets, without knowing

! that La Constante was a Belgium sort, but what I

• desired to know was of what sort, i. e. from what

! named plant it was a seedling."

{ [We have never seen any account by De Jonghe

I of the parents of any of his Strawberries. We

! place very little reliance on the genealogy of any

I new fruits or flowers, even when given; for we have

] found too often, after close investigation, that most

seedlings are accidental, and the raiser then looks

around for the probabilities, which seem to him

facts, and he then gives them as undoubted facts to

the public. In nine-tenths of cases we believe this

to be how these matters stand.]

[These are very pretty, — equal certainly to any
thing we have seen, Mr. Ball's hybrid not excepted.

We often wonder the Mimulusis not more grown.

Potted in very rich soil, and the pots set in sau-
cers of water, and then placed in the full sun, —
there can be no prettier floral ornament grown.]

Variegated White Spruce— J. M. M. , Tomp-
Idns County, N. J",, sends us a specimen of a pretty
variegated variety, well worthy of propagation,
which he can readily accomplish by layering like
the Carnation.

Seedling Mimulus — F. R. H. S., Boston.—
" I have forwarded a few blooms of some seedling
Mimulus for your inspection as regards color, &c.
[ wish to know if you think the color distinct and
worth saving. You will not be able to judge the
size of the blooms, the plants being in small pots.
I think under proper treatment they will prove

Pomological Progress. — "Some correspon-
dent inquires of one of our contemporaries "what
is the average life term of the dwarf Pear?' To
which he answers that the average is ten years ; but
if a tree have the care and attention it requires he
believes that it will live at least two-thirds as long
as a standard, say 25 or 30 years. As many of our
own dwarf trees are 25 years old, and those of Col.
Wilder 30, and yet in full vigor, we think the aver-
age is a little more than 10 years. Many of our
standards. 30 years old, have but just begun to bear.
It does seem as if it was about time to have a bet-
ter knowledge of dwarf trees."

The above is from Hovey's Magazine in reference
to a remark of our own.

Our contemporary is growing very smart in its
old days. We have before heard of Boston con-
sidering itself the " hub of the Universe," but it
is going a little further than this to ask us to calcu-
late the average duration of the life of all the
dwarf Pears planted in ihe United States by the
length of tho.se in Mr. Hovey's or Col. Wilder's
grounds. We know of dwarf Pears probably 75
years old, but as they do not grow in Mr. Hovey's
or Col. Wilder's, of course we cannot take 75 years
as the average of the life of the dwarf Pear,

We are quite sure that every person out of the
grounds of the gentlemen referred to, who know the
meaning of the term average, and who are ' ' posted' '
on the millions of dwarf Pears that have been set
out during the past 20 years to the thousands only
living of them, will feel our average a truthful one.

It is not the interest of a horticultural magazine
to deceive the public ; and nurserymen suSqt when
their customers are misinformed.

It is a well known fact that the average deration
of the dwarf Pear is less than that of any other
fruit tree, — not necessarily so, but through igno-
rance of its proper treatment.

With proper care and attention they are far more
profitable and interesting every way than standards,

i^

f!

180

®|e gardener's cplontl^Ij.

and everybody should have them, — but they so
often do not get this proper treatment, that the
average is just as we stated, — and we do not see
that the dwarf Pear interest will suffer by the pub-
lic knowing the truth.

Harpy Ivies— .5. T, Philadelphia.—'' On the
southeast side of our house the Ivy was killed to
the ground the past Winter,— variety the Irish. Is
there any really hardy variety?"

[What is or is not hardy the the past Winter
can scarcely be considered a fair test of except so
far as what are entirely uninjured. Native trees
have been, in many places, destroyed. Of Ivies
the narrow-leaved varieties are hardiest. The Eng-
lish is hardier than the Irish, and the Russian
hardier than either.]

Dean Swift— C C, Germnnfovm, Pa., writes:
— " 'Young Contributor' says Dean Swift was an
Englishman. Is not this an error? I have always
supposed him to be an Irishman. He certainly pos-
sessed the rare excellence of manly independmce.'''

The York Imperial and* Lancaster Pippin
Apples. — A correspondent inquires about York
Imperial Apple. We had specimens sent us in
1'^('.2 from Mr. Evans, of York, on which we re-
marked at the time. His note accompanied the
fruit we now give entire as it may .answer our cor-
respondent about the " York Imperial," and is all
we know of its history :—

"The 'York ImperiaT has,- every thing con-
sidered,— proved our most desirable Apple for some
years. It is a vigorous, thrifty grower; a regular
and productive bearer (I had rather say very pro-
ductive) and a valuable keeper, in addition to its
qualities as an Apple, of which the specimens may
enable you to judge. I have had excellent speci-
mens of it a month later than this, and for our
.section consider it A No. 1 fruit.

"The 'Lancaster Pippin has proved a regular
and very productive bearer and an excellent keeper.
The tree is very thrifty. It is new to roe, and was
handed me, with the ' York Imperial' I send you,
by Mr. E. Jessop, several days ago. Should you
know it under any other name, should be obliged
to you for any information you may have regarding
it. la quality it is only good. ' '

Greenhouse for Texas — A Correjipondent at
Austi7i, Texas writes:— "I am anticipating build-
ing a small greenhouse, and on as economical a plan
as possible, yet frost-proof in Winter, combined

with all the facilities for shade in Summer as I can.
For although it is but oeca.«ionally that we have
frost enough to kill plants in an ordinary house
here, yet we have it sometimes, and when we do
get it, it is generally accompanied by a strong north
wind, that would aluio.st pierce through a bar of
iron, and this generally occurs once or twice every
Winter ; and the first thing we know all our choice
plants are gone to the wall. They are, in a few
houses, reduced from the vigor of luxuriance to
premature death, (for we have much fine Summer
weather here even' in Winter).

"Nature has done much for Flora in this our
Land of Flowers; some of their fragrance is deliirht-
ful, and their colors and hues splendid and various;
but still as ' a Prophet is not without honor .save in
his own country,' the admirers are beginning to feel
anxious to see some exotics among us, and that
some of noted character; therefore, in order to ac-
commodate a few of these foreign guests, it is that
I wish to build this house of reception.

" I will give you my idea of such a structure as
I have conceived. The ground plan I propose to
be 20 feet by 18 feet inside, the a.spoct north and
south it suiting the situation best. The north side
I intend for a Summer residence for my pets, which
will be covered with shingle, zinc or tin, with an
open gallery which I propose to be 8 feet wide,
this kind of roof will give shade in Summer which
is much needed here. The south side, which will
be 10 feet wide, to be devoted to Winter-quarters
to be covered with glass.

"The division wall and the whole of the west
gable to be built of brick.

. Now, as in the multitude of counsellors there is
safety, I wish to ask you two questions.

"1. Would it not be better to have the division
of glass with shutters or verj- heavy blinds to let
down in case of a norther?

" 2. Would you prefer brick or glass at the front
of the south side and how high would you advise
it to be carried before the wall plate for the rafter
for the sash to rest upon ? You have more exper-
ience than 1 in these things.

"I should like a propagating pit, against the
front of the south side, say from two to three feet
wide. Of course to succeed in this, it would be
desirable to have bottom heat. Please let me know
what would be the smallest hot-water furnace and
pipe sufficient for a pit of this size.

I want you to encourage us amateurs of the far
south. We have had a hard time of it lately, shut
as it were, entirely out from our fellow-laborers in
the same vineyard not permitted to pass compli-

f!^

Silje ©arboicr's Iflantljlg.

ments, nor to get a word of advice from them ; but
we maybe of some service to you eastern people
yet, we have a great field before us here, and you
have an opportunity to reap some of the fruits
thereof"

[1. We should use board shutters made to fit on
the outside, like sash, and be set away in piles
ready to use, when not in service.

2. Use brick two feet above the surface of the
ground. Then two feet or so of glass. Side light
is of great benefit to plants blooming in Winter
and early Spring, and houses with side light are
more easily kept warm than houses without theai.

We should glaze the north side as well as the
south side, — and shade the glass in summer with
whitening on the inside which could be washed off
in Winter, — which would give j'ou a chance to use
it in Winter as well as in Summer.

You want so little heat in greenhouses that we
see no use for the expense of hot water for the
propagating pit. A hot-air chamber over the flue,
made under a brick pit would answer every pur-
pose.]

Ltcopodttj-m dens a at the Penna. Hort.
SociETv's Exhibition — C. C, Germanfown, Fa.
says : — " The Lycopndium densa as credited to Mr.
Joshua ]jongstreth's gardener was grown and exhi-
bited by Mr. Francis O'Keefe, gardener to J. B.
Heyl, Esq., one of our best plantsmen."

Effects op Cold on the Wood of Plants
— Dr. James Weed, Aliiscatine, Iowa, sends the
following memorandum : — " I understand you have
experienced a lower temperature the past Winter
than is usual in your climate. I trust you will not
neglect to examine the young shoots and the young
layer of wood, the growth of 1865, on the older
branches of the Peach, Apricot, &c. , and observe
if in the slightest degree discolored. If so, by
cutting through the new wood of 1866 in August
or September the ii^^ry fi"om the Winter's ordeal
can easily be seen.

" We have a fine prospect for Cherries, Pears,
Apples and Grrapes at' this writing (May 16), but
are not yet safe from frost."

Fruit Prospects at West Milton, Ohio. —
"The cold snaps we had last Winter done up our
Cherry and Peach crop and came near doing up the
trees too — however many of the finer kinds of each
are sadly injured — and our wheat suffered severely
also. The two last I think did the work in Febru-
ary and March. The depression was only 17° below

zero, yet come on so sudden it was too much for
even comparatively hardy trees and plants to with-
stand. We had such a fine Fall and early Winter
to ripen things, I had hoped we would have escaped
this extreme cold once more. But we will still
plant and hope to realize something from our labor
in the future. Apples seem to be setting pretty
well, if the frost and insects let them alone, hope
we may have some again, also a few Pears, but we
will have to depend more on the minor fruits again
this season. People are awakening up around here
to their importance, and are planting freely of them
since Apples have become so scarce. Even the
hardy May Cherry crop is nearly a failure with us."

Notice of Col. Robert Carr.— Mr. Meehan
was called upon by the Pennsylvania Horticultural
Society to announce the death of Col. Carr only a
few hours before the meeting, — and being wholly
unprepared for the duty, a few historical inaccura-
cies crept into the narative. It appears Col. Carr
has left some distant relatives. The widow of the
late Mr. George Lees, of Philadelphia, a sister of
Col. Carr, is still living, in her 87th year, with
several of her childfen and grandchildren. His
isolated life, against the wishes of his relatives, but
by the honorable instincts of his independent spirit,
led lis to suppose he had no surviving ones.

It was not Col. Carr's father who wandered away,
but Mr. King, his step-father. His father, Archi-
bald Carr, arrived here in 178-i, established himself
in the grocery business in Philadelphia, — and was
accidently drowned, on a voyage to New York in a
sloop, for goods for his store. His body was re-
covered and buried in St. Paul's churchyard, Broad-
way.

Col. Carr married, as we said, his cousin's widow,
—but that was the son of the William Miller we
named, who was therefore Col. Carr's uncle.

He did not continue the business which he settled
by marrying the widow, but established himself at
once in the printing business in 4th Street, below
Sansom.

He married Ann Bartram in 1809, and continued
the printing business during his absence in the war
from 1812-'15, by the help of a brother William,
who was his partner — and he took up his residence
in the garden after his return, Mr. Bartram being
then deceased.

We are indebted to Mr. W. B. Snyder, a grand-
nephew of Col. Carr, for these corrections.

Greeley Prizes— P. T. Q., Newark, iV. J.—
"In the May number of the Gardeners Monthly \(^)

■'^^aVJL

fr^(§

182

^hi> ©ardcner's Monthb.

under the heading of the " Greeley Prizes" you
state that the $100 offered by Mr. Greeley for the
best Pear for general cultivation in the Northern
and Middle States, — was awarded to Hovoy'sDana.
This statement is incorrect. The award was made
to the Bartlett Pear and Baldwin Apple by a ma-
jority ot one vote in each case over the Sheldon,
and Khode Island Greening; the former receiving
four and the latter three of the seven votes.

"I quote the following from the report of the
committee published in the iMarch number of the
Horticulturist. ' It was there determined that the
committee should select by ballot six varieties of
Apples and six varieties of Pears for general culti-
vation, comprising two Summer, two Fall and two
Winter varieties. Mr. Hovey, from Boston, who
was present, was invited to take part in the vote.

\ APPLES.

Summer. Fall. Winter.

Red Astrachan, Porter, Hubbardston's Nonsuch,

Primate, Gravenstien, Northern Spy.

PEARS.

Summer. ^all. Winter.

Manning's Elizabeth. Sheldon, Lawrence,

Piostiezer, Seckel, Dana's Hovey.'

We will have to call our Philadelphia friends to
account if they do not examine the pages of their
New lurk cousin more clo.seiy. "

[We have never said this of Dana's Hovey.
We judge from Mr. Quinn's note we read our con-
temporaries better than he does the Monthly. "We
stated sometime ago that we were astonished that
the Greeley Committee should recommend a Pear
likr' Dana's Hovey for general cultivation^ when from
the fact that it had not probably been fruited in a
dozen different localities in the Union the com-
mittee could not possibly know any thing about its
merits for general cultivation, unless, as with the
age of dwarfs, Boston n the "hub of the uni-
verse" and what does well there must of necessity
do for all times and places. In our April number
(not May) we referred to our former remarks on
this subject. We have only to repeat what we did
say in the paragraph Mr. Quinn supposes he refers
to, that as the committee reconsidered their aicard
on the lona Grape, we hope they will reconsider
their recommendation of the Hovey Pear, until facts
shall decide whether it can be justified.

The Hovey Pear is of first-rate flavor. The Gar-
dmcrx Monthly we believe was the first magazine
out of Boston to acknowledge its superior merits
in this respect; but Mr. Quinn surely knows that

good flavor is not the only requisite to general cul-
tivation. ]

OBITUARY.

MR. L. P. CHANDLER.

As already briefly announced, Mr. L. P. Chan-
dler died at his residence in the town of Burke, at
12 o'clock, M. , May 8th, after three days illness,
aged 34 years, 1 month and 28 days.

Mr. Chandler was the proprietor of the extensive
Rock Terrace nurseries, situated five miles north-
east of Madison. He was forinerly superintendent
of the fruit grounds of the Hon. Marshall P.^ Wil-
der, the well know President of the United States
Agricultural Society, who resides near Boston,
Mass. Mr. C. was the Vice-President of the Wis-
cousin Horticultural Society, and has always been
an active and influential worker in every thing per-
taining to fruit and flowers, holding a high rank
among horticulturists. He has been a resident of
this State for about six years, and has established
his reputation as a useful citizen, a worthy and up-
right man. He leaves a wife and five children, and
many warm friends to mourn his decease. — Wiscon-
sin State Journal.

•jSoofes, (Jefalogups, %'n

The Book op Roses. By Francis Parkman.
Boston : Published by J. E. Tilton & Co.

Some years ago, when a friend of the writer
thought to issue a work or Horticulture, he offered
it to the ])rincipal New york publishers, and was told
there was no sale fur horticultural works. ]*liila-
delphia publishers were then approached, with less
encouragement; and at last the author had to con-
dense his matter into a small compass and publish
it in as cheap a form as possible and have it pub-
lished at bis own risk and ex])ense.

Horticulture has become ^hionable since that
day, — and publishers, especially in Boston, vie
with each other as to whom shall fall the credit of
placing the best writers on horticulture before the
public, and in the most inviting form. It is becom-
ing almost a monthly duty for us to notice some
beautifully gotten up and valuable work from the
Boston press.

This one of Mr. Parkman is worthy of all the
praise we have given the others in this general
sense. Of the particular suliject chosen by Mr.
Parkman, much has been written, and written well,
yet leaving much to be said by our author, — who.

7

ih^ (Sardmer's JlontWg.

183

i

well as he also has written, has yet, we think, left
more to be said by those who shall write after him.
The Rose, on an entirely American platform, has
yet to have its principles defined. To Mr. Park-
man belongs the merit of a nearer approach than
any other writer has made.

The work is divided into seven chapters. Open-
air Culture, Pot Culture, Propagation, Miscellane-
ous Operations, Groups and Families, Summer
Roses, Autumnal Roses.

A very useful feature is the supjilement, giving a

descriptive list of all the best Roses. Many of our, new edition of Tuberose chapters. So also in the

catalogues have them, — that is some a few, and
others a few. We have ourselves felt the want of
a list altogether, and we have to regret, that full as
this list is, the author did not feel at liberty with
his outline of giving "only the best," to extend it
further.

The most American chapter — that on the Prairie
Rose — gives us much pleasure. It would seems as
if the remarks of Rivers, that " none of them are
worth cultivating," has frightened American Rose
raisers, — for we have not heard of any new one of
excellence for a long time, — yet we are sure if the
proper attention was bestowed on them all the
merits of the most popular foreign varieties might
be infused into them. Mr. Parknian is wrong in
classing Sitperba with Prairie Rose. It is certainly
a true Noisette, exhibiting strongly a marked feature
of that class as grown in America, — a disposition
to flower more profusely in the Fall than in the
Spring, the reverse of which character is the
Prairie Rose.

The New Book of Flowers. By Joseph Breck.
New York : Published by Orange Judd & Co.

This new edition of Breck is issued by the dis-
tinguished proprietor of the American Agricultu-
rist^ to whose superior talent as a publisher, the
present extensive taste for agricultural and horti-
cultural occupations the country owes so much.

Breck's " book" is very well known, and it is one
we have been in the habit of recommending to our
readers whenever we have had an inquiry for the
best " book on flowers." It has now, the author
says, been entirely re-written, — but we are sorry to
say that it is not as fully "up to the times" as it
might be, — though we can fully endorse it as still
the best of its class for. the general reader.

As a sample of the short comings to which we
refer, we take at random the chapter on the Tube-
rose. Breck says the botanical name Polinnthe^, is
derived from the Greek words for mayq/ a.nd flower.
Those of his readers who have read the essay of

Doctor Asa Gray on the subject in the Gardener s
Monthly will know better. ■ We are also quite sure
that the sentence " imported roots thrive much
better than those raised here," was correct when
Mr. Breck's first edition appeared, — but will not be
generally esteemed correct now. In describing
which are the "best roots," many readers would
like to know how to select those which will flower
from those which will not, — as this has been fully
explained in the Horticultural journals during the
past few years, it might have found a place in a

treatment of the Tuberose, one would think to read
Mr. Breck, that only those could srow Tuberoses
who have hotbeds or greenhouses, which is very
far from the fact.

Mr. Breck's book is not alone in such faults as
these. We can scarcely take up one new horticul-
tural work in which we do not find them. It is
painful to us to have so continually to refer to
them, as it would .seem as if we wished to be
" nothing if not critical," while we would much
sooner prai.se than blame.

With the business tact Mr. Judd possesses, this
edition will, no douht, soon be exhausted ; when a
little more care on the part of the editor will make
the work all that could be wi.shed for in a hand-
book of flowers.

The Miniature Fruit Garden. By Thomas
Rivers. -First American from the Thirteenth
English Edition. Re-published, by Orange
Judd & Co., New York.

There has been a great demand for this work' in
the United States,^many having imported it for
themselves notwithstanding the great cost. By
this effort of Mr. Judd it. will now be sold at a low
price within the reach of all interested in dwarf
fruit trees.

Transactions of the Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society.

By the issue of this little volume the Pennsylva-
nia Horticultural Society has founded a new claim
to public support. It comprises nearly 1 00 pages, —
and besides the annual abstract of the proceedings
of the committees on exhibitions, contains all the
essaj's that have been delivered before them, which,
consideflng that the essayists are selected from
amongst the leading men in the science of garden-
ing, gives to the "Proceedings" a standard value,
which the members of the Society will properly
appreciate.

18-i

Clie ^arhntr's Hlontljln.

^
I^

HFtD anb PLarF I'ruih.

A New White Grape— 3/r. iS. Miller writes:
— " Is it not desirable to get a good, hardy white
Grape that will succeed in our latitude? Yet such
is not yet before the public to any extent.

Suppose we run over our list and experience with
white Grapes.

First, Maxatawney, white, at $?, for a vine, turns
out a red Fox Grape. Rebecca next, at $3, ten-
der here, and mildews, but of excellent quality.'
Anna, same price, don't ripen here. Cuyahoga,
no doubt a suj^erb Grape, but on ten vine.s, 4 years
old, never a ripe berry; n)ildews, worst kind.
Carpenter's Lydia, a n^ble Grape, but is nearer
red than white. Maxatawney, fine, but mildews,
and has failed to ripen in many instances. Then-
where are we? Allen's Hybrid, of the finest quali-
ty, but quite as difficult to ripen here as any other
foreigner ; tender, and if protected during the Winter
mildews next season so that there is no ripe wood.
I had canes of this varietj', fifteen feet long, last
Fall and as thick as my middle finger, laid on the
ground, and this Spring all dead.

But to the point. We have a white Grape that
bids fair to take a place in the first ranks. The
Martha is simply a white Concord, perhaps not
quite so large, but sweeter. Has every good trait
of the Concord, which is its parent ; ripens about
the same fime, and is a vigorous grower and abun-
dant fearer.

I have seedlings from this crossed with Bowood
Muscat, just coming up ; what they will make time
will tell."

I Mr. Miller ]iuts the case well. We have really
no good white Grape, -*good in every .sen.se of the
word — a white as good as Concord would be an ac-
quisition. Mr. Miller is the raiser of " Martha," —
but has sold the entire stock to another grower.]

The Ii>.\ Strawbf.uhv— J/?-. B. IT. CocJclin,
Sf)epherrlstow)i, Fa., writes: — "I .send you by
mail a tew Ida Strawberry plants, please give them
a trial, though i)robably you have them already.

"It originated with us ten years ago; do not
know from what variety it was produced, but think
it has a ' dip' of ' Lucy Fitchs' Prolific' a,

" Its good qualities are, extreme hardines.s, very
prolific and beautiful appearance ; })erry large,
almost round ; color bright scarlet ; fair quality ;
pretty acid when quite ripe; then first-rate. It ia

a pistillate, — but without regard to fertilization it
has always produced a large yield.

" W. S. Carpenter has put a prefix Miss to it.
This is a .soit of impo.sition. He first advertised it
as Ida, this Spring he has attached the ' Miss.' "

^ompsfir InfFlligpnrp.

The Honey Locust Hedges. — I have been
practically interested in Honey Locust Hedges for
a number of years and have tried it quite exten-
sively in the east, especially in Northern New
York, also in the west, and can speak in unquali-
fied praise of the Honey Locust as a hedge plant,
provided it be properly treated.

To commence with, the ground should be pro-
perly fitted either by spading or ploughing to the
depth of at least one foot, and as wide as may be
thought necessary. Before setting, the roots should
be well puddled and the stalk cut back so as to
leave but two inches above the ground. Then set
the plants one foot apart with a dibble or .sharpened
stick, by making a hole in the ground inserting the
root, and run the dibble down an inch or two from
the root so as to crowd the dirt firmly around it.
It should be always borne in mind that no plant
will of itself make a good hedge, — that form,
strength, den.sity and effectiveness are solely the
work of the knife. For the first four years the
hedge should never be trimmed on the sides, but
from one to two-thirds of the same season's growth
should be removed from the top at the time of
clipping, leaving the sides uncut. The best time
to clip, according to my experience, is in June, the
first of September and in the month of February.
By clipping in June we cause the ensuing growth
to greatly thicken ; by clipping the first of Septem-
ber the growth of the plant is suflSciently checked
to allow it to ripen all remaining wood for Winter,
while the February clipping produces the same
effbct as the June trimming. At the end of four
years sufficient height will have been attained to
answer the purpose of a fence when shape may be'
given to the sides or the hedged trimmed to its
projMirtions which for a full grown hedge should be
three feet wide at the ba>is two feet wide at the
top and four feet high. The Honey Locust evinces
wonderful tenacity of life, and bears trimming well.
Care must be taken to cut back severely so as to
produce a proper density and compactness of form
and to induce the plant to acquire a dwarfed habit
of growth. — W. D. Hoard in Prairie Farmer.

41

ihe iardcufr's ||lont!jIj.

Winter Pears at the Meeting of Frttit
Growers', at Rochester, last Spring. — Mr.
Marshall P. Wilder urged the necessity of thinning
out the Winter Nelis early in the season. The re-
maining specimens would be much better in conse-
quence. The same remark would apply to other
Pears. The Doyenne d'Alencon was a very excel-
lent Winter Pear — hardy, an abundant bearer, and
a good ripener. The Beurre d'Anjou was also a
valuable Pear. He made it a Winter Pear, and if
he could have only one variety, that would be the
one. The secret of keeping Winter P^ars is to
keep them below the temperature which will fer-
ment the juices and bring them to maturity. His
Winter Pears are left on the trees as long as possi-
ble. But, after all, Mr. Wilder doubted the expe-
diency of growing Winter Pears extensively. Pro-
vidence supplies a peculiar bounty for every season,
and fruit out of season is not relished as well in its
natural time. Winter Pears must always cost a
great deal, for aside from the difficulty of raising
them, they require a great deal of care afterward.
He had sold selected lots of the Vicar of Winkfield,
at Taj'lor's, New York, at $12 per bushel.

When to Manure Orchards. — We often re-
ceive inquiries as to the amount of manure to be
applied to trees. The answer must be, act accord-
ing to circumstances. The question again recurs,
How shall we know what our soils need? The an-
swer is, observe the results of growth. An exami-
nation or anyalsis of the soil will be of little use.
But the trees will tell their own story. If the soil
is so rich that the trees make annual shoots of two
or three feet or more in length, without any culti-
vation or manuring at all, (which, however, is
hardly a supposable case), then it will be needless
to give additional care. The annual groioth is the
best guide to treatment. There are very few Apple
or other orchards which, after reaching a good
bearing state, throw out annual shoots more than a
foot or foot and a half long, and many not half this
length. The owner may lay it down as an unaltera-
ble rule that when his trees do not grow one foot
annually, they need more manuring or cultivation,
or both. By observing the growth he can answer
all questions of the kind referred to without 6^&.-
Gulty.— Country Gentleman.

Remedy for Pear Blight. — When th^ sap is
in active circulation, smear the trunk and lower
limbs of the tree with a mixture of sulphur and
soft soap. Cut off and remove all dead limbs. — S.
Pollock in Iowa Homestead.

Erythrina Crista Galli. — This is very readi-
ly propagated by taking off the young shoots from
the crown when they are three or four inches in
length, and striking them in the sand in heat under
a bell-glass. Or, when the plant has flowered, cut
the shoots into lengths, with an eye and a leaf at-
tached to each piece, insert in sand in heat as be-
fore, and they will strike as readily as the eyes of a
vine or a rose.

Variability of Ferns. — A crop of plants had
been raised from the spores of Nephrodium molle
cristatum, a very indifferently crested form of a
very common Fern, a form indeed but slightly re-
moved from the normal condition of the species,
from the very slight degree of development mani-
fested in the crests. In this batch of young plants
occurred a considerable number — we are not in-
formed as to the proportion — of most remarkable
deviations from the parent plant. Many of them
Htive the stipes and fronds repeatedly branched, and
the parts everywhere densely crested, yet not as-
suming the character of N. molle corymbiferum ;
this form might be called ramosissimum, and is
analogous to the magnificent form of Filix-mas
bearing that name. Others, with more of the
plane character of the normal state of the species,
had well-crested apices both to the pinnge and frond,
and a forking of the stipes, though less developed
than in the former : such a development aaipiight
be called ramosum. A third set, with very little of
the plane portion in some cases, and none at all in
others, bore a great glomerate crested head of crispy
segments. — Gardener's Chronicle.

Koelreuteria paniculata. — This is a tree of
the middle size, with a loose irregular head, poly-
gamous, that is sometimes hermaphrodite, and
sometimes- uni-sexual : a native of China, and in-
troduced in 1 763. It was first cultivated in Croome,
in Worcestershire, by the Earl of Coventry ; and
is highly ornamental, both for its large compound
leaves and fine loose terminal spikes of yellow
flowers. It is very hardy. It has not only a very
fine appearance when in flower, but also in Autumn,
when the tree is covered with it large bladdery cap-
sules, and the leaves change to a deep yellow. It
is of the easiest culture in any common soil, and is
readily propagated, either by seeds or cuttings of
the roots or branches. The tree ought to be in
every collection on account of the beauty of its
leaves, flowers and fruit. — Loudon.

i^^

'^■^i

C|^ (iardtiur's JClonthlj.

^%?:gi>

T?

JVvt£

5.14

i

^■s^^ ■

'4,5.. ^ .^

KOELREUTERIA PANICULATA.

i@

f!

S^ ®Hrdnw's (P;ontI%

187

Ispahan Peach. — Leaves finely and sharply ser-
rated, without glands; flowers large. Fruit small
roundish ; skin yellowish white on the shaded side,
tinged with red next the sun. Flesh parting from
the stone, or but slightly adherent, white, some-
times slightly rose-colored next the stone, melting,
with an acidulated sugary, slightly perfumed juice.
Stone elliptic. Ripens at Paris about the middle of
September. It was supposed that the Ispahan
Peach might be the natural type of the Peach,
which, originally brought from Persia, has given to
Europe the multitude of varieties, and of which
Dahamel described more than 43 of the more re-
markable for their beauty and excellence ; but this
shrub, or bush, has not been found wild in Persia,
only in gardens. We ought therefore to suspend
our opinion on this point till under longer culture
its variations have been observed. We owe the tree
to the voyage of Brugui^re and Olivier. They found
it in the gardens of Ispahan, where they frequent-
ly met with it abandoned by Nature, without hav-
ing been budded or pruned, in order to improve its
production. They thought the fruit po.ssessed an
agreeable flavor, and although it was in the month
of November, it was scarcely ripe. They collected
some of the stones, which formed one of the 738
kinds of seeds which they collected during their in-
teresting voyage, and with which M. 01ivier(whose
companion perishedj enriched the Museum of Natu-
ral HLstory on his return in 1800. Five of the
stones were sown, none of which rose the first year,
but three came up in the Spring of 1801. — Decaisne.

The Diet of Worms. — Many persons are not
aware of the fact, that the earthworm really does
live upon earth. It is sometimes stated in popular
works on zoologj' that the worm ijicks out portions
of leaves, grass, &c., and devours them; but this
is quite a mistake — ^the earthworm lives upon earth.
It must not be supposed that it assimilates the
mineral constituents of the soil ; its gastric and
biliary secretions dissolve the decomposing animal
and vegetable matters which are invariably con-
tained in rich soil, and it is these which are assimi-
lated. The earthworm could not live upon earth
that had been burnt and deprived of its organic con-
stituents. In a similar way the arenicola, or lug-
worm, which lives in the sands exposed by the ac-
tion of the tide, gorges itself with that substance,
aiid extracts the matters which it contains fit for
nutriment.

FOUEIGN COSRESPONDENCE.

BY AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.

Upon iooking«over the pages of the Monthly for
January, I could not but feel a sense of shame when

I reflected how much I had neglected my duty as a
contributor to its pages, for I hold, and I have no
doubt you, Mr. Editor, will agree with me, it is the
duty of all to impart, if it is in their power,
as well as to receive information. I also hold, and
here again you will, I am sure, agree with me, that
no one should" attempt to write for the information
of others upon any subject if they are not prepared
to bring forward facts, or to speak from their own
or their friends' experience. Speculations and
theories are all very well, but let them be given as
such, and then what value is to be placed on them
is known. Well, when I look around and consider
what subject I am most qualified to write about, I
at once think of my Roses, a large collection of
which I have the care of First I must tell your
readers I am very fond of Roses. Who is not? you
will ask. Well, I carry my fondness for them to a
passion, and often have I seen a smile on the faces
of my fellow-workmen as they see me spending my
dinner hour amongst my Roses. I will also men-
tion a fact that one, at least, of your contributors
will bear me out in ; I have been very successful as
an exhibitor of Roses, and am proud of my first
prize cards, and I think, after having successfully
combatted green fly, caterpillars, mildew, and the
host of enemies the rosarian has to contend against,
he has reason to feel proud if he obtains & prize
amongst the host of competitors who always swarm
in the Rose class.

The first difficulty, I take it, that the would-be
Rosarian meets with is, what Roses to buy ; and let
me here state that the list of Roses in the winning
stands which so often appear in the Horticultural
journals is not, at all times, a safe guide to the for-
mation of a collection. These collections, as ex-
hibited, are in a great many cases sent by Nursery-
men who have a name for Roses, and desire to
retain it by advertising the number of cups and
certificates they have won in the, preceding year,
and who have, in most cases, acres of Roses to cut
from ; and it is always possible that, to obtain a
perfect bloom of any particular kind, they may have
to search fifty plants for it.

Neither is' it possible to give a list of Roses that
can be guaranteed to do fpell in any locality, as I
have often found that Roses which do well in one
place can not be made to do at all in another. All
that the Rosarian can do is to give a list of sorts
that he has found to do well, and which, being pos-
sessed of a good constitution, will be likely to do
anywhere ; and this is what, with the permission
of the Editor, I propose to do for the readers of the
Monthly.

First on the list I am anxious to place Charles

^,®

188

%\t ^ardfiur's IHontHg.

Lcfebvre. This variety has done splendidlj' with
lue for two seasons, both as a dwarf and a standard ;
it is very much in the style of Senateur Vaisse, but
I have found it a stronger grower and certainly
superior to it, though I would not desire to be
understood to speak against the Senateur ; he has
behaved well, and fully come up to the good cha-
racter I received with him. As I, in these notes,
shall not attempt to conBne myself to any class or
color, I will leave the high-colored Perpetuals for a
minute, and for fear I should forget it, write the
name of the new Yellow Tea Rose, Marcchal Neil ;
I had a lew blooms from a small plant last season ;
they were so fine that I feel I cannot do justice to
them ; the advice 1 give the readers of the Monthly
is, if you require something new and good, hurry
off to your Nurseryman and give him an order for
this Rose.

To return to the Perpetuals, I must mention
Souvenir du Comte Cavour, the blooms of which,
though I have not grown very large, is a great
favorite with me on account of its c'olor, which is a
ver>' dark shade of scarlet ; it has nice foliage, is a
gooil grower, and will be sure to please.

Next in my estimation I must place Madame
Charles Crapelet. It is in the style of the well-
known Rose Jules Margottin, and is of good form.
The petals of this Ro.se have a very glossy appear-
ance, which is very pleasing. Coratess de Chabril-
lant is. I think, the most perfect shaped Rose with
which I am acquainted ; it expands a very bright
pink, fading to a light pink wiltage ; I have found
it a good grower and bloomer.

Oliver Delhomme is, like the preceding one, re-
markable for fine shape. It belongs to the high-
colored class, and is very beautiful. The two old
Rourbon Roses, Acidalie and Souvenir de la Mal-
maison are as good a white and blush as could be
wished for ; the first I have found rather shy of its
blooms, and it should not be pruned very hard.

Madame Rivers is also a very fine white ; though
hardly so good a grower as I should wish, is still
worth growing, as its blooms amply compensate for
its growth.

To Francois Lacharrae I must assign a first-cla.ss
l>lace ; in color it is a very bright scarlet, is of per-
fect shape, and a good grower.

Anna de Diesbach, somewhat in the style of
Madame Chas. Crapelet, but quite distinct from it,
is a groat favorite with me. It is verj' large ; in
fact that is the only fault I find with it ; for I must
admit, though I may perhaps be classed as opposed
to progress, that I don't like huge Rose.s, and I
think if raisers of Seedling Roses -were to give more

attention to form and less to size, it would be a step
in the right direction.

I must not omit my old favorite, Gloire de Dijon.
This is with me the first and last in bloom. On a
Standard of this variety in my rosary I counted at
one time a hundred blooms. During the last sea-
son we were continually cutting from this Standard,
and there were blooms on it nearly up to Christmas.

Madame Chas Wood, purplish-scarlet; Augustc
Mie, light pink ; Due de Rohan, bright scarlet ;
Celine Forestier and Triomphe de Rennes, fine yel-
lows; Madame Boll, bright pink and very double;
Triomphe de Caen, very dark and beautiful in the
bud ; and Enipereur de Maroc, for those who like a
nearly coal black Ro.se, which is also very highly
scented — will form a collection which, if not large,
will at least have the merit of being distinct.

I propose, with the permission of the Editor, to
give, in some future number, my ideas upon prun-
ing Roses, the soil most suitable, &c., and until
then let those readers of the Monthly who are not
Rosarians purchase if only a dozen Roses, and give
them a small amount of care, and I will guarantee
them an amount of pleasure that they did not
anticipate whilst watching over their Roses in early
morn, or in the twilight of evening.

^QifiruIfuFal |loIirps«

FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OF PENN-
SYLVANIA.

(formerly eastern PENNSYLVANIA. )

This Society has changed its name, the idea being
to take the whole State under its wing. As a proof
of its earnestness, it propo.ses to hold a Summer
meeting at Pittsburg, on the 12th and 13th days of
June. This will be about the time when Strawber-
ries are ripe, and as discussions will be in order, no
doubt the virtue of Pittsburg smoke, Pittsburg soil,
or Pittsburg skill on the reputation of this delici-
ous fruit will be thoroughly put to the test. We
hope there will be a good attendance.

PENN'A. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

STATED MEETING AND DISPLAY MAY 15TIT.

The Committee on Vegetables report the follow-
ing awards : —

The Committee on Fruits report that they have
awarded the premium for Grapes to W. J. Young,
gardener to Stephen Morris, for a di.sh of very fine
Black Hamburg. They also have awarded a special
premium of $1 for a di.sh of well-ripened Peaches,

®|e 6ardtner's cploutj)IJ.

189

Hale's Early. They have awarded to Mr. D. W.
Herstine the premium of $2 for Strawberries — Wil-
son's Albany, they being remarkably large and well
ripened.

Best 12 stalks Rhubarb to A. L. Felton. Best 6
heads Lettuce to A. L. Felton. Best collection of
Vegetables to A. L. Felton. Best collection of
Vegetables by an amateur, J. McDonald, gardener
to M. Baird, and notice favorably some finely-grown
Asparagus and Radishes from A. L. Felton.

A special premium of $1 to Jacob Huster, gar-
dener to H. Duhrin^, for 5 heads of finely-grown
Cauliflower, and notice favorably his collection of
Vegetables. Also a special premium of $1 to Wm.
J. Young, gardener to S. Morris, for early To-
matoes.

The Committee on Pljints and Flowers report the
following awards : Table Design, best, D. McQueen,
gardener to J. Longstreth. Basket Cut Flowers,
best, D, ]\'rcQueen, gardener to J. Longstreth.
Hand Bouquets, best, D. McQueen, gardener to J.
Longstreth. Hand Bouquets, 2d best, F. O'Keefe.
gardener to J. B. Heyl. Hanging Basket, best, F.
O'Keefe, gardener to J. B. Heyl. Collection 12
plants in bloom, best, E. R. Hibbert, gardener to
F. Rogers. Collection 12 plants in bloom, 2d best,
D. McQueen. Pelargoniums, 6 plants, best, D.
McQueen. Pelargoniums, specimen plants, best,

D. McQueen. Ornamental Foliage Plants, best,

E. R. Hibbert. Bedding Plants, 6 pots, best, E.
R. Hibbert. Hardy Flowering Shrubs, best, P.
Mackenzie & Son. They also recommend a special
premium of $2 to Mrs. Anna Williamson for a
basket of Dried Flowers. Your Committee are
pleased to mention a beautiful plant, (xardenia
Stanleyana, from the garden of F. Rogers ; Ryncos-
permum jasminoides, from the garden of J. Long-
streth, both in full bloom. Also Button-Hole Bou-
quets from D. L. McQueen, and Tulips from Gr. W.
Earl. E. R. Hibbert, gardener to F. Rogers, col-
lection 12 plants in bloom, collection 12 Ornamental
Foliage Plants and one Hanging Basket. D. Mc-
Queen, gardener to J. Longstreth, collection 12
plants in bloom, Bed Plants, collection Pelargo-
niums, 6 Cut Tulips, Hanging Basket, basket Cut
Flowers, Table Design, pair Hand Bouquets, But-
ton-hole Bouquets.

The following is the committee appointed lj»y the
President to consider and report from time to time
upon the best form of boiler for plant-houses : Fair-
man Rogers, Jos. Harrison, Jr., Prof John Frazer,
E. R. Hibbert, John Sherwood, P. Mackenzie.

Mr. T. P. James moved that the Committee on
establishing Premiums be instructed to prepare

certificate cards to be issued to all persons taking

premiums.

Constant Guillou, Esq., was duly elected to

membership.

*••«*

li^LINOIS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

WINE DISCUSSION AT THE JANUARY MEETING.

Mr. Eisenmeyer read a paper upon the subject of
Wine and Wine Making, as follows: —

The first requisites for wine making are a good
cellar, good, clean, sweet casks, industrious hands,
and a thermometer. But before we go to making
wine, we must know the time of harvesting the
Grapes. A " Must-scale" is, therefore, necessary,
and as your Grapes are ripening, from time to time
you must press out sufficient must toenable you to
tell the amount of saccharine the Grapes contain.
From 70 to 100 degrees, according to season and
kind of Grapes, is a very good must, and will make
excellent wine if rightly handled during the fer-
menting process and afterculture. On the 15th of
September l^st, we gathered some of our Concord
Grapes, and, not having a "Must-scale" at hand,
we are not able to say what its amount of saccharine
was, but by adding a little sugar to the must we
make a good wine. The grasshoppers were very
destructive, otherwise we should not have harvested
so early. On the 2d day of October, having in the
mean time procured a "Must-scale," we weighed
the Herbemont not fully ripe, which weighed 68
from Grapes on level land. On hilly land it weigh-
ed 75, and on the 9th of October its weight was 82,
when we gathered it and made very good wine.
Norton's SeedUng, not fully ripe, weighed in Octo-
ber 23, 90. Catawba same day weighed 76, and on
the 28th of October Concord must weighed 85 and
Catawba 72. Thus you will see how to decide as
to the time of harvesting Grapes. It is better to
let your Grapes get fully ripe than to gather them
too early. Better let the grasshoppers and other
insects eat some of them than to gather too early.
The grasshopper disappeared with us on the. 25th
of September.

The Grapes, when mashed and ready for the
press, should be put into large tubs or barrels, and
allowed to ferment for a few days, the tubs being
covered up. Afterwards press out and put the
product in your fermenting cellar to go through a
second fermentation. The temperature should be
as even as possible all the time, in order that the
fermenting should not be checked. After that your
wine is ready for the cellar and for the market if it
has been rightly managed. It is, perhaps, not out
of place here to say, that your casks should always

^^@

*^1^-

190

oShij §ardcntr's (Ponljjli).

(^

be kept clean and sweet ; newly emptied brandy
ca.xks are always preferable. The foregoing process
is applicable to our red wines, by feriuenlins; over
the pomace, j'ou extract all the tannin and astrin-
gent substance out of the Grapes, which would
otherwise be lost. If your must contains too much
tannin or astringent niatttr, from one-fourth to one-
fifth sugar-water can be added to make your wine
more palatable.

A second and inferior quality of wine can also be
made by adding sugar-water to your pomace. After
the first pressing, let it remain a few days and then
press agaui ; if you had good ripe Grapes you will
obtain a good .second-rate quality of wine.

Dr. Hull— I would a.sk Mr. Ei>ennieyer in regard
to the sugaring of wine, what he thinks of it.

Mr. Ei.^eniueyer— Do with your Grape wine as
you would do with your coffee, make it to suit your
taste. I would call that good wine which was
sweetened to the taste of the community in which
you live.

Question — Do you u.se white sugar?-
Mr. Ei.'^eumeyer — I use the best.
Question— How much sugar does it take to a
gallon?

Mr. Ei.senmcyer — About I? pounds to one gallon.
Que>tion — What proportion of water in that on
exhibition?

Mr. Ei.^enmeyer — About ' of a gallon.
Question — What kind of water do you use?
Mr. Eisennieyer— Use the best you have ; rain
water is preferred.

Dr. Warder— 1 have been veiy much interested
in hearing this i)aper read, and concur with the
writer in all the leading points save one, and that is
in relation to this unfortunate adulteration. If we
cannot make pure wine from the Grapes we had
bettfr give up the business. It is said that the
object was to suit the tastes of the people. Now if
the tastes of the people arc for adulterated wine,
still we prefer the pure wine. I would be very
sorry to have this Society recommend the use of
any such process.

Dr. Schnjeder— Dr. Gall, of Germany, said that
in good wine there should be so much per ceiit. of
acid, HO much of sugar, and so much of alcohol.
Now, sometimes when the Grape crop was injured
there was not found the right per cent, of sugar.
So he came to the rescue and said, I will put sugar
in ; not the sugar bouglit here in the stores, only
grape sugar, and he had on his grounds no less than
two large grape sugar manufactories. lie used so
much grape sugar, and thus made a wine that was
palatable. Ilis intentioo was not to make adulte-

rated wine, but to make it {/ood. I spoke on this
subject in St. Louis two hours, and fought my way
right through like an Illinois boy (laughter), and I
told them that the Atnerican people was a sweet
people and must have sweet wine. The Germans
have soar pickles and a wine .so sour that it takes
three men to drink it (laughter) ; but the sweet
wines are better. Go to Italy ; there they like the
sweet wines. Now, go to France ; do they not like
the sweet wines best there? That is what the
American people pay their money for. They want
sweet wine. I make sweet wine for the sweet peo-
ple, (laughter.)

Wine that will weigh on the scale 85, they call
sour wine. They want sweet wines, and, doctor,
J'OU will have to come to it. It is bad to use our
common sugar. I make some grape sugar myself
You can make three or four pounds of sugar out of
one bushel of potatoes. You can learn that from
your Dutch doctor. (Laughter.) YcTu^ill not have
to come here to Normal to learn that. But what I
want to impress upon your minds now is, that Dr.
Gall did not propose to adulterate his wines. It
was not his intention to adulterate it, but it was his
intention to make it palatable. — Prairie Farmer.

ALTON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

THE .SPRING MKETINO, ISdC).

The following suggestions wore made by Mr p].
A. Riehl :—

To make a hotbed heated by fire, select a spot
having a grade of from one to one and a half feet
in ten, making a trench five feet wide and three
deep in the centre, with the sides .^loping, so that
they would represent a V with the top wide apart;
make this as long as you wish your bed to be ; fifty
to sixty feet can be heated by one fire ; in the bot-
tom of the trench lay sheet iron or stone pipe six
inches in diameter, or a brick flue ; at the lower end
of the bed dig a hole three feet long, two deep, and
eighteen inches wide ; in this place put a large box
stove, or build a brick furnace with doors that will
close snugly ; if a stove is used, flags or brick should
be laid over the top, also over the pijjc for a dis-
tance of fifteen to twenty feet, and a coat of clay
mortar spread on top to prevent too great radiation
of heat at the fire end of the bed. At the upper
end, place a wooden chimney six or seven feet high,
to carry off the smoke ; then place two by four joist
six feet long, four feet apart, crosswise of the
trench ; on this lay a floor of one inch boards, put
on frame, put in three to five inches of earth ;
throw earth up to the outside of frame so it will

shed water; wall up the lower end of the trench up
to the floor or the bed, so that the stove will be
inside under the bed, and only the door sticking
out, so that j'ou can make the fire from the outside.
Put on your sash, start your fire, and in a few hours
you can sow your seed.

These beds are cheaper than those made with
manure, are more reliable, and can be controlled.
Care must, however, be taken that the fire does not
burn too strong. From two to four fires are enough
for twenty-four hours ; when the fire has started
well, the dampers should be closed so as to make it
burn slowly and steadily.

Sash should be made of well-seasoned two-inch
lumber ; sash six feet two inches long, four rows of
eight by ten lights, laid lengthwise, i. e., the bars
eight inches apart ; lights should not lap more than
one-fourth of an inch, and always laid in putty to
make tight sat^h and prevent breakage of glass.
Putty should have some white lead mixed with it
to make it stick and last.

dl

WEST JERSEY FRUIT GROWERS'
ASSOCIATION.

[In our notice, in June last, of the very interest-
ing report of the Proceedings of the West Jersey
Fruit Growers Association for 1864-5, we took oc-
casion to pronounce the essay thereto appended, on
' 'Atmospheric Humidity as a Protector from Cold, ' '
one of the most valuable papers we had ever read.
We also commended said paper as unanswerable in
its deductions, and to be read with profit by every
fruit grower in the land, and presented an analysis
of it for the benefit of our readers. Having had
renewed evidence of the truth and value of the
essay, we will more than fulfil our promise, and
publish'it entire, believing it would be more accept-
able and interesting to our friends.]

ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY AS A PRO-
TECTOR FROM COLD.

BY JAMES S. LIPPINCOTT, HADDONFIELD, N. J.

The question has been asked why our native
Grapes do not succeed as well in West New Jersey
as near the lakes of Western New York and North-
ern Ohio ? The large vineyards attempted in South-
eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey have invaria-
bly proven failures, while these near the lakes are
almost always successful.

Some cause operating in each section over a large
extent of country must be sought to account for
this wide disparity in climatic adaptation to Grape
culture. We believe this will be found in the vary-

ing amount of humidity present in the air of our
region, while that of the lakes is more equable, and
we believe, moreover, that we can prove this to be
true in a manner not hitherto attempted.

We have reached the conviction that the climate
of West New Jersey will not permit successful
Grape growing for a series of years. Sooner or
later, the destructive mildew presents itself, and
withered leaves, bare branches, and an array of un-
ripened berries are the result. Of the truth of this
we have had ample illustration in the experience of
H. M. Zollikoffer, whose vineyard of Catawbas and
Isabellas, some sixteen years ago, existed near
Chew's Landing in the county of Camden, N. J.
This vineyard of ten acres bore two great crops, and
though it produced fruit for a few years thereafter,
it never again attained maturity. Though the
after-culture was injudicious, the chief cause of
decline appears to have been attacks of mildew,
which occurred periodically, and blasted all hopes
of success in a business so auspiciously begun. The
entire scheme proved a failure, and was early aban-
doned, but not without serious loss to its zealous
projector.

An attempt to explain the immediate cause of
this appearance of mildew and consequent destruc-
tion of the Grape leaf and crop which are sure to
occur almost every year in this section, would be out
of place here ; whether it arises from a sudden check
given to the vital actions of the leat^ — to destruction
of its tissues by too great evaporation in excessive
atmospheric dryness, or to engorgement of the ves-
sels and their rupture, due to a sudden change from
dryness to dampness, we will not say ; we can, how-
ever, state from our own experience that the more
destructive attacks of this evil have followed very
early after sudden rediictions of temperature while
the vine was in the season of luxuriant early growth,
and that the reduction of temperature was closely
connected with extreme dryness of the atmosphere,
so closely, indeed, as to be readily and reasonably
considered in the relation of cause and eff'ect.

Observations upon the relative humidity of the
atmosphere in our country are so few in number,
and so generally inaccessible, that it is not surpris-
ing that no attempt has been made to illustrate the
periodical reductions of temperature connected with
sudden accessions of dryness or diminution of the
atmospheric humidity ; indeed, it was not until the
last two or three years that such relation was sur-
mised, and it was not in the open air, nor by the
meteorologist nor horticulturist that the discovery
was made, but by the physicist in his laboratory,
while investigating the properties of heat, that this

i@

3

^;.,^-

Mc)

192

£lu (Sarbnur's ^^lonthlp.

remarkable influence of humidity in arresting radia-
tion was discovered.

Until quite recently it was believed that vapors
furnish a perfectly open door for" the passage of the
waves of heat, because experimenis made on atnio.s-
})heric air were found to give no evidence that any
heat was lost or absorbed by passing through it ;
but it has been proved by experiments conducted in
various ways, at different times and seasons, and
always with the same results, that a portion of
vapor in the air near the earth prevents the fiee
passage of many of the rays of heat which would
have been radiated therefrom, and that an in-
crease of the relative humidity .';till more largely
arre.sts radiation. Regarding the earth as a source
of heat, it is surmised that on a day of average dry-
ness at least ten per cent, of its heat is intercepted
within ten feet of the surface; and that, under some
circumstances, the absorption considerably exceeds
this amount. "Remove," sa.vs Professor Tyndall,
the best authority on Heat, "for a single summer
night the aqueous vapor from the air which over-
spreads this country (England), and you would
a^ssuredly destroy every plant capable of being de-
stroyed by a freezing temperature. The warmth of
our fields and gardens would ])Oiir itself unrequited
into space, and the sun would ri.se upon a land held
fast in the iron grip of frost." In the above is sug-
gested the enormous influence which the newly-
developed property of aqueous vapor must exert in
the phenomena of meteorology.

To make this principle more clear, we may say
that the presence of considerable vapor in the air
near the surface of the soil renders the air nearly
opaque to the rays of radiant heat which are at all
times pa.ssing from the surface toward;* the upper
regions; but that perfectly dry air is perfectly trans-
parent to heat, or, to speak with precision, is per-
fectly diathermic or permits the rays of radiant heat
to pass freely through it. This simple discovery,
which was not established without innumerable
experiments, serves to explain many phenomena
before misunderstood or but partially compre-
hended. The withdrawal of the sun from any re-
gion over which the atmosphere is dry, must be
followed by quick refrigeration, if the theorj' pro-
posed be sound, and this we find to be true. The
winters of Thibet are almost unendurable from the
intense outward radiation or escape of heat uninter-
rupted by aqueous vapor, and her extremes of high
and low temperature are enormous. In Australia,
where the air is dry at times, the daily range of the
thermometer, or from the extreme of low tempera-
ture to the highest in twenty-four hours, is very

great, amounting to between 40 and 50 degrees — a
change we never witnessed in America, except on a
day of extreme heat, closing with a storm of hail
and terrific electric discharges. In the Desert of
Sahara, that wide waste of sand whose fiery glow
we Would scarcely imagine to be ever teHijiered by
cold, yet even here, " where the soil is fire and the
wind is flame," the refrigeration is often painful to
bear, and even ice has been formed in this region
by night. To this extreme readiness to part with
heat when the air above them is dry we must
ascribe the ready formation of ice in shallow pans
by Tiight as practised in India. As water is a
powerful radiant sending off its heat copiously into
space when favorably placed, exposed to a cloudless
sky and a dry atmosphere, and separated by a non-
conducting substance from the warmer earth be-
neath, by sunrise a cake of ice will be found in each
shallow earthen vessel so exposed and arranged.
To prevent this refrigeration, a cobweb screen
would sufiice, and the still thinner, more intangible,
though invisible vapor, by its spiritual presence, as
it were, preserves from destruction, by the chill of
exces.sive radiation, more effectually than the gossa-
mer, may indeed become as sure a safeguard as a
roof of glass above the tender plants. The decrease
of temperature by night and the consequent forma-
tion of dew, and the still greater cooling and the
deposition of frozen dew or frost, are familiar to
every one; but that the energy with which this
cooling is conducted is greatly dependent ui)on the
drj'ness of the air has not been heretofore deter-
mined, nor has it been explained in popular lan-
guage.

In the Atlantic States, or those east of the Rocky
Mountains, these extreme variations of the thermo-
meter are remarkable, and have been found very
difficult of solution ; but many of these anomalous
extremes may be accounted for by reference to this
newly-discovered property of transparent aqueous
vapor. Its presence would check the earth's loss,
and its absence, without sensibly altering the trans-
parency of the air, would oi>en a wide door for the
escape of the earth's heat into infinite space. Now,
the varying proportions of invisible vapor in the air
near the surface play a very important part in
modifying the climate of the State of New Jersey.
Not only does this variation in the relative humidity
in one section cause periodical changes, beneficial
or injurious, to certain kinds of vegetation, but its
more permanent abounding renders another section
better fitted for their continuous and profitable
cultivation from year to year.

( Concluded in our next. )

i^

DEVOTED TO

JOpHruffiirp, ^FSerirulfuFP, Poleng %* PLural Sffeirs.

TTIO-yrAS MBEHAN", Editor.
W. G. P. BRINCKLOE, Publisher.

JULY. 1866.

VOIi. VIir—NO. 7

^iiih for ^iifg*

PLO^'jrER-GARDEN AND
GKOUND.

PLEASUHE-

As soon as a flower fades on tbe Perpetual Rose
cut it off. This is the way to have them flower
again well in the Fall.

If you have more varieties than you care for,
some of them poor, bud the rejected ones with the
better kinds.

In budding, select strong, healthy shoots, — and
let the buds to be used for the inoculation be a
little in advance of the stock. Works on Roses
mostly still keep up the recommendation originally
copied from English works to "take out the wood"
from the bud, — but no American operator does it.

3Iany persons use the Manetti stock to bud
Roses on, — audit is recommended to "bud them
as low" as possible. It is better to bud them a few
inches above the ground, — for the Manetti will
throw up suckers which, if left, will kill the Rose,
and they are better detached when we can see a
little stem.

When people will have new Roses at the lowest
price, — -or where much wood is desired for propa-
gating purposes, or where exti-a fine flowers of
weak growing kinds are desired, budding on the
Manetti is all very well, — but it is all very bad to
use Xhe Manetti for the general public. Practi-
cally the bed of choice grafted Roses, become all
stocks' in a few years.

Scarce kinds of Roses may be propagated this
month, by eyes of the unripened wood taken off
just after flowering, and set in sandy soil in a shady

place. Cuttings from shoots grown in partial shade
root better than those matured in the full light.

The Gladiolus has become one of our most popu-
lar .Summer flowers. Those who have collections
of them arrange the varieties very tastefully ac-
cording to their colors. Take a list of colors as
they flower, so as to arrange them properly next
year. We give the same advice for Petunias, Ver-
benas, and Geraniums. The various shades of
colors of these varieties properly arranged, make
beds peculiarly pleasing. This is one of the arts of
modern flower-gardening, to arrange flowers proper-
ly according to shades of color.

The Chrysanthemums should be examined, and
if the shoots thrown up are thickly together, some
of them should be rooted out. If the flower-shoots
are layered into four or six inch pots, they make
very pretty dwarf plants, that are well adapted to
neatly ornament a room or small conservatory, where
larger plants would be objectionable.

Hollyhocks will be coming into bloom at this sea-
son. They have now become so much improved as
to be one of the most popular flowers for the Sum-
mer decoration of the flower-garden. If the kinds
are kept carefully separate, any particular variety
will reproduce itself from seed. They may be more
certainly kept pure by cutting of the flower stem ;
each bud will make a plant. The seed should be
sown as soon as ripe in a light rich soil, in the open
air. If retained till late in the season, they will
not properly flower until the next year.

Amateurs may have some rare or choice shrub
they may desire to increase. They may now be
propagated by layers. This is done by taking a strong
and vigorous shoot of the present season's growth,
slitting the shoot a few inches fi-om its base, and
burying it a few inches under the soil, or into a pot
of soil provided for the purpose. Any thing can
be propagated by layers ; and it is an excellent
mode of raising rare things that can be but with
difficulty increased by any other.

The time is coming when transplanted trees of
the past Fall and Spring will suffer more than du-

193

•^c

19-i

fjje @a5)tncr*s IHoitljlo.

ring any other part of tlic sicason. If tlu\v .<how a
vigorous growth of young wood, no clanger need be
apprehended, as it indicates that the roots are ac-
tive, and can supply all the moisture the foliage
calls for; but if no growth has been made, no roots
have been formed, and the leaves are living for the
most part on the sap in the wood and bark, and
hot, drying weather will tell with injurious effect
on such trees. This is generally first shown by the
peeling off of the bark on the southwestern side
of the tree, — the most drying aspect ; and where
such exhaustion appears probable, much relief may
be afforded by cutting back some of the branches,
syringing with water occasionally, sliading the trees
where practicable, or wrapping the trunk in haj'-
bands, or shading the southwest with boughs or
boards.

Plants set against walls and piazzas frequently
suffer from want of water at this season, when even
ground near them is quite wet. Draw away the
soil around each j)lant so as to form a basin ; fill in
with a bucketful of water, allowing it time to soak
gradually away, and when the surface has dried a
little draw in loosely the soil over it, and it will do
without water for some weeks. This applies to all
plants wanting water through the season. If water
is merely poured on the surface, it is made more
compact by the weight of water, and the harder
the soil becomes, the easier it dries ; and the result
is, the more water you give the more is wanted.

Keep the pruning-knife busy through the trees
and shrubs, with the oliject of securing good form.
Judgment will soon teach one which shoots would
spoil the .'ihape if not taken out.

In most kinds of soil the keeping the surface
loose by hoeing and raking in dry weather, will be
an excellent method of keeping the main body cool
and moist, — admitting the air, which is a good non-
conductor. In soils, however, which are deficient
in loam, and in which sand prevails to a great ex-
tent, frequent stirrings have a drying tendency, and
a mulching of short grass, or decaying vegetable
matter of any kind will be found very useful around
transplanted trees, shrubs and other things.

■«■•»

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

The great interest in Potatoes, cau.sed by the ex-
periments detailed in our columns last year, has
caused as much interest to be taken in the new va-
rieties of Potatoes as is taken in new Strawberries.
So far as we have seen, the Pearly Goodrich promises
to take the lead among the newer ones. We hope
our readers will take notes and report the best to

U3.

Beans and Peas may still be sown, if done at
once, with a fair chance for a late crop. The
earliest kind of Corn may also be sown with a
chance of its coming into u.se, if it escapes the
grub. Drumhead Cabbage and Savoy may also be
set out still in good, rich soil, where they will yvA
have time to head before frost in the Middle States.

The main crops requiring attention now will be
Celery, Endive for .«alad, and Turnips. The latter
n)erely to have a few early. August being the sea-
son for the chief or staple crop.

Beets maj' still be sown for Winter u.se, if the
crops sown last month are likely to be deficient.

The niain crop of Winter Cabbage is often jtlan-
ted the first or second week in July. In planting,
if the weather be dry, it is a good jilan to mnke
the holes before planting and fill up with water ;
after soaking away, the plants may be set in, and
they seldom wither afterwards, though without rain
for a month. Another and more expeditious plan
is to have the plants ready with their roots in a pun
of water. They are then set into the hole at the
time its made. The water adhering to the roots
then gives to the set out plants the advantages of
puddling.

Cucumbers for pickles are also sown about this
time. They usually pro<luce a greater number, and
consequently smaller fruit, then when sown earlier.
The Short Prickly is the kind to employ.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Look after in.sects. Cater|)illars of all kinds are
best kept down by hand picking.

Some people say positively that sulphur sprinkled
in water, and this syringed over the Plum tree is a
sure preventive of curculio, — the fumes under a
hot sun being too strong for the insect, — but not too
bad for the plant. No injury would result frouj a
trial.

Keep pinching out all shoots from all fruit trees
that are likely to grow stronger than the rest, or
where they are not wanted.

Strawberries should be assisted to make strong-
rooted runners, — good and loose soil placed near
where the runners are, and if these are slightly
covered all the better.

Raspberries and Blackberries should have their
.suckers thinned out, as weeds, as they grow, per-
mitting only those to remain that will be wanted
next year.

GREENHOUSES.

Vines planted permanently in conservatories or

li)

®he ©ardcner's ^lontj}ln.

195

planthouses are very liable to attacks of red spider,
mealybug, thripand other pests, Frequent syring-
ing with sulphur- water is the best remedy.

In training vines, so manage that there shall be
a due proportion of branches hanging loosely about !
the trellis, — as it is this flowing gracefulness that :
adds half the charms to this tribe of plants which
tiiey so profusely possess. I

Most of the plants are set out fir the Summer, —
little care will be required beycmd seeing that they
are not over or under watered. Some will be j'et
growing, and may be full of roots. If growth will
probably continue for a while longer, pots a size
larger may be furnished such. Whenever a shoot
appears to grow stronger than the rest, so as tn en-
danger compactness or any desired sliape, pinch it
back; and any climbing vines should receive due
r !guIation as they grow over the trellis, or they will
speedily become naked below. A good, stiff trellis
is a desideratum hard to be obtained by the unini- I
tiated. !

An important point just now is to prepare Win-
ter-flowering plants. Cinerarias, Chinese Prim-
rose and Calceolarias, should be sown about the
end of the month ; and cuttings made of most kinds !
of plants that are desirable. It is a great mistake,
often made, to store up and treasure year after
year, old and over grown specimens, when younger
ones would bloom more vigorously, and give better
satisfaction. Propagation of plants will go on. It
is one of the pleasures of the gardening art ; and
where old treasures are prized, the greenhouse soon
becomes a crowded mass of ugliness, with credit to
neither gardener nor owner.

(JoHimunirBimns*

FOLIAGE PLANTS FOR DECORATIVE

PLANTING.

BY EDWARD S. RAND, JR., BOSTON, MASS.

Read before the Fa Hort. Society, May \st, 1866.

The great diflSculties which meet every writer
upon horticultural subjects are the wide field for
experiments which is ever open, and the vast range
of thought which must be embraced before the
author can lay any claim to a fair and full presenta-
tion of the subject. Nor can any writer of his own
experience originate or perfect any branch of
science ; the most that can be done is to graft into
the stock planted in by-gone ages a few choice
scions, in the humble hope that the fruit may

cheer, refresh and strengthen our fellow laborers ;
and in time the branch be strong enough to receive
the grafts of better fruits, which may originate in
j'ears to come, lliis general truth is most forcibly
impressed upon the botanist and upon his co-worker,
the horticulturist; and in no country is it more felt
than in our own. Embracing a range of climate
from the Florida Keys, where the Oranse ripens in
the open air, to the hills of Northern New York or
the mountains of Maine, where the Peach and
most Pears are killed to the ground each Winter,
we can have no universal horticultural literature,
— certainlynot cultural worksof general adaptation.
Thus it may seem presumptuous fir a floriculturist,
of New England, to write an essay for the edifica-
tion of a Society in the Middle States, where the
climate is so much milder that they may almost
claim to posse.ss a different, and in truth, a far more
extensive hardy flora.

It must, therefore, be borne in mind that the
experience here narrated is that of New Etig'and ;
and while whatever may be considered hardy in
Massachusetts is certainly hardy in Pennsylvania,
the converse is by no means true.

The subject chosen for illustration this evening,
is one which, a few years since, would have had
little significance. Horticulture, like all sciences,
has its seasons of eccentricities so to speak ; yet if
in all, the study shows a steady progress we may not
complain if perchance at times in some fam-iful ex-
treme the true ends of the science are momentarily
lost sight of

The "rage" for filiage plants, that is plants
whose chief recommendation lies in the ornamenral
foliage, is of recent birth, but is wide spread and
has certainly proved beneficial to floriculture.

Foliage plants are divided into two classes; those
which by dark colored or variegated foliage produce
striking ontrasts, and those which by grandeur
and abundance of stateliness of foliage produce
marked effect on the lawn or in the garden. We
can all call to mind plants which seem to be the
connecting link between these classes, and which
are showy both from- contrast of color and effective
foliage.

We have said the "rage" for those plants is of
recent birth ; but it by no means follows that the
plants themselves are new discoveries,— true we
owe many fine plants to the zeal of the botanist ;
and the skill of the hybridist, — stimulated by the
demand created for the gratification of this passion ;
but the greater part of the stately foliaged plants ^
have been known to botanists for years, while most P
of those affording effective contrasts are only varie

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£^e ^arrltiur's dtlontjjlij.

gated varieties of well known inhabitants of the
garden.

To discuss the causes which lead to these fanci-
ful sports, — these seemingly accid^jutal variegations
would too greatly extend t\^ limits of this article,
suffice it to say that the?e variegations are generally
first found in seedlings, are propagated by grafting,
budding or cuttings, and are seldom exactly repro-
duced by seed. To this rule, however, there are
marked exceptions, and it may be stated in general
terms that seedlings from a variegated plant, other
things being equal, are much more likely to pro-
duce variegated plants ; but singular cases of dis-
appointment in our own experience have caused us
to known that this is by no means to be considered
certain. Again, most of tlie cases where a varie-
gated parent produces variegated offspring occur
among atmuals, and the liigher we advance in the
horticultural .scale the fewer are the exceptions to
the rule, or in other words the greater the tendency
to revert to the priuiitive type.

Probably none will deny the statement that we
are, in this country, making steady and even rapid
progress in decorative planting ; and it is also true
that the introduction of foliage trees and plants has
done much to develope the taste for landscape gar-
dening as a fine art, if we may speak thus boldly.
Much has been accomplished in the education of
the eye of the masses by presenting marked efieets
or striking contra.sts ; the eye which would fail to
ken the beauty of a noble tree, which cannot ap-
preciate the delicate tracery of branches, or the
elegant patterns of the foliage, is at once wakened
to admiration by a contra.st of a purple Beech and
silver Poplar or the stately growth of the Canna
and Kicinus.

And so far so good, for a mind of any apprecia-
tive power once interested in horticulture will not
lo.se or even stand still, — the interest will increase
and there will be progress ; the progress of each
one tells upon the mass, and thus tends to the
great end, the general horticultural education of
the people.

Practically considered, the foliage plants used for
decorative planting divide themselves into two great
cla9.ses, — hardy and tender. Of this latter class we
do not propose to treat, except .so far as such plants
are useful for the Summer decoration of the
flower-garden, and we must reluctantly dismiss with
a lucre mention the magnificent Dracoena, Alocasia,
Caladia, Croton, Cyanophylluin, Rhopala, Pavetta
Marantas and Pandanus of our stoves, as well as the
elegant Anscctocbilus and Sonerilla and hundreds
of others.

The hardy and "bedding class," so to speak, is
divided into trees, shrubs, climbers, perennials and
annuals, — of bulbs there are a few of noticeable and
marked variegation, but they are only available in
early Spring. These we propose to take up in
order, but first a few remarks may be allowed upon
planting in general. Decorative planting may be
either in the landscape or the garden, — it may be
on a large or small scale. Of the former the grea-
test care must be used. As trees are usually em-
ployei], the full effect is for the future not for the
present, and the great mistake is in too close plant-
ing, so that each individual is ruined and the mass
is not elegant. It is difficult to conceive that the
little sapling will produce the mighty tree ; but
every one who ])lants trees should remember
he does it for posterity. Not for a year or ten
years, but for all time. Again, do nothing hastily I
To no one pursuit is Poor Richard's maxim : "what
is worth doing at all is worth doing well," — so
generally applicable as to horticulture, — one tree or
plant well set out and properly cared for is worth
hundreds ])oorly planted and neglected. There-
fore, whether it be a tree we plant for a hundred
j'ears, or a group of Ricinus fur a single Summer
let the work be well done. The error of too clo.^e
planting is not confined to trees, — groups of such
plants as Cannas. Calocasia and Ricinus are gene-
rally crowded. The true plan is when planting in
May to allow for the size of the ])lant in August.

Again, contrasts of color are often poorly mana-
ged. As a general rule the more striking the con-
trast the better. All should, hDAvever, be well pro-
portioned and in keeping, for bizarre effects are
only pleasing in certain landscapes.

And first let us consider what trees are adapted
for decorative planting, only, however, with refe-
rence to our subject of dark or variegated foliage ;
as in every genus of tree we can find some which
are conspicuous for graceful or effective habit.

Of variegated Conifers or Taxads we know of but
one which can claim a distinguished rank, the Gol-
den Yew (Taxus elegantis.sima), a tree which is
always distinct and vivid — is perfectly hardy, and
which no garden should be without. Next to this
we would class the Golden Arborvitaj (Thuya
aurea), but which is open to the objection which
we have to all of the genus, it is at seasons a dull
looking tree, and withal barely stands the Winter
in New England. The following are sometimes
pretty, but are not fine enough for general planting :
Abies excelsa variegata, Juniperus Sabina foliis
variegatis, Juniperus Virginiana foliis aureis, Cha-
maecyparis sphaeroides variegata, Pinus sylvestris /^s

argentea, Picea aniabiliK, — but some are not hardy,
and the variegation is precarious.

The contrasts of foliage presented by our native
Pines, Spruces, Firs and Cedars are capable of very
effective management.

Of deciduous trees the most distinct is Acer
negundo foliis variegata, but it requires a shady
place, or the colors run sadly, and large specimens
are rarely seen. The finest for general effect is the
purple Beech (Fagus cuprea et purpurea), which is
now so common as to be obtainable by all, and
which when large is a magnificent tree— it is of
rapid growth when once established, and is a very
clean tree.

The variegated Maples are varieties of the Syca-
more Maple (Acer pseudo platanus) and are of two
kinds, Albo van'eff/xfum and purpurium, both are
desirable in a collection, but both lose their beauty
after mid-summer.

Of the Ash we have many forms, — some remar-
kable for dull or peculiar foliage, but with the ex-
ception of the Weeping Ash (Fraxinus excelsior
pendula), though very interesting, not very desira-
ble.

The variegated and purple Elms (Ulmus cam-
pestris montana and tuberosa, &c. ), are open to
the same remarks, though the latterfrom its stately
growth is often very effective. ^Esculus hippocas-
taneum foliis aureis is very showy, as also the silver
variety, but not very common. Some of the Alders
(Alnus), Willows (Salix), and Lindens (Tilia) are
worthy of a place in a large collection, but seldom
maintain the variegation in good condition under
our Summer's sun.

Of shrubs and small trees one of the best is the
Indian Currant (Symphoricarpus vulgaris foliis
variegatis), which is fine-leaved, well marked with
white and very constant. The variegated Acuba
japonica is very pretty, effective and handsome, bat
is tender in New England. The same may be said
of Euon\'mus japonica. Tree box in its varieties,
some of which are beautifully marked, is very or-
namental and hardy.

Daphne cneorum variegatura is common and
pretty. The purple Barberry is very ornamental,
and the variegated Daphne Mezereon though rare
is very desirable.

The many variegated Hollies are generally ten-
der, but where they will survive there can be noth-
ing finer ; they are generally the English species,
we do not know of a variegated variety of Ilex
opaca.

An excellent way to grow these half hardy Shrubs
is to keep them in large tubs, which in Summer

may be dispersed through the grounds, and Win-
tered in the cellar, where, if it is not too warm, and
they have only enough water to keep them from
drying up, they will maintain a state of rest and
come out in tine order in the Spring.

Many greenhouse plants and succulents, such as
the numerous tender Yuccas and the Century
plants (Agave) and Aloes also do well under this
treatment and add much to the Summer decoration
of the garden and shrubbery.

Of Bedding plants the variety is almost infinite,
indeed there are no greenhouse and comparatively
few stove plants which do not do well in some
localities if planted in warm sheltered places during
the summer. We can mention but a few among
which the whole family of Cannas and Ricinus are
pre-eminent. These are raised from .seed or with the
former, also from old roots, and once established in
good .soil need no further care, — of their effect when
judiciously interspersed I need not speak. Caloca-
sia e.sculenta is very effective from its large foliage.
It needs a deep, rich, rather moist loam.

The many species of Erythrina, though chiefly
planted for their spikes of rich flower, are not un-
ornamental in foliage.

Wigandia Caracasana is rather coarse but is
effective. Gynerium argenteum (Pampas Grass)
is very ornamental and blooms well in a hot place,
if not allowed to become too dry. Agapanthus
unibellatus variegatus planted in a tub and Win-
tered in the cellar is very ornamental in foliage and
flower.

Of variegated climbers we have but few, the
golden and silver Ivies are scarcely hardy. Loni-
cera (Caprifolium) aureo reticulata is very fine and
maintains its variegation.

Calystegia sepium foliis variegatis when once in-
troduced becomes as much a weed as the green-
leaved species ; Cobaea scandens foliis variegatis is as
rampant a grower as the species, and requires the
same treatment.

The variegated variety of the Hop (Humulus
lupulus) is pretty but not constant. A very pretty
little plant with fine cut grape-like foliage was sent
me a few years ago under the name of Cissus ( Vitis)
Sieboldii, the contrast between the white and green
leaves and the pink stalks ii3 very marked, and the
plant is a rampant grower.

Of hardy Herbaceous plants the name is legion,
— indeed there is scarce a genus that has not its
representative among foHaged plants. Annuals are
not so well represented, but some of the sports are
interesting. As a general rule the variegation of
Perennials is best in early Spring. As the plant

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She darbrner's |Ttonthln.

sends up the flower stalk it fades, and towards July
grows very taint oris lost altogether. It may be,
in a measure, preserved by picking off the flower
buds.

Funkia Sieboldii variepata is a splendid plant
during the early Summer months.

Yucca filamentosa variegata is very fine, keeps the
colors well, hut is more tender than the species.
Convallaria majalis variegata is very strikingly
marked, but not very constant.

Farf'ugium grande is hardy if given a slight Win-
ter protection of loaves, and is very beautiful.

The variegated varieties of the following are very
desirable : —

Aconitura napellus Lamium, in species,

Arabis, in species, Poleinonium coeruleum,

Achillea, Saxifraga sarmentosa,

Convallaria polygonatum,Spiisea ulmaria,
Funkias, in species, Sedura acre,

Glechoma, in species, Trillium sessile,
Hemerocallis flava, Vinca, in species,

Iris Germanica, Veronica, in species.

Of Annuals we find many in the Amaranth tribe
with dark or particolored foliage of which the most
distinct is the new Iresine Herb.stii, or Achyran-
thes Verschaffeltii which has not yet been proved
in this country.

Perilla nankinensis is showy but lacks lustre,
and is coarse. Ageratum coelestinum variegatum
is prettier in a pot than in a garden.

Coleus Verschaffeltii (more properly a stove
plant) stands well and is probably the best dark
foliage plant. The new Japanese Maize is a great
acquisition ; comes true from seed and should be
generally pUnted.

Of Bulbs we can say little. The Dogtooth
Violets (Erythrinum) and Trillium sessile though
pretty in early Spring arc past by the first of June.
The variegated Colchicum and golden and silver
Crown Imperial are radiant in April and early May
but soon pass away, and the variegated white Lily
only stays long enough to bloom.

Thus have we briefly reviewed the available
foliage plants for decorative planting, the mode of
grouping, and thus the effects produced each can
adapt to his own taste ; and we can only hail each
new acquisition to our already almost countless
store, while at the .same time we lift our souls in
gratitude to the "Father of all Good," who so
lavishly ministers to the ennobling and refining in-
fluences which Ilis goodness has implanted in the
human soul.

MANAGING THE PELARGONIUM.

UY "fox huntkr. "

The Pelargotiiunis you think so good in my house
are not treated different to what most gardeners
follow, but as you think it may be u.seful, 1 write it
out briefly for you : —

In July, after the plants have done flowering, I
set them in the open air in the sun for a few days,
when they are cut down. I cut according to the
appearance I wish the new plant to make. If it
have already several arms, in goodly arrangement,
I leave the stubs three or four inches long, — if not
good shape I cut in closer so as to get a better
foundation. The cuttings are saved of desired
kinds for propagating young ones, — but I prefer
the two year plants for making specimens. I leave
the cut down plants for two weeks in their old six
inch pots, — when they are shaken entirely out, old
roots cut very much away, and potted again into 4
inch pots, — they stay out of doors, in ashes, in a
partially shady, but light place till September,
never letting them want water by any means ; they
are then turned out, the soil carefully loosened, and
as much suffered to fall out as may, without much
disturbing the roots, — they are set back again on
the ashes till end of September, when they are put
in a cool greenhouse safe from frost and damp,
which is a great enemy to the Pelargunium, and
frequently watered with licjuid manure. In Febru-
ary or early in March they get another final sliift
into sixes.

As they grow the shoots are staked out if neces-
sary to make a uniform plant, — and very strong
ones are occasionally pinched back.

My i)lants are not monsters to be sure,— but as
you admitted, for six inch pots as 1 am limited for
room, they can't be beat.

My .soil is about equal parts turfy loam one year
rotted, coarse sand and one year old cow manure.

VINEYARDS.

BY OER.ALD HOWATT, YONKERS, N. Y.

Those intending to plant a vineyard should study
well the adaptability of their land for the vine be-
fore planting. It is generally presumed that any
.soil will answer for that purpo.se. The vine will cer-
tainly grow in any .soil, but then will it be remunera-
tive? [ say not; and a vine will require the same
attention, whether it yields ten or twenty pounds
to the plant, so that it .should be our aim to supply
it proper nourishment. The best aspect is south
or southwest. The great desideratum in a Grai)e
soil is to have it loose, a good sandy loam ; if it be

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199

not such, to grow them profitably it nmst be made
such. Ground that bakes will not answer ; if your
ground is a strong adhesive loam you must cart on
to it gravel to keep it open. I have used three
hundred loads of gravel to the acre to get it suffi-
ciently porous. A good many growers will find
that their failure proceeds more from this cause
than any other, their land being too stiff; they must
bear in mind that if a house has not got a good
foundation it cannot stand. If Grape-vines have
not well prepared land they cannot succeed, and
this is a principal one ; no matter what manure you
supply or what care that you give them, except
you attend to this j'our labor is vain. O^'ster and
clam shells, when they can be obtained, are a good
atid better substitute than gravel. Supposing then
that our ground is all right I then plow and sub-
soil, commencing lengthwise (in May) and then
cross plow and subsoil. I then haul on my manure,
and apply from one to two hundred loads per acre,
spread it as the plow proceeds, having a man ahead
of the plow to put the manure in the bottom of the
furrows. This is my principal manuring, as after
manuring cannot be judiciously applied without
detriment to the vine roots, when this plowing is
finished do not harrow it ; let it stand in furrows.
I throw my lands into twelve pans, I then sow on
this about one bushel of buckwheat to the acre
enough will grow to shade and keep the ground
open without harrowing. Latter part of July I
run the roller over it and plow in the buckwheat ;
let the plow run twelve to thirteen inches deep, let
it again stand in fuiTows and lands until middle of
August when you again plow, cro.ss plow and har-
row. By this you will avoid working or lumping
your ground in wet weather, and get your land into
the best possible state for Fall planting. This in-
fact is more my reason for adopting Fall to Spring
planting. It will be seen that this course could not
be pursued by adopting Spring planting: if the
Spring is very favorable j'ou may manage to bring
in your plants by middle of May. In wet weather
this packs your grounds tight, the consequence of
which is it takes all Summer to get over it.

Your ground being now ready, you mark it out
for posts : I put mine in six feet square between
every tenth row, I leave them nine feet apart to
admit a cart to go between the rows, to manure,
water, &c. When laid out you run j-our plow length-
wise and crosswise as deep as you can, with a wide
mould-board plough running twice in each furrow,
to facilitate the digging. At each of those angles
dig your holes two feet deep and sufficient in diame-
to give them working room. Let your stakes be,

of Chestnut, eight feet six inches long and about
two inches at the small end ; I split mine and have
them smoothed with a draw knife, if the stakes are
an object, which they ought to be, have them char-
red, after sharpening thirty inches from the bottom,
this preserves them ; your hole being two feet deep,
you will insert your stake six inches in the bottom.
If your subsoil is stiff use a crow bar to put them
in, this takes your stake six feet over ground, which
I consider sufficient.

You are now ready for planting, which will be
about the first of September ; your plants being
grown in pots arrive from the nursery in boxes
without the pots but balls all whole, place your
boxes along the rows, water them in the boxes, set
two men to each row, one to hold the plant, the
other to fill in ; in filling in around your stake put
in the surface soil, place your plant against the
south side of your stake, fill up the earth to the
lower eye of your plant. In planting use two
quarts of course bone dust to each plant; let a man
go along and leave it at each stake, and the man in
filling around the plant, let him mix it with surface
soil, and when your ball is about half covered let
him shake all around the bone-dust, fill in to about
half an inch ot the surface ; have your water cart
along, and give each plant one good watering, and
your plants will receive no more of a check than if
they were removed from one pot to another. By
adopting this plan, I am confident that I save one
year's growth ; my ground is in good condition,
plants are already to start when spring opens, and
no drawbacks on account of weather ; and, doing
things as they ought to be done, when planted,
let them be tied to the stakes, and the subsoil
earth from the holes scattered over the surface, and
let them remain until the middle of November,
when I cut them down to within three eyes or
buds from the bottom, or more plainly leave three
eyes from the ball, then cover those over with
earth in shape of a sugar loaf, at least, raise it
about ten inches high, bringing it to a point at top;
when all is finished, run a one-horse plough along
each row, throwing the furrows from the plant, —
this is to carry off all surface water. My object in
leaving three eyes is, that I can select the strongest
when they break and remove the other two ;
generally the upper one is the strongest. Observe
not to do this until the buds are develojDcd ; in case
of bleeding, after they are in leaf, you can cut all
you like with impunity. Some may say this is an
expensive mode of growing, but I assure them one
acre thus treated is worth five in the ordinary way
of growing, and will pay much better. In the first

place, it is uiuch cheaper to go over one acre than
five ; secondly, you have better fruit, and can com-
mand a better price; thirdlj', j'ou have your four
acres, which }'ou can devote to other crops. First
Spring, when the ground is dug, take the earth off
your plants, leave 3'our three ej-es, set your plough
in, give it a good ploughing both ways, and deep,
(as this is your last ploughing for the season,) let
your ground remain in furrows ; when weeds show
themselves, run the cultivator through them, all
the weeds it does not take out around the plant,
hoe them out, train your single stem up to the top
of your stake ; do not stop your plant until it reaches
the top ; this is to encourage the expansion of the
roots, — remove all tejidrils, — stop j'our side shoots
at the third eye or bud ; it will again break, — again
stop at the first eye, and so on, all through the
season.

In November cut down to six ej^es, lay them
horizontally, and cover with earth five or six inches,
and cover with earth, (roof-shape.) The second
season, in April, uncover your vines, train and stop
as last sea.son, leave your side shoots about five
inches long ; keep the weeds down all summer, and
keep tied. In November plough three furrows in
the centre of your rows ; prune in December, leaving
the full length of your cane, (six feet) ; cut your
spurs to the .second eye from the main stem, lay
down and cover with earth ; early the following
spring tie up your plants. On the breaking of j-our
eyes remove the poorest one ; from the other your
fruit stems will appear, probably two or three
bunches will show, remove all but one, leaving the
largest bunch, and only allow every alternate spur
to bear one bunch each. Do not be too avaricious
this .season ; if you take more j'ou will materially
injure your vines, (saving at the tap and wasting at
fhebung, ispoor policy. ) After j'our fruit is set, stop
at two eyes beyond your fruit, let one of those eyes
grow, stopping it again ; at all times keep a growth
ahead of j'Our fruit, until they commence to color,
when you can remove all. Be careful from the
netting of your bunch, until you cut it to remove
all growth and tendrils between your bunch and
and main stem, for if those are left it will take all
the sap from your fruit. This November give your
vine3'ard a top dressing of manuce, according to
the strength of your vines. As you are now ready
for a full crop the following .season, open around
your vine three feet in diameter, with a digging-
fork, two inches deep, and aitjily two quarts of
coarse bone-dust to each plant, and you are again
fini.>hed manuritig for three years. The following
year allow each spur to bear one or two bunches;

prune and lay down, as before mentioned. Next
season, if your object is quantity, instead of quality,
you may allow two and three bunches to each spur;
if you intend your Grapes for wine, you can allow
three bunches to each spur ; if for market only
two, and in son)e instances but one, always bearing
in mind that a well-grown fruit will commaml
double the price that an inferior one will of the
same variety. The covering of ^he vine I consider
quite essential in all stages, as it saves the eyes
from being frozen, — at least, the idea jn'oper, is to
save them from the sun, as when the eyes are
frozen the sun kills them, and liy growing on single
stems and to single stakes, this is much more
easily accomplished. People need not be afraid to
plant vines, as our export trade in Grapes is heavier
than our home consumption. For winc-nmking, I
prefer the amber Grapes; the Delaware in our
climate, and the Catawba in the south. The
Catawba, where it can be grown, is decidedly the
best wine Grape, both in quantity and quality.
For market none sell so well as a black Grape.
My planting the past season has been principally
confined to Adirondac and Concord for black,
Delaware for ambers. Our white Grapes, at pre-
sent, have not come to the standard to bedepemled
on, although I would advise to buy some of them,
but keep them from your vineyard, as they are all,
more or less, subject to mildew, which, being our
great enemy, be careful not to encourage it. I
should have said, in planting yoiir vineyard, .-select
the best and richest part of your ground lor the
Delaware, it being a weak grower, your {)Oore^t
ground for Adirondac, Concord, or any other rapid
grower.

•••••

NOTES FROIM WISCONSIN.

BY JOHN TOWNLEY, MOUNDVILLE, WIS.

DROSERA ROTUNDIFOLIA.

Among the plants recommended to be grown
under glass shades or in Wardian ca.ses, I never see
the sundews mentioned. When doomed to live
two or three j-cars in the midst of London, one of
my window pets C(jiisistcd ot a plant of the
airy and elegant, maiden hair fern. On the sur-
face, covering the soil, was a ma.ss of that inter-
esting mos.s-like fern, Ilymenophyllum Tunbrid-
gen.se, gathered from the curious, dripi)ing rocks
in the neighborhood of Tunbridge wulls ; whilst
here and there, nestling amongst the latter, was a
plant of the round-leaved Sundew, — all, of cour.-e,
covered with a gla.ss shade. As the Sundews grow
mostly in wet, spongy bogs, they are seldom or

^-5^^

never seen by ladies whom, 1 presume, take most
interest in this sort of parlor or window gardening
but I have always found them objects of great
interest and curiosity to those not previously ac-
quainted with them. The glandular hairs of the
crimson-tinted leaves, which cause the plant to
appear as if sparkling with dew when the sun
shines upon it, though not so sensitive, or so
quickly irritable as those on the leaves of its family
connection, the Venus Fly-trap, will gradually bend
over and enclose a dead fly if placed upon a leaf, as
I have time and again proved.

FAST HOLLYHOCKS.
It was stated in the Monthly that an Eng-
lish gardener had found that if Hollyhock seed
was sown under glass in February, and the
young plants were planted in the open ground
in April, they would flower in September of the
same year. On the 8th of June last, I sowed under
glass, on a spent hotbed, a few Hollyhock seeds,
which had been sent to me by a sister from England.
On July 2 1st the produce was transplanted, and
two out of the nine plants raised threw up flower
stems ; one produced several perfect flowers, and
the other had two or three buds so far developed
as to show the color of the flowers when their preco-
cious efforts were rendered abortive by frost. I am
puzzled to understand why these plants flowered,
though raised sti very late in the season, when self-
sown plants, and plants raised from seed sown in the
open ground, very early in spring, never attempt to
flower until the second year. It could hardly be that
thej' were starved into premature bloom, for the
ground into which they were planted was well pre-
pared ; more than the usual amount of rain fell
during the latter part of summer, and the plants
grew with great luxuriance.

PROLIFEROUS TIMOTHY.

Last spring I plowed under clover in which
some Timothy was growing. The land was planted
with corn, which was cultivated twice, well hoed,
then twice plowed ; in hoeing, Timothy plants
which had not been plowed under, had the earth
shaken from their roots, and were then thrown
upon the ground to wither ; a plant here and there
survived this rough treatment, and, plant-like, did
their best under the circumstances to perpetuate
the species by producing one or two flowering
stamens each. These were necessarily formed
much later in the season than it is natural for the
plant to flower ; and I noticed when cutting up the
corn that several plants had formed proliferous
/W\ heads, as Poa alpina, and some other grasses do

when growing near the summits of high mountains.
I have grown several acres of Timothy during the
last eight or ten years, but never before found a
spike bristling over with young plants, instead of
bearing seeds.

PARSNIPS APT TO BE POISINOUS WHEN ABOUT TO
FLOWER.

If it is not generally known that there is danger
in the root of the Parsnip on the approach of the
flowering season, some jiain and anxiety may possi-
bly be prevented by giving the needed warning.
A boy, three years old, the son of a near neighbor,
was left by his mother to play with a younger
sister, while she busied herself with weeding her
garden. A quantity of Parsnips were growing
around, — they had sprung up in fence corners, —
among loose stones, &c. The boy, unperceived by
his mother, managed to pull up a root, and as he
had been given a piece of raw turnip to eat some-
time previous, he thought this was turnip also, and
was thus led to eat a quantity of the root ; he soon
became sick, and went to his mother, who, seeing
her boy deadly pale, hurried with him to the hou.se,
when he was soon seized with convulsions ; salt
dissolved in warm water was given to him, which
had the desired effect, causing him to vomit as
much of the root as I could have held in my hand.
As he now seemed easy, and thinking all danger
was over, I left to return home, but was speedily
called back, when I found the boy again convulsed ;
the nearest doctor (who had been sent for) being
six or seven miles away, and remembering having
read that the active poisonous principle of the
nearly allied plant, hemlock, was an alkaloid, I
caused castor oil to be given to him, in the hope
that it might somehow neutralize the poison, or
prove otherwise beneficial ; be that as it may, the
child had no fit after and recovered.

It may be well to add that the Parsnips were
growing on the north side of a ridge, where a log
house had formerly stood, and where a cattle-yard
had been ; and that the plant had run wild, having
been allowed to grow from self-sown seed, year
after year, during ten years at least.

INJURIOUS EFFECT OP GAS-TAR ON VEGE-
TATION.

BY MR. JAMES CHARLTON, ROCHESTER, N. Y.

La.st fall, commencing business in a modest way,
I built a lean-to propagating house, against my
dwelling house, with a walk through the centre,
and a tank on each side, the length of same being
28 feet, and 9 feet in width. After making my

t^m

202

Chi! dpardencr's cplonlljln.

dJ.

tanks, u-^ing 1] inch lumber, costing $45 per M., I
deterniiru'd to give them both in>ide and out,
a coating of boiling tar, having, like sevtJral
other parties, a faint idea that " Gas-tar" was the
best pn-servative of wood in existence. The said
house was built the last of Sei)teniber and begin-
ning of October, and both the tanks, as well as the
ends and front of the house, was tlmrouglil.v painted
with the tar, boiling hot. The house was finished,
but the '"boiler," being forthcoming, (the boiler I
am using being of a new pattern, was being cast
for here in Rochester, and they being very unfor-
tunate in the ca.sting of same, I was necessarily'
delayed longer than I wished to be,) I did not have
a chance of starting the same until the middle of
January.

In the meantime, I had built another sn)all,
span-roofed house, for a succession house, 40 feet
long and 10 feet wide, with walk through the
center, and tank on each side, using on the outside
of the tanks and on the sides of the house another
coating of the inevitable '' Gas-tar."

By this time the boiler for No. 1 was ready, set
up, and the tanks connected with sanae, the fire
built, and everything seemed to work to a charm.

After testing the boiler for about 24 hours, I
commenced to fill the house with stuff, — Ko.sos,
Spineas, Grape-vines, &c. — plants to get stock from.
The plants being dormant, of course I could not see
at first if the gas was hurting them or not, for as soon
as the heat began to rise, the gas began to make
its appearance verj' plainly. On the plants com-
mencing to grow, it killed the }'oung shoots as fast
as they grew, and in fact, killed a great many
large plants, both root and branch. The Rose and
Grape-vine leaves would turn black, become con-
tracted, and then fall off.

It being apparent that I must either shut up the
house or control the gas, I went to work and boarded
up the tanks, at the same time washing the ends of
the house with thick water-lime, and I have at
la.st, after a great deal of trouble and anxiety, suc-
ceeded in being able to grow stuff tolerably well.
This was in my first house only ; in ray second I
burnt over my tanks with shavings, and gave the
sides, as well as the tanks, three separate coats of
good, thick, hot lime, as a whitewash, and keeping
a heat up in the tanks for about two months, I
have at last succeeded in pretty well subduing it so
far, that I have filled it up with j'oung Grape-
vines, with a f;iir promi.se of their doing well.

Such, Mr. Editor, is the effects of Gas-tar with
me, and, as " mi.sery likes company," I would like
to hear what Ellwanger & Barry, Mr. James Vick,

and Mr. Peter Henderson, have to say on the sub-
ject of Gas-tar, and its consequences, as a warning
to others.

Some few years since, the President of the
Rochester Gas Company being informed by a friend
that Gas-far was a good tiling to keep off tliC bugs
from the S(iuash and Cucumber plants, concluded
to try some. A few days afterwards, on being
questioned as to the result, said that it was the best
thing that he had ever seen, for it had killed the
bugs, but at the same time it had killed the plants
likewise.

[We once saw a set of newly-made hotbed frames
gas-tarred to preserve the wood. They were used
in spring for early vegetable plants. All around
the .<ides for a foot or more from the boards the
plants were small, — not half the size of those further
away.

There is no doubt the odor of gas-tar is very
obnoxious to insects, and many may be driven awaj'
by its use, — but it requires caution, as Mr. C. well
shows. — Ed.]

rORWIATIOKT or DEW. IN AT^^WTH. TO
SflR. YARDLEY TAYLOR'S OBJECTIONS.

BV A. FENDLER.

Having in two former numbers of this journfd
given the general outlines of the doctrine of the
formation of dew, as adopted for the last forty
years in schools and by scientific men generally, I
thought my task ended, and if more complete
information was desired, the reader could have
his wants ea.sily supplied by referring to any
modern work, treating more particularly on this
subject. But the criticisms by Mr. Yardley Taylor
in the April number of the Monthly show, that a
little more discussion is needed. And, as he saj's, his
object is nothing else but to arrive at truth, I .shall
be obliged to make a fevv more remarks.

His first sentence, namely the heading of his
article is erroneous. For I never supposed, indi-
cated, nor pretended to have a theory of my own
on the formation of dew ; and, in justice to other
men, as well as to myself, I desire such an impres-
sion to be removed. The theory, if it belongs to
any one in particular, belongs certainly to Dr. W.
C. Wells, of London, a native of South Carolina.
The only particulars added to it, in order to make
it quite complete, are those of Melloni, who re-
peated the experiments of Wells, and established,
beyond a doubt, the correctness of his conclusions,
which were the result of indefatigable and compre-
hensive scientific investigations, through a number

of ingenious and accurate experiments, furnishing
to .scientific minds the most satisfactory explanation
of all the phenomena pertaining to the formation
of dew.

My endeavor in the matter was merely to give
an exposition of this theory, of the correctness of
which I have been convinced by numerous observa-
tions in different countries and climates. To be
able" to thus recommend it to the general reader,
is all the claim I have in connection with it.

Mr. Taylor, in considering heat as something
ponderable and having body, yet doubting its ema-
nation from the sun, saj's: "To suppose such an
amount given off without diminishing the sun's
body, is taxing philosophy rather heavily, as there
is no evidence of diminution." Further on he
says: "Light, we know, does emanate from the
sun ;" and suppose it to produce heat by friction
in moving rapidly through our atmosphere, quo-
ting aerolites as a parallel.

Here, then, it is evident he considers light to be
likewise of a ponderable or material nature. Hence,
we are justified to retort with his own objections,
and ask : Can this emanation of luminous matter
from the sun go on continually, in all directions ot
space, without diminishing the sun's body? And
would such a supposition not be taxing philosophy
as heavily in this case as in the case of heat, which
he rejected for the very same reason, that there is
no evidence of diminution in the sun's body? And
if his views about the materiality of light are cor-
rect, why not, as he does in regard to heat, accuse
nature of extravagance in casting so mucli light off
into space, in order to illuminate only the earth,
moon and planets, mere specks in the universe?

According to Mr Taylor's view, as we understand
it, heat ascends with the heated air until the latter
be obstructed, and then it can rise but slowly. The
rays of light, emanating from the sun, carry the
ascended heat back again to the earth. In this
way there would be no loss of heat upon earth.
Further on he supposes the Hght of the sun, com-
ing in contact with our atmosphere, to produce
heat by friction ? In another place he says : " But
may not heat belong to this earth, and have had its
origin in its creation." Thus, while he allows no
consumption or loss of the heat created with the
earth, he supposes at the same time a steady daily
production of new heat to take place. We may well
ask : what becomes of all the accumulating heat
produced day after day, and year after year, by
friction? The amount of heat so produced, more-
over, would be greatest in the morning, soon after
sunrise ; and late in the evening, immediately before

sunset; because when the sun is near the horizon,
the rays of light have to pass through denser
layers and a for greater number of particles of the
atmosphere, than at noon.

The remarks I made about the radiating heat of
a glowing fire in the open air, my critic deems
"not to be well taken." Standingout doors, thinly
clad, in front of a blazing log-fire, with the ther-
mometer say 10 degrees below zero, any one can
soon find out which side of his body receives more
heat, the side turned towards the fire, or that
turned away from it. A thermometer, placed in
front of the fire, will certainly be affected by the
latter, and the mercury rise according to its dis-
tance from the fire, even in spite of a wind blow-
ing from the direction of the thermometer towards
the fire, thus precluding the possibility of the
mercury being raised by heated air proceeding from
the fire. If, moreover, a suitable screen be inter-
posed between the fire and the thermometer, the
mercury in the latter will again /«?? to its former
low temperature, which could not possibly take
place, if the whole mass of air around the ther-
mometer had the high temperature indicated by it
while exposed to the radiation of the fire without
a screen, thus proving that the propagation by con-
tact (conducted heat) is not the only mode in which
heat travels, but that it is also transmitted in
straight lines as radiating heat through air, with-
out heating the latter to any extent.

Place two spherical concave mirrors t»f polished
metal at a distance of 10 or 12 feet, but so ihat the
axes of both mirrors fall upon the same line ; put
a piece of dry tinder in the focus of one of the
mirrors, and a burning coal in the opposite one,
that is 10 or 12 feet from the coal; the tinder will
soon ignite as if brought in contact with fire. It is
evident that the tinder in this case has not been
ignited by the intervening layers of air ; for
even if it were possible that these layers of air
had actually been heated to such a high degree by
contact with the burning coal, they could have
ascended vertically long before they could horizon-
tally reach the tinder.

Touching upon the principal conditions of ener-
getic radiation I think we were justified by facts in
saying, as we did, "a perfectly clear sky, which by
its deep azure tint gives proof of a pure transparent
atmosphere, not laden with any large quantities of
moisture and vapor;" for in this instance it is not
denied that the air, when transparent, may contain
moisture. But the cZe^p azure tint of the sky I
still hold as indicative of its containing no large
quantities of moisture. If clouds, or even rain,

■'^\J>.

^^^■C;-
^

204

§h^ ©Hrdrnrr's (SHonthln.

should be formed in such a sky, as Mr. Ta3'lor says,
it does by no means follow, that a surplus of mois-
ture was contaiood in it. It is more likely this
moisture, havinsr been convoj-ed there by warm
upper enrronts of the atmosphere, coniin? ftom
more .^-onthern latitude.'^,— for the air of the hiirher
re(?inns i? never at rest, as 1 had ample opportuni-
tie.« to observe during a residence of four years in
regions 6000 to 8000 feet above the level of the sea,
— a strong breeze may swiftly carry the clouds on-
w;in], while at the same time a perfect calm may
\ prevail below.

I In Venezuela, South America, T found that noth-

I ing can equal the deep azuro tint and transparency

of the atmosphere during the dry season, from the

! middle of December- to the end of March. As

'. soon, however, as the rainy season approaches, the

I azure of the sky becomes less intense, and is

chanced for a more or less uniform grayish tint.

In New Mexico, too, the absence of humidity gives

[ to its sky its noted transparency, for there the

i atmosphere is extremely dry, dew being almost

unknown, and crops cannot well be raised without

j irrigation. In our own latitudes we may witness

i the greater transparency and deeper azure of the

i sky immediately after a thunder shower.

j On page 9, in the January number of the

t Monthly, the word "horizons" ought to read

I "hnzines.s. "

! Tn niy article on dew I never said any thing in
i relation to " thawing," as Mr. Taylor a.sserts I did,
I where, on page 105, he speaks about crj'stals of
: frost. I spoke about the rays of the sun dispell-
I ing fog and dew, and said: "This process (of
cooling) continues until the rays of the sun strike
I the bi^ttom of that basin." Of course, every one
( knows that if they strike the bottom, they have to
I strike at the same time the crystals of frost, as
well as the grass covering that bottom.

It is also very plain that if air, cooled by radia-
tion of the slopes, glides down to the lower grounds,
it is bound to lift the warm air of the latter verti-
cally up to the more elevated regions, where the warm
air spreads, and affords protection to trees and plants.
The remarkable phenomenon in the valleys near
Alexandria, Va., cited by Mr. Taylor, is but
another beautiful illustration of what I .said on page
4.3, in relation to the accumulation of cold air in
basin-shaped vallej's

some localities be able to feel a warm current of air
coming from the valley, and in other places a cold
current flowing down.

On page 105 he says, water will not mix with
other fluids of different densities. But is nut
alcohol, for instance, of a different density fn m
that of water, and yet, does it not freely mix with
the latter fluid ? The specific gravity of absolute
alcohol is 0.791, that of water being 1000.

We live in an age of progress, and what u.se can
there be in trying to disprove with a few contra-
dictory conjectures, and with the old hypothesis,
long since abandoned, of light being a ponderable,
that which eminent men of genius, with indefatiga-
ble perseverance and })atience, have proved by the
most varied and ingenious experiments, to the
satisfaction and approval of the rest of the scien-
tific world.

@

WHEN DOES NEW BARK FORM, AND
OTHER ITEMS.

BY JOHN M. IVES, SALK.M, MASS.

An article with the above heading (in part) I
saw in your last issue, which reminded me of an
experiment which I made many years since upon
an apple tree. The rough bark was scraped off in
June very severely. I then covered the trunk with
cloth to prevent the sun from striking upon the
naked trunk ; this was kept on for about .six weeks,
when a new and smooth bark succeeded. This can
be done in June on all thrifty or healthy trees.

CUTTING THE NOTCH IN LAYERING.

You are right in layering, cutting the notch on
the upper side.

CAUSE OP MILDEW.

Dry air, I aru satisfied, is often the cause of
mildew, particularly in the Gooseberry. I have
never known Houghton's Seedling (which I first
sent to the west) mildew, except in a hot or dry
situation, as also the Scotch varieties.

TRANSPLANTING EVERGREENS.

Evergreens in our locality, we find, .should not be
transplanted early, — not until they begin to push,
say June or last of May.

BLACK KNOT.

I observe an article from our city of Salem, rela-
tive to the Black Knot on the Plum. This fruit
If in such situations a ther- ' was a specialty with me twenty years since, having
momcter be placed on the elevation and another in nearly fifty varieties in fruiting. The Jitth Turk or
the low part of the valley, it will be found that curculio was so troublesome that I had recour.se to
after 9, P. M., or sometimes sooner, the mercury what was considered a strong dose, in placing
in the valley begins to fall, while that on the hill . around my trees, on an acre, six hogsheads of
keeps stationary, or may even rise, and we may in , waste salt. This I put on in March ; when the

i^

ihi^ (Sard^n^r's Pontlilg.

205

frost was out, I then had it spaded in. The following
summer I had the largest quantity of Plums in our
county. A. J. Downing, who saw them, said in
his Horticulturist, that for this locality, not famous
for this fruit, it was a fine crop.

Ttie Black Knot hegan to infest the trees to such
an extent that I was induced to cut down tree after
tree, until they were about all exterminated ; for,
with all my experiments and investigations, I was
never able to divine the cause, and, like the potato
disease, I still believe it a mystery. All that can
be said of it is, as Governor Lincoln said of the
potato disease, " It is death to the Plum."

The extravasion of the sap was my first theory.
The insect theory was the next. The first I sur-
mised from this extravasion on the Swamp Azalea,
called here Swamp Apple. The insect theory was,
in consequence of never finding any trace of a
worm in these excresences, when in a cheese-like
Btate, until they become black.

[We should be pleased to hear from Mr. Ives
again. — Ed. ]

KORE ABOUT THE "BLACK KNOT."

BY MR. J. STAUFFER, LANCASTER, PA.

The article by " A Reader," in the June number,
leads me to throw out a few thoughts on that sub-
ject, which can do no harm, if they fail to be
satisfactory.

My observations on the "Black Knot" incline
me to the opinion that it is caused from prema-
turely mild weather in early Spring, starting the
sap, and then again checked by subsequent cold
and fro&ty winds.

The flow of sap thus arrested, becomes partially
ab.surbed, or its more aqueous portions evaporated,
leaving it to clog the delicate ti.ssue, so th.it when
the sap is again started, it meets with obstruotions,
a swelling and small fissure of the solid bark will be
the result, encouraging the extravasion of the
juices to this point, inducing a swelling and morti-
fication, otherwise the "Black Knot."

Sometimes the fissure is known to be produced
by frost, forming what is called a double alburnum ;
that is, first a layer that has been injured by the
Irost, and then a laj'er that passes into wood. Or
a sudden thaw may produce a partial disease on the
south side of the trunk, — this, followed by a sudden
frost, would but increase the evil.

The expansive force of the freezing sap, however
induced, is known to split the alburnum into clefts
or chinks; such injuries degenerate into a chil-
blain, that discharges a blackish and acrid fluid,

which becomes putrid by exposure to the lodgment
of snow or rain, and forms an excrescence or ulcer.

Ulcers of this kind will not heal of their own
accord, and no better remedy is known than to
shave them off neatly, and then to cover them with
grafting wax. If mixed with iron-rust or filings, I be-
lieve it would be still better.

The galls formed by the puncture of insects, and
which surround the eggs deposited by the parent,
are quite diff'erent in their structure, and their
juices are healthy and aid in hatching and feeding
the larvfe to its maturity ; indeed, some of their
galls (usually made in some vigorous part of the
plant) acquire a morbid degree of luxuriance, fre-
quently swelling to an immoderate size, and assuiu-
ing the most extraordinary shapes.

I agree with "A Reader" with the single excep-
tion, when he says: "We are inclined to think
that .some ingredient in the soil is the cause of
the mischief" I know there are peculiar condi-
tions of the soil when too wet or too rich, or
lacking an element needed in the composition of a
certain plant. Besides, there are peculiar vapors
arising from certain electric conditions of the at-
mosphere. Nevertheless, the views above given
have, in a measure, satisfied me on the cause of
the "Black Knot."

[We noticed the "knots" forming this year on
the 4th of May, — a month earlier than any date
we have here before recorded.

The only objection we see to our friend's theory
is, that the causes he points out have been in exist-
ence, like the causes of ulcers and chilblains, for all
time past, — whereas, the "Knots" are often un-
known in localities, until once taking pos.session of
the place, it seems impossible to eject them.

Having advocated the fungoid theory from the
first, we throw out these suggestions for our friends'
consideration. — Ed. ]

NATURE'S LAW OF GOLOES-HUMBUGS, &c

BY PETER HENDERSON.

I trust you will bear with me in again recurring
to this subject, but this time, in part, I beg your
indulgence to' make a personal explanation.

When I replied to Mr. Ferrand, in the April
number, it appears that I unconsciously wounded his
feelings when in illustrating my argument, I stated
that, about a dozen years ago, I had seen a" gentle-
man from France" attempt to sell some unusual
colored Roses that he had for sale. When I i^enned
that article I can assure Mr. F. that I did not
know that he was a Frenchman, — did not know

•(g<6 ^

G;

206

She C^ardener's .^^onthlp.

1

that his father ever sold Roses, or that he had a
father living at all, for that matter. And how he
came to imagine that I intended anything per.-onal
in the matter, I am utterl}' at a loss to conci;ive.

If I was unfortunate enough to show up the
rascallj' pranks of a man who hapitetied to be his
ecutirryinan, I disclaim all intention to hurt his
feelings therebj'.

Mr. Forrand thinks that that manner of " illus-
trating" my argument was entirely out of place in
di.-cus.-ing this subject of colors. I endeavored to
show you, by picturing that ease, that the diffusion
of more scientific kiiowlodge on this question would
render null the evils ari^ing from the operations
of such impudent scoundrels, and ihink this illus-
tration had a fair bearing on the case. And to
show you, Mr. Editor, that my previous sketch of
such swindlers was no fancy one, I enclose 3'ou the
printed Catalogue of another operator who Cyou
will see also) claims that his goods are "direct
from France" (I hope that Mr Ferrand will not
claim, nor disclaiiu kindred with this one) that
were sold on the 9th and lOih of May, of this year,
at No. 167 Broadway, New York, from whieh,
permit me to make the following extracts, — under-
stand that nearly all the lots were illu>trated by col-
ored plates, vividly representing the colors: "Lot
No. 10 is Monthly Rose, Prince Napoleon, ichitr, red
fiii{l ijtlhic.'' "Lot No. 21, Ih-pf'tital Moss JXo>e,
f/')l</tii yellow." "Lot No. 47 represents 3 varie-
ties of the Trumpet of the last Judgment." "Lot
No. 52 and 53 five varieties of the Hand of God."
"Lot No. 66 Yellow F}jrus and a Blue Azalea.
' ' Lot No. 1 53 Perpetual Moss Rose, golden yelloio,
stn)>ed violet." "Lot No. 237 three varieties of
the Great xMogul (?)" "Lot No. 257 Perpetual
Ro.<e, Great Turk, jet hlack." "Lot No. 329 is
jiarticularly interesting, embracing lilue I*yrus Ja-
poiiica, Blue Jessamine and a Yellow Deutzia."
" L<it No. 344 is a regular luouth-waterer, ' African
Cherry, 4 to the pound.' " " Lot No. 354 modestly
represents Perpetual Rose, General Scott, blue and
irhite."

Now is it to be wondered at, that the simple
Quakers of Pennsylvania, or the unsusj)icious
Dutch farmers of New Jersey are victimized by the
wine plant peddlers, when the sharp bu.-iness men
of New York are seen eagerly paying enormous
prices for such rubbi.sh as this ?

Had the gentlemen that formed that company
in the auction room at No. 167 Broadway on the
9th of May, been readers of the Gurdeners Monthly
for the past year, they would, no doubt, have saved
their money, — saved themselves from the ridicule

of their friends, and very po.ssibly have handed
that blaspheming scamp over to the jiolice. If we
wish to keep up our profession to the high standard
to which it properly belongs, we should do all in
our power to prevent it being disgraced by the
successful operations of such swindlers.

[The Catalogue sent by Mr. Henderson is a very
amusing one. We shall place it amongst otir
"Curiosities of Florticuhural Literature." Sorry
we cannot have some of the pictures also. — Ed. |

TREATMENT OP RASPBERRIES.

BY CriAULKS REKSE, BAI.TIMOllE, MD.

In rei)Iy to "J. H. F.," in May number, page
146, permit me to sa}', the remark, " Donot permit
any .swc/.ws to grmc/or a yenr or two," is intended
to apply only to small, weak plants, such as are
generally sent from the nurseries; and it is for the
purpose of otablisliing theiu firmly in their new
home, and strengthening the roots before they are
allowed to bear fruit. "If any blo.ssoms appear
cut them off," for even a small amount of fruit the
first year after transplanting exhausts a plant more
than three times the (juantity the second or third
year, and "encourage the growth of the laterals,"
becau.^e on them will be the fruit buds for the next
year's crop, and " cut them ba k to six inches,"
because that will leave quite as much fruit on them
as they can ripen thoroughly.

THE PRUIT GARDEN OP ISAAC B. BAXTER,
ESQ., PHILADELPHIA.

BY CHUONICLER.

I.saac B. Baxter, E q., has been for twenty-five
years one of the most skillful and succes.sful ama-
teur fruit-growers in Philadelphia; and the fact is
certifieil by the ninnerous prizes awarded to him
for best fruits annually by the Penn.^vlvania Horti-
cultural Society. His garden, at the corner of
Fifth Street and Wa.-<hington Avenue, is a model
orchard in its way, two hundred feet long and a
hundred and fifty-.six feet broad, including the
dwelling house and a tool and fruit-house. It is
stocked with fruit trees, grape-vines and small
fruits. The trees are so close that nearly all their
branches meet, but by a judicious annual pruning,
each tree is kept within certain limits, and they are
all remarkably fruitful. There are several P^spa-
liers, as well as standard trees. Pears are most
numerous, and next. Peaches, with several Plums
and Cherries, and a few Apricots, Nectarines and
Quinces. There are all the best varieties of native

ih^ dardener's cPlonthlg.

207

Grrapes and some foreign kind?, all loaded with
frail in tlie season when we naw them. Tliereisalsoa
glass vincrj' with foreign Grapes in full bearing.
The garden is layed out into beds and walks, and a
flower apartment in front of the bouse. The
ground is annually dug, manured, and cropped with
vegetables ; but the shade of the trees is almost
too much for them.

S

REC3PE FOR DSSTROYING INSECTS.

BY " E. A.," BRUNSWICK, N. J.

I have to day, received from a friend in England,
a recipe for destroying insects that infest plants
which is considered better than Gishurst com pound.

It is, boil J lb. Quassia chips in one gallon water
15 minutes, strain and add 4- lb. soft soap. Apply
with a brush.

WHENOS COMES FRAGRANCE IN THE
BLOOMS AND LEAVES OF PLANTS.

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

We think it comes from the composition of the
sap of plants, as it is present and absent in all colors,
and its very opposite is in many colors. Of white
bloimis, those of Magnolia glauca and venusta are
sweetly perfumed; those of Magnolia conspicua
and double blooming Cherry are scentless ; those of
Privet and nearly all the species of Philadelphus
are fragrant; while those of Deutzia, Viburnum
and Spirasa prunifolia, and Reevesii are inouorus.
Those of White Lily, White Narcissus and Sweet
Alyssum are sweet scented ; tho.se of white Crocus,
Snowdrop and white Candytuft are without smell ;
those of all the G-ardenias are highly perfumed ;
tliose of white Camellias are scentless; those of
white Horse Daisy have no smell ; those of Wild
Chamomile have a strong, detestable effluvia.

Of yellow blooms. Those of Barberry, Wall-
flower, Musk plants and yellow JNasturtium are
fragrant ; those of Kerria and Forsythia are inodo-
us; aid those of African and French Marigolds
have a heavy, offensive effluvia ; those of Cowslip
and Primrose in English pastures are sweetly per-
fumed ; those of yellow Ranunculus and St. Johns-
wort in American pastures have loathsome efflu-
vias; those of Olea fragrans and the night smel-
ling Jasmine are of a greenish yellow and very
sweet scented ; those of the European Linden tree
are a greenish yellow and sweetly perfumed ; those
of the Ailanthus are of the same color and their
effluvia is disgusting.

The blossom of the English Hawthorn is very
sweetly perfumed ; that of the American Hawthorn

is scentless, both are white ; Mignonette and Grape-
vines have green blooms very odoriferous ; Calycan-
thus blooms are brown and fragrant, so are the
leaves and stems ; Sweet-brier with pink blooms is
wholly sweet scented ; the blue, sweet Violet is
more fragrant than the white Violet; and the light
colored blooms of Heliotropium are sweeter per-
fumed than the blues; Epigaea repens is sweet
scented and the white Anen)one growing beside it
in the woods is inodorous; Daphne odora and Chi-
nese Honeysuckle have purple and white bloom.=,
and both are extiemely odoriferous; the white Jas-
mines are the most fragrant of their genus, so is
the Clematis flammula, also with white blooms.
Rose blooms of all colors are fragrant, so are those
of Haycinth and Gillyflower, and yet Camellia,
Chrysanthemum, Dahlia, &c. , have blooms of as
many colors, and all are scentless ; the purple
blooms of Lilac are as fragrant as the white ; Wis-
teria sinensis and frutescens are nearly alike in
form and color, the former is sweet scented, the
latter has no smell.

Of fragrant foliage the Anierican Arborvitje is
the only species of its genus that has sweet .scented
leaves, so it is with the Engli-sh Walnut tree; the
leaves of Arten.sia (Southern Wood), Aloysia citri-
odora and Cinnaniomum verus and campliota are
very fragrani ; and of Geraniums, the leaves of
Apple and Rose scented. Nutmeg, Pennyroyal and
Lemon scented are sweetly perfumed ; Monardia,
Balm, Mint and Thyme have all fragrant leaves ;
Brugmansia, Clerodendron and Rue have leaves of
repulsive effluvias.

In planting a flower bed, or embellishing a plea-
i'ure ground, or stocking a greenhouse or hothouse,
or making up a bouquet, care should be taken to
mix fragrance along with beauty. In all ornamen-
tal garden work fragrance should accompany beau-
ty every where, for then the beautiful looks more
lovely, and is more enchanting where the surround-
ing atmosphere is richly perfumed with fragrance.
Thus, fiagrance like virtue imparts grace to beau-
ty, and we love it more. The pleasant perfumes of
Carnation and Picotee Pinks give greater luster to
Sweet William and Columbine ; the sweet odors of
genus Narcissus make the fine markings of Tulips
more fascinating. The fragrance of Orange and
Lemon tree blooms add additional charms to those
of Calceolaria and Pelargonium.

^v^,^^

•'$^i'(

m

208

oL^^ (Sardtntr's ^IRonthlj.

C(k ^arhncr's lllontljhn

PHILADELPHIA, JULY, 1866.

£:^ All Communications for the Editor should be addrcsMed,
"TnoMAS MEF.nAy, Gennantown,Pli!ladclphia,"and Business Let.
ters directed to "W. G. P. Brisckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Torms of Snh.soription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertisin? see paee 33.

\ oluniei^ l,$l: 2. 3, 4, 5. (»,and ".unbound. $2 each.

PLAY GROUNDS FOR THE YOUNG.

AliiKisi all wlnj know any thing oriiDiuloii, know
of a fa^liionablc quarter of the city called ]\iU M<iU.
In the day-s of the "Merry Monarch" as Charles
11. is called, this was the jilay ground of the
members of the Court for a verj* popular game
Bince known as " Croquet." When the modern
name of Croquet was given to Pall Mall, or why
it was called Croquet at all. has not been decided
by tho.se interested in the philology of .sports, — but
the game itself has become veryj'opular in f^urope,
and is fast becoming an "institution" in this coun-
try, especially with the young.

'■ Especially with the young." We might all be
much younger than we are if we would only tliink
so. The fountain of perennial youtli which Ponce
de Leon left home, friend.*, ease and luxury to
discover in the the new world. — and paid with his
life the penalty of his dear attempt, — can be very
nearly found within the reach of all of us, at no
other expense than a little common sense.

Our great want is out-door occupations as a relief
from business, — "out-door .sports." Our national
fault in the education of our children, and in our
career as men and women, is the making of busi-
ness the chief end and object of all we teach and of
all we do. Time spent in "meaningless" recrea-
tion is " time lost." It is said " not to pa}'."

We read of strong Englishmen and rosy English
girl.s. We are told the secret lies in " out-door
exercise," — and we turn to our pale women and
dyKpef)tic men, — but they shake their heads and
say what will become of the work? It mu.st be
done." And .so year after year of our lives roll on,
whisperii;-' to us with each declining day "you are
growing oM " and receiving in turn the responsive
sigh "I '.vl-h I could be young again."

There i nothing like horticulture to make one
forget thi lujirch of time and keep one's affections
green. It '"does not pay" in money, — but it
" pays" in liappiness and health, and in affording

the divining rod which discovers the secret springs
of the fountain of youth as nearly as it is likely to
be found in this life.

In "out-door sports" horticulture sympathizes.
She is a twin sister, and with whom t-he is [iroud to
be .seen hand in hand together. She is not jealous
of the other's lover, but rather aids her to win him ;
though she may like to have a little " say" in the
details of her choice.

And, coming back to Croquet, we may say that
we regard the present prevalent rage for this little
game amongst the young folks as a iair sign of the
"good time coining" when Roses shall bloom on
fair American cheeks as well as in fair gardens, —
only, (and in the name of horticulture we must have
our ".say,") it would be best, if possible, that the
beauty of the lawn be not sacrificed for the croquet'
ground as we see it sometimes i.s. Nevertheless if
"father" does not provide a proper place for these
little recreations we would say to the j'oung folk.s
" play away" in the best place you can find.

We hope to see the time when a "play ground"
will be considered as much essential to a perfect
plan of a country place, as a stable or orchards.

In many places tracts large enough for cricket or
base ball could not perhaps be afforded, — but there
are few places which might not spare enough for
Croquet. A level spot, 40 by 50 feet is quite large
enough. If a little more it would be iiuich better,
as Weeping A.shes or small clumps of other suitalile
trees might be planted to form arbors, under the
shade of which they might .sit as spectators who
will feel that for them all stories of perennial youth
are but Indian tales. With a little art and skill
these playgrounds might be made as pnuty and in-
teresting as any part of the prettiest place.

MINERAL OILS FOR DESTROYING
INSECTS.

When engaged in the pot culture of fruit trees
many years ago, we employed coal tar smeared
round the stems near the ground to keep away
borers, mice, &c. , from Peaches, Plums and the
like, — always with success and never with injury.

We have .since seen well authenticated cases
where injury or even the death of the tree has resul-
ted from its use. and have had several times to warn
our readers against it. Whether there is a differ-
ence in the quality of the tar, or a difference in the
capacity of the plants to resist any injurious mat-
ter in the tar more at one time than another, is
more than we can say, but the injury is a fact.

We have had a similar experience recently in the

''^■/^;^

SFjje #ar(Uni!r's (plontjjlj.

209

use of coal oil. A large and varied collection of
greenhouse plants was about to be set out for the
rfumnier; some had a few thrips, others red spider
and others scaje, — and it was decided to get a large
tub of water and put in about a pint ot coal oil,
and dip each plant into the tub to clear it of any
insect that might be on. Of hundreds that were
dipped most of them are uninjured, and the insects
destroyed, — but a few kinds have their leaves badly
hurt. Fahiana imhricata a dozen plants have
been nearly killed. ArJisia crenulata^ dipped in
at the same time, entirely uninjured, and the same
curiously differing results more or less throughout.

The most curious instances are in the collection
of Azaleas. Three-fourths of them are uninjured,
most of the other fourth have the leaves spotted
here and there with brown, and a few have their
leaves entirely destroj'ed. So far as we can judge,
the amount of injury to the leaves depends on the
state of maturity, — but at any rate enough is shown
by this extensive experiment to prove that as in
the case of coal tar it is too dangerous an element
to be used without more knowledge or caution than
can always be given.

It is, therefore, proper that we should qualify
our_ remarks of last month by this additional ex-
perience. Mineral oils had better not be used, —
but vegetable or animal oils, so far as we have had
experience, may be used in all cases with perfect
security.

SPECIALTIES FOR SMALL GARDENS-
THE HOSE.

In our last we gave an excellent paper on stan-
dard Roses. This way of growing the Rose is near-
ly abandoned in this country. The action of the
sun on the stem in Summer, and of frost on the
head in Winter have been found in a series of
years unsurmountable obstacles. We think it quite
likely some way may be found by which these evils
may be removed, — and Mr. Ferrand's paper will
do much towards it.

It often seems to us, when we see every where
around us magnificent attempts at large gardening
on very small grounds, that much more satisfaction
would result if the owners would make a specialty
of some one plant, and endeavor to produce a great
variety of results from it. For this species of gar-
dening the Rose affords excellent materials.

The following cut from the London Gardener s
WeekJi/ gives a very good idea of a rose walk, one
of the most beautiful things possible in a garden.
As will be seen by the illustration, standard Roses
would be essential to such an arrangement; but,
taking for granted that we could not get satisfac-
tory results from them, we could make very good
substitutes by selecting very strong growing Hybrid
Perpetuals, and train them up posts with a single
or even more stems to the desired height, and then
head them off, which would make quite as good

210

®h4 (iardcncr's ^ontjjln.

plants as the common budded standards. We have
seen some excellent Baronne Prevosts this season
trained in this way ; and, to make a dozen complete
we add the names of eleven others that may be
grown on the same system : —
General Jacqueminot, John Hopper,
Jules Margottin, La Esmeralda,

Comtesse de Montvliet, Md'lle. Bonnaire,
Imperatrice Eugenic, Louis Bonaparte,
Beauty of Waltham, Anna ^VlexiefF.

Alexandrine Bachmeteff,

There are many kinds of Hybrid Perpetual Roses
which grow quite dwarf, — these would make good
half standards for a Rose border ; a dozen of these
might be : —

Dr. Arnal,

Youland d'Arragon,

Sydonie,

Ed. Desfosses,

Monsieur Robert,

Caroline de Sansal.

Paxton,
"S'irginalo,
Adele Mauze,
Coronet,
Madame Boll.
Madame Rivers,

For the front of this border any of the Bourbon
or China Roses answer admirably.

For permanent belts or borders there is nothing
like the hybrid perpetual class, — quite as hardy as
the old June or Summer Roses, quite as beautiful,
and with a little management, have the superior at-
tractions of successions of bloom through the whole
Summer and Autumn months.

It was fashionable once to deplore the fact that
the beautiful hybrid China Rose was neglected for
the modern Hybrid Perpetual, many of which, so it
was argued, flowered no oftener than they, — and
we are sorry to say no modern writer on the Rose
has thought it worth while to examine the reasons
for these regrets, but repeats them in regular rou-
tine. Supposing they do not flower quite as freely
as we might like them to do through Summer and
Fall, they are as good as any of the Hybrid Chinas,
even viewing them entirely as Spring bloomers.
John Hopper, Comtesse Cecile de Chabrilliant, or
even Baron Prevost, will certainly equal, at any
time, Brennus, Blairii or Couj) dllebe among the
best of the Hybrid Chinas.

To have these H. P. Roses flower profusely in
Fall it is best to cut off the flowers as fast as they
fade, and to cut them several eyes down from th^
old bud. This forces out a new, young growth,
which is to bear the later flower.s. Where very
fine flowers are desired in Fall, some of the young
shoots may be shortened back before flowering,
sacrificing, as we do with Raspberries, at times the
whole fruit crop, for a later advantage. By a little

study a knowledge of this art of pruning may be
attained, so that one may prune back just at the
time to produce the flowers at any exact future
time, when good blooms may be particularly de-
sired.

Some Hybrid Perpetual Roses bloom naturally
more freely in the Fall than others, and we have
thought to name a dozen good ones of this class
might not come amiss, they might be : —
Madame Vane, Joseph Yernct,

" Charles Wood, Marquis d'Ailsa,
Dr. Arnal, General Washington,

Souv. des Anges, Geant des Battailles,

Prince Albert, Madame Pigeron,

William Jesse, Monte Christo.

In making collections of Roses for special i)ur-
poses the Connoisseur will notice several sub-classes
of Hybrid Perpetuals, with which, by arranging
each, all by themselves, he may make sonic strik-
ing effects. There is a section which have largo,
broad petals like old fashioned Poppies, for a dozen
of which we might name : —

General Jacqueminot
IMons. Robert,
Madame Boutin,
Louis Bonaparte,
Charles Lefebvre,
Jacques Lafitte, '

Again, a beautiful section

SolfaterreH. P.,
Comtesse de Montvliet,
Christian Puttner,
Hector Jacquin,
Eugene Sue,
Madame Emain.

is the round, broad

petalcd, cupped and comjiact Roses, of which take
for a dozen : —

Comtesse Cecile de Cha

brillant,
Jules Margottin,
General Simpson,
L' Enfant du Mont

Carmel,
Madame Knorr,
Society of Horticulture,

Mad. Campbell d'lslaj',

Madame Boll,
Auguste Mie,
Geant des Battailles,

Lord Raglan,
Eugene Ajipert.
Another very ])retty section is that which has a
few broad petals around the outside, and the inner
part of the flower comprised of numerous small,
irregular petals, — twisted about without order or
method, and just the thing for those gentlemen
whose taste leads them to regard the rugged ugli-
ness of the branches of the Oak to be the greatest
beauty of the tree, — or for those ladies who esteem
a pretty bonnet in proportion as its floral dressings
are arranged the most "lop sidedly." To select a
dozen of these, take

Crj'stal Palace,
Pius IX,
Lilace,

Marquis d'Ailsa,
Dr. Arnal,
Madame Damesne,

)^

%^t €uknu M^^^k*

211

L'EnfantduMontCarmel, Montaigne,

Paxton, Duchess of Cleveland,

Youland d'Arragon, Sydonie.

A most beautiful object on a small place is a
bank of Roses, where there is a wall it may be ar-
ranged against that, — but the loveliest eflfect is
produced by making it in the convex bend of a
walk. The bank should be higher than the line of
sight so that no one could see over it, and slope off
not to steeply towards the walk. The concave side
of the bank (its back) should be very thickly plan-
ted with beautiful iJowering Shrubs, and the plant-
ing of the grounds be so arranged that an occa-
sional glimpse of these Shrubs should be caught
from some opposite part of the grounds. The idea
that you are approaching merely a shrubbery, is
agreeably" changed for the Rose bed when the
visitor comes to it, — and the Roses will seem abso-
lutely more charming for the surprise.

In some parts of the grounds set beds of Roses
may be adopted after some pretty designs, many of
which suited to this purpose we have, from time
to time, given in the Gardeners Montlihj. Teas,
Chinas and Bourbons are best for such beds. One
kind selected for each bed, and neatly pegged down
£0 that not any of the earth may be visible.

A dozen for this purpose might be : —
Aggrippine, Madame Bosanquet,

Cels, Souv. de Malmaison,

Bougere, Saffrano,

Madame Bravay, Devoniensis,

White Daily, Pink Daily,

Hermosa, Louis Philippe.

Though naturally tender, these Roses are easily
protected when in beds. Dry leaves maybe strewn
in through the pegged down shoots, andjustenough
soil be sprinkled on to keep the leaves from being
blown away, — or branches of evergreens may be
used for spreading over, and a little soil thrown
over them. The worst of all protecting material
is straw or manure, which, decaying rapidly, com-
municates the same process to the Rose shoots,
and is more destructive than a moderate frost
would be.

Jl3^ Communications for this department must reach the Editor
on or before the 10th of the month.

Jn^The Editor cannot answer letters for this department pri-
vately.

The Red Spider Remedy — ^^ Ignoramus'''
writes: — "For red spider in greenhouses take a

tin vessel, — put in it 1 quart of lime and 2 hands-
ful of sulphur, then fill it full of water and put the
vessel on the flue near the fire {not spread)^ always
keep it full of water, and from time to time add
more sulphur."

Muscat Troveron Grape. — We have received
from Mr. Brooks, gardener to J. D. Cameron, Esq.,
of Harrisburg, Pa., a few samples of Nectarines, to
judge if the names be correct, which they all ap-
pear to be, — and we may take the opportunity to
compliment the grower on the superiority of the
productions. The Muscat Troveron Grape was a
splendid bunch for a pot vine, weighing 1 lb. 4 ozs.
The plant we are informed having 4 other similar
bunches on it. The flavor is rather of the Frontig-
nan than Muscat.

The range of houses at Mr. Cameron's were built
entirely under the superintendence of Mr. Brooks,
from plans furnished by a gentleman of Phila-
delphia,— and are probably the finest in the State.
The success of the houses, and the crops growing
in them do credit alike to the skill of the gardener,
jNIr. Brooks, and the liberality and taste of Mr.
Cameron.

Winter on Evergreens in St. Louis— A
Correspondent says: — "The past Winter was not
as severely cold as at Philadelphia, but the frosty
nights and scorching sun of March was sadly in-
jurious.

Podocarpus and Torrej'a tasifolia, killed.

Cupressus Lawsoniana, Cryptomeria japonica.
Thuya Lobbii, Tasus adpressus, slightly injured.

Juniperus Langoldii and other Junipers quite
fresh and uninjured.

Have great trouble with the Oaks — some of the
Q. cerris and Q. raacrocarpa have died, but am
perservering to have the Quercetium as comj^lete
as possible."

Correspondence on Pears— J. S. J., Salem,
Mass. — " When your magazine was in quarto form,
there was fvrtieles from some writer upon the Dwarf
Pear culture which were the best I have ever seen.
Why do we not hear more from him ? I have not
the numbers before me, I think his name began
withB."

[Bright was one of the most talented of our cor-
respondents,— but he has dropped out of the horti-
cultural constellation, and is now a wandering star,
either amongst the Mormons or some other border
Territory, we do not know exactly where.]

^ 212

Stk C^ardfiicr's (plonthlu.

^ '(0)

Budding the Grape-vine — A Corrcspon<Jn}t
from Diindnff, Pa., asks: — " Can the new or culti-
vated varieties of the Grape be successfully budded
on the native Grape-vines, as I have n quantity I
wish to bud the coming season. At about what
time is best to bud the vine."

[We have never known any one succeed in bud-
ding the Grape-vine. If any of our readers have
we should be pleased with an account of the success.]

Express Charges. — As the season is com-
mencing when our correspondents send us speci-
mens of fruits for name, comparison or other pur-
poses, and usually pre-pay the freight on them, —
we may remind them that the surest way to save us
from paying the freight over again, as we have
often had to do, is to mark the box themselves
'■'■ Paid through to Germantoicn/^

Hardy Rare Siirurs near Bo.ston — Airxmts
Inquirer, Xtw Haven, 6^o?(?i., writes : — " Ilaving
lately added to my collection the following Shrubs,
for the open ground, I should be much obliged if
you can inform me whether they are hardy in this
latitude, or what degree ot protection any of them
may require :

"*Golden and Silver Yews, *Berbcris Boalii,
*Berberis japonica, Berberis Darwinii, Ilex lauri-
folia, Ilex Scotica, *Ilex opaca, *Andromeda Cates-
biana, *Andromeda floribunda, Cryptomeria japon-
ica, *CupressusLawsonii, *Deciduous Cypress, Por-
tugal Laurels, *llose acacia, Euonymus gold and
silver striped, *Jasminum nudiflorum, Jasminum
involuta, Jasminum white, Jasminum Chrysan-
themum ; English hardy Heaths, vagans, vulgaris,
ciniera.

" I have Sargent's edition of Downing, but it is
not entirely satisfactory as to the above plants."

[Those we have marked * will prove hardy with
you, the others not. ]

A Correspondent /roOT Wolcoff, Wayne Co.,
iY Y., returned from the v:artvilh " Cavalry Sheri-
dan," writes: — "I have delayed sending my sub-
scription for a long time, not because I did not
expect to send for the Monthly, but a small thing
you can do one day as well as another often gets
delayed, so in sending for the Monthly. I hope the
G. M. will ever hold as prominent a place with the
horticulturists as it has in the past.

" I have set a vineyard the past Spring of a few
hundred vine^. I have a young Apple orchard of

300 trees set for fruit, and yet I expect to extend.

" The fruit crop looks promising in Western New
York. Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plums, Cherries,
and Grapes are setting finely. The Currant worm
is still at work. But as an offset there is an in-
creased attention being paid to Strawberries and
Raspberries so that the supply is largely on the in-
crease from year to year. Black Naples Currants
are coming more into use, as they are fine for jelly,
tarts and pies, the worm does not trouble them as
they, in the raw state, liave an odor not in liking
with his smell or taste, &c."

QuERCUS Pyrajiidalis — Mr. Fcrrand supplies
the foUou:ing intere.'iting note: — "I notice what you
wrote on Quercus pyramidalis in Monthly; there is a
large specimen of this sjtecies in my father's ground
gives seeds freely, which reproduces the pyrami-
dal form ninety times in the hundred, the balance
returning to the common oak form."

Down in Eastern Tennessee — A Coi-i-espon-
dent, near Chattanooga, writes: — "I have un-
dertaken a good large ' steut' (?) but ho])e by the
blessings of Providence to succeed, for th'jt is what,
in this practical age, gives value to man's efforts to
improve, especially where innovations upon estab-
lished usages and customs are introduced.

It Joe5 seem difficult f jr these people to under-
stand how it is that I have taken hold of a tract of
their ' thin' worn out land, that has been cropped
for 25 years without om-e seeding down or manur-
ing, and made such splendid growth of 'garden
truck' as now graces my naturally beautiful grounds.

"Cabbage heading finely without fertilizers;
Onions large enough for early market ; Peas noio in
use; Tomatoes as large as Lima Beans; Lettuce
heads big as your hat, and Radishes to match, &c.,
(fcc, in oj->en border ivithout manure (indeed I found
none on the premises) Sweet Potatoes, vines 2 feet
long and growing like fun. Oh, don't get weary
now. I very seldom ' l)ore' you, but tliey do talk
a ' deal' about that ' Yankee' at Spring Garden
over in ' Co-oa-hul-las' and I hope it will not be in
vain.

" I have i)lanted Monitor, White Sprout, Good-
rich's Seedling, Cuzco and Garnet Chili's in this
poor place and the tops are out-running me — 2 feet
long — (soil gravelly loam and clay subsoil) shall
I ' mow them off' as some cultivators direct, or
Met'm grow !' Shall I 'roll a barrel' over my hig
Onion tops to make them ' bottom freely?"

[The last is good. We do not know for potatoes. J

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The Chili Strawberuy — A Tennessee Corres-
pondent says, — "J. M. W., asks for 'the peculiar
excellencie.s' of the Chili Strawberry. I have culti-
vated it — comes (uiifuUi/ reconunendcd, and I found
it an awful grower. Fruit very large, of tolerable
quality, only not much of 'em. Better suited to the
soil and climate of Georgia perAa^^s. "

Sulphur for Ants — A Cleveland Correspon-
dent says : — " I have tried the ' sulphur' for ' Ants
in Hotbeds' heretofore, and am happy to say it
does the work."

Fruit Prospects in West JIilton, Ohio— i.
S. 31., writes: — "Our past Spring has been very
unlike that of last year. Very dry and cold, the
frost continuing to make its returns up to the close
of last month, and cutting down tender vegetables,
&c.

" The prospect of fruit in this county (Miami) is
not at all flattering. Cherries will be ' few and far
between,' Pears very scattering, Peaches and Plums
'nix cum rouse,' but Apples are setting better,
some trees are full. We hope to have more this
year than we have had for 3 years past* to supply
the lack in other fruit. Some of our more tender
Cherry trees are killed out-right by last Winter's
cold. We'll have near half crop wheat; — the freeze
and H. fly nearly destroyed it."

Preparing Roses for Winter Bloom— C E.
D., Fawtucket, R. J., asks: — "Shall I cut my
Rose bushes, that are to bloom next Winter, close
to the ground now ?' '

[Good strong, healthy wood is very desirable for
Winter flowering. If they had been cut earlier it
would have helped strength, — but to cut down
much at this season will probably weaken, and pro-
duce unripe wood which will not flower well.]

Japan Sophora and Virgilta lutea — J. G.
Z>. , King of Prussia, Fa., asks: — "Please in-
form a subscriber through the Gardener s Monthly
if the Japan Sophora is hardy in our latitude,
what its good qualities are as an ornamental tree,
also if it has blossomed, to your knowledge, in this
country or Europe, and what kind and color the
flowers are.

" Please inform me in like particulars in regard
to the ' Virgilia lutea. ' ' '

*That seedling sweet Apple I sent thee specimens of last
Fall is again full of fruit (a fine Apple), so are some other
seedlings.

[The Virgilia has long racemes of white flowers,
somewhat resembling the Locust. Its name lutea
is derived from the color of the wood. It is not
uncommon about Philadelphia, in flower ; a large
tree of Sophora once existed in the Bartram gar-
den. Flowers similar, but smaller, to Virgilia.
Both are very ornamental trees in themselves inde-
pendent of their blossoms."

OBITUARY.

TIIURLOW W. BROWN.

The editor of the Wisconsin Chief, an excellent
Horticulturist, and a valuable occasional correspon-
dent of this journal, died on the 5th of May, in his
47th year.

It was never our good fortune to meet Mr.
Brown, — but sj'mpathizing with him strongly in
his temperance labors, through feeling how little
use we might have been to the community but for
such labors as his by others in times past, — and
always reading his pleasant letters laden to over-
flowing with a love of nature and the good of his
his fellow-man, we looked forward pleasantly to the
time, now never to be, when we might meet face
to face.

Mr. Brown took a great interest in the success
of the Gardener's Monthly. When on lecturing
tours, generally at his own expense, he seemed to
lose no opportunity of helping us; for subscriptions
through him this way were frequent. For three
months before his death, as we learn from a notice
in his journal, he wrote but one letter and that we
received a little while before his death — des])on-
dent about his health, but yet giving us no idea
that his complaint was dangerous.

Over work in the cause of humanity has been
fatal to our friend, — and yet it is better to depart
feeling that a short life has not been spent in vain,
than that the spot which once knew us in a longer
one, shall not only " know us no more forever,"
but not miss us either. We part with our friend
feeling that not only the temperance cause in which
he sijecially worked has suffered, but that by his
death horticulture and our readers have lost like-
wise.

MR. n. K. potter.
A singular casualty recently occurred at Grafton,
Mass., by which Mr. H. K. Potter, a gentleman
well known to many citizens of Worcester as an ac-
tive member of the Horticultural Society, lost his
Hfe. He had been for some time engaged in sink-
ing large stones that lay around on his farm, and

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hail finallj- come to the last one, a huge horulder,
weighing perhaps two tons or more. He was en-
gaged all the morning of Friday in digging a large
hole by the side of it and partially under it, when
the rock fell, crushing him against the side of the
cavity, and probably causing instant death.

^mh, (Jehlogups, %*n

Cultivation of the Grape. By W. C. Strong.
Boston : J. R Til ton c't Co.

This is another of the beautiful works for which
Tilton & Co. have become so famous, — and in this
instance the book is worth the attention the pub-
li.«hers have given to it.

Mr. Strong is well known as an intelligent Grape
grower, and with that happy judgment which
selects subjects interesting to the public and at the
same time entirely within the knowledge and con-
trol of the writer, always manages to attract in-
terest to any thing he undertakes.

In this volume Grape culture is brought down to
the present state of Grape knowledge. Every thing
that has been written in reference to the subject
seems to have had Mr. Strong's careful study, and
to have been compared with his own experience, —
so that while furnishing a guide to the Grape
grower, he gives him at the same time an Encyclo-
poedia of the whole subject.

Grapes and Wine. By George Husmann, of
Hermann, Mo. New York : Published by
Messrs. Geo. E. & F. W. Woodward.

This little book is refreshingly original. It is
the practical experience of a very successful Vine-
yardist, in one of the most .successful regions of the
far West. It is a detail of the practice of one who
has been succes.sful, without reference to any other
better or wor.sc ways of other people. Of course a
work of this kind will excite controversy as the
practices of no two cultivators exactly coincide, —
but so far as we can judge, at this distance from
the field occupied by the author, all his positions
are sound in the main.

Mr. II. is an advocate of sugaring wines under
certain circumstances ; and he seems to us who
have no partiality either way, and may thus per-
haps be con.sidered a disinterested judge in the con-
troversy now raging between the two wine clas.ses,
to make out his case conclusively. What nature is
occasionally deficient in, he would supply to bring
her up to her usual position.

In his description of varieties of Grape many will
think that his condemntitions and praises are too
sweeping, and tinctured somewhat with personal
prejudices. He docs not hesitate to write praisingly
of a variety he received from "a warm-hearted
friend" which he has "fruited only once," — while
of another variety, the raiser of which "did not
deal liberally with him though he offered a dollar
an eye," he cannot give a good opinion because he
"fruited it only once." We do not think that
these little matters have in the least affected Mr.
H.'s judgment, — but those who do not know him
will regard them su.?piciously, and he would have
therefore served his own cause by leaving them out.

Transactions of the Miciiioan State Board
OF Agriculture, for 1865.
From Sanford Howard, Esq., Secretary of the
Board. The transactions of this Society always
have the good fortune to be very interesting and
valuable, — and this volume equally so with its pre-
decessors. As special!}' referring to horticulture, we
learn that the Apple crop last j'car in Michigan,
though not abundant, was the most profitable one
ever known. The Peach crop was limited to a few
favored localities along Lake Michigan. In the
central part of the State however in some places
in the garden of Mr. M. Yawger for instances
abundant crops of the finest varieties were obtained.
Pears generally did well. The Pear blight occa-
sionally made its appearance. The Plum is gene-
rally over-matched by the curculio. Grapes are
annually increasing in the State, they are troubled
a little by the rot. Cutler and Savidge of Mill
Point had an estimate of four tons from half an
acre — chiefly Isabella, Catawba and Concord. S.
0. Knapp, Esq., of Jackson, is recorded as one of
the most successful Pear orchardists. His collec-
tion embraces about 500 bearing trees. He is a
practicer of screening his orchard from winds. He
uses for this purpose native Thorns, Hemlock and
Arborvitae.

Practical and Scientific Fruit-Culture. —
By Charles 11. Baker. Boston : Lee & Sheppard.
Mr. Baker is a young nursoryn)an, managing
partner in tlie Dorchester nurseries, and a nephew
of Hon. M. P. Wilder. Intelligent, and with a
praiseworthy ambition to be of service to horticul-
ture, we feel that he will some day be a very useful
member of the Horticultural fraternity. We say
this much in behalf of Mr. Baker's motives, ob-
jects, and capabilities, because strict justice compels
us to say that the present work is a failure, and we

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have no doubt Mr. Baker in future years will him-
self feel it to be so.

He tells us in the preface that Mr. Wilder is not
responsible for the "peculiar" sentiments of the
work, which we can readily believe ; and he ex-
presses a regret that Mr. Wilder' s illness did not
permit him to "revise the manuscript." We also
regret it, as we are quite sure he would have ad-
vised a suspension of publication until our young
friend had better digested what was due to horti-
cultural literature, to contemporary authors, and to
the credit of the horticultural community.

Mr. Baker could scarcely have read Barry's Fruit
Garden, and other contemporaneous works, or he
would have seen so far as he has developed any thing
in this work, that he has nothing to say not already
better told. He gives a long list of works relating
to the subject, from Jethro Tull to Knight and
Loudon, to whose old-fashionad notions, picked up
in another and different climate, he acknowledges
his indebtedness, but he seems completely to ignore
all his fellow-laborers in the same field.

To Mr. Baker's youthful inexperience as to the
proprieties of authorship also, rather than to an
obtuse moral feeling, do we attribute the whole-
sale appropriations of the labors of others, evi-
dently without any application for their consent,
which the volume exhibits. Fitch on Insects,
Berkeley on Fungi, French on Drainage, and Barry
on Varieties of Fruits, (from American Pomologi-
cal Society's Catalogue,) have been seized on by
the strong hand.

Of the latter, one-eighth of the tohole hooh is an
exact copy. French's Drainage is made to con-
tribute about 36 pages, and other authors in less
proportion. The very audacity with which Mr.
Baker acknowledges these appropriations, satisfies
us that he could not have supposed there was any
thing improper in the proceeding.

We pass over the peculiarities of style and of
grammar ; the misapprehension of scientific princi-
ples and consequent erroneous deductions from
them ; the illogical conclusions from well-known
principles ; and the unfortunate recommendations
of useless English practices for American cultiva-
tors ; as, in view of other circumstances, hardly
worth the criticism.

The writer of this notice has a warm personal
friendship for Mr. Baker, and only his public duty
as a reviewer could induce him to write thus of a
work the author of which he esteems. And al-
though this maiden effort has proved a failure, we
are sure the author is capable of better things,
which the public, we hope, will benefit by in the
future.

®.Ftn enb P.erp planfs.

215

Thujopsis dolabrata. — Of this still rare and
beautiful Evergreen Mr. Francis Parkman hands
us the following note of its behavior the past winter:

"This beautiful Japanese Evergreen has proved
with me hardy to a degree far above my expecta-
tions. Two plants of it have stood here in an open
situation for three Winters without injury, re-
ceiving no other protection than that of two or
three pine boughs thrust into the earth around
them. The past Winter has proved, in this neigh-
borhood, very fatal to Evergreens, and has killed
back Hemlocks and Arborvittes in abundance ; but
not a single frond of the Thujopsis was even
browned. Another plant of the same species stands,
in a most thriving condition, on a bed of Rhodo-
dendrons, where it was planted three years ago
when not above four inches in height. It has
never suffered in the least from the Winter, and
has now reached the height of a foot or more.

"Both varieties, the variegated and the plain,
seem equally enduring. With respect to that
other singularly beautiful Japanese Evergreen,
Retinospora pisifera aurea, I am not inclined to
judge so favorably. It has been badly killed back
even in a cold frame ; but its beauty is so great,
especially when its young buds are opening, that it
is well worth all the pains that may be necessary to
shelter it."

The following plants have recently been figured
in Hooker's Botanical Magazine : —

Habranthus PULGENs(Brilliant Habranthus). —
Nat: ord., Amaryllideas. Linn., Hexandria Mo-
nogynia. Native of tropical and southern extra-
tropical America. Flowers scarlet, with yellow cen-
tre and tube. Introduced by Messrs. Backhouse,
York.— t. 5563.

Dendrobium dixanthum (Double-tinted Yellow
Dendrobium). — Nat. ord., Orchidacese. Linn.,
Gynandria Monandria. Native of Moulmein. In-
troduced by Messrs. Low & Co., Clapton. There
are two tints of yellow in the flowers. — t. 5564.

Gladiolus papilio (Butterfly-flowered Gladio-
lus).— Nat. ord., Iridaceaj. Linn., Hexandria
Monogynia. From the Cape of Good Hope.
Flowers various tints of pink, yellow and purplish
crimson. — t. 5565.

Peristrophe lanceolaria (Lance-leaved Peris-
trophe). — Nat. ord., Acanthaceae. Linn., Dian-
dria Monogynia. Native of Moulmein. Herbace-
ous. Flowers pale purple. — t. 5566.

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Cultivation and Varieties of Raspberries
FOR Markct.— J. p. Willits, of the firm of Willits
Bro's. Buchanan, Michigan, who has had 10 years'
experience in raising small fruits for the Chicago
market, writes to the Prairie farmer :

" (3ur new plantation of Raspberries we are put-
ting in rows 5 feet apart each way, which enables
U3 to run the cultivator both waj-s. But we re-
commend when land is high priced, as in the vici-
nity of Chicago, to plant 5 feet, by 2^ in the row;
then, after the second crop of fruit is off, remove
ever}- other plant, leaving them 5 by 5.

" When canes have thrown a growth of 4 to 5
feet, pinch them off, wliich causes them to thicken
up, whereby they will support themselves without
stakes or trellises, besides the fruit is much finer.

The Doolittle Improved Black Cap is the only
variety we are planting to any extent for market, it
being perfectly hardj', and standing our coldest
Winters without protection , flesh hard, which ena-
bles it to bear carriage, of large size and an abun-
dant bearer. It does not sucker from the roots,
but is propagated by covering the ends of the canes.
August and September is the time to propagate
them.

" We are cultivating, though in a small way, the
Purple Cane, Miami, Catawissa, Briuckle's Orange
and American Black Cap."

The Evergreen Cfterry.—" Since my previ-
ous letter to you respecting the Evergreen Cherry
I have learned that the plant is very difficult to
transplant. In fact that it cannot be removed from
the nursery as young trees (fruit trees) usually are.
All Evergreens, I believe, are attended with the
like trouble. On this point though you will be
better posted than I. I am told that the young
plants are here kept in pots until ready for sale,
and then planted without disturbing the roots.
Sm.ill plants sell for .$2 each. The jyrice and diflB-
culty of transplanting accounts for the paucity of
this species of hedge in this countrj'.

If you can plant the seeds directly alongside of a
straight fence (say the front of a lawn), it would be
the ea'^iest method of establishing a hedge that
would be most brilliant and superb, and at the same
time serve as a rare and striking advertisement.

" Some young plants that I examined a few days
since showed a complete lack of fibres at the roots
— striking straight down into the ground. The
«;nil was a s'nvrhj, sanchj^ vrry sandy loam !

"Despite this drawback to the hedge cherry, for
feucinff purposes it will still be a great acquisition
to the nursery. By chopi>ing the roots in the
ground a few times I presume it may be made to
throw out laterals sulEciently to transitlant without
the use of pots.

" And I cannot but think that if the young plants
were taken up and imddhd, and kept moist until
set in the hedgerow, that they would live. Espe-
ciall}^ if this were done on a cloudy or wet day, or
in the night. I have .succeeded thus with young
Cedars from the bluffs, after Aiiling with less care.

"The opinion is entertained here that it will be
able to withstand the frosts of the States, If it
proves otherwise, the fact will be greatly to be de-
plored. For, without considering it as a hedge
plant, it is calculated to form a striking contrast to
the prevailing trees and shrubs of the lawn during
the Summer, and in Winter a most agreeable relief
to the monotony that Pines, Firs and Cedars pre-
sent.

"I do not desi)air, though, of the Cherry being
extensively used as hedge. I huve an abiding faith
that, with the requisite care, it may be transplanted,
though not as clicaply as the Osage Orange. But
let any man of taste once behold a fence of it, and
woe be unto him until he can have such a fence
himself! His i)eace of mind will be gone to a cer-
tainty. A terrible aflflictiou is in store for this
wicked generation (Chcrrj' fence on the brain) un-
less Jack Frost happen to nip it in the bud. And
had cess to him if he do !

"I regret that I cannot give you the botanical
name of the plant, but I will endeavor to do so at
some future time." — P. S. BuuNES, in Coleman s
Rural World.

[This is the (Jerasus ilicifoliiis. It is a beautiful
thing and has been tried in the Germantown Nur-
series where it does not stand the Winter, — but
would no doubt further south. — Eo. Gr. M.]

Horticultural Enterprise in the United
States and C.'\.nai).\. — No one can even glance
through the columns of the rural journals published
in the United States, without being struck with the
evidence they furnish as to the activity of mind
and business energy which are being jiut forth in
the department of horticulture. Floral novelties,
new fruit seedlings or hybrids, ornamental shrubs,
for which distant parts of the earth has been ran-
sacked, rare seeds and choice bulbs never before
heard of, arc constantly ])ressing into notice ; and
while, of course, many of them are mere pretenders

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to excellence, and trumpeted forth for money-
making purposes, it cannot be gainsayed that we
have obtained some very vahiable horticultural ac-
quisitions from our neighbors across the lines. In
Strawberries and Grapes alone, American horticul-
turists have greatly distinguished themselves. Of
the former, it is only necessary to name Wilson's
Albany Seedling, a treasure of untold value to the
gardeners, professional and amateur, of this conti-
nent. A little acid, it has, nevertheless, qualities
which place it immeasurably in advance of all com-
petitors thus far. Yet this magnificent berry will
doubtless, ere long, be surpassed by some of the
seedlings which enthusiastic horticulturists are test-
ing in their grounds. Of Grapes, we have several
most valuable varieties. The originator of the Con-
cord, Mr. Bull, of Concord, Mass., has lived to see
his vine planted by millions from Maine to Minne-
sota. Dr. Grant, of New York, and Mr. Rogers, of
Salem, Mass., have also achieved important
triumphs in Grape seedlings and hybrids. The
Grape for America has, however, yet to be pro-
duced,— if, indeed, our fellow-countryman, Mr.
Arnold, of Paris, has not already accomplished
what so many have long been aiming at, — the com-
bination of the luscious flavor of a glass-grown
Grape, with the hardiness of an out-door vine.
Hon. M. P. Wilder, of Boston, Mass., — very high
authority — in a letter that we have seen, expresses
the opinion that Mr. Arnold's will prove the Grape
of this continent, and that posterity will "cherish
the name and bless the memory" of its originator.
To all which we heartily respond, "So mote it
be!" When it is considered that thousands of
seedlings must be grown and tested ere a single
variety worth any thing is obtained, and also
that the process of hybridizing is a xery slow and
difficult one, some idea will be formed of the
amount of thought and labor necessary to the pro-
duction of any real acquisition to our horticultural
treasures. While our American neighbors are busily
engaged in the search for novelties and improve-
ments in the regions of floral and shrub beauty,
they are especially diligent in the realm of fruit.
They have produced Apples, Pears, Peaches,
Plums and Cherries, that leave nothing further to
be desired. In the department of small fruits they
have been very assiduous, and have succeeded in ob-
taining a gooseberry that defies the mildew, — that
bane of imported gooseberries, — some valuable
blackberries, the Rochelle and Kittatinny, the former
a great success in the ]Midland States, and the
latter hardy enough for the most northerly situa-
tion?. It is questionable if any country on earth

be better supplied with fruit in variety and succes-
sion than is the United States at the present time.

These brilliant successes would not have been
achieved but for the existence, in pretty considera-
ble development, of horticultural tastes among the
people. There has been a healthy demand for every
thing really valuable, whether it be for ornament or
use. Eminently a practical people, the Americans
are, nevertheless, an testhetic people. They are
often extravagant in their outlays for matters of
taste, ornament and displaj'. They cultivate the
beautiful, in dress, furniture, and the surroundings
of their homes. Were there not a demand for the
expensive novelties we see continually advertised in
their agricultural and horticultural journals, they
would not be offered. A seed of the Victoria
Regia for one dollar, — a fine lily bulb newly from
Japan for eight dollars, — a Yeddo Grape-vine also
from Japan for ten dollars, a new gladiolus bulb or
dahlia tuber at three or five dollars, a new species
of spruce seed three dollars per ounce, are speci-
mens of advertisements by no means rarely to be
found in the journals referred to. The large scale
on which some things are raised and sold cannot
fail to attract attention. Grape-cuttings are sold
by the million, cranberry vines by the barrel, and a
nursery or two, or three hundred acres in extent is
not uncommon. As for the sales of such common
nursery articles as Apple, Pear, Plum, and Cherry
trees, they are past enumeration.

Is the rage for these things excessive and rep-
rehensible ? We are not prepared to say that it is.
Of all exti-avagance that can possibly be committed,
surely there is none so excusable as that which is
expended on the beautiful and useful things of na-
ture. Condemn, if you jMease, costly dressing,
flashy jewelry, si"tlendid equipage, expensive cook-
ery, and lavish architecture, but respect the eager-
ness to collect and plant about one's house the
lovely and valuable creations of God, — the flowers
and fruits that declare his glory and show forth his
handy-work.

We, in Canada, need no checking in this direc-
tion, but rather urging. We have thousands of
rural homes that havn't a beautiful thing in all
their surroundings, except the landscape and the
sky. Many a farm has no fruit on it except a few
Strawberries on the edge of the woods, a straggling
patch or two of Raspberries in the fence corners,
or may-hap a few huckleberry bushes in some ne-
glected spot. Our nurserymen are very poorly
encouraged. Any travelling irresponsible peddler of
fruit trees is patronized before well-known persons
who have a stake in the country and a character to

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inaintnin. And we have plentj' of farmers who
have yet to buy and plant their first fruit tree.
Matters are improving somewhat, but we are very
far behind-hand in all matters of taste and refine-
ment. There are, we are glad to know, many at-
tractive country homes in various parts of Canada,
and some neighborhoods are fast acquiring a repu-
tation for the culture of fruits, flowers, and rural
beauty in general. But these are exceptions. We
hope they will, ere long, become the rule. For
natural advantages, we have a land that cannot be
surpassed. Let us enrich and adorn it with fruits
and flowers, with shrubs and trees. Much may be
done at but little cost. The taste once exercised
will improve, and busying itself to multiply the
delights of home, will enjoy them with an ever-
incrcasintr rrlisli. — Cnnnda Furmrr.

Curious African Tree. — The most curious,
and in everj- respect far the most remarkable, of
all the plants found in Angola, is the N'tumbo of
the natives, a tree of so abnormal and peculiar
structure, that Dr. J. D. Hooker rightly remarks
in his memoir in the Transactions of the Linnean
Society of London, that since the discovery of
Rafflesia Arnoldi in Sumatra, no plant has excited
so great an interest as the Welwitschia mirabilis,
dedicated to the honor of its discover.

This prodigy amongst trees belongs to the order
Gnetacea;, and certainly attains an age of at least
100 years. The unbranched stem, raised only a few
inches from the ground, measures in very old in-
viduals about two feet in length, and 4, (according
to Welwitsch,) or even 6, (according to Monteiro,)
in breadth at the crown. Raised, as it is, so slightly
above the dry, gravelly soil, it resembles a gigantic
loaf sjilit in the centre into two wide-gaping halves,
or a massive round plate depressed in the centre, with
a rough, cracked, warty, dark-bmwn .surface, whose
entire never changed nor renewed foliage consists of
two opposite evergreen coriaceous leaves spread over
the ground, variously curled and waved, which are
from 1 to 2, or even 3 fathoms long, and 2 to 2\ feet
broad, and what is most remarkable, they are the
pair of cotyledons of the germinating plant, which
continue to exist through its whole life, a phenome-
non of which we have scarcely an example in any
genus belonging to the higher orders of plant.s.
The forked inflorescence, which breaks out every
year in the circumference of the crown, bears
smaller, barren, hermaphrodite catkins, aud larger

carmine red female ones 2 inches long, and very
like Fir cones.

Welwitsch found these mis-shapen monsters
deeply sunk in the soil, with their middle-sized
roots, in considerable quantities at Cabo Negro,
(15° 40^ south lat.,) on the dry plateau of the coast
of Benguela, which is covered with loose, sandy,
rough rubble, and from 300 to 400 foot above the
level of the sea. A little north of this place at
Mossamedes, in the neighborhood of the Nicolas
River, on the little Fishbay, at 14° 20^ south lat.
Ilerr Monterio found it at a later period in a per-
fectly similar situation on quartzose schistose soil ;
and Mr. Baines, as also the well-known Cape
traveller, Mr. Anderson, in Damaraland, between
the 22d and 23d degrees of south latitude in the
neighborhood of Whalcfish Bay, in a district in
which not a drop of rain ever fall. The distribu-
tion of this remarkable plant, as at present known,
which calls to mind some vegetable of a creation
long since past, fall within the 15th and 23d degrees
of south latitude, and may therefore be considered
as tolerably characteristic. It is well known to the
natives. We must mention, as of peculiar interest
to the man of science, as also for the Pharmacist,
or even the Ethnologist, the notice in the Por-
tugese language of the samples of wood, materia
medica, and manufactures from Angola, sent to the
Industrial Exhibition of London in 1862, of which
Dr. Welwitsch is the author. It is greatly to be
desired that this pamphlet of scarcely four sheets
should find an intelligent translator, through which
the meritorious and zealous labors of our friend
should obtain a wider circulation and estimation.—
Gardener s Weekly.

Strawberries IN the United States.— Straw-
berries come in about the end of May, and begin-
ning of June, and for three weeks or a month reign
supreme, to the exclusion of almost all other fruits,
and owing to the extreme heat then prevailing, the
Strawberry season only lasts for that period. The
same cause also detracts materially from the flavor
of the Strawberry, the very rapid maturing process
undergone, operating, at least, against the juices of
this fruit being highly perfected ; but as they are
seldom eaten singly, and never sent to table as
gathered, any deficiency of flavor is not easily
detected when " smothered in crame." Strawberry-
growing for market has been gone into most spirit-
edly, the principal grower in the States, Mr. Knox,
of Pittsburgh, Penn.sylvania, rejoicing in the regal
title of the "Strawberry King," and long may
royalty be thus honored. JMany varieties, such as

Keens' Seedling, British Queen, and Sir Harry, do
not thrive well ; but again, some others, such as
Triomphe de Gand, Victoria, La Constante, &c.,
seem to have a more adaptable constitution, and
bear abundantly. The favorite market variety,
and the most prolific bearer I ever saw, is a seed-
ling raised in this country, called Wilson's Albany.
It is a little acid, unless when dead ripe, but a
valuable Strawberry for preserves. Triomphe de
Gand has risen rapidly in favor, and bids fair to be a
standard fruit. — Correspondent of Cot. Gardener.

CoNSOLEA. — Favored by the climate of Sicily,
M. Michel Angelo Console, Assistant Director of
the Botanic Garden of Palermo, has had the rare
opportunity of examining the flowers of certain
plants, formerly referred to Opuntia, but now
called CoNSOLEA, to wit:' 0. ruhescens and 0.
spinosissima. He finds in their blossoms a struc-
ture which has not hitherto been observed or re-
corded in the plants of this family. The base of
the style, which is tapered below so as to become
substipitate, stands in a kind of cup at the apex of
the ovary. In other words, the st3'le is inserted in
a cupuliform disk. It seems that the species in
which this structure has been observed, have other
characteristic features, — as, for example, the stems
are tall, nearly simple, and everywhere inarticulated
and continuous. These facts have induced M.
Lemaire to propose for the plants a new genus of
Cactaceoe, which he calls Consolea, in honor of M.
Console, and to which he refers 0. ruhescens, an
unarmed, and 0. catacantha, ferox, leueacantha,
and spinosissima, all aculeate species.

Welwitsch, the African Explorer. — Dr.
Frederic Welwitsch was born at Mariansaal, in
Carinthia, and from the very commencement of his
academical course he acquired a great taste for
botany. He was soon well known for his passionate
love of collecting, his scientific knowledge of his
native flora, and his indisputable merit as a con-
tributor to the accurate knowledge of the Flora of
the Vienna basin, and of Lower Austria. He
soon, however, extended his researches bej'ond
these narrow limits, and included the Floras of the
rest of Europe and other continents in the compass
of his investigations. Desirous, however, to ob-
serve for himself, he accepted, a short time after
he had taken his doctor's degree, the invitation of
the Wirtemburgh Botanical Travelling Union to
explore the treasures of the Portugese Flora, a
task which had been so happily commenced by Link
and Hoffmansegg. Having accomplished what he

undertook to the satisfaction of his employers, he
was induced to remain at Lisbon as a teacher of
botany.

These brief details will serve to show how he be-
came connected, and eventually to his distinguished
credit, with the scientific expedition to Angola fitted
out by the Portugese Government. Furnished with
all the information necessary for such a journey,
hardened in body against the evil influence of a
changeable temperature, accustomed to endure
with patience and impunity all sorts of privations
and diSiculties, extremely enterprising and cool in
the midst of danger, gifted, moreover, with an
eminent degree of tact and discrimination, Wel-
witsch was exactly the man to be implicitly trusted
with so hazardous an expedition.

More fortunate than Smith, who, together with
most of his companions in Captain Tuckey's expe-
tion to the river Congo, which at first appeared so
hopeful, at last fell a sacrifice to the dreadful fever
of the country, Welwitsch examined the greater
part of the coast between the Congo and Cabo
Negro, as also that lying between 6° and 16° south
latitude. He penetrated, moreover, through inde-
scribable difficulties, from the mouth of the Cuanza
250 miles into the interior, as far as Banza di
Quisonde, towards the east.

In the first year of his abode in Angola he ex-
amined the coast between the Congo and Cuanza
for more than three degrees of latitude, oppressed
by the heat of the desert, added to hunger and
thirst. In October, 1854, he passed through the
hilly and mountainous districts to the east, in order
to penetrate the wonderful and richly-wooded dis-
tricts of Cazenoja and Golungo-alto. Weltwitsch re-
mained nearly two years, wandering through these
regions in every direction, mostly on foot, oppressed
by fever, and with legs swollen and covered with
sores'. From September to December, 1858, (the
spring-time in Angola), when scarcely recovered
from illness, he visited the shores of Dande to the
north of S. Paolo de Loando, and in the following
year, (1859.) from June far into October, the coast
of Mossamedes as far as Cabo Negro extending
southward from Benguela. — Gardener s Chronicle.

Paradise Apple Stocks. — A very interesting
discussion has been going on in the London Jo?fr?««?
of Horticulture., as to merits of this, and histor}^ of
varieties. The following extracts from a note by
J. Scott, will interest our readers: —

"Whilst on a botanical tour in the south of
Russia I crossed from the Sea of Azof to As-
trachan, and along the shores of the Caspian, over

.^>T-

220

%\[\ (Sardnier's (plonfhlg.

■Hc^.,^

th? Caucacus to Tefiis, thence to Mingrolia and
Batoam in the north of" Armenia. I had, there-
fore, an opportunitj' of seeing our little friend in
all his pride of place in those mighty mountains
that strr-tfh from the Black to the Capi<an Seas,
and divide Astrachan from Georgia, Armenia, i:c.,
and whose summits may be said to be capped with
eternal snow. There, amidst some of the most
sublime scenerj' in the world, our petit Pommier,
or, what I know for it, the Pyrus mains prnecox,
revels and luxuriates, forming jungles of considera-
ble extent, and throwing up its innumerable progeny
in thousands around it. It is found at great eleva-
tions, reaching almost to the snow-line ; however,
at these altitudes it is a " wee thing ;" lower down
the mountains, where the Walnut, Chestnut, and
vine grow to mammoth proportions, it attains con-
siderable dimensions.

"Your friend, of Sawbridgeworth, says that,
" The Pommier de Paradis should be grown in dry,
light soils." He may have got this out of his
quarto edition of ^liller, but I do not think it be-
speaks much knowledge of the plant under conside-
ration. My experience of it is just the contrary,
The tree in its wild habitats luxuriates in dark,
deep, rich, boggy soils, where its roots are always
in contact with moisture, and in summer especially
so, from the melting of the snow above continually
running down the mountains, and watering all the
vegetation below copiously. I think those who
attempt to grow it in "dry, warm soils," will be
like the two friends who killed it by the thousand.
They may roast the little Pommier, but they will
find it difficult to freeze it to death. I have seen
it in too many frozen localities to allow me to think
that; in fact, were [ to trace its geographical dis-
tribution from Persia to Astrachan, and from thence
northward, I think it would be found a fellow deni-
zen with the Siberian Crab itself. This I know,
that both the Pyrus astrachanica and P. praccox
are hardy at Warsaw and Moscow, and the two are
found inhabiting the same localities as far south as
Persia.

"As to Mr. Rivers' supjtosition, that this and
the Dwarf Apple of Armenia are the same, I can-
not .say whether it is correct or not, as I have not
seen the article in the " Horticultural Transactions,"
but I may say that the Pyrus communis and mains
have each of them other representatives in these
regions, such as the Pyrus communis flore pleno, &c.

" Your correspondent ^Ir. Robson, I think, mis-
takes the purpose for which Paradi.se stocks are
advocated. He says a less quantity is produced by
trees on this stock than by the same number of

trees on a free-growing stock. This is, I think,
admitted by all parties. What we claim for the
Paradise is its dwarfing nature and early bearing
character, making it a useful stock for such as have
small gardens, yet require to have a diversity of
fruit. We all know that a tree spreading over 20
or 30 square j-ardswill, possibly, yield more Apjiles
than the twenty or thirty trees on Paradise stocks
which will stand on the same space of ground. In
the one case you have one sort of Apple to reple-
tion, in the other twenty !<orts in moderate abund-
ance. This is all we advocate, and do not deny the
contrary proposition ; yet to all who want to have
large Apples, quickly in bearing, we say, use the
'Paradise stock. I had a tree here in 1865 that
weighed, with root and branches, half a 4iound ;
and this little tree, IS inches high, and no thicker
than a little lady's little finger, bore three fruit, one
weighing 15 ozs., the other two just over 1 lb.
Here was an instance of a tree producing four times
its own weight of fruit, and the more I see of the
true Pommier de Paradis stock, the more I am
convinced that it is the stock to graft large Apples
upon. Small-growing Apples are generally pro-
duced upon small-growing trees, and, therefore, are
less needed upon the Paradise stock.

"May I ask what Dr. Hogg means, in his
"British Pomology," by recommending certain
sorts to be worked on the Paradise stock? Is it a
fact that he had any other stock in his mind's eye
at the time than the said Pommier? If so, I
would urge all writers on pomology, when speaking
of stocks, to give right names to things. Why
give the name of Paradise to the Doucin, or the
Dutch Creeper, or to any other surface-rooting
stock? The Pommier de Paradis seems to have
had the priority, and why deprive it of it?

"I have now to say that what are called Doucin
and English Paradise stocks, are nothing more than
some surface-rooting Crabs, chosen for their free-
rooting propensities by somebody, just as iMr.
Rivers and myself have chosen our No. I's, and
which we both mean to make so much of Some
years ago I bought five hundred Doucin stocks from
Mr. Rivers, and five hundred from a Woking
house. I planted them as follows: Mr. Rivers'
first, and the Woking ones second, with three thou-
sand Crabs following. Now I declare and affirm,
that I never could tell the difi'erenee between the trees
grafted on any of the three lots; they all grew
alike strong, and threw up stems G feet high the
first year after grafting. So much for the dwarfing
character of the said Doucin sent by Mr. Rivers,
which, I must say, was quite true to nauio and de-

^TP<

^i)^^\2/^

^c^^m

-^^1,^

®h^ (Sarb^ncr^^j Jllonfhlg,

221

scription, and the right sort, as far as I am a judge.
The Woking stocks were English Paradise, or at
least what I have alwaj's seen for it ; and both
stocks, as already stated, forced on the trees as well
as did the Crabs planted in the same quarter, and
at the same time, and this is the case with every
Apple stock I have j'et grown, excepting the Pom-
ruier de Paradis ; only that good surface-rooting
stocks ripen the wood better than do the deep-
rooting kinds, thereby causing the Apples grafted
on them to bear sooner. As to Mr. Rivers saying
that there are several sorts of stocks used by the
French, and called Doucin, 1 know it to be so, but
these stocks are just of the category that Mr.
Rivers' and mine are — surface-rooting Crabs." —
Cottage Gardener.

New Greek Conifers.— What is Picea Apolli-
nis? Link and Antoine describe this as a distinct
species. Endlicher made it a variety of P. pectinata.
Carriere regards it as a species allied to, but dis-
tinct from, P. pectinata, and Mr. Gordon records
it as a synonym of P. cephalonica. In our opinion it
is entitled to rank as a species forming the transi-
tion between P. pectinata and P. cephalonica. Its
leaf is pointed, as is that of P. cephalonica, but
not so sharp. The number of rows of stomata on
the leaf, as well as the branches and cones, are
much the same in both. The scale of the cone has
its lip more turned over than in P. cephalonica, and
its bract is broader, and somewhat more expanded
at the base. Its seed is similar to that of P.
pectinata, but quite distinct from that of P. cepha-
lonica. The expansion of the wing is present in P.
Apollinis and P. pectinata, but does not occur in
P. cephalonica. It has certainly more to do with
P. pectinata than with P. cephalonica. What is
Picea Panachaica? This, we believe, is one of Dr.
Heldreich's new species. The form of its seed
corresponds M'ith that of P. cephalonica. The
other parts seem all equally identical with it, with
the exception of the leaf, which is a trifle narrower,
and more elongate. The distribution and number
of the rows of stomata, however, are the same,
and we can see no reason for holding this to be dif-
ferent from P. cephalonica.

Bamboos for Paper.— Mr. N. Wilson, of the
Jamaica Botanic Garden, informs us that the
Bamboo is being largely exported from the island
to New York, for the manufacture of paper. As
much as 70 per cent, of clean fibre is obtained from
it. The Bamboo (Bambusa gigantea) attains its
full height of 80 to 100 feet in three or four

months time, and the average growth during that
period has been ascertained by measurement to be
8 inches in the 24 hours. — Gardcufrs ChrGuklc.

]&orfiruIfiiF8l ©oficFS,

PENNA. HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

The regular monthly meeting of the Horticultu-
ral Society was held on the 19th, in their hall. The
fine collections of vegetables were the special at-
tractions of the visitors. In the collection from
the garden of Henry Duhring were some Green
Cos lettuce, nearly eighteen inches long, and weigh-
ing several pounds. To have this rare variety in
perfection European seed is essential. In the lot
from James McDonald was an early Cabbage of the
Battersea variety, which weighed eight and a half
pounds. A! L. Felton had among his some
Lettuce of the curled Indian variety, eighteen
inches wide, and as hard in the heads as a real
Cabbage. This was considered the best variety for
summer growth. Much interest was manifested in
a lot of potatoes in Felton's collection. Early white
sprouts and early Goodrich, planted the same day.
Early Goodrich was double the size of the sprouts.

Peaches, Nectarines and Grapes, from the garden
of Stephen Morris, Germantown, attracted much
attention for their great beauty. They were, of
course, raised under glass. " Stump the World," a
pointed Peach, was considered one of the best for
forcing in pots.

The finest Strawberries of Triomphe de Gand
ever exhibited were from D. W. Herstine, German-
town, and J. R. Keim, in the city.

Fuchsias were in abundance, but nothing particu-
larly new. A new passion flower was on exhibi-
tion, pink, with singular, but beautiful, narrow
petals, a greenhou.se variety called Princeps. A
new, hardy shrub came from Robert Buist called
Double Deutzia Crenata, very beautiful. There
was little new amongst the flowers, although as
beautiful as usual at these exhibitions.

The first premium for Potatoes was awarded to
A. L. Felton, for Early Goodrich. Best half peck
of Peas to James McDonald, gardener to M.
Baird, Esq., — the Common Extra Early. Best
Early Beets to A. L. Felton, — Common Red
Turnip variety. Best six heads of Lettuce, the
Summer Green Cos, to Jacob Huster, gardener to
Henry Duhring, Esq. The best collection of
Vegetables, by a market gardener, to A. L. Felton,

i®

222

3:|)C OSardcncr's Itlontljlir.

and a private gardener to Jacob Huster, gardener
to Henry Duhring, Esq. A special premium was
awarded to James McDonald, for the fine head of
Cabbage, previouslj- referred to.

The best Table Design, best Basket of Cut
Flowers, and best Hand Bouquet, were awarded to
Donald McQueen, gardener to Joshua Longstreth,
Esq. There was nuthing particularlj* ueui or worth}-
of special note in the arrangement of the Basket
and Bouquets on exhibition this time, except that
Cyrtanthera magnifica makes a good centre for a
Basket, and that Pansies, when arranged in a
Bouquet with other flowers, the .^^aid "other flowers"
being all tchi'fe, have a very i)retty and striking
eifect.

The premium for best Ornamental Foliage Plants
was awarded to W. R. Hibbert, gardener to Fairraan
Rogers, Esq. They consisted of Marantas, Dracoe-
nas, and other well-known plants. The second
premium to Donald McQueen, gardener to Joshua
Longstreth, had more variety, and were nearly as
well grown,

Tlie Committee called especial attention to some
beautiful new plants from Robert Buist's collection.
{ Mr. Cliinnick, foreman, Ci.^sus amazonica, a small-
leaved, but beautifully variegated kind, Gynino-
stachium Ver.sehaff"eltii, which may probably prove
a valuable leaf plant, but rather too small to judge,
besides the Deutzia before noted, which is much
more beautiful than we had anticipated. They
also especially commended the beautiful Passiflora
Princcps, from W. Sutherland, gardener to B.
Bullock, Esq.

We have not the report of the Fruit Committee
before us, — but we may remark that the fruits from
W. Young, gardener to Stephen Morris, were
particularly fine for orchard house fruit, and were
very much admired, — while the two dishes of
Triomphe de Gaud were probably never beaten any
where.

The Rose and Strawberry Show was held the
Tuesday previous. It was for some time undecided
by the Special Committee whether to hold it or
not, as the weather was so backward, that for a
while it seemed as if it might as well be deferred
to the regular meeting night, but a few hot days
decided the Committee to hold it as stated ; but at
the "ninth hour ' of making the decision, it was
not possible to adverti.se it so well as to bring out
the real strength of the growers, and the results
will not, therefore, benefit the community as it
otherwise would.

We must say, however, that in spite of all, the

I " improvements" made in new varieties, there were
few, if any kind exhibited that drew more attention
than the magnificent Hovey Seedling, of Mr.
! Harmar, who continues to be its great champion
in this region. This and the Agriculturist, the
Triomphe de Gaud and the Albany Seedling were
I the decided favorites out of 29 varieties on the
' table. In size and flavor combined Lennig'sWliite
and Abington Blush lead the way, but are deficient
I in productive character. The Great Eastern, ex-
j hibited last yea!-, was still considered as "maintain-
ing its ground," as also was the "Stinger," a
variety which was exhibited last year as the
"Union," but which name has been dropped, on
account of that name being already appro]iriated
for a variety which is, however, believed to be the
same as Victoria.

Of Roses the best 25 and be.st 12 were awarded
to Robert Buist, and second best in each class, to
Thomas ^feehan.

• ««■«»

WEST JERSEY FRUIT GROWERS'
ASSOCIATION.
ATMOSPHERIC HUMIDITY AS A PRO-
TECTOR FROM COLD.

BY JAMES S. LIPPINCOTT, HADDONFIELD, N. J.

{Concluded from page 192.)
We are not aware that any instrumental meteo-
rological observations have been made corroborative
of the truth of the principle advanced regarding the
presence of aqueous vapor as a screen preventing
the escape of radiant heat trom the earth by night,
except those we have our.'^elves instituted. Those,
however, sustain the principle in the amplest man-
ner, leaving no doubt of its correctness, and con-
firming the opinion expressed by the distinguished
demonstrator, that the newly developed jM-operty
of aqueous vapor must exert an enormous influence
in the phenomena of meteorology. For more than
a year past we have observed three times daily the
state of humidity of the air around us, — have noted
the temperature at various hours by ordinary and
self-registering thermometers, which show the
highest and lowest degrees to which the mercury
has risen or fallen since last observed. The month
of June, 1864, ofi'ered the best illustration of the
influence of the protecting presence of humidity,
or rather by its absence, of the injurious eff'ects of
excessive radiation through veiy dry air. We will
remark that the average humidity of the air at 2,
P. M., near Haddonfield, N. J., for June, 1804,
was 51 per cent., or one-half saturated ; that is,
that the air held for that month, at that hour, an

m''

average daily amount of vapor, which was but lialt
the amount it might have held without disposing
it as dew ; that is about 6 grains to the cubic foot.
On some daj's of that month the humidity reached
at 2, P. M. , beyond 90 per cent., or nine-tenths of
its capacity, and held suspended about 9 grains of
vapor in each cubic foot of air. But several
remarkable days of great dryness, and some of
excessive aridity occurred. At 2, R M., of tlie
10th of June, we noted that the Hygrometer
showed that but 45 per cent, of moisture was
present, and at 9, P. M., a very low degree of 5-1
per cent., which for this hour is still more extraor-
dinarj', the monthly mean for 9 P. M. being 70
per cent., and often rising to 100, or saturation.
There was thus at 2, P. M., as above, but 3^ grains
of vapor in the air ; at 9 P. M. but 3^ grains, and
at the hours of 2 and 9 P. M. of the 10th, the
wet bulb thermometer of Psj'chrometer or Hy-
grometer sank lower than it did at those hours on
any other day in June. Through this compara-
tively transparent or diathermic medium, this dry air,
the rays of radiant heat streamed away into the
upper regions of the atmosphere, for the night was
cloudless, and the consequence was a fall of the
mercury in the self-registering thermometer, some-
time in the night to 43° at six feet above the earth,
and almost to 32° at the surface of the ground.
This great reduction of temperature was felt from
Maine to Minnesota, as far south as Haddonfield,
N. J., Annapolis, Md., Northern Ohio and Illinois.
Over this region a frost occurred more or less se-
vere, except along the Southern border, where,
though this effect did not appear, other results
followed which, to some of the crops, were quite
as disastrous as a frost would have been. In
Massachusetts hickory shoots were entirely frozen ;
snow occurred in some places in New York and
Vermont, and corn, potatoes and grass were in-
jured. The wind being mainly from the north, the
same degree of cold occurred on the next morning,
or the 12th, or within one degree, that of 44°,
though the relative humidity had risen to about
the mean for the month, but still indicating but 50
per cent, of saturation.

On the 12th, at 2 P. M., a still lower per centage
of humidity, viz : 36 was noticed, which implied
but 32 grains of vapor in a cubic foot of air, and
the low minimum of 44° was observed on the
morning of the 13th following. Again on the 17th,
18th and 19th the humidity fell to 40, 41 and 42 per
cent, respectively, and on the morning of the 18th,
19th and 20th the minima temperatures were 51°,
and 52°. On the 28th, at 2, P. M. , the relative

humidity was but 24 per cent., and the amount of

vapor but 2^ grains, but the change from a drying
north wind to a moist and warm southern breeze,
and consequent increase of humidity and tempera-
ture, prevented so rapid a decline as would other-
wise have followed, and we noted but 50° as the
minimum before dawn on the 29th, a temperature
lower than had been observed since the 19th, when
it stood at 47, except the 22d, which was also 50°.

The minima temperatures before sunrise in July
of 53°, 56° and 58°, which are low for this month,
were invariably observed to be preceded by very
low humidity at 2 P. iM. of the preceding day, as
indicated by the per centage and by low tension of
vapor at the same time, and at 9 P. M. of that
day, and at 7, A. M. , of the morning on which the
low temperatures were noted, and the lower the
humidity and tension, the lower the minima, other
things being fiivorable. Thus, on the 16th, at 2
P. M., we noted relative humidity about 30 per
cent., the average for the month at that hour
being about 50° ; the tension of the vapor, or pres-
sure it would alone exert in raising the column of
n)ercury in a barometei', was but .309 of an inch,
which corresi^onds to the pressure of about 3}
grains of vapor in one foot of air, a proportion
closely according with that of former dry spells,
as will be perceived by comparison with the m.ea-
sures before noted. At 2 P. M., of the 17th of
July, we observed about 23 per cent., the low ten-
sion or force of vapor .303, indicating the presence
of Si grains of vapor, and though the amount of
humidity was slightly increased before 7 o'clock on
each morning, yet the minimum thermometer
which sunk to 53° before 'dawn on both the 17th
and 18th, which was 16° below the mean for the
month at 7 A. M., and seven degrees below the
mean of the lowest temperatures observed on thirty
mornings before dawn, as self-registered.

But the most remarkable of the dry days was
the 22d of July, when at 2 P. M., the per centage
of moisture was but 23, a tension of but .188,
which at the lower temperature then prevailing,
indicated but about 2 grains of vapor to each cubic
foot, a lower measure than previously observed, and
one-third the average of the month at 2 P. M. At
2 P. M. the dry thermometer stood at 73^° and the
dew-point at 451°, indicating that it would have
been necessary to reduce the temperature of the
air to the latter degree to cause it to commence the
deposition of its vapor as dew. On the morning
of the 23d, the mercury sank to 46° at six feet
above the earth, and some degrees lower at the sur-
face. This dryness prevailed over a wide extent

m

^^@>^

•^^=-^

224

Che 6arbfiur's Hlonlhln.

of countrj', — even in Maine was recorded remarka-
ble drought and absence of dew, and throughout
the Eastern and Northern States it was attended
in many places by smoky haze. The night of the
22d was at .•-■everal places noted as unusually cold,
and frost appeared in Massachusetts, Connecticut
and Pennsylvania. On the 22d a neighboring
farmer remarked to us, that he had never observed
a drier day, and that his oats, which he was then
cutting, became drj' before it reached the ground.

On the 2:xl and 24th, the dryness continued, and
on the moniing ot the latter the minimum ther-
mometer was at 50°, but on the 25th it did not
descend below 00°, a haze pervading all things, and
a southerly wind having set in to bring its warmth
and humidity over us to correct the dryness of the
northern wind, which had hitherto prevailed. The
measures of humidity immediately rose to near
saturation, and the lowest temperature at night
increased to 60° and G'J°, or from 14° to 23° higher
than during the prevalence of the drought. No
extremes of dryness or of low temperature occurred
again during the season of vegetable growth in
1864.

One of the noteworthy conserjuences attendant
on this abnormal decline of temperature, was ex-
tensive injury to the Grape crop. Very soon the
vines gave sign of ill-health, — leaves began to
mildew, entire bunches were covered with a white
fungus, which destroyed many of the berries both
out of doors and under glass. The second sudden
reduction and accompanying dryness came so soon
upon the heels of the first, that "the struggle for
existence" could not be maintained, and most of
our vines gave up the co'ntest, and failed to jierfect
the labor they had auspiciously begini, and we had
but few out-door Grapes that reached perfection.*
Now this conjunction of circumstances so unfavora-
ble to the health of the vine, must occur at inter-
vals of varying length in this region, but occurring
as it does not unfrequenlly, renders the cultivation
of native vines, on an extended scale, an unremuner-
ative business. Exi»ericnce of years ago has fully
demonstrated that the same phenomena have oc-
curred that we observed in 1864. Mildew brought
destruction to the leaves of the vine, — the fruit
remained unripened, — the buds for the following
year were not matured, — the ])lants declined and
finally died. The di>hearlened enthusiast retired
from the field to brood over the wreck of his hopes,
if not of his fortunes.

* The varieties which sufTcred Icaflt from mildew, were Clintnn,
Concord, Rogers' Nos. 1, 2, 4, 15, 19 aod 43, Uartford Prolific.
Delaware and Diana.

Such were the causes, among others, and these
the most influential, which affected the Zollikoffer
vineyard, and its fate the same, which, if its destiny
deter others from similar efforts to be alike failures,
will not have been attempted in vain.

Near the ocean and bay, better success has been
attained. The Catawba flourishesnear, Absecom in
a manner that leaves little to desire, as we have
observed in the garden of Mrs. McClees, of Cot-
tage Retreat, Atlantic City, in the summer of 1864,
and in the vineyards of N. Ilines, near Absecom,
in 1863. These vines were loaded with fruit, ])ro-
mising great excellence, because their leaves were
strong and healthy, no mildew having appeared in
the region ; because there had been no sudden and
extreme reduction of temperature. There had been
no reduction of temperature, because there had
occurred no days of extreme dryness : there had
occurred no periods of excessive dryness, because
this ever-present ocean had restored, with every
recurrence of the sea-breeze, the vapor which was
needed to supply the place of whatever had been
carried away by the winds which had been blowing
over the land towards the ocean, and which, in our
district, remote therefrom, was not, and could not,
be so easily and immediately supplied.

Proximity to the ocean and to large lakes is thus
favorable to fruit-growing, and the reason therefor
appears to us to have been made clear from con-
siderations connected with the presence of humidity
in the air, combined, no doubt, in some instances
with the retarding influences of cold wateis in the
spring, our reasoning is confirmed by the practical
experience of fruit-growers on the northern lakes
that, whenever there is the slightest breeze from
the water during the night there is no frost.

The foregoing facts and comparisons ai)pear to
us to furnish strong evidence of the close connexion
between diminution of humidity and reduction of
temperature, and to confirm the assertion of the
distinguished English jjhilosophcr that their rela-
tion is that of cause and effect, that loss of aqueous
vapor continued through several days fioin the
action of a north and drying wind during a dry
season, prepares for the escape of heat from the
earth by night through unimpeded radiation into
space. To these influences the interior of New
Jersey is exposed. That a remedy may be found
by which these extremes of climate, which affect
not our vines only, but also our aj)ples and pears,
can be modified, remains to be shown ; but the
length to which this paper has already extended
will not here permit its discus.sion.

^^

DEVOTED TO

^opfiruIfuFF, Hp&orirullfupp, ISofang %• liural SEfPairx*

THOMAS MEEHAN, Editor. A TTfJ-TTST IfifiR

W. G. P. BRINCKLOE, Publisher. xx %j \^ \j a j. , J.OUU.

VOL. VIII—NO.S.

^inh for ISugush

FLOWER-GARDEN AND PLEASURE-
GROUND.

Trim hedge.s for the last time this season. Com-
mence to transplant Evergreens short distances
from one part of the ground to another as soon as
a 'good rain shall liave moistened the earth. The
secret of successful transplanting at this season, or
at any season, is not to let the roots dry for an in-
stant. The more fibrous the roots the greater the
danger from drjdng, — that is those trees which
have generally nothing but small fibres, like the
Hemlock Spruce, will sufier sooner from drying
than those which have many large main roots, as
the Pine tribe.

In replanting it is desirable to use soil for filling
in that is nearly dry, and will crush to a fine pow-
der ; it will then fall in all around the root spaces,
and the harder it is tramped or crushed in, the finer
it will break and cover up the young rootlets. If
the ground or weather be very dry, water may be
poured in heavily, to assist in packing the soil well
about the roots, letting it soak away well before
filling in the remaining soil, — and putting in this
soil very loosely, and without pressure, according to
directions we have so often given in these pages.

In digging up trees great improvements have
been made over former j^ears. The great anxiety
to save a "ball of earth" has given way to great
care to save all the roots. All the use there can be
to a "ball of earth" is to keep the roots moist du-
ring removal ; but in most cases, — indeed in all ex-
cept very small specimens, — it is found in practice
that the preservation of young roots in the ball, is

at the expense of the numerous fine fibrous roots
necessarily left outside. The digging-fork is now
the chief tool used in digging up trees; and the
distance from the trunk at which the digging up is
commenced is much farther off. After a circle, 2
feet deep, is dug around a tree, a few thrusts of
the digging-fork under the ball lifts the whole
mass over, and the soil can then be entirely shaken
away.

The latter part of August is one of the best sea-
sons of the year to transplant Evergreens. The
young growth of the past season has got pretty well
hardened, so as to permit of but very little evapo-
ration,— and the earth being warm, new roots push
with great rapidity, and the tree becomes estab-
lished in the ground before cold Autumn winds
begin. The chief difficulty is that the soil is usually
very dry, which prevents much speed with the ope-
ration ; and the weather being generally very warm,
the trees have to be planted in the ground almost
as fast as they are taken up ; so that it is not safe
to bring them from a distance. It is as well, there-
fore, to make all ready in anticipation of a rain,
when no time may be lost in having the work
pushed through. Should a spell of dry weather
ensue, — which in September or October is very
likely, — one good watering should be given, suflB-
cient to soak well through the soil and well about
the roots. A basin should be made to keep the
water from running away from the spot, and to as-
sist its soaking in. After being well watered, the
loose soil should be drawn in lightly over the water-
ed soil, which will then aid in preventing the water
from soon drying out again.

Hollies, and many Evergreens are successfully
planted in August, — not when brought from a dis-
tance, as the chance of drying on the way is great,
but from a few miles in the neighborhood. Prune
back a few inches of the shoots at transplanting.
Keep soil from baking, if you would keep it from
drying fast. You do this by first hoeing, and then
rolling 10 crush the clods; or, if that cannot be
done, raking fine by a rake.

225

£j){j ©ardnur's (Plontlilg.

Layers of growing shoots may yet be made, cut-
ting the sUt on the upper side, as security against
snapping off. Carnations are particularly to be
layered. In our climate it is best to layer them so
as to get young ones every second year.

Seed saving is quite an art. Many Annuals and
Peiviinials are worthy of attention. The earliest
flowers produce the best seed ; and it should be
dried in the shade before cleaning out and putting
away.

Japan, and other Lilies, as they decay after flow-
ering, should be transplanted at once. They may
be .set in nearly the same places, if a little fresh soil
be put in.

Almost all Spring flowers, as Daises, Polyanthus,
Auriculas, and so on, lie dormant most of the
Summer, and commence to grow about September.
They should be repotted as soon as they show signs
of new growth.

FRUIT GARDEN.

Strawberry planting often commences in August,
providing the weather off'ers a chance. Get the
.soil in readiness for this chance. Heavy manur-
ing is not good for the Strawbeny except in very
poor soils. Wet .soils are not good. But the soil
cannot well be too deep. In the field subsoil, — in
the garden dig at least 12 to 18 inches. Straw-
berries do better moderately close than too wide,
some kinds do very well in bed.s. French's Seed-
ling and Wilson's Albany do well ; Triomphe de
Gand and most of the European varieties do well
in hills.

After a piece of ground is dug at this .season for
Strawberries, roll it well with the garden roller.
When ready to plant make holes with a dibble,
fill the holes with water, and when it soaks away,
jiut in your plant which has been kci)t in water to
prevent wilting. But, in putting in the plant do
not plant too deep. "Too deep" kills 9y-hun-
dredths of all the Strawbenies that die in the year
from transplanting. "Too deep" is when any
thing but the small fibres are buried under the sur-
face.

In the story books wo sometimes .see pretty pic-
tures showing how Strawberry roots are to be
"spread all around nice." A little cone is made
in the middle, the plant set on the apex, and the
roots running like mountain streams down the cone
on every side. This is a very pretty plan, but will
give us no more Strawberries. There is little
romance in a Strawberry fibre. They push out,
pump water into the plant for a few months and

then die. No Strawl)erry root lasts 12 months.
Now ones push and old ones die daily.

All things considered, for an amateur garden the
best plan is to set the plants in line six inches apart,
the rows eighteen inches apart, and every fourth
row omitted, as it were, to form an alley-way be-
tween the beds ; on this plan, as the ])laiits grow,
they can either have their runners cut off, or they
may be allowed to go together in bed form, accord-
ing to the kinds grown or views of the grower.

The Grape-vine at this season will require atten-
tion, to see that the leaves are all retained healthy
till thoroughly ripened. It is not a .sign of healthi-
ness for a vine to grow late ; on the contrary, such
late growth generally gets killed in the winter, —
but the leaves should all stay on, to insure the
greatest health of the vine, until the frost comes,
when they should all be so mature as to fall to-
gether. Frequent heavy syringings are amongst
the best ways to keep off insects from out-door
Grapes, and so protect the foliage from their
ravages.

Many kinds of fruit trees that have arrived at a
bearing age, may perhaps be growing very vigor-
ously and producing very little or no fruit. Those
who have read our remarks in past numbers will
understand that whatever checks the wood-produ-
cing principle, tends to throw the plant into a fjear-
ing state. For this purpose, Summer pruning is
often employed, which, by checking the most vig-
orous shoots, weakens the whole plant, and throws
it into a fruitful condition. The same result is ob-
tained by root-pruning, with this difference, that
by the last operation the whole of the branches are
proportionately checked, — while by pinching only
the strong-gi'owing shoots, the weak ones gain at
the expen.se of the stronger ones. Presuming that
the branches have been brought into a .satisfactory
condition in this respect, root-pruning may now,
this month, be resorted to. We cannot say exactly
how far from the trunk the roots may be operated
on, so much depends on the age and vigor of the
tree. In a luxuriant, healthy tree, one-fourth may
be safely dispensed with. In a four year old stand-
ard Pear tree, for instance, the roots will perhaps
have reached 4 feet from the trunk on every side.
A circle six feet in diameter may then be cut around
the stem, extending two feet beneath the surface.
It is not necessary to dig out the soil to accomplish
the result; a post spade, or strong spade of any
kind, may be driven down vigorously, describing
the circle, and doing the work very effectually. Of
all trees, the Peach is as much benefited by root-
pruning as any.

ih^ hardener's Ponthlg.

227 7r$)

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

As soon as your vegetable crops are past Icitchen
use, clear them out. Never suffer them to seed.
In the first place, a seed crop exhausts the soil more
than two crops taken off in an eatable condition ; in
the next place, the refuse of the kitchen is likely to
produce degenerate stocks. Good seed- saving is a
special art by itself, always claiming the earliest
and best to ensure a perfect stock.

Celery will require earthing up as it grows, to get
it to blanch well. It is not well, however, to com-
mence too early, as earthing up tends, in a slight
degree, to weaken the growth of the plants. Take
care, also, not to let the soil get into the heart in
earthing, or the crown is apt to rot.

As fast as Endive is desired for Salad, it should
be blanched. Matting thrown over is the best for
this purpose, as the plants are not so liable to rot
as when pots or boards are employed.

In cold or mountainous regions, Melons are has-
tened in the ripening process, and improved in fla-
vor, by a piece of tile being placed under the fruit.

Keep weeds from your compost heaps, as they
exhaust the soil, and bear seeds for future brow-
sweatings.

Sow Lettuce for Fall crop, thinly, and in deep
and very rich ground.

Early Valentine Beans may still be sown early in
the month, — the soil for a late crop should be well
trenched, or, if the Fall be dry, they will be stringy
and tough.

Cucumbers, Squash, and other similar plants,
often suffer from drought at this season. Cold
water does not help them much, but a mulching of
half-rotten leaves strengthens them considerably.

Cut down straggling herbs, and they will make
new heads for next season.

Towards the end of the month, a sowing of Spi-
nach may be made in rich soil, which will come in
for use before Winter. That desired for Winter
and early Spring use, is usually sown in September
in this region. A few Turnips may als*!>be sown
for an early crop, but will be hot and stringy unless
the soil is very rich.

Corn Salad is often sowed at the end of this
month. It does not do well in damp soil or low
situation.

HOT AND GKEENHOUSE.

Many kinds of greenhouse plants, as Oranges,
Lemons, Camellias, etc., maybe inarched or budded
at this season. The process of inarching is sinijile,
and consists merely in bringing the shoots of two
different plants together. The bark is very lightly

shaved for half an inch or more on each shoot,
which are then both tied together, and in about
two months the union may be examined, and if
found sufficiently strong, the scion may be separa-
ted, and suffered to go for better or for worse with
the stock you have selected for its helpmate
through life.

Preparations must now be made with a view to
stocking the houses for the next Winter and Spring's
use. Geraniums of all kinds may now be readily
struck. A frame in a shady place, set on some
light sandy soil in the open air, affords one of the
best places possible for striking all kinds of half-
ripened wood. A partial shade is at all times best
for cuttings at the start, though the sooner they
can be made to accustom themselves safely to the
full light, the better they usually do.

Seed of many things may also be sown for Winter
and Spring blooming, particularly Cineraria, Calce-
olaria, Pansy. Daisy, Chinese Primrose and some
of the Annuals. Great care is necessary with the
Calceolaria ; the seed is so small, that it rebels at
the smallest covering of soil. The best way is to
sow it on the surface, water well, and then cover
with a pane of glass until fairly germinated ; this
will prevent evaporation and consequent drying of
the seed. Almost all kinds of seeds germinate
most readily in partial shade ; but as soon as possi-
ble after germination, they should be inured to as
much light as they will bear.

Many plants, as Begonias, Gloxinias, etc., can be
raised from leaves. Cut the leaf off down to near
its junction with the parent stem; insert it down
to near the blade of the leaf in pots of well-drained
light sandy soil ; peg the blade of the leaf down on
the surface of the soil, and set the pot in a shady
place, — if with a little bottom heat all the better.

FHZLOSOPHY OF PRUNING.

BY DR. JOHN A. WARDER, CINCINNATI, O.

Read before the Pa. Hort. Society, June 5th, 1866.

Having been invited before you in the attitude
of lecturer, or teacher, from the comparatively
new, and as yet, but partially developed region of
the great interior valley of our continent, it is meet
that I should acknowledge the high compliment
you have thereby given to the glorious West. The
tribute you have so gracefully paid to the region is
one to which it is justly entitled, and my only re-
gret is that your lecturer is so poorly qualified for

'm

228

SJh^ ©ardenrr's ^ontlilg.

the task you have assigned him, that of represent-
ing its talents.

Western horticulturists have been accustomed to
look to the venerable society of" this city with mingled
feelings of affection, respect and admiration, as
well as with thankfulness for the benefits we have
so long derived from the results of your continued
and successful labors.

Towards the rising sun, as with a natural in-
stinct, we have been accustomed to look for light,
nor have we been disappointed ; for to the east,
and to our friends in the east, we have turned for
the illumination of many dark and obf^cure points
in the theory and practice of our loved horticulture;
and from them we have often obtained the desired
information — so that we have, learned to respect
and reverence you as our teachers ; nor will ever the
reputed confidence and assurance of Young Amenc.a
(which some of you may consider a leading trait of
western character), overcome our diffidence when
we find ourselves called upon to stand before you as
teachers.

It is true the West has a soil and a climate that
are peculiarly her own, and which differ in many
particulars from those in which jour oi)erations are
performed. Ilence, in many branches of horticul-
ture, and especially in our pomology, we have been
forced to adopt systems for ourselves. After hav-
ing followed the teachings of our Eastern friends,
and after suffering loss from the want of adaptation
of their dogmas to our altered conditions, wc have
found it necessary to strike out new paths in many
points of practice. Principles are absolute and uni-
versal, but the details of execution must constantly
vary with the ever changing circumstances by which
we are surrounded.

So, upon the present occasion, it is not becoming
for me to attempt to place myself before you, who
are my superiors in the practice of the higher
branches of horticulture, in the attitude of a teacher
of the details of practice. The principles that are
to guide us in one class of operations have been
selected as the topic for the lecture, and they will
be introduced under the title of

THE PHILOSOPHY OF PRUNING.

Do not anticipate any startling developments got
up for effect. That is left to charlatans. A simple
statement of the facts as they have appeared to
me, and as they may be read by any of you, in the
great book of nature, is all that will be attempted.
A plain unvarnished tale is all that you need expect
upon the present occa.sion.

Pruning is one of the most important operations

to be applied to plants, esj)ecially to woody plants.
Pruning, in some sort has to be performed at all
periods of their existence and growth ; and upon
all, from the lordly forest tree, or the fruit-bearing
orchard, of whatever kind, to the humble buf^hes
and brambles that yield us their abundant and most
welcome fruits, or the trailing vine that adorns our
arbors, and covers our trellises with its rich and
tempting clusters of luscious Grapes. Many her-
baceous plants are also submitted to judicious prun-
ing, and yield in consequence an increased product
of fruit. Our ornamental gardeners and i)lant-
growers practice pruning most admirably upon their
house-plants, and by their successful methods of
pursuing the practice, they produce the most won-
derful effects, in the vigor, thrift, symmetry and
blossoming of their specimens, as may be seen,
especially at your noble exhibitions. And yet,
when we come to travel about the country, and see
the shrubberies, the parks, the orchards, fruit-gar-
dens and vineyards, as they are, we shall be struck
with the great amount of ignorance or neglect
which is manifested in whatwe everywhere behoh)!
Still more shall we be surprised when we hear nur-
serymen and orchaidists, men who have had opj)or-
tunities for extended observations, and those too,
who are considered successful cultivators, advocate
the idea that trees should -not be pruned at all.
An apology uiaj' be found for them in the many in-
stances of bad pruning that may frequently be met
with — they may .say that no pruning is better than
such mutilation — and with some varieties they may
have a share of reason on their side, since there are
many sorts that will very naturally produce an open
head, everywhere provided with abundant fruit-
spurs, those great desiderata of the fruit-grower.

We i^rune our plants for the most opposite pur-
poses. We prune to make them assume .some de-
sired form, we prune to produce symmetry, we
prune to torture them as much as possible from
their natural habit. Again, we prune to make
them groji vigorously, at one time, and we perJorm
other pruning operations, in order to dwarf and
stunt our specimens, aiid to make them as diminu-
tive as possible. The experienced orchardist will
tell you to prune the barren but thrifty tree in
order to make it productive of fruits, and he may
also tell j'ou to prune one still more severely, which
has expended all its energies in fruit-bearing, and
appears likely to exhaust itself to its own destruc-
tion. Upon very high authority, supported by
universal and annual practice, the vine-dresser will
advi.se you to prune your vine in order to make it
fruitful, and he will also urge you to prune in such

ih^ (Sardnur's cPonthlg.

a manner as to prevent over production — he will
further insist that you shall prune again during the
season of growth to promote the same objects.

Thus it appears that the ends to be attained by
piirsuing the practice of this important operation
are exceedingly diverse and ai)parently contradic-
tory: nor is it anj' wonder that the novice should
feel bewildered in the midst of directions so oppo-
site, nor even that those who have grown grey in
the orchard, should have arrived at conclusions so
strange as those just mentioned, — 7iOf. to prune at
all. And yet, notwithstanding these apparent con-
tradictions, there is a reason for each of these vari-
ous modes, as well as for the different seasons, that
have been recommended for ijerforming the several
operations of pruning.

It may be said that in the natural trees, whether
standing alone in the midst of a prairie, thinly
grouped as in the "oak-opening," or crowded to-
getiier in the dense forest, we may behold the most
perfect models of beauty and of fruitfulness — yet
these have never been subjected to the action of
the knife, the saw, nor the hatchet, — true, and yet
they have all been pruned by nature^ — she prunes
and trains magnificentlj^ and gives us the finest
models for imitation, whether for park scenery, as
in the lone tree of the prairie, or in the scattered
groups of the island-groves, that are so often seen
to rise above the level of the broad savannas of the
West — or for a forest, of noble shafts, to be gazed
at with admiration, then felled by the ruthless axe,
and converted to man's economic uses; she shows
us a pattern in the dense pineries and other timber
tracts of our country. All these have been pruned
into their present condition by the hand of Nature.
In the single specimen, free access of air and light
have enabled it to assume its full proportions, devel-
oping itself on every side, and giving us the grand
majestic and beautiful object we behold with so
much pleasure. The winds have tossed its branches
and shaken its sturdy boughs — some have been
broken in the rude embrace, the lower ones have
quietly and gradually yielded to the smothering in-
fluence of those above them, which, in turn, have
swept downward their depending branchlets toward
the green turf beneath. In the groves, the scat-
tered trees have for a while enjoyed the same op-
portunities for development, but at length their
branches have met together and interlocked in
friendly embrace. Those that were nearest the
ground had already begun to suffer from the effects
of the denser canopy above them, but the great
sturdy boughs that had shot upward so as to form
a part of the crown, these are able to maintain

their vantage ground, and continue to be important
members of the trees. In these illusti'ations we
have seen more of Nature's training than of her
pruning, but it must be remembered that training
is one of the objects, and indeed a leading element
of pruning, and is very properly a matter for our
consideration.

In the dense primeval forest we see Nature's
pruning exhibited upon a grand and perfect scale :
tall, straight and noble trunks rise majestically on
every hand ; not a twig nor limb appears to break
the symmetry of the gradually tapering shafts, that
are clothed in bark which does not indicate that
they had ever been furnished with branches : and
yet they have been so provided from their bases to
their summits, and Nature has so neatly removed
them that we cannot detect the marks of her prun-
ing saw. How this has been effected may be seen
in any den.se thicket of forest growth. It is simply
a smothering of the lower branches by those next
above them, which has destroyed their vitality,
and their decay has soon followed ; while a new
growth of branches at a higher point, in turn per-
forms the same office of destruction upon those
next below them. As there is no outlet for the
wood-growth but in an upward direction, so up-
wards they must needs go, and as there is no light
nor air for lateral branches under such a canopy of
shade, death and decay ensue, and down these
must needs come.

If it be asked why we must prune, it maj'^ be an-
swered, in general terms, that in the orchard, our
objects in performing this operation are two-fold.
1st. We prune for shape and comeliness, and for the
removal of dead and dying branches, in aid of Na-
ture, but working in sympathy with her. 2d. We
prune for the sake of inducing fruitfulness : — let us
consider some of the principles that are to guide us
in these operations.

The first object, that of producing the desired
shape of the future tree, is chiefly done upon the
young subject — even in the nursery row. The
judicious pruner, being well aware of the upward
tendency of young growth, and that this is increased
by the crowded condition of the tree in the nursery
square, seeks to overcome the evil by proper prun-
ing. If the growth be altogether upward, with no
side branches the first season, the stem will be slen-
der, often so much so as to bend with its own
weight. The wise nurseryman carefully avoids dis-
turbing the leaves or the lateral branches, well
knowing their importance in forming the woody
trunk. At the proper season he trims his trees
down instead of trimming them up ; this he does by

3

(• -■> <i — -

230

§Jhf[ gardener's cplonthlj.

heading them l)ack to the height at which he de-
sires them to form their branches — at the s;xme
time he shortens-in the hiterals, his object being, in
both instances, to chock the upward tendency of
growth by removing the strong terminal buds which
would naturally have formed the new shoots the
coming season. The result of this treatment is to
call into action several buds at the upper part of
the stock. These are to form the arms of the tree,
and hence, a very important part of the pruning
and training of the plant is thus performed at once
by this heading-back of the young nursery tree.
But further attention is needed as these anus de-
velop themselves during the next season of growth ;
they should not be too numerous, nor too much
crowded together ; they should not be too nearly
matched in strength ; and a single one among them,
centrally situated, should be kept as a leader, which
should be stronger than the rest. Never allow two
shoots to remain, contending for the mastery, but
subordinate one of them by cutting, breaking or
twisting, so soon as it is observed, for, how beauti-
fully developed soever such a tree may appear
when well balanced, there is always danger of its
splitting down when heavily laden with fruit. This
very common error of our orchards used to be
quaintly illustrated by a dear old friend on the prai-
ries of Illinois, who cited the advice of a Scotch
jockey to whom he had applied for counsel in the
purchase ot a piece of horse-flesh. " Ne'er buy a
horse whose twa fore legs coom oot fra ane hole ;"
said he, and my friend Mr. Stewart applied the
same rule to his young fruit trees by never allowing
them to form two equal leaders starting from one
r)oint. It is also important to have the lateral
branches regularly distributed on different .'iides.
The height at which the heading-back should be
done will depend very much upon the object of the
cultivator, and whether he desire to produce a high
or a low head — a standard, half standard or a dwarf
or a conical tree, such as are often called pj'ramids.
He will study the wants of his customers, and will
flatter their fancies in this matter; but we of the
West, have learned the importance, for us at least,
of trimming our trees down and not trimming them
up, as is of^en done by those who anticipate plow-
ing and planting crops under the shade of their
orchards. We prefer low heads and often train
them so that the branches reach the ground when
laden with foliage and fruit. The proper point for
bringing out the branches, and forming the head
will very much depend, however, upon the habit of
the variety, whether it be drooping, spreading or

upright — the former will require the branches to be
started at a higher point.

The proi)er season for performing this kind of
pruning is in the early Spring, after the severe
frosts of winter have been passed ; and with some
kinds of orchard trees, at the time of planting,
when the}' should always receive a severe pruning
and a reduction of their limbs, somewhat in pro-
portion to the shortening of their roots.

The second object of jiruniiig being to promote
fi'uitfulness in the trees, it should be done chiefly
in the summer, or during the period of growth.
At the same time, or during the growing season,
much may be done to advantage both in thinning
out and ^«hortening-in such parts of the tree as may
need these plans of treatment. Various methods
are pursued to produce fruitfulness, all of them
depending upon the fact that this condition arises
from the natural habit of the tree to make its
wood-growth very freely for a series of j'ears, and
then, while the growth by extension is curtailed, to
take on that wonderful change by which the wood-
buds are transformed into those that expand into
flowers and produce fruit. The study of the.se
changes is called morphology, and when the tree
has reached this condition, it is said to have arrived
at its maturity.

After the tree has built up a complicated struc-
ture of limbs and branches, with some consequent
obstruction to the flow of sap, dependent upon the
hardening of the woody tissues and contraction of
the cells, as well as upon the tortuous course of its
passage, it appears to reach its maturity, and to
come into bearing condition. It cea.ses to make
such free wood-growth, and prepares a set of buds
which develope flowers and fruit.

Now this period of growth and unfruitfulness
may continue for a longer or shorter period in dif-
ferent varieties of fruits, and the curtailing of this
period is the great object of the leading operations
of summer pruning, and of other methods of pro-
ducing fruitfulness that may be classed with it
under the second head of the objects of pruning.

To appreciate their importance and the mode in
which the effect is produced, we must bear in mind
the two great acts of vegetable life, the production
of wood and that of fruit, the one, multiplying the
associated buds or ])lants that make up the com-
munity of buds which constitute the tree; the
other, producing the germs of new plants that are
to be separated from the organism, and which are
prepared to set up a separate existence. These
two acts are in some sense antagonistic. The first
is essential to the production of timber, to the

»^^?^

i

building up the tree, and should be encouraged to
do its work undisturbed, to a certain point, that we
may have a substantial frame-work by which our
fruits can be supported. The latter, however, is
the ultimate desideratum with fruit-growers ; and
in our impatience to reap a quick reward, we often
resort to measures that tend to curtail the useful-
ness, size and beauty of our trees, as well as their
performance. This is an illustration of the axiom,
that whatever threatens the vitality of a plant tends
to make it fruitful, — calls into activity the in-
stinctive effort to perpetuate the species by the pro-
duction of seed that may be separated from the
parent, and establish a distinct existence to take
the place of that, the life of which has been
threatened.

The operations of summer pruning and pinching
constitute an interference with the growth by ex-
tension and threaten the life of the tree. The
entire removal of all the new shoots and their
foliage, and the repetition of this operation upon
the successive attempts at their re-production by
the tree will cause its death in a little while, — their
partial abstraction as practiced in these operations
of summer pruning and pinching being an attack of
the same kind in a smaller degree, results in the
formation of fruit-buds. The operations of bud-
ding and grafting upon uncongenial stocks, inter-
rupting the circulation of the sap by ringing, by
ligatures, by hacking, twisting, and bending down-
ward, all tend to the same end, — they check the
growth by extension, — they interfere with the wood-
growth, and they are attended by similar results,
since they are antagonistic to the mere production
of wood, or to the growth of timber. Shortening-
in tlic branches of some species, which form their
fruit-buds upon the shoots of the current year has
the effect to give them a fuller development if
performed at the proper season, but if deferred to
a later period, this process will have a directly
opposite result, and will cause an increase of the
wood-growth, at the expense of the flowers and
fruit.

The reason for pruning has been made the subject
of much discussion, and different periods have
been advised with great confidence by different
authorities. From this diversity of views it may
be inferred that all are somewhat right, or may be
supported by good reasons. This refers, of course,
to pruning in its general sense of trimming, and
applies to the removal of limbs of greater or less
size. We always desire to avoid ablation of large
limbs, and we should endeavor to provide against the
necessity for their removal, as much as possible.

before their production, by a proper thinning-out
of the branches in the young tree, taking them
away when they are yet small ; but when such re-
moval becomes absolutely necessary, from their decay
or injury, the operation should be performed late in
the autumn, when the tree is at rest, and the circu-
lation almost null, because it is found that such
large wounds, which cannot be healed over by the
deposit of new growth will, if formed at this sea-
son, dry-in, and resist the action of the elements
better than if the section had been made when the
wood was full of sap.

Mild winter weather, or the early spring time, is
a favorite time for pruning, because it is compara-
tively a period of leisure, the absence of foliage
affords us an opportunity to see the work before us
and to anticipate its effects upon the configuration
of the tree. So soon as the buds begin to swell,
and the foliage to expand, pruning should be
arrested, unless in small trees, because the sap is
in active motion, and the material called camhium
is not yet developed ; hence, the wounds will bleed,
and are not so readily healed over; besides, the
bark at this season is very readily separated from
the wood, and bad wounds are thus frequently
produced by the pruner, which may seriously
damage the tree. Then comes a period when prun-
ing had better be suspended, until the time the
trees have completed their growth by extension,
and formed their terminal buds at the ends of the
shoots. The precise date cannot be given, but it is
indicated with sufficient accuracy by this mark in
Nahires Cilendar, — the formation and full devel-
opment of the terminal buds, and by the copious
deposit of woody matter throughout the tree ; the
annual layer of fibres is then being produced, and
the tissues are in the formation stage ; the tree
now possesses, in its own organism, the best
of all plasters to cure and cover the wounds
made by the saw and knife, it now possesses
the true vis medicatrix naturce in the highest
degree.

A few intelligent nurserymen have learned this
very important lesson, and have applied it in the
preparation of their trees for the exposure inci-
dent to their removal from the nursery to the
orchard. A very few of them practice it systemati-
callJ^ I knew one, (alas, for the lamented Beeler of
Indiana !) who acted upon the suggestions made to
him by observers. He preserved the side branches,
thoug^h subordinated by shortening when necessary,
in order to give stocky stems to his trees, and after-
ward he reiyoved these with the knife during the
summer, before they were to be sold and planted,

232

Clu 6arbnirr's Monthlu.

instead of waiting to perform this triinming up, until
they were dug and sent to the packing shed, in the
Fall or Spring. The result was, that while his stems
were stout and stocky, they were also smooth, the
wounds wore neatly healed over with new bark, in-
stead of being open from the fresh cuts and liable
to crack or bleed, as they would have done, had this
pruning been defeiTcd until after digging either
in the Fall or Spring. Others may have done
the same thing ; but you all know that the
trees you receive are not jiossessed of the desirable
characters in these respects. To some this may
appear a small matter, but it is introduced as an
illustration of the principle involved in selecting
the period for pruning.

For the removal of small limbs from young
trees, hardly any time can come amiss. 'Twere
better to do it out of season than to neglect it ; and
it is a good rule to have a sharp pruning knife
always at hand when passing among our young
orchard trees. There is but one time when prun-
ing should be absolutely interdicted, and that is
all the time that the wood is frozen. When so
circumstanced it .should never, on any account, be
cut or disturbed or handled in any maimer, not even
to gratify your best friend by helping to a few
grafts from your tested treeof some coveted variety.
Let him wait for a thaw, or go away without them,
rather than commit such an outrage upon your
tree as to approach it when frozen.

\\ line considering the question of the propei
sea.son lor pruning, there is one axiom of great im-
poriancc which should be firmly impressed upon
the mind of the orchardist : Much will depend
upon which of the two leailing objects he may have
in view, — vigor of growth and symmetry of form,
or simply fruitfulness, as the result of his labors in
|)runing his trees. Pruning at one season will
induce the former eflPect ; at a different period of
the year, the same work will conduce to the latter
results. Hence, the value of this postulate, which
is pithy and easily remembered. Prune in winter

FOR WOOD, — IN SUM.MER FOR FRUIT.

Here my limits have been reached, though the
subject opens and expands so wonderfully, and to
the devotee is full of interest, that there appears
to be no stopping place, unless, like the vine-
dresser, with a rampant cane that has exceeded the
limits of the trellis designed for its support, the
pruning knife be applied and the story be headed off.

And, my friends, I fear your patience will have
been exhausted, and you will have been wearied
by the enunciations of these truisms, which must
be familiar to you all. The subject selected is one

of such great extent, and the illustrations of the
principles involved are so numerous, that it has
been difficult to make a selection to present to you.
I beg 3'ou in closing to be considerately kind in
yonr criticisms upon this paper. While it contains
nothing new, it embraces perhaps the enunciation
of some principles to guide our practice that do not
appear to be generally appreciated, nor even recog-
nized by a large number of our fellow-countrymen
and fellow-laborers in the orchard.

May every success attend the devoted labors of
each of you as individuals, but especially may your
noble Society continue its glorious course, diffusing
the light of Horticultural intelligence upon all
within the range of its influence.

STHAWBERRIES.

BY G. noWATT, TARRYTOWN, N. Y.

The past year your readers and correspondents
seemed to me to have had Strawberry on the
brain. I suppo.se it descended to the Strawberry
each one praised. Each, with perfect confidence,
thought his variety as the best ; which reminds
me of my scliool days, and of the Traveller and
Chameleon and his color, where all were right and
all were wrong. I would just impress on your readers
that the Strawberry is generally a local fruit ; that
is, a variety that will succeed well in one locality
will not do so in another; and, in fact, be a total
failure, which I have proved to my cost, and will
illustrate points in fact : Thirteen years ago I
moved to Pittsburgh, Pa., to lay out and manage
a Company place. Hovey's Seedling was then the
universal Strawbeny here. Market and private
gardeners told me there was no use trying it there,
it would be a failure. T could not .see the i)hiloso|)hy
of that, (I soon did, though.) I purchased eight
hundred dollars worth ef plants, — had my ground
all prepared in the be.st possible order for their
reception. The spring being a very dry one, it cost
us a good deal for watering. Plants gvew as fine as
I ever saw plants grow, and I anticipated what a
fine paying crop I should have the following season,
they receiving the vorj' highest cultivation during
summer. Fall and following spring they flowered,
but no fruit : I do not think that there were half a
dozen fruit on the whole lot. I would not remove
them, — tried tliem another season, with the .same
result. I imjiorted a (luantity of Briti.sh Queen
from lOngland, and the result was the same as
Hovey Seedling. Mr. Lowen, a prominent grower
there, got the Bicton Pine, a fine, large, white fruit,
vigorous grower, and a fine bearer, and excellent

:5rv^i

Stjje ^ardcnn^'s ^loutljlj.

flavor ; the fruit stem the strongest that I have
ever seen on a Strawberry ; I carried them as a
bouquet. When I left there to take charge of a
nevr place in N. Jersey, I had sent to me a few thou-
sand of the Bicton Pines, intending to grow it
nearly altogether. I failed as completely in grow-
ing it iti New Jersey as I did the Plovey's at Pitts-
burgh. I can also state that the Triomphe de Grand
and Wilson's Albany does not do in northern New
Jersey, Russell's Seedling and La Constant being
ten to one more prolific. I was not the only one ;
a gentleman of my acquaintance expended on
an acre of land over one thousand dollars to
make Hovey's grow there, but he failed, Buist's
Prize being the only Strawberry that did any thing
extra there. I may here remark that I have
travelled over England, Ireland and Scotland, and
seen what I thought fine Strawberrie.'*, but I must
say, that the finest grown Strawberries I have ever
seen are grown at Pittsburgh. It would well repay
a visit in Strawberry time. I would advise those
putting out new Strawberry plantations, not to
mind this or that one's best for a permanent planta-
tion, but to plant out the first season a row of each
of the best sorts in market. Give all the same
culture and attention. Mark their progress, and
the best yielders, discard all the others, and you are
then sure you are right ; you lose a year by it.
You had better do that than lose your money, time,
and particularly the mortification of being laughed
at, as every man's ware is the best in selling.

Pistillate and staminate you want to mix, but not
to the extent that is generally supposed ; but this
question has been more ably discussed by Mr.
31eehan than I could attempt to describe it, during
his controversy with the wise ones on pistillate and
staminate, j'ears ago. I took no part, knowing his
ability to handle it, at their Convention. I do not
see how they came to their conclusion.

In planting, select new ground, if possible, for
your Strawberries ; they yield much better, and are
of a better flavor. I plant in rows, three feet
apart, — plant six inches apart in the rows, — open
rows with a heavy plow, — furrows thirteen inches
deep, (run twice in each furrow), put in four inches
or five of manure, cover over with the plow, and
take the top clean off, — apply two tons of coarse
bone-dust to the acre. This bone-dust must not be
all charged to account of Strawberries, as it is a
manure for all after crops. Spread and harrow it
in. I plant generally in the fall, as the ground is
in better order than in the spring, and other work
not so pressing. After planting, water well once.
Before winter closes cover your plants with leaves

or straw, — just sufficient to keep the sun off them,
as it is that, and not the frost that hurts them.
Plant middle of August ; this gives your plants a
hold before winter. In the spring use a small
plow between the rows, keeping tl c land side next
the plants, and then split the middle. When done
run a cultivator through to level them. By plant-
ing in the fall you have a partial crop the follow-
ing summer. Now comes the great secret of Straw-
berry culture, and I assure you, if not attended to,
that Strawberries xo'dl not pay even at fifty cents a
quart. Keep all the runners off" and the ground
clean. If you do not attend to that, don't attempt
Strawberry growing, and tell us that xitooat'pay.
To save you trouble and anxiety before you com-
mence, if you allow those things (runners and
weeds) to take their own course, even partially, you
will lose many by the operation. Second fall give
them a dressing of manure, and plow it in. Do
not cover your plants with straw or leaves. In
spring plow and cultivate same in every way as last
year. Attend to this particularly, and your bed is
good for four or five years, or even more. If you
want to raise young plants for a new plantation,
plant out a lot of plants the same distance apart as
your fruiting bed, — apply your manure broadcast,
six inches deep, — dig or plow in, — nip out all
flowers that appear. When your runners are
rooted, take them off, — plant out in rows eighteen
inches apart, and plants six inches apart. Adopt
this plan, and I assure you, when you make your
new plantation it will pay, as those will be plants
worth attending to, and if for sale, you will easily
dispose of them at your own price, they being the
right looking stock to work from ; not as they
generally are, planted from the fruit bed, with two
or three leaves, and about as many thread-like
roots.

UNFRUITFUL PEAR TREES.

BY DR. J. S. HOUGHTON, PHILADELPHIA.

There is a question in Pear culture which I have
never seen discussed, as to the cause of unfruitful-
ness in certain pear trees which often blossom very
freely, and yet never set or perfect much fruit.

One of those unfruitful varieties is the Duchesse
d'Angouleme, which often show a very profuse
and promising bloom, but sets very few pears. I
have been led to inquire whether this is not in
consequence of an imperfect condition of the blos-
soms? Whether they are not either too intensely
staminate, or deficient in the pistils, or defective in
all respects. If the pistils are perfect and the
stamens defective, could not the blossoms be im-

■^,

234

©hi; (gardener's (Plonfljln.

pregnated by growing some good slaminate blos-
soms or grafts on the same trees, or by growing
some other free blooming pear near them ? From
the examination that I have made of the Duchesse
blossoms, I have been impressed with the opinion
that they are deficient in pollen ; but it may be
that they are defective in all respects. Certain it
is, that in thousands of Duchesse trees on my
place, the bloom is generally remarkably profuse
and fine, while the croj) is altogether too small.

Some persons are apt to say, that pear trees ex-
haust themselves by blooming i-o profusely ; ana
hence, do not set their fruit well. But this seems
scarcely reasonable, for the blossom buds are formed
during the preceding season, and do not appear to
exhaust the trees, while the effort of merely ex-
panding the buds with blos.sonis, (lasting only five
or six days), can hardly be a very exhausting pro

Blanche \ irgina is one of the newest, and is
undoubtedly the most perfect white Rose in cultiva-
tion.

Madame Chapet. — Bluish white.

Madame Rivers. — Pale flesh-colored, white.

Hortense BlancheUe. — llosy-white, cupped and
double. One of the best.

Lady Einihi Fed. — White, with a band of car-
mine round the edges of the petals.

Madame Alfred de Rougemont. — A strong grow-
ing variety. Color white, shaded with rose; flowers
in clusters. One of the most profuse bloomers.

MadamoiseUe Bonnaire. — A splendid strong-
growing variety. The young wood pale green and
thickly covered with thorns, has very healthy
foliage, and is one of the finest bloomers ; color
pale ; flesh changing to the purest white.

Virginal. — Color blush white, rescnd)les very

cess. If it were so, the foliage, which expands 1 much the flowers of iS'oJtfert/r <Zc' 3/f</?Ha('.srn( both in

immoderately afterwards, would look sickly, and
the wood-buds would not grow, which is never seen
to be the case, for the foliage always comes out
strong and green, and the new wood-shoots grow
with great rapidity and luxuriance.

I think careful attention should be given to the
blossoms of pear trees, to see if they are perfect in
all their parts, and fully capable of setting the
fruit.

In the case of Strawberries, great attention has
been given to the nature of the blossoms, and with
manifest advantage.

I think the pear blossoms should be examined
under the microscope, or with powerful lenses,
by skillful botanists, and the question respecting
their fertilizing power settled for the general infor-
mation of the people.

A tree may be unfruitful because it does not
readily produce flower-buds ; but that it should be
unfruitful with thou.sands of blossoms upon it,
(unless injured by frost,) certainly demands investi-
gation. The Duchesse d' Angouleme is remarkable
for unfruitfulness under these conditions.

form and color. We have measured buds two and
a half inches long, and when fully expanded pre-
senting a magnificent api)earance. A continuous
bloomer from June to frost.

Lnperatrice Uugenie. — Another free-blooming,
creamy-white rose, with good foliage. An excel-
lent addition to the list of Whites.

Soeur des Anges. — Color blush white; a profuse
bloomer.

Louise d'Arzeus. — Flesh-colored, white ; a very
free-bloomer.

Madame Freesman. — An irregular petaled rosy-
colored, white. A profuse flowering variety ; an
everlasting mass of bloom, and although not so
perfect in form, nor so pure a white as. some, yet its
prodigal habit of flowering, will make it a general
favorite among those who love the "Queen of
Flower.s."

TWELVE WHITE HYBRID PERPETUAL
ROSES.

BY CHARLES CRUCKNELL.

Rosarians often complain of the want of white
Roses. I herewith send you a list of twelve of the
best, most of them being true perpefuals, bloouiing
without intermission fi'om June to frost. Several
of them are unrivalled in regard to the matchless
beauty of their flowers; and what is more im-
portant, may pos.sess a healthy persistent foliage.

SILAS WHARTON.

BY C. L. .lANNKY, WAVNESVILLE, OHIO.

I notice in Wm. Heaver's " Recollections, &e. ,
of Pears," that he is laboring under a mistake as
to Silas Wharton's nativity. He was born in Bucks
County, Pa. Ilis parents were Nemiah and Eliza-
beth Wharton. He married there, and moved to
this county (Warren) in 1810. When he arrived here
he had but three dollars in his pocket, — .settled in
the woods, with the wolves howling around him
and his family I have often heard him say that
was the most trying time of his life. lie com-
menced clearing the timber from the ground, and
in a few years he had .suffiuient farming land to sus-
tain his family. I don't know the year he went

into the nursery business. But soon as he estab-
lished himself in that business, there became a
great demand for fruit trees. Then prosperity
began to smile on him. The demand continued to
increase so fast for trees, that he established
nurseries at the following places : With James
Rifiier, Cincinnati ; James Brelsford, Montgomery
County, Ohio; Nathan Linton, Wilmington, Ohio;
Andrew Hamton. T have forgot the location of
this one. Marshall Bellbrook, Ohio, and one in
Indiana. The location T have also forgot. And
his home nursery, in which stands several Seedling
Pear trees, that will stand as monuments to his
memory, for a long time to come.

He stood very high as a Pomologist in this
State. His trees were distributed fir and wide.
He died Spring of 1858, aged 8.3. Was a member
of the Society of Friends. Was a kind father, a
good neighbor, an honest man, and had his pecu-
liarities, as well as other mortals.

GROWING GRAPES CHEAPLY.

BY JAMES THOMPSON, GARDENER TO WM. RESOR,
CLIFTON, NEAR CINCINNATI, OHIO.

I am glad to see Mr. Lament take his pen on the
Grape subject, as I know him to be a first-class
practical gardener. But I think the question for
this country is not how to shade Grape houses, but
how to grow plenty of hothouse Grapes cheaply.
Now a large curvilinear house, with inside borders,
and a steam engine to pump water, and then shade
the house, as they do at Mi\ Zug's, is very well
where great perfection is aimed at, but is not the
plan for the million.

I don't think it matters much whether a span-
roof or a lean-to is used, only don't have it too
steep, and have the borders for the roots outside,
and don't stop the shoots too near the bunches, —
no nearer than six leaves. Use the knife as little
as possible, but employ the finger and thumb freely,
and use plenty of sulphur, — on my employers' plan ;
that is, five pounds at one time, sown broadcast
through the house and on the vines. We u.sed ten
pounds last summer for one house, commencing
when the Grapes were as big as peas, and the
mildew was just appearing, but that killed it, and
I never saw either mildew or spider all summer.

ROSES AND ROSE CULTURE.

BY JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON, D. C.

Read before the Pa. Hart. Society, July 3(7, 1866.
In the few remarks I am about to offer before

your Society, I shall be as brief as the subject will
admit, — it being, I presume, more the intention
of the Society to bring out prominently some princi-
pal facts in Rose culture, or the family of Roses)
rather than any lengthy essay, I will, therefore,
leave altogether the history of Roses, and proceed
at once to the subject, and will take up some of
the principal classes or groups in the order in
which we usually find them.

Let us take up the catalogue of any extensive
Rose grower, we shall find, on examination, it is
divided into two principal sections, — one being that
of summer Roses, and the other Perpetual or Ever-
blooming. The former we shall pass over, — for,
though it embraces some of the finest flowers of
June, yet are so ephemeral that they find few culti-
vators in this country. Probably the cause is this:
blooming in our hottest season, their beauty may
be said to be that only of a day; whereas, in the cooler
parts of Europe they continue some time, and are
there the finest Summer show Roses. Perpetual or
Everblooming, on the contrary, are our great
favorites, blooming as they do, from middle of May
until frost is upon them.

In no other flower has the Florist effected so
much improvement as in this. If we glance back
only a few years, we shall find that all these classes
of Everblooming were unknown, but by carefully
crossing the summer Roses, — Provence, Gallica,
Damask, &c. , with a few Eastern sorts, especially
the Rosa Indica, the result has been varieties and
classes possessing, in a great degree, not only the
free-blooming qualities of the latter, but where its
blood is most apparent, we have also its delightful
scent.

HYBRID PERPETUAL OR REMONTANTS.

This is without doubt the most popular class in
our more^ Northern States, as well as the cooler
parts of Europe, as they are chiefly good growers,
with finely formed, rich flowers, and for the most
part, very fragrant. Many, however, are any thing
but Perpetual, and the name is not well applied;
they may more jiroperly be called continuous or
occasional bloQuiers, their distinguishing character-
istic being the production of occasional bloom ;
that is, as the plants grow during Summer a por-
tion of the shoots are terminated with bloom, from
their first and general bloom in May until arrested
by cold.

In passing, I would remark that, if all strong
watery shoots were stopped during Summer, and
as soon as bloom is over, those shoots shortened
back, more flowers will follow. In this class are
grouped together varieties of the most opposite

^ij^'\^^rr

characters, some of the largest and finest flowers,
hke Lord Ruglan, are notoriously poor bloomers.
Such varieties are closely hybridized with the
Grallica, Hybrid Bourbon, Damask, &c , and carry
in them a great percentage of their blood; whilst
the strain that approach the Bourbon, Tudica, Tea,
Noisette, etc., possess also their sterling good quali-
ties of free-blooming.

[t has been proposed by some Florists to split up
this class into several, — such as Hj'brid Perpetual,
Bourbon Perpetual. Noisette Perpetual, Pompone
Peri>etual. itc. ; but unless this is verj' carefully
done, (and it is not carried too far,) it may lead to
still greater confusion.

In the latitude I write, this class is perfectly

hardy, and are well adapted to the fl )wer garden

during summer. They also force ad:nirably, and

for blooming in pots in Spring no class excel them.

BOURBONS.

The parent of this group, "Rose de Lisle de
Bourbon," is said to be an accidental .seedling which
originated in the Isle of Bourbon. Like the Hy-
brid Perpetuals, they are very variable in their
growth. Some are extremelj' vigorous in growth,
blooming in immense clusters. Such have been
crossed with the Noisette, and have the distinguish-
ing characteristic of the class, vigorous growth,
with large clusters of bloom, — whilst those of more
humble growth approach closely to Rosa Indica.
Many of these latter have the highest and
richest colored flowers in cultivation. Beautiful
as this class undeniably is, it has not kept pace
in thi.s country or Europe with the more popular
Hybrid Perpetuals. As a class, it has one great
defect, — nearly all the varieties are scentless, or
but at most, verj' faint. They arc not, as a cla.ss,
a,s hardy as the Hybrid Perpetuals; still, with a
moderate covering will withstand our coldest winter.
The vigorous growers are our very flnst Perpetual
climbers, the dwarfer sorts for bedding-out during
summer, or pot-culture. All are most profuse
bloomers.

NOISETTE.

We are told that this class was originated in
Charleston by a nurseryman of the name of Noisette,
being the result of a cross between the Mu.sk and
old China, — "Rosa Indica." The new race, like
one of its parents, the musk, was luxuriant in
growth, with immense clusters of bloom ; but in
the varieties added to this class of late years, the
original type, — immense clusters of bloom, — have
disappeared, and a new race, — indeed, a distinct
class, — have taken their place, — what maybe called
Tea Noisettes, — as they have been closely cro.ssed

with the Teas. Nearly all the fine Roses that have
been added to this class of late are of this character,
— such as Cloth of Gold, Triomphe de Rennos,
Celine Forestier, and that glorious new Rose,
" Marechal Niel." The vigorous growing varieties
are quite hardy and suitable for climbing, — whilst
the Tea Noisettes make sploiulid plants for the
flower garden, requiring protection only against
severe colds.

TEA-SCENTED.

What the H3'brid Perpetuals are to the North
this deliciously fragrant class are to the South.—
with the addition of the Tea Noisettes, their most
valuable Ro.ses, — blooming from early, and that
continually until frost finally arrests their flowering.
Here frost rarely destroys totally, — killing the tops
and young growth only ; but on the return of fine
weather the i)laiits break out with great vigor.
The prevailing shades of color in this group are
light, — such as white, cream, light yellow, blush,
&c., embracing among them the most delicately
beautiful Roses, whilst their fragrance is beyond
an approach even among Roses. We are now get-
ting into this class some very vigorous growers, such
as " Gloire de Dijon," the result of crossing with the
Tea Noisettes. For pot-culture, forcing, &c., they
are invaluable.

SELECTING AND PLANTING.

In selecting Roses much will, of course, depend
on taste, — .some preferring large, finely shaped
flowers, and as a con.sequence, will select from the
Hybrid Perpetuals ; others will, again, give prefer-
ence to the delicate and deliciously scented Teas.
These last, as I have already hinted, are very
suitable for the South, and all warm localities,
whilst the vigor and hardiness of the former recom-
mend them to more northern latitudes and colder
soils, though they succeed with equal beauty in the
sunny South. In planting out, the Ro.se is very
accommodating as to soil, preferring, however, a
firm loam or clay, though I have seen them grown
near this city in very sandy soils. On these soils,
however, they .succeed muchbetteron Manetti than
on their own roots; but in preparing all soils the
ground should be well dug, liberally manured, and,
of course, free from moisture. Spring is the best
time for planting.

WHAT TO PLANT— ON THEIR OWN ROOTS OR
BUDDED.

The question of budded Roses, or Roses on their
own roots, to me is easily disposed of If the
party planting is an amateur, who either does not
know a Manetti .sucker from a branch, or knowing I (^

^^

"^(i

®^e Carhnen Slontljlij.

237

it, will not see to its removal at the proper time. To
all such, I would say plant no budded Roses; they
will be sure to lead to disappointment, as the
suckers will soon take the place ot the plants. I
would, however, impress upon this class of persons
the advantages of planting none but vigorous
growers, avoiding the more delicate kinds. If not
well acquainted with Roses, they had much better
leave the selection to a nurseryman, as many of our
finest Roses are notoriously bad growers ; and
others of delicate constitution requiring the assist-
ance of the Manetti. But where the planter fully
understands the treatment of budded Roses, and is
willing to give it, then I would say take Roses on
Manetti. True, many vigorous kinds will succeed
well on their own roots, but even those are assisted
by the Manetti Stock, whilst many of our very
finest Roses cannot be grown to any degree of per-
fection without. On this stock it matters not how
hot and dry the weather, mj' Roses grow with the
greatest vigor, and bloom in the greatest profu-
sion. On this stock they appear proof alike
against intense heat and drought, — the ground in
which they are grown being, of course, in good
order, — whilst, under similar circumstances, many
on their own roots will drop their foliage and cease
blooming.

In the more Southern States Tea-scented Roses
succeed admirably on their own roots. Where the
tops are destroyed by the cold of winter, they
break out in Spring with i-edoubled vigor, the root
rarely perishing. But north roots, as well as branch,
would be destroyed by cold ; and in all latitudes
where such would be the case, they had much
better be grown upon Manetti. On this stock on
the approach of winter the collection of Teas may
be lifted with as great facility as a collection of
Dahlias or Tuberoses, placed in a cellar or any
place where they can receive protection, to be
returned to the garden at the opening of Spring, —
the roots shall, of course, require to be covered
with sand or mould during winter. Grown in this
way they sustain no injury from the removal ; on
the contrary, they are benefited, the frequent
removals having a tendency to induce fibres, whilst
the plants can be thoroughly examined before their
return to the garden, and the rudiments of all
suckers taken off; here they will grow freely and
bloom, superbly. I may be asked why not move
them on their own roots? To this I answer, — Roses
their own roots have not the amount of fibres,
which a Manetti stock has. Hence, the risk of loss
is greater, — indeed, the percentage of loss is con-
siderable when on their own roots, and they will

not take to their new situation with the vigor of a
Manetti.

For increasing new Roses on their introduction
it is invaluable. With the assistance of this stock
the nurseryman, by grafting or budding, can multi-
ply the new varieties with great rapidity, offering
his plants in a short time, and at a moderate rate ;
when, had we to wait for their more slow propaga-
tion by cuttings, we could not have the same
amount of stock.

RAISING STOCKS, BUDDING ROSES, &C.

Propagating Manetti Stock is a simple operation
— take your Manetti shoot and cut it in pieces about
9 inches in length, plant in the Fall or opening of
Spring in the same way as Gooseberry and Currant
cuttings, — here they are allowed to grow for the
first year, after which they are taken up, prepared
and set out for budding ; we prepare them before
setting out by trimming all eyes off the stock, save
two or three on top — this is a great preventive of
future suckering. In planting, the bottom of the
cutting is not set in the ground over half an inch,
but the soil is drawn up about it with the hoe
which is allowed to remain until budding time,
when the soil is leveled down and the bud ins^erted
as near the base of the stock as possible ; grown in
this way few suckers will follow. The ground in
which to plant out your stocks for budding is of
considerable importance. At one time I was in the
habit of planting my Manettas on rich ground, but
I soon found it was not the most desirable, here
they grow freely and require to be budded before
middle of June, after this date, when the plants
had become luxuriant and the sap thin and watery,
few if any buds would take : — for some years I have
planted them in my poorest and shallowest ground,
in this they grow more slowly during our hot
weather, the wood is at all times firm and fit to
bud from middle of May to the first of October.

I will here copy a few remarks of mine on bud-
ding, written some years since, for a different cli-
mate ; but fifteen j'ears experience in the latitude in
which I write confirms me in the belief that they
are equally applicable here.

What is the- best weather for budding? 1 am
told damp, cloudy weather is. How often would
such a question, asked by an amateur, obtain such
an answer ? How startling, therefore, to him to be
informed to the contrary ! Why he has seen it re-
commended in books ! Yes nothing more generally
recommended than damp, cloudy weather for bud-
ding ! To say bright, warm, sunny weather is best,
provided the stocks are in proper condition, will
sound like heresy ; extensive experience, however,

^yrs —

vo"^-

238

Cl)c ©:irkncn IBantljIn.

tells me such is the ca^ic. I may be asked why ?
And I would answer that in warm weather the sap
is more gelatinous ; and the bud on being extracted
and inserted in the stock quickly, properly tied,
&e., soon takes. On the contrary, in wet, cloudy
weather the sap is more thin and watery, and the
bud will not unite so freely. To this we may add
that a fall of rain — likely in such weather — after the
buds are inserted, will fill up the incision, and
thereby rot and jjerish the buds before they have
time to unite with the stocks; dry, warm weather
is the very best for budding.

PROPAGATING BY CUITINGS.

Propagating by cuttings is so well understood
that it i.* not neces.<ary for me to say much under
this head, — cuttings from out-doors taken off in
September will root readily in a cold frame. From
plants grown in heat they will root with great fi-ee-
dom any time during Winter and Spring in mode-
rate heat, and if bedded out in May make fine
plants the same season.

ARTIFICIAL CULTURE OP THE PEACH.

I5V DR. JAMES WEKIJ, MUSCATI.NE, KtWA.

It is now definitely understood that throughout
a large portion of the densely populated region of
the Northern States, the Peach, Apricot and Nec-
tarine are not generally successful in open culture.

In many parts the usual cold of the ^ViIlters is .so
extreme as to leave little or no hope of the fruit
even though the trees seem to flourish tor a time,
in others, more congenial, the fruit-buds together
with the layer of new wood of the past .season's
growth, over the whole tree, are occasionally killed
by the intense cold, causing the trees to be short
lived; and when so ibrtunate as to e.scape injuiy
from the Winters, the crop is liable to be destroy-
ed by frost or other unfavorable climatic conditions
at the j)criod of inflorescence.

These discouragements, occuring so repeatedly,
turned the attention of cultivators to their artificial
production.

The Peacherj- — a glasshou.se with means of fire
heat— is an old method involving much cost, but
with the advantage of producing what are termed
"/orc<'(/2>eac/ies," in advance of the natural sea.son.

The Orchard-house — we believe first successfully
advocated not uiany years ago by Mr. Ilivers in
England — a simple glazed structure without fire-
heat, naturally engaged the attention of our ama-
teurs, as the means of securing the uniform produc-
tion of this most delicious and indispensable fruit.

With the first attempts at orchard-hou.se culture,

in this country, Mr. Hovey, of the Magazine of
Horticulture, while he afforded his readers all the
information to be obtained from foreign periodicals
of their success in England, constantly predicted
their want of adaptation to our climate. Ilis argu-
ments were, that a simple covering of glass, unless
the house should be n)ade very tight and capacious,
was an insufficient protection against the extreme
cold so liable to occur in our Winters, and that
from the greater attitude of our Winter's sun, it
was difficult to prevent too great an accumulation
of sun-heat in mild weather, stimulating the trees
too much; hence he recomniended that to be satis-
factory they should be well built, and be provided
with a heating apparatus, which was in fact the
old peachery or forcing house ; but if not wanted
for forcing, a cellar or shed for Wintering the trees
was quite desirable, when in Spring the glazed
covering, with means of fire-heat in very unfavora-
ble weather would ensure success and afford the
proprietor not only choice fruit, but much pleasure
and satisfaction.

In some prefatory remarks to a paper on orchard-
hou.ses from the Gardener's Chronicle, in the June
number of his Magazine, he says : " The loss of the
Peach crop for the present year will naturally turn
the attention of lovers of this delicious fruit to the
orchard-house as the simplest and surest plan of in-
suring an annual crop of fVuit. * * In this way
success is made certain, and we advise all who dc-

I sire to have Peaches, to cultivate them in the

I orchard-house."

I Mr. Hovey is high authority on this subject.
Does he wi.sh his readers to understand him as re-

'. commending the old peachery or forcing-hou.se " as
the sinipJeM and surest plan of insuring an annual
crop of fruit;" or a simple glazed structure with

I cellar or shed for wintfiring the trees, and a shelter-

j ed border for maturing the fruit in open aii after
all danger of Spring frosts has passed ?

"The orchard-house" has become a popular
term, and it is important that it should have a de-
finite meaning. We use the terms "vinery" and
"cold grapery," and a definite and important dis-
tinction attached to the ideas conveyed. If writers
would say the hot orchard-hou.se or the cold orchard-
house, they would impart definite knowledge, and
not fail to be clearly undenstood.

In connection with this recommendation of orch-
ard-house, he say.s,— "M. II. Simpson, lOsq., is
trying the novel, or Dutch plan, of training the
trees horizontally on a low, flat trellis, covering
them with straw or hay a foot thick, to preven
the severe freezing of the buds. This year Mr. S

m^

(c^)^

.^urontcr s

lilonfjjij.

239

I?

informs \\s the trees look very promising, and full
of perfectly developed buds and blossoms. But
this, as he admits, is a laborious process. "

Another important disadvantage of this mode of
protection is, that they are not easily protected,
when in flower, from Spring frosts.

Another system of protection is described and
illustrated in the Horticulturist for June, by John
H. Jenkins. The trees are trained with a lower
tier of branches, which are readily bent down and
covered with earth in winter, while the centre of
the tree is trained in such shape as to be easily
done up in Autumn with a straw rope, or covered
with a box.

lias Mr. Jenkins been often successful in covering
with earth ? We tried earth covering many years
ago, but with us the buds rotted ; and the straw
covering, or a simple box, will not afford sufficient
winter protection in this region. If this box is
loose and used for the purpose of merely shading
from the sun's rays, it will have but slight effect;
and, if it is for the purpose of modif^'ing tempera-
ture, it mu.st be tight, and even then, will not not
be very efficacious.

It has been asserted, that if a tight barrel is
turned over a plant for winter protection, it is often
killed, where, if the head is loose, — simply laid on,
it is successful. If this is true, the fact is of im-
portance, and should be borne in mind in all at-
tempts at protecting the peach.

In a late number of the Prairie Tarme)' is an
account of Mr. Mason's success in Wisconsin. He
trains the trees low, — not more than four or five
feet high, places on them rafters, over which boards
are laid, which are covered with earth.

This plan involves the cost of lumber, and the
labor of covering and uncovering, which, if frost
threatens often in Spring, would be considerable ;
and if the growth of the trees is much retarded by
keeping the covering on late to avoid Spring frosts,
we opine it must be done with some judgment,
or losses will occur.

If orchard-house culture is "the simplest and
surest plan of insuring an annual crop," it is
plainly evident that the Peach, Apricot and Necta-
rine are luxuries for the few, as it is^nly the
wealthy, as a rule, who can incur the expense of
glass houses, with the risk of their loss or damage
by hail storms and other casualties ; besides the
successful management of orchard-houses involves
much labor and a good degree of gardening skill.

The conditions to insure an annual crop are, —

First. Healthy trees, with sound wood to the
centre, presenting, when cut, a clean white appear-

ance, much like that of a newly cut young hickory.
This condition may not be absolutely essential, but
we like a tree capable of circulating sap throughout
its entire organism.

Second. They should never be subject to a tem-
perature below zero, and if it can be kept at ten or
twenty degrees above, it is quite desirable.

Third. The trees should be wintered in an atmos-
phere neither too dry nor too moist, especially when
subject to the action of frost.

Fourth. It is desirable they should come forward
in Spring with the natural advance of the season.
Should be sheltered from cold winds and storms,
and must be protected from frost when in bloom.

We are this year growing the fourth annual crop
of Peaches, and the second of Apricots ; and, from
the knowledge of this limited experience, we are
perfectly certain that boards and straw answer the
above requirements much better than glass for in-
suring an annual crop at the natural season; Peaches
in June is another question.

[We do not know of any subject more worthy of
the attention of amateur horticulturists. Oar cor-
respondent deserves much credit for tlie persever-
ance he has displayed in the matter. He is on the
right track, and we trust our readers will freely
make any suggestions that may assist in developing
a good system of fruit protection as well adapted
to the American climate as Rivers's in England.]

BUDDING THE GRAPE.

BY J. W. JIERRICK, .JR., WALPOLE, MASS.

In the July number of the Monthly is an enquiry
about budding the Grape-vine, — and in answer to
it I give you my small experience, premising that I
cannot graft a Grape-vine, and never saw anybody
who could.

In August, or the first of September, 1862, I
budded a staminate native vine with buds of three
or four good varieties, the buds being inserted in
the usual way, and a bunch of grass tied round each
bud after insertion.

Several of the buds took and remained plump
and firm, but I very foolishly cut the top of the
vine off and' this started the buds which grew very
well, but of course were killed by the frost. If I
had been a little less hasty I should have had a
very curious composite vine the next season.

Before we can graft a vine successfully the causes
of failure must be ascertained, and I wish to ask if
any reader can throw light on this obscure subject?

1 think budding should be tried repeatedly with
different varieties. If it could be made as certain
with the Grape as it is in the case of the Pear or
Peach it is hardly possible to exaggerate the con-
venience it would afford the amateur.

^5

IT Op

S>i

240

Cjje O^ardnitr's Jflonljjlii.

PHILADELPHIA, AUGUST, 1866.

ETj" AH communications for the EJitor should be addressed.
"Thomas MFF.nAX. Germanto'wn,rhilaJelphia,''and Busine-s Let.
ters directed to "W. G. P. Brisckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes 1,$1; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6,and 7, unbound, $2 each.

THE LAWS OF CHANGE.

It is very fashionable in horticultural discussions
to appeal "to nature" whenever one wishes to
make a strong point in his favor. To "imitate
nature," to " follow nature, "and to " seek the natu-
ral way," are every day expressions in every essay
we hear, and in every book we read. This would
be all well if we understood " nature;" but daily
discoveries show we do not.

It was universally supposed that nature was the
same to-day as yesterday and forever. Every thing
is and always has been perfect. Nature was to
be considered as a grand schoolhouse in which there
was always a place for every thing and every thing
in its place. But as the scholars have got out of
school, rambling over rock and hill on their own
account, and tracing out nature's laws for them-
selves, they have found that Nature has really no
place for any thing. She is never at rest. Per-
petual motion is not only an essential law of her
being, but that motion is always forward. She
never returns to the place from whence she started,
— but seems to aim in all her efforts at some im-
provement. The mind of nature like the mind of
man seem& to place its highest hopes in making
her morrow wi.<er than to-day. Geology, Botany
and all the sciences have shown this continual pro-
gress of all nature in a sortof revolving circle where
the lines ever coincide but never meet.

Horticulture, perhaps more than any other
.science, has given the old stand still, fixed, per-
petual, unclianging character of natural phenomena
the most staggering blows. Instead of finding that
plants and flowers do best in their native places,
and in their native ways, it finds change essential
to perfection, and in many cases to absolute exis-
tence. The wild man of America has given place
to the European man, who, in turn, will be replaced
by some other man ; and in the same manner the
wild plants have been sup-planted, — nine-tenths of

all the common vegetation we sec around us. thriv-
ing with such vigor and luxuriance, are foreigners,
and those to the manor born have a fearful struggle
for existence. Indeed so much superior are in-
troduced plants over native ones in vitality that we
feel sure when Darwin remodels his work " Origin
of Species," he will include emigration as amongst
the most successful of the plants, " struggles for ex-
istence." He will find it as true as amongst them
as amongst men, that

" He who fights and runs away,
, Will live to fight another day."

The stand still theory has hampered horticul-
ture. The old notion that varieties of fruit wear
out, is probably true, — but it is more true in rela-
tion to this old view of nature than it is in fj\ct.
The Golden Pippin Apple, the variety on the sup-
posed wearing out of which Knight built up his
splendid speculation, would justify the notion per-
haps if confined for a few generations to the little
piece of ground embraced by England, — but in our
large country where it would have a chance to en-
counter new circumstances for a long time, the
" natural" period of duration of the variety would
be many times longer.

Our best writers in England, on the theory of
horticulture, scarcely recognize the fact that nature
"moves on," although every day practice teaches
it. The Orchid growers first attempted to " imi-
tate nature" in their Orchid-houses, and misera-
bly failed. Their practice is almost reversed now ;
yet it is interesting to notice in all their writings
strange efforts to prove, as they did in the former
case, that they " imitate the natural habitats of the
plants."

To American horticulture, however, more than
to P]uropean is science indebted for the discovery
that nature is not the best guide, — although to
modern horticulturists mostly is the credit due, —
for it is not long since that a pretty strong party
believed that "native fruits and native plants"
were much better than foreign one.«, principally
owing, no doubt, to the failure of the foreign vine
to do well here. The Pear, and the Strii wherry,
and the Currant, and many others have upset this
doctrine, — and it is now a well settled maxim with
intellige^l horticulturists, as with the infflligent
farmer who occasionally changes his seed Potatoes
for others from a distance, that " far fetched things"
are after all very often the best.

Ilow many thousands of beautifully written
e.ssays, by brilliant writers, has the world road to
show how the stamens and pistils of flowers are ar-
ranged with such an evident and wonderful design
to fertilize themselves. Yet Darwin and Asa Gray

_— ^^<§^

€1)^ ©arkiur's UoiiIjjIb,:

241

li:ivc proved that the tiutli really is, there is a con-
tjnual eilorfc on the part of nature to prevent this
self-iinpregiiutioi). In her ]iaLred of close family
coniicciioris in the unimal world, she Ii;is placed the
penuJty of physical and int(;llccui:il feebleness as a
biurier to thcni, — and in rlic vegelable world the
same laws secui t.o govern. In many jjlants scll-
iuiprcgnution is rendered impossible \iy I he .strnc-
lurti.* Pollen iVoui a distance niu.st be brought by
insects, — and 8iill more to ensure this infusion oi'
disuint circunisL;inces, slie has in many ca.scs divided
the sexes of plants so ihat the male find female pa-
rent-s of the seeds must come iioiii other individual
planLii, distinctly wide apart.

So far from nature being aiv.Mys unchanging in
licr nianilesiaiions, and a lit, example \'uv huriicul-
Lurists to eupy from, it is evident that, her only un-
changing law is that l/icrc vnii;L La cIkdujc, — and it
will alfurd comlbrt to the nur.^erynian .and the raiser
oi new \';irieties, and ihu imijoi'lci' or new and lare
trees, [Vuiis and (lowers, lo rcileci. ihat in conse-
quonco of ibis law, i hey are really ministering to
the wants of the horlicuhuial community ;^like as
to the necessities ol'a natural decree.

* Dr. Clr:iy li:ii* couh ibiiluJ lui iuloriXiiig pupi
.liiiy iiuiiiLur uf llco A hut i can Ar/yiciill iiri.il, si

■ flu [!io IiUiti tlio
r.viuy iljiB ]ioiiit.

AIVIEKICArCf POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY AT
ST. LOUIS.

From eoiiversaliou wiih Jrlends, and the letters
oi' coriesjxmtlents, wc hold it eertain that the
largest meeting of pumologists ever held in this
country will he that proposed to be held in St.
Loui.s during tlie first week in September.

Wiicn the idea of St. l^ouis was first proposed,
it was doubted whether it would be good policy to
hold it so far away from the great conires of ponio-
logical knowledge, — but the immense progress made
in this depunmenL of liorticultui-e by the West,
particularly the Southwest, .seemed to give it .a
strong claim on the Society to do something espe-
cially for it, — and it was with great pleasure we re-
corded llie final action of the Society in favor of
this view.

The events of the past two j'cars have been par-
ticularly f^ivornble to this choice of St. Louis. The
fortunes of war have prevented the attendance of
the Southern friends of horticulture, to whose
knowledge and experience in fruit culture the
Society has in times past been largely indebted, —
for it is only by tho cooiparison of facts gathered to-
gether from the widely separated districts of our

common country, ti,fit any rules to be of ge"enl
value can be deduced. With so much continuing
to irritate, which every student of history and
human nature iiuist well understand to be the na-
tural result of such a national struggle .'^s ours, and
which in the cour.se of human events must take
several year.s w eradicate and utterly destroy, '".^ny
allowances have to be made for peculiar courses of
conduct and opi,,im^ whieh otherwise would not
.stand the ordeal of judgment bv conin^<^^^ ^'^'^^'^•
I-Torticulture is proverbial lor its "fraternal tenden-
cies, but it would have been too much to expoct a
large attendance from tho. south, hud an3^ northern
point been selected for the meeting. By SO''^° ^°
St. Louis all go to meet each other, and a^l danger
of the usefulness oi' the Society being impeded by
wounded feelings -^vill be hajipily avoided.

There will bo some interesting features in this
meeting which have not been prominent in others,
but whicli will add much to the interest oi' the
affair. All former scs.sions have been mainly de-
voted 10 tlio discus.-;ion of varieties and tbeir adap-
tation to difl'ereiit localities. This has always been
very popular, and will, no doubt, be followed out
on the present occasion,— but from what avc can
gather from gentlemen whose opinions influence
the Society's action, considerable more attention
will be devoted to practical matters connected with
the succe-s.s of fruit culture than has heretofore been
customary. .

We look forward to the meeting with a great in-
terest,—assuii-d that no previous one will have had
so ha]ipy an inflncnco, and so useful a result as this
one in all probabi lirv will.

STRAWBERRIES THIS SEASOIM.

AVe have had many Strawberry plants sent, us at
different times by our friends to test, and these and
others that we have seen in our neighbor.s' grounds
this season have together afforded us sonic material
forjudging of tho comparative value or otherwi.se
of some v:iriolies, new or old, that may be oi" value
to our reader.' : —

Lacli/ J'-ivr/cr we find oft<;n to lose its pi.stils as
Lennig's Wliite' docs, which makes it produce but
a poor crop.

Hocaj s Sccdhng, when well fertilized and in
good condition for developing iis pistils thoroughly,
is still a very desirable kind.

Agriculiurist is a first-rate variety for sandy or
poor soils, — but not so good for rich ones.

TnompJic dc Gtind h yd amongst tho be.st for
rich soils.

^^

(^^^

•/c^\JtV-'

^^ «^

^

242

Sljfij (S:u-rlnwr's Ji^lcnthlj.

TJie Atlany SeedJmg is not yet probably to be
excelled for a gonenil good crop of large fruit in :in
avernge of soils.

Doitmcrs Prolific docs wonderfully well in many
localities, like Albany Seedling it will adapt itscli"
to soils and situations better than many olhers.

l'\lmore yet holds its ground as a good one to
follow earlier kinds.

Neic Jersey Scarlet is the earliest kind of its largo
size probably now before the imblic. It oonics into
bearing all at. once, very few being left for pickings
subsequent to tlic fii-st. It will be popular with
market men on this account, and as plenty of plants
will result it will, no doubt, be strongly advertised.
To the amateur a few plants for early ones will be
valuable.

RaiuloJph Pine seems to be the CJirlie.st vre liavc
seen. The flavor is very superior, but the crop, so
far as we have obseived, is light. It may suit well
some particular .soil.s.

PicnrJis SccdlinQ maintains its general character
very well.

Broohhjn Scnrlct is rather early, good bearer and
good quality, and we think will rise in public esti-
mation.

These are all the points that will be ])art.icularly
now to our readers that we have been able to make
from our own observations this season.

FORCING-HOUSES OF STEPHEN lYIORRIS,
ESQ., SCHOOL LANE, NEAR FHILA.

Under the able gardening of Mr. Wiii. Young, fchi.s
establishment is getting famous for distingui.^hed
success in the various branches of gardening.

The grounds occupy about t-en acrc^ we should
judge, and the mansion is situated near the centre;
and the winding carriage road is ta.stefully designed
to show off the house to advantage, ad well as to
add apparent size to the grounds. It .secm.s quite
a long drive, but the real distance from the public
road is small; yet this is accomjili.shed in such a
natural way as to seem without effort., and as if it
could have been done in nootherway. Itisseldom
these efforts in the art of hmdscape gardening suc-
ceed so well as they have done in this.

The houses consist of cold vinery, Orchideaj-
liousc, large conservatory, greenhouse, early forc-
ing-house, vegetable forcing-house and peachery.
The last is what wc would particularly notice to-
day. It is about fifty feet long and eighteen feet
wide. The Peach trees from four to six years,
j grown in tubs and pots averaging about IS inches
in diameter. The Peaches are gathered hy (he
hushd. Wc have seen successful pot culture of

fruit, but never any thing to equal ihi.s. The
family must be satiated with Pcacho.», and we un-
derstand they get all they want for themselves and
for presents to their rather numerous list of friend.'^.
A fruiterer, wc are informed, uffored SGOO lor the
whole crop to sell again.

Usually forced Peaches arc not equal to out-door
raised in size and flavor, — but tho.=;e were equal to
the best. It is astonisliing when one can get from
200 to 500 such fruit.* as thcni from a single tree in
an eighteen inch put that they arc not more grown
this way.

Mr. Young considers Stump the \^'orld. La
Grange, George IV, and Grosso Mignoune as the
best of all varieties for this way of culture. Halo's
Early lie values simply for its oarlincss, and would
have a few trees, but the quality he thinks not
equal to others which come a little later. It is
str.inge that aftei- all the m.-.ny new Peaches rai.=od
within the past lew years, low besides Stun\i> the
World, will rank in c.xccllcuce with many very old
kinds.

u^% en& ^uFrifS.

>Xj^ Coinm\\n'.c!i[\i.in>i fur llii« Jfjiardiioiu iiiii.-;! r.-;icli i)io HJiK
-jii or l)of<>rij :Ijc lOdi ofUio iiiuiiili.

n^^J^''" JMitor Ciiimot luinwor IlIuta fur lliiu lUinrtijn iit [ir
viiluly.

Tins .\ND Til.-\'l'— 67k/)-?('.<> Crvc/mfll, Grnnnii-
totvii, Pa. — ■■ Under the above Invading the 7Ajr/i'-
cnlliiri:il for .luly writes thus: 'Wo wcvo rcailing
the trau.-action.'^ of the ICastorn Pounsylvania Fniit
Growers' Society at the January, ISOG, meeting
when wc found iMi-, (^luokucll .said, ' I'oai-s worked
on Quincfi .stock.s could not be dopotidcd on to live
longer than about twelve year.s. '

"I am not a nieinbor of iho .society referred to,
nor arc llioir lran.>vactions for ISGG publi-lu'cl ; tin:
IJoiiicu/liiri.^t mu.^t, therefore, be mistaken in .=up-
posing that it irod any thing of the kind in tlicm.

" I have cultivated Pear trees long enough to
know bettor than to make so unqualified a s(;itc-
mcnt that the Pear on Quince stock will not live
longer than twelve years.

"Now, the facts arc thciC, Mr. Thomas Median
read an es.~ay on the ' Di-seasos of the Pear' before
the Pennsylvania JTorticuUxiral Society at the Feb-
ruary, 1S66, meeting. in the discu.ssion which
followed I did say the Pear on Quince, as a gonernl
rule, could not be relied on to bear and ripen a pro-
(itable crop of fruit after attaining the age of about
twelve years. If, on the other hand, the Pear on

Cjjft ©arknxr's ||l0ntljlj.

Pear can be made to bear as early as the Pear on
Quince, — and this I believe to be the only point
which Pear cultivators disagree on, — the superiority
of the standard Pear in other respects being ad-
mitted by all parties, — it were better for those in-
tending planting Pear orchards to give the prefer-
ence to that stock.

" Again, that journal says : ' We have Pear trees
worked on Quince planted out from the nurserj' in
1847 that are now vigorous and healthy.' I know
of a parallel case where Pear trees worked on Quince
planted seventeen years, and ^vigorous and healtliff
had borne no fruit during that period of time, which
under a different mode of treatment yielded a boun-
tiful crop of fruit for several j^ears afterwards.
Upon examination the trees were found to have
thrown out roots from the Pear, consequently they
were not strictly speaking on the Quince.

" Pears worked on Quince may, 'with judicious
care in pruning and culture, continue good one
hundred or more years,' but there is this much to
be said about it : I have never met nor heard of
that fortunate individual who understood, or who
could explain satisfactorily, what that 'judiciouscare
in pruning and culture' consists of, which makes a
world ot difference between dwarf Pears bearing
fruit for a decade or a century. Will those who
have these one hundred year old trees please give
us the practice?"

[Our good friend, Patrick Quinn, recently twit-
ted us, without ground, as the sequel proved, that
we did not read our New York contemporary very
closely. It beats us in reading when it takes the
Gardener s Montldy for the transactions of the
Fruit Growers' Society of Eastern Pennsylvania.

It might seem rather that our neighbor did not
read it at all, but was " put up to it" by a treacher-
ous memory or something else, especially if re-
membering a little piece of the same nature in
Hoveys JJagazhe, we jmt ' 'this and that together.

The combined "attack" evidently means some-
thing. Before we go farther, however, we want an
answer to this question from our contemporaries.

Do they mean to assert that the average duration
of Pears on the Quince planted in the United States
is equal to the average of Pears on Pear stock ? If
not, what is their idea of the average ?

Nursery of Ad. Borneman, Xenia, Ohio. —
We are asked to advertise for the proprietor of a
nursery card as above. As we have seen the same
name connected with Dayton, Versailles, Green-
ville and a host of other places, which travelling
nursery has a suspicious look, we should be glad to

know something of it before advertising. Do any
of our readers know ? We never interfere with the
advertisements of respectable dealers, — but it is due
to our readers that we be satisfied that the business
is a legitimate one. Xenia, according to reports,
is an unlucky place for nursery dealings anyhow.

The Heat. — In ancient times, and that too at no
very ancient date, a notion prevailed that this world
was a sort of prison-house in which, through sorrow
and suffering, one was to worry his three score and
ten along as cheerily as might be, until the grim
turnkey Death should open the doors and set him
free. There could be no wonder at this fancy if all
the world were as we have been here the past three
weeks — parboiled, baked, stewed and roasted. The
thermometer has ranged from 90° to 102° in the
shade almost without intermission, and our suffer-
ings, together with those of our plant pets, have
been almost intolerable. It seems something of the
matter prevails all over the Union, — for although
our postman puffs and blows as he enters our office,
it is not because of the weight of letters he brings
us ; for the welcome little straws, which show us
which way the horticultural wind blows, have nearly
disappeared. In fact there isn't any wind. We
suppose all the people who write letters must have
gone to the "Springs," the ''Mountains," the
"Sea-shore" or some such likeElysian spots which
editors hear tell of, or read about in the Arabian
Nights, but never see. At any rate the only verbal
query we have put to us by our friends is, " Isn't it
hot ?" and we have opened our drawer to reply to
the " Queries" that may have accumulated during
the month, and we find only one, — and that sodeli-
ciously cool for the season that we sincerely regret
that we did not find a few more of the same sort.
It is from a correspondent at Hammonton, New
Jersey, who writes about a very pretty portrait,
which every one has seen, of a beautiful Dwarf
Pear. — Pyms s&ys : —

"In the 'Rural Annual,' some years ago, was
given a pretty cut of a Dwarf Pear, loaded with
fruit, growing in the garden of the then editor of
the Horticulturist, and looking extremely beautiful.
That cut has been extensively copied so that almost
every catalogue in the country has it to this day, as
an illustration of what Dwarf Pears may be. It
would be a very nice tiling if you could or would
give us an illustration of that Dwarf Pear tree as it
is now.'^

We wrote to our friend Mr. J. J. Smith for his
permission to send our artist and have it figured ;
but, as will be seen by the annexed reply, find to

our regret that it will not help our friends, the now
editor of the Ilorfictdhirist or of Uoreifs Mtigoztue,
to bring up the overage duration of the Dwarf Pear
to 75 years: —

J nil/ 1 4th, 1806.
" Pkar Sir : — Absence must excuse my delay in
replying to your query. My Dutchess figured in
the IJorticuhun'st as so lovely, did well fur a year or
two and then disippcared, as have all my prospects
of Pear culture even in a small garden. W hat fruit
there is, is attacked by worms and certainly I have
not the value in returns of the interest of the co.st
of the trees. Kespectfully,

John Jay Smith."

41

ing the edges to meet at least on one side. Tie with
a soft woolen thread to keep the bud in its placi',
then cover it over, several inches thick, with moist
earth and let it remain until it unites. The i)iece
with the bud on should be left full lo'ig, and the
vine sp'-ung back gently to insert it easily' and wlicii
k'lt po ('in a strong vine) .should hold it fiim wiili-
out much tying. l]<e no wax. It the conditions
are carefull}' fidfilled the success will be e(iiial to
grafting.

We may, if of interest, give soniethinir on giaft-
ing the (inipe. — .1. Stay.maN, Le(iiriis>r<>r(/t. Kmi.

SkEDI.ING CaUNATIONS and PiCOTEES— /ro7/l
TV'. C. Strong, Brighton, Jilass. — "I send, by
mail, a box of seedling, hardy Carnations raised by
our friend J. F. C. Hyde. His bed is a wonderful
sight in profusion. It stands our Winters perfectly
and the grass is admirable. It strikes me, also,
that the flowers are unequalled. I trust they will
reach you in good condition."

[The.«e, packed in damp moss, as cut-flowers
should be, came in excellent condition. There
were five varieties all very good, and showing, by
the ea.se with which Mr. Hyde manages them that
the Carnation, and particularly good ones like
these, are worthy of more general cultivation than
they get. 1

BuBPiNO THE Grape-vine— We noticed in the
July number of the Gardener s J/o?i //«/?/ a corres-
pondent desires information upon budding the
(jrape. It is generally believed it cannot be done
successfully.

We were of that opinion eight years ago, when
we entirely failed in our attempts , but further ex-
periments has fully satisfied us that the vine can be
successfully budded.

The season to perform the operation in is quite
short and requires some ob.seiTation and ex|)ericnce
to know exactly the time to succeed well, as it varies
in the variety, location and season. At our loca-
tion from about the first of August until the first of
September, but we must wait at least until we can
get good wood nearJi/ matured. Cut a cane off about
three-eighths of an inch thick and one and one-fourth
inch long, with a good bud in the centre. Cut oflF
the opposite side smooth and level until all the pithy
part is removed froiii the bud. Then insert it, dove-
tail, in the side of the stock, near the ground, by
cutting out a piece corresponding with the bud, hav-

ELIAVANGER& Barry's " Tom Thumb" Aur.uii-
VIT/E. — A correspondent sends us a specimen wliicii
he sa3's he received from the above firm, as ilus,
and asks us if it is not the Japanese Arborvitse,
'J'hiija ericoides. It is certainly this plant. We
have not seen E. & B. 's variety, — this is the fii>t
time it has been brought before us, — either our
correspondent is mistaken in supposing he received
this plant from them, or Vj. & B. have sent liim,
accidently, the wrong plant ; for they are too inU'l-
ligent a firm to suppose they "found this a ><'^e<l-
ling amongst some American Arbovvita"!-;. " Thniii
ericoides is coiiininii and comparatively clieap. Wo
should be glad to get from some ono nn authentic
specimen of "Tom Thumb. ' '

•3Sooh, (JafaloguFS, %r.

My V^ineyard at Lake View.— By a Western
Grape Grower. New York : I'ublished by
Orange Judd Si, Co.

Such works as these ought not to be published
j anonyn)OU>ly. Similar works have been issued
i in the same way, and afterwards discovered (o be
; nothing but romances, — at least there were the
' grounds, and the cultivator of the grounds, — ^.just
I enough of each to found the romance on fact, as the
' best romances are. Such works usually make an
I immense sen.sation, but ?)o sooner is the author
known, and an examination of the real facts made,
than author and grounds sink at once into oblivion.
The excuse is that they do good. We repeat
here what we have said on other occasions, that we
do not think the good results are commensuraie
with the harm. Thou.sands of poor men are invei-
gled by the.«e tales into leaving occupations for
which they are fitted, and which afford themselves
and families fair livings, for another of which they
know nothing, and in which they usually fail, losing
a life's hard earnings, and deterring mar.y an one

.^y^

-£40

►(gA^~

- '>W

®i

®h^ hardener's ^plonthlfi.

2-i5

who wouM be well fitted for agricultural pursuits,
f'roiu milking the attempt by reasons of the other
sad failures.

Ill thitJ instance we do not know whether the
book is a romance or not, — but as it comes out un-
der tlie romantic cover we have referred to, we
cannot help treating it as such until wc know bet-
ter. The following sketch of tlie book shows how
the story runs, and the reader must take it "for
what it is worth :" —

The author was a practical printer, and a few
years since determined to go west. Thei'C he
bought forty acres of land iu southern Indiana, at
$25 per acre. The house was made of logs. He
repaired it. The barn was insufficient and he en-
larged it. He built fences, bought stock, prejiared
sheds, and did all which a judicious man could do
to render property valuable. He had $1305 when
he left the i»rinting office, and expended all but
$]'AH. He planted an orchard, and his wife made
an agreeable flower-garden. The first year left a
surplus towards paying the mortgage. The second
and third years were more prosperous, and he be-
gan to plant vines. These grew more valuable, and
ho tried new varietie.s. The Clintons, Concords,
Isabellas and Catawbas were the chosen varietie.s.
He studied what was published on the subject of
Grapes, and sought to improve his own knowledge.
Then he began a regular vineyard, found it profita-
ble and was encouraged by the imitation of others.
The third year showed some advance. The fourth
year he got $350 worth of (jrapes from a single
acre, besides a half barrel of wine. The vineyard
came into full bearing the filth 3'ear, and gave $250
clear profit from one acre of vines. At the time
of writing the author had five acres in bearing. He
balances the expense and profit by $1150 to the
former, and £2100 to the latter; leaving $1050 pro-
fit. Leaving this account of his personal experi-
ence, the writer ti'eats of the culture of the vine,
of soil and situation, of the preparation of soils, of
manures, of pruning and training ; gives an amus-
ing autobiography of a vine ; some considerable ex-
positions of treatment and of the varieties to be
used, with remarks touching new Grai^e regions
and ancient methods of culture.

Transactions op the American Institute
Farmers' Club, for 1863 and 1864.— From
J. \V. Chambers, Librarian.

We always value these rei)orts very highly be-
cause they mostly comprise facts gathered from
persons outside of the usual horticultural circle,
and which we could not probably get in any other

way. These are very al)h^ collated and indexed by
Mr. Chambers, to whom we are under obligations
for remembering us in distributing them.

Indiana ■ State Horticultural Society';-;
Transactions for 1866, beautifully bound for pre-
servation— a commendable example for other socie-
ties to follow.

Atlantic Monthly, for July, contains, amongst
other briefly interesting essays and sketches, the
first of a new series of papers by Prof Agazzis, in
which he gives accounts of various interesting mat-
ters that came before him on his recent explora-
tions in Brazil. Most of our readers, no doubt,
read the Atlantic, — those. who do not will miss a
rich treat in these chapters of Agazzis.

Bp!e Buh lierp ]pienh.

New Plants in the London Market.^
Azaleas. — The two following beautiful varieties will
be found great acquisitions, and they must take
first rank as exhibition plants, Princess Alexandra
being raised from the same parents as elegantissi-
ma, which has proved to be one of the best. The
present variety will be f)und superior in quality,
with much larger flowers, of a substance never be-
fore met with — the most important feature for pro-4
bilging the flowering season. Princess Helena
is recommended for its general usefulness, being a
free bloon)er and quite distinct in habit.

Princess Alexandra. — A beautiful form of
elegantissima, with flowers Gi inches across; petals
round and smooth, of great substance, slightly
striped with deep crimson ; a profuse bloomer.

Princess Helena. — Deep rosy pink, upper
petals spotted with lake. The transparency of the
flowers causes it to be distinct from all other kinds ;
habit good and free.

Rhododendrons. — The two elegant varieties are
the seedling productions of Mr. Bousie, late of
Stoke Park, and were exhibited by him a few sea-
sons since at the lloyal Horticultural Meetings, and
received Certificates of Merit as valuable additions
for greenhouse decoration, being of free-flowering
habit, a feature much wanted in a greenhouse liho-
dodendrom

Denisonii. — A seedling from Dalhousianum,
crossed with Edgeworthii and Gibsonii ; a very fine
variety, with splendid habit, well furnished with
clean-looking flattish elliptic leaves and large cam-

O^T-

246

ih^ (gardcni?r's <Ponthln.

panuhited flowers, pure white, with a lemon stain
towards the base, verj' elegant;

McNabbii. — From ciliatum, crossed with Edge-
worthii ; a very handsome plant, dwarfish in habit,
with smooth elliptic leaves, and beautiful large
blush white flowers.

Achiinenrs. — Six beautiful varieties have been
raised by Mr. Parsons, of Welwyn, and are consi-
dered far in advance of any j'et sent out. Pink
Perfection the sanie size as Mauve Queen and
equal in substance, while grandis gives the deepest
violet shade.

Advance — Flowers deep reddish purple, with a
li^'lit spotted eye, shaded towards the margin, quite
<li-tinct.

Arcus. — Color rich plum, large deep orange eye,
sjiottod with carmine, upper lobes of the flowers
beautifully rayed towards the margin.

Aurora. — Flowers 2 inches across; color rich
heavy scarlet, with light yellow eye, very effective.

Orandis. — Flowers deep violet color, with a deep
orange e3-e, finely spotted and shaded with carmine.

Pr.NK Perfection.— Flowers very large, color
niaironta rose ; the upper part of the eye rich car-
mine, the under lobes beautifully rayed with violet,
very fine.

Stell.a. — Flowers 2^ inches across, clear magen-
ta, orange eye, spotted with carmine, nicely .serra-
ted, distinct and beautiful.

Pa.ssiflora IIiTLLETii.— a stove climber, recent-
ly introduced from Rio Negro, on the banks of the
Amazon, in growth much resembling P. quadran-
irulari.<!, the leaves, which are very ornamental, be-
ing 8 inches across; the flowers are large white,
spotted with pink. Be.«;ides being a desirable addi-
tion to our flowering plants, it will no doubt prove
to be one of our most valuable Exotic Dessert
Fruits, the flavor of that produced by it in this
country last season being so delicious that it was
pronounced superior to any of our Pine-apples. It
requires a moist stove temperature.

SwAINSONIA MAQNIFICA, (figured in the Fhral
Mufj'izine). — A free-growing and free-flowering
greenhouse climber; native of Australia; habit and
character partakes of both the Clianthus and Swan-
sonia; whilst it has the robust and graceful- grow-
ing habit of the former, it jiroduces more promi-
nently the long pendent racemes of delicate bright-
colored i»ink flowers of the latter, with a pure white
centre in the upper petal or lobe. It is well adap-
ted for a cool greenhouse, treated as a pot plant or
planted out in a border for pillars or trellis-work.

Thunbergia fraorans.— The whole character
quite distinct to any other Thunbergia, and whether
grown as a pot plant or planted in the border for
covering pillars and trellis-work it will be invaluable,
being free in growth, with ami)le foliage of a dark
green, with great substance. It continues flower-
ing throughout the year, but its principal period is
during the Winter months, a time when white
flowers are scarce.

New Bedding Geraniums. — Verbenas have
failed so much the past few years that the astonish-
ing improvements in the old .scarlet Geranium
come in very opportunely for American flower gar-
dening. We have made up the following list of
new kinds from the English journals, — we have no
doubt many of them will be imported by our florists
this Fall for next Spring sales: —

Banneret. — Flowers .scarlet, crinison and pur-
ple-shaded, very bright and beautiful. A hybrid
nosegay.

Fairy Queen. — Rosy purple. A large smooth
flower ; very distinct and effective.

Minstrel. — A peculiar and pleasing shade of
salmon. Something in the way of ''Ijord Pahner-
ston," but brighter in color, and broader in the
petal.s.

Monte Rosa. — Dark rosy jmrple — pleasing
color ; large truss. Very fine.

Ni.MROi). — Orange-scarlet, white ej'e ; large flower
and truss ; foliage and habit fine.

PllCENix. — In the way of "Stella," in habit and
general character; the color flammiferous scarlet.

Prince of Orange. — Orange scarlet, very
bright, great substance ; good habit ; prodigious
bloomer.

Peach Nosegay. — Flowers deej), bright peach
color. A'^ery free bloomer, si)lendid truss, jilain
leaf First-rate and distinct.

Rebecca. — Cherry color; fine truss; dwarf com-
pact habit ; very profuse. The finest bedding
Geranium yet raised.

St. George. — Dark chestnut, shaded with black-
ish crim.son. Quite unique ; very free and effec-
tive. An entirely new color among I'clargonium.s.

Salmon Nosegay. — Flowers pure salmon ; large
truss. Good.

Sir J. Paxton. — Flowers true orange, very
bright; fine large truss. A splendid variety for
ma.ssing.

Wood Ny.mpii. — Salmon pink. Large and fine.

Alexandra. — Magenta.

Amy Hogg. — Bright purplish rose.

Black Dwarf. — Dark crim.son.

Ik

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SCfe ©ardnitr's (P;ontljIg.

Beaton's Indian Yellow. — Orange scarlet
suffused with 3'ellow.

Donald Beaton. — Clear orange scarlet.

Duchess. — Soft rosy lake.

FuLGENS. — Vivid scarlet.

Glowworm. — Magenta crimson, flushed with
scarlet.

Magenta Qi^en. — Magenta.

Orange Nosegay. — Bright orange.

Pillar of Beautf. — Brick red.

Princess Lichtenstein. — Salmon pink.

Salamander. — -Brilliant scarlet, large white eye.

Scarlet Gem.— Bright orange scarlet,

Mrs. William Paul.— Deli ate rose pink.

Waltham Seedling. — ^Dark crimson.

Varieties especially recommended for growing in
pots or vases.

Bride. — Flowers white, with large crimson eye;
of fine shape and substance. A first-class variety
for pot culture.

Cardinal. — Flowers dark orange scarlet. For
shape, substance, color and habit, this is in advance
of any scarlet j'et raised.

Celestial. — Flowers ro.sy lake, with fiery spot
on upper petals ; their centres bluish purple, re-
sembling the " Cactus speciosissimus ;" large white
eye. New in color, and very beautiful.

Lord Chancellor. — Salmon pink, white eye.
Perfect shape, very free, fine habit.

Poet Laureate. — Rosy purple ; top petals
orange scarlet ; yellowish eye. Perfect shape.

Tiara. — Flowers scarlet crimson, suffused with
purple ; good truss. Very free, fine habit. Quite
distinct from anj' j^et raised, and very lovely.

Miniature or Pompon varieties.

Diamond. — Fine scarlet, purple centre, white
eye. Flowers profusely ; habit good ; distinct.

Dryad. — Beautiful rosy pink. Fine shape and
truss.

Naiad. — Flowers purple, scarlet top. Pleasing
and distinct.

Waltham Lilac. — Flowers pure lilac, very pro-
fuse. A new and desirable color. Excellent for
massing.

Zephyr. — Flowers light purple top : petals rose
color. Stands the rain and sun well ; very dwarf
and free.

Wilson's Early Blackberry. — We had some I

from Mr. Collins last year, of the flavor of which we
could not speak highly, --though we suspected the
sphagnum in which they were packed had much to
do with it. We have now another sample, and can
say that they are of good size, beautiful dark, black
color, not so large as Lawton's, but better in quali-
ty. We suppose their earlincss is the main point,
however, claimed for them. We have one set side
by side with a Dorchester, our earliest bearing, and
believe it is earlier than it. We regard it as a
valuable variety.

Some Foreign Strawberries. — Mr. E. J.
Evans, of York, Pa., sends us some samples of
Foreign Strawberries, which reached us in fine
condition, with the following note : —

"We send to daj^ by express, prepaid, a few
samples of Strawberries, which we desire you to
examine and taste. Owing to the depredations of
birds and thieves, we had to take them off too
soon to do them justice, but you can still, perhaps,
judge of them relatively, as far as sampler will
enable you to do so. We send Lucas, Marguerite,
Haquiii, Virginie, Hero, Lorenz Booth, Jucunda,
La Constante, Napoleon, 111, Progress and Delices
d' Autumne. Hero, Virginie, Haquin, Progress,
Napoleon III, and Lucas, we consider very promis-
ing. Lorenz Booth wish to test further. La
Constante has heretofore burnt badly (in its foliage),
and Delices cT Automne did not bear well last year,
but promises better this. Marguerite with us is soft
and deficient in flavor. Jucunda promises well,
but is neither as firm or as productive as some of
the other kinds sent. Will, perhaps, have some
other varieties to send you this week. Had some
beautiful Agriculturists, which intended sending to
compare with Mr. Knox's Jucunda,and Mr. Hovey's
flivorite La Constante, but they disappeared last
night.

[The following notes we made of them may pos-
sess an interest : —

Margeurite. — Rich aromatic flavor.

Virginie. — A square pointed, flattened variety,
with longitudinal ribs, remarkably firm and solid,
but acid flavor.

La Constante. — A very distinct kind, not likely
to be mistaken for any other of the well-known
kinds ; regular, inclining to flatness, and to ribbing
occasionally, with a broad green point, with numer-
ous prominent small seeds. The peduncles or fruit
stems are longer than in most varieties. Color
deep crimson scarlet; flavor not equal to some
others.

Jucunda. — Seeds small, prominent, numerous, I (t\

^^Is

but not quite so much so as in La Constante.
Berry inclining to long, tapering suddenly, rather
lighter than La Constante, and not quite so good
in quality.

Dtlices il Atitomne. — A much darker and different
berry to what we have before known as this variety.

Lorenz Booth. — A new name to us, and a variety
we have never seen ; the berry is so deeply ribbed
as almost to appear as if two or three berries were
united in one. The seeds small and numerous, and
color dark crimson ; flavor second-rate.

Frof/ress. — A dark, roundish berry, very much
resembling the old Alice Maud, and about the
same qualitj'.

Najioleon III. — This is one of the most distinct
fruits we know, and one of the best in many re-
spects. It is larger than any of the others named.
It is very variable in forn), some nearly round,
others oval, some coxscomby, and others triangular
and irregular. The color light red, with a pinky
tinge ; seeds small and numerous, not very deeply
set ; flesh a snowj' whiteness ; flavor equal to any
we have named, except Marguerite. If this should
prove a regular and abundant bearer, well adapted
to most soils and situations, it would be a valuable
kind.

These Strawberries are all rij e, our own being
only just rii.ening. — Ed. ]

Xew Strawberries. — The following note from
Mr. John Saul, though not exactly favoring " new
Strawberries," we give a place under this head : —

" I was struck with the very just remarks you
made on Strawberries in the June number. How
few — very few of these new varieties are of any
real value. I have grown Strawberries extensively
for nearly fifteen years in this latitude, yet the
varieties I should recommend for general culture
are but few. I woidd remark, that for years I have
imported all the new leading foreign kinds, as well
as collected those new home introductions, in order
to thoroughly test them. Occasionally we find a
foreign kind that proves fine, or a desirable new
native; but the.se should have several years trial
before their characters can be fully determined, and
before they should be recommended for general culti-
vation, though it is most desirable that in-omising va-
rieties should be fairly tested by those Pomologists
who have ojtportunities of doing .so. What I recom-
mend have not novelty in their favor. The foreign
varieties are River's Seedling Elizi, Triomphe de
Gand ,Jucunda, Victoria, and La Heine; Native —
Wilson's Albany. Ilovey, and Fillmore.

I have placed these in the order in whicli I

esteem them. Seedling Eliza is an old variety, j'et
it still maintains its character with us as the finest
of Strawberries. Triomphe de Gand is well known,
and needs no description. Jucunda I place third ;
it is a fruit of the largest size, — perhaps the very
largest, and though of excellent flavor, not fully up
to Seedling Eliza. It is also a good cropper. This
variety requires high culture. I have found it suc-
ceeds best on dry, deep bottom land, whore it gives
fine crops of monstrous sized fruit. The origin of this
variety appears not to be generally known. It is of
French origin, — was raised by Messrs Jamin it
Durand, and imported by me in the Spring of 18.0S,
since which time I have grown and disseminated it
pretty extensively. Growers may plant it safely,
but they must treat it well. Victoria and La
Iieine are both fine reliable berries. Of the three
native varieties I need .say but little, Wilson's
and Hovey's being well known ; probably the last.
Fill more, not so well. I find it u.seful as a late
variety, though its friiit is rather dark for market,
and not to compare in flavor with Seedling Eliza, &c.

I find little to recommend in these new varieties.
Russell's and Buffalo.ifnot identical with McAvoy's,
they have been reproduced so closely as to make it
difficult to show wherein they differ. French's
Seedlinsr has not proved valuable here.

I would remark, that the crop in this region has
been this season quite light, in consequence of
frosts the latter part of April and early in May,
destroying the bloom.

Stinger's Seedling. — The following descrip-
tiiin of this variety is thus given us by a friend : —

This Strawberry was raLsed by William H
Stinger, near Gray's Ferry, Philadelphia, from
seed of Triomphe de Gnnd, planted in 1861.

It has stood the winter and summer well ; is a
strong, hardy runner, making it a valuable variety
for culture, and can be confidently recommended
as a No 1. beny for either the market gardener or
the amateur.

The leaf is of a light green color, and the fruit a
brilliant scarlet. The flowers are perfect, and the
plant an abundant bearer, producing fruit of an
even size on a stiff stalk.

Was first exhibited at the June meeting of the
Penn.sylvania llorlidtural Society in 1805, by
Charles Harmer, of Philadelphia.

It was then named "The Union," and was
much admired for the firmness of the fruit, its .size,
flavor and color ; but finding one of the same name,
it was change to that of the Originator.

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249

TuE Texas Blackberry. — Mr. S. B. Buckle}^
says, in Country Gentleman: —

Blackberries thrive and bear abundantly here. I
speak of the common wild species of this State,
(Rubus trivialis,) which bears a fruit which I think
to be superior to the one in common cultivation at
the North, (Ilubus villosus. ) Raspberries are rarely
cultivated, and probably when their merits become
fully known they will be grown in almost every
garden.

Hybrtt) Raspberries. — Mr. Charles AmohJ,
I'aris, Canada West, sends us the following : —
I send you .some Raspberry fruit, the plants being
only three years old from the seed. There is not
more than a dozen plants of any one of these
varieties in existence, and these are all in my own
ground, except two plants that were sent to Mr.
Charles Downing, in x\pril last.

All the varieties .sent are the result of applying, —
first, the pollen of Belle d'Fontenay to the pistil of
our wild White Cap. The first generation clings
to the bramble character with great tenacity, only
three out of several hundred bearing the least
re-eniblance to the male parent. These three were
selected, and again cro.ssed with the pollen of Belle
d'Fontenay and White Marvel of Four Seasons,
and the fruit now sent is the result.

All that I claim for them at present is, that they
are perfectly hardy, standing on a cold, bleak knoll,
between 43° and 44° north latitude, without any
protection, either of snow or any thing else, and
without the ameliorating influence of any body of
water, while the Autwerps, Brinckle's Orange and
Franconia, were almost killed out, root and branch,
this la.st Winter.

No. 2, Red and Late, and No. 3, White, have
the appearance of being enormously productive, —
and, strange to say, that nearly the whole genera-
tion of them show the perpetual character very
strongly. Judging from the present appearance of
No. 3, Red, and from its manner of fruiting last
years I think I could send you ripe fruit from it,
at least, five months in the year.

Please give us your opinion of the fruit, so far as
you can judge, after its having travelled such a dis-
tance.

If such kind of communications are acceptable,
I will send you fruit of several of ray new Grapes
in the fall.

[We regard these specimens and this letter with
great interest. We have never felt sure these
different species of Raspberry would hj^bridize, —
but the appearance of these berries satisfies us of

'S-m

th"! correctness of Mr. Arnold's idea that, hybridiza-
tion did really result from the attempt to cross them.

At page 218 of our vol. 2, we expresi^ed some
doubt about Mr. River's guess, that the Engli^^h
Black Raspberry might be a cross between the Black-
berry and the Raspberry, but this result of an
attempt to cross, rather confirms the tlieory. With
these facts, the door is fairly opened for the appear-
ance of more strange forms, which will have a great
interest to our cultivators, — for the hard, wild
nature once completely broken up, there is no
doubt a valuable race of fruits will spring up that
will be quite famous.

The quality of the fruit was equal to Catawi,-sa.
-Ed. I

JfOFFip

igFiirp.

Currants. — Nearly all the varieties grown here
are of European origin. The kinds have got con-
siderable mixed, and few know how to distinguish
them. We give, therefore, the followinEr complete
monograph entire from the London Gardener s

Weekly Magazine: —

" Let us take the three kinds, beginning with
the red. In this cla.ss the best variety known is

Wilmoi's Long Bunched Red., which gives bunches
of great length. I once grew a bunch seven inches
long — with large, handsome berries, colored a fine
deep red. The flavor of this Cun-ant is excellent.
It is sufficiently sweet to suit most palates, and
suSiciently sour to be described as sprightly, yet it
is not so acid as to cause the face of the person par-
taking of it to screw up into ridiculous outlines, as
must happen in the eating of .some of the more acid
kinds. I recommend this for real service as com-
bining beauty with good quality and pri^uctive-
ness. Next in point of quality stands Rahy C<(fitle,
which does not produce such large bunches, but
the berries are large, the color is beautiful, the
flavor more acid than the Long Bunched, and the
fruit ripens later and hangs longer than that of any
other vari(5t}'. The tree is, moreover, highly pro-
ductive, and may be grown to form very handsome
standards. As there are not many sorts to be had,
all who care to make a feature of Currants, whether
for the kitchen or the dessert, or both, should take
all the good ones that can be had. Supposing,
then, that the two named above are determined on
— and the diff"erence between them is not great —
the further selection will be for particular pur-
poses. Which, then, is the best variety for that
important domestic operation jam-making? I think i^

-rtcy

-S|J

250

£^e ^ardnicr's dllontjjli).

L>i FcrfiJ^wWl bear away the jialm for superiority
in this respect, but those fine varieties Cherry and
Champagne make excellent jam and jelly because
of their agreeable acidity and pulpiness. La Fer-
tile produces a very large berry of a fine red color,
and it is the most fruitful of all known varieties
that possess really good qualities. This, too, is a
capiial market sort, because of the quantity and
beauty of the fruit, and it is thoroughly hardy, and
never suffers from Spring frosts. Chxmpagne is
in no way remarkable tor size of bunch or berry,
and to my eye its color is rather objectionable, be-
inir a pale pinky-red. It is good, however, for its
prodn(;tiveiiess and flavor, being sprightly acid, and
will suit those who consider Red Dutch a tame des-
sert fruit ; but I confess I abhor the acidity of all
the sprightly.kinds of Currants, they make me twist
my features into such contortions that T suppose if
I were being hanged I could scarcely do better or
worse. Another capital sort for all other culinary
purposes is Ilonghton Castle, which bears prodigi-
ously, and comes late, like the Long Bunched, but
in no respect resembles that noble variety either in
size of bunch or berry. All points considered, I
think we must come back to La Fertile as the best
for every culinary purpose, and also for market.

" It is a matter of no small importance to select
varieties of fruits so as to secure from each group
as long a .season of supply as possible. To do this,
we want early, mid-season, and late sorts. The
earliest Currant I know of is La Ilative, a very ex-
cellent continental variety, which is usually ripe be-
fore any of the mid-season kinds begin to color. It
is a most excellent variety — fit for any purpose, but
rather tender in constitution, and hence, should
have a sheltered position. Grow it on a wall or
boarded fence ; this will secure it shelter, and pro-
mote its early prnduction to the utmost. Another
good early kind is Cherry, which succeeds La Ha-
tive, and is the largest red Currant known, but un-
fortunately the bunches are short. When thorough-
ly well grown, the berries of this variety are like
Cherries, and for exhibition purposes are invalua-
ble. It is, moreover, very good in quality, and has
an agreeable acidity of a very sprightly kind ; it is
a refreshing fruit, yet not so sour as to cau.se one to
shudder. For mid-&ea.son supply, there is nothing
to beat Red Dutch ; it can always be depended on
for a fair crop ; the bunches are small, the bon-ies
of fair average size, a fine, deep red color, and the
flavor is sweet, rich, and will suit any palate. La
Versailh'i is more prolific, and comes in at the same
time ; the berries are large and handsome, but it
does not equal Red Dutch in flavor, though it is

good, and fiir surpasses in every quality the common
red of cottage gardens. The three varieties of
Knights's Currants, namely. Knight's Early Red,
Knight's Large Red and Knight's Stveet Red, arc,
in my opinion, comparatively worthless. Mr,
Rivers describes Knight's Early as ' early and very
good,' and if we had to choose between this and
the common, we would take the first in preference
to the second. But while such early sorts as La
Hative and Cherry are obtainable, we can do with-
out it, for it has no special merit of flavor, or beauty,
or productiveness to recommend it. Something
similar may be said of the other two, except that
Knight's Large is large, but so arc others that are
of better quality.

"You see that it has happened here that the
latest sorts were put first, but that was becau.se
they happened to be the be.st, and I was aiming at
the best at thefirst start, before thinking of seasons
and successions. But if we come back to late kinds,
it is only needful to say that Houghton Castle and
Raby Castle will take their proper place to lengthen
out the season to the very latest. A few trees of
these two kinds should be planted in the coldest
position you have, so as to make the most of their
procrastinating tendencies. I shall only say, to
wind up this paragraph, that all wise gardeners
who read this magazine — and all wise gardeners do
read it — will begin at once to secure a few good
varieties of red Currants to take the place in duo
time of all the trees of common red to be found in
their gardens. When the better kinds begin to
bear, take up all the common, and either give them
away or burn them. Do the thing well and you
will never repent ; nay, you will often call to mind
this word of advice, especially when paid by extra
prize-money, and enjoying extra popularity through
showing the best red Currants at the exhibition of
fruits and flowers.

" Of white Currants, there are very many accord-
ing to the names which exist, and there may be
many without names. Who knows? To assert a
negative is almost as dangerous as attempting to
prove one. But for an aSirraative I can say that T
never .saw but one kind, and that is White Dutch.
For instance, Jeeves' White is White Dutch ; Mor-
gan White is White Dutch ; New White Dutch is
White Dutch ; White Grape is White Dutch ;
White fjeghorn is White Dutch ; ITumher's White
is White Dutch. Confound those fellows who tack
their own names to the things they had no hand in
originating. It is worse than if they carved their
names on oak trees and churchyard palings, and is
of the same type of trickery as that of the seeds-

.^hr

men who call Emperor Pea SmitJis Lightning,
Brown's Instantaneous, Jones Champion and Rob-
inson''s nasty, in order to make a little local fame,
and at the same time get an extra sixpence or shill-
ing a quart. The large bunches of white Currants
j'ou see at Covent Garden are White Dutch, and
the reason why they are so large is because they
come from the rich soils of Fulham and Bermond-
sey, where the trees are pruned in Winter to mere
stumps, every j'oung shoot being cut back to about
two inches. Do the same and j'ou will have similar
results, and that is the only way to win at exhibi-
tions, and at home to secure the good favor of the
ladies, with whom, by-the-bye, white Currants are
always in good favor.

"As for black Currants, the same condemnation
must be passed on the common kind as the common
red deserves and has had. Turn it out and do bet-
ter. As a conscientious man, I cannot help re-
marking that I am like the free and easy parson
who said, ' Don't do as I do, but do as 1 tell you."
I have in one part of my garden a dividing fence
much overshadowed with trees. It is a spot where
ornamental trees would be lost, even if the shade
did not prove fatal to them. There \ have a grand
row of black Currants of the common sort — fine,,
old long-legged trees that are tied in to stout galva-
nized wire, and the produce is so acceptable for jam
that it will be a long time, I expect, ere I sweep
them away and put better kinds in their stead. In
fact, the common black is very good, but there are
two that beat it, and those two you ought to have.
The best of the two is Ogdens Black; it surpasses
common black in every way, and is quite as hardy ;
it produces finer bunches and finer berries, and has
a fine, rich flavor most acceptable in that best
of invalid's delicacies, black Currant jam, which
l)Ossibly many folks who are not invalids can relish
in a tart or on a biscuit with a glass of good brown
sherry. Black Naples is finer still every way, but
not so hardy, so those who live in very cold places
must not depend upon it till they have given it a
fair trial. It is a fine, large berry, rich and juicy,
better flavored than any other of its class, and if
grown in rich, moist soil ; — black Currants require
a rich, moist soil, — drainage is almost of no conse-
quence— the berries come of immense size, and re-
semble the little black Cherries (merries) that are
so much esteemed by snug people for preparing
that esteemed liquor known as Cherry gin. It is
very odd that with such fine sorts to choose from,
people should be so quietly content with sorts that
are comparatively worthless ; yet so it is, and the
day is yet to come when Currants will be as proper-

ly cared for as Peaches, Nectarines and Grapes.
But it will come ; it is one of the necessities of the
' good time coming.' "

[It is worthy of note that the "Prince Albert" is
omitted from this list — what we have seen as P.
A. is a miserably small and poor thing. Is there a
variety under this name really good for any thing
as represented in our papers years ago ? — Ed. G. M. J

The Apple of Sodom. — Solanum sodomeum,
found by Sibthorp in Sicily, of which a splendid
figure is given in the Flora Grajca, is a native of
Africa and S.yria. It obtained its name from being
regarded as the plant which Hasselquist had identi-
fied with that bearing the famous Apples of Sodom,
described by Josephus and by Tacitus as fair to the
eye, but when plucked dissolving into dust and
ashes. But for this identification Sibthorp must
be regarded as an insufficient authority, as he never
visited the Holy Land, and the species commonly
met with at the Dead Sea is the Solanum coagulans
of Linn?eus, the S. sanctum of Forskahl and the S.
Hierochunticum of Dunal, described by the latter
in De Candolle'sProdromus. Robinson, therefore,
in his "Biblical Researches," appears to be mis-
taken in naming it the S. Melongena, a name given
by modern botanists to a whole section of the Sola-
nea3, and not to the particular species which repre-
sents the true Apple of Sodom ; nor does he seem
warranted in adopting the suggestion originally
thrown out by Seetzen, that the latter plant was an
Asclepias. It is true that the Asclepias gigantea
or procera, the Osher of the Arabs, is found in a
few places on the borders of the Dead Sea, and its
fruit, when opened, contains nothing but a dusty
powder. According to Robinson, too, it resembles
a large, smooth Apple or Orange, hanging in clus-
ters of three or four together, and when ripe of a
yellow color ; if so, diff"ering greatly from other
members of the Asclepias tribe, whose seed-vessel
certainly bears no sort of resemblance to either of
these fruits. But I am assured on good authority,
that the Asclepias alluded to is an extremely rare
plant in that locality, whilst the Solanum is very
common ; and the interior of the Apple of the Sola-
num just mentioned is likewise, it is said, frequent-
ly converted into a powder-like dust, through the
puncture of an insect. Upon the whole then, I am
inclined to adhere to the older notion, that the lat-
ter was the plant intended. — Dauheny's Trees and
Shrnhs of the Ancients.

Profits on Mushrooms. — Recently at the f
Sheriff's Court, Red Lion Square, before Mr,

^'^^y^av^

Humphre5's, coroner, as assessor, and a special jury, [
a compensation case, " Inglisli rx. tlie Metro|iolitan
Rui'.way Company," occupiel the Court nearly the
whole day. The claim was for 716?., in respect of
premises and business as a nurseryman at Konsin*^-
ton. Tt a))pears that the claimant, Mrs. Inglish,
willow of Mr. Inirlish, who had carried on the busi-
ness for years, was a Mushroom grower, and had a
number of beds. The railway had taken possession
of the ground, and a lo.ss had been sustained. It
was stated in evidence that the pro6t3 on Mu.sh-
rooms amounted to from 100 to 150 per cent. One
witne.sssaidif 50/. were expended in twelve months, '
or perhaps in si.x months, the sum realized would
bo 20()/. Several witnesses were called on both
sides, and the assessor, in placing the case before |
the jury, remarked that the profits on Mushrooms
had, no doubt, surprised them. In addition to the i
compen-sation for the place, the jury could compen- }
sa'e the claimant for the loss of the business, and
also in reference to the profits on Mushrooms. The ■
jury eventually assessed the compensation at 250/.-
London Gnrdener s Chronicle.

dl

Mode of Obt.mning Nu.mkrous 13iti>.s on Ca-
mellias.— To produce this result, and obtain fine
healthy Camellias, which will remain in flower from
the month of l)ecembcr to April, they should be
repotted directly they have ceased flowering, and
before their fresh buds appear, which else would
be sure to suffer. The most suitable soil is that
formed by a mi.xture of one part fat loam with two
parts peat-mould, combined with the necessary
quantify of sand. The Camellias are kept warm
and under cover until their new roots begin to shoot
forth. They must be but moderately watered at
the root, but constantly and abundantly syringed all
over. As soon as the young roots begin to be firm
in the earth, the plants will require a much greater
quantity of air, and in a very short (ime these new
roots will cause them to develoj) vigorous branches,
on which the flower-buds will form, and on no ac-
count must the plants be placed in the open air till
the.se buds have attained suSicient development.
From the commencement of July to the end of
August the Camellias may remain out of doors;
longer is not advisable, since in our climate the
later days of Summer are subject to heavy rain. —
M. D.\_M.\NN, Horticulturist, of Gorlitz.

The Great World's Exiiiiution in London.
— The Corr spondent of the l)c<r/(/ gives the fol-
low.ng rather fancy sketch: — The Prince and Prin-

cess of \\ ales were auion-st the earliest to view this
truly wonderful d sjilay, both ol fruit and flowers.
The Prince, it was said, admired the radishes m st-
ly — and much merriment was ca ised by tlie rniiiov
— but when it was known that it was the n.nv ./<irn
radish, which i.e had so greatly admired, wo dir
c a.sed, and geu'-ral curiosity be ame conceiirr.it(^il
on this extraordinary plant, which, it is affirmed,
will eventually become one of our cheapest and ;i;ost
useful vegetables en attendant; the seeds are stid
sold t one guinea per seven. I think I describe i
the Java, or "rat's tail radish," to you, in .m ' of
my former letter-. I will, therefore, spare yon a
repetition, and |)roceed at once to the strawbt-nies
and grapes, which are the finest I ev..r saw. () i
one plate, each strawberry had cost the oxh bitor
one guinea to rear. He is a poor man, this exhib-
itor. To him, his plateful of strawberries is more
valuable than all that is in the tent ; for, besides the
ill-spared gold that he lavi.shed on each fiuit, he
counts his days, his months of labor, ere he l>ri-ught
it to perfection. On the first night of the show,
with the quick eye of love and fear, he sees that
one is missinr/ ! Who could describe the agony oi
that po r man's face ! He could not speak — but in
the sudden and intense surpri.se of grief — lie wept !
Yes, the gardener wept for the loss of hisso hardly-
reared strawberry, as a mother would have wept for
the loss of a beloved child I And it was one of the
great ladies, one of the elite of society, who bad
stretehet her aristocratic hand tonard the templing
fruit — and with the haughty nonchdance of rank
had tasted it — then smiled at her own impudence.
She is known, however ; and, doubtless, has paid
for her tasting propensity — but I would have had
her name publicly announced, as a warning to fu-
ture would-be depredators. No punishment should
be too great for so wilful and heartless a robbery.
Had her example been followed by the many thou-
sands there, not a tree orflower could havereniaine(l
intact. But enough. Let us go to the other tents.
Here you have azaleas, whose height and circum-
ference are a theme of wonder to the botanists of
all nations, as also are the variegated geraniums and
the variegated rose, (the first of the kind ever exhib-
ited;] the i»erfumes from the exotics were almost
too strong too bear; the sweetest scent being deci-
dedly that of the Lilium auratum,a. plant which costs
from twenty to thirty guineas each ; the first bulb
indeed, of the Lilium auratiun cost the introducers,
Messrs. Veitch & Sons, no less than 1, 200 guineas.
Talk of the tulip daj's after that! Messrs. Veitch
& Sons, by-the-bye, carry off nearly all the i)rizes,
their /orcign rival being Mr. Linden of Brussels.

(e

m

Modern History op the CnRYSANTHEMDM. —
In IS46, a new era commenced in the hi.-tory of the
Clirysanthemum, for at that time Mr. Fortune
bniught from China two small-flowering varieties,
kniiwii as the 'Chusan Daisy and Chinese Mini-
luiuii.' These were similar, in size, to those now
callcii Liliputians, and were probably varieties from
the true C. Indicum,of Linrit')eus,or Matr!cariajapon_
ica of Koempfer, a plant of which (as previously no-
ticed) grew, in 1764, in the Botanic Garden at Chel-
sea. These would, in all probability, have shaied
the fate of their predecessor had they remained in
England, foi although Mr. Fortune admired them
in Chnsari, they were considered too small and in-
signifirant for English taste. The French o[iinion
of them, however, was far different, tor immediately
upon their introduction, in ]<S47, into the alieady
well-known collection at Versailles, the little Chusan
Dai-y became a favorite. From these two varieties
have sprung all the Pompons now in culivation.
Chine.«e Minimum was a dark, double flower, and
pruduced but little seed, while the other, with its
dai>-y-like, senii-doul)le flowers, .seeded freely the
first year, and the result surj assed the most san-
guine expectations; the seedling flowers )>eing more
double than the original, and from their compactness
and resemblance to a reset e, received the name of
']»ompon,' and were called Pompon Bijou, P. Cha-
pcau Ptoufe, P. La Liliputien. e, P. Le Nain Bebe,
P. Petit Poucet, and P. Tom Pouce. — Cottage
Gardener.

Poetry of the Ivy. — The ancients held the Ivy
in great esteem. It was consecrated to Bacchus,
who is represented as crowned with it; and it was
often twined with laurel and the vine in the poet's
wreath. Milton speaks of the "Ivy-crowned Bac-
chus," and Pliny informs us that it was the yellow-
fruited Ivy which was consecrated to the God of
Wine, and also destined to crown the poets. When
Bacchus was seized by the pirates, his presence
was made manifest by many wond-ous changes that
took place in diff'erent parts of the vessel, which
Leigh Hunt thus translates from H jmer:

"For first a fountain of sweet-smelling wine
Came gushing o'er Ihe deck witli .sprightly shine,
And odors, not of earth, their senses took;
The pallid wonder spread from look to look.
And then a vine tree overran the soil,
Its green arms tossing to the freaksome g.ale;
And then an Ivy, with a flowering shoot,
R,in up the mast in rings, and kissed the fruit
Whiulihare and there the dripping vine let down,
^^ svery oar there was a garland Crown.

The Upas Tree. — This, though an unpretending,
is, from the associations that fable and poetry have

connected with it, one of the mo.st interesting plants
in British collections. The leaves are ovate, about
3 inches long, pointed and hairy, and exude so ven-
omous a juice from the end of the i)etiole when
gathered, that if incautiously placed in the hat for
safe conveyance home, should the fkin of the head
be touched by the juice, the roots of the hair are
destroyed, and a bald place is left! It is scarcely
necessary to say to any intelligent reader of books,
now-a-days, much less to a botanist or to a gardener,
that the qualities assigned to the Upas tree, arc, in
a considerable degree, not pos,sessed by it. Though
the sap and products are deadly, the tree gives out
no exhalations ol a poisonous character, nor does it
blight or aflfect anything in its vicinity. Death,
when occasioned in the neighborliood of the Upas,
came, not of the tree, but of certain efiluvia that
arose from the ground, probably carbonic acid gas.
The two thmgs liave no more connection as to cause
and eff"ect than the Goodwin Sands and Tenderden
S eeple. Such tales do capitally, however, to hor-
rify an audience fonder of platform harangues than
of facts; and the Uj)as tree will no doubt remain
for ever a stock image with soul-hari owing declaim-
ers. — Journal of Ilortwiiltnre.

Orkun of the Yellow Pitm.vston Nectarine.
— In 1<S15, the late Mr. Williams, of Pitnui.ston,
planted stones of the Elruge, which has a white
flesh and small flowers, and one of these produced a
tree which gave large, beautiful flowers, and was
called the Pitmaston (Jrange Nectarine. It was the
first full-gized orange Nectarine known in England.
I planted stones of this sort in 1856, which, in due
time, bore fruit nearly all identical with the parent.
One, however, large and ten days later, I named
the Pine Apple NeJarine, owing to its flesh being
transparent like the Pine. In 1862 I planted stones
of this sort, but the young trees gave sliglit hopes
of devintion. In 1865 several bore fruit, all alike
their grand-parent, the Pitmaston Orange Necta-
rine, and were laid aside, till one daj' Uiy attention
was drawn to two very beautiful Peaches hanging
on one of the trees. Here we have the fourth gen-
eration of the Eiruge Nectarine, and it proves to be
a large and late Peach. — III VERS'

Designs for the Dinner Table. — A few years
ago the London Horticultural Society offered pre-
miums for the best designs for dinner table decora-
tion, and since then great attention has been given
to the subject in England. Hitherto the greatest
objection to the prevailing designs has been inter-
fering with a full view of the table, — and the oljeet

m

254

Sh^ (Sardrnrr's dflimthlg.

now is to produce the prettiest styles that will not editors of the Cottage Gardener, one of which, the
interfere with the line of sight. At the recent third premium one, we engrave. The chains are
grand exhibition of all nations some very pretty ob- 1 of heavy glass, care is necessary in arranging the
iects were shown. Sketches of some of the chief central and top groups of flowers or the sight across
ones have been furnished by the liberality of the the table will be obstructed.

I \

]&orfirul[fupal( JlnHm.

DISCUSSIONS OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
HORTICUi.TURAL SOCIETY.

Dr. Warder's excellent essay on pruning was well
attended. At its conclusion the President enquired
whether street trees did not require a special rule

of pruning from which other trees might be exempt?
Mr. Meehan. — Street trees were usually selected
for their rapid growth without regard to other
characters. They soon grow too large, and this
was sought to be remedied by annually heading
back, but the trees only grew the faster for the
pruning, got out of shape and out of character, and
eventually Vjecarae unsightly objects, and were at

Cljt Carkncn lilontljlu.

^^.^

255

ast generally cut away. It were better to employ
trees 4ike oaks, which always remained bushy and
dense, required no trimming to keep in shape, and
though taking a few years more to grow up, were
permanent when once grown.

When covered with eggs of insects, trimming of
the small branches might be resorted to, so that
the main branches might be washed with sulphur
and lime water.

He referred to a fact long ago announced by him-
self, and recognized now by most intelligent garde-
ners, but not yet incorporated into standard works
on Vegetable Physiology or theories of Horticulture,
that the roots of trees die in proportion to the
severity of the pruning of the top. This was the
reason why street trees continually trimmed at the
to]i, often leaned over, they had no root to support
a heavy head.

Mr. D. Rodney King referred to the difficulty of
transplanting some trees, in which pruning may be
made to bear a very useful part. Some tree.s, like
Oaks, Gums, Tulip trees, Chestnuts and Hickories,
especially when taken from the woods, often failed,
— but when severely pruned growth was the rule
with them.

Mr. A. W. Harrison said what was true of deci-
duous trees, was also the case with Evergreens, —
all kmds of Evergreens were assisted by trimming
back, when there was questions about their living,
— although he thought pruning much to bring trees
into shape was eventually pernicious to the general
health and natural beauty of the tree.

MR.. SAUl/S ESSAY ON HOSES, JULY .3D.

Every one was so interested with their families,
in preparing for the patriotic ceremonies of the
Fourth, that the attendance was smaller than
usual.

The President invited Mr. Meehan to give his
views on the subject, who said that he agreed pretty
much with the essayist, except that but for the
purpose of rapid propagation of new Eoses, he
would not go so far as the essayist in recommend-
ing the Manetti stock. Weak varieties certainly
grew better on it, — but the list of Roses was so
large to choose from, that weak growers might as
well be discarded.

In protecting- Roses in the places where they
grew, he had found manure and other stuif reten-
tive of moisture worse than full exposure. He cut
off the tender tops late in Fall, then put on some
small, close branches of Evergreens, Red Cedar be-
ing particularly good, and on this several inches
thick of earth, forming mounds which threw off the
water ; and even such tender kinds as Bougere,

Celine Forestier, Madame Domnge and others got
through very well the past hard Winter.

Dr. Warder, of Cincinnati, being present, was
invited, by the President, to take part in the dis-
cussion, and after expressing his agreement with
the last speaker on the Manetti Rose question,
made an eloquent argument on behalf of the Prairie
Rose, and the June and Sutumer Ro.'-es.

Annual Roses may continue in bloom till the 4th
of July by having 6 or 8 inches of their growth cut
back. Certainly they could easily be had for six
weeks. No class was their superior in beauty or
fragrance.

The Michigan Rose was the parent of the Prairie
Rose of our gardens. They were admired even by
the Indians. They would run over the talle,«t trees,
and make a blaze of beauty and a scene so gorgeous
that no other class of Roses could effect,— and the
Rose gardens of America would look mean and
despicable without them. Writers affected to des-
pise the Prairie Rose, but no garden could do with-
out them, every one had them. Frequently when
only one Rose was employed that Rose was a Prairie.

Laura Davoust, the most popular of the Euro-
pean climbing Roses, looked mean and contempti-
ble along side of the meanest variety of our Prairie
Rose. It was, no doubt, susceptible of much
greater improvement than had yet been accom-
plished for it. The Indians had a high regard for
the Prairie Rose, and it was found near their settle-
ments often in a double state, showing that even
when wild it had a tendency to vary.

Mr. Eadie described how Roses w^ere rnised by
some growers so as to increase them rapidly by the
forcing process. They were planted in large pots
or set in beds in a heat, in Summer, of frotn 100"
to 120°, and layered as they grew. Thousands of
weak, young plants could be raised in a year this
way, which, in time, would make good plants.

Note. — The award for basket of Pried Flown's of Vpav. Hort.
Society, for May, should have been to 3Irs. Harris, not Mrs. Anna
William.son.

PENN'A. FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY.

As announced in our columns, the summer meeting
of this Society, (formerly P]astern Pennsylvania
Fruit-Growers, ) Avas held at Pittsburgh on the 13th
and 14th.

On account of the meeting of the Pennsylvania
Horticultural Society on the 12th, we did not get
to Pittsburgh until a few hours before the adjourn-
ment, we are, therefore, indebted to the notes of
our friends, principally, J. J. Thomas, of the
Countn/ GenfJnnan, for our account of the first
day's proceedings.

^n^ff?-

MC)'

256

Clu (garlinur's .ttlonthl^.

Fritri(l> wore there from New York, New Jersey,
Oliii', 1" diaiia Illinois, Mi>;-ouri, mid Maryland, as
well ustrom the various districts of I'ennsylvania.
Fn.iii onver.-ations with these gentlemen we learned
that, exix'pf in New Jersey, fruit crops have heen
aiinost a total failure this year. ]1r. Warder said the
Marcity at (Cincinnati was such that Strawberries
that usually hrou^'ht from ?, to 5 cents per quart,
(pn-tty low if reported riirlit, i bnuiirht this year from
30 to /)0 cents. The hmly Uasjiberries, as well as
the "other" kinds, had been killed by tlie winter.
1 he Grape crop was the only one promisinsr much.
l>r. Ma-sey, of Maryland, said there would be
ab'iut ono-ihird of a crop of Peaches. Pears and
Apples were better.

E. iSatterthwait, of Montgomery County, gave
a (Ii-cii;n:igiug account of all his friHt crops.

Parker Earle, of Cobden, Illinois, referred to Dr.
Hull'.-: oil-hard, who grows Peaches and Plums on
alternate trees. The cnrculio has a preference for
the J'iiim. By jierseverance in the jarring jirocess,
t<iierub''^ and profitable crojis were obtained regu-
larly.
J. M. •Jordan, of St. Louis, spoke favorably of

( the Gnijic crop there, especially Concord. Straw-

i berrie>, and Cherries nearly failures.

j An interest ing di.scussion on tbe merits of under-
dniining, in connection with profitable fruit-growing,

i ttok p'ace between A. W. Harrison. J. J. Thomas,

! and others, in favor of extensive underdraining,
and Charles Ilarmer against its use in any but
swatnpy places.

The main point of ^Nfr. Harmer was, tliat where
crop^were as "nearly perfection as they could be,"
uiiderdiainiiig, though perhaps making things a little
better, would not be enough so to make it a jjrofita-
ble inve.xtnicnt.

The main point of the ojiposition was. that the
"little better' of Mr. Ilarmer was really much
better, and "that underdraining paid" in any case.
No one could, of course, think of stopping at
Pittsburgh without visiting the world-renowned
ICnox Fruit farm. Every one went there.

Wti .-hijuld suppose those who .saw this celebrated
place this season for the first time must have been
considera'oiy disappointed. The impression was so
prevalent that Mr. Knox was especially favored by
nature with a soil, a climate, a sulphurous and
s>moky atmosphere, and other things fancied .to be
the sine qua non of fruit growing, that very little
credit has been given him by his contemj)oraries
for " virtue" in his system of management. The
present season has shown liis situation to be as
vulnerable as any other one.

The Knox farm, of ISGO, was no more like the
Knox farm, as we saw it in ISG.'i, than a monkey
is like a man. Indeed, it would be easier for a
" progressive development" savan to show the
relations of the monkey to the man, than it would
be for us to trace the connection between the ap-
pearance of things this season here and the same
things last, if we had not been there, and had not
we seen for ourselves.

We were both sorry and glad to find tilings in
thiscondition, — sorry for the sake of the Pitt.<burgli
Conimis.sioner of Internal Revenue; and, for the
matter of that, for Knox's own sake, for he is a
pretty good sort of a fellow, while his example has
been of incalculable value to fruit-growing all over
tbe Union, — and yet glad because it shows that
fruit-growing is just as likely to be successful any
whore as it is at Pittsburgh, — all locations being
evidently liable to occasional mishaps, and none
being especially favored as a Paradise for the jiur-
po.sc.

Another thing interested us at Knox's. Last
year the Jucunda Strawberry came in comparison
with .several other varieties. The merits of each
had to be carefully weighed, and the balance
deliberately thrown in iavor of Jucunda. This
year "comparisons were odious;" at least they
.should be to the Jucunda. had it any power in the
matter, for the others were not even in pomological
language, "good," while, bad as all other thing
were, Jucunda was still a very pretty sight to see.
Had it not been for Jucunda this year, we fancy
the Knox Strawberry treasury would have been
bankrupt.

So with Grapes. The Concord was doing beauti-
fully.

"O'er -ill the ills of life victorious; "

While if there be any good moaning to the elas.si-
cal St<(t Magui NomiiiiH vnihra, it was well illus-
trated by the miserable looking Delawares, lona's,
Adirondac, &c., each of which truly "stood a
shadow of a great name."

It is much in thefavor of the Jucunda Strawberry
and Ctmcord Grape, that they should do so well
liorc, when others so nearly failed.

Mr. Knox seems to be largely in the (Uirrant
line, — acres of these were looking remarkably well,
and will pay him hand.somely for losses in the failures
of other crops ; although the extra prices for short
supply will perhaps make up somewhat. The best
pick of Jucundas brought $1 per quart during our
stay in Pittsburg, against 75, as we saw them last
year.

ii>

THOMAS MEEHAN, Editor.
W. G. P. BRINCKIiOE, Publisher.

SEPTEMBER. 1866.

VOL. VIII.-NO.

^inh for ^pphmfiFP,

FLOWSiH-GAHDEN AND FX.SASUKE-
GROUND.

Attention should be given at this season to the
flower-beds, by noting what has done well in one
locality as a siinimer-blooming plant, as no time
should be lost in procuring a stock for next year. —
The best way to propagate all the common kinds of
bedding plants is to take a frame or hand-glass
and set it on a bed of very sandy soil made in a
shady place in the open air. The sand should be
fine and sharp, and there is, perhaps, nothing better
than river sand for this purpose. The glass may be
whitewashed on the inside, so as to afford additional
security against injury from the sun's rays. Into
this bed of sand cuttings of half-ripened wood of the
de-sirable plants may be set, and after putting in,
slightly watered. Even very rare plants often do
better this way than when under treatment in a
regular propagating house. In making cuttings, it
is best to cut the shoots just under a bud, — they root
better, and are not so likely to rot off and decay. A
cutting of about three eyes is long enough for most
strong-growing things, such as Geraniums, Fuch-
sias, &c.

Small-growing things, of course, will take more
buds to the one cutting. From one to three inches
is, however, long enough for most cuttings. They
should be inserted about one-third of their way
under the sand, which latter should be pressed firmly
against the row of cuttings with a fiat piece of board,
— not, however, hard enough to force the particles
,, of sand into the young and tender bark, which is
^rt) I often the first step to decay. For a few cuttings,

they may be inserted with a dibble ; but where many
are to be put in, it saves time to mark a line on the
.sand with rule or straight edge, and then cut down
a face into the sand, say one or two inches deep,
when the cuttings can be set against the face like
box-edging. All amateurs should practise the art
of propagating plant.s. There is nothing connected
with gardening more interesting.

In many parts of the Northern States the leaves
will have changed color previous to the incoming of
winter, and the planting of trees and shrubs will
commence as soon as the first fall showers shall have
cooled the atmosphere and moistened the soil. Fur-
ther south, where the season will still remain " sum-
mer" a while longer, the soil may, at any rate,, be
prepared, that all may be in readiness when the right
season does come. What leaves remain on should
be stripped off, and the main shoots shortened. They
will then do better than if planted very late. In
fact, if planting cannot be finished before the begin-
ning of November in the Northern and Middle
States, it is better, as a rale, deferred till spring. In
those States where little frosts occurs, this rule will
not apply. The roots of plants grow all winter, and
a plant set out in the fall has the advantage over
spring-set trees, that its roots in spring are in a po-
sition to supply the tree at once with food. This is,
indeed, the theory fall planters rely on ; but in prac-
tice it is found that severe cold dries up the wood,
and the fro.^ts draw out the roots, and thus more
than counterbalance any advantage from the push-
ing of new roots. Very small plants are, therefore,
best left till. spring for their final planting. The
larger things, and which we recommend planting in
the fall, should be pruned in somewhat at planting.
The larger the tree, the greater in proportion should
it be cut away..

Those who h-ave no greenhouse, and yet are de-
sirous of preserving many half hardy plants through
the winter, employ cold pits. Choose the dryest sit-
uation in the garden, and sink about five feet in
depth. It is important that no water can be retained
at the bottom. The pit may be of aay length re-

257

^^

•c^4^

258

C|j^ CPardnur's dHoiithln.

\

quired, and about five feet wide, so as to accommo-
date six. feet sash. The inside of the pit may be
built up of boards, or, if something more durable
and substantial is required, brick or stone. The
body of the frame may be built up a few feet above
the level of the surrounding soil, and the earth which
comes from the pit be employed in banking uj) to
the upper level of the frame. Shelving should be
made for the inside so as to extend from the base
of the front to nearly the top of the back, on which
to place the plants in pots. In the space which will
then be under the staging, hard wooded and decid-
uous plants, as Lemon Verbena, Fuchsias, itc. , may
bo .safely stored, while the more succulent kinds are
shelved overhead. The plants to be preserved in
such a pit should be potted early, and be well estab-
lished and healthy before being pitted ; much of
success depends on this. The less water they can
be made to live on without withering through the
winter the better they will keep. Straw mats must
be employed to cover the glass when freezing time
commences, and when the thermometer is likely to
fall below 20°, straw or litter should be thrown over.
Board shutters are also excellent, as it keeps the
snow out from the straw and litter, which sometimes
makes the mats verj' awkward to uncover when we
would like to give air. Very little light or air will
be required through the winter, when the plants
are not growing. If a good fall of snow cover the
pit, it may lie on undisturbed for two weeks or more
without injury. When a warm dry day offers the
sa.'^hcs maj' be raised if convenient, to dry np the
damp. Many kinds of border jjlants can be kei)t
over winter this way with little trouble.

In planting trees use rich soil. Better good soil
than large specimen.s. Large trees may be trans-
planted at the end of the month. All the roots
which extend 10 or 12 feet from tlie trunk are of
more importance than a ball of earth. Trees usu-
ally considered half hardy are all best transplanted
in spring.

Continue seed saving, remembering that the ear-
liest flowers on a plant produce the best seeds.
Biennials, such as Hollyhocks, Carnations, Snap
Dragons, Pansies, and .so on, should be sown during
this month. They are quite hardy. A few bran-
ches or corn-stalks thrown over during winter, to
keej) the thaw from heaving them out of the
ground, is all the protection they require. Hardy
annuals, to flower early and fine next year, may be
sown now. Tulips, Hyacinths, Snowdrop.s, and
Crocus to be planted as soon as they can be pro-
cured. ]-iight rich sandy soil to be employed. Glad-
iolus to be taken up as soon as the leaves fade, and

carefully dried, labelled, and put away secure from
frost. The same with Tuberoses, Tigridias, and so
on towards the end of the month. Divide herba-
ceous plants. Plant evergreens, and deciduous trees
also for that matter, as soon as the fall rains have
moistened the ground. If the leave have not fallen
cut them off with the immature shoots.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Earth up Celery as it grows, not letting the soil
get to the heart, or it will rot. Soap-suds, or other
manure water, helps it wonderfully at this season.
Dig and hou.se Potatoes. Too large a pile will heat,
and any way they keep best when cool, and with
.some soil mixed through the heap. Sow lied- top
Turni]) for main crop : rich soil is essential. Trans-
plant Endive : this also likes a rich loamy .^oil. It
does not do well on sandy soil. Sow Kadish and
Lettuce for fall crops. Sow Cauliflower and Early
York Cabbage about the middle of the month.
Onions .sown in fall make fine early bulbs for next
year. Sow Prickly Spinage in very rich soil, for
use through the winter and early spring.

FRUIT GARDEN.

It requires some judgment to gather fruit proper-
ly. Most of what we see in market of pears or
apples are gathered too soon, while the amateur
goes into tlie opposite extreme of leaving them on
too long. The proper time to gather them is when
they part easily from the tree on being gently rai.'^cd
up. But fruit-gathering ought to commence very
early in the season, namely, as soon as insects have
evidently damaged the fruit. An amateur should
go over his a[)])le and i)ears once a week after they
reach a respectable size, and take off all the unfor-
tunate specimens, which should be handed to the
cook, or sent to market. This process would have
a tendency to keep down the number of insects, by
destroying their hrvpo before they reach their final
stage of development. At this season nothing will
be left on the tree but perfect fruit. They should,
of course, be all carefully gathered by hand, and
great care taken to have none of them the least
bruised. They should then, if summer fruit, be
placed in a cool room, and a cloth thrown over them
fur a few days, when those who never ate an early
apple or pear before so treated may wonder to what
species of fruit it belongs. Late fruit mu,st, of
course, be left on as long as po.s.sible, .so that frost
does not injure them ; but all kinds should be oc-
casionally tried by the lifting process we have des-

.^V5>^

-^w

ciibed, and taken off at the first sign of maturity
they afford.

A great revolution has occurred in selecting fruit
trees for planting. i3ushy plants are now sought for.
The shade which the side branches make is consid-
ered beneficial to the tree. As to the beneficial
effects of continual digging about trees, which we
oppose, all cultivators are not unanimous; but
most of them now abandon it after some years : the
only difference of opinion being how many j-ears
after planting shall this style of cultivating con-
tinue? With very low branched trees there is this
advantage, that the plow or the spade cannot ap-
proach very near the trunk. Rich soil is however
essential to good growth and good crops. This is
the essence of " good cultivation."

In preparing for planting trees, the soil should
be stirred up at least two feet in depth. Of course,
the trees should be planted in the holes only so
deep as they stood in the ground before, rather
higher, if any thing, as the soil will settle. Good
common soil may be filled in the holes if the natu-
ral soil is very bad ; but any thing applied as ma-
nure may be stirred in the surface-soil after the
trees are planted. Some object to making deep
holes for planting trees, as if the soil is stiff they
become wells, collecting water from surrounding
soil, and rotting the roots. It is best to underdrain
such soils before planting. If this cannot be done,
it is best to plant such ground in the spring. The
water objection is a fatal one for fall planting in
such ground.

Trees that have long stems exposed to hot suns,
or diying winds, become what gardeners call ' hide-
bound.' That is, the old bark becomes indurated,
— cannot expand, ana the tree suffers much in con-
sequence. Such an evil is usually indicated by grey
lichens which feed on the decaying bark. In these
cases a washing of weak lye or of lime water is very
useful ; indeed, where the bark is healthy, it is
beneficial thus to wash the trees, as many eggs of
insects are thereby destroyed.

Whitewash is frequently resorted to by farmers ;
but the great objection is its unsightly appearance,
— the result is otherwise good. The great opposition
to washes formerly was, that the pores of the bark
were closed by them, — this was on the svippositiofi
that the bark was alive ; but the external bark of
most trees has been dead years before the time of
application; and 'the breathing,' if so the opera-
tions of the pores can be called, is through the cre-
vices formed in the old bark by the expansion of the
growing tree by which the living bark below has a
chance of contact with the air. No matter what

kind of coating bo applied to the bark of a tree, it
will soon crack sufficiently by the expansion of the
trunk to permit all the ' breathing' necessary.

Strawberry-beds may now be made to advantage.
Choose thrifty young runners, that have plenty of
good white fibers, setting them no deeper in the
soil than plants were before removed. The best
runners come from young plants of the previous
year, — old plants usually make feeble runners.

HOT AND GREENHOUSE.
In the greenhouse, repairing and thorough cleans-
ing must not be delayed. Painters say this is the
most advantageous month to paint wood-work.
Whenever the night temperature falls to 40°, any
tender plants in pots should be housed, without wait-
ing for " the first week in October." Things nearly
hardy, as azaleas, rhododendrons, oranges, &c., do
best out "to the last." Any desirable plant for
forcing, that may be growing in the open border, if
potted early in the month, will do very well for that
purpose. Weigela rosea does excellently this way ;
as also does Jasminum nudiflorum, Forsythia viridis-
sima, many Spirfeas and Persian lilacs. Roses and
other things intended to be forced early, should have
as much air and be kept as dry as possible without
injury. Hyacinths and other bulbs should also be
potted as soon in the month as they are obtained ; the
former are best planted an inch deep. The earlier
bulbs are potted the finer they flower, — you may
get catalogues of any number of kinds or colors at
the miction marts. If you get ten per cent. , as repre-
sented, when they flower, you will be favored.
Mignonette, Rhodanthe Manglesii, and similar or-
namental annuals essential for winter blooming in
well-kept houses, should be sown at once. Many
things for next season's flowering, must not either
be forgotten. The pansy, calceolaria and cineraria,
are in this class. Plants of these that have been
kept over the summer, will require a re-division, and
kept in a close frame a few days afterwards, till they
get re-established. Propagation of all things will
still require constant attention. It should always
be an aim to- possess one duplicate plant, as a pro-
vision against accidents. In many cases, young
plants are preferable to old ones ; so that the old
ones may be destroyed when these are obtained.

In the hothouse, the seschynanthus will soon be
the chief ornament of this division. Their number
has increased so that they have become quite a fea-
ture. If the pots seem full of roots, they may still
have another shift. They prefer very fibrous peat ;
or, if that cannot be had, turfy loam, mixed with a
portion of coarse moss. They will, however, do

^^^

■vi&iVS

260

S^h^ fiardnur's JKonthlg.

pretty well in small pots. Achimenes and gloxinias,
as they go out of flower, should be kept dryer and
cooler. Look well at'ter a pood stock of pentas, oes-
trum and habrothauinus ; they will go far towards
keeping up the interest of the department in winter.
Justicias and acanthaceons plants generally will prob.
ably require another shift if fine specimens are de-
sired. The atmosphere, if the house be light, can
scarcely be too moist for them. Plumbago rosea is
one of the most valuable stove plants we know for
winter flowering ; it requires a strong heat. Clero-
dendrons, as they go out of flower, should be kept
in a verj' airy situation, and rather dry, preparatoiy
to being cut down and treated like a pelargonium for
another year. Many begonias will be past their best
flowering stage : very little watering serves them ;
they are very liable to damp off" by incaution in thi.s
respect. It is diflaeult to lay down rules for orchideje,
so much depending on thecircumstancesunder which
they are grown. Those which have finished their
growth, — as many dendrobiums, oneidiums, catase-
tums, &c., whose flowers api)ear just before new
growth, — should have their supplies of moisture
gradually lessened. The temperature, also, is better
gradually lowered a few degrees, and they should be
allowed more light than usual. The period when
they are about comi)leting their growth is the most
critical, as any check at this time spoils the prospect
of much blossom for next season. Those which
flower from the young growth, as catleya, laelia,
broughtonia, ttc, will require their moisture and
heat rather increased than otherwise till after their
flowering. Yandas, angrsecums, saccolabiuins, and
other strong-rooting atrial kinds, will require con-
stant humidity, until it is evident, from the ])oints of
their roots, that they desire to stop growing. We are
often asked "how often orchids require to be
syringed?" If the situation in which they are grow-
ing Ije favorable, — that is, retains in its atmosphere a
regular humidity, — they will require very little at-
tention ; in many cases not requiring the syringe
once a week. Where this cannot be affected, the
syringe must be oftener ap])lied. As a rule, I think
no better one could be off"erod, than to syringe orchids
just so much as will barely keep moss attached to
their block and baskets green and growing. The
real terrestrial orchids will require no moisture at all
after they have completed their growths, until they
show signs of pu.shing again. Care against checks
in temperature and humidity, is one of the secrets
of successful orchid growing. Tho.se which are at
rest do well in a temperature of C,(f at the lowest.
Those which are growing well should be kept at
about 8U°.

V— -^HD ~~~

3kj

Ornamental annuals for winter-flowering should
be at once sown, not forgetting Mignonette, to be
without which will be an uni)ardonable sin. Chinese
Primroses, Cinerarias, Calceolarias, Pansies, Polj'-
anthus, &c. , should be sown. Winter-bloon)ing
Carnations and Violets should not be forgotten.
Thej' are now essentials in all good greenhouse col-
lections. The Calla Kthiopioa, old as it is, is an
universal favorite, and should now be repotted, when
it will flower through the winter finely. Oxalis,
Sparaxis, Cyclamens, and such Cape bulbs that
flower through the winter, should be repotted now.
They are an easily grown tribe of plants, and should
be in more favor.

This is emphatically the Dahlia, as the next is to
be the Chrysanthemum month. Dahlias have not
grown much through the drought, and better not;
now that September has come, they should be stim-
ulated to grow, by copious waterings, and fine flow-
ers will be the result.

It is a very good time to look around for soil for
potting purposes. The surface soil of an old pasture
forms the best basis, which can be afterwards light-
ened with sand, or manured with any special ingre-
dients to suit special cases, as required. The turfy
or peaty surfaces of old wood or bogs also come very
" handy." A stock of moss should also be on hand
for those who crock pots, in order to cover the pot-
sherd ; moss also comes in useful for many pur-
poses connected with gardening, and should be al-
ways on hand.

NEW JERSEY FRUITS.

BY WM. PARRY, OINNAMI NSON, NEAV .IKRSEY.

Read he/ore the Pa ITort. Socuty, Aug. Gth, 1860.

In speaking of New Jersey Fruits, I projjose to
mention some of the leading varieties that have
originated or been first noticed here, as well as those
which by repeated trial are found to be well adapted
to our soil and climate, and may be planted with
confidence by those who are not acquainted with
the long list of new kinds that are highly praised
and offered for sale.

First and most important among the small Fruits
is the Strawberry, the consumption of which has so
rapidly increased as to require hundreds of acres of
land devoted to its culture, giving employment to
many thousands of laborers, who derive their main
su]iport for services in cultivating and gathering
small fruits in the summer season. We claim for

New Jersey some of the most valuable varieties in
cultivation of largest size and productiveness, great
hardiness and endurance under exposure to severe
weather.

Frenches S'^edlinf/, the largest early Strawberry,
veiy productive, plants vigorous, enduring the ex-
tremes of heat and cold without injury, succeeds
well on thin soils, where other varieties requiring
high culture, fail ; Size uniform from three to four
inches in circumference, ripening early enough to
bring $1 per quart in market, and to yield $500 from
five acres of land at a single picking.

But of all the Strawberries ever yet produced in
New Jersey or elsewhere. The Agriculturist seems
to combine more good qualities than any other, and
as its name implies, is de.'-tined to cover broad acres,
and supply the million with its luscious fruit of mon-
strous size, averaging from three to five inches in
circumference, good quality, firm enough to carr}?^
well, and has a very attractive appearance in market,
and meets with a ready sale at the highest price.
It is more productive here than Wilson's Albany
under similar treatment and exposure. We have it
growing on a varietj' soils, from light blowing sand
to a heavy clay-loam, producing well in either posi-
tion, varjnng onlj^ in the magnitude of its crops ac-
coi'ding to the strength of the land, although the
bearing plants were severely taxed in producing run-
ners, being planted four feet distant, in rows six
feet apart, allowing twenty-four feet of surface to
each hill, which was completely filled and matted
over with young plants. Single hills with runners
kept off are reported to yield a quart each.

This great Strawlterry not only produces those
wonderful crops in its native soil of New Jersey,
but it is well adapted to general cultivation, as ap-
pears from the abundance of testimony in its favor.
At the meeting of the St. Louis Horticultural So-
ciety, held 26th of last may. Dr. Edwards exhibited
some very large specimens of the Agriculturist, Buf-
falo, Wilson and Green Prolific, and stated that
the Agriculturist was the most productive variety
with him, exceeding even the Wilson ; and that he
did not select the finest specimens, but took all that
was ripe, and therefore his lot gave a good idea of
the average size of this variety.

Mr. Paddleford exhibited very large specimens of
Agriculturist and Grolden Seeded. TIlc Agricultu-
rist was with him more productive than the Wilson,
and its large, fine fruit commanded an extra price.

The Philadelphia Ledger, in speaking of the
Strawberry and Rose Exhibition, held here on the
12th of June last, says : " The Strawberries were of
the most delicious quality, and attracted the atten-

tion of those present. The new variety " Agricid-
tnrkt,^' with berries as large as an ordinary sized
peach, claimed the first notice and secured to the
exhibitor the Premiums."

From Odessa, Delaware, we have favorable re-
ports: Three plants of Agriculturist producing
more runners than one dozen each of Golden Seed-
ed, Russell, and Fillmore, and endured the Winter
without protection ; the soil a stiff claj', berries the
largest ever seen there.

At the Annual Strawberry Show of the West
Jersey Fruit Growers' Association, held at Moores-
town, N. J., on the 9th of June last, the Com-
mittee appointed to examine the Strawberries on
exhibition, reported: " the display of Strawberries
was remarkably fine, although not so large as last
year. Among the new varieties, we noticed a plate
of Agriculturist, which for size and henuty we have
never seen excelled, the largest measuring 5} inches
in circumference. This is the berry that was sent out
as a Premium to the Subscribers of the American
Agriculturist, and to all appearances it now bids
fair to be what has been claimed for it ; '''the largest
and most productive Str a wherry knojcn.'^

On taking a vote of the members, on the five
best Strawberries for general cultivation, each one
being governed by his own personal knowledge} the
Agricjdturist, a new berry, received as many votes
as the well known Wilson's Albany.

There are many other Strawberries originated in
New Jersey possessing more or less points of excel-
lence ; such as Boyden's Mammoth, very large ;
Green Prolific, verj' productive ; Great Eastern,
forms large stools, and few runners, and is well
adapted to hill culture, yielding profusely of large
handsome fruit when thus treated.

Lady Finger, large, handsome, fine, bears car-
riage well, and very popular in market, but not al-
ways productive enough to be profitable for gene-
ral cultivation.

New Jersey Scarlet ; early, firm, and good quality.

Starrs Seedling ; very handsome and prolific,
and a whole column of good things are promised to
come with Durand's Seedling, for which subscrip-
tions are now being received at the rate of Twenty-
five dollars per hundred.

The Strawberry Crop the past season was less
than an average owing to the hard Winter and late
frosts, which materially injured it.

Our patch of ten acres yielded 850 bushels.
Last 3'ear they averaged 100 bushels per acre.

Raspberries.— With this fruit, which follows
immediately after the StrawbeiTy, our markets have
not been so well supplied. Of many thousands of

seedlinsrs raised in New Jersey, most of them were
deficient in some desirable quality. Plants that
produced large fine ftniit, were generally tender;
other hardy varieties would yield inferior fruit.

Lindslni's FdsfnJff S>'((fh'iir/ is, jierhaps, the best
that has been distributed, being hardy, large and
fine.

But the finest specimens of a Raspberr\' is yet to
be sent out, it was grown from the seed, in Bur-
lineton County, New Jersey. We examined the
bushes on the 30th of June last : they were then
loaded with ripe and green fruit of the largest size,
finest appearance, and dcliciotis quality, fully as
large as the Hornet ; a bright scarlet, and handsome
as the Pearl Raspberry ; they appeared to be hardy,
having stood unprotected for three years past ; but
the owner values them so highly, hois not willing to
part with them for less than ten dollars a plantjand
we mu«t look to some other hardy variety more ea-
sily obtained to supply the market with this luscious
fruit.

After spending a quarter of a centuiy in experi-
menting on over forty different kinds, embracing all
tbeloadinir varieties in cultivation, we have adopted
the PlnJuilrlphia, which oriirinated in the State ad-
Jnining, and is perfectly adai>ted to our .<oil and cli-
mate, notwithstanding the extremes of cofd and
heat, varying from 16° below, to 105° above zero.
Having thoroughly tested it with the best selected
varieties that could be obtained either in America or
Europe, such as Brinckle's Orange, Fludson River
Antwerp, Fastolff, Knevett's Giant, Hornet, Fran-
conia, Vice President French, &c. ; and finding it
superior to any of them in vigor^ hm-Jiness and won-
tJer/iiI productiveness, we consider it the largest and
hist hnrdif Riisj>f,ei-i-i/ ; it i.s the Ra!>.p}>e}'ry for the
Millt'on, requiring no extra care or culture, nor any
protection whatever from sun or frost, but will
flourish under the extremes of our climate, while
other kirKJs areeither parch' d up by heat or injured
with the cold. The situation and character of the
ground are not very material ; we have it growing on
light .sandy soil, and heavy c1ay-l(«im, with a north-
ern, eastern and southern lixjiosurc, and in every po-
sition it is perfectly huulthy, yielding abundantly of
large, fine luscious fruit, which sold readily at forty
cents per quart, at wholesale, in market.

The Fiirph Cane, which has heretofore been con
sidered hardy and reliable, was so badly killed by
the severe cold of last winter, as materially to injure
the crop of fruit.

Til'' Kirtland suffered still more, and will be dis-
carded.

The Miami Black is a good, hardy variety, and

very productive, but ripening at the same time with
the Philadelphia, is not needed when the latter can
be obtained.

Doolittle's Improved Black, being verj' hardy,
productive and early, is the best variety we have to
precede the Philadelphia in market. Of those two
kinds, we have now growing, thirty-five arcres for
fruiting, and are discarding every year such others
as prove to be of little value.

Blackberries.— New Jersey, justly noted for
producing choice hardy fruits, now offers to the
community two new blackberries, far surpassing
any others ever before introduced here.

The Wilson Earli/ and Kittatinny, seem to em-
brace about all the good qualities desired in Black-
berries. Both are berries of superior excellence,
and great acquisitions to our lists of small fruits.
They resemble each other in many respects ; both
are hardy, large, luscious, and very ]>roducfive|;
sweet, and ready to be eaten as soon as black, while
still firm and solid enough to bear carriage without
bruising, and retain their color well after picking,
in which several particulars they are preferable to
the New Rochelle.

Their principal difference is iji the time and man-
ner of rii>ening, which will adapt them to the wants
of different classes of Fruit Growei-s. While for
family use, it may be desirable to have fruit all the
sea.son, j'et market men can appreciate the value of
an extra early crop over an equally large one to be
gathered through a longer space of time.

The Kitti'tiinnf originated in the mountains of
that name, in ^Varren County, in the Northern part
of our State, and was introduced to public notice
by E. Williams of Mont. Clair ; it has the habit of
continuing lo?)g in bearing, yieMing its luscious fruit
through a period of six to eight weeks. This pro-
jierty will make it a favorite with the aniateur and
private gardener, who grow little fruit for family
use, and would not desire n)any bushels of Black-
berries at one time.

The Wilson s Early is a native of Burlington
County, and was fii-st discovered by John Wilson,
about the year 1S54, and by him nnnoved to the
ganJen, where it was grown for several years before
any plants were distributed. It has the habit of
ripening its whole crop mainly together, and is prin-
cipally over in two weeks, and before the height of
other Blackberries come on ; like the early Pea, its
whole crop is gathered at a few pickings, while the
price rules Wglv. Therefore, it does not come in
comijotition with any other Blackberry, but very
happily precedes them all in market.

When grown by other varieties, it has always

m

i^a>T—

tm.

3*

Wilt §\\xk\\txs IJlontljlg.

263

yielded most abundantly, even surpassing the New
E-ochelle in productiveness. This year, some new
patches planted distant from other Blackberries, did
not fruit so well ; this difference may be accidental,
or, it may indicate that the pollen of other plants
is beneficial in producing the best results.

I would therefore recommend planting the Wil-
son's Karly, and Kittatinny, the two most valuable
Blackberries, in alternate rows to insure the largest
crop of fruit.

The Fdtnn Blaclcherry , introduced a few years
since by Oscar F. Felton, of Camden, N. J., some-
what resembles the Wilson's Early, though of en-
tirely different origin, it is very early, large and
sweet, coming next to the Wilson s Early, as a
maiket fruit.

William F. Basset, of Hammonton, N. J., a very
successful Horticulturist and critical observer of
fruits, after a visit to our place, also to Charles and
John S. Collins', wrote as follows : " We have visit-
ed Mr. Oscar F. Felton's place and made a pretty
thorough examination of the Felton Blackberry,
comparing them with the Wilson's, which we car-
ried from Mr. Collin's, and we came to the conclu-
sion that they were distinct varieties ; that although
there was a resemblance in several points, yet there
were too many and decided points of difference to
result from circumstances of growth, location, &c.
The Wilson grows more upright, its fruit is born on
longer footstalks, is itself longer, and less variable in
quality as well as productiveness. We found as
much difference in productiveness with Mr. Felton's
plants, as with yours of the same variety : but on
his place, the productive plants were scattered
among the unproductive, with even less apparent
reason for the difference, than with yours.

The Cumberland, largely cultivated by J. Cox,
near Bridgeton, N. J., is a valuable market berry, of
fair size, good qualit}'^, very productive, hardy, and
well adapted to light sandy land, maturing its whole
crop of fru t perfectly, within a short period of the
time it commences to ripen.

Tlie Cape May is a large and luscious berry, but
looses it bright color soon after jjicking, and is not
suitable or the market.

Tlie New Rochelle, and Dorchester, brought from
other States, find a congenial soil here, yielding
from seventy to one hundred and fifty bushels per
acre, and bringing generally irom $400 to $500, and
one patch last year, $600 per acre. Some farmers
have from twenty to thirty acres of Blackberries
and are still increasing their plantations, finding
them very profitable, requiring but little labor to
grow them.

It is not only the cultivated plants, but the spon-
taneous productions, that represents the fruitfulness
of our soil. Thousands of bushels of Blackberries
and Whortleberries are gathered from the unculti-
vated lands through the Counties of Burlington,
Ocean and Monmouth, and sent to New York
where they find a ready sale at goods prices.

The Messrs. Perrine keep several mule teams
carrying from f irty to fifty bushels each, C3nstantly
hauling berries during their season of ripening.

>\ m Bennett employs eight teams carting the
berries, and pays many thousands of dollars for
picking, and receives about double the amount for
the fruit, in New York. Many others have two
and three teams each, constantly employed in the
business, each team average about four loads a
week, of from twenty to twenty-five bushels each.

The Ocean Emblem enumerates twenty-nine
teams, which at four loads per week make 116
loads, at twenty bu-hels each, 2320 bushels. The
return at four dollars per bushel, amounts to $9,280
per week for that section, and thought the picking
would continue good for six weeks after the time
at wh.ch that estimate was made.

Cranberries. — The cultivation of Cranberries is
now claiming much attention and to one not ac-
quainted with th) magnitude of operations in this
branch, it must appear perfectly marvellous to wit-
ness the stupe. ,dous efforts in this branch of Agri-
culture. At Manchester, Bricksburg, Tom's River
and other places, wherever there is a piece of land,
wortnlessfor other purposes, it is cleared, and Cran-
berry plants set out. From the best data at our
disposal, the Ocean Emblem states : "'we will ven-
ture the assertion that there is at least one million
dollars invested in tha culture of Cranberries in the
County of Ocean." In Monmouth and Burlington
Counties the cultivation of them is still more ex-
tended, and rapidly increasing. E. Humphreys, of
Shamony, states that Cranberry culture seems to
have been made a specialitj' with the owners here,
they apparently having paid more attention to that
than to any other kind of fruit culture. Portions
of the bog have yielded at the rate of 250 bushels
per acre.

This, at the price of Cranberries last Fall, would
give the modest little sum of $1,250 per acre.
Cranberries, both cultivated and wild, grow in large
quantities on every side of us. The amount of land
in this County, suitable for Cranberries, is unknown,
but it must be immense.

Wm. R. Braddock of Medford has about one
hundred acres planted in Cranberries, twenty of
which were in fruit last year, and yielded an aver-

g>V3-

-MC

264

£^c ^ardfiirr's Itlontjjlg.

age of one hundred bushels per acre ; in all, two
thousand bushels, which brought him, dear of
all expenses, $3 per bu-hel, amounting to $6000
from the twenty acres in l>t'aring.

Theodore and Alfred Budd purchased five years
since, a tract of cedar swamp soil at $10 per acre;
they set it out in Cranb rries and have since been
offered $600 per acre. Last year, twenty-eight
acres of it produced ISOO bushels of fruit, worth $4
per bushel, amounting to $7,200.

Jos. C. Hinchman of !Medford, has 50 acres nicely
graded, turfed, and banked for flooding the plants,
most set with Cranberries, those in bearing last
year, produced about loOO bushels; they appear to
increase in productiveness for seven or eight 5-ears
before attaining their greatest yield, as his first lot
of ten acres planted seven years since produced last
year 800 bushels, and from present appearance, will
yield 1,000 bushels this year.

The harvesting is usually done by hand, each one
picking from 3 to 4 bushels per day, for which they
receive about 45 cents per bushel.

In other fruits, New Jersey has furnished valua-
l)le contributions. The richest and most delicious
hardy Grapes, such as the Delaicare and Elsiuho-
roufjh are natives of lu-r soil.

Among Apples, the most valuable as well as the
most generally grown of all fruits, where do we find
such a list as furnished by New Jersey, among
which may be mentioned the famous Monmouth
Pippin, the original tree of which is still standing
in John R. Perrine's orchard in Monmouth county ;
also, the Tewksbury Winter Blush, lloman Stem,
Bellefleur, Maidens and Bachelor's Blush, Bullock
Pippin, Lippiiicott Early Red, Lippincott Sweet,
Chester and Kaighn's Spitzenberg Fall Harvey,
Turn of the Lane, Bevan's Favorite, Road.stown
Pippin Cumberland Spice, Summer Pearmain, Ed-
ward's Early Seek-no-further, and the great Orange
Pippin ol" Monmouth county, the most popular Ap-
jile now grown, riitening the latter part of summer,
and brings about double the price of any other
ajijjle in market at the same time.

1'kaciie.s. — Of this delicious fruit, tliree of the
mo.^t valuable for orchard culture originated in or
near Middletown, Monmouth county, New Jersey,
viz : Crawford's Early and Crawford's Late by Wm.
Crawford, and the Smock Peach by Mr. Smock of
the same place. Beer's Smock by Samuel Beers
of Monmouth county. The Crocket's Late White
was raised and first introduced not far from Middle-
town, New Jersey. Reeves' Favorite by Samuel
Reeves of Salem, New Jersey, and Troth's Early
Red, by Isaac Troth of Gloucester county, and

Smith's Seedling by Mr. Smith of Mount Holly,
and Harker's Seedling by Charles M. Harker of
the sanie place ; Walter's Early and Hone.st John
originated in Monmouth county, and the Lagrange
by John Hulse of Burlington county, and Fox's
Seedling is also a native of our State.

New Jersey is justly noted for producing choice
Fruits, and it is that which gives the high value to
her farm lands. The Census Report of 1850, shows
that the farming land in the State of New Jersey,
was worth eleven dollars per acre more than the
farming land of any other State in the Union ; and
the Census Report of 18G0 shows that the same
lands, had advanced so rapidly as to be worth twon-
t3'-one dollars per acre more than in any other
State. Hence, we find that people who desire to
follow the interesting healthy and profitable busi-
ness of raising fruit for market, come from other
States, from the east and the west, to settle here,
and take hold of our uncultivated lands, subdue the
forest, and make it to blossom like the rose, yield-
ing abundance of Fruit and Flowers. As an illus-
tration, I may name the thriving towns of Hani-
monton, Elwood and Egg-Harbor City, on the At-
lantic Railroad ; Vineland aud Franklinville, on the
West Jersey Railroad, and Manchester, Bricksl uty,
and others on the Raritan and Delaware Bay Rail-
road. Places that have sprung up within a few
years, and since the construction of the new rail-
roads on which they are located, laid out in small
farms, of from 5 to 10 acres each, especially for the
purpose of growing Fruits, which they are doing
successfully.

At Hammonton, they commenced cultivating
Strawberries in 1863, and in 1865, the crop sold for
$32,500; this year as in other places, the Straw-
berry plants were badly injured by the extreme cold
and late frosts, and did not yield so well. They
have 160 acres cultivated in Dorchester and New
Rochelle, Blackberries; some of which yielded 90
bushels per acre last year, and arc doing well again
this year.

Four years since, (in 1862,) I rode over the ground
now occupied by Vineland, then a forest, with but
one dwelling house within many miles, in company
with the enterprising proprietor, C. K. Landis, who
informed me that he propo.sed to lay out and build
a town there. This year I again visted the same
place, and saw some of the wonderful growth and
advancement of that new settlement, where but
four years .-^ince, it was all a wilderness, and now a
large thriving town with broad Avenues, lined with
shade and Fruit trees, intensecting each other at
right angles, and extending from six to ten miles

.^>T-

^!

in either direction, so that it would require a drive
of over 200 miles to see the improvements already
made. Statel}' mansions, beautifully ornamented
with gravel walks and flowery lawns adorn the place,
with no rude fencing for divisions or inclosures as
seen elsewhere, as caitle, swine and inebriates are
not allowed to run at large and destroy the property
of others.

Their municipal regulations are so correctly formed
and strictly enforced as to invite moral, intelligent
and enterprising people to settle among them, but
oifers no inducements to those of a different char-
acter. Large founderies and Victories with heavy
steam power are being erected. Churches and
school houses with the most ample provisions for
the thorough education of all their youth are well
attended.

A Horticultural and Agricultural Society and a
Fruit Growers Association, have their weekly meet-
ings attended by over 500 members, and discuss in
an interesting manner, all matters pertaining to
Fruit Growing, Gardening and Farming, the pro-
ceedings of which are regularly published in the
Vinelaitd WeeMy, a document of eight pages, and
thus placed before all the inhabitants of the town,
numbering now over 7,500 persons. Where shall
we look for a parallel to this ?

The amount of Fruit now grown there and at
other places in New Jersey is immense, and indi-
cates what may be expected when the resources of
our 8tate shall become fully developed. Located
between the two.great cities of New York and Phil-
adelphia, with the most favorable soil and climate
that can be obtained ; the value of New Jersey
lands for Fruit Growing must still advance, and it
become the garden spot of our Union.

A REPLY TO D. W. ADAMS, ON COLOR
AND HARDINESS,

BY DR. .J. STAYJIAN, LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS.

When the collection and classification of facts es-
tablish new theories, even in harmony with natural
phenomena, we find many persons oppose them
because they either do not carefully investigate the
subject or consider it unworthy their attention.
Others oppose them on the ground of prejudice
alone. This has been the destiny of many an im-
portant discovery. We cannot expect to be exempt
from this ordeal. We anticipated it, and even ex-
pected more opposition than we have received.
The subject has been carefully considered and thor-
oughly submitted to experiment before it was pub-
lished.

We were all aware of the few apparent excep-
tions, and the arguments likely to be based upon
them. We even named some of those varieties,
and have been explicit in defining our position. Yet
with all this care, the Editor of the Gardener s
Monthhj is the only person we know of who appears
to understand our premises. For further considera-
tion, we will briefly state a few propositions which
may better illustrate our views :

First : No variety of any species of either king-
dom can produce offspring more healthy and hardy
than their parents.

Secondly : All animated nature is tending towards
degeneracy and extinction, to give place to new or-
ders and species.

Thirdly: Color is a true indication of the health
and hardiness of both kingdoms, other conditions be-
ing equal.

Fourthly : Park color of bark, buds, foliage,
flower, fruit and seed, is an index of health and
hardiness ; and light color of debility, disease and
degeneracy.

Fifthly: Colors, as a general rule, do not change
or variegate in their offspring to darker colors than
their parents, butlisrhter.

Now, in reply to Mr. Adams, we would say that
no exception to a general rule can be taken to es-
tablish a contrary. It may weaken or invalidate a
general rule in proportion to its frequency, but can-
not be taken to form the rule itself, as we would in-
fer from his expressions. He says, " T will refer
you to a list of varieties that will prettily illustrate
the converse." That is, he has given a list of light
colored varieties, in the exact sense in which we
have given dark colored varieties with all their
characteristics of health and hardiness. Here we
would be willing to let the whole controversy rest
with the public to decide if our opponent had fully
considered the subject and had made the best selec-
tions that could have been done, and fully under-
stood our premises, but as he says, ' ' perhaps I do not
fully comprehend it," and his attention has just been
called to the subject latterly. We fear the public
would demand a more experienced person, and one
who does comprehend our theory. Although he
has "grown trees for the last nine years, by the
100,000," and his very sure and somewhat extensive
experiment qualifies him to speak."

We do not pretend to say his experience is of no
account, it is valuable as far as it goes, in illustrating
the effect produced by severe cold at his location.
That being but one condition, does not cover the
whole ground of our premises of health and hardi-
ness.

'(§)

As regards Mr. Adams "extensive experience
qualifying him," we would sa.vthat our observation
extends over twenty years ; the last ten has been
nearly entirely devoted to experiment and demon-
stration, at a cost of over $ 1 2,000, and a loss of more
than half a million of plants and seedlings of differ-
ent species, and more than a thousand varieties.

In different locations, under similar and dissimilar
conditions in a varied temperature, from 35° below
zero, to 115° above, with sudden changes of 00° in
twenty-four hours, and frequently 10° in as many
minutes.

Under a scorching sun and hot current of air and
continued drought the whole season, to a low tem-
perature, and a humid atmosphere, with continued
showers of rain. In the dark, in the light, in the
sun, and in the .shade, with water, and without ;
below the freezing point on tender plants, and the
results compared with observations of others as far
as they could be ascertained. If ever there has been
a fivct established, it is this, (which nearly covers the
ground of our position,) that the lightest colored
plants or animals of any species, are not equal in
health and hardiness to the darkest colored of the
same species, other conditions being equal ; whether
it is cau.sed by want of attention or defective consti-
tution, and that the first variegation or change to
lipht color in either parents or offspring, shows in-
cipient disease or degeneracy, and that being the
ca.se, they are not adapted to the same vicissitudes
of climate, and are not as productive, prnfitahle and
satisfactory without extra care and attention, conse-
quently cannot be as vahtahle a.nd popular.

To fully and clearly settle this subject, the light-
est colored offspring of the same parentage .should
be selected with the darkest colored, and their off-
spring .should be selected in like manner for several
generation.s, and the results compared.

There are several important points which should
be remembered in di.scussing this question, viz:
That we should compare always the offspring of the
same species. That we should compare .seedlings
with seedlings. Tiiatin hybrids there may appear
exceptions, arising from the light colored species
being the most healthy and hardy. That simply,
light colored flowers and fruit are not sufficient to
prove our premises incorrect. There are the parts
which change or sjiort most easily, and in some
cases, in the first generation, and partake strongly
of the character of their parents, and are hardy and
healthy as the Keswick (Jodlin, Talman's Sweet and
Lowell ajjples, and the Taylor's Bullet, White Clin-
ton, and the Martha grapes, yet we do not think any
person would claim that they surpass or even equal

their parents in health, hardiness or productiveness.
Again, such varieties as Baldwin, or King of Tomp-
kins Co., having come from improved sorts, are not
.so hardy to extreme cold, but are healthy, produc-
tive and valuable, more so than the Fall Pi]ipin,
having had similar origin but lighter colored fruit.

It requires considerable care in classifying facts to
correct principles and deduct thorofrom accurate
conclusions, for at first view the re.'^ults will appear
somewhat conflicting, and if they should happen not
to agree with previous opinions, they are generally
rejected without investigation. To illustrate this
condition of the mind, we will give an example:
In January, 184S, we gave a series of public Lec-
tures, at the Strasbnrg Academy, Pa., endeavor-
ing to show and prove by actual demonstration, that
the natural, mental and physical abilities, as health
longevity, elasticity, eccentricity, genius, &c., were
manifest by external peculiarities. The Professor
took exception to our philosophy, and said it con-
flicted with hi> faith, consequently it could not be
true. We remarked, we did not care what it ap-
peared to conflict with, was it a fact? no, he could
not admit that. At the conclusion of our experi-
ments, after the audience and himself had made their
own selection of subjects, he got u]i and stated pub-
licly that we could describe and point out those pe-
culiarities with accuracy and precision on any sub-
ject they could select, but how it was done he could
not tell, but he could not believe in our philo.sophy.
We also attempted to .show that many of those pe-
culiarities belonged to the lower animals, and fur-
ther investigation has shown us that the vegetable
kingdom is no exception to external manifestations,
but is even more certain in its results, not being
subject to volition or mental influence.

With the.se lengthy preliminary remarks in defi-
ning our position, we shall endeavor to examine Mr.
Adams' exceptions, although what we have previ-
ously said, ought to suffice.

The Golden Russet, we presume, is the Golden
Russet of N. Y. (English Golden Russet,) which is
a strong rapid grower, and tolerably hardy, and
overcomes injury readily ; has never become popu-
lar, even in the North or West. We had them se-
verely injured in the nursery in 185G. The bark is
rather green, considerably speckled with white; fruit
ru.s.set, on yellow ground ; tree straggling, thorny and
but little removed from a seedling.

We have it growing by the side of the Red Rus-
.set, it does not equal it in vigor, hardines.s, produc-
tiveness or quality. It being intermediate, cannot
bean exception, and does not " ])rettily illustrate
the converse " of our premises.

ahr

nr<gj'

Sh^ hardener's ^onthlg.

267

The Kirkbridge White did not even withstand
this climate, so we lost them all. It is not recom-
mended by any Society, that we know of, for any
good quality.

Talman's Sweet, Holland Pippin, and Lowell are
healthy and hardy, productive and valuable, but do
not belong to the light colored class, except the
fruit ; the foliage, buds and twigs, are dark colored,
and have the most marked characteristics of health
and hardiness. Mr. Adams claiming those as be-
longing to the light colored class, shows he either
was hard run for varieties, or his observations were
noe as acute as they should have been. Such an over-
sight as this of well known varieties, shows at least
^ a want of care in a public critic who wishes to prove
the converse of facts.

If he means by Early Harvey, Fall Harvey, it has
proved tender and unworthy with us, and as far as
lieard from.

Yellow Bellefleur is tolerably hardy to cold, but
lacks in constitution, and is not productive, and is
fast losing favor.

Hawley has proved tender with us, and every-
where heard from, and is not healthy, hardy, pro-
ductive or profitable.

Tulpehocken is a very fast growing tree, and is
likely to be some injnred when young, yet we are not
acquainted with any variety of light color, with the
same rapid growth that equals it in hardiness, health
or productiveness.

R. I. Grreening is intermediate, and is not very
hardy, and proves nothing to the contrary of our
views.

Fall Pippin is not healthy or hardy, being far re-
moved from a seedling, and is in a rapid state of de-
generacy, although it has strong marks of having
had a healthy origin.

Black Gilliflower, Rome Beauty, Mother and Pri-
mate belong to the intermediate class, being defi-
cient in some points ; they are rather hardy with us.
Those local varieties we do not know, and pass them.
Of grapes, he finds the Northern Muscadine as har-
dy as the Concord. Does he find it as vigorous and
productive, and profitable?

They are both quite hardy, having been but little
removed from our native fox grapes, yet it is very
evident that the Concord is the most Aea/^/*^, hardy
and productive.

As regards the Delaware being as hardy and
healthy as the Hartford Prolific, we once thought
so, but who now believes it is adapted to the same
vicissitudes of climate. Why is it losing favor so
rapidly ?

We have had it killed to the ground four years in

succession. We have seen five year old vines, killed,
roots and vines, while the Hartford Prolific by their
side was not injured. Neither is the Delaware, at
any place we know of, as productive. With us, in
Missouri, and other places, it is nearly worthless.

As regards Catawba being as hardy as Isabella, it
may withstand as much severe cold, but it being as
healthy and hardy we beg leave to differ. The re-
ports almost everywhere shows the Catawba more
subject to disease, and it will not endure the same
humid atmosphere. The same holds good with
Diana compared with Union Village.

Rogers hj'brids, we find No. 1 the most tender,
and No. 33 the most hardy of those we have tried.
These hybrids are the most valuable we have, and
fully illustrate the truth of our premises being the
first generation of hybrid wild fox grapes, and con-
sequently are the most vigorous, hardy, healthy,
and productive of any hj'brids we have. Such ex--
traordinary results from such indifferent selections,
proves conclusively the application of correct prin-
ciples in h5^bridization.

As regards Brinckle's Orange Raspberry being
hardy, we have been unable to procure fruit from
it by any process, and we do not find it recommend-
ed by any Society for vigor, health, hardiness, or
productiveness, while we have a number of the darker
class recommended for all.

In conclusion, we ask Mr. Adams to select a list
of well known varieties, healthy and hardy. ofMght
colored bark, foliage, flower, fruit and seed, em-
bracing Summer, Fall, and Winter, which he ought
to be able to do, if, as he says, that color is not of
the smallest possible use here," and we, here in
advance will give a small list of our varieties.
Summer. Fall.

Early Red, Fameuse,

Early Joe, Sops of Wine,

Red June, St. Lawrence,

Fourth July, Fall Wne Sap,

Tetop.<ky, Bailies' Sweet,

Red Astrachan, Duchess of Oldenburg.

Winter.
Wine Sap, Ben Davis,
Campfield, Red Russet,
Lady Apple, Hartford Sweeting.

FAST HOLLYHOCES.

BY J. M., GERMANTOWN, PA.

Under the above head, Mr. John Townley, in
the July number of the Gardener's Monthly, speak-
ing of some seedling Hollyhock's flowering the first
year from seed, says, "1 am puzzled to understand I (^

wh\' these plants flowered, though raised so verj' late
in the season; when self-sown plants, and plants raised
from tlie seed sown in the open ground very early
in the Spring, never attempt to flower until the second
year.' They do not, as a rule, flower until the
second year in America, but in England they gen-
eraly do. In one of my situations, the growth of
the Ilollyhock was made a specialty, as well as the
raising of seedlings. A large bed w;is usually pre-
pared on the north side of a wall, and the seed sown
as soon as the weather permitted in Spring. The
plants were undisturbed in the bed until after flower-
ing, which was usually in September, fully two-thirds
of them flowered the first season. I know of no pecu-
liar treatment causing them to flower ; the ground
was usually very wet, in fact I may say it was never
dry. The Ilollj-hock is a flower derserving of more
care than is usually awarded it here. Our Winters
are too severe for it without a covering of leaves or
litter. It is one of the noblest summer blooming
border plants we have, with its stately growth and
diversity of colors in its flowers.

Our Murtieultural Societies seem to almost ignore
it, judging from the slight mention made of it in
their schedules. Why do they not offer premiums
for it? it is surely as good, or better than the Per-
ennial Phlox.

STRAWBERRIES IN CENTRAL PENNSYL-
VANIA.

BY S. M., AVON, PA.

As promised, I will now give you my notes on
the Strawberry crop the past season : Wilson's
Albany done remarkably well, so as to place it
among the most valuable, although last season was
near being discarded.

Triomphe de Gaud surpassed any former season,
with me ; picked the last box of them on the 6th
July. *

Russell s Prolijic large fine and in everyway valu-
able.

Bojidcns Green Prolific, one of the most perfect
strawberries extant, enormously productive, large.,
handsome color, but noi first-rate in jwint of flavor.

Agriculturist; good quality and large size, but
not productive enough for me thus far.

Jucunda, or Knox s 700 ; I think just about
what a strawberry ought to be ; to my notion it is
perfection. I would have lots of fruit of it now,
had i-t not been cut off to promote the running of
plants. This, I intend to plant largely for the Phil-
adelphia market, and send them there when your
berries are past.

Ihe Three Tribune Prize Strawherries are of no
account with me.

French's Seedling ; said to be so very early ;
proves no earlier than Wilson's Albany and pro-
duces too sparingly.

Georgia Mammoth is by no means large, 'tis not
prepossessing in appearance, nor is it any later than
Triomphe, or Jucunda ; hence I deem it ot no ac-
count.

Xaomiy promises well.

Cocklin's Ida will most assuredly take a promi-
nent place where it becomes known, very vigorous,
productive, and in size, form and color, grand ;
quite acid until fully ripe, when it becomes to my
taste unsurpassed bj' anj'.

Lennig's Wliite, Albino, and another white, which
I lost the name of, are so much alike as to not need
distinction, are good and handsome, but not pro-
ductive enough for market.

About twenty or thirty varieties of native and
foreign have been tried the past two j'ears, and not
one of which I deem worthy of continuation. The
simi)le fact is, that the Albany is still about as val-
uable as any on account of its earliness, and in fact,
every good quality.

STRAWBERRIES NEAR BOSTON.

BY W. C. STRONG.

Which varieties shall we plant? There is a dif-
forenee of opinion in regard to those long tried.
The number of new coiners heralded with pompous
pretense, is constantly increasing, so that we might
fear as long a list as we have pears, were it not that
a large proportion of the novelties, having little sub-
stance, and being immensely inflated, soon burst,
disappear, and are seen no more.

In Massachusetts, this year has been unpropi-
tious for the strawberry, for several reasons. The
excessive drought of last autumn prevented the due
development of the plants. The plants thus weak-
ened were less able to endure the unusually open
and trying winter. Our Spring was cold and dry,
and the growth was still further weakened. Last
of all, we had successive frosts while the plants were
in blossom, which destroyed a considerable portion
of the fruit. In consequence, we had less than half
a crop, and the price in our market was higher than
ever before known, averaging to the producer, from
fifty to sixty cents per quart. Und^r such circum-
stances, our experience with the new kinds may
not be considered as entitled to weight. Yet we
can- speak distinctly of some.

Agriculturist has good habits ; as a plant is very

®h^ hardener's Ponthlg.

269

©1

pr )diictive ; berries are large, of fair, but not the
best appearance ; quality below the average. The
fruit if picked too soon, is of a wateiy acidity ; re-
maining another day longer, it is quite passable,
but, remaining another day, it degenerates to a de-
cidedly disagreeable over-ripeness.

The Agriculturist seems likely to be of value to
the market gardener in the same way as the Wil-
son's Albany, i. e. on account of its productiveness.

French's Seedling is of no value ; a pale soft ber-
ry, flat and juiceless. It is saying quite too little
to say that it is moderately early, productive and of
good size ; can we say anything better of the Moni-
tor? 1 think not.

Buffdlo is clearly McAvoy; and it is equally clear
that Russell's Prolific is not. Yet this is a distinc-
tion with the slightest possible difference; so that a
common brief epitaph may speedily be written over
their graves.

New Jersey Scarlet and Jucnnda did not fruit.

Our most celebrated Strawberry Club gave the
first prize to the Triomplede Gand. La Constante
took the first prize from another Society. In qual-
ity, size and beauty, this last is unequalled. On
strong clay-loam, highly enriched, it will give a good
average croj), but it cannot be called prolific in any
condition. Hovey's Seedling continues to be a fa-
vorite.

Two new seedlings have been obtained by Hon.
M. P. Wilder, by crossing the La Constante and
Hovey. Mr. Wilder finds certain conditions which
indicate unmistakably that they are the true crosses,
and he is so confident that they partake of the good
qualities of both parents, that he is inclined to yield
to the wish of his friends, that one of them shall
bear his name. If he consents, it will indicate no
slight assurance of its merits. How strange it is
that good cultivators assume tlie reputation of send-
ing out seedlings which prove to be valueless ! and
yet, it requires only the most ordinary knowledge of
fruits in order to save the public from at least three-
fourths of the experiments with new kinds.

Some varieties, like the Wilson, and perhaps the
Agriculturist may have some marked excellencies
which will atone for marked defects, so as to war-
rant their introduction. But when a single inspec-
tion of a bed of the French, or the Monitor for ex-
ample, enables us to say the fruit is too soft for car-
riage ; the color is poor ; the quality is very much
worse ; it would seem as though no careful man
would be misled so as to make size and productive-
ness, though not extraordinary, to outweigh these
glaring defects. Other similar instances might be
given, but resting here, it will be seen instead of

answering my first question. I have rather indi-
cated, for our selection, what not to plant.

DECORATION

OF COUNTRY
YARDS.

CHURCH-

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

Almost every country church has a piece of land
attached to it as a yard ; and in too many cases, it
is allowed to run wild as if nobody owned it ; how-
ever comely the style, and cheap the workwanship
of the edifice may be, the neglected of its grounds
so much disfigures it, that it looks more like a tc7n-
ple of siti, than a sacred domicile in which to wor-
ship the " Prince of peace and God of love ;" and
one cannot help supposing that "filthy lucre" has
a stronger hold of the minds of the congregation
than the " riches which this world cannot give."
That should never be, for everything belonging to
religion, and leading to the way of heaven, should
be made beautiful and inviting. A church and its
grounds should be so nicely ornamented as to look
like an earthly paradise, that would entice youth to
attend worship ; and the seeds of piety would be
planted in their hearts, never again to be wholly
eradicated; even the " ?»^-ei^an?i" would be at-
tracted to church, and get the chill of indifference
dispelled from their minds by the sure promises of
the Gospel, and the true religion of Christ would
flourish.

We would not practice landscape gardening to
make a gaudy show in a church-j'ard ! nor would
we make walks in the form of a sei-jxmt, as that rep-
tile destroj'ed the peace in the garden of Eden, and
caused the downfall of man — we would make the
walks straight, with rounded corners, and plant the
trees and shrubbery in lines ; plant an ivy between
every two windows to climb up and clothe the walls,
and ten or twelve feet ofF set a row of deciduous
trees to give shade in summer, and around the
outer-edges, plant a row of evergreen trees for shel-
ter and beauty in winter ; make a broad walk in the
middle all round, and set a row of shrubs and roses
on each .side ; say eveiy third plant an evergreen ;
and make the surface of the grounds a grassy sod,
and put some hard substance upon the walks to
keep them dry — the church and its yard would then
be an ornament to the place ; and every one would
feel a pride in showing it and talking about it to
their friends who might come from a distance to
visit them. But the fear of the cost deters many
well disposed people from making improvements.
Let us estimate the cost of decorating a country
church-j'ard. Suppose that the first cost is two hun-
dred dollars, and there are four hundred persons

270

§\}t gardener's dlloutblii.

belonging to the church, that would be only fiftj'
cents to each ; if a circus or a comirduy of ju[/gle)-s
cotues to town, everj'body will try to get fifty cents
to pay to see their antics for only a few hours — who
then will grudge to pay fifty cents, or even a dollar
to decorate the holy house of God, which will last
for ages. Workii g-nien who cannot well spare the
money may give their labor at the work, as they
work upon the roads to pay their taxes. If the
keeping of the grounds in good order should cost
twenty dollars per annum, that is only five cents to
each of four hundred hearers ; or if the annual cost
should be forty dollars, that would be only a dime
to each ; what Christian or Jew would shrink from
the paytuent of ^iich a trifle for a holy purjiose —
now the leaves of ivj' prunings and sprigs of ever-
green trees and .shrubs, Would serve to make wreaths
to garnish the church a^. Christmas tiiue.

We admonish all kinds of religious denomina-
tions to strive to outvie each other in the adorn-
ment 01 their country church-yards — let that be here-
after the outer emblem of true and holy hearts ;
and then we will know where pure religion reigns.

REMEDY FOR THE ROSE SLUG.
BY Mil. FRANCIS PARKMAN, JAMAICA PLAIN, MASS.

Having been plagued to an unusual degree this
season with slugs on rose-bushes, and sharing the
general aversion to whale-oil soap — which, however,
is rarely genuine now-a-days, but a spuriuus com-
pound, equally unpleasant and much less eflective.
1 have tr.ed many experiments to find a substitute.
The following mixture succeeded perfectly. To a
gallon of common soft soap, add two-thirds of a pint
of petroleum. Stir it till tlie two ingredients are
compielely incorporated, and then dissolve it in
about halfa barrel of water. I have u.sed several
barrels of this compound, without injury to tin;
most tender foliage, or to the flower-buds. The
smell is not disagreeable, and an after syringing
with clear water, removes every trace of it. As to
the slugs, it killed them as efi'ectually, to say the
least, as the best whale-oil soap.

Perhaps some of your readers may find this of use.

MELONS. CUCUMBERS AND SQUASHES.

liY (JERALL) IIOWA'rr, TAIUIYTOWN, N. YORK.

To procure melons, cucumbers and summer squash
as .soon as pos.sible out-doors, and at the least ex-
pense is our great aim. The ravage of our bugs is,
as is well known a great detriment, and an everlast-
ing annoyance. My cure is a simple one and eflectual,
being possessed of two preventives the forcing in

of your plants, and the protecting from bugs. Get
some siding boards that are used for building ; those
are rabbeted on one side ; get eight by ten glass ; cut
those boards to the size of your glass; place your
glass on top, and tack it in with brads ; any one can
make the.se, as it only requires to cut the boards
square, if these are not made in time, you can use
brick, pla.ing them square on shingles, but the
boxes are preferable ; when you plant your seed,
pUice this box on top of them, (letting the seeds be
in the centre,) and do not remove the box or glass
uniil it is filled with the vines, don't be afraid, the
sun will not burn them in the hottest day, you will
observe dew drops on the leaves, and the under sur-
foce of your glass moist ; it maj' seem strange that
they will not burn, but such is the fact, as the ex-
treme heat draws the moi.sture from the soil. When
the seed leaf, is expanded, lift the box and draw
some mould up to the seed leaf, and replace
your box as before. For early melons I use old
house sash, six panes of glass to the light, boxes
made of box boards, 12 to 15 inches at back, and ten
in front, a strip nailed on each side to prevent the
.sash from blowing oif those boxes, will also answer,
and can be used to force early cauliflower in, and be
in time for melons. IMy early nielons I .sow in four
and six inch pols about the 1st of April, using a
compost of three parts loam, and one part rotten
manure, placing one potshred in bottom of pot;
fill in your pot to within two and a half or three in-
ches of the top ; place five seed to each pot, v?hen
a number are sown, take a fine sieve and sift some
of your compo.st on top of them suflicient to cover
them ; then take a round piece of board, same diam-
eter as your pot, with a stick in the centre, and i)re,ss
down firmly, water and remove to a frame. This
frame or pit is made by excavating the ground two
feet deep, filling it up with hot stable manure mixed
with leaves ; when the heat is up, place on it some
garden loam, and plunge your pots to the rim, this
gives them a good steady bottom heat. In plunging,
keep the tops of j'our pot six to eight inches Irom
your sash bars in frames ; this must be particularly
observed, for if more than that, it will draw your
plants, and make them sj)indly, when your .seed
leaf is developed and above the pot, make some
sifted compost and fill up to within half an inch of
the top, removing all but three plants when you are
filling in.

About middle of May your plants will be in fine
condition to transplant. About first of May get
your ground ready. When they are planted in
large quantities, run a plough lengthwi.se and cross-
wise, six feet apart, and drop one or two forks of

,/oVJ-

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3fhti ©artenfr's JHonthlg.

271 T^

manure, according to the strength of the ground, at
each angle, and cover with the hoe ; place your bos
over this when finished, and let it remain on a few
days before removing your plants ; this gives a heat
to your soil, and your plants will not be retarded in
growth when set out. In transplanting, open a hole
in the centre and insert your plant to the depth of
your seed leaf, water sufficient to settle the earth
around them, put on your glass and do not again re-
move it except to stop j'our plants and weed them ;
no matter how hot it may be, do not give them any
air ; it may seem that this may draw them, such is
not the fiict, they are as short jointed as if no box
were used ; let me observe, it will not do to give them
air one day and clo.se them the next, if you do so,
you will burn them, in either seeds or plants. Do
not remove your boxes until they are filled with
vines, and before doing so, plough and cultivate
j-oiu' ground between the boxes thoroughlj', to have
it perfectly clean, as you will not be able afterwards
to get through with the cultivator, as when your
vines are spread out, they will cover all your land.
By following the above directions you will not be
troubled by resowing in consequence of bugs, which
pays for boxes and plants in one season. If extra early
Squash is desired, they can be started in thumb
pots and removed to the small 8x10 boxes.

BANGER FROM GAS TAR.

BY PETER HENDERSON, SOUTH BERGEN, N. J.

I am glad to see that Mr. Chorlton of Rochester
calls attention to this subject, by the relation of his
unfortunate experience. He has not been alone in
making the blunder ; I have heard of some half
dozen cases where parties have suffered less, or
more ; and as its use is now .so general in the difier-
ent parts of greenhouse structures, when it is dan-
gerous to plant life, and when it is not, cannot be
too widely known. Last Fall I happened to call on
a friend, a very extensive florist, inBrooklj^n, L. I.,
and found him painting his hot water pipe with Glas
Tar, and concluded on getting home I would start
to paint mine also, but fortunately for me, some-
thing came in the way that it was forgotten, and I
thought nothing more ot the subject until some
time in winter, when my friend told me that he be-
lieved the Gas from the Tar was injuring his plants.
Later in the winter, after a spell of severe weather,
when the pipes required to be heated to a higher
temperature, the elfect was most disastrous, hardly
a plant escaped, and as he had all his pipes painted,
his loss was severe ; on the recurrence of a mild
spell, the plants would recover to some extent, but

the necessity for strong firing again injured them as
before, so that they never recovered until firing was
stopped in Spring. As soon as the weather was
mild enough, so that the sash could be taken off, he
fired as strongly as could be done for some days in
succession, and now hopes that he has expelled the
Gas so that it will be no longer hurtful. This is
only another instance, Mr. Editor, of the great value
of such communications as Mr. Chorlton's; had my
friend been aware of the fact last year, at this time,
he would have been two or three thousand dollars in
pocket. It also shows how much we have all to
learn on some of these minor matters. The gentle-
man referred to had been in the habit of using Gas
Tar on his greenhouse for at least a dozen years,
but never before had used it where it was subjected
to artificial heat.

I have done the same for a longer period, and yet
did not know there was danger of it in any way, and
would most certainly have followed the example of
my Brooklyn friend, had I not been dilatory in the
matter.

Gas Tar I have found an excellent thing to use on
wood-work either under or above ground, preserving
it unquestionably for many years longer than it
would be without it.

I tore up last season, a lot of the wood-work of
old frames that had been down for nine years,
painted with hot Gas Tar when built. The boards
and joists were common hemlock, and were in such
a state of preservation that they would have done
duty for six or eight years longer.

I use the Gas Tar put on almost boiling on all
gutters, sills and wood-work outside, and on the
benches inside, also, taking care now however, that
there is no communication with the pipes or tanks.

MARECHAL NEIL ROSE.
BY JOHN SAUL, WASHINGTON, D. C,

Of the many new roses introduced the past few
years, this is undoubtedly the most valuable.
When first announced, I was apprehensive it might
have some of the draw-backs of the other Tea Noi-
settes, such as Cloth of Gold, which is a luxuriant
grower, but shy bloomer ; or Isabella Gray, which
is a little deficient in vigor, fr edom of blooming, and
freedom of expan.^ion. So far as I can judge from
plants now blooming in my nursery, I should say it
has none of those defects. It is evidently a seedling
from Cloth of Gold, has flowcis of a fine rich deep
yellow, opening freely, and highly fragrant. The
growth is vigorous, with fine healthy foliage, and a
profuse bloomer ; like the Tea's, every shoot is ter-
minated with bloom. It has consequently all the
good qualities to recommend it, and requires only
to be known to be universally cultivated by rose
growers.

<ii>^'

^\ 272

•^ii

^k ^ardentr's (pont|)ln.

PHILADELPHIA, SEPTEMBER, 1866.

Jr^ All Communications for the Editor slioiilil be atiilres«'d.
"Thomas Me EH AX. fiprmantown, Philadelphia," and Business Let.
terg directed to "W. G. V. Brixckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Snliscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes 1,$1; 2, 3,4,5, 6,and 7, unbound. S2each,

WORTHLESS SEEDLING FRUITS.

From the first number of our Journal to the pre-
sent time, but one object ha.s been before us, that
being the diffusion of Horticultural taste and hioicl-
edf/e.

It is plea.'sant to remember how ably we have
been a.ssisted by the best t .lent in the country ; la-
dies and gentlemen, distinguished in Horticultural
art and science, and in the various sciences relating to
Horticulture, have freely contributed of their intor
mation, with no thought of reward but the public
good. When we look at the indices of our past vol-
umes, recording what we have gathered together,
we feel that in general usefulness, our history com-
pares favorably with that of any Horticultural pub-
lication in the world.

Our Sub.scription Book also shows the liberality
of our friend.s. Our large circulation is not the re-
sult of superior facilities for publication, but mainly
the rfisidt of personal effort on the part of friends.
Horticulturists, unlike Agriculturists, are not eveiy-
where scattered about, only a neighbor of similar
tastes can find them ; no profitable sy.stem of adver-
tising can reach them. Only by eifort on the part
of our friends can our circulation be increa.sed.

The Editor devotes time to the Gardener s Month-
1)1, which he can badly spare from other pursuits.
He does so only, as forming one of the Great Hor-
ticultural body, he is willing to do all he can for its
pleasure and improvement, so long as others show
the disposition they have heretofore done to sustain
and assist him.

It is to the advantage of every Horticulturist,
that the Gardener s Monthly should be as widely
known as possible.

At the last meeting of the Fruit Growers Society
of Western New York, it was made a subject of se-
rious discussion how to save the many thou.sands
of dollars annually spent on worthless novelties.
These things are "brought out," and so skillfully
engineered, that every Horticulturist has to have

them, or be thought "behind the times" by his
"go-ahead" friends; or if he is a nurseryman,
clas.sed with im posters for selling rubbish, which he
would be considered "slow" for not keeping at all.
The only cure for the.se things, is to encourage peo-
ple to read tlie papers.

No one who regularly reads the Gardener's Month-
h/, would buy as Wine plants for fifty dollars per 100,
Rhubarb plants that he could get for ten; and should
by any chance an old Strawberry get a new name,
and, as a new kind, get the endorsement of first-class
Societies and first-class names, as has been done, and
must occasionally occur, the fact is soon published
and the waste of money in that direction saved.

Fraud, or the evils of ignorance in newly brought
out plants, cannot long exist when brought promi-
nently before a body of men as intelligent as the
readers of the Gardener s Montldy. It is always a
suspicious circumstance when a new thing is not ad-
vertised in its columns. It may spread through the
country easily by circulais or agents carefully seek-
ing those quarters were "book larnin " is at a dis-
count, until such a demand is created, that nursery-
men who know it is worthless, must keep it never-
theless. But when once advertized in our pages, it
is brought where it must stand on its merits, and
soon receives its last fatal blow, if it has not the
wherewithal to make good its pretences.

So with i)Oor stock at low prices, another fruitful
source of annoyance to the honest dealer and confi-
ding customer. The nurseryman can be jirivately
undersold, and the buyer readii}' deceived, and no
one be any the wi.ser ; but when such an one attempts
to advertize in our paper, the fair dealer is at once
on his guard, and has the chance to show the pub-
lic the diflference between good things at reasonable
rates, and worthless ones at low prices, and the evil
is soon remedied, and before much harm is done.

It is therefore the interest of every one who ex-
pects to buy a tree, or fruit, or flower, to see the
Gardeners Monthly have the widest circulation
possible; and every nurseryman, florist, and profes-
sional fruit grower, who is forced bj' an ignorant
public opinion to invest his money in what he feels
to be worthless, is also interested in our efl'orts to
enlighten the community, by recommending the i)a-
per to all their customers.

We close our remarks by quoting a very sensible
expression of Mr. Seelye at the Rochester Fruit
Growers' meeting: "You cannot prevent men
fnmi selling poor articles, nor others from pur-
chasing them. Until growers are honest, and buy-
ers intelligent, frauds will prevail."

m

DIRECTION OF GHAFE THSLLISES.

It is now a long while since it was noticed that
Grape vines grew much better when running over
trees than in any other way. Explanations liave
often been attempted ; and amongst other reasons, it
has been supposed that the " horizontal growth of
the bearing shoots " which prevails when the Grape
grows in this condition, must be conducive to health
and fruitfulness. It is quite likely that we may
have suggested something of this kind in some of
our back volumes : at any rate the writer of this
has held that opinion ; and probably the first im-
pression that there was not much in the idea, was
derived f'-om a visit to a vineyard last year in Ches-
ter Countj?, as described in the Monthly^ wliere
vines trained on a sloping trellis failed as disas-
trously as they could on any other system. We
have recently seen another case.

We strolled accidentlj" into a vinej'ard of about
three acres, that had been formed in a quiet and se-
cluded place on one of the hundreds of small hills
that form the ridge between the Wissahickon and
Schuylkill Rivers.

Many thousands of dollars had evidently been ex-
pended on the experiment. The hill was very steep.
The sides had been terraced and the steeper parts
sustained by a succession of substantial dry walls,
as numerous and as close together as the dry wall
breastworks of the Pennsylvania Keserves at the
Roundtop on the field of Gettysburg. The, level
portion of the terraces was about twenty feet wide,
and the sloping sides perhaps twenty feet deep.
The vines were planted on the edge of the terraces.
On the terrace in the line of the vines, strong posts
6 by 4 inch size extended, reaching about ten feet
from the ground. The posts on the terrace imme-
diately above this were about three feet above the
ground. From the top of the short posts on one
terrace, to the top of the long ones on the other,
a very strong frame work of 6 by4's extended, and
lengthwise oak shingling covered the whole close-
ly, forming a close trellis aboat thirty feet wide and
hundreds of feet in length. Our estimate was, that
at least one acre-and-a-half of space was closely
covered by this substantial trellis. As the hill was
very steep, there was a slight slope to the trellis.
The vines at the short posts were trained down,
those at the long and lower posts were trained up
to meet them, the whole forming long shaded
covered ways twenty feet wide.

The vines appeared to have been planted about
eight years, and appeared to have had very careful
treatment for about five j^ears in pruning and train-

ing. The last three years all care had been evi-
dently abandoned.

Of the tens of thousands of bunches, there was
not one perfect. Most of the berries had fallen by
the rot ; about five berries to the bunch was a fair
average of all that remained, and as they had scarce-
ly began to color, no doubt many would continue to
fall ; no failure could be more complete.

W hat does this teach ? Not that Grapes cannot be
grown successfully on horizontal trellises, for they
are so grown every day, — not that failures are worse
on such trellises than on upright poles, for there are
plenty of uprights resulting quite as disastrously;
but it does show that if we are ever to get at a clear
idea of the cause of Grape rot, it is not likely to
have any reference to any particular mode of train-
ing ; and this knowledge is a great deal gained.

TRANSPLANTING STRAWBESSHIIIS,
KASFBERHIES, &.C.'

All intelligent gardeners know that trees should
not be planted deep, but very few know what is "too
deep" when Raspberries, Strawberries and other
small things are to be set out. One half, we are
sure, of all the Raspberries set out annually die
from deep planting, and very many Strawberries.

We have taken pains this year to examine into a
very large number of Raspberry plantations reported
failures, and we have found in all cases the dead
plants were set from two to four or five inches be-
neath the surface. In one of these instances we
found the planting had been done by one of our
most intelligent Horticulturists whose occasional
writings have given value to our Magazine. On
pointing it out to him, he candidly observed, "I
see it now, but did not give it a thought before."

It must be remembered that a Raspberry cane is
not like the wood of other plants, it will not root
from cuttings.

Now, if we set a cutting of a currant six inches
under the ground, it will push out roots all the way
up to the surface. A Raspberry cutting will not do
this. A Raspberry plant must shoot up from the
crown, or from its roots only ; and the further it is
planted beneath the surface, the further have the
little suckers to work up to get to the surface.
A Raspberry transplanted will rarely be able to
throw up its suckers through a greater depth of
earth than two inches, hence all set deeper than
that always die.

If there be any green sap in Raspberries when
received, which a nick with the thumb nail will
readily ascertain, not one plant in ten thousand

'3^

274

^t ©arkntr's Hloiitblj,

©

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m

need die if they be cut down to within six inches of
the ground, and planted under two inches deep.

Strawberries, Celer.v and all such stuff, should
never be plauted deeper than they grew before
transplanting.

53"Commnnications for this department mast reach tlie Editor
on or before the 10th of the month.

£3~The Editor cazuiot answer letters for this department pri-
Tately.

Greeley Prize — Mr. P. T. (2«''"», writes: "In
the August No. of your journal, under the heading
of "This and That," j-ou say " our good friend Pat-
rick Quinn recently twitted us, without ground as
the seijucl proved, that we did not read our New
York contemporary very closely.

"Now, if you will allow your good friend a few
more words on this point, we probably may both be
able to better understand each other in future. Un-
doubtedly the paragraph published in the April
number of j'our Montlihj, was intended to carry the
meaning you ascribe to it ; but it is quite as certain
that any casual reader would not have so interpre-
ted it. To ascertain whether or n>i I had really
misread the paragraph in question, I subsequent-
ly placed it without comment, in the hands of more
than a dozen intelligent persons and in each case
the reply was substantially the same, that the Ilo-
vey Pear had received the Greeley Prize.

"The paragraph is headed the ' Greeley Award,'
and in it you .say, 'our remarks on the Conunittee's
course with the lona Grape, led it to rdtrace its
step.s — m;iy we not hope that it will now do so with
the Hovey Pear. It is to be regretted that !Mr.
Greeley's good intentions should meet with so poor
a result.'

"In the first place, recommending the Hovey
Pear had nothing to do with Mr. Greeley's 'good in-
tentions,' for in their report, the Committee dis-
tinctly name the Apple and Pear that were selected
ftn- the Award ; and secondly, the Committee who
Awarded the lona Grape the prize, I think did not
'retrace ita steps,' but Dr. Grant simply relin-
guished his claim to the Award. Nor were the
Committee the same as that which recommended
the Ilovey Pear, nor do I think that Mr. Greeley's
' good intentions' meet so poor a result, on the
public learning that the Baldwin Apple and Bart-
lett Pear had received the prize, and wore recom-
mended for general cultivation by the Committee.
Now, my friend of the Monthly, if j'ou put ' This

and That' together, you will see that the 'sequel '
has not proved that you were twitted without
ground.' "

[A stranger picking out ' this,' and putting it to
' that,' might probably make out the case for Mr.
Quinn, as he says they did ; but we are quite sure
no legular readers of our paper would make the
mistake. As Mr. Quinn himself did not see in our
February paper, what he afterwards saw in the
Hortlculturi'^t in March, he naturally falls into the
errors of the strangers aforementioned. Such errors
will hai)pen, friend Quinn, to the sharpest of us,
and we should not be thought the worse of for
them.

We admire Mr. Quinn's perseverance, but do not
think he gains his chief point. He says we did not
read the HorllcuUnrist for March, or we should
have seen a paragraph he quoies, (see page 182.)
As we have the same paragraph in our February
number, (see page Gl ), we do not yet see how the
" sequel proves we did not read our New York
cousin."

On the other points our friend gains a mark
over us. It was not the ' Greeley Committee,' but
the same geiitlnnen, with the addition of Mr. Ilo-
vey, who recommended the Ilovey Pear for general
cul ivation — not in their official capacity, but in
their private ones. It is due to ourselves, how-
ever, to say, that this we clearly set forth at page
61 if we did not so clearly do so at page 181, where
now Mr. Q. "catches us."

The ' Greeley Committee also did not 'retrace its
steps.' It was Dr. Grant who caused them to re-
trace them.]

Express Charges.— Several of our friends who
have sent us specimens of plants, fruits, and flowers,
have recently sent us receipts from express com-
panies showing that they prepaid them to us. We
could recover from the companies after a great deal
of trouble, which the amounts involved are not
worth. It seems to be a rule for express companies
to ask pay over again unless marked on the package,
" paid " — and to demand part payment over again,
unless the package be marked "'paid through'' to
wherever the goods be addressed.

We recommend all persons prepaying goods to
their correspondents, to mark them "paid through
to ."

New Metfiod op Propagating Vines.— We
have a set of Photographs from Mr. F. L. Perry,
of his new patent method of propagating Vines by
using moveable troughs to grow them in. This is

^
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l(r

the same plan that has been followed for many
generations by intelligent gardeners for raising
Peas, Beans and other early vegetables, which
are thus started in heat, afterwards set out into the
open ground. We have never known grapes to be
raised before bj' this plan, and to Mr. Perry is
due the merit whatever there may be of growing
them in this waj'.

We confess however to be ignorant of our patent
laws. If, for instance, some one should take up
the pen with which we write this paragraph, and
go and indite a political speech with it — would the
fact of its being a political and not a horticultural
article, entitle the writer to a patent for the pen ?
Or if we have a stove to burn coal in, and another
goes and burns wood in it, can he cover his plan
with a patent so as to jirevent another from burning
wood in that stove? The Patent Office says that
he can, judging by this and similar issues in the
Horticultural line the few past years.

Fruit Prospects in Columbia, Tennessee — A
valued correspondent writes : — The peach, nectarine,
and plum promised fair, but the curcidios have
literally destroyed my crop. My pears, what I have
left, are the very finest I ever saw, and hoped to
make a fair show at St. Louis, but will have to
deprive myself of that pleasure. ' My grape vines
were nearly all ruined by the army, very few vines
had nothing like wood enough for anything like a
crop, but those which have borne and escaped tlie
rot are very fine indeed, my Delawares, Dianas,
and Concords are ripening up finely, if I can save
them from the birds, we will have rii)e Delawares
by the 10th inst. The Diana, Isabella, Catawba,
and Rogers', 2, 5, 15, and 19 rotted very badly,
none of my others rotted so much.

The Jenny Creeper sent by a correspondent
from Western, Pa., is the Bignonia radicans.

Small Lawn Mo^VERS — H., Waddington. — Is
there any small grass Mowing Machine manufac-
tured in this country, the price of which does not
exceed twenty-five dollars ? I, as well as thousands
of others, similarly situated would like to get such a
machine if it is to be had.

I am a great admirer of grass, when kept in
proper order, but the expense and trouble of keeping
it in order by hand is considerable, so much so, that
it is no doubt the reason that we so seldom see
nice smooth cut lawns and door yards.

A small light machine, that would cut from
fifteen to eighteen inches wide, that could be used

around shrubs and our borders, and could be pur-
chased at a reasonable price would no doubt meet
with a large sale.

I am aware that there are Lawn Mowing Machines
manufactured in this country, but they are too
large, heavy, and expensive for use about a small
place.

[A few years ago Small Lawn Mowers were in
use, but have been abandoned. We do not know
whether any are yet made or not. The trouble is
that very narrow strips cannot be followed rapidly
without either overlapping considerably where the
mower has already been over, in which case no
"headway" is made with the mowing, — or the
other fault occurs when grass is " missed," and the
course has to be gone over again.

In fact, experience has shown that a scythe, grass
hook, or even a pair of box shears will get over the
lawn faster amongst trees than a narrow mower —
and on the whole they cannot be recommended.]

Garden Syringes, — " Yanh,'" Geneva, N. Y. —
Can you inform me through your Monthly where I
can buy a good green-house syringe ? I do not find
what I want in this section. I want it for wetting
the leaves of tall plants, which a common watering
pot does not reach.

[You can get these from any of the large seed and
agricultural implement dealers who advertise in our
magazine, namely, Bliss, Bridgeman, Washburn,
Dreer, Plovey, Henderson & Fleming, Knox,
Rogers, Landreth & Son, Buist, Thorburn & Co.,
and others.]

Tom Thumb Arborvit^.

Rochester, K Y. August Uth, 18G6.

Dear Sir : — A day or two ago we sent you two
specimens of our seedling American Arborvitoe,
"Tom Thumb," to enable you to compare it with
the Thuya ericoides — The larger plant is beginning
to show the Arborvitfe foliage. The first plants of
the T. ericoides we had, were those received from
you last spring, and they are planted beside our Ar-
borvitie,and aji'e quite distinct even in the young state
Truly Yours,

Ellwanger & Barry.

[It is not generally known that what is termed
dimorphism, or double form in foliage, is peculiarly
characteristic of the Arborvitae class. Cupressus,
Biota, Chamoecyparis, Taxodium, Thujopsis, Ju-
niperus, Retinospora, Libocedrus, and some others,
are nearly as identical in foliage, whether sprouting
from seed or sometimes stricken from cuttings while
young, as Agassiz found the embryos of animals.

■3

^1^

'^OV^

^^c-

■Mg^/S?

276

2vh^ C^ardeiifr's (^lonthlij.

S me of them seem to retain this seedling or prim-
ary form longer than others. Thuja cricovdes and
Retinospora ericoidesare kinds that carry the origi-
nal form of foliage a long way, perhaps all the way
through their existence — so far we have never seen
any flattened leaves on them. On one of Messrs.
E. & B.'s plants, the flattened or secondary leaves
are just aj^pearing. We have never seen any
tendency to do thi.s on Thuja ericoidos.

The plants are distinct, though liable to be con-
founded together when young — and both eminently
beautiful.

RiPAWAM STRAWBERKV-Tr/? Pn'itce, Fhti^Ju'ng,
X. JT, writes: ''I notice that W. S. C'arptjnter states
in an advertisement, that " at the (rreat Strawberry
Show of the American Institute, held last June,
this Strawberry took the Sr.st prize, and that " Prof.
Huntsman of Flushing, was one of the Committee
of Judges. "

Now Sir, I desire to state that the American
Institute held no '"Great Strawberry Show" the
past June; and Prof Huntsman has stated to me,
that he not only never heard any thing in regard to
such a Show, but that he has no knowledge what-
ever of the qualities of this Ripawam Strawberry."

Pear Blight— J! II. C., Cuyahoga Falls,
(j/tio. — "Please find inclosed a branch and some
leaves from a pear tree of mine which is blighting
very badly, the limb contains a grub which is new
to me, but may not be to you, it is very quick in
its movements. I hope it will reach you safe and
alive ; do j'ou think it has any connection with the
blighting of the tree."

[This is the insect known as Scoli/his j)yr!, and
produces this form of blight, by checking the proper
fl(jw of sap to the part. It is very distinct from
the fire blight, which is cau.sed by a para.sitic
fungus, although the appearance of the injured
parts is very much the .same.]

Beautiful Seedling Vertjena.s. — D. S, Chico-
pce, Mass. — "I sent by mail last evening a box of
specimen Verbenas, but they were packed in so
great haste that I fear they will not reach you in
good condition, tlierefore send you a box to day
which please look out for.

I send you a specimen of the old Melindres, true,
which I have grown for 20 j'ears, it was the first
variety that I got hold of, and grew it a year or
two before obtaining others.

I now send it with others that you may see what
advancement I have made from that.

In planting I select seed from the first class
varieties only, and when the bed gets in to flower I
pull out all poor varieties that I may keep the seed
very pure.

I have for the last 6 years been following up the
Striped Strain, until I have some very good ones,
but the stripes are not my favorites; I prefer the
selfs with large distinct eyes, and am now ioHowing
that strain and hope to get something very choice
in the cour.<je of two or three years.

My idea of a first class Verbena is decided color;
strong, robu.st, close spreading habit, truss large,
slightly convex, and thrown well above the foliage;
pips or florets large, smooth, evenly set, and of
good substance ; broad segment of i)etal, a well
defined eye, and suflicient stamina to withstand the
hot sun without being burned.

I do not like a Verbena that shows but half of a
truss at a time. Many varieties never fill up in the
center until the outer petals begin to fall ; this is
decidely objectionable.

The specimens I send you I do not consider
standards of perfection ; but, I am for improving
them all I can. I have many very fragrant ones
this season, and have succeeded in raising some
very fine puri)les.

That you may not be deceived by rejjorts as to
the size of my bed, I would sjiy that it contains
about 53 square rods instead of a half acre as some
have it, and between 7000 and 8000 plants by actual
count. Many florists will come out with varieties
which they say were selected from 8000 or 10,000
seedlings, whereas there was probably not as many
hundreds.

My seedlings were all potted and counted, so
that I know whereof I speak. I i)lant them 3 or
4 in a hill, and 2 feet a part, this gives a chance to
pull out the poor ones without injuring the beauty
of the bed. Out of this numbei I think I wijl get
25 first class, or rather 25 that I consider sniterior
to anything I yet have, wh'eh is vhittliixj them
down pretty close, but what is tlu; u>e of sending
out varieties unless they are superior in many
respects to others already out. Some of them are
of nearly the same colour of those already out, yet
are much stronger growers, larger trusses, better
habit, and of course an advancement in the right
direction."

[The above is an extract of a letter from Mr.
Dexter Snow, of Chicopee Mass., — not evidently in-
tended for publication, but of sufficient interest to
warrant us in taking the liberty of using it.

The seedlings of 3Ir. Snow were mostly first class
flowers of great beauty and merit, and formed a

(^j

®ljt Carbmeu Pontjjli).

277

striking contrast with the old Melindres sent with
them.

It does not seem generally known that the old
species Verbena teucroides is the parent of the
sweet scented varieties — they are not good creepers,
but give the simple charm of odor; the value of
Melindres is as a bedder.]

Canna Roots in Winter — G. A. F., Wi'Ukmn,
Mass. — "I find that the Gardeners Monthli/ is
very willing to teach all amateurs who are seeking
after the true way. I have sought in vain, a way
to preserve Canna roots during the Winter. In the
Fall I have placed theui in a good light cellar,
keeping the earth a little moist, and in the Spring
found them decayed. I have tried putting the
roots in dry sand, but with no better success.

Now, Mr. Editor, 1 would be very thankful if you
would give some directions how to preserve the
roots, through the MonthJi/."

[The roots have been kept too cold — they rot
easily then. Keep them in a part of the cellar
where the thermometer never falls below 45°.

They should be warm enough to make them
nearly sprout, but not quite ]

English Evergreens — IF! A. B., Putnam,
0. — "I received from England last July, the fol-
lowing shrubs: — 2 Laurels, 2 Laurustinus, 3 Holly,
and 1 Araucaria.

Not being much acquainted with the climate,
would 3"0u inform nie through the Monthly whether
they are hardy or not. 1 have them planted on the
north side of a building where they are well
sheltered from the sun. They are strong plants,
about three feet high and are doing well."

[Your plants will not stand the severest of j'our
Winters ; set them in tubs, — you can keep them
easily in the cellar, with occasional watering through
Winter.

The Holly is the hardiest. 1

Smyrna Apple — W. C, Beverly, llls.~''l
believe it was in the Monthly that I saw the Chen-
ango Strawberry mentioned with a long string of
synomyms. Messrs. Eilwanger & Barry will oblige
me and many others of your western subscribers if
they will say whether an Apple sent out by them
nine years ago, under the name of Smyrna, is not
the same."

"A. Borneman& Co." — We have a great num-
ber of letters in reference to this "firm," none ot
which, however, enable us to give the "reliable

character," we like to feel satisfied about before
seeing advertisements in our columns.

The greater number of the letters speak of plants
got from the " firm" as proving spurious.

This is of course "unfortunate," and "purely
accidental," proving "no intention to swindle," —
but is fatal to patronage from horticulturists, who
are a "little particular" about what they get.

OBITUARY.

Mr. Daniel ^Iaupay, we observe by the South-
ern papers, died suddenly at Enterprise, Mississippi.

Mr. M. was the eldest, son of the late Mr. Mau-
pay, one of the pioneer horticulturists of Philadel-
phia, and had lor.g been in the seed and nursery
business at New Orleans.

•SPoofes, (JehloguFS, %*r.

Garden Flowers. — By E. S. Rand, Jr., Boston :
Tilton & Co.

This is a companion work to " The Parlor Gar-
dener" of the same author, and has been brought
out in like beautiful style by the same publishers-

So many new plants have been added to our gar-
dens during the few past years, that a work of this
class, brought down to present times was badly
needed.

Very nearly all the newer things seem to be in-
eluded in this work of Mr. Rand's, and the accu-
racy with which all these names are rendered,
though no more than what we have a right to ex-
pect in a work of this character, is an unusual
merit in many of our horticultural books.

The directions and hints for the cultivation of
the plants and flowers deseribed, will be of consid-
erable use to the amateur.

The Jucunda Strawberry. — This strawberry
has become famous, through proving to be the best
on Mr. Knox's grounds at Pitt-sburg, of the many
varieties he has tested there.

The illustrations we give, are drawn from nature;
and we can say are not exaggerations of the speci-
mens which were selected at Pittsburg when we
were there in June, and sent on to Philadcli)hia
the next day. At the same time it is fair to say
that we tclve it as a true illustration of what this

f

'MJ?,

l^hr

■^(^

strawberry will do, than what one may expect to see
it become every day, as they were the best that
could be fuund on a very large plot of ground. It
is customary to give the average appearance — we
have thought better to give a model, which all who
grow it may strive to attain.

While giving this illustration, it will be well to
say a few words on the character of strawberries in
general. Generally, one gets a large number of
varieties, a half dozen or so each— puts them all
together in a small plot of ground, and notes the
result. Some plant*, from various causes we need
not here recapitulate, are at all times inferior to
others of the same kind at other times, and many
external circumstances operate against a variety at
onetime, that would not at another; yet on the
faith of these half a dozen plants we find experi-
mentors making up their minds on the value of a
variety in any quantities, or in any place. Hence,
we read of the most discordant opinions in the
public prints, and hear the most opposite views in
public conventions. In reference to this very va-
riety; one speaker at Rochester characterized it as
a hollow berry, while another had found it a very
solid one — one will tell u< a variety is so sour a hog
would not eat it, in the face of the fact that mil-
lions of people eagerly seek for it, eat it, and ])laiit
it over and over again. Another says a variety is
so soft, it will not go a dozen miles without getting
sour or stale, when thousands of quarts of it are
being .sent every day to inarket hundreds of miles.
Another is so poor a bearer as to be utterly worth-
less, when the fact is, that hundreds to whom a
large crop is a matter of daily bread, plant the va-
riety by the acre.

There is not in fact, one soUfary vnrief]/, cultiva-
ed in any part of the United States, that has not at
some time or another been pronounced by "compe-
tent authority" iitterbj icorthless.

The only true test of the value of a variety is
when a beil of several hundreds of plants are grown,
and at least two years bearing from the same plants.
This w 11 then give a fair idea of the value of any
variety in that soil. But in different soils effects
will var3' — vigorous varieties do badly in rich soils —
and moderate growers are little u.se for a light .san-
dy ground. A kind that does well in Now Jer.«ey, for
instance, is as a rule of no account in Pennsylvania,
and one in the last place often of no use in New
Jer.<;ey. All these things are against getting at a
general good character for any variety.

With regard to Jucunda, we can say, after a two
years' examination of the jilant on Pittsburg .soil,
it is the best of any we .saw there grown on a large

scale; and while no doubt it will fail to do well in
many places, we are sure that as a general thing,
it will be as popular as any now on the top of the
list.

NkM' STHAWr.ERRIKS IN WESTERN NeW YoRK.

— Among the new kimls offered this fall, are four
from Western New York— General Grant. General
Sherman, General Meade, and Phili]) v'^heriilan.
The last is recommended by th ) rai.<er for its flavor,
and the fir.st fur its earliiiess.

Market Strawberrie.s— 5y W. R. Priuer,
Fhishiitff, jVeio York: — As there ajipears to still ex-
ist much misconception as to the positive merits
of the respective varieties of Strawberries, and as
there are also many whose qualities are unknown to
distant cultivators, I propose to give you descrip-
tions of .some of the most valuable and rare, with
the results of the careful investigations made by
Prof Huntsman and myself. I shall draw a line of
distinction between the varieties deemed best suited
and most profitable for market culture, and .'juch as
may be deemed more especially appropriate to the
family garden, and to that of the amateur. A com-
plete revolution is certainly called for, as to the mar-
ket varieties at present cultivated in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania, and in the Western States.
varietie.s suitable for market, &c.

Amateur, P. Originated by J. A. Pain, rather
large, conical, crimson, fine flavor, productive.

Aiiffustme, P, very large, conical, light scarlet,
good flavor, very productive.

Af/riai/tinisf, (Pine) II, largo, irregular cone,
acid, without flavor, soft, won't bear long carriage,
moderate crop.

Diadem, P, large, rounded, light scarlet, pleasant
flavor, beautiful, exceedingly i)roductive, suitable
for market and for family garden.

Eclipse, P, medium, conical, bright crimson,
early, showy, berries ripens nearly at same time,
suitable for market and family garden.

Fredoniti, II, very large, obtu.se cone, sweet juicy,
fine flavor, firm, splendid, large trusses, very pro-
ductive, valuable for market.

GnzeUc, P, veiy large, round, light scarlet, juicy,
good flavor, very vigorous hardy and productive.

General Garibaldi and General Scott, II, both
are large, early, obtuse, conical, crimson, acid,
soft, .slight flavor and productive.

Globose Scarlet, P. very large, orange scarlet,
acidulate flavor, beautiful, very j)roductive, vigor-
ous, very hardy.

Green Frolific. See Newark Prolific.

W^

-^m

^-'^

®^ ®Hrkni?r's ^lonthlg.

279

If

V--^-^

The Jucunda, "Knox's 700."

.pa^ •

M)

(C)^

280

Eiljij (6ardnur's (plonthln.

Imperliil Crhnson, P, large, obovate or rounded,
sweet, fine flavor, firm, very productive, suitable
for market and for the amateur.

Imperial Scarlet, P, large, obtuse cone or round-
ed, bright scarlet, sprightly flavor, very good, firm,
clean, don't rot, product. ve, suitable for market,
and for amateur.

Jitcundn Pine, H, (re-named by Knox as his No.
700) originated in England by Salter, imported by
me in 1859, verj- large, conical, bright red, beauti-
ful, fle.^h rosy, firm, sweet, juicy, pleasant flavor,
ripens just after the early crop. It is one of the
most vigorous and hardy of the Pine family, and
yields abundantly. The foliage never burns, and
the plant is never injured by the winter. A moist
soil is most suitable for it.

Ltitc Ghhe, P, large, rounded, bright scarlet,
acidulate, sjirightly flavor, productive, ripening ten
da}-s after the main crop, valuable as a late market
berry, verj' hardy and vigorous.

Lawrencia, P, large, obtuse cone or roiinded,
crimson, sweet, juicy, fine flavor, very productive,
hardy, vigorous, suitable for market and for family
garden.

Lorio Pine, H, earliest of all Pines, ripening
with the earliest .scarlets, and continues three weeks;
very large, brilliant deep scarlet, conical, cm press-
ed ; flesh rosy, very sweet, perfumed, greatly es-
teemed, much .Miperior to Jucunda ; vigorous, veiy
hardy, uninjured by winter.

Melanie, P, large, conical, deep scarlet, beauti-
lul, excellent flavor, very productive, vigorous, very
hardy ; suitable for market, and for the amateur.

Xftcarh Prolific, P, absurdly called Green Pro-
lific, large, rounded, scarlet, moderate flavor, not
firm ; productive, vigorous, very hardy, suitable
for a near market.

Keiijland, II, medium to large, conical, deep
.scarlet, very i^woet, rich, juicy, excellent, firm, very
hardy and vigorous, and very estimable for market,
and for the family garden.

Ornement dfJi Tablex, (Pine) H, very large, obo-
vate, orange scarlet, very sweet, delicious perfumed
flavor, splendid, profuse bearer in trusses, rij)ening
in succession, peculiar beautiful foliage ; suitable
for market, and for the amateur, very superior in
excellence to Jucunda in flavor.

Primate, II, rather large, conical, deep scarlet,
moderate flavor, beautiful, very firm, hardy and
very vigorous and productive, suitable for long car-
riage to market.

Prince Imperial, (Pine II, early, medium, glazed
scarlet, variable form ; flesh rosy, sweet, fine flavor,

long in bearing ; plant vigorous, very hardy, suita-
ble for market, and for the amateur.

Princesse Roijalc, (Pine) H, the great market
berry of Paris, largo, oblong cones, bright scarlet,
beautiful, acidulate, rich sprightly flavor, very
hardy, vigorous, uninjured by winter, very produc-
tive, well suited for market.

Scarlet Magnate, (Prince's) P, the heaviest and
most solid berry for market carriage, very large,
rounded, depressed, bright scarlet, sweet, juicy,
very good flavor, splendid production ; plant hardy,
very vigorous, broad foliage, flowers very small ; an
admirable market fruit. It requires the Ophelia
or some other strong fertilizer.

Stewart, II, rather early, large conical, scarlet,
good flavor, sjirightly, firm, handsome, vigorous,
hardy, productive. This is the great market berry
of Marjdand.

Sultana. H, early, very large, light orange scarlet,
white fle.sh, sweet, fine flavor, very hardy, vigor-
ous, very productive, suitable for market, and for
the family garden.

Victorine, H, rather early, very large, conical,
bright .scarlet, juicy, sprightly, very good, hand-
some, firm, very productive, vigorous, large foliage,
very hardy. Estimable for market.

Welcome, H, (Prince's) new, earliest estimable
market berry, large, bright scarlet, beautiful, sweet,
fine sprightly flavor, firm, don't rot, always clean ;
plant very hardy and vigorous, every flower per-
fects a berry, far superior to French's Seedling and
Jenny Lind in all points, and produces double
the crop. It is destined to supersede all the other
early varieties.

[It is well to remark that the strawberry is .so ex-
tremely a local fruit, that what is " hardy, produc-
tive, and healthy," in one locality, is often the very
reverse in another. We are glad to have accounts
from ujany widely separated parts of our country,
as we find by them what are most likely to do well
in each. Mr. Prince's notes will be interesting, as
the experience of the locality of Flushing, New
York.— Ed.]

^ompsfir Infpnigpnrp*

Petroleum formed fro.m Seaweed. — This
theory of the formation of rock oil has recently been
advanced by Professor Wilbur, of Hamilton, C. W.
His idea is that petroleum has had its source in
marine vegetation, just as coal has been derived
from terrestrial plants. Few persons have an ade-
quate idea of the immense growth of seaweed in

>(s^'(y.

the depths of the ocean. After their terra of growth
was coTiipleted, they became detached, floated off,
and tinally sank to tlie bottom. It is a received
opinion among geologists, that this portion of the
North American continent had once been the bed
of a salt-water ocean. The ocean floor, as must be
remembered, was not level, but had, throughout its
whole extent, deep hollows and rising ridges. It
was, of course, in these deep hollows that these
seaweed deposits would find their last resting jilace,
after long tossing about in the waves and ocean
currents. In this way it would come to pass that
they would not be evenly distributed over the bot-
tom, but only in those hollows or pockets.

Meanwhile the deposit of solid stratified rock, or
what afterward became such, was going on, and
after untold ages, these masses of seaweed became
covered to various depths. He considered it no
very unreasonable or unscientific supposition that
these masses of oily, carbonaceous matter should,
under the circumstances, take the form of oil, of a
liquid hydro-carbon. They had seen that oil ex-
isted in, and was distilled from coal, which was con-
ceded to be the remains of terrestrial vegetation.
There was, therefore, nothing violent in the suppo-
sition that petroleum, so exactly like coal oil in its
properties, has been formed from marine vegeta-
tion. The vegetable origin of both is indubitable.

Length of Root Grafts — Suel Foster says in
Prairie Farmer. — Now for two years past I have
had some experience with short roots and long roots
in the same ground, in the same row, and of the
same variety ; I cannot testify as to the per ceut.
that lived or died when first set out, for they were
not grafted by the same hand, nor from the same
scions, but the growth the fore part of the season,
was three-fold in favor of the long roots ; after mid-
sujnmer the short roots came on better, but at the
end of the season, when the growth was done, we
could pick out all the short roots for the lack of
growth. This year I again bought 15,000 root-
grafts, first stating to the nursery-man of whom I
bought, my last 3'ear's experience with long and
short roots ; but his custom was to divide up his
roots tolerable short, and so my grafts were set in
the same way, many of them on the green wood of
the seedling top, with a very little of the yellow
root below the collar or division of root and top,
many of them on the little mouse tail end of the
root. To-day we can distinguish every row of the
short roots and long roots by three times the growth
of the latter ; last year a larger proportion by far,
of the short roots did not start ; thisyear they gen-
erally show signs of starting and that is all.

Large Market Garden. — K company is or-
ganizing in Cincinnati to establish a mammoth gar-
den for the growth of all kinds of fruit and vegeta-
bles, and furnish them to the public in wagons, on
orders. It is promised that marketing by this new
method shall cost the consumer only a little more
than one-half the present prices asked. The com-
pany is to have a capital stock of 1100,000, and
will have a firm of 1,000 acres near the city, fitted
up exclusively for this new movement.

The New Potato Bug. — We condense the fol-
lowing account of this new pest to farmers from an
article in the Practical Entomnlogist, by B. D.
Walsh. This new and destructive enemy of the
potato has spread, within the last five years, from
Colorado and Nebraska eastward into Iowa, and
within the last year and a half has crossed into Illi-
nois and Wisconsin ; whence, in course of time, it
will probably travel to the Atlantic, establishing it-
self permanently wherever it goes, and pushing
eastward at the rate of about fifty miles a year.
Hitherto noxious insects have spread from east to
west in the United States, and this is the first in-
stance on record of one traveling from the west to-
ward the east.

The new potato bug is not what naturalists call
Ijiig, but a true hectJe, belonging to the order Cohop-
afera ov Shelly-wings, and is rather more than one-
third of an inch long, of so short and oval shape as
to be almost as round as a grape, and cream-colored
with ten black lines or stripes placed lengthways on
its back. Its wings are rose-colored and present a
beautiful appearance as it flies. We may call it in
English " the ten-striped spearman," which is the
meaning of the scientific name given to it. The
appearance presented by the perfect or winged
insect, when its wings are hid under its wing-
case ; but in the larva or immature state, it is a
soft, elongate, 6 legged grub, of a dull venitian red
color with several black spots, but without any
wings of course. There are four or five successive
broods of them during the summer, and the larva
of each brood goes under ground, to assume the
pupa state. One who was the first to watch this
insect through all its states, says that his specimens
" hatched on the 14th of June and came out as per-
fect insects on the 10th of July, thus being scarcely
a month going through all their changes."

No practical remedies against this insect are
known. Hand-picking is recommended, but what
farmer could hand-pick ten acres, if thickly infest-
ed, much less fifty or one hundred. Lime and
ashes are useless, and even coal oil and turpentine

•v^t^

®rZ

^^f

282

£h^ dSardfiur's ^lonfMir.

*— ' o •*

have been tried and found "of no more use than
so much water, as thej' soon evaporate." Turkejs
will destroy great numbers of them ; but it is to
their natural enemies, the lady-bugs {CocclneUidece)
we must look for the most efficient help. Hitherto
the potato has comparatively been free from the
depredations of insects, and it would be a serious blow
to the farmers in the potato districts of the Eas-
tern and Middle States, if this pest should come
upon the crop.

Experiments on the Cl'Rculio. — The assertion
is often made that there is no efficient remedy for
the curculio, and that jarring on sheets does not
save the crop. This statement we have amply dis-
proved the present .season. The experiments were
tried on an orchard of about 70 trees, trained in the
form of pyramids, and now about nine or ten feet
high. A man was employed for this purpose, and
the sheets figured and described on page 398 of the
last volume of the Countnj Gentleman were used for
catching the insects. The work was commenced early
in June, and for the first week the number caught
and killed by thumb and finger each morning aver-
aged about two hundred. By the end of the second
week, the daily number had been reduced to about
sixty. Through the third week an average of about
fifty were caught each morning. By the end of the
fourth week, they had nearly di.?appeared, only five
being found at the la.st examination. The work was
then discontinued. Omissions occurred on i-ieveral
different days, either from the ab.sence of the oper-
ator, or on account of rain ; yet, with all these dis-
advantages, most of the trees are heavily loaded
with smooth fruit. The two past years, when, this
care was omitted, only three or four trees bore
small crops of plums.

There is no i|uestion that this jarring process, if
repeated as often as twice a day, without a single
intermission, connected with the daily removal of
the dropping fruit, by sweeping up or by swine,
would prove effectual in any locality, or where the
insects appear in the greatest numbers. It is par-
tial trials only that result in failure. — Country Gen-
tleman.

Floriculture in Albany. — Flowers for funeral
purposes we understand are much .sought after, and
as much as $1,000 worth of floral decorations were
used by one prominent family here at the death of a
relative. Our old friend Dingwall still heads the
list here. Grape growing is now quite a feature
with greenhouse men east, and we should judge
a profitable one. It is managed somewhat in this

way. The grapes are propagated from eyes in the
ordinary propagating house, and takes place just
after the house has served its purpose for the pro-
pagation of beddii g and other plants. By the time
they are ready for potting, some of the plant houses
are empty ; into these by the thousands are put
these young vines, increasing the room these occupy
as the other plants are taken away, thus bringing
what used to be empty houses into a very profita-
ble u.se. Quite a quantity of these j'oung vines
even, find a ready market for immediate planting;
what are not sold are towards midsummer turned
out into pits or the open ground as the case may
be — forming by fall splendid one year old [tlants.
We notice in washing over the glass, a different ma-
terial is here used to the common whitewash. Mr.
D.'s formula is as follows: (this he says will not
wash off till fall, when the first early frosts cleans
the glass ready for a winter's campaign when all
the rays of old Sol again come into requisition.)
One-fourth linseed oil and white lead, balance ben-
zole and whiting ; when applied, it gives the glass
the appearance of being what is called, frosted. —
Prairie Farmer.

A Natural Barometer.— Mr. "Wm. McClathy,
postmaster of Katesville, in West Middlesex, N.
A., says, " I first observed in the rows of young Wey-
mouth (or White Pine) trees in my nurseries, that
the last year's growth and all the leaves or spines
stand straight upright in dry weather, and on the
least change to rain or snow, the branches bend
and the leaves fall back and ajipoar in a dying state,
even before the .snow or rain commences. When a
change comes for dry weather, they all recover
again, and remain so until the next change is going
to take place, giving the farmer warning in time for
him to prepare for it." — Canada Farmer.

Scuppernono Grape. — Amongst all the varie-
ties of native grapes we have tested, there is but
one that is unexceptionable in every respect, and that
is the Scuppcrnong. The juice is too watery with all
the others, to make a good sound wine, without the
addition of sugar or alcohol. We consider the Scup-
pcrnong to be the best grape in the world. It will
produce a greater weight of fruit than any vine we
ever heard of, is exempt from mildew, rot, and the
depredations of in-ects or birds. The juice is sweet,
rich and heavy, and makes a wine of superior flavor,
while it will grow and flourish with very little care.
We are credibly informed that there is a vine of
this grape growing near Mobile, Alabama, which
has produced two hundred and fifty bushels of

Cjj4 ^mkuxs glontljlg.

283

grapes in a single season. Our sincere advice is, for
everybody to plant a half dozen vines, and give 100
yards distance between them. — J. Van Buren, in
Southern Cultivator.

The "Retama" (Parkinsonia aculeata,)
grows wild in many parts of Southwestern Texas,
and is now quite extensively cultivated at Austin,
and in other places. The young trees have a bright
green, smooth bark, both on their trunks and bran-
ches, with long pendent grass like leaves, which,
when young, have small leaflets. It has bright yel-
low, pealike fragrant flowers, the lower parts of the
petals tinged with ochreous brown. Its seeds are
contained in pods. It is a rapid grower, and quite
hardy. From its endurance of the northers at
Austin, where the thermometer is sometimes as low
as 20°, and very often 12° below the freezmg point, I
am satisfied it will thrive in the open air as far north
as Washington. It deserves extensive cultivation in
all the States south of this latitude, for there are
few trees more beautiful. — S. B. Buckley, in Coun-
try Gentleman.

Strawberries in Illinois. — I will give you my
experience with one acre of Strawberries.

The plants (Wilson's Albany Seedling) were set
out during the month of April, 1865, on bottom
land, which had been cultivated in corn for the last
25 years, with no extra preparation of the ground
except once ploughing and harrowing.

The plants were set two feet distant, in rows five
feet apart — lines of dwarf peas and early York cab-
bages were cultivated the first year between the
plants — June 5th, commenced sending berries to
niarke*', emploj'ing from 10 to 15handsat two cents
per quart, until the 30th of June, when Strawber-
ries played out. My sales amounted to 108 bushels
not estimating what were consumed in a large fami-
ly with strong Strawberry proclivities. The first
25 bushels sold for $8 00 per bushel, and 83 bushels
at $6 40 per bushel ; gross sales $731 20 less $69 12
paid the boys for picking. With more careful cul-
tivation better results may be reached. On the ap-
proach of winter the bed was lightly protected with
oatstraw. — H L. Brush, in Ottowa, (111.,) liepuh-
liran.

igpnrp.

Uncivilized love for Flowers. — Wreaths,
coronets, and bouquets, made either of natural or
artificial plants of every color and form, have been

from the earliest times the delights and ornaments
of those fairest of created beings women, in every
civilized nation and climate of the world — even the
barbarian natives of some of the South Sea Islands
take a natural pleasure in, and prefer plants and
flowers to the feathers and trinkets most savages
delight in. M. Lesson tells us in particular, that
the inhabitants of Otaheite, Oceanica, Caroline,
and the Sandwich Islands, wear garlands of flowers
and sweet smelling leaves upon their persons and
garments — they delight in making wreaths of flow-
ers of the most beautiful colors intermixed with
others that possess the sweetest scents, amongst
others, the blossoms of the Arum, Ixora, Grardenia
florida, and Hibiscus rosea sinensis. They likewise
fix a single stalk through a hole in each ear, and
suspend a single flower, as our race does the ear-
drop.

The Love of Roses among the Romans. —
The love of the ancients for Roses was something
fanatical. I do not so much refer to the poets ;
for probably the modern and the antique bards may
vie with each other in the use of the Rose as a
common place of poetical illustration ; but I allude
to a strong passion for the visible, tangible, scent-
giving Rose, as something to be enjoyed by all the
five senses, scarcely excluding that of hearing, for
a rustle of many Roses must have attended some of
the more extraordinary manifestations of idolatry.
A time without Roses was a contingency to be
avoided at any cost ; and the Romans, though the
mildness of their climate allowed the adored flower
to grow at an unusually late season, could not sub-
mit to the privations of a winter. Not only were
whole shiploads of Roses brought from Alexandria
in the inclement season, but various means were de-
vised for preserving the gathered flowers through-
out the year with as much freshness as was attaina-
ble.

The wreath of Roses, of which one reads and
writes about so often without any other image than
that of a curved twig with a tolerably rich supply
of floral ornaments, was capable of a high degree of
elaboration ; for the Roman florists looked upon an
enlacement of whole flowers as an exceedingly
meagre aftair. For a grand work of art they took
the Rose leaves separately, laid them over each
other like scales, and thus produced a sort of fra-
grant sausage.

This refinement in the construction of wreaths
will show that the luxurious ancients not only in-
sisted on the constant presence of Roses, but were
determined to have them in as large a quantity as

i

281

^he hardener's Jtlonthb

possible. The anecdotes that illustrate this form
of the floral passion could scarcely be surpassed in
wonder by the wildest imagination : — " To enjoy
the scent of Roses at meals," saysHorr Wusteniann,
" an abundance of Rose leaves was shaken out ujxin
the table, so that the dishes were completely sur-
rounded. By an artificial contrivance, Roses, dur-
inor meals, descended on the guests from above.
Ileliogabalus in his folly caused Violets and Roses
to be showered down upon his guests in such quan-
tities, that a number of them, being unable to ex-
tricate thfinselves, were .suffocated in flowers. Dur-
ing meal times they reclined upon cushions stuffed
with Rose leaves, or made a couch of the leaves
themselves. The floor, too, was strewn with Roses,
and in this custom great luxury was displayed. Cleo-
patra, at an enormous expense, procured Roses for
a feast which she gave to Antony, had them lai^t
two cubits thick on the floor of the banquet-room,
and caused nets to be spread over the flowers in
order to render the footing elastic. Heliogabalus
c;iu.sed not only the banquet-rooms, but also the
colonnades that led to them, to be covered with
Roses, interspersed with Lilies, Violets, Hyacinths,
and Narcissi, and walked about upon this flowery
platform."

As a source of artificial perfumes the Rose was
employed by the ancients in other ways than in
those oils and waters that are familiar to modern
life. When the leaves bad been pressed out for
higher u.*!cs, they were dried and reduced into a
powder, called "diapasma," which was laid on the
skin after a bath, and then washed off with cold
water. The object of this process was to impart a
fragrance to the skin. As a medicine, Quinces
preser\'ed in honey were introduced into a decoc-
tion of Rose leaves ; and the preparation was deemed
good for complaints of the stomach. In the culi-
nary art Roses had likewise their place of honor,
and were put into many di.shes for the sake of their
pleasant flavor. For this end they were sometimes
preserved — a delicate process, as they were very
apt to become mouldy. — Rev. W. II. E.,in Cottage
Gardener.

Botany .\s an Educator.— For quickening the
habit of observation, and teaching how to discern
distinctions and resemblances, where without it all
would be confused, and more than half overlooked,
there is no .science like botany. It is the be.st of
ey<. -salves and the most successful of opticians; in
a word, no learned treatise upon logic o,- the " laws
of the mind" ever taught a man better how to use
his wits than does the practical working-out of a

proposition in regard to plant-structure. To take
half-a-dozen species of as many different genera of
a natural order, carefully dissect their flowers and
other parts, and then satisfy the mind as to the na-
ture of their resemblances and distinctions, is every
bit as usefid as loarnitig how to demonstrate a theo-
rem in Euclid. A man who will accustom himself
to such examinations, not jumping at conclusions,
but considering as he goes on, and not looking
to books until he has exhausted all his own re-
sources, not only becomes a good botanist, and
therefore a better gardener, but be acquires sharp-
ness and accuracy in other things, and proves in
bis own experience that for menial discipline noth-
ing yet surpasses living nature. — Cottage Gardener.

Rkspiration of Fruits.— At a late meeting of
the Academy of Sciences, Paris, M. Cabours read
a paper on this subject, from which it ap|)cars that
apples, oranges and lemons, in a state of perfect
maturity, when placed under bell glasses contain-
ing only pure oxygen, or a mixture of oxygen and
nitrogen, or common air, respire, by consuming a
portion of the oxygen and giving off carbonic acid
gas the proportion of the latter compound being
greater in diffused light than in obscurity. He pro-
posed to continue his investigations regarding ch .n-
ges in fruit from development to maturity.

M. Fremy then made some remarks on the ma-
turation of fruits, and referred toexpeiiments made
by him and M. DeCaisne some time ago. They
found that fruit passed through three stages. In
the first stage the fruit is green, and behaves to the
atmosphere like a leaf, in decomposing carbonic
acid and giving off oxygen. In the second stage,
that of ripening, this action is reversed — oxygen is
absorbed and carbonic acid exhaled from the cel-
lules of the pericarp, in consequence of a series of
slow combustions, in which the immediate soluble
principles disappear. Tannin goes first, then acids,
and afterward sugar. In the third stage, that of
decomposition, the effect of which is the liberation
of the .seed, air enters the cellules, sets up alcholic
fermentation, and the acids of the fruit give birth
to true ethers. Finally, it not only decomposes the
cellules, but oxidises certain constituents which have
resisted the changes in ripening; thuscerta.n fruits,
like the medlar very acid and astringent, only be-
come eatable when they are mellow.

The Summer Black Raspberry was raised half
a century ago at Netherfield, in E.ssex. It is a lij-
brid between a Blackberry and a Raspberry, the
fruit being purple, and the flavor partaking both

i@

(^Z

I I
i i

of the Raspberry and the Blackberry. This is a
fruitful and beautiful variety, producing canes of
immense strength, dark in color, and a leafage that,
like the fruit, combines the peculiarities of both its
parents. Mr. Rivers has cultivated this largely,
and from it raised numerous seedlings, some of
which are of great value. The Autumn Black is
oneoftlies-. Mr, Rivers describes it as the fifth
generation from the Summer Black. The fruit of
the Autumn Black is of excellent quality, dark pur-
ple in color, and it is in good bearing till quite No-
vember. It has this peculiarity, that it produces
scarcely any suckers, and hence has to be propa-
gated Irom seed. By pegging down the shoots it
might, no doubt, be increased in a more certain
though less rapid manner ; but the seedlings are,
I believe, generally true, so that there is no reason
why this fine hybrid should not be more generally
known and appreciated than it is. — Gardeners
WeeM>j.

\ i

! i

(xEOGRAPHY OP THE IVY (HeDERA HELEX, L. )

— The Ivy is a free-born shrub in every country in
Europe, fr.m the south of Sweden to the Mediter-
ranean Sea, and from Ireland to Siberia. It is also
found in the north of Africa, in Asia, on the moun-
tains of India, Japan, and in China. It does not
exi.st in America or in Australia, except by cultiva-
tion. Kalm says that he saw Ivy but once in North
America, against a stone building, and conjectures
that it had been brought there from Europe. Royle
says that the variety with yellow berries [Hedera
helix chrysocarpa) is the most common in the Hima-
layas, and may be seen clinging to the rocks or
clasping the oak. Thunberg, who first observed it
in Japan, remarks that the leaves are not lobed. —
Gardener' s Weekly.

Princess Mary's Wedding Bouquet.— Ever
since the marriage of the Princess Royal, Mr.
Veitch, of the Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, has
enjoyed the privilege of presenting the members of
the Royal Family with their wedding bouquets.
That honor and privilege has on the recent mar-
riage of the Princess Mary of Cambridge been again
accorded to that establishment, and Messrs. Veitch
& Sons by special permission presented the Prin-
cess with a splendid bouquet, which consisted of
Orange blossoms, Phalsenopsis, Odontoglossum
pulchellum, Calanthe, Burlingtonias, Stephanotis,
white Roses, &o., the garniture being of Honiton
lace. We believe Her Royal Highness was graci-
ously pleased to accept it personally from the hands
of Mr. Harry J. Veitch. — London Times.

Ripening Late Pears. — It would be an inter-
esting subject of inquiry whether we are not alto-
gether wrong in excluding the light from late ripen-
ing fruit. Light is, indeed, pre-eminently the great
ripening agent in nature, and though unquestiona-
bly a low temperature and darkness will retard the
l^rocess, still when the desired period of perfection
approaches we are wrong, I think, in not employ-
ing light as well as heat to further our object. For
very late Pears I would suggest the Waltonian case
as the best of all means that could be employed for
ripening them. Light in its relations to vegetation
has not received its due share of attention from hor-
ticulturists, who seem to overlook the fact that Na-
ture always increases heat and light simultaneously
— Cottage Gardener.

The Date PAUM.^-The Date Palm at an early
period of history must have engaged man's atten-
tion in an eminent degree. It grows, to begin
with, in a tract of country where atmospheric mois-
ture of any kind is so scanty that its leaflets, unlike
those of other Palms, are constructed so that at
their base they form little receptacles, and thus catch
every drop of moisture. It has no branches like
other trees, or as the Gringerbread Palm (Hypha3ne
thebaica,) with which it is occasionally associated.
It has seveial features in common with man which
no explanation could remove from the minds of pri-
mitive people. Its body is covered with hair, like
the body of man ; its head, once cut off, would no
moie grow again than that of human being; the
male and female are represented by different trees,
and it is well known that the female would die an
old maid unless some bachelor should take com-
passion on her. Add to this that the whole popu-
lation at that time relied upon Dates as their staple
food, as is still the case in those countries. More-
over, take into consideration the impression pro-
duced upon an unimaginative people, when after
travelling for days in dry, dusty, waterless deserts,
with nothing in sight but grey drifting sands and
skeletons of animals perished on the road, they sud-
denly entered a grove of Date Palms, affording
water, shade, fuel, food, and repose. They must
have been uiade of stern material if all this had
made no lasting impression upon them._ As they
lay under the trees and saw the evening breeze
gracefully playing with the feathery leaves which
formed bold arches over them, gilt by the last rays
of the setting sun, and soon to be silvered by the
rising moon — a forcible appeal must have been
made to the religious element of their composition,
and these Palm groves must have appeared to them
places peculiarly suited for the purposes of worship.
And such indeed was the case. Palm groves, and
ihose of the Date in parti ular, were deemed pecu-
liarly sacred. As civilization advanced, and regular

m^^

^.m

286

She (Sarbnur's Hlonthln.

?>.^

temples were built, the architect naturally took for
his tj'pe, what must ever have been associated with
his relijiious feelings — the Palm grove. — Gardener s
Chronicle.

Winter-Flo AVERiNG or Tree Carnations. —
These superb winter-flowering plants are not usu-
ally well managed in private establishmejits;
and several correspondents having simultaneou.*ly
made inquiries about them, particulars of their
management have been obtained from one of the
most eminent cultivators, who tor many years past
has had exten.sive experience with them, being un-
der a contract to supply a certain number of flv)wers
daily during the season to a leading firm in Covent
Garden flower market.

The plants are propagated from cuttings of two
or three joints in length ; the first are put in early
in the month of March, and afterwards a few other
batches for succession to the middle of April.
They root quickly and certainly on a moist dung
heat, having the same treatment and being often in
company with cuttings of Verbenas, IVtunias, and
other bedding plants. When rooted, they are potted
into large thumbs, in light rich compost, and again
placed in a gentle heat. W hen establi.^hed in these
pots, they are removed to a green-house or pit, and
they reuiuin there till the end of Maj or beginning
of June, according to the weather and the strength
of the plants.

When removed to the pit, a certain number of
the forwardest should be selected to push on for
early bloom. These, if carefully dealt with, will
begin to bloom in November, and will continue
blooming several weeks. None of these should be
stopped. The rest should be stopped, both to en-
sure a later bloom and to make finer plants of them.
The process of stopping consists in nipping out the
point of the shoot, so as to cause the plant to throw
out side-shoots.

Towards the end of their term of residence in the
pit, they must have air night and day, to render
them hardy. In the first week of June they must
be shitted into six-inch pots, the soil being two
parts turfy loam, and one part thoroughly decom-
po.sed manure, with a fair sprinkling of sand, ac-
cording to the quality of the loam. The best ma-
terial to drain the pots is broken oyster-shells.
When ])Otted, they are plunged in coal ashes, in
the open air, in a sheltered spot, and arc never
allowed to want water.

In the first week of July the forwardest and
stronf^est plants are selected and shifted into eight
or ten-inch pots, the same compost being used as

before. Afterwards a few others of the forwardest
are shifted on to make specimens to bloom in Feb-
ruary. Those intended to bloom in November
should have every en ouragement ; give them a
sheltered position, plenty of water, and do not shift
them late or into pots too large, or they may not
bloom as early as desired.

In the latter part of September, they must all be
housed, but must have plenty of air, and be regu-
larly watered. In October begin to assist them
with weak liquid maimre water if the pots are full
of roots. But if the pots are dot full of roots,
they must not have manure water. It only remains
to see that thy are securely and neatly staked,
so that when in bloom they will be handsome, and
the weight of the blooms will not break the stems.

Old plants are comparatively valueless; but if
people prefer to keep them, they should be pruned
back in March, and be placed in a warm pit or
green house to induce new growth. About three
weeks after the pruning, shake them out of the
pots, cut back the roots, and repot them with fresh
soil in the same pots, and place them on a very mild
bottom-heat. At the end of May these should be
plunged in coal ashes in an open quarter, and have
the same attention as already described foi' the
stock of yearling plants.

Another mode of disposing of old plants is to
let them remain in their pots without pruning, and
to plant them out against a south wall in June.
Give them plenty of water, and they will flower
finely in September and October, and if protected
with a mat in severe weather, may survive the
winter. — Floral World.

]^orHru!furaI Hofirps,

NEW HALL OF THE PENNSYLVANIA
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

It is very gratifying to us to be able to announce
that this project, which has been one of the wishes
of the society for so many j'ears, will now be suc-
cessful. Over $50,000 has been subscribed ; the
ground has been purchased, and ere our readers see
these lines, the walls of the building will no doubt
be in progress. Dr. Warder paid a very handsome
compliment to the society, when in a recent address,
he characterized the labors of this society as ot na-
tional usefulness. This has been the great secret
of its long continued success. Most societies
dwindle away in a few years, but this has grown in
public favor with age. One of the secrets of its
success is, that it identifies itself with the prosperity

Cljc Sarbciicr's lilontljli).

of Philadelphia generally. In this Hall enterprise, it
has calculated to provide for the wants of the citi-
zens, as well as for its own wants. It will be larger
than any public Hall in this city, and probably in
the United States. It will certainly contain more
accommodations, and be better arranged than any
now existing. It will be let out for all public pur-
poses, when not wanted by the society, and will no
doubt yield a very handsome revenue. The present
Hall of the Society brings in a handsome income,
over expenses.

A Fair is soon to be held by the ladies, attached
to the Horticultural Society ; the proceeds of which
are to be devoted to the decoration of the Hall after
it is finished by the builders.

Persons who are not members of the society, can
contribute as an investment if they choose. There
is no doubt it will pay them a great deal better than
hundreds of stocks, into which they readily enter —
many of our nurserymen who know how hard it is
to get money, and no less how hard it is to lose it,
have contributed liberally in the full belief, that
they could invest their money in no better way.
Those desiring to contribute, may address the Pre-
sident, D. Ptodney King, Esq., Philadelphia.

41

PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SO-
CIETY.

Discussion on Mr. Parry's Essay on simall
FRUITS. See Page 260.

In reply to a question from the Chair, Mr. Parry
said the Ida grew well on his sandy soil, and stood
the heat well — many varieties fliiled on hot soils.
Jucunda burned out with him.

A. W. Harrison spoke favorably of the strength
and vigor of the Ida.

Mr. Scott inquired how the Pear did in New
Jersey? He thought the dwarf Pear had not had
justice done it. It was well known that very suc-
cessful dwarf Pear culture in this country was lim-
ited to a few leading varieties — most of those who
had failed had been importers of all kinds of French
trees. Improper varieties he thought together
with foreign trees, had done dwarf Pear culture vin-
deserved injury.

Mr. Parry said the Pear crop was a fair average
one in New Jersey. There were but few leading
profitable varieties there. St. Michael d'Archange
was one of these.

Early Apples were profitable in New Jersey. The
crop was up to the average this year. Hagloe and
Early Joe were most profitable with him. He had
experimented with 312 varieties of Pears from Leroy.
But 12 or 15 proved worth retaining.

Mr. Meehan said with regard to the adaptability
of New Jersey soil to raise Pear.s — there were plenty
of healthy Pear orchards in New Jersey, fifty years
old or more, which bore abundantly.

Mr. D. llndney King, said in the lower part of
Delaware, with which he was very f;imiliai-, and the
soil of which was similar to New Jersey, old Pear
trees were very numerous; almost every house had
two or three about them. They bore enormous
crops annuall}'.

Mr. PariT was asked for information about the
Kittatinny's origin. He only knew it was found
wild in the mountains. He had recently seen it
growing in Mr. Williams' ground, and felt that it
deserved all the praise that was given to it.

Mr. Meehan asked Mr. Parry if any attempt had
been made to select improved kinds of the Sand
Blackberry, [Ruhiis cuneatus,) the flavor was the
best of the Blackberries, and its size was nearly
equal to the best of our garden kinds. Its enor-
mous propensity to sucker, he thought against it ;
but supposed a variety that would not sucker so
much as others might be found. He also thought
Mr. Parry's claim of the Dt;laware G-rape as of New
Jersey origin "not proven," though that State had
the just claim of preserving it to us. His investi-
gations had favored Virginia as the probable place
of its origin.

Mr. Scott inquired the origin of the New Rochelle
Blackberry. It had been found in a hedge in New
Rochelle ; but how did it get there ? He believed
it might be a foreign variety accidentally brought
there. It had been compared with American spe-
cies, and thought to be distinct from them all. It
often winter killed. If a native species, it should be
hardy.

Mr. Kilvington had found wild Blackberries so
nearly like Lawton or New Rochelle, that he could
have no doubt about the country it belonged to.

Mr. Meehan said in his botanical pursuits, the
genus Rubus, or the Blackberry family had come
under his particular attention, and he had found
the New Rochelle, almost the normal type of the
Riihiis viUosus. That species was extremely varia-
ble in a wild state; extreme forms might often be
considered species, but for intermediate forms which
evidently united them all together. The trouble with
the family was that the different species, most pro-
bably hybridized together. It was at one time sup-
posed they would not — but tlu English Black Ras-
berry was a hybrid, not merely between two forms
of the same species, but between the Blackberry
and the Raspberry. A Canadian gentleman had
produced undoubted hybrids between a variety of

288

^C^

(L|)r Cxirdnicr's Itlontljly.

the European Ruhris idceus and the American R.
occklentalis. He had examined the Wilson's Early,
and could refer it to no species, and yet, it had not
character enough to form a species itr^elf. If its
parentage could be known, his impression was, it
would be a hybrid between the common high-bush
Blackberry (Rnhus viUosus.) and the common Dew-
berry, [Rubus Cunaden-'ii.s. )

The Kubus villosus often killed in winter in its
wild localities.

Mr. Parry said he had some facts which confirmed
the guess of Mr. Median. Seedlings of Wilson's
Early, jiroduced some i^lants which could scarcely
be distinguished f:om the Dewberry — others were
high and strong like the common wild Blackberry.

Mr. Scott asked for information as to the value
of the cut-leavcd Blackberry?

Mr. Parry said it was worthless wiih him.

Mr. Meehan said it hud the one good quality of
bearing good sweet fiuit abundantly under trees or
shady places, where others would not do at all. He
thought it worth raising seed from, with a view to
impiovement. It belonged to a species of Black-
be iTy.(7i'j</j ?/« discolor,) or Riibus /rut icosHS of some
older botanists, which had the similar character of
having very hardy, woody stems. In mild countries,
he had seen stems of it several years old, nearly as
thick as his wrist, and growing up into trees like the
grape vines of our woods. He had described a
very remarkable specimen in an article to the
'■ Phytologist"' in the volume he believed for 1844.

PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL SO-
CIETY.

Mu.NXHLY "Mketing, Aug. 21.
The best collection of Pears was awarded to Mr.
Wm. J^arry of L'lnnaminson, New Jersey. lie had
G4 varieties in first rate order. The Julienne and
Bartlett were the best in eating condition. The
Bcurre Giffards were very haud.some, but deficient
in flavor. To the same was awarded the premium
for the best collection of Api)les. He had 10 va-
rieties. The summer Hagloe was the best of the
rijieones; large and very showy. Mr. Parry says
he finds it a very profitable one to grow. William's
Favorite, Bevans' Favorite, Hawley and Maiden's
Blush, were also much admired in the collection.
The best G varieties of Apple to S. W. Noble, who
also bad fine seedling Plums. The best Blackber-
ries were the new Ilochelles of Jacob Iluster, gard.
toll. Duhring, Esq. Three pretty good bunches of
Chasselas de Fontainbleau Grape from Eden Hall
Convent, had a special premium. Jas. McDonald,

gardener to 3I.Baird, Esq., had White Syrian, Mus-
cat Hamburg, and Chasselas de Fontainbleau, which
also had a special premium awarded ; also one to
D. McCallum, gardener to Mr. Levis, for Black
llamburgs.

There was nothing more than the usual excel-
lence in the vegetables; except a variety of Tomato
called the " Baird" from James McDonald, garde-
ner, to M. Baird, Esq., the beautiful crimson and
solid flesh of which, when cut through, obtained a
favorable notice for it from the committee. A fine
plate of Tildens was also exhibited by A. L. Felten,
who had the premium also for the best collection
of vegetai;les by a market gardener, 3.'] varieties of
vegetables in all. Jacob Iluster, gard. to H. Duhring,
Esq., had the premium for the best collection by a
private grower of vegetables.

Best display of Plants in flower, to Ed. Hibbert,
gardener to Fairman Eogers, Esq. In tliis
collection, was a very well grown and tolerably well
flowered Russellia juncea, Yucca a!a?lolia, very
seldom seen in flower — the plant was about five
feet, and the spike about two. Donald McQueen,
gardener to J. Longstreth. in the second premi-
um, had a few good plants. Thos. Meehan had
the award for the best 12 hardy herbaceous plants.
J*hysostogia or Dracoccjdialuin Virginicuni, Liatris
pycno.stachya. Lobelia cardinalis, being the showiest
of the lot. The same exhibitor, the best six gladio-
lus. Mad. Victor Verdier, Calendulacea, Aristote,
Brenchleyensis and two otliers.

Sj)ecial jiremium was awarded equal iti amoinit
to the first i^remium to Mr. Bevis, gardener to Dr.
Camac, for a very fine collection of plants in which a
very fine Irisine Ilerbstii was much admired. H. A.
Dreer had a pretty table design, for which the first
premium was awarded ; who also had the fine new
Lilium Auratum in bloom, with one large flower
on it. Mackenzie k Son had a cullection of hardy
Phlox without names, but very superi(n- varie-
ties.

»«■»»

THE AMERICAN POMOLOGIOAL SOCIETY.

In consideration of tlie existence of cholera in
several of the cities of the United States and also
of the fact that there is a small crop of fruit in ma-
ny parts of our country, the undersigned, by and
with the advice of the Executive Committee and
other leading Pomologists, does hereby postpone
and defer the meeting of said society to the year A.
D. 18G7, when due notice will be given for its as-
sembling, in the aforesaid city of St. Louis.

Marshall P. Wilder, Rrest.

James Vick, Seci-y.

,,^ \^2/rs-

^fS>^

DEVOTED TO

iopfirulhrp, ^pkriruIfuPF, J^oiHng %• ^mnl jSffaIrs*

THOMAS MEEHAW, Editor.
"W. G. P. BRUSrCKIiOE. Pdblisher.

OCTOBER. 1866.

VOL. VIII—WO. 10.

PLOWER-GAKDEN AND
GROUND.

FX.EASUHE-

Continue to plant deciduous trees at every oppor-
tunit}'. Whether spring or fall planting has the
greatest advantages is swallowed up in the fact that
"we shall find enough work for the spring."
Hardy annuals of many descriptions will not flower
next season unless sown now ; especially Larkspurs,
Ipomopsis, &c. , and all bloom the stronger from
being sown now. They can readily be transplanted
early in spring to where they are to remain.

Bulbs that are easily affected by fi'ost, as Gladio-
luses, Tuberoses, and Tigridias, should be taken up
early and dried slowly in a secure place. Hya-
cinths, Anemones, and similar plants for spring
flowering, should be planted out as soon as they can
be obtained. The latter may be put out an inch or
so below the surface, and be protected during the
winter with a slight covering of leaves ; well decay-
ed cowdung is an excellent manure for them. See
that the Dahlias are true to their names before the
frost destroys their flowers ; after which take them
up, dry them slightlj' for a few days, then stow
them away loosely in any cool place just secure
from frost. If they rot in winter it will be either
through getting too warm and damp, or too dry
and frosted. Wherever alterations and improve-
ments are to be effected, get as much as possible
carried out before winter. Look on the fall as if it
were the real beginning of spring work. Laying of
turf may be well proceeded with ; box edgings,
though, are best deferred, as their beauty is very
/^ frequently sadly defaced by frost.

M

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Celery as it grows will require earthing up, and
Endive successively blanched ; hut the main busi-
ness of the month will be preparations for housing
the root crops for the winter. Beets are generally
the first thing attended to, they being the most
easily injured by frost ; Carrots, Salsafy and Pars-
nips following. The latter are never really good
until they have been well frozen ; and many leave
them entirely in the ground, taking them up as
wanted for use. We prefer taking them all up and
packing them in sand or half dried loam, in a shed
or cellar, which can be kept just above freezing
point ; yet the cooler the better. If suffered to be
in heaps they heat and soon rot. In the same
situation Endive and Cape Brocoli may be preserv-
ed to the end of the year — they are taken up with
a small quantity of earth adhering to them, and
placed side-by-side together. Tomatoes, if dug up
also, and susjiended, roots upward, in such a situa-
tion, will keep good a long time ; but this must be
dune before the least frost has touched them. It
is a wise plan to sow a little more Early York Cab-
bage early in the month, as in fine mild winters
the September sowing grows too forward when pro-
tected. A very slight protection is better for them
than any elaborate affair, the sun principally injur-
ing them. The same remarks apply to Lettuce
intended to be kei)t over winter for spring use,
though the sun is less destructive to them than to
the cabbage.

Forcing vegetables, wherever the least command
of heat can be had, is the most interesting and use-
ful part of gardening. It is not by any means what
it is often considered, an operation by which you
pay a dollar for every mouthful. The Asparagus,
Sea Kale, Lettuce, Radish and Cauliflower can be
had for months earlier than in the open ground,
wherever a regular temperature of 55° can be ob-
tained, with, of course, the proper amount of air,
moisture, &c. Asparagus can be had under a
greenhouse stage, though of couri=e the tops will
not be so green, nor will it be much else but in-

289

^1

290

Che (Sarbtncr's Hlnnthln.

<?\7

different under such circumstances, as it would be
in the full light.

Radishes require an abundance of air, and Let-
tuce light. Cauliflowers, if kept for some months
with all the light and air possible, at a tenii>crature
of .50 or 55°, may have it gradually raised to 60 or
C>r>, and oven TO', and thus come into use in Febru-
ary, when there is no vegetable more desirable.

Cucumbers, Toniatoes and Beans require a tem-
perature of at least 65° to begin with. If a tem-
perature of TO can be maintained in the coldest
weather, a few of these might be sown by the end
of the month, which will produce some very accep-
table dishes about New Year's day. Khubarb, if
carefully taken up at the fall of the leaf and potted,
or put into boxes, will also come forward well if put
under the stage in a house of the last temperature.

the tree, with the circle made close to the trunk of
the tree. A fifteen year old tree, for instance, may
be encircled at five feet from the trunk. No rule
can be laid down for this; judgment must be exer-
cised. It cut too close, the tree may be stunted for
years, and if too far, it will not be effective. The
aim .should be to reduce the roots about one-third.

{Jommunirafions*

FRUIT GARDEN.

Established orchards, on thin or impoverished
soil may be renovated in the following manner : If
a tree have been planted say fifteen years, and at-
tained the size we might expect in time, — get, say
ten feet from the trunk, and dig a circle two feet
deep all around it, and fill in with a good compost ;
the effect the next season will be quite marked. If
the tree is older or younger, the distance to start
with the circle from the trunk will of course be pro-
portionate. A top-dressing will also be of great
assistance, as well as a vigorous pruning out of all
weak or stunted branches. Moss and old bark
.should be also scraped off. and if the trunk and
main branches can be washed with a mixture of
.sulphur and soft soap, much advantage will follow.
Old decayed bark on fruit trees is always a sign of
a want of vigor. When a tree is growing thriftily
it cracks this old bark so freely, as to make it easilj
fall off; but when the tree is weak and enfeebled,
the bark often becomes indurated before it has got
cracked, and in this state the tree becomes what
the gardeners call ' hide bound,' and artificial
means must be afforded to aid the tree to recover.
In the chcDy and plum trees this is easily done, by
making longitudinal incisions through the bark
with a shar]) knife. In the peach and apricot also,
this process has been employed with advantage, in
spite of the learned theories which have attempted
to show up the absurdity of the practice.

Sometimes fruit trees are unproductive from
other causes than poverty or the soil, or neglect of
the orchardist. They often prow too luxuriantly to
bear well. In this case root- pruning is verj' effect-
ual, and is perft)rmed by digging a circle around

MILDEW IN GRAFES.

BY JAMKS rUEEI).

I drop you a line to ask what is .your experience
in regard to the application of Sulphur to Grapes
while in hloftnom. T saw it somewhere stated (and
which I deemed pretty good authority,) that by
the api^lication of sulphur at the time mentioned,
it would prevent ro<, dr., and so gave it a trial this
season. I first applied the sulphur when the leaves
first started ; next when in blossom ; and lastly, a
few days since, and must acknowledge that never
to my knowledge, had a more healthy looking lot
of vines, both in fruit and foliage as the present
season ; and not a little of this, I think may be at-
tributed to the perfect cnnstornation created among
the insect world by the aid of sulphur and De la
Vergne's Bellows. But some of the varieties have
not .set quite as perfectly as usual with me, and do
not know whether to attribute it to an excessive rain
or the application of sulphur at the time mentioned.
The Diana and Concord are well .-^et; while Hart-
ford Prolific, Louisa, (which latter is nothing more
or less than Isabella, and should be called by that
name) Alvey, &c. &c., are not as compact and full
as usual. This is undoubtedly a sulject that inter-
ests a g(jodly number of your readers, and a chnpter
in j'our experience touching upon this point woulil
be carefully stored away for future reference by all
interested in Grape culture.

[The sulphur did not probably injure the flowers.
The trouble most likely was with defective pistils,
or the pollen may have been unsound. — Ed.]

FIRE BLIGHT IN FEARS.

BY JAMES CREED, ROCHESTER, NE\V YORK.

I have for some years past, noticed (and which
you and others may also have done) that the eorJi-
c.st sj'mptoms of Pear Blight are when there is ap-
parently an unnatural moisture to be seen on the
parts affected, and this is best detected early in the
morning, and before evaporation takes place by the

\k

Cjje ®arhntr's ISontljIg.

291

sun acting upon it. This moisture may be seen
morning after morning, and sometimes in the
same spot for a whole week before discoloration
takes place, and at which latter stage unfortunately
the generality of people first detect it. Now I have
seen it most sti'ongly asserted that the sun is posi-
tively the cause of the disease ; and~ the same wri-
ters just as boldly assert a cure by simply drawing
a knife through the bark, and especially near the
hlackened parts, while certain other portions are to
be lopped oflF; but if I were to judge from tbe sense
of touch ; I certainly should be more inclined to at-
tribute it at least partly to low, rather than high
temperature. I have often applied my hand upon
the trees at mid-day, and the sun intensely hot, and
could trace scarcely any effect otherwise than a
healthful glow, but on repeating the same test the
following morning, both leaf and branch felt ex-
cessively cold and chilled.

I for one, have not been successful by applj'ing
the knife at this late stage of the disease, but in
the early or moist condition of it, 1 have found
more encouragement. The present season I have
had but one tree affected, and the first occular de-
monstration of it was in its discolored stage, and
all that was noticeable, was at once lopped off.
The following morning, the tree was pretty closely
scanned, a bad spot soon found (which the mois-
ture unmistakeably indicated) on the trunk of
the tree, extending half a foot, and but a few in-
ches from the ground, and supposed the fate of the
tree sealed. I however applied the knife, cutting
directly through the part affected, and giving a cut
or two on the outer edge of it, extending the knife
two or three inches above and below the moisture,
and for several days the infected sap oozed out
freely. The tree is now apparentlj' quite healthy,
and has no signs of discoloration where treated as
above mentioned, which would not have been the
case had the tree been allowed to have arrived at
the fatal stage. Besides using the knife, I after-
wards gave the diseased spot a puff or two from the
sulphur bellows. I mention the above in way of a
moments gossip.

TRITOMA UVARIA HARDY.

BY W. C. STRONG, BRIGHTON, MASS.

You will be glad to hear of success in wintering
the Tritoma in the open ground. Last fall I had a
bed of Tritoma uvaria, the plants being thick like
a lily bed. The plants were covered, tops and all,
with about four inches of leaves, sufficient to pro-
tect but not to keep out the frost. The result is,

that not a plant suffered from frost, and such a pro-
fusion of tall gay plumes as has been, is and will be
coming up is a wonder unto many. At a dis-
tance the bed appears like a phalanx of soldiers'
plumes, surpassingly brilliant. Who can doubt that
the Gladiolus treated in the same way will be en-
tirely hardy.

I am glad also to repeat that your Philadelphia
Ra.spberry withstood our past unusually trying win-
ter entirely unprotected, and gave me a very fine
crop. Though not of largest size, its hardiness and
productiveness give it great value.

MILDEWEB GRAPES IN KANZAS.

BY A. M. BURNS, MANHATTAN, WILEY CO., KANSAS.

You may call to mind, that in ray letter published
in the April number of the Gardener's Monthly, I
stated I had fruited six varieties of Grapes for
four years, and some varieties since 1859, and that
1 had " not seen a single bunch or berry diseased."
This I attributed to our freedom from atmospheric
humidity. I regret that I cannot repeat the same
words now. Last year was a very " wet year," and
during the spring and beginning of this summer, we
had heavy rains, which I suppose caused a few ber-
ries to mildew among some of the rampant growing
varieties which >ere planted in 1860, the distance
apart was 6 by 6 feet. They had grown so strong
that I could not control them ; therefore, they re-
ceived no attention ; the weeds had grovvn so large
that neither sun or air could penetrate between
them. Other vines of the same varieties, which
were planted 8 by 10 feet showed no signs of mil-
dew. Out of near two hundred varieties, (75 planted
this spring) in my grounds to test in our soil and
climate, not one variety (except these mentioned
above) looks unhealthy. Is this any evidence that
moisture has something to do with mildew? Our
climate as a general rule is very dry.

A NEW WHITE GRAPE.

BY HORTICOLA.

Although I knew that every attempt to cultivate
the varieties of the Continental Grape— the Vitis
vinifera,— had failed, yet I concluded to try what T
might be able to accomplish. Nobody heeds the
lesson history teaches ; not even personal history,
i e. experience is powerful enough to make people
wiser.

Several years after the termination of the Cri-
mean war, it occurred to me that Grape vines from
the Crimea might do well here. The climate of

(O^

fj

^

292

Ut @arbtncr's llontljin.

that country is as excessive as ours; sudden chan-
ges are there as common as here. A little later I
met accidentally with the name of a Crimean gen-
tleman in a public print, and I addressed a letter
to him, stating my object, and requesting him to
send me the best Crimean varieties of the Grape.
About nine months after, I received from him
twelve varieties in the best possible condition ; un-
fortunately, the labels of niost of them were defac-
ed ; only a few were legible. Some of the vines
grew finely, others were sickly, and in the course
of a few years, the original plants perished.

One of them bore two imperfect berries the first
season after planting — a friend of mine who has
much knowledge of Grape? and their culture, hap-
pened to be present when they were ripe ; he tasted
one of them, and pronouncednt as one of the most
luxurious that he knew. The three seeds I obtain-
ed from ihe two berries I planted ; but one of them
germinated, and gave me plant which I am go-
ing to describe in this article.

1 planted it out in the following spring ; I covered
it, as I do all my vines without exception, in No-
vember with a tew inches of earth. It has never
been sulphurated, on purpose, hut it has never shotm
any trace of mildew. It is a vigorous grower, the
wood is strong and short jointed. The leaf is nearly
round, sharply indentated or serrated.

Bunch and berry are of medium size. The berry
is nearly round, white, with an amber tint ; the
skin is of course thin ; it has no pulp and very
small seeds. The juice is so vinous, sweet and
arromatic, that it excites the admiration of all who
taste it.

The plant is a picture of health and beauty. Last
year it stood there among vines, injured by and dy-
ing from mildew, untouched by that terrible dis-
ease ; it retained its leaves, although not sulphu-
rated, green and healthy, until they dropped,
ripening its wood thoroughly every year. While
the leaves of a number of my vines have been burnt
by the enormous heat of this summer, the vine in
question is as green as it was in the beginning of
June.

In September last, my friend Parsons with his
foreman, Mr. Trurapey, failed on me to see the vine
and taste its fruit ; a little later Mr. Marc of Asto-
ria. They expres.sed themselves in regard to it ex-
actly so, as I have done in the above, and did not
hesitate to declare — requested by me to give their
npinion icithoiU any rrstmint. Tlu-y considered the
vine fully acclimated after a trial of eight years in
my grounds. Mr. Marc otfi-red me an enormous
price for a single eye, but 1 declined it.

tWs^

In the above, I forgot to state that it hlooms la-
ter than any variety I cultivate ; it ripens its fruit
invariably by the middle of September.

I wish such readers of the Monthly, as take an
interest in Grape culture, could see the plant; it
would do them good. As science is n)y sole object
in Grape culture, I have carefully abstained from
any exaggeration, confining myself to the expres-
sions of others. I cannot, however, conceal it, that
it makes me exceedingly happy to have been instru-
mental in lu-oducing and retaining a Grape to this
country of my choice, that unites so many of the
best qualities, without having to my knowledge a
single fault.

[Our correspondent is one of the most intelligent
amateur Horticulturists we have in the United
States, and anything he writes, always possesses
much interest. There does not appear to be any rea-
son wliy some variety of the Kuropean Grape might
not be found to do well in our climate, and possibly
it may happen that this one may in the future, do
as well as it has the past eight years ; but it would
be as well to remember, that many similar instan-
ces have finally resulted in failure. About York,
in Pennsylvania, vineyards of the foreign Grape,
used to thrive i)erfectly for many consecutive years;
and though isolated cases of foreign Grape vines
successfully grown occur, yet it is the exception,
and not the rule for them to do well there now. .
Seedlings generally do well for some years. The
Montgomery, a foreign Grape of Hudson River pa-
rentage did well for some years, but is failing now.
In Philadelphia, the Clara and the Brinckle for a
long time did so well, that a Committee of the
Pennsylvania Horticultural Society thought they
had at length Ibund a descendant of the foreign
Grape, that would adapt itself to this climate, and
awarded the raiser of them, a higher premium
than was ever given by the Society for a msw seed-
ling fruit — yet ai'ter years of trial, neither the
Brinckle nor Clara proved ultimately more reliable
than Black Hamburg or Golden Chasselas.

We would not discourage our friends from trial
with this seedling — as we said a foreign variety may
be found that will pernian<iifly pro\o adajited to
our climate ; but it is well to romeuiber past expe-
rience, that we build not up our hopes too high. —
Ed.]

—m—

OPEN AIR GRAPE CULTURE.

BY JOHN M. IVES, SALEM, MASSACIIUSEITS.
From the exhibitions of hardy Grapes this year
we begin to have hopes that at no distant period,
the culture of this fruit will be an in)portant branch

^^^^

®h^ (Sarb^ner's Ponthlg,

293

of industry ; but a few years since the Isabella was
the on'y out-door Grape, though only in the most
favorable places could it be depended upon to ripen
its fruit, but we now have varieties so much earlier,
that this kind is being first superseded by sorts not
only sure of ripening in this latitude, but of supe-
rior size and quality, approaching the foreign kinds
in delicacy and richness of flavor. Within a few
years, we have had the Delaware, Concord, Hart-
ford Prolific, Rebecca, Creveling, and other valua-
ble kinds, all of which possess some qualities to re-
commend them as superior to the Isabella, the
Rebecca, Delaware; and Creveling, as being earlier,
and of good quality, although a little tender, and
subject to mildew somewhat in foliage, while the
Concord, and Hartford Prolific, are among the har-
diest in this respect, yet the fruit is not quite equal
to some, and have more of the harsh flavor (de-
nominated " foxy") of the wild species. The Adi-
rondac, Wilmington White and Cuj^ahoga, are new
varieties which we have not as yet obtained. Allen
Hybrid raised by J. F. Allen of Salem, we have
never grown, and cannot speak with certainty as
to its value as a liardy (xiape, we have seen speci-
mens of the fruit of fine quality resembling to our
taste, the White Sweetwater. Some of the culti-
vators around Boston think well of this variety; it
is certainly a fine flavored white Grape. The Hart-
ford Prolific although valuable as one of the ear-
liest, and about equal in quality to the Concord,
has the fault of dropping its fruit, and the Concord
which ripens two or three weeks later, fails to ma-
ture its crop in unfavorable seasons. Of all the
kinds that have come under our notice for the past
four years, we have seen none to equal, taking into
consideration all desirable qualities, than the Grapes
known as Rogers' Hybrids, raised by E. S. Roger's
of Salem, Massachusetts. His exi^eriment in hy-
bridizing has proved and set at rest a subject which
has been some time in dispute among horticultu-
rists, and distinguished botanists; .such among the
latter is Le Conte, who says, " That although
among some families of plants, hybrids occur na-
turally, or may be formed artificially, yet it is diffi-
cult to understand how this ever can be the case
in the genus Vitis, on account of the minuteness
of the flower, and the parts of fructification, still
we would not, however, assert that by hybridiza-
tion naturally, or artificially, is absolutely impossi-
ble." White of Georgia sa3's "i< Is the first time
that this has been done eftectually. " Mr. Rogers
has given to the country, varieties of hardy Grapes,
the mo>t valuable of any heretofore known for this
latitude, and also for more southern ones, like New

York and Virginia ; some of his varieties, a little
too late here, have been pronounced there, to be the
best hardy Grapes ever grown in those parts. These
varieties, some forty or more were produced by hy-
bridizing one of our best and earliest wild Grape,
known as the "Mammoth," belonging to the spe-
cies (Vitis labruscaj with two of the earliest of the
foreign species (V. vinifera) known as Black Ham-
burg, and White Chasselas; and the change from
the wild type in the new seedlings is immense, and
apparent to the commonest observer ; the new va-
rieties having none of the foxy odor, peculiar to the
native parent from which the seed was taken, and
resembling in size, color, and delicacy of fruit, the
foreign, and the berries like this species having the
property of not dropping. The few which were
crossed with the Chasselas, have much of the char-
acter of this sort, not one of the seedling's coming
black in color like those raised from fertilizing with
the Hamburg.

Mr. R. has again crossed some of his present va-
rieties with the foreign, a few of which have borne
fruit ; this fruit and foliage of these prove beyond
the doubts of the most skeptical, the certainty of
raising new Grapes by this process. Another fact
which we think is very strong evidence, is the char-
acter of the blossoms. It is well known to bota-
nists, that all the American species of Grapes are
what is technically termed dioecious, polygamous ;
that is, that some vines are staniinate and never
bear, others have perfect blossoms and produce
fruit. If we attempt to raise seedlings from our
wild Grapes, about one-half or a large proportion
usually prove barren, never producing anything but
blossoms; any one accustomed to examine these
can tell when in flower, the fruiting from the stami-
nate portion, these show large clusters of blossoms
but no fruit follows. With the foreign species, it
is different ; here the male or barren plant is not
known, all the seedlings from these are fruit bear-
ing vines, and the fact that Mr. Rogers has never
had an tt/ifruitful plant among upwards of forty va-
rieties whichShave borne, is strong evidence, with-
out any o.ther, of their being hybrids, inheriting
this quality from the foreign parent. Thus from
our wild Grape, Mr. R., following the process of
Knight of England with pears and cherries, has
produced in a short time, varieties, which it might
have taken a long course of years to get by the
chance method of Van Mons, viz., beginning with
the wild variety, and sowing the seed through suc-
cessive generations, and whose best fruits after all
perhaps, were only accidental crosses, made by the
bees, and from the pollen, floating in the air, from

H)

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JB^ ~

m

^^^

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294

£he (f3ardrnrr'.^ JHonfljIii.

the many varieties which he had erowing and blos-
soming together; by the latter process many thou-
sand seedlings were raised to produce a few good
fruits, while by the other method of hybridizing
with a view to certain results, nearly all the seed-
lings prove superior, and very nearly, with the
valuable projierties we wish, as is the case with
these Grapes. Mr. R. knowing what was wanted,
chose the wild variety on account of its hardiness
and earliness (in preference to the Isabella,) for
the mother of the new variety, and for the male
parent; the two hardiest of the foreign species,
viz., the Black Ilamburirand the White Chassclas ;
and from these two species have come numerous
valuable varieties, posses.sing many of the qualities
desired ; such as hardiness of vine, earliness and
delicacy of fruit. These Grapes are sent out by
numbers ; No. 15 has rijiened for four or five years
in succession, when many other, much praised
kinds, have failed, and this year especially, it has
proved fine in many places, and superior to any
kind that we know for its fine flavor. We have
even heard many say that they preferred this to
many of the foreign varieties from under glass, and
this is not only valuable kind among the.se new
.seedlings; there are many other varieties, which
are thought nearly equal, and a few quite as good.
Nos. 1, 3, 4, 9, 14, 28, 30, 33, 41, 43 and 44, and
others which we have not as yet seen. The above
mentioned sorts are all earlier than the Isabella,
and many of them earlier, larger and much supe-
rior to the Concord in quality. An intelligent
Scotch gardener who has had much experience in
the culture of the Grape, considers these hybrids
to be most promising Grapes for out-door culture
we possess, this is also the opinion of one of the
best judges and most scientific amateurs iu the cul-
tivation of the Grape in New York State, he says
" that No. 15 as ripened here at Ithaca, has to my
taste a resemblance to the Catawba; it is decidedly
of that flavor, but milder as a table Grape, and
about twice as large in size of berry as that variety.
No. 4 as ripened here this year, is a fine large black
Grape of sweet and mild flavor, better than the
best Isabella, this number reminds me of the Black
Hamburg. As the New England varieties improve
as to sweetness for two or three years, after their
removal here, I shall expect very much from these
hybrids." The same testimony has been given
from Virginia, Ohio, Illinois and Canada. From
this last place I received a paper containing an ac-
count of the recent "Fruit Growers Convention"
in ('anada West. In their report on Grapes ex-
hibited, they say of Rogers' No. 15, " Not pulpy.

best of the new Grapes, berry and bunch large."
Another cultivator in the same locality, .says, " Ro-
gers' No. 15 very hardy, early, fine flavor, large
berry, and fine bunch, well shouldered." J. B.
Garber of Pennsylvania, (who is said, in the " Ger-
niantown Tclegrn])h," to have had more experience
in fruiting these hybrids than any other i)er.soM in
the State,) saj's, "That he has fruited thirteen va-
rieties of these new Grapes this sea.son, and that
they are one and all .superior to nine-tenths of the
kinds in common cultivation, vigorous and fine
growers, the wood ripening perfectly, and thus far
with him, no mildew, rot, or any defect whatever,
•some were ripe the first week in September, and
none ripened later than the Concord, and all were
fully ripe before either the Lsabellaor Catawba."

The American Grajie is now receiving great at-
tention in the vine-growing regions of Europe, es-
pecially France, whore it is being introduced zcith
the liope, tJint n't will be freefro7n the (h'scise xrliich
ottachs and sometimes destroys the European vine.
The cultivation of the Grape, particularly in Wes-
tern New York, is considered a profitable crop.
Mr. McKay has realized during many successful
years from one thousand to twelve hundred dollars
from the sale of Grapes, grown on one acre of
ground.

SOIL, AND MANURING THE VINE.

The best and most natural soil for the Grajie is a
dry porous limestone. It should be well drained ;
cold and wet situatiftns are unfavorable for the vine.
In manuring for the Grape we should never u.se
animal manure ?</icomposted, — such was the testi-
mony at the National Fruit Growers' Convention.
The mineral manures, in consequence of their in-
gredients, have the mo.st effect on the quality of
the fruit, while animal matter encourages the for-
mation of wood too fast, and makes the vine ten-
der and subject to disease, and, we think, mildew.
The best dressing we find, is bone and oyster shell
flour, manufactured ivithniit burning. Bone dust
contains the most nouri.^hing elements with wood-
a.shes; and a good .surface soil, well covered in the
fall with dry leaves, are nearly all the materials ne-
cessary for the vine ; the finer the dust of the bone,
the more immediately active it becomes. Bones
are said to contain a greater amount of phosphoric
acid than from any other one substance, henee it
has been k^autii'ully expres.sed that " there can be
no civilization without population, no population
without food, and no food without phosphoric acid ;
and that the march of civilization has followed the
direction or supply of this material." Of all fruits
none are more impatient of wet than the Grape; a

dry situation is absolutely essential ; therefore, if
the soil be at all retentive, thorough draining is
necessary.

ROOT PRUNING PBAR TREES.

BY ED. SMITH, GARDENER TO J. T. BUSH, ESQ., CLIF-
TON, CANADA, WEST.

I notice an article in the MontTiJij from Dr. Hough-
ton, on cause of unfruitful Pear trees. I have had
much experience in England; and there you will
see the Pear tree many years old, growing like a
poplar, and not the sign of a blossom. The secret is
the sap runs into the growth of the tree, instead of
the fruit bud, now this can be remedied only by prun-
ing the root. Measure from the butt of the tree, a
proper distance, then dig down to the root, all round
that distance, cut through all the roots, and fill up
the circle witn a mixture of manure and sand from
an old hot bed. This plan I followed for many year
in England, M]ion Pears, Apples, Plums, Cherries,
Apri otsand vines, alway-s very successful, they most
generally bearing fruit the next year. T freely give
you the result of many years experience. Try it on
one tree, and after the first root pruning, repeat it
the second time if the tree grows too fast, for I be-
lieve in cutting the roots.

The last tree I tried this plan on in England;
was the old Swan's egg Pear, a tree 30 years old a
fine handsome one. I never saw a Pear on that
tree. My father gave me orders to cut it down.
I set to work, T dug all the soil out to the roots,
and cut through all the roots, (but at a good dis-
tance from the butt of the tree,) this done, I left
the tree fr im some cans? unfinished ; it remained so
for a very long time ail the winter. I left England ;
my father left that place, and his successor ob-
seivlng the tree budding feely, gave orders to have
it well covered up, the tree produced a full crop of
fruit that j'ear, and is now one of the best trees in
the orchard.

KEEPING APPLES.

BY D. W. ADAMS, WAWKON, lOAVA.

Very cheap and effectual plans to preserve per-
ishable fruits, cannot fail to meet with a hearty wel-
come from growers, dealers and consumers ; so any
items of theory or experience will be gladly received
at their actual practical value.

The method I have now in mind for the keeping
of Apples, though not of value as f;xr south as Phil-
adelphia, is, I am confident, very effectual in a more
northern locality. My plan is simply this, freeze
up your Apples perfectly solid, and keep them so

as late in the spring as possible, and my word for
it, you will find them as perfect in April, as they
were in November. This plan may be generally
known, but it is rarely practiced, and I suppose
from the fact that most people have an unfounded
dread of freezing Apples,

My attention was first called to this method twen-
ty years ago in the town of Wenchendon, Massa-
chusetts. A merchant bought a lot of Baldwins,
and stored them in a loft, where they were neglect-
ed till the whole lot were solidly frozen. Having a
large stock of BuflFalo robes, he covered the floor
with them, and setting on the barrels of Apples, he
covered them with several thicknesses of robes, so
that the fruit remained frozen till late in the spring,
and then, of course, thawed very gradually. I was
a boy in a store in that village then, and on July
4th, I retailed those Baldwins as fresh and sound
as that variety usually is in December. Another,
last winter, a merchant in this village, bought a
lot of Apples, and stored them in a cellar poorly
protected from frost. 1 visited him early in De-
cember, and he was burning coals in the cellar to
keep his Apples from freezing. A few days after,
I .=aw him again, and he had to give it up, and
they were all as hard as stones. They remained so
all winter, and in May he sold them at a high figure,
being uncommonly well preserved.

A few j'ears since, I received a barrel of choice
Apples by wagon in December, mercury at 22°, dis-
tance thirty m les; of course, they were thoroughly
frozen, and rattled in the barrel like stones I wrapped
the barrel in blankets, and set in a cellar at about
forty degrees. In a month I opened them, and
they showed not the slightest injury, either in tex'
ture or flavor from their winter ride. Now you
will see from these notes, that in thos- localities
where the winter is sufficiently cold SiwA steady, Ap-
ples may be frozen up perfectly solid early in win-
ter, and remam wholly dormant, and consequently
exempt from decay for three or four months — by
this means prolonging the season of fruits from De-
cember to March, or from March to June. I am
unable to discover that freezing injures in the least,
the flavor, texture, or keeping qualities of Apples
if they are thawed very slowly, and in a situation
where air and light are excluded. I know that this
idea will startle some. Yet, I hope it may not be
utterly rejected without a thorough trial. In north-
ern localities, it is certainly convenient, and 1 know
has been in many cases eminently succesful. I
know of no failures.

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293

2Ijje gardener's (^lontlitg.

BLACE KNOT.

BY 3IR. L. MOWHV, CiKEKNWlCH, N. T.

I read ao article in )'our monthlj' a short time
since on the "Black Knot," which is so destruc-
tive to the Plum tree in almost all sections of the
country. I was interested in reading the article,
but I do not agree with the writer in his conclu-
sions as to the cause assigned. It however excited
my curiosity, and led me to make a close examina-
tion of my trees, and I herewith give you the re-
sult of my examination and conclusions.

I am sati>fied that in this locality the " Black
Knot " is catised by an insect that stings both the
bark and fruit of the Plum tree, for the purpose of
depositing its eggs for reproducing its order in time.
In making an examination of nij' trees, and cutting
off excrescences, I found in thoae formed the '''' pre-
sent season ^^ a .email white maggot or grub, about
the size and form of those found in defective cheese,
and when put under a magnifying glass, they pre-
sented much the same appearance as the white
grub found in old decayed wood. The head was
tipped with brown, and the body covered with little
protuberances, out of which came a single hair or
bristle.

I discovered on the same tree some defective
Plums, and upon examination I found now and
then the .«arae worm or maggot imbeded in the
fruit. This I am satisfied is the cause of disea.sed
Plum trees in this locality. If you think the infor-
mation worth publii^hing it is at your dispo.'Jal.

I In this section the " Black Knot " often works
through the old stems of the Plum and Cherry
tree, where the insect must have had to puncture
through a half an inch or more of old bark, before
being able to get at the living .sajt containing ves-
sels. We know of no insect likely to attempt this
feat in depositing its eggs — Ed.]

GRAFTING THE GRAPE VINE.

BY CHABLf:S CRUf'KNKM,, GRKENWOOD NURSERY,
POrrSVILLE, PA.

I have never experienced any difficulty in cleft-
grafting below ground after the vine has com-
menced growing. I have likewise .seen several in-
stances, to one or two of which I will now refer.

A friend of mine wished to graft the Delaware
on a very old vine of inferior quality, which grew
by the side of the hou.se. He sawed off the cane
.some two inches below ground and cleft-grafted it,
in.serting two scions. They both grew immensely,
so much so that one had to be taken out to make
room for the other. I have seen things grow

rapidly at times, but that vine beat everything in
the shape of plant-growing. It grew rampant, and
did not rii)en its wood well. The vine was laid
down on the ground, and by adding a slight protec-
tion it weathered the first winter verj' well.

That vine is now growing, or was a short time
since, in the kitchen yard of Mrs. Alexis Dupunt,
Banks of Brandywine, Delaware.

The following case is of more recent date, ami is
close to your own scntctiim :

Mr. James Laws of Germantown, showed me
several successful Grape-vine grafts that were grow-
ing finely. I do not remember having seen his me-
thod described in j'o'ir journal, I will therefore
Iniefly advert to it. For my own i>nrt T do not see
its advantages further than as serving to illustrate
tlie po.'ssibility of grafting the Grape-vine.

In the fall of the year a strong cane is taken and
shortened to within six or eight feet of the ground,
the graft is then put in wedge fashion, and tied
with some kind of grafting twine. The vine is then
bent down so as to bring the graft below ground, —
precisely as in layering — a single eye only being al-
lowed to remain above ground; thus to remain per-
manentl}'. I saw these grafts two weeki ago, when
they were growing finely, not one of them having
missed.

I am glad to find this subject introduced for dis-
cu.ssion in the pages of the Monthhf, for it is
just such items as this, that make your paper so
valuable, and has placjed it far ahead of your con-
temporaries.

MUSHROOM GROWING.

BY MR. LAMONT, GARDENKR. TOC. ZUO, ESQ., TITTS-
BURGH, PA.

As I am a lover of Mushroouj growing, I am al-
wa3's trying to find out all I can about them, and in
the reports of the P(!nnsylvania ITorticultnr.-d .So-
ciety, for the month of April, ISGC), Mr. F. ().
Keefe, Gardener to J. B. Fleyl, Esq., had on ex-
hibition a fine display of Mushrooms, &c. ]Mr.
Meehan, we wish you would let us know through
the Monthly where Mr. F. O. Keefc; purcha.sed his
spawn, and whether it was made in Knglnnd or in
America, for we have difficulty in finding it good.

Mashroom growing does not require so much skill
as one would think. After the bed is made and the
''pnwn planted, the watering is the only skill requir-
ed. I believe inmost beds that do not yield, the
spawn is killed with too much water.

Here I would like to give your readers my exper-
ience with spawn for three winters. The first

•«^

Mi

winter I lived with C. Zug, Esq., we had American
made spawn, and I can assure you that it yielded
splendidly ; but the second winter we had English
made spawn, and I am sure it run beautifully, for I
could see by removing a little of the ground that it
would extend itself through the ground ; but alas,
we lost nearly all of the bed. We had made a change
in the house, and the first snow we had the house
leaked in a little of the melting snow : I saw the
danger but could do nothing at that time. Still we
had a third of a crop. The third winter we had
our hou.se in good order, and we made a new bed,
planted it with American made spawn, and all went
on nicely till the Mushrooms came up, and here my
hopes were blasted — instead of Mushrooms we had a
great crop of Fungi, and that a deadly poison.

[Rhind, in his vegetable kingdom in plate 3, page
197, here gives us a list of 27 varieties ofFuniii
and Mushrooms. The one I had last winter, by
Rhintrs description, was Agnricus virasus, the most
poisonous of all the tribe, he says.]

Now I am lead to believe the spawn I had last
winter was impregnated with the debris of Corn ,
instead of Oats. How often will you see a substance
about the ear or tassel of Corn, that looks very
like a Fungi, and I believe from the smell of it, it
contains poison — perhaps deadly. I believe we are
indebted to the Oats, for our Mushrooms ; I think
when the debris is deprived of the light, air and
moisture which would bring a yield of itself, say
thirty fold, it is turned round by man's wisdom and
can be made to yield forth fifty fold of this elegant
vegetable, commonly called Mushroom. For myself
I like to be gathering a nice dish of Mushrooms of
my own raising; and I am sure the most of people are
very fond of them at the table. Often I have won-
dered that there was not more of them growing
in the United States ; but we are progressing in
Horticulture, and in a few years we will see more of
them growing. Mr. Editor, I would like to see
an article from your pen, I am sure it would do
good to a great many, and promote the growth of
this great vegetable. In RhuuVs History of the
Vegetable Kingilom, page 196, he describes the
Amanita Mnscarie or fly Amanita, plate 3, fig. 1,
he says this splendid species is a native of Britain
and very abundant in Scotland. It has a large cap
sometimes six inches in diameter of a brilliant pink
or crimson color, beset with angular warts and
growing on a tall well proportioned stalk, it is very
conspicuous even at a distance. In shaded recesses
of its native woods, in the highlands of Scotland,
says Dr. Greville, it is impossible not to admire it
as seen in long perspective between the trunks of

the straight Fir trees, and should a sunbeam pene-
trate through the dark and dense foliage, and rest
on its vivid surface an effect is produced by this
chief of a humble race, which might lower the pride
of many a patrician vegetable. This Mushroon is
used by the inhabitants of the north-eastern parts
of Asia, in the same manner as ardent spirits or
wine to promote intoxication; it is the favorite drug
mancho-mare of the Russians, Kamchadales and
Korians, who use it to promote intoxication. These
fungi are collected in the hottest months and hung
up by a string in the air to dry ; some dry of them-
selves on the ground and are said to be far more
narcotic than those artificially preserved. Small deep
colored specimens thickly covered with warts are
also said to be more powerful than those which at-
tain to a larger size, and are of a paler color. The
usual mode of taking this fungus is to roll it up
like a bolus and swallow it without chewing, which
the Kamchadales say would disorder the stomach.
It is sometimes eaten fresh, in soups, sauces and
there loses much of its intoxicating property ; when
steeped in the juice of the berries of Vaccinium
uliginosutn its efi'ects are the same as those of
strong wine. One large or two small fungi is a com-
mon dose to produce a pleasant intoxication for a
whole day, particularly if water be drank after it,
which augments the narcotic excitement; the desired
oiFect comes on one or two hours after taking the
Fungus ; giddiness and drunkenness results from
the Fungus in the same manner as from wine or
spirits. Cheerful emotions of the mind are first
produced, involuntary words and actions follow, and
sometimes an entire loss of consciousness; it renders
some persons remarkable active, and proves highly
stimulant to muscular exertion; with too large a
dose, violent spasmodic efi'ects are produced; so very
exciting to the nervous system in some individuals
is this Fungus, that the efi'ects are often very ludi-
crous. It a person under its influence wishes to step
over a straw or small stick, they take a stride or a
jump sufficient to clear the trunk of a tree; a talka-
tive person cannot keep secrets or silence, and one
fond of music is perpetually singing, — this is Rhind' s
description ofthis wonderful Fungus.

John Ahei'cromhie, in his pocket journal, thus
describes the spawn. The peculiar delicate nature
of the spawn requires great precaution in the early
state of the Mushroom bed to prevent its having too
great a heat, which would prove its destruction, and
likewise keep it from wet and cold; and in five or
six weeks after spawning the bed, if it works kindly,
it will begin to produce Mushrooms, and if kejit in
good order, dry and warm, it will continue several
months in production.

ii

SFRING BUDDING.

BY LOUIS JAOK, M. D.
Read he/ore Fa. llort. Socicli/, Sept. 4th, 1860.
I desire to call the attention of the Society to a
method of Spring budding, which I performed ujion
the large branches of some old Pear trees during
the Sp.ing of this year. A method which has, 1
think some advantage over those in common use.

It is often found that one has an old and vigor-
ous looking Pear or Apple, which has become
covered with unproductive spurs, and is a good sub-
ji'ct for renewal, by cutting back, or by grafting.
The usual plan is to remove many of the larger
litiib.s, expecting new growths to spring out by the
development of accidental buds, from which some
are selected to form the future tree; the difficulty of,
and the objection to this is, that the disposition to
the developement of buds is confined ])rincipally to
the terminations of the limbs, in many cases leav-
ing the lower parts bare. Where grafting is done,
only the terminal part of the large limbs can be
operated upon, so that a similar method of cutting
I baf-k is necessary to get new wood on which to
graft nearer the stem; this occasions the di'lay of
one season's waiting.

I have pleasure in mentioning a plan, which I
believe will in either case accomplish the result
aimed at, with certainty, with regularity and in a
single season .secure the foundation of a symmetrical
tree. The i>roce.ss I have called spring budding ;
but to prevent confusion of terms will name the
" bud " an insertion.

We will suppose a long av.d exhausted Pear limb,
comparatively denuded of branches ; such an one
we so commonly see. The first preparation will be
to remove one-third of the length; and if it is desir-
ed to change the variety, two grafts will be placed
in the cut enl, then at sever 1 places along the
course of both sides the dead outer bark should be
scraped awaj'; a triangular incision is now made at
the points selected, extending down to the wood ;
it should be of considerable size, varying with the
diameter of the limb and be finished by removing
the bark included in the incision. The object of
the removal of the piece of bark is to enable the
insertion to be introduced beneath the thick bark,
and to check the flow of sap as the part for the
benefit of the bud. In branches of four (4) inches
diampt<jr the triangle should be one and one-half
(U) inches at the base.

The preparation of the insertion is made, by tak-
ing a scion cut from well matured wood of the pre-
vious year's growth, which need not be removed
more than a few days before wanted; it must have

been kept cool and fresh, and the buds be plump
but unstarted. The knife should be entered at the
side opposite the selected bud, about one-half inch
{^) above, and so directed as to split the scion in
the middle for the greater part, covering one inch
or more below the bud, and on the same side with
it; after the removal of a very small part of the
outer bark at each side of the insertion it will be
ready for introduction.

A slit is now made from the ba.se of the triangu-
lar cut downwards, to enable the bark to be slightly
raised; the insertion is next pressed down so as to
bring the bud exactly to the base of the triangle.
Grafting wax is now laid upon the incision last
made, and all the cut parts completely covered by
the wax ; when a piece of wood the size of an ordin-
ary label is laid over the last cut and bound down
tightly upon it by a wrapping of twine, securely
tied, so as to counteract the disposition of the bark
to curl away from the insertion, which tendency is
universal. Indeed, .so important is this tying, that
success cannot be expected if it is omitted.

The advantages of the method above described
are .so manifest, that any attempt to mention them
would be superfluous: each one accustomed to such
processes will know when he can use these inser-
tions with advantage.

This is accomi>anied by a piece of wood having

an artificial bark of India-rubber, with the dift'erent

stages of the preparation upon it, in illustration of

the text.

**•*•

THE MOTICN AND COMPOSITION OF THE
SAP OF PLANTS. AND THE EFFECTS OP
HEAT AND COLD THEREUPON.

BY W.VLTKH ELDER, PniL.\DELPIIL\.

It is the composition of the sap that makes its
motion rat)id and slow, and which causes quick and
tardy growth in the various .si)ecies of plants at differ-
ent degrees of heat and cold: Ehmentai-y Plulostrphy
teaches four degrees, or effects of heat. \st, Expaa-
.<iion\ 2d, Liquefaction; od, Combustion ; and Ath, lu-
candejicence ; and 3 degrees of effects of cold, — l.s<,
Contraction, Id, Solidification, and Zd Expansion :
let us take a deciduous tree for exi)lanation ; when
it is leafless in winter, it looks lifeless; but when
the warmth of spring follows the cold of winter, we
.see the first effect of heat in the swelling buds, that
is expansion ; and if we prune the tree then, we see
the second effects of heat — liquefaction, by the sap
running out at the wounds ; thus expansion and
liquefaction work together, and increase with the
increase of heat so far as the amount of sap and its
composition will admit ; and blooms, leaves and

shoots are put forth ; but all parts of the tree are
not simultaneously aflFected with heat ; for the rea-
son, that the stem is more dense than the bran-
ches, and the roots are deep in the cold ground ;
each part is affected in its turn according to its ea-
siness of penetration ; when the whole tree is awa-
kened from its dormancy, the roots throw up a
fresh supply of sap to all parts, and every vein is
filled with vital essence to sustain the tree during
the drought of Summer, and to protect it from in-
jury by sudden contraction and expansion, by sud-
den changes of temperature in the weather ; the
injury is called "Fire Blight." When the cold of
Autumn follows the heat of Summer, we see the
first effect of cold contraction, in the change of the
color of the leaves : their veins get contracted, and
the sap ceases to flow through them, and they drop
off; the twigs are next affected, and the branches,
stem and roots follow in their turns — If we prune
the tree then, we see the second effect of cold — soli-
dification ; the sap is solid and stationary and fixed ;
and the wounds are dry, but the roots continue to
throw up vital essence to all parts of the tree long
after the leaves fall off, and enable it to withstand
the cold of winter ; but when the cold gets very in-
tense, it pi'oduces expansion, and bui-sts tha sap
veins, and sometimes rends the stem of the tree
open. In the following spring it puts forth blooms,
leaves and j'oung shoots, and then shows decay — it
is dead. Trees, vines, shrubbery, all are often so
affected, that is called " the frozen sap blight."
[Let me now ask the wealthy patrons of Horticul-
ture, have you not too often charged these desola-
tions upon the incapacity of your gardeners, and
the dishonesty of your nurserymen?" but never
reproached "him who rideth on the winds, and
says to the storm be calm and the waves be still,
and they obeyed him." How can gardeners pre-
vent such destruction ? and how can nurserymen
know that a plant is dead while it has all the ap-
pearance of vitality.] All plants are not equally
affected with the same degrees of heat and cold; it
requires much heat to set the sap of the CataJpa
tree in motion, and but little cold stops it ; but
little heat sets the sap of the WiUmv in motion ;
and it takes much cold to set it to rest, and its
foliage lasts eight months in the year ; whereas,
the leaves of Catalpa last only five months. Ever-
greens are not easily affected with heat and cold,
and they retain their foliage until the new foliage
pushes it off in Spring. Some plants require the
shelter and artificial heat of glass-houses, while
others thrive on mountain tops in the coldest re-
gions.

Early blooming Bulbous plants do all their work
in cold, and rest in hot weather ; the late blooming
kinds sleep in cold and do all ther growth in hot
weather; the same is the case with herbaceous
plants: Dicentra, Preonia, early Phlox, Larkspur,
&c. , grow quickly up in Spring and bloom early,
and stand still in the heat of Summer ; Indian
Corn, Okra, Sunflower, &c., do all their work in
the heat of Summer, and die off with the cold of
Autumn, and so it is with annuals : Candytuft, Col-
linsia. Groves-love, &c., grow quick up and bloom
in the cool of Spring, and die off in hoc weather.
Wherea.s, Cockscomb, Globe Aniaranthus, Sensi-
tive plant, &c., grow only in heat; among ligneous
plants, some bloom early, others bloom late. For-
sythia blooms in March ; Kolreuteria blooms in
July. The blooms of both are of the same color ;
Magnolia conspicua blooms in March, and Magno-
lia glauca blooms in June ; they are both of the
same genus, and their blooms are similar in form
and color. The differences of all these lie in the
various composition of their saps.

The young gardeners who read this article, may
think it strange, that expansion is the first and last
degree of heat, and the last and greatest of cold ;
but they can see it on ice, when after a winter's
night of intense cold there are rises on the ice as
if water had been poured upon it, and froze as it
fell ; that is expansion produced by the severe cold.
We have seen stone cisterns iron bound above
ground, rent asunder by the intense cold of a win-
ter's night.

THE FRENCH EXHIBITION.

BY E. FERRAND. DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

I am in possession of the general programme of
the great international exhibition of Horticulture,
to be held in Paris, in conjunction with the great
exhibition, and extract the following parts of that
programme for the benefit of the Montliltj.

Art. 1st. A permanent and international exposi-
tion of Horticulture will be held with the universal
exhibition on the 1st of April, 1867, lasting until
the 31st of October.

A garden of 50,000 square metres, being part of
the grounds of the general export on the Champ
de Mars is specially assigned to that object ; am-
ple room will be provided for the valuable produc-
tions according to their nature, in stove houses,
green houses, undertents, in galleries, and in the
open air.

Art. 2d. There will be opened successively, four-
teen international Horticultural courses.

ih^ ^ardfii^r's JRonthli).

Art. 4th. The fourteen courses are made up as
follows :

1st course opening, April 1st, 1867; Caraelia, Con-
ifers; hardy liinipous plants, Ericaccce, fruits and
eatable vegetables from forced culture.

2d course opening, April 15; Rhododend. arho-
rrnm, forced fruits, hyacinths and green house
plants.

.3d course open ^^aylst; Orchidea, ^sa/ea /«-
t//cv?, tulips, ornamental plants, and green house
plants.

4th course open May 15; Azalea I'ndica et pon-
tiai, Rhododonron, Orohidea and hardy ornamental
plants.

5th course open June 1st; Orchidea, Roses,
Pelareonium, ornamental plants, vegetables.

6th course open June 15rh ; Pelargonium, Roses,
Orchidea, fruits of the sea,son. *

7th course open July 1st; Palm.s, stove-house
plant-!, annuals, fruits of the season.

8th course open July 15; Aroideae, new plants,
annuals, fruits of the season.

9lh course open August 1st ; colored leaved plants.
Gladiolus, Fuchsia, fruits of the season.

10th course open August 15th ; ornamental plants,
annuals, ferns, fruits of the season.

11th course open September 1st; eatable vegeta-
bles, ornamental plants, Dahlia, fruits of the sea-
son.

12fh course open September 15th; Dahlia, sun-
dry plants and fruits of the sea-on.

13th course open October 1st; general course of
fruits, sundrj' plants.

14th course open October 15th; general course
of fruit trees formed by reasoned pruning and trim-
ming, each course thus lasting 15 daj^s.

A general and detaile programme of each of the
above courses will be published end of July, 1866.

The repetition of the prizes awarded to each
course in 4 cjitegories: \nt prhrx, 2d prizcA, Zd j)ri-
zes and diplomas, will be awarded by a jury, com-
posed of the notabilities of horticulture, both French
and foreign, selected by the special horticultural
section of the international jury of award, for each
course and special jury.

The prizes to be awarded to the livinrf produc-
tions ofliortindhirc, which make the special object
of this programme (to the exclusion of the objects
of art, implements, &c., relating to horticulture,)
are the following :

1st Grand prizes and allocations in money, a
total sum of two hundred and fifty thousand francs,

2d. One hundred gold medals, each of the value
of a thousand francs.

3d. One thousand silver medals.

4th. Three thousand brass medals.

5th. Five thousand diplomas, (honorable men-
tions,) all the medals of the same module.

It is very likely that American Horticulture hsis
not yet reached a point that can enable its adepts
to compete with their European rivals in any sec-
tion of the above programme ; therefore, it is our
lotto ren)ain mere spectators; but even as .cuch,
we are much interested in a careful examina-
tion of the Horticultural measures that will find
their way to that universal meeting. Most of the
finest collections of England, Belgium and Ger-
many will be at the rendezvous with those of France.
For many rea ons material, geographical, .scientific
and other, Paris is a centre of attraction, which
will draw to itself treasures that would not follow
the call of other cities; this makes an opportunity
of admiring such a magnificent display that may
not offer for a long time after. But, notwithstand-
ing that each and every part of that grand univer-
sal fair is alone worth coming from the opposite
side of the Globe to see — there is one part of the
Agricultural programme, which is above all appre-
ciation to Americans — that is the part relating to
fruits and fruit trees. Above all, the 13th and 14th
couri^e — then will be the fruits, and by them the
trees as they are made to produce the fruits. Per-
haps then, the intelligent American gardener — (and
as such, I am inclined to embrace every one who
has a liking for fruit culture, almost everybody,)
the American gardener will throw aside his own
notions on fruit culture, and adojjt those new rules
which would be so well applicable to his own cli-
mate, and are so far the exclusive privilege of the
French fruit culturist.

PEAR GROWING AT POTTSVI]t.LE, PA.

BY CHARLES CRUCKNELr..

I sent you on the 8th inst., a box of Pears, in-
tending to write you more fully about the prospects
of fruit growing in this region at the first opportu-
nity. Pears are a safe investment here. The trees
bear regular and uniform crops of clean handsome
fruit without much trouble.

I did not send you the largest fruit, as I take it
for granted that fruit can be grown to any size al-
most, by paying proper attention'to pruning out in
the first stages of growth. This principle is pretty
well understood now-a-days by cultivators. The
White Doyenne seems to thrive well here; the spe-
cimens sent, were grown on quince about five years
planted. Howell is a beautiful Pear, the tree

tKc^.

healthy and thrifty, an early and regular bearer,
and the fruit being of uniform size throughout.
The Seckels are small, owing to the tree being al-
lowed to overbear Buflfum is very fine. The tree
is well adapted for small gardens, having a compact
and upright habit of growth. The Bartletts were
very fine ; four of the largest weighed twenty-five
and one-half (25j) ounces. I did not send you any
of this variety, as 1 know you raise some very fine
specimens in your vicinity. My largest Bartletts
last year weighed six ounces, this year six and a
half. The trees have been planted four or five
years, and are on Pear stock. Beurre GrifFard is a
very handsome and distinct fruit, but rots at the
core if not pulled from the tree early; ripens early
in August. Botiezer, Ott's seedling and Bousel-
lett Stuttgartd all bore full crops, and the indi-
vidual fruit was larger than I have seen it else-
where. The best specimens of the Ott were larger
than the Seckels sentj^ou. Duchesse d'Angouleme
on Pear stock is very fine, and has a full crop of
fruit. There must be something radically wrong
in the system of cultivation, or in the trees them-
selves when out of several thousands of Duohesse
trees growing on your correspondent's grounds, none
of them ever bear a full crop of fruits ; with me it
has ever been one of the most regular bearers, pay-
ing well for the ground it occupies, more so, than
any other Pear tree. I have never minutely exam-
ined the blossoms, but I think it possible to show
without the aid of microscope, or powerful lenses
that the blossoms of this variety are perfect in all
their parts. Be that as it may, the subject is well
worth inquiring into. Beurre Boussock, B. Clair-
geau, B. d'Anjou, B. Superfine, B. Diel. Catillac
Pound, (xlout Morceau and Belle Lucrative are all
full of fruit ; the last named, I sent you specimens
of, taken from a standard tree ; the branches of
which are literally lined with fruit. Beurre d'-
Amanlis ; the fruit is coarse grained, and rots at
the core so badly, as to make it difiicult to obtain
a sound specimen.

Of Plums, the only tree I see with a full crop of
fruit is the Lombard. Grapes seein to do well
here. No mildew, and very little rot. Our first
Concord ripened second of September. The Diana,
Delaware, and Clinton will be ripe in a few days.

STRAWBERRIES.

BY W. R. PRINCE, FLUSHING, N. Y.
Special Varieties for the Amateur and the Family
Garden^ many of which are suitable also for Field
Culture as Market Varieties.

— As a rule the Pine and Chili varieties must
be grown in hills or in rows.

Admiral Dundas, (Chili) IT, largest of all, coni-
cal or compressed, bright scarlet, small crop, a re-
markable beny.

Ariadne, H, large, rounded, dark scarlet, fine
flavor, productive.

Bersitta, H, very large rounded, bright scarlet,
good flavor, very vigorous, must be grown in hills.

Beatrice, H, large, obovate, deep scarlet, sweet,
juicy, high flavor, vigorous.

Bonte de St. Julien, (Pine) H, medium, round,
crimson, sweet, juicy, rich flavor, plant hardy, very
productive, suitable for field culture.

Delices du Palais, (Pine) H, round, glossy crim-
son, sweet, highly perfumed, delicious.

Buke of Cambridge, (Pine) H, large conical,
bright scarlet, splendid, flodh rosy white, sweet,
high flavor.

Duchesse de Beaumont, fPine) H, large, glossy
red, flesh rosy, sweet, perfumed.

Durand's Seedling, H, claims to possess valua-
ble qualities.

Emily {Huntsman's,) P, a hybrid variety, large,
conical, compressed, sweet, juicy, high flavor,
beautiful.

Etnily [Myatt,) (Hybrid Chili) H, monstrous,
deep rosy ; flesh white, sweet, excellent flavor, esti-
mable.

Emma, (Pine) H, large, obovate, crimson, splen-
did ; flesh rosy tinge, delicate, sweet, perfumed ;
hardy, vigorous.

Empress Eugenie, (Pine) H, monstrous, deep
red, ovate or coxcomb ; flesh red, very sweet, ex-
quisitely perfumed.

Eureka, (Hybrid) P, large, conical, hght scarlet,
beautiful, sweet, juicy, highest flavor, firm, produc-
tive.

Filbert Pine, H, large, oblong cone, scarlet ; flesh
white, firm, exquisite, the climax in flavor, never
siirpassed.

Fontenelle, P, very large, rounded, light scarlet,
jui^y, fine flavor, productive.

Frogmore Late Pine, H, monstrous, largest of
Pines, often coxcomb, brilliant crimson, very beau-
tiful, sweet, extra juicy, superior flavor, per-
fumed; remarkable for size of foliage, flowers
and fruit.

Golden Queen, (Pine) H, allied to Victoria, good
flavor, and moderate bearer.

Great Eastern, large, conical, firm, good flavor,
vigorous, for hill culture only.

IJovey's Pine, H, very large, long cone, deep scar-
let, fine flavor.

r(3\^

■m

302

ihs (Sardfiifr's JRonthlg.

Jung Bahadoor, (Pine) H, largo, obovate, crim-
son ; flesh ros}-, sweet, delicious, vigorous, hanlj',
much superior to Jucunda in flavor.

La Constnnte, (Pine) H, latgc, conical, bright
crimson ; flesh rosy, sweet, exquisite ; small crop,
burns considerably. It is suited only to the ama-
teur.

Ladies' Pinr^ P, small, round, pale scarlet, very
sweet, exqui.site ; plant very hardy, moderate crop.

Ladies Favorite, H, seedling from the preced-
ing, light scarlet, double the size of parent, white
flosh, most exquisite flavor ; vigorous and hardy,
productive.

Ladies' Aromatic, P, same parentage as the pre-
ceding, and of .<!ame exquisite sweetness and flavor,
double the size of parent ; plant vigorous, hardy,
productive. These two last are the greatest acqu.-^i-
tions to the amateur.

Tja Sidtaiie, (Pine) H, large, comical, brilliant
scarlet, fle.>^h white, firm, sweet, highly perfumed.

Jjarge Climax, P, comical, bright scarlet, splen-
did, sweet, excellent flavor, vigorous, productive.

Lennig's White or White Pine-apple, (Pine) II,
very large, round, white with pink tinge; fle-h
white, buttery, high flavor ; plant vigorous, and
very hardy, must be grown in hills. The best of
the whites.

Luciiida pei'/erta, Y*, meyi'inm, rounded, scarlet;
flesh white, juicy, good flavor; vigorous.

Lucas, (Pine) 11, raon,strous, obtu.se cone, bright
crimson, flesh rosy white, sweet, juicy, very rich,
delicious fl.ivor, vigorous.

^fargua•ite, (Pine) H, verj* large, oblong, glos.sy
re 1 ; flesh orange, sweet, delicious flavor.

AfetcaJ/s Early Seedling, a Michigan variety,
rather early, large, regular form, bright red, acidu-
late, pleasant flavor^ vigorous.

Mend's Seedling, (Pine) P, large, irregular cone,
light scarlet, sweet, high flavor; vigorous, moder-
ate crop.

Napoleon II J, (Chili) H, monstrous, most splen-
did appearance, blight, rosy; fle.^^h white, sweet,
very high flavor, a remarkable variety ; foliage deep
glos-siy green ; plant very vigorous. An ignoramus
has confused this with the Austin, whereas no two
varieties are more distinct.

Ophelia, II, large, rounded, depressed, .sweet,
pleasant flavor, firm, a seedling from scarlet mag-
nate, .suitaVjle for market.

Perry's Seedling, H, claimed to possess valuable
qualities by the grower.

Ripaxcam, claimed to po.e.se8S valuable properties,
requires to be further tested. Prof Huntsman,

who is referred to for evidence, saj'she has no knowl-
edge of it.

Rosina, H, large, round, light .scarlet, sweet,
juicy, excellent, valuable for market.

Scarlet Prize, P, very large, rounded, oblate,
bright scarlet, firm, sweet, fine flavor ; plant vigor-
ous, very hardy, productive, bears long carriage,
estimable for market.

Scarlet Excehior, P, very large, deep scarlet,
.sweet, high flavored, vigorous, very productive.

Scarlet Rock, (Pine) H, large, round, very sweet,
delicious ; plant vigorous, very liardy in winter,
never burns.

Sir Charles Napier, (Pine) II, large, regular
cone, vermilion ; flesh white, sweet, juicy excel-
lent.

Siipremn. P, early, large, obtuse cone, light .scar-
let, sprightly flavor; vigorous, very productive,
suitable for market.

Terpsicore, TI. early, large, conical, bright scarlet,
beautiful, firm, sweet, good flavor; vigorous suit-
able for market.

Valencia, p, early, large, conical, deep scarlet,
excellent flavor, vigorous, productive.

PROMISCUOUS VARIETIES FOR AMATEURS.

Hnnthois, the finest varieties are Belle Bordelaise,
Bijou de Praises, Monstrous Hautbois, and Royal
Ilautbois, and these are distinguished by a high
musk flavor for which they are greatly esteemed by
European amateurs, but are scarcely known in any
American collections.

European Wood Strawherries, there are four
varieties: common red and white Montreuil crim-
son, and the green Pine-app'e, which latter has
a delicious mu?ky aromatic flavor, distinct from all
others.

Alpine Monthly, there are eight varieties of red
and white with runners, and the red and white
bu.sh varieties.

Ornamental Varieties, comprising the double
flowering, very interesting and yet rare ; and the
Ttiilica or Y(>lIow Flowered, with bright crimson
berries not edible.

NEW VARIETIES RECENTLY INTRODUCED FROM
BELGIUM, FRANCE AND ENGLAND.

Bijou, Pine, Leonce de Lambertye,
Blanched' Orleans Alpine, Pine,

Boule d'or Pine, La Grange, Alpine,

Carniola Magna, Pine, Modele, Pine,

Chili Orange, Premier, Pine,

Doctor Nicaijse, Pine, Ro.sy White, Chili,

Double Flowering, Roj'al Hautbois,

Elton Improved, Chili, Sabreur, Pine,

i 1

C|^ Carkneu Slon

Gweniver, Pine,

(xlobe, Pine,

Hero, Pine,

Hative Fontenay,

Janus or Twin, Alpine,

Jouna, Chili,

La Robuste, Pine,

La Ptustique, Pine,

Savorcuse, Pine,
Sir Joseph Paxton, Pine,
Souvenir de Kieff, Pine,
Tiioniphe de Hollande,

Alpine,
Vineuse de Champagne,
Vineuse de Nantes, Pine,
Virginie, Pine,

THE MODES AND TIME OF PRUNING.

BY CHRONICLER.

We were first learned to cut oif branches close to
the stems ; pare the wounds smooth, and coat them
over with coal-tar, grafting-wax, horse-droppings
mixed with clay, and cattle manure, and mould
mixed ; the close cutting was to prevent young
shoots growing up behind the cuts, and the coating
■was to heal up the wounds sooner, all of which is
true. But we never could prevent a portion of the
wood drying up at the wounds ; that dead part was
in the stems, and lessened their vitality. There is
a deal of nicity in that mode ; and it is an amuse-
ment to amateurs and gardeners who operate upon
a small scale ; but the question arises, will it count
well in the rule o^ profit and /oss upon a large scale ?
Nurserymen do not practice it with their thousands
of trees; gardeners do not practice it upon small
fruits, shrubbery and hedges ; and why it must be
practiced upon trees we canuot tell.

The other mode, is to leave butts as long as they
are broad ; and the wounds left bare ; the waxed
dries up that much, but no more ; and it is all in
the butts ; the vitality of the stems remain unim-
paired ; within the past fifteen years, this mode was
largely exhibited and lectured upon in the Academy
of Science in Paris ; a very scientific American gen-
tlemen attended those exhibitions and lectures;
and when he came home, he tried it upon the fruit
trees in his own garden in Philadelphia: we saw
the operations and watched their results, which
were highly satisfactory ; and we became a convert
to the mode, and have practiced it upon an exten-
sive scale for twelve years back with perfect success.
One man can do as much pruning in this, as three
men could in the old modu. We are told that, if
''''stumps are left^ they communicate their own decay
to the hearts of the trees, and Oaks and Elms ivith
centuries of vitality, are laid 2>i'ostrate in a few
years," if that is so, dead boughs will do the same ;
nature does all her own pruning in the forests of
America by dead boughs, yet none of the trees die,
when some of their boughs die | they all grow lar-
ger and stronger by that. Hedges are sometimes

cut off" near to the ground, and their wounds left
uncoated, and they grow up more bushy than be-
fore ; that is, if the soil is good and weeds are kept
away from the roots; many of the forest trees are
cut off near to the ground, and the butt put- out
new shoots, which grow rapidly, and soon cover the
old stu'.nps entirely. Root pruners do not cut off
close to the stems, but a distance from them ; and
at times leave the wounds bare for months, yet
they do not kill the trees. Mr. Rivers, the leading
orchard-house man of London, says in pruning fruit
trees growing in flower pots, "cut immediately
under a bud, and the vitality of the next bud left,
will remain unimpaired, and it will be the strong-
est," so he appears to fivor this latter mode, that
the wood at the wounds dry up only as much as the
diameter of the shoot or bough cut off. Now for
the time to prune ; if boughs are cut off in late Au-
tumn and early winter, the wood at the wounds
drys up before vegetation begins in Spriug, and the
sap cannot get out; but goes to give greater vitality
to other parts of the trees, and the sap that would
have matured the wood in those boughs through
the winter went into other parts. If boughs are
cut off in late winter and early spring, the sap runs
out profusely and weakens the trees by the loss
thereof; but twigs and the ends of boughs may be
cut off any time ; and also, suckers at the roots ;
so pruning may beperformed at all times ; but there
is a great difference as to what should be cut
at different times ; the old metaphorical phrase :
" The best time to prune, is when the tools are
sharp," means that the sharp tools make clean cuts
which soon heal up ; but nobody would prune off
large boughs of Apple trees while the fruit is ripen-
ing upon them. It may be well to coat all wounds
with coal-tar from gas icoi-ks ; but it would be too
expensive to apjily it to shrubbery, nursery stock
and clipped Hedges.

[This is an interesting question, and has been
much discussed. Like many disputed questions,
there is much truth In all sides of the argument,
and in such cases which side to follow depends on
circumstances. In young vigorous growing trees,
wounds soon heal over, and no decay follows, but
large wounds from pruning in mature trees un-
doubtedly encourages decay. — Ed.]

®T

304

8^^ fiiardfiitr's Jtlonthln.

Cf)c ^ai'hner's Montliln.

PHILADELPHIA, OCTOBER, 1866.

53" All Coiumuuicatious for Ihe Editor Mhuuld be aJdressud.
"Thomas Mkeha.v, Gorraantown, riu!adelphi;i,'"and Busiuess Let-
ters directed to "TV. G. P. Brisckloe, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Subscription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes l.$l; 2, .3, 4, 5, 6,and 7, unbound, $2 each.

UNFRUITFUL FLOWERING FRUIT TREES.

A very observing correspondent, Dr. J. S.
Houghton, recently sent us a paper on the unfruit-
fulness of blossoming Pear trees, which has atti act-
ed wide spread attention. The subject has since
been discussed in intelligent pnniological circles,
and in the public-prints, but with no satisfactory
conclusion. Numerous theories, many of them
very plausible, have been started ; but objections,
quite as plausible, have been urged against them.

Why should a Pear tr. e, in perfect health, often-
produce thousands of perfect flowers, so far as we
can see, without perhaps one fruit resulting, and yet
with no external circumstances that we can under-
stand opei-ating to the injurj' of the blossom ?

Some cases are no doubt the result of weakness
from external causes. In a newly trans-planted
tree for instance, which may open a largo number
of blossom buds, very few will "set," as the first
swelling of the fertilized fruit is techincally termed.
But this is owing to the .sheer inability of the mu-
tilated roots to furnish moisture enough for so many
channels, and is not at all within the case we are
contemplating.

One thing however seems to be well ascertained,
which is that moderately vigorous trees set more
flower buds proportionately than extra strong grow-
ing trees of the same variety. It is well known that
extra vigor is oppo.sed to the "prcduction of fniit
hufls. This is a propo.sition it was one of the first
missions or the Gardner s Monthly to bring pro-
minently before American Horticulturists, and it is
now universally received as philosojjhy, and practi-
cally actttd on ; but it has not hitherto been recog-
nized, that the great vigor which obstructs the flower
producing power, may also take awa}' the power of
setting, after the flower is formed.

We may also here remind our readers how earn-
estly we h:ivc combattcd the '' high cultural " no-
tions we found to prevail at the commencement of
our Editorial career, — taking the ground that trees

:B)

of a moderate growth bore more certain and regu-
lar crops, and were healthier than others, — and tliat
therefore orchards under certain conditions in grass
were to be preferred to those which, for the puri)Ose
of highly feeding the trees, are kept in root or other
crops.

We have little doubt that this extra vigor of
growth will be found to be one great cause of the
unfruitful blossoms referred to.

One correspondent in this month's number shows
how root pruning effectually rendered a Swan's-egg
Pear fruitful. It might seem that this note is
hardly to the point, presented by Dr. Houghton,
unless it were shown that the tree previously
Jioicered well, and yet did not bear ; but as nearly
every instance of methodical and systematic root
pruning has shown that trees are always and uni-
formly as fruitful as can be desired, it does seem to
an.swer the case pretty well.

Wherever root pruning is practiced regularly
trees always bear.

One English fruitgrower, whose "bread and but-
ter" depends on his success with his fruit trees,
practices root pruning to an extent that will sur-
prise our cultivators who value small

" Trophies won with ease "

to immense victories that take a little labor to
win. We refer to George Lee of Cliveden.

He has two thousand trees of Apples, Pears,
Cherries and Plum.s, which he lifts and removes
every year — root pruning enough in all conscience.
He has done this for many years, — and he contin-
ues to do it because he finds it pays him hand.><ome-
ly in a profusion of magnificent fruit. He commen-
ces with one or two year old trees. The first time
or two of removal, he says they have their growth
checked, but subsequent removals do not seem to
put them back any. In a recent paper read before
the lloyal Horticultural Society, and which is print-
ed in the last April number of their transactions, he
gives a detailed list of many varieties that have
been under this treatment from 10 to 15 years, with
their heights, "spread" and diameter of their
trunks. Of Pears we notice — Doyenne d'Ete, lU
years planted, nineteen feet high, and with a stem
eighteen inches in circumference, Beurre Diel,
Boussock, Urbaniste, and many other well known
kinds, exhibit about the same proportions — Apples
about 12 years planted are about 12 to 13 feet high,
with a " spread " of G to 7 feet, and stems about IG
inches in circumference, Sturnier Pippin, Keswick
Codlin, Gravenstien, and other ]»opular varieties
are the kinds he grows. The fruit trees he des-
cribes are all on what we call standard stocks.

though the trees are grown as Pyramids — but he
says the dwarf trees do just as well, except Cher-
ries grafted on Mahaleb stocks, which he finds
generally are slow to acoei>t the circumstances
that the others do, and suffer accordingly. Though
with the same treatment for dwarf aiid standards
he finds that dwarfs bear earlier, and by so much,
hasten the profits of the fruit garden.

So long back as 1852, the writer of this exposed
the absurdity of moving large trees with "large
balls," by which half of the active roots had to
be left in the soil, instead of getting all the roots
and leaving the soil ; one of which courses has to
be done. ("Hand Book of Ornamental Trees.")
And we have repeatedly referred to the large
trees successfully and frequently removed in this
way during the last few yeai'sin the vicinity of Ger-
uiantown. For a tree 25 or 30 feet high, the way
is to dig a circle about 18 inches wide around and
about 10 or 12 feet from the stem of the tree.
Then dig down and throw the soil out at least 2 feet
deep with a spade ; a digging fork only is after-
wards used, and the tree undermined, and the
soil all carefully taken out from among the roots by
gently shaking them with the f rk, and thus letting
the earth fall into the undermine. We find that
Mr. Lee adopts precisely the same plan in his re-
movals. He indulges in a pleasant ridicule of tho.-:e
who look for " tons of dirt" with the roots, and
shows that by the fork and no soil and all the roots
plan, he has successfully removed large Pear trees,
that had never before been removed, that were
ticdnty-fire years oJtl, and tliree feet in dreiimference.

He gives credit to Mr. lliversfor being the first
in England to recommend ihe annual removal of
dwarf trees, but he remaiks that Mr. Ptiveis' sys-
tem is one intended mainly, for amusement, while
he has developed it into one for abundant profit.

Is it not curious to inai-k how the world progres-
ses? The wise man who fifty years ago,

" Never saw a tree, or an oft removed family,
Tnat ever did so well as those that settled be,"

would open his eyes with wonder now, to learn that
the oft removed tree was the best.

But they did not know in those days, that it was
only the end of fibres that draw up nourishment
to the plant, — did not know that by cutting back a
little, one root with one point was made to throw
out perhaps 50 roots with 50 points, multiplying
fifty fold the acquisitive powers of the tree, — did
not know, that it was

" Better rub than rust,"

whether in trees or families ; and that to stay rust-
ing in one hole, eating out all that was to be eaten,

except the little that might by chance be given to it
in the shape of a niggardly top-dressing ; better rub
a little the roots in getting it to a new soil — did not
know the enormously destructive power of fungi to
injure healthy roots ; that dead and dying roots
breed fungi ; that the spores of fungi once produced,
enter the sap of trees, ascend to the leaves and de-
velop into other forms that breed blights, spots,
cracks and blisters innumerable; and without end —
did not know, in short, a tithe of what we now
know. Bui they had one good point — they prac-
ticed pretty much what they did know while we
read and forget. There is little in what we have
given, that has not been known, and from time to
time recorded in our journal — but presented in an-
other shape we hope to enlist our fruit growers
attention to the subject now — not only as affording
a probable solution of the question, why flowering
Pear trees prove unfruitful, but as opening up
hints for a very profitable system of fruit culture.

COLD GRAPERIES.

All of our readers who have followed for a num-
ber ol years the monthly reports of the Pennsylva-
nia Horticultural Society, will remember that Grapes
have often been exhib ted there in bunches of nine
pounds each, — and on one occasion over nine pounds.

These Black Hamburg Grapes came from the
graperies of David S. Brown, Esq., at Morgan's
Corner, a small station on the Pennsylvania Central
Railroad.

While passing through the Grape houses of this
gentleman recently, admiring the amazing health
and productiveness of these vines ; the extraordi-
nary size and color of berry, and the weight and
beauty of the bunches ; and yet the care and sim-
plicity with which for nearly a quarter of a century
all this has been annually accomplished we could
not help feeling a silent sorrow, that so few should
know how cheaply and how easily they might en-
joy one of the greatest and most refined luxuries of
modern times.

If any of our friends want to see how we look
when we are angry, let them walk into our "sanc-
tum" when some unf >rtunate citizen, who has sud-
denly grown rich, and wants to " do something,"
is bothering us for advice how to make an rerated,
divided, and double distilled Grape border,— where
he can get cheapest and best bones, hair, lime and
plaster, — carcases of hogs, horses, swine and asses,
— ?he concentrated essence of a score of fertilizers,—
and the great genius of the book-making fraterni-
ty only knows what. Where the best hot water
boilers for cold graperies can be had, — in reality,

506

SDlje OSardnitr's ^lonthb.

how he can expend the greatest amount of money

on *hc TH'-^lo-t propo'i'i^nnto crop of Grnp':^:'. We
pee expensive houses every where; and generally
the richer the man, and the more care bestowed on
the Grape houses and Grape borders, the more ii -
different is the crop. If this injured no one but
those who luid such places, it would not matter
much ; but hundreds are deterred from having vi-
neries, simply because they have seen so much spent
for so little, and fear their success will be no better
than their neighbors' .

The vineries of Mr. Brown meet our ideas of
what cold graperies should be, and which we have
often recommended in our magazine.

We would select a spot with an eastern ex])osure
in preference to an.v other; make no in.^ide border.
but proceed at once to build the hou.se — a front wall
of stone or brick, two or three feet high, run along
to the length the houises is desired; near the top of
the wall make holes about four inches diameter
by building in round pieces of wood to be drawn out
before the mortar dries. These holes may be about
eight or ten feet apart, and are for the introduction
of the stems of the Grape vines; the roots being
entirely outside in the border — a lean-to house be-
ing preferred, a back wall may be of wood, stone
or brick, whichever may be preferred. It is, how-
ever, poor policy to build the house of too perisha-
ble materials. Flimsy houses are not cheap hou.-^es,
they are dear enough in the long run. The height
of the back wall will be according to the width of
the house, high enough for the glas.s to be of a
slope sufficient to carry down the moisture well
without dripping, — for a cold vinery, the flatter the
better.

The border should be formed on the sniface of
the old sail, or at most, not more than a foot of the
old [soil need be taken out. By filfing up to the
holes in the wall, and a few inches higher, a deep
sloping border is foruicd, that will be always dry
and warm.

To make this border, we would get about one-
fourth of rotten stable manure, cow dung preferred ;
one-fourth of coarse sharp road sand ; two-fourths
of turfy sod from a pasture all mixed u]) together.

Mr. Brown's vines are very much after this sys-
tem. There is no particular art or system followed
in their pruning. They seem to defy the power of
any ignoramus to " si)oil" them by any course of
treatment. The old canes, nearly as thick as one's
wrist, are annually cut in to the " invisible ej'c,"
and when they grow out, they seem to go out any
way as they will without much pinching-in, or stop-

ping back of shoots. Yet nothing could be heal-
thier or Iog!; better.

As to varieties, he who wants good Grapes and
plenty of them, need try only with Black Hambnrji
Frontignacs, Muscats and Chasselas, and such Avell
known things. Except for some special and par-
ticular jiurposes, f )reign to the general view, we
are now taking of the suViject, there is nr thing ab-
solutely essential in any of tlie newer varieties to
make them particularly desirable to the novice.

OUR POLITICAL PLATFORM.

In those days of political exciten)ent, when even
our hearths and pulpits north and .H)Uth arc occu-
pied by politir-s, it may be expected that even a
Horticultural journal .should give its views on the
" situation."'

In the first place wo advocate univer.sal suffrage.
Every man oi' every race, with principles as nu-
mer. us as the .sands of the sea, — when in the pos-
.session of two dollars per annum, has the undoubted
right to vote for the Gardaiers Monthly. This is
our platform, and having once taken our position,
there is not power enough in the United States to
drive us from it.

" Man in his garden, or in those jiaths which lead
to his garden." This is our theme.

It does seem as ii Horticulture is the 0)ily basis
on which in these days all the uorhl can stand as
a band of brothers, without any of its subjects lead-
ing to estrangements or outbreaks. Even agricul-
ture is less favored, as intimately eomiected with
the "labor question;" the pro])er "'policy" mu.st
be diseu.s.'ied.

To carry out the jiolitieal simile with which we
started, — our campaign terminates on the Jst oi'
January, when our sub.>5cribcrs must vote foi- their
new volume. We submit that our purely Jlorli-
(■n//'n<r/ claims is a n)crit in these days which we
thiidv entitles our friends to work a little to extend
our circulation and si)here of usefulness.

mxm.

53=f'i>iiiiniiniciiti<>ns for this dppartmeut must reach the Editor
3n or Ijeforo the 10th of the month.

Jt:j=*The Editor cannot answer letters for this department pri-
vately.

The Lily Tribe— J. D. K., Waxhmgton, D.
C.. send us the following interesting i.otes: — " Your
August number gives a few hints? about Lilies. The
books and catalogues, Rand, Breck, Hovey, Vick,

Bu hardener's dtlonfjilj.

307

Thorburn, &c. , do not afford a clear idea of this
beautiful class of garden plants. Can you give a
general view, pay next month ? I have L. lanci-
folium in variety. They grow like weeds, and
bloom like glory. Ought they to be transplanted
freqneiitli/? Are the ' uionstrosum' vaiieties of
special value ? L. candidum is as good as it is com-
mon. Its varieties, maculatum, and the double,
are good only for variety. L. Auratum — the gov-
ernment gardeners are waiting for it to cheapen,
and private persons may do the same. How many
blooms, has it, and how large ? L. Brownii I plant-
ed out-doors, but it did not come up. Is it tender?
L. superbum (our finest native) seems to be offered
by the dealers in imported bulbs. I have pur-
chased three or four times, and all have failed, the
root fibres being evidently dead. L. Canadense,
Philadelphicum, and Catesbaci (natives) cannot be
had even dead. L. longiflorum is beautiful, and ought
to be as common as candidum. But L. eximium,
Japonicum, suaveolens, and takescima, &c. , all
come up as L. longiflorum. L. excel sum (or tez-
ta-cum) is distinct and good. Tigrinum, a fine old
kind. Aurantiacum, Groom's hybrid, bulbiferum,
colchieum, as they came vp, differed very slightly:
some confusion. Such new kinds as 'Lin-Kia,'
' Fen-kwam' 'Ki-Ka,' &c. ! what can you say of
them ?

" L- giganteum ; I planted a young bulb out-doors
a few years since. It came up, making two leaves,
but did not appear the next year. It may have
died in the heat of Summer, or starting too earlj'
in the Fall, been nipped by frost. It is worth an-
other trial. What is its botanical place and char-
acters.

"I tried Mr. Band's plan of keeping gladiolus
rootlets two years, and then planting, — no success.
But I observe that whei-e my blooming bulbs stood
last year, there are now several young ones grow-
ing, as if they had taken care of themselves last
winter. Will try this the coming winter.

" Would not a short article on lilies, with no
facts that are not personally known to the writer,
be acceptable to your unprofessional readers?"

[The Lily subject is an extensive and complicated
one, — and it is so diflScult to tell what is a variety,
what a species, and what a synonj'm, that it would
be quite a task to straighten out the subject pro-
perly. In the mean time we publish our corres-
jjondent's notes entire, as they are themselves a
valuable contribution to Lily history.]

Sowing Tree Seeds. —i?., Joliet, Illinois. — It is
best to sow all kinds of seed in the fall if they can

be liad time enoueh for it ; but it requires care. If
sown too deep, the germs will rot betore they come
to the surface in Spring, — and if sown too near the
surface, the freezings and thawings through win-
ter, or exposure to light, or some other cause not
well understood, often destroys the germs. Seed
beds to be safe, ought to be covered a little where
it can be done.

Quince Cuttings.— i2. J. S., Rochester, New
York. — These generally fail when put in the Spring ;
while they rarely fail set in the fall, — and the
earlier in the fall the better. Throw .some thick
coarse litter over them to keep them from being
thrown out by thawings in winter.

Insect on the Cherry. — Specimens sent us
from Bunker Hill, appearing to be new, we sent
them to Mr. Stauffer, and annex his kind reply:

" Yours, enclosing a Grub, taken from the small
branch of the 'Empress Eugenie Cherry' by your
correspondent Mr. J. Hetzel, of Bunker Hill, Illi-
nois, which he states appear to have gone in
where the limbs are cut off, and that they ' saw a
limb as square off, as though cut bj' a saw and
when it is I of an inch through," &c.

" The Grub, I find, is in all respects like those of
clyfus, a longicom Beetle, but they also resemble
the laiTa of the genus, 'saperda,' one of which
is the apple tree borer, so much, that in their larva
state it is rather diflScult to distinguish them.

"They usually lay their eggs in September,
which are soon hatched, and the grubs immediately
burrow into the bark, and through the Spring and
Summer, make channels through the sap wood,
more or less deeply into the trunk; small branches,
are so weakened as to drop off, as if cut by a saw,
the heart wood being all cut away ; there is nothing
but the bark left. The seat of their operation is
known by the oozing of the sap, and the dropping
of the saw dnf.t from the holes. A pointed wire
introduced will, by puncturing the grub, destroy
it. But the beetles should be destroyed before
they deposit their eggs. White-washing and cov-
ering the chinks, &c., with grafting composition,
may prevent the females from depositing her eggs
upon them.

"Our insect-eating birds should be protected, as
they undoubtedly devour many of these insects.
The families ot beetles, such as are known to be
wood-eaters or borers in their larva state, and at-
tack our forest, ornamental and fruit trees, have a
close resemblance to each other. Mostly of a yel-
lowish white color, the head brownish, small, and

>(JAt

,^a>^

-MC^

'&)«

303

K|)e ^arhncr's E^o^^HjIS*

sunk in the first segment ; the antennae are very
short. The segment which receives the head, is
short and transverse ; next to it is a large oval seg-
ment, broader than long, and depressed or flattened
(inmost of them.) above and beneath. Behind
this, the segments are very much narrowed, and
becoming gradually longer; but are still flattened
to the last, which is terminated by a rounded tu-
bercle or wart. There are no legs, or if any, very
minute; in some a few small warts on the underside
of the second segment from the thorax.
Te, " The wood-peckers are quite successful in dis"
covering the retreats of these borers, and harpoon
the naked bodied culprits, and drag them from their
burrows with more ^kill than the gardener or the
nurseryman.

"I would advise Mr. Hetzel to have an e3'e on
the escape of some of the perfect Beetles, during
the month of Septembtr, and send you a specimen ;
their shape and character will determine whether
it is a clytiis, a saperda, or of the Rupestorian fami-
ly. 1 suppose it to belong to the genus ch/fiis, and
I would like to be certain of it, as that genus has
heretofore not been found on the Cherry tree that
I know of"

Grape from Lewistown, Pa. — Remarkably
fine bunches of what we suppo.se to be Brinckle, or
some very nearly allied Grape of the vinifera !>«ec-
tion, grown in the open air. They weighed over
one pound each, and were splendid specimens in
size, beauty, and quality. We have no letter, giv-
ing any account of who sent them.

TiRfilLIA I.ITEA. — //., Cinchmnti. Ohio, calls
our attention to an arti(;le in the Prairit Fdrnicr
on this subject, which we have overlooked. He
says the article he lefers to corrects Michaux for .say-
ing the flowers are a yellow, when they are white ;
and our correspondent wonders whether Michaux
could possibly be so mistaken, and wonders whether
there may not perhaps be two kinds, and the other
one be worth looking for.

The Prairie Fdrmtr is mistaken as to the origin
of the name luteo. which is derived from the yellow
uoofl, and not that the flowers were to be yellow.

The proper name of the tree is Cladrdstnstincto-
rift, and notVirgilia — as it was subsequently to
Michaux's descrii)tion found not to be a Virgilia.

Sometimes it is impolitic to change even a bad
name when once established, — but in this case the
genera are so different, that Rufinesque's name of
Cladrastiis should be adopted by all.

Roots riRiFYiNG water.— /i. C, Brooldyn,
Xcw York, writes " We had a small pond in our
garden, which was ofi'ensive through there not
being enough water running to keep it from stag-
nating. It was greeij and slimy, and quite nasty.

Within the last few j'cars, some roots from a
neighboring weeping willow have got in large quan-
tities to the pond, and the water since is always
clear and pure. Is it generally known that the roots
of trees have this effect on stale water?" [We think
not.]

Greeley Prize for Grapes. — The committee
ajipointed to award the $100 offered by the Hon.
Horace Greeley, President of the American Insti-
tute for the best Grape for general cultivation in
the Northern and Middle States, have decided to
hold an P^xhibition for that purpose on Tuesday
2d October, 18G0, at the rooms of the American
Institute in the Cooper Building of 8th street and
4th Avenue, in the city of New York.

Exhibitors must pre ent 12 bunches of each va-
riety, to entitle tlieni to compete fur the prize.
Grapes for competition should be forwarded to John
\y. Chambers, Secretary Horticultural Associa-
tion, on Monday, October 1st, who will see that
they are properly displayed.

Grape growers are cordially invited to compete
for this j)remium.

The committee will use every effort to make this
exhibition an attractive feature.

It is expected that many of the leading Horti-
culturists of the country will be i»resent.

P. T. QuiNN, Secry. J. A. Wakder, Ch' a.

[We cheerfully give place to the above, — hut it
will be difficult to decide by ttamfdes on a table, the
best Grapes {'av general adtivation. Very often the
best eating, and most handsome looking fruit, are
totally unfit for geneial cultivation, as the experi-
ence of the past ten years has proved.]

Osage Okant.e hedges in ViK(iiNiA. — Mr. 0.
Taylor.^ of Lincoln^ says : — "1 am much pleased with
the Osage Orange hedge, and with an experiment!
made a week ago with trimming, as it goes to prove
the cost of keeping it in repair one year. I think
one trimming a year is all that is needed after the
hedge is large enough to u.se as a fence, and that
trimming should be done some time between the 15th
of July and the 15th of August.

"I trimmed mine the past three years so, and I
found it all that is needed, and a more complete
hedge I don't desire. The amount uinimed per day,
is about I to 2' mile per day, with a good hand.

T

di)

®hf[ (Sariiater'B ^onthlg.

309

and a slasher made of an old sword, I find it easy
work."

Eggs op the Pear Slug— Pear Fertilizer.—
J. P. J., Cross Creek. — "lam about to start an
extensive Pear orchard in the vicinity of Norfolk,
Virginia. 1. Will there be any danger of purchasing
trees, that a shiff has eaten oif the leaves in the
fore-part of the Summer. The slug is something
similar to the Rose slug — I wish to take the trees
to a vicinity, that is not affected by the slug. The
trees are doing well at the present time, with no
appearance of slugs." 2. What fertilizers are best
for the Pear trees. "

[ I . If the soil be cleaned away well from the roots,
as it generally is in standard Pears, there will be
little danger of introducing the Pear slug larvre.

2. Very rich road sand is the best fertilizer of
the Pear on heavy soils. Salt is good to apply on
sandy ones. ]

Planting Potatoes in the Fall. — " Ontor,'''
Galeshnrg, Illinois^ a.sks: " Is there any real ad-
vantage in planting Potatoes in the the fall ? What
is the best mode of insuring a crop, and what the
proper time in the fall to plant? How much earher
do potatoes, planted in this way mature, than those
planted at the usual time?"

[Potatoes sometimes get killed by frost, and we
have never known of any one who has made fall
planting a system. If any one has, we should like
to hear about it. J

Canteloupes from R. S,, Baltimore, Maryland,
18 inches in length, and 28 inches in circumference.

These were of first rate quality, and are of a va-
riety, known years ago as the " Mexican," and also
erroneously "Christiana melon." They do not retain
their hold on the community, through varying in
quality in some localities and seasons, — but where
they do well, there is no better variety known.

New Japanese Evergreens.— A correspon-
dent who has recently returned from Paris, writes:

"The most popular and distinct of the new p]ver-
greens I saw near Paris, were Biota falcata, Thuya-
pygrulla, Thujopsis Isetevirens, Abies polita, Arba-
taxus cupreoides, Thujopsis dolabrata, variegata,
Abies firma, Retinospora leptoclada, Sciadopitys
verticillata Libocedrus tetragona, Cryptomeria ele-
gans, Retinospora obtusa.

Names op Plants. — W. B., Philadelphia.
No. 1. A yellow flower, 2 fieet high.

2. A Purple flower, (spiral. )

3. A blue flower.

4. A small white flower.

.5. A white flower like a spirea.
. CEnothera fruticosa.
Spiranthes autumnalis, but not purple.
Gentiana saponaria.

Much broken, apparently Coraandrum umbel-
la tum.
Gnaphalium margaritacea. ]

Names op Grapes. -
Virginia.

1. Cuyahoga.

2. Alvey.

3. Herbemont.

-N. T. II, Fredericksburg,

Names op Pears — C.

2 is Beurre Superfin.

3 Doyenne Boussock. 1 we do not recognize.

Pickling Cucumbers. — A correspondent inquires
the best recipe for these. The following is the
plan generally pursued by the best picklers :

Choose nice young gherkins, lay them upon dish-
es, sprinkle salt over them, let them lie a week, drain
them off, and put them into stone jars ; pour boil-
ing vinegar over them, place them near the fire,
cover them well with vine leaves, and if not a good
green, pour off" the vinegar and boil it again ; cover
them with fresh vine leaves, and continue doing so
until they are a good color, so as to make a better
green, you must not use a metal .stewpan or brass
skillets, which are poisonous.

Use wooden spoons with holes to dish all pickles,
keeping them always well covered and free from air.
Another method of pickling cucumbers, which is
good, is to put them in salt and water, as you pick
them, changing the salt and water once in three or
four days. When you have done collecting your
cucumbers for pickling, take them out of the salt
and water, and turn on scalding h^t vinegar, with
alum, salt and peppercorns in it.

The Botanic(d Magazine for August, contains
figures of the following plants:

Kleinia Fulgens. — A glaucous succulent suffru-
ticose plant, having branched stems, 2 to 3 feet
high, obovate-oblong leaves, and small heads of
vermilion-orange flowers ; it has been introduced
fiom Natal by W. Wilson Saunders, Esq.

Fremontia Calipornica. — A beautiful hard

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Mc)

310

fii/h^ (jiardmicr's ^onthlu.

Californian shrub, formerly introduced by the Hor-
ticultural Society, and los', but now re-introduced
by Messrs. Veitch & Sons. It is a deciduous
shrub, attaining about 40 feet in height, with .>Jonie-
tiuies the aspect of a Fig tree, having lobate cor-
date leaves, but also bearing a profusion of large
tiolden yellow flowers, which render it very orna-
mental. Its affinities are not very clearly settled.
" It was referred," observes Dr. Hooker, "to a
new section of Romba eje (Fremontieic) by its
founder, and correctly placed along with the famous
Hand-plant, Cheirostemon, and the stamens, were
described as five, with two-celled anthers. On the
other hand certain considerations of affinity and
structure induced Mr. Bentham and myself, follow-
ing Dr. Torrey, to regard the apparently two-celled
anthers of this plant and Cheirostemon as consist-
ing of two confluent single colled anthers — whence
we referred both to the order Malvaceae instead of
Sterculiaceai. I must confess, however, that after
examining living specimens of Fremontia, I am in-
clined to refer the FremontijB back toSterculiacere,
jilacing it next to the tribe Sterculiese. " The
golden-colored flowers, two inches and a half
in diameter, consist of the broadly companulate
five-lobed calyx.

Fkrnandesia robusta — A Guatemalan Orchid,
with upright stems, distichous keeled acut^ closely
imbricated leaves, and yellow flowers protruded
sinL'ly from the axils of the upper leaves.

SempervivI'M Paiv.t:, a Canary Island shrubby
succulent plant, with spathulate leaves, and pani-
cles of green flowers. It is dedicated to the Baron
de Castello de Paiva, an unwearied patron of sci-
ence.

S.VNCHEZIA NORTLis. — A beautiful Acanthaceous
jilant introduced from Ecuador by ^le.ssrs. Veitch
k Sons, and flowered by them in June last. It
is an erect plant, with obtusely tetragonous stems,
large oblong-obovate leaves, and an erect terminal
inflorescence, consisting "of numerous opposite
bracteate fascicles of flowers, forming together a
dense j)anicle most brilliantly colored, the branches
deep purple, the bracts quite red, and the corollas
I two inches long and cylindrical, .slichtly curved and
contracted at the mouth. Dr. Hooker obser\'es
that the affinity of this plant with Anq/lor/ipie is so
close and obvious, that there can be little doubt the
name Ancylogyne must be suppressed.

SACroLABir.M APMrLLACECM, an Iir<lian Orchid,
with erect racemes of bright rose-colored flowers,
than which nothing can be more charming.

Larch for Forest-planting, producing timber much
sooner for Railway Sleep-^rs. It is also used for
Spars and Masts in the French navy.

Upto anb PLhpp ^puiho

Golden Seedling Apple. — In 1850 I returned
to Illinois after an absence of one year spent in
Missouri ; going on to a new farm, I set out a new
orchard, most of its trees being obtained in St.
Louis or vicinity. Among the.se was the " Golden
Seedling" so named in the original bill but being
at that time a novice in fruit growing, I did not
know it and called it a spurious "Rhode Island
Greening." It is a decidedly acid fruit, size full as
large as " Willow Twig," a little more depressed,
color green with a dull blush when grown in the
sun, a long keeper, season from last of February to
first of May, but good for culinary purposes by first
of November. About February it turns yellow in-
side and out, and the blush all disappears and no
one need complain that it has no decided flavor,
but any one who likes a tart apple will pronounce
it a good dessert fruit after the first of March. In
my humble opinion it is immeasurably ahcail of the
Willow Twig or Ben Davis in quality. The tree
is perfectly hardy, a spready grower and bears
every year. — Chas. W, Murtfeldt, in Fmirlc
Farmer.

Pints Lauicio. — This fine Pine supersedes the

The Dl'iiring Raspberry. — This variety ori-
ginated on the country seat of Henry Duhring,
Esq., Belmont, near Philadelphia. It is a seed-
ling of the Hornet, and the only one, out of five
hundred seedlings, that endured the ^\''inter. Mr.
D. , finding this i)lant hardy, cultivated it ; and ex-
hibited the fruit for the first time, before the Penn-
sylvania Horticultural Society, July 1862, on which
the Fruit C':>ramittee reported :

" They also notice a very large seedling Rasp-
berry, of good quality, as large as the Hornet;
it appears to be a more abundant bearer."

The plants since then have proved hardy, with-
out any proteclion, on some of the highest and
most exposed localities about Philadelphia, with
the exception of the pa.sfc Winter, (1805-'6r)).
which has been one of unprecedented seventy, the
thermometer on one day falling as low as 15° bolow
Zero, a portion of the plants sustained some injury,
yet not enough to i)revent them producing a moder-
ate crop of fruit. In other and more sheltered
localities, they were uninjured, and produced a
large crop. Unlike its parent the Duhring, pro-

•6-7r;

i^®^

pt^^SVL.

Sjie gardener's (Ploutljlj.

811

The Duhring Kaspberry.

-^5:/^^

312

®^e Ciardfncr's Jtlontjjlg.

pagates freely, and throws up an abundance of
strong canes, and is altogether more robust and
hardy.

Iniit as large as the Hornet, but more round ;
color dark red, very firm; flavor similar, but supe-
rior to its parent. It ripens some five or six days
earlier than the Hornet, the yield i^s abundant,
fully equal to the Philadelphia.

It has not yet we believe been tested outside of
Philadelphia, and it has yet to undergo that wide
spread ordeal we like to see a fruit pa.ss through
before recommending its "general cultivation;"
but we are satisfied that it is superior to the Hor-
net, and as that is every where popular, we think
the Duhring will be a good addition to our Ilasp-
berrv lists.

Starr Applk. — We have the following note
from Mr. John Starr, ^^'oodbary, N. J., July 24,
1866 :

" I take the lilierty to send to you another sam-
ple of the Apple, of which I sent you two or three

specimens two years ago. I was unable to send
more at that time ; but from this lot you will be
able to test its merits in its proper place — the kitch-
en. I claim it to be the best, considering size, ap-
pearance, and general qualifications for culinary
purposes, ripe at this date This lot will average
more than 10 inches in circumference, although the
tree has been heavily loaded, about 1 12 bushels hav-
ing been taken from it. The tree is 12 inches in
diameter near the ground."

Regarding this variety distinct from any we
know ; and esteeming it as the best early Ai)ple we
know of its size and cooking quality, we propose to
call it as above.

It is of the Holland Pippin type, about 31 inches
wide, by 2;5 deep, flattish on the top, with a basin
of medium width and depth, calyx medium
sized and closed. Stem slender, about an inch long,
rather deeply .set. Skin greenish white, and plea-
sant sub-acid flesh, fit for use middle of July, and
will keep good till 1st of September.

The Starr Applk.

HiWAS.SKF, Grape. — This grape does not belong
to the Aestivalis family, but as its character is so
unique, we give a description of it. The vine was
found growing wild on the bank of the Hiwas.see
river, in Towns county, Ga., a few years since. It
is, beyond all doubt, a cro.«s between the wild fox
grape and the cordifbliaor fro.st grape. It is an
enormous bearer; the clusters large and compact;
the berrj' medium to large, round and black ; juice
purple ; flavor acid, and a good deal of the poke

berry about it, with an aroma of " (h African
scent." The vine is beyond control — the leaves
heart-.shaped and smooth on both suj-faces. It is
eatab;e after frost has mellowed it.— J. A^anBuren,
in Southern Cultivator.

KlTTATfNNY Blackrerry. — Wc find in the
Nrw Jerscij //(ralil, a full account of a meeting of
Pomologists in Sussex count}', who went to see the

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£1}^ §mk\uxs lltcntljlg.

313

Kittatinny growing, — one of the best waj's to get
a good idea of the real value of a varietj'.

"The gentlemen composing this "Blackberry
Party," were a committee of the Farmer's Club of
the Anie:ican Institute, comprised of Nathan C
Ely, President of the Club, J. W. Chambers, Sec-
retary, of New York, John W. Bergen, ot the
New York Metropolitan Police Commissioners, of
Brooklyn, Robert T. Dodge, Esq., and Mr. Wil-
liams, of Montclair, and Mr. P. J. Ward, of Bloom-
field.

The Press was represented by Dr. J. A. Warder,
of Cincinnati, of the Prairie Farmer, and Mr. C.
Taber, of the Tribune.

Delegates from other associations were also pre-
sent. Dr. Warder and Mr. M. F. Cowdery, of San-
dusky, Ohio, from the Ohio Horticultural Society :
Edwin Roberts, Treasurer of the West Jersey Fruit
Grower's Society ; Mr. 0. J. Weeks, of West
Webster, near Rochester, N. Y. ; Mr. J. M. John-
son, of Binghamton, N. Y.

The Nurserymen present were Mr. S. B. Parsons,
Flushing, Long Island ; William Parry, of Cinna-
minson, Burlington county ; Isaac Buchanan, of
New York ; D. D. Buchanan, of Elizabeth ; Dr.
Quinn, Superintendent of the farm of the late Pro-
fessor Mapes ; John S. Collins and T. C. Andrews,
of Moorestown, N. J. ; W. T. Bassett, of Ham-
monton, Atlantic county ; R. W. Holton, of Haver-
straw, N. Y.

The amateur cultivators were J. C. Thompson,
of Staten Island ; Mes,srs. Jeliff and Price, of New-
ark ; J. Y. Bawden, of Freehold ; J. S. Eastmond,
John West, W. W. Conover and Henry Smith, of
Monmouth county.

They all appear by their speeches to have
thought highly of the variety, and closed the party
by unanimously adopting the following resolution:

" Having this day, August 2, 1866, observed the
fields of Kittatinny Blackberries in cultivation at
Newton, New Jersey, and tested the fruit, now in
full perfection, we deem it due to Mr. Williams, of
Montclair, and to the Horticultural public, to state
that we regard this new variety recently introduced
by Mr. Williams, worthy of unqualified praise.
The hardiness, vigor and productiveness of the
plant, together with the size and unsurpassed flavor
of the fruit, would seem to leave nothing further
to be desired in a Blackberry ripening at this pe-
riod of the Summer, either for private gardens or
for the market. ' '

It seems to be one week earlier than Lawton,
and keeps black longer after gathering.

n

pnrp.

Keeping GIrapes. — In answer to the enquiry of
Suel Foster, as to the best method of keeping
Grapes, I would say that for the past five years I
have eaten grapes up to February and March kept
as follows :

Pick the Grapes before the frost comes, taking
pains to handle them carefully, and pick out all
imperfect fruit. Take a box that will hold from
one to two bushels, place a newspaper on the bot-
tom and then a layering of Grapes ; on this put
another newspaper and then a layering of Grapes,
and so on until the box is full. Put away in a cool
dry room, being careful to set the box up a few
inches from the floor. If extreme cold weather
should follow, either cover them with blankets or
hay or remove them to a warmer room.

The most perfect Grapes, however, that I ever
saw or tasted, for the time of year (last January)
was at the Fruit Growers' Convention at Roches-
ter, N. Y. , last winter. They were the Isabella
and Diana, and were apparentlj' as fine and luscious
as when picked from the vines, retaining their rich
bloom in perfection. The manner of keeping them
was as follows :

Picked as above described ; put away in boxes,
such as are nsed for shipping Grapes. A large
box was then filled about quarter full of dry tan
bark, these boxes placed in and filled in around the
sides and top the same thickness with the same
material and put up stairs in the barn. If extreme
cold weather followed, such as would be apt to reach
the fruit too soon, (although there is not much
danger of this if space enough is filled in with the
saw dust or tan bark,) cover the boxes with hay
till it passes off". The party who placed the above
specimens on the table stated that he had taken
them out in perfect condition in April and May.

Undoubtedly the best keeping Grapes are the
Diana and Isabella. — A. M. Purdy, in Prairie
Farmer.

Black-knot is a Fltngus. — Just as Dr. Fitch,
having proved to his own satisfaction that Black-
knot is neither gall nor a fungus, infers by the me-
thod of exhaustion that this must be a disease ; so
having proved that it is neither a disease nor a gall,
we may infer by the method of exhaustion that it
must be a fungus, or rather an assemblage of fun-
guses. In confirmation of this theory may be ad-
duced the very remarkable analogies, between the
structure of the Black-knot and that of the fungus

:p\y^i

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314

£hi[ Ciardcntr's (Plontjjli),

(c^Y^i.

!

H

(lescribod as occurring on Red Cedar. That
this la.-;t is really and truly a fungus and not a gull,
is shown by the fact, that it is scarcely ever inhabit-
ed by insects; for out of hundreds of specimens that
I have cut into, both green and dry, not more than
two or three contained the larvie of moths, but one
contained what was probably the larva of an ich
ii'Miinon fly. and all tlie rc-^t were iicrfoctly solid and
unbored. On the other hand, Black-knot is so in-
vested by insects, that it is impossible to find a ma-
ture specimen that is not all bored up by them.
Tlie cause of this remarkable difference may be at-
triliuted to the well-known repugnance of almost all
kinds of insects for Red Cedar.

If. then, Black-knot is a Fungus, and if, as I
think I have .shown, it is an annual plant propaga-
ting itself by seed or the so-called "spore.s," and
the "spores" make their appearance about the
end of July in latitude 41° 30'. then it must be ob-
vious that if all the Black-knot on a particular tree
i.s cut off and destroyed in the fore part of July in
latitude 41° 30', or a little earlier or later as you go
further South or further North, an effectual stop
will be put to its further propagation. It is true
that the '"spores" are in the form of an impaliia-
ble powder, so that they may be carried some con-
.^Iderable distance from other infected trees by the
wind ; and it may probably be further true, that
certain '"spores" may be dormant in the bark for
over a year, as the seeds of weeds will often lie dor-
mant in the ground for over a year. Still, with all
these jio.ssible drawbacks, I have little doubt that
the above remedy will, as a general rule, if applied
according to direction.s, be found effectual. — i). B.
Walsh, in Joica Homesteiul.

Trimming Osage Okange Hedge.— Prof. J.
B. Turner, of 111., in an article on this subject
written for the Frairic Farmer^ says,

•■ No trimming whatever should be given to the
jilants the first three yeans, or till the stock is about
one inch through, except to clip back .some of the
stronger plants and keep the gro\j'th of all as even
as possibk'. The stems of the plants will then all
stand in a ."ingle row, some five or si.K inches apart.
When at this size let one man take a hook to pull
the plants down and another a nicking spla.sher and
nick the phnts half off quite down, or into the
ground, and lay them down to an angle of not more
than 45°, if laid too flat a.s .sonie inexperienced men
recommend, .so that their tops do not come up to
the sun. in a few years the main shoots will all die
out. But if properly laid the main shoot will live
and new shoots will spring up perpendicularly, and

bind the whole hedge together in a single year so
that it is impossible for anything to pass through
it, even the smallest pig.

Root -PRUNING Pears. — Dr. Hull gives his
practice in the Valley Fanner:

To perform the operation on trees, the trunks of
which are, say three to sis inches in diameter —
mark a circle around the tree, thediaraeter of which
shall be three feet — it may be a little larger than this
for such slow-growing sorts as Seckel. W ith a
sharp spade, open a trench around the tree wide
enough to enable you to work without difficulty ;
deepen this trench three feet, or until you reach
and cut all lateral roots. The Pear tree being a
deep feeder, you will find very few laterals nearer
the surface than eighteen inches ; having cut these,
you will fill the trench with good soil, mulch, or
what is better, thoroughly cultivate the ground
about the trees during the Spring and Summer
months. You will repeat the operation each sea-
son as described, or as often as necessary to put
your trees to rest at the time named. It will, how-
ever, be necessary at each sub.sequent pinning to
enlarge the diameter of the circle, say, four inches
— or for slow growing sorts six inches — those of
slow growth requiring, less check than trees more
rampant.

Nice Grapes in February. — Mr. Charles Stan-
ley, of Wintbrop, brought into our office on Thurs-
day, Feb. 22d, a cluster each of the following varie-
ties of Grapes (all in a good state of preservation,
especially the Delaware) viz : Union Village,
Delaware, Diana and Isabella. After being gather-
ed last fall, they were placed in drawers between
layers of paper, kept in a cool room up stairs until
freezing weather, and then removed to the cellar.
The Grapes were of good flavor, the Delaware es{)C-
cially being nearly as perfect as when just picked.
They were all in a very good condition. — Maine
Farmer.

Chilopsis lineata. — Has recently been intro-
duced into cultivation here from Western Texas.
It has willow shaped leaves and Bignonia-like flow-
ers, which are strongly tinged with purple, and
sweet scented, like the perfume from rose water.
It flowers about the middle of May ; is a small tree
of about fifteen feet high, but is most beautiful when
in flower. It has a scanty foliage, and deciduous
leaves; is a raiiid grower, and delights in a dry cli-
mate and hard limestone soil. — B. Buckley, in
Country Gentleman.

SCfi^ (Sartkri^r's Hlontlilg.

315

i I

i i

Vineries at Detroit.— Stopping a short time
at Detroit, we called at Captain Ward's place to
see the vineries there we had heard so much talk
of — and truly the Captain is heavy in Grrapes — no
less than twelve vineries ranging from 50 to 150
feet long each.

His first vineries where built six years ago, and of
course are in full bearing ; others have been built
at diiferent times since, and when they get in full
bearing, which they give evidence they will do,
there w^ill positively be tons of hot-house Grrapes.
Only one is heated, which seems strange and that
not very efficiently, hence the crops must needs
mainly come in all at once, while if say one quarter
were well heated the season would be much longer
for their enjoyment on the table. They are nearly
all span roof standing North and South, and mainly
on the fixed roof, principle. The vines are in ex-
cellent health and the gardener Mr. M. Creen,
states the thinning, a laborious job in such places,
is performed by women. — Prairie Farmer.

Agriculturist Strawberry in the South. —
Plants received in excellent order last November,
and set out with the utmost care. Fifty per cent
failed to grow, although they were carefully nursed.
Some plants produced very large berries, conical
shape and coming to a sharp point, color scarlet,
fl^sh white, soft, and entirely devoid of flavor. So
far, this far-famed variety has given me no satisfac-
tion. Growth of plant quite moderate, and foliage
very unpromising. It assumes an entire alteration
here from its habit at the North, where I noticed
it to be vigorous. I have the true variety, as I saw
the plants growing in New Jersey, and they were
taken up almost under my eye. — Buchman, in
Southern Cultivator.

yoppign iHhffigpnrp.

Degeneracy of Fruits. — Does the graft, es
some people maintain, alter the character of the
variety? For my part I think not ; at least I have
never observed anything to make me think so. Du-
hamel, for example, remarked a century ago, that
the Pear Imperiale with Oak leaves (another curi-
ous variation of foliage similar to what I mention-
ed before) never had but three cells in its ovary in-
stead of five. Now it can he proved at the present
day that all the fruit of this race or this variety
have but three cells ; although ever since the time
of Duhamel it has never been propagated in any
other way than by grafting. Many other facts of

the same kind might be brought forward in sup-
port of the want of power in the graft to alter the
nature of the variety, as for example the property,
whatever it may be, which gives flavor to fruit,
varying as it does so remarkably in diff"erent kinds.
The notion that fruit trees degenerate because
they are propagated by grafting is an error which
must be exposed. There is no single fact to prove
it. Those which have been cited depend upon to-
tally difi"erent causes, first and foremost among
which are climate, iinsuitable soil, and very often
bad cultivation, or a neglect of pruning, so com-
mon now-a-days. Our ancient Pears, which a cen-
tury or two ago were so justly esteemed, are now
exactly the same as they ever were ; they ripen at
the same time and keep good just as long. If they
are neglected it is no proof that they degenerate.
It is only that nurserymen are interested in bring-
ing forward new varieties. The pretended degen-
eracy of ancient races is in reality nothing more
than one of these clever devices of the present day.
On the other hand, can it be true, as Van Mons
and many pomologists believe, that the pips of a
good fruit produce wild austere fruit, and thence
return to what they suppose to be the specific type ?
I do not hesitate to declare the contrary, and I
defy any one to bring forward an example of a good
fruit, whose flowers were fertilized by its own pol-
len, or by that of any of its own race, whose seed
has produced wild fruit. If a good variety is fer-
tilized by a wild or austere sort, it is only natural
that the trees raised from such seed should produce
new varieties, some if not all of which will prove
inferior in quality ; it may even happen that in the
number there will be some with fruit as bad as that
of the wilding which furnished the pollen ; but this
degeneracj', if you like to call it so, is nothing but
the consequence of an unskilful cross. It may be
considered certain, that all superior varieties of the
Pear tree, and I may say of all fruit trees, if they
are fertilized by themselves, produce good fruit,
they may vary, and will probably do so, sometimes
in one peculiarity and sometimes another, accord-
ing to the variety, but none will become wild, any
more than our seedling Cantaloupe Melons return
to the form and flavor of the little wild Melons of
India, or our Cabbages and Cauliflowers return to
some one of the wild races or varieties that grow on
the .sea-shore. Whatever the advocates of immu-
tability may say, the species of plants are really sub-
ject to great variation, and there is much truth in
the theory which refers to the same specific type
races and varieties, which, though very difi"erent
in appearance, have the same morphological orgaai-

Mc^

!16

£!)c hardener's dtlonllilii.

zation, and which, like the members of the same
family, are capable of cro^sing one with the other.
Takin? the whole series of possible generations, I
am quite aware that there always will be doubtful
cases, notwitlistandin<r the proof of fertile crossing;
but that is no rea-;nn for separatinsr, as so many
distinct primordial entities, what observation and
analocry show us can proceed from a single original
specific type. Take any one of our races of Pear
trees, and transport it to all the regions of the
globe ; wherever it can exist, it will struggle to
adapt itself to the situation, and you will find after
a few generations it will have L'ivon birth to new
and numberless varieties. This fact, which takes
place under our own ej'es, in the case of every cul-
tivated plant that is much distributed over the
"world, gives the key to those polymorphous species
which perplex botanical classifiers, and which have
only become what they are, by Nature herself hav-
ing spread them over an immense expanse of coun-
try."— Decaisne.

The Orange Tree. — It is rather unusual to
have this plant in flower on Christmas-day, so I
will explain the treatment by which I succeeded in
flowering one most profusely at that time.

From the middle of December to the end of Jan-
uary, what better suited to an antique ebony basket
on a British winter's day than this poetical plant,
imparting the delicious perfume of its ivory-like
Ijlossoms through a whole suite of rooms? It
should receive the entire treatment of a Camellia,
with one exception. Place it in the warmest situa-
tion you can command during summer, in the
warm corner beneath the south and east wall — in
fact, imitate its native climate, accompanied with
a suitable amount of air to keep the sun's rays
from scorchinir it. During summer carefully take
03*311 flowers and fruit, should there be such on it.
The object chiefly in view should be to obtain a nice
growth matured by the end of September to for-
ward the enibrj'o flowers upon the same as much
as possible, avoiding everything likely to cause it
to grow or move preceptibly until a month before
you wish to have it in flower, when you should
treat it as you would a white Azalea when forcing
it. How exceedincdy well our French neighbors
do the Orange? I cannot see why they should be
so far in advance of us when I consider the warmth
obtainable under a south wall in Summer. Our
object should be to ripen the wood more than to
make so fine a growth. — Journal of Horticulture.

U.

How TO Cultivate Vines in Pots. — This branch

of Horticulture has been frequently written upon,
and the.se notes are not jotted down with the view
of imparting instruction to my older brethren, but
to afford encouragement to those who with limited
means wi.sh to be succe.s.sful in this most interesting
mode of fruit-culture.

It is now a little more than three j'ears since my
present emplojnr put up several vineries and an
orchard-house, (the orchard-house and its tenants
n)ust form the subject of future notes) and when
the houses were finished, and the hot-water appa-
ratus completed, he very naturally wished to obtain
an early produce from his outlay. He therefore
purchased a number of pot Vines, of varieties re-
commended by nurserymen as having special quali-
ties for pot-culture, to supply fruit until those
planted in the borders attained a fruiting condi-
tion.

What their treatment was the first year I do not
know, as I only took charge of the Vines two years
ago. This I know, that these bought Vines pro-
duced no fruit the first year, and when I first saw
them, they were in a most dejjlorable condition,
with the wood unripe, and the buds imperfectly
formed. They had, during the month of October,
received a surface-dressing of good turfy soil, mixed
with a tolerable amount of rotten dung and bone
dust. I pruned them in due course, and about the
middle of January they were started into growth.
As soon as the buds began to break they were sup-
plied with weak liquid manure two or three times
per week, and as the shoots developed themselves
the liquid manure was increased in strength, and
applied more frequently. Most of the bought Vines
yielded tolerable crops — more than could be well
expected, considering the state of the wood, for
they produced from four to seven bunches each.

Now, in addition to these bought Vines, were a
large number which had been raised from eyes the
previous spring, the eyes taken without being nam-
ed, no doubt, from the Vines permanently planted
in the borders, and cut down in the usual way.
Most of these Vines had been grown in rather
small pots, and, as a matter of course, their growth
was i=;mall in proportion. These, with the excep-
tion of one or two of the strongest, were cut down
to two eye.s, and along with the others were started
into growth. They broke well, the best shoots only
being encouraged, and during their early growth
were assisted by frequent applications of manure
water. Some of the strongest were shifted into
their fruiting-pots in the early part of the Summer,
and the others remained until autumn. They each
soon reached the top of the respective houses in

rW

&

Cljc (SarkntrVj lllontljlg.

317

which they were growing, and made canes some-
thing resembling a gentleman's slender walking-
stick.

During the autumn the remaining Vines were
moved into pots of about 12 inches in diameter,
and 12 inches deep. This size I consider quite ade-
quate fur all ordinary purposes, and Vines grown in
12-inch pots with ordinary care may be expected
to produce from SJbs. to 8 lbs. of fruit each. The
compost in which tliey were potted consisted of
two-thirds good hazel loam chopped up and left in
lumps about the size of an egg, with some rotten
dung, and pounded bones to form the other part.
The pots were well drained with broken crocks,
and over the crocks was placed a layer of boiled
bones about the size of a walnut. The soil was well
thumped into the pots, and a sufficient space left
to hold water. They were pruned to 6 or 7 feet in
length, according to their strength, and being placed
in the position they had to occupy, about Christmas
the early house was again started.

I prefer bending down the Vines to a horizontal
or recumbent position until they begin growing ;
this causes an equal circulation of sap, and makes
the buds break more regularly. 13y this means I
succeeded in breaking every eye in the pot Vines,
with the exception of one or two nearest the pot,
and every branch showed fruit — some shoots two,
three, four, and even five bunches each. The usual
routine of disbudding, stopping the laterals as they
advanced, thinning the bunches, also the thinning
of the berries, and the syringing, were duly attend-
ed to.

One very important point, requiring special at-
tention is the watering. This must be varied to
insure success. Plants, like human beings, prefer
a change of diet. T obtain my supplies of liquid
manure from a well which receives the drainage
from adjacent stables. This, when weak through
lieavy falls of rain, I strengthen with guano at the
rate of about two ounces to the gallon. I also em-
ploy the soapsuds from the laundry, mixed with
cowdung and guano as a change.

Those Vines started in the earliest house ripened
a few bunches in the early part of May, while those
started in the orchard-house, and brought into the
late vinery as accommodation could be found them,
are still in fruit, and may be up to Christmas. Thus
with pot Vines alone, independent of what has been
taken from the rafters, we may have a supply from
May till December.

Now, let us look at the produce of these pot
Vines. Lady Downes' appears to be a shy bearer
in a pot ; at least with us, the produce was but

small, and it was the only one that could be consid-
ered a failure. It was not forced much, being only
started in a late house towards the end of February.
Trentham Black appears to be not very free in a
pot, but the fruit was large and exquisite. Per-
haps some of your readers may have succeeded bet-
ter with it in a pot. IMuscat St. Laurent and Chas-
selas Rose Royale I consider useless; the latter
produced eight or nine bunches to a pot, but the
berries were small, and the flavor indifferent. Chas-
selas Musque may be considered good for pot-cul-
ture, and alsQ for foi-cing, as it is a fi-ee l^earer and
an early variety. Black Frontignans from nine
to eleven bunches on a Vine ; White Frontignans,
from ten to seventeen bunches ; and Grizzly Fron-
tignans carried seventeen bunches ; and one Grizzly
showed upwards of thirty bunches on a rod about 6
feet long. Many of the bunches were as good as
maj' be ordinarily seen on rafters. Black Ham-
burghs produced three, four, and up to fourteen
bunches. One Black Hamburgh I only allowed to
carry 4bunches, and weighed the produce. The first
bunches, weighed 2^ lbs., the second and third were
1 2 lb. each, and the fourth 1 lb. Thus one Vine with
only four bunches produced 62 lbs. of fruit fit for any
table. I should like to know what variety of Ham-
burgh the latter is. The bunch is large and heavily
shouldered, and tapering at the ]ioint; the skin
deep black purple ; berries roundish, and of good
flavor ; and the foliage when changing color, as-
sumes a beautiful pink tinge very different from
any other variety I know. [Probably Black Cham-
pion.— Eds. J. OP H. ]

I am certain any one possessing only a small pit,
with artificial heat at command, may succeed in
growing fine Grapes from pot Vines. Theminuti;e
of propagation, and t!ie after management of jx't
Vines have been so frequently detailed by Mr. Fi>li,
that I might refrain from sa.ying anything on the
subject. But, as we seem almost in the height
of a Grape-growing mania, and having given the
cultivation of Vines in pots special attention, I may
be excused in saying a little for the benefit of be-
ginners.

The plants are, without doubt, the best raised
from single ej^es obtained from strong, healthy
Vines, and should be procured as early after Christ-
mas as possible. There are niany different ways
of making the cuttings; perhaps as simple as any
is to make them about 1? inch in length, and to
place them horizontally with the bud uppermost in
small 60-sized pots, filled with light, rich soil, and
well drained. These pots should, if po.s.sible, be
placed in a bottom heat of from 70° to- 75°. As

•^^rl^fit.

^M

^^d^

318

Che (Sariencr's S^onthlg.

^.i

soon as tbc small pots are fill-'d with root?;, thej'
mucL be tiuiis,;l^aica i.it.j I.tij^v.. jjo^j— .<ay luige
48's. The compost used for this shift, and for eve-
rj' successive potting, should consist of two parts
turfy loam, and one part vcrj^ rotten dung ; to this
add, if the loam is inclined lo be stiff, a little sharp
river sand. A good sprinkling of sifted bones,
with a little charcoal and a little lime rubbish, will
do no harm. Let these be woll mixed and incor-
porated together. The soil should he well wanned
in a stove before using it. or the jilants will sustain
a serious check, and when water is applied it must
be in a tepiil state. They will soon require another
shift, which should be into eight-inch jmts, and
finally into 12-inch jiots. Some people recommend
larger pots, but then thoy are much more inconve-
nient to move about.

I invariablj allow the canes to become about 8
feet long bef ire stopping them, and then pinch off
the laterals above the first, when they have made
five or six leaves. When they have perfected their
growth, they maybe jilanted out of doors during
their season of rest. Jn the Autumn tliey will re-
quire some of the old soil to be removed from the
surface of the pots, and about one-third down the
sides between the pot and the ball, and replaced
with rich compost as above. When they are pruned
they must be reduced in length according to the
size of the house in which they are to be fruited,
but ought not to exceed 7 feet in length. If they
have been well grown, they will bear a respectable
crop of fruit the following year ; })ut Vines one
year old, cut down to one bud, and grown a second
year, may be expected to do much better.

As regards varieties suited for jiot-culture, none
can surpa.'s the Black Hamburgh. The Frontig-
nans also succeed well, and so does Chasselas Mus-
que, though it requires a dry atmosphere when
ripening, or else it is liable to crack. I have also
seen the Muscat of Alexandria do well, but I have
not grown it myself I would avoid the Golden
Hamburgh, as under the best treatn)ent, I have
never seen it succeed in a pot. Any one with but
a verj- small amount of glass, when they can com-
mand attention, may grow good Grapes from the
pot Vines, and derive much enioyment from their
cultivation. — Qi:intin Head, Biddulph^ in Jour-
nal (if Arjricvhurp.

Historical note on the Hawthorn. — Tlie

common Hawthorn is one of the mof^t interesting

r of our wild plants as to its historical associations.

'1 It was the distinguished badge of the royal house

I of Tudor. Miss Strickland states, in her work on

the Queens of England, tliat when Richard III. was
tlaiii at Iledujure Pleach, the body \.'as piauui^icJ
of its armour and ornaments. "The crown was
hidden by a soldier in a Hawthorn bush, but was
soon found, and carried back to Lord Stanley, who
placed it on the headof his son in-law, salutinghim
by the title of Henry VII., while the victorious ar-
my .<ang Tc ih'iim on the blood-stained heath.

Oh, Kedmore! iben it seemed tliy naniowasuot in vain!

It was in memory of this picturesque fact, that the
red-berried Hawthorn once sheltered the crown of
Plngland, that the house of Tudor assumed the de-
vice of a crown in a bush of fruited Hawthorn.
The proverb of ' Cleave to the crown, though it
hang on abush,' alludes to the same circumstance."

The Hawthorn is a memorial plant of that un-
happy and ill-fated flower, the lovely Mary Stuart,
Queen of Scots. At the eastern side of the village
of Duddingstone, there stood an ancient Hawthorti,
stately in dimensions, and picturesque in character.
It had smiled in the Summer's sun, and had braved
the Winter's sleet, for three good centuries. It
stood on the side of the footpath, hang.ng over the
road, and all the Spring and Summer time it de-
lighted the wayfarer with its goodly foliage, and
stood a brave old tree, jiromising to produce its
clusters of fragrant blossoms for many a century to
come. But a tremendous tempest in 1836, M'hicli
made sad havoc among the aged sons of the forest,
and strewed the coast with shattered wrecks and
lifeless bodies, uprooted the old tree. And so per-
ished, while yet beautiful and vigorous, " Queen
Clary's thorn."

Tradition tells that, when in childhood, the
" good regent," Murray, was at play with his half-
sister Mary Stuart, the future rivals determined,
in their childish sport, to plant each a favorite
tree ; and the growths of these were to be regarded
respectively as omens of their future destinies.
Mary selected her fiivorite plant, a Hawthorn, of
which she planted several others during her life.
James Stuart, the future regent, chose for his re-
presentative a hardy young oak. When next the
j'oung queen rambled at Duddingstone, she sought
out the rival plants, and rejoiced to find that her
own Ha\A thorn alone remained, which she deemed
a fair foreshadowing of future happiness and pros-
perity. Alas for the futility of earthly hopes!
while Mary was rejoicing and dreaming of a bright
future of glory and greatness, the news came to her
that she must leave the scenes of her childhood,
and become an exile in the court of France, there
to seek new ties and state alliances. She flung her-
self down upon the green turf beside her much

^m

Cj)e Carbener's Pontljlj).

loved Hawthorn tree, and gave expression to her
r/icf in bur^-iin.a; tear?,

Production op Cider in England. — In 1818,
Mr. Hugh Kands, a gardener at Brentford, exhib-
ited at the London Society 127 kinds, all grown in
his own garden, and considered the finest collection
ever shown before. But no one has done more to
encourage the growth of the better sorts, and to di-
minish the embarrassing list of varieties by direct-
ing their attention to the best kinds alone, than
Dr. Hogg ; and for years he has labored hard in
finding out their proper names, and putting them
in their proper places.

The apple is used in a great many ways, which
are familiar to every one ; but still it might be inter-
esting to describe them, so I shall try and do so,
and begin with Cider. The apple is largely culti-
vated in the west of England for this purpose.
Some of the orchards occupy a space of fifty or six-
ty acres, and it has always been considered highly
interesting ; the trees covering such an extensive
space, with a profusion of blossoms in the spring,
and its fruit as beautiful in the autumn. In a good
apple year, one acre will produce on an average
from five to six hundred bushels ; and in Septem-
ber, when the season is favorable, the heaps col-
lected at the presses arc immen.se.

Thomson has thus beautifully described the Cider
season . —

'• The fragrant stwes, the ■svide-projectecl heaps
Of apples, which the lusty-hauded yenv,
lonunierous, o'er the blushini; orchard .shakes.
A various spirit, delicious, keen.
Dwells in their gelid pores ! and, active, points
The piercing Cider for the tiiir.-ty tongue."

[Autumn, 637—642.]

Dr. Short informs us that Cider was first invent-
ed by a iVorman, who much admired the flavor of
apples. And Dr. Baynard says that Cider is very
nutritious, and those that chieflj' drink it, are heal-
thy, strong, and have a good complexion.

pounds which we call monsters. But the mixture
of j!-i:.'t>: is not yet found out, '.vhich n*,
if it is possible, is more at command than that of
living creatures."

In 1718, a century after Lord Bacon, Bradley's
works was published, and he was the first author
who wrote on artificial fertilization as being accom-
plished, but not thenclenrly described. But it aj)-
peared to liave reached its highest perfection in
Thomas Andrew Knight's time, for he benefited
his country by raising several beautiful sorts, such
as the Red Ingestrie, Knight's Codling, Downton
Pippin, and others, by hybridization. — G^c/rJcHc/'.s
Weekly.

History op Improvement in the Apple. —
Parkinson, who wrote in 1629, in his great book
on gardening, "Paradisiin Sole Paradisus Terres-
tris," describes fifty-eight sorts of Apples ; this was
before the art of fertilizing the blossoms was made
known. This ingenious method of producing new
varieties was first deemed possible by Lord Bacon,
for in his works which he wrote on Horticulture in
the year 1618, which was eleven years after Parkin-
son, he says: " In living creatures there is a mix-
ture of kinds, as the mule, that is generated be-
twixt the horse and the ass, and some other com-

Early History of the Apple.— The Apple
tree, Mulus in botany, is a species ofpi/n(s, belong-
ing to the section of 7cosf/;/r7nrt pentngi/nla. It is
a native of the eastern parts ol the world, as we
learn on the authority of the earliest writers both in
sacred history as well as the information given by
the ancient Romans. The prophet Joel, when he
declareth the destruction of the fruits of the earth
by a long drought, mentions the fruits wliich were
held in estimation, and among them he names the
Apple tree. Pliny, in his Natural History, which
was written at the commencement of the Christian
era, sa3's one named Sextus Papinius brought two
kinds to Rome in the reign of Augustus Caesar —
one from Syria, the other from Africa. The crab,
or the Apple in its wild state, is a native of most
countries of Europe, but from whence we at first
received the cultivated Apple is unknown ; in all
probability fiom the Romans. It was largely plant-
ed in this country by Monks, who all seem to have
been their own gardeners, and took great delight
in the cultivation of fruit; and the remains of their
old abbey gardens show that they chose the be.'-t
spots as to soil and aspect. As early as 674 we
have a record describing a plea.sant and fruit-bear-
ing close at Ely, then cultivated by Brithnorth, the
first abbot of that place. Ely at the present day
has some splendid orchards, and the cultivation of
fruit there is very much encouraged.

The cultivated Apple seems to have been scarce
at Rome in the time of Pliny, for he states that
there were some Apple trees in the villages near
Rome which yielded more profit than a small farm;
and he mentions nine-and-twenty kinds of Apples
as being cultivated in Italy. The trees at this
early time seem to have required the fostering care
of man. Of all the fruit bearing trees in Italy,
Pliny says the Apple is the tenderest and least
able to bear heat or cold — particularly the early
one that produces the Sweet Jenneting.

m.

^(^m

^4j

Weeping Wistaria. — Where there is sufficient
skill for the task of growing Wisfarid siuniifis as a
weeping .standard tree, it makes a grand feature on
a lawn, and blooms so profusely as in some seasons
to be as densely covered with its purple racemes
as a specimen Cytisus or an exhibition Azalea.
But it n)ust have room, the stem must be support-
ed by a stake, the growth mu<t be led on light suj)-
ports in the directions necessary to form the pro-
per outlines, and the subsequent growth must be
pinched in from the middle of June to the middle
of July, or it will .soon grow out of bounds, and be-
come an almost inextricable confusion.

TiiK Oak Tree Silkworm.— The pillowing in-
teresting account of the r cently discovered Oak
Tree Silkworm of Japan, occurs in a letter to the
Times, by Dr. T. O. Ward, now residing at Caen :
At the jiresent time, when the cultivation of the
Mulberry silkworm is attended witli great risk in
consequence of the disease which has now prevail-
ed for several years, and which has had the
*! effect of greatly increasing the price of silk all over
' pjurope, I venture to call your attention to a re-
! port upon the silkworm of the oak. Bomhyx Yama-
\ in<n\ lately introduced into France from Japan,
; and which the reporter considers as perfectly adapt-
! ed to the climate of Normandy, and I think I may
I aild, after a residence of two years at Caen, that if
; this be correct it may also be introduced with suc-
i ce.«s into the south and west of England, which
' diflFer very little, if at all, from this climate. The
oak-worm, or Yama-mai, of Japan, is a uionopoly
of the Ii(>yal Family, and to sell or export is puni.sh-
al»le with death. IL-nce the comiiltte ignorance
which exists respecting this valuable insect. In
1J<(>1 M. Duchesne de Belleoourt, the French Coii-
, sul-General in Japan, sent some of the eggs to the
Societe d'Acclimatation, but as nothing was known
I f.f the habits of the insect, only one worm survived
I to ;i.ake its cocoon.

This single specimen, however, was enough to
establish its value, and in 1862 a scientific commis-
sion was directed to search for and send a quantity
to France, which the commi.ssion was enabled to
effect })y the aid of M. Ponyse von Meerdeworth, a
Dutch marine officer, director of the Imperial
Medical School at Nicra'-aki.

s

]&orHrul(fupflI Hofirps.

TJLTUEAL SOCIETY.

Stated Meeting, Sept., ]«, IsnC).
Passed the following resolutions relative to the

death of ^Nlatthias W. Baldwin, Esq., long a
member and once President of the association.
Caleb Cope, Esq., offered them :

Kexolved, That this Society records with the pro-
foundest sorrow the death of one of its Vice-Presi-
dents, Matth'as W. Baldwin, who for many years
was a most attentive and useful member of this in-
stitution, and during a considerable portion of the
time its able courteous and dignified presiding offi-
cer.

Rfsolced. That this Society will ever bear in grate-
ful remembrance the valuable services rendered to
it, and thiongh it to the i)ublic, by reason of the
many interc-ting contributions furnished by Mr.
Baldwin from his extensive conseivatories on the
Delaware ; the more especially for his liberal sub-
scription to the building fund, without which the
present effort to erect a hall for the uses of the So-
ciety would not have been made.

Kexolved. That the pervading sadness visible in
the countenances of those assembled in this hall
to-night, notwithstanding there is much in the
collected beautiful productions of nature otherwise
calculated to gladden and cheer, shows how univer-
sal is the regret among those who have for many
years witnesi^ed the sjilendid specimens of horticul-
ture which Mr. Baldwin has so generously exposed
to public view at the meetings of the Society, and
also his elegant conservatory on Chestnut street,
which was erected and supplied for the benefit of
the public exclusively.

Rehired, That a copy of the.se proceedings, sign-
ed by the President and Secretary, be presented to
the immediate family of the deceased, accompanied
by the assurance that this Society most deeply
sympathize with the members thereof in the great
calamity that has befallen them.

Resniredj That whilst the Society deeply mourns
over its own bereavement, it deplores also the loss
which many other institutions, churches and indi-
viduals experience in the death of so estimable a
citizen, who illustrated a long life by the most mu-
nificent gifts, noble enterprises, and the observance
of a uniform, urbane and truly Christian deport-
ment. •

Resolved, That whilst no words adequately ex-
press and no act sufficiently indicates the fraternal
attachment of the surviving members of this So-
ciety to their departed and lamented friend, they
will take early measures to procure a portrait of
him, that it may adorn those balls he had .so nuite-
rially aided to erect, trusting that each spectator
who may be favored to look ujjon it in future j'ears
mayalike revere the memory of the original and
endeavor to imitate his bright example.
The resolutions were adopted unanimously.

Kc)

,%|)

DEVOTED TO

j&opfiruIfurF, SSpftorirulfupp, J^ofang %• ^mnl XEffairs.

THOMAS MEEHAWr, Editor.
W. G. P. BRIlf CKLOE, Publisher.

NOVEMBER. 1866.

VOL. VIII.-NO.ll.

I?inh for HcbpniKipp.

FLOWER-GARDEN AND PLEASURE-
GROUND.

As soon as the ground gets caked with the first
real frost, herbaceous plants should be protected.
Though hardy, they well repay this extra care, —
mostly natives of woods or grassy places in their
native state, they expect a covering of leaves or
dry grass. We find dry leaves the best material for
the purpose, a few inches is a sufficient depth, — a
little soil being thrown on to prevent the leaves
blowing away. Where such material is not at
hand, the common garden soil may be drawn over
them, as before recommended in these pages.

Most of the tender plants that we desire to pre-
serve over the season, have now been lifted from
the borders, are removed to winter quarters, and
in a few weeks the beds will present a rough and
forsaken appearance. It is too often the practice to
leave the borders jast in this neglected condition
till spring-time returns. But the person of true
taste finishes up the beds, and makes all tidy. In
the absence of summer flowers, even order pleases.

If any tender bulbs have been left out take them
up as soon as possible, and after drying a little put
away in a secure place till spring. It used to be the
fashion to take up Japan Lilies, but these are now
known to be perfectly hardy. It is best however to
replant them once a year at this season. Mice are lia-
ble to eat them. Try all means to trap and destroy
them. The next best thing is to drive them away
by means of rags dipped in tar, and buried in the
ground here and there.

Hyacinths and other Dutch bulbs have flooded

the country this year, and, being so cheap, eveiy
one should have a few. There is nothing pleasanter
than spring flowers.

The planting of trees will still continue to engage
our attention at every favorable opportunity. Many
prefer at this season to remove trees in the winter
by the "frozen ball" system. There is nothing
gained by this practice. To those unacquainted
with this mode of planting, we may as well describe
it. Just before frost is expected, a trench is dug
around a tree a few feet from its base, leaving the
tree so, that with a rope at the top, it can be easily
drawn over. A hole is then dug for it in the situa-
tion desired. When the "hall" has become frozen
through around the tree, it is removed to the pre-
pared hole; and, when a thaw comes, the soil is
filled in around it. We have said there is nothing
gained by it, and there are many disadvantages.
If the tree has been removed a "time or two" be-
fore, as most nursery trees have, it will liave an
abundance of fibres near the stem, and can be suc-
cessfully removed without much regard to the "ball
of earth," either in fall or spring. Ifit has never
been removed before, that is a tree growing natu-
rally, it will have no fibres at its base, and so no
"ball of earth" can preserve them ; so that a tree
which can be moved successfully on this freezing
system, can be assucessfully done without it. The
disadvantages of it are that it exposes the injured
roots for a long time to the injurious action of the
frost and the elements, besides the frequency of the
operation being improperly done by several at-
tempts being made at its completion. We have given
the system a fair trial, and have done with it. The
main object should be to preserve all the roots pos-
sible with the tree, keep them moist and preserve
from injury, then go-a-headand don't wait for frost.

FRUIT GARDEN.

So much has been said in this journal on the i
proper preparation of the soil for orchards, that it j
need not now be repeated. We would only say

321

Cl)c (L^ardciur's <|tlontljlu.

that a light dryish soil is the best to choose for the
Peach. The Pear does best on a strong loamy soil.
Plimis much the same as the last. The Apple
prefers a heavy loam, it on limestone so much the
better. The Cherry does \sell in soils adapted to
the Peach.

The Grape prefers a deep warm soil, but one
that is not dry, — such as most limestone soils are
after being trenched and drained. A partially
shaded aspect is also preferable. Mildews and many
diseases come from the drying influence of a full
exposure to a July or August sun.

Except in the more northern portions of the con-
tinent, a southern aspect is the worst possible for
all kinds of fruit, except where the one idea of
earliness is all important.

Probably most of our fruits do best in partial
shade. The Grooseberry and Currant certainly do.
The former mu-st have shade ; and if on the moist
northern aspect of a wall, so much the better. The
Raspberry prefers a rather moist soil, and partial
shade.

In choosing Dwarf Pears, select those that have
been budded close to the ground, as when they are
replanted the stocks .should be buried an inch below
the pear scion, which prevents the attacks of the
quince borer. If along stem has to be buried, the
usual con.sequences of deep planting result, and do
as much injury as the quince borer. Also in
choosing, select, if po.ssible, plants that have been
rai.sed from cuttings, for layered stocks have al-
mo.st always a long deep tap-looking root, on which
dwarf pears do not do well. If we have to use
such dwarf pear trees, better shorten some of this
long trunk root before planting. Never plant what
appears to be the stem of a tree far beneath the
surface, under any circumatances, for disease will
be most probably an ultimate consequence.

Apples, Quinces, and Plums should be examined
before frost sets in, and if any borers have effected
a lodgment — a jack-knife and a stiong piece of wire
are all the implements necessary; a man will go
over several hundred trees a day. It is a cheap
way of pre.'ierving trees. If many of the remedies
proposed by correspondents in our paper have
been tried and found effectual, such as tobacco
stems, etc. , there will be few borers to deal with in
the examination.

In cultivating Raspberries on a large scale, they
do best in hills, as the cultivator keeps them from
crowding each other so much. For garden culture
they are better in rows, the suckers to be kept
hoed out occasionally as they grow ; enough only
being lefl that will be required for fruiting next

year. Where canes are required for new planta-
tions, of course a portion of the crop must be
sacrificed to the suckers.

Strawberries are much better when protected
through the winter, no matter how "hardy" they
may be. Very coar.se strawy manure is the best mate-
rial, which can be raked off in early spring. A few
inches is sufficient, just enough to keep the Sun off
when frozen, which all our readers know by this
time is the chief cause of loss by frost.

HOT AND GREENHOUSES.

Plants stored away for the winter in cold pits,
require more care for the first month or so than at
any other time through the winter season. Many
of them have unripened shoots, or f^hed many of
their leaves, and unless these be cut off and re-
moved, gangrene and decay commit distressing
havoc. Air should be given at every opportunity,
and nothing omitted that will, in any way, tend to
harden the plants, and send vegetation to rest. No
more water should be given than just sufficient to
prevent withering, and the temperature should be
kept as near 40° as possible, and every chance
taken to render the air about the plants dry. When
frost actually does come, no further care than pro-
tection from its embraces will then be required.
Plants so hardened, may stay covered up for weeks,
without any light or air, and secure from the
slightest injurj'. Mice constitute the most trouble-
some enemy in a pit closed for any length of time ;
but we have, as yet, found nothing better than the
recommendation given in back volumes, namely,
to take peas and soak them twenty-four hours in
water, then roll in arsenic and sow in a pot, as if
in the regular way of seed-sowing. A few pots so
prepared, should be placed in the pit before perma-
nently closing up. The mice usually make for the.se
pots at their first entrance to the pits. If placed on
the soil, they seem to guess your secret, and will not
"bite."

Plants in cellars need much the same care as those
in pits. Avoid heat and dampness ; frequently how-
ever, plants suffer in cellars through getting too diy.
They should be looked over, at any rate, once a
month, and a little water given, if Hkely to become
entirely dry.

Plants in windows and rooms usually suffer from
excessive waterings, — very dry air about them, — too
great a heat, or too much shade. As much as pos-
sible, room plants should be selected for their in-
difference to these requirements. Succulents, such
as Cactuses, Mesembryanthemums, Rocbeas, Crass-

h&"^

Jc -«-

Clji| (iarbcntr's Hlontljlj.

323

ulas, Aloes, &c. , care not how dry the room, but they
demand all the sunlight possible. Camellias, Chi-
nese Primroses, Azaleas, Dicentra spectabilis. Poly-
anthuses, Violets, Hyacinths, &c. ,do not mind a little
shade; but they abhor a high temperature. Others
again, while disliking heat, want light; of these,
are Calceolarias, Cinerarias, Geraniums, Pelargoni-
ums, Pansies, Daisies, Tree Carnations, perpetual
blooming Pinks,Roses and the like. 'Leaf plants, 'for
the most part, like a close, moist atmosphere, and a
moderate degree of heat to do well. For these,
glass partitions and closely-glazed cases are usually
employed. A great error in the growth of plants
in these cases, is to suppose they require no air.
The closeness is to secure a moist atmosphere, not
to exclude the air. Whenever, therefore, the tem-
perature is low, and little evaporation going on, the
opportunity shoul i be seized to air the cases ; a few
moments are sufBcient. A very pretty plant arrange-
ment may be made in parlors that have bay windows;
the whole window may be closed off from the
main part of the room by a sash, and filled with
plants. Some on the floor,— some on shelves, and
some pendant from the roof. A common oil lamp
will be quite suflUcient, with the usual window shut-
ters, to keep out frost during the night or extra
severe weather, while the regular day temperature
of the room will suffice for that time. When the
lamp is burning, provision should be made for the
admission of fresh air from the rootn at the bottom
of the case, and for the exit of consumed air at the
top of the case. This is best accomplished by a
tube to and from the lamp.

It must, however, be remarked that the fumes of
burning gas is highly injurious to vegetation, and
any adaptation of heating by it will fail, unless pro-
vision be made to lead the fumes away. With this
precaution, gas-lights in towns and cities, where it
can be had cheaply, would be very useful in heating
small parlor plant cabinets.

To those who have larger plant cabinets or small
conservatories, connections with heaters or hot water
from kitchen ranges will suggest themselves. This
is often done. The great error we have often no-
ticed is, that the heat is led to the back only, when
it should be continued right to the front or coldest
part of the house. When heaters are employed, the
oxygen of the air is usually defective, and, besides,
the air is very dry and ungenial to healthy vegetation.
Evaporating pans around the mouth of the air flues
should be used in such cases, — syringing done at
frequent intervals, and pure fresh air given whenever
a warm out-door spell furnishes the opportunity.

The most critical season to these plants is fast

approaching. A very common error, especially in
houses heated by smoke flues, is, to keep the tem-
perature too high. Unless the hou^e be heate(i by
hot water, a temperature of 55° will do perfectly
well. The absorbent property of heated bricks, in
flues, is so great, that the excessive waterings neces-
sary to replace the moisture they absorb is more in-
jurious to the plants than a moderately low temper-
ature. In a house heated by hot water, a tempera-
ture of 65° may be maintained with advantage.
The house will be very gay with Habrothamnus,
Cestrums, Begonias, Pentas,Plumbagoes, and soon,
and the syringe must be kept in daily requisition.
It is highly advantageous to put a little sulphur,
lime water, or soft soap into the syringing water
occasionally, as the red spider, mealy bug, or scale,
respectively, may make their appearance; this, with
a vigorous use of one's eyes and fingers at times
will keep them pretty well in check. Orchidese,
those of them which bloom on finishing their
growths, will begin to add considerably to the at-
tractions of the hot-house. As any come into flower,
they should have less water at each time, but be
watered more frequently than they have been ac-
customed too: a very slight '' dewing" with the
syringe is all that is required. Heavy waterings
and high temperature, together, destroy more or-
chids than many would dream of Still atmospheric
moisture must be retained for them in any case.

WHY BOTANISTS AND NURSERYMEN ARE

OFTEN CALLED HUMBUGS AND

SWINDLERS.

BY A. HUBREZTSE, JR., ROCHESTER N Y.

It would be well to call the attention of Botanists
to the fact, that they are causing a great disturbance
in the world by their disagreeing on two important
things, viz: Botanical names of plants, and their ex-
planations of them.

In Botanical names we have Scilla Fraseri of
Linn^us ; Scilla esculenta of Ker ; Camassia Fraseri
of Torrey ; and Phalangium esculentum of Nuttall
— all names for one plant ; of these, Gray adopts the
first, in his Manual, and Wood the last, in his Class-
Book.

In the next place I notice that we have Ilysanthes
gratioloides of Bentham ; Capraria gratioloides of
Linnaeus; Linderniadilatata of Elliott; L.dilatataat-
tenuata of Muhlenberg ; L. pyxidaria of Pursh; and
Gratiola anagalloidea of Michaux; all these names are
given to one plant by those Botanists, and thus they

proceed, even* one giving to plants a name to suit
biniself, so that there is scarcely anj' plant, but has
two Or three names.

Professor Gray in his Manual of Botany, derives
Valeriana from valere, to have efficacy ; alluding to
the medicinal qualities. Mrs Lincoln Phelps, in her
Lectures on Botany, affirms that it is derived from
Valerias, vrho first described it ; again. Professor
Gray, in his Manual, says -.-Gillenia, dedicated to an
obscure botanist or gardener, A. Gille, or Gillenius ;
while Wood, in his Class-Book, says, it is derived
from the Greek gelao, to laugh, on account of
its exhilarating qualities.

In my opinion it is no surprise that so great a
number of the people arc disgusted with botany and
botanists; and that they give the terms swindlers
and humbugs to nurserymen, who, being for the
most part ignorant of the science of botany, are com-
pelled to use the names given by botanists.

[The evils our correspondent refers to are perceived
by none with more regret than by the botanists
who commit them. If any call them bard names
in consequence, it is owing to the difficulties of the
situation not being understood. If a practicable
course for avoiding them could be pointed out,
they would be generally adopted. If every thing
in the world, and all about these men could be placed
before them in one view, for names, as they were
to Adam, there would be no excuse for error; but
unfortunately, the facts have to be discovered one
by one, and only by verj' hard labor.

It is the.se after discovered fads which make all
the troubles. For instance: —

A race of plants which always grow in dry places,
is well known. Then, one growing in wet places is
discovered, and it is perhaps called pahifstrfs,
as a specific mark ; — but after this, another is
found growing in still wetter places, and it is called,
perhaps, " Hubrezt.sei," and people would think
that ought to have been called palustris instead of
the other.

With regard to errors in the histor)' of plants or
in their nomenclature, all that can be done is to fol
low that writer as an authority who has been proved
to make fewest mi.stakes, and whose authority those
of his compeers who have studied deeply also, arc
willing to follow. Even he — fallible man — will
make mistakes ; but what other course can be taken?

In the cases cited, most of the authors named are
of no authority with the highest scientific minds.
Dr. Asa Gray's writings are deemed the most relia-
ble, although he himself has to retrace his steps
whenever the progress of science may show him to
be wrong.

In short. Botanical Science is imperfect, and we
have either to take it with its imperfections until
we can do better, or have none at all. — Ed.]

SULPHUR IN GRAPEHOUSES.

HY C. N. , NF.\V.\RK. N. J.

I see in the ^fo)tfhh/ of August last, an article by
Mr. James Thompson, on the Grape-houses of Mr.
Resor, without sulj)hur. Richard Miller, gardener
to Wm. Faitout, E.<q., Washington Street, Newark,
has grown superior Grapes under glass for five years
past and without sulphur.

He, (Mr. Miller,) grows Grapes to perfection. I
saw two Black Hamburg clusters weighed : — No. 1
was five pounds and a half. No. 2 was four pounds
and a half Who excels? let them say.

Mr. Thompson says don't make your grape hou-
ses too steep. In this latitude a lean-to grape-
house with the roof at the angle of 30° or 32° answers
very well. Is this about what Mr. Thompson would
recommend?

Mr. Miller's mode of growing grapes under glass
is the reverse of those who do not recommend front
air. He prefers a constant circulation of fresh air
in his grape-house. Even on rainy days he has air
in his grape house, when other gardeners have all
shut up, courting mildew and other diseases.

COOK'S FAVORITE, TILDEN AND THE
MONUMENTAL TOMATO COMPARED-
HUMBUGS.-LATAKIA (TURKISH) TO-
BACCO-TRELLISES.

BY ROBERT SINCLAIR, BALTIMORE, MD.

I purchased, last season, of a seed merchant in your
city, two packets, containing less than a quarter of
an ounce of Cook's Favorite and Tilden Tomato
Seed, for which I paid fifty cents. I was tempted
to make the purchase by seeing the figures and high
praise accorded to those veiv productions. All three
kinds were manured and cultivated alike. I find no
material difference between Cook's Favorite ai,d
the Tilden. Neither produced more fruit than sixty
to the vine, and averaged about thirty-five. The
largest were all shapen and ribbed similar to the
original Tomato ; the medium and small were round
and smooth; the former full two inches in diameter,
and the latter .size of a lime.

The Monumental (called so merely for distinction)
produced an average of one hundred and twenty on a
vine, and with a rare exception, all round and smooth.
The size, shape and run of the crop may be com-
pared to Newtown Pippin, Winesap and Porame
de Neige, (Apples.) As regards cooking qualities
and solidity, there is no material difi"erence.

-Hcy

ih^ ®ardater'B Jlonthlg,

325

If any of j'our planters can give the Tilden or
Cook's Favorite a better reputation, under ordinarj'
cultivation and management, than I have, let them
report.

All those named were neither trellised nor the
buds stopped. Doubtless the Tomato can be greatly
improved in form, size and product, by a judicious
selection of seeds, stopping certain buds, trellising,
and high culture. I expect to plant the Monumen-
tal, next year, exclusively, except a small patch of
the Pear-shaped for making Tomato figs.

Cannot some plan be devised to put a stop to
vegetable and fruit humbugging? It puts money
in the hands of a set of unprincipled men to the
serious cost and di.eappointment of the cultivator.
I have about five hundred plants of the Latakia
Tobacco, introduced by Bayard Taylor, Esq., from
Mount Lebanon. It is a superb Tobacco, as far as
appearance is concerned, and is now nearly ready
for the curing process. 1 hope, by thelast of Octo-
ber, to test its smoking qualities. As regards top-
ping and suckering it requires more labor and time
than any variety of Tobacco that I have seen or
cultivated.

A very simple and cheap trellis, suitable for the
Tomato and other vines, may be made with iron,
or elastic wood in hoops, stretched on two stakes,
two and a half feet apart, with a stretcher between
the stakes to hold the hoops in place, and to draw
them to an oval shape, similar to the common car-
riage spring, five hoops, or an odd number. I pre-
fer the first growth trained inside of the hoops, en-
twining as they advance, the tops being also on the
inside of the fifth hoop. By thus entwining the
vines may be separated, and no ties requi'^ite. For
garden culture the stakes and hoops should be
painted white, to give a pleasing variety of colors —
red, white and green.

[The experience of cultivators on any variety,
favorable or unfavorable, is always very welcome to
us, — but our correspondent would not surely im-
ply that because one's experience is different from
that of others, therefore, those who disagree with
us are " unprincipled men. ' ' There are people who
think the wild Fox Grape the perfection of flavor.
If we recommend the Catawba to them, and they
do not like it, are we, therefore humbugs and swin-
dlers? Our magazine has taken a prominent posi-
tion in exposing the worthlessness of many things
offered, but we must guard ourselves against the
injustice of an opposite extreme. — Ed.]

I

GRAFTING GRAPE VINES.

BY C. N., NEWARK, N. J.

see Mr. Merrick, Walpole, Mass., enquires

about grafting grape vines. Mr. Miller, of this place,
has a grape-vine he engrafted two years ago, last
June, and has not less than twenty pounds of fruit
on it at this time, and which is worth seeing.

Cut j'our grafts in the fall, put them in a cellar
or any place they will keep fresh until wanted. If
one lias a grape house, the ej'es of the vines begin to
swell in the first week in April; by the last of May
or the first week in June the vines will be in full
leaf; then is the time to engraft, as they will not
bleed. Then head down the vine you want to engraft;
and perform the operation the same as on Apple or
Pear. This is the whole secret.

NOTE ON IWR. PRINCE S LIST OP STRAW-
BERRIES.
BY THOMAS CAVANAGH, BROOKLYN, N. Y.

I noticed, in the September No. of j^our valuable
paper, a communication from Mr. Prince, of Flush-
ing, Long Island, on the best varieties of Strawber-
ries, for the market and so forth. Ten of the num-
ber are his own seedlings, which he had in cultiva-
tion for several years, and which, according to mj'
experience, are not of superior excellence. I agree
with Mr. Prince that a complete revolution in Straw-
berries is called for, when such varieties are recom-
mended as Globose Scarlet, Welcome, Princess
Royal and Prince Imperial. We have tried the ma-
jority of these Long [sland seedlings for some years,
but di.searded them all.

I should like better to have Mr. Prince's views
on the popular varieties now before the public ;
such, for instance, as, Russell, Wilson, Brooklyn
Scarlet, Triomphe de Gand, McAvoy, (or as it is
improperly called Buffalo Seedling.J Monitor, Ida,
Lady Finger, New Jersey Scarlet, which, with me,
are all really good market varieties.

Your reraai-ks on worthless seedlings are to the
point, and we hope our reliable nurserymen will
make a note of them when about sending out their
new seedlings.

[This note of Mr. Cavanagh's proves what we
have repeatedly contended for — that the different
localities and the differing modes of culture of differ-
ent cultivators make it \ery difficult to arrive at a
conclusion, as to what is the best Strawberry. Mr.
C. 's experience, at Brooklyn, is very different from
Mr. Prince's, at Flushing, but the observations of
both have this much value: — that they indicate
what is or is not esteemed in their respective local-
ities.— Eb.]

^'^- /^

Sh^ hardener's ^onthlg.

SPRING BUDDING.

BY DR. LOUIS JACK.

In our last we gave a plan of spring budding, by
Dr. Louis Jack. The idea is novel, ingenious, and
will be of great value to fruitgrowers.

We have had the following illustration made, and,
in order that it may be ])roperly understood, reprint
that portion of the article which describes the pro-
cess:

©i

"We will suppose along and exhausted Pear limb,
ciimparatively ilonuded (if branches; such an one
we fo commonly see. The first pn^paration will be
to remove one-third of the length ; and if it is de-
sired to change the variety, two grafts will be placed
in the cut end ; then, at several places along the
course of both .side.s, the dead outer bark should be
scraped away ; a triangular incision is now made at
the points selected, extending down to the wood ;
it should be of considerable «ize, varying with the
diameter of the limb, and be finished by removing
the bark included in the incision. The object of

the removal of the piece of bark is, to enable the
insertion to be introduced beneath the thick bark,
and to check the flow of sap as the part for the ben-
efit of the bud. In branches of four (4) inches diam-
eter the triangle should be one and one-half (]•])
inches at the base.

The preparation of the insertion is made by taking
a scion, cut from well matured wood of the previous
year's growth, which need not be removed more
than a few days before wanted ; it must have been
kept cool and fresh, and the buds be plump but un-
started. The knife should be entered at the side
opposite the selected bud, about one-half (^) inch
above, and so directed as to split the scion in the
middle for the greater part, covering one inch or
more below the bud, and on the same side with it;
after the removal of a very small part of the outer
liark at each side of the insertion it will be ready
for introduction.

A Slit is now made from the ba.se of the triangular
cut downwards, to enable the bark to be slightly
raised ; the in.sertion is next pressed down so as to
bring the bud exactly to the bnse of the triangle,
rii'afting wax is now laid upon the incision last made,
!ind all the cut parts comi»letely covered by the wax;
when a piece of wood, the size of an ordinary label,
is laid over the last cut and bound down tightlj' upon
it by a wrapping of twine, securely tied, so as to
counteract the disposition of the bark to curl away
from the insertion, which tendency is universal. —
Indeed, so important is this tying, that success can-
not be expected if it is omitted.

^K^/T-

THE MUSCAT HAMBURG GRAPB

BV R. BUIST, RO.SEDALE, PHILADELPHIA.

This very delicious new variety is the greatest ac-
(juisition that we have had for many years amongst
the foreign sorts. It is the color of the Black Ilani-
burg ; berries more oval; bunches 12 inches long,
and 9 wide, when well grown. In Mu.scat flavor
equal to the Mu.«cat of Alexandria. Grows freely,
and sets well in either a cold or forcing grapery, and
is two weeks earlier than the latter, and equally as
early as the Ilamburg.

Foliage deei)ly serrated, and the lobes deeply di-
vided, having more the appearance of a Muscat leaf
than a Ilamburg ; the eyas, also, appear more of the
Muscat, being smooth and not downy like the Ham-
burg. With the plant before you, or in a collection,
you can readily distingu .sh it from all others. There
is no grapery, however small, but should po-ssess a
plant of this estimable sort, having every combina-
tion of the finest of the fine.

(P.

Cjje m\'k\xtx\ gloittljli).

327

HEAT & MOISTURE IN PLANT-HOUSES.

BY J. 0. JOHNSON, SCARBORO', N. Y.

The article under this heading in the December
number, last year, of the Monthly, has set me think-
ing whether an experiment now under progress may
not occasion mischief in my plant-house.

Last year I set a few pots on shelves directly over
the hot pipes, plunging them in leaves about half
their depth. I soon perceived that the plants in
these pots thrived better than those not plunged.
It seemed as if the roots made haste to find their
way through the hole into the leaves where a
growth ensued, different in character to that inside
the pots. The leaves retained, immediately under
the pots, a certain amount of moisture in which
the small rootlets appeared to revel, and with the
increasing decay of the leaves an increasing luxuri-
rance of plant became apparent. The appearance
of these leaves is certainly not ornamental, but I
concluded to overlook that. I arranged the whole
of my plants on that substratum.

In syringing and watering the surface of the
leaves it of course wet more or less, and the mois-
ture is retained on those shelves and stages beneath
which there was no heat. I am afraid that this
extra moisture may so reduce the temperature as to
occasion damage during severe frosts. Your arti-
cle states that " a regularly moist atmosphere has a
baneful influence on growing plants." I must re-
mark th'at a dry atmosphere does not agree so well
with a miscellaneous collection of plants, as one that
is moist. Provided there is a sufficiency of ventila-
tion, the moisture is favorable to healthy vegeta-
tion. That is my experience. And towards Spring
when the sun becomes powerful, the benefit derived
from the leaves is remarkable. I continued the
experiment throughout the Summer months, and
proved to my extreme satisfaction that the most
delicate plants will grow and thrive under glass, ap-
parently indiflFerent to the most severe extreme of
heat from the sun's rays whilst plunged in leaves
half their depth. Indeed, the plants experimented
with proved better than the same kinds plunged
out of doors, and in the shade. Watering from a
rose after sun down was all the attention bestowed.

I noticed that Fuchsias, Tree Carnations, Primu-
las, Geraniums, Cinerarias especially Roses, thrive
better upon the leaves than standing back upon
the stages or shelves. I should be loath to banish
the leaves, only the fear of a considerably decreased
temperature during severe frost would induce me
to do so.

I When we said a regularly moist atmosphere had
a baneful influence on vegetation, we meant, as

the context of the article showed, an atmosphere
moist to saturation, and in which there was no
change from a moist to a dryer condition. The
ventilation our correspondent refers to is just what
breaks up this regular condition, and makes it ir-
regular, that is, dry and moist by turns,— and
proves our argument, that when we ventilate it is
not so much that we are letting fresh air in, as it is
that we are permitting moist air to go out. The
formula would be this : — there can be no growth
without evaporation, — (there is no grmoth in a
Wardian case), therefore, when by ventilating we
produce evaporation, we favor growth.

A certain degree of moisture in the air is essen-
tial to plant growth. — Ed.]

HISTORICAL NOTES ON THE BARTLBTT
PEAR.

BY THE EDITOR.

The origin of the Pear we call the Bartlett was
once wrapped in mystery. Up to about fifty years
ago it was con'^idered an American seedling, — but
as the original tree could not be found, an impres-
sion began to prevail that they innst be imported
trees, and the late Mr. Robert Manning investiga-
ted the matter and came to the conclusion that the
trees had been imported from England, and that
the variety was the Williams'' Bon Chretien.

It is very evident that Mr. Manning was one of
the most careful and painstaking of American
Pomologists, — but it is unfortunately the fact that in
matters of history, what is evidence to one mind is
not to another, and so much that have been received
by the most careful historians as truths, have
afterwards been f6und to be errors, — that we have
long since come to the conclusion that there is no
statement of history so sacred as to be above inves-
tigation.

The Williams' Bon Chretien and the Bartlett are
most probably identical, but we propose to ofi'er a
few suggestions on the suspicious facts of its his-
tory.

The resemblance between foreign fruits and na-
tive ones is often so great as to misleafl the most
careful observers, and he who observes the circum-
stances of a ftict will often learn more than he who
depends on " eye witnesses. " The Delaware G-rape
is an instance of this. When we took charge of
this journal we found the opinion almost universal
that this varie y was of foreign origin ; and to such
an extent had this notion prevailed that Mr. Prince
and many others had identified it with the Red
Risling, just as conclusively as Mr. Manning, with

328

®I)e ©arbtner's Pontljlj.

the aid, as we believe, of Mr. Fiiuce, identified the
Bartlott with the Williaui.s' Bun Chretien Pear.
We were not acquainted with the Red lli.shng ; but
from our experience with the colors and forms of
wild Grapes, some of which we had seen so exactl}'
like Delaware in all but its excjuisite flavor, we bold-
ly took the ground of its native origin from these
circumstances alone.

Our readers will remember the somewhat acrimo-
nious attacks made on us, especialli' by Dr. Grant's
agents and many others for the position we as-
sumed.— but who is there now who regards the
Delaware as a foreign Grape?

Notwithstanding that those who have an English
acquaintance with Bartlott would, at first sight, take
Bartlott for the B. Chretien, another careful compa-
rison as in the llislingand Delaware Grapes, might
show a difference, — and there certainly are some dif-
ferences between its English & American characters.
In England its outline is rather paiiduricform or fid-
dloshajjod than pyriforuj. Then the quality of the
Bartlott is far superior to any Williams' Bon Chre-
tien ever grown in Europe any where, and the time
of ripening is, as Prince .says, just succeeding the
English Jargonelle. He must have followed some
English author in this, hdwevor, for Bartlett does
not succeed E. Jargonelle in Pennsylvania by nearly
throe weeks, nor, we believe, does it any where
in the United States.

These differences are recognized, but it is said
the climate accounts for them.

But the analogy of all kind of fruits is the reverse
of this. As regards qualitj', almost all European
Apples and Pears deteriorate when brought here ;
Some of them are found to do well in some special
locahties as well as in their own countries, — but
none of them better. The Pted Astrachan Apple is
probably the nearest parallel to such a case as this
sniiposcdoneofthe Bartlett. It does well i^eyicm%,
but no where any better than whore it came from.
We have lieard of the Concord Grape doing better
south than at its native place, and we have believed
i% — but we have recently ate as good Concord
Grapes raised at Boston as we have ever had from
any where, and we are now satisfied that that idea
has no foundation in fact. That the Williams' Bon
Chreti(!n on the other hand .should be a coniijara-
tively inferior fmit in England, France, Holland,
Belgium, everywhere ii. Europe, — and yet when
introduced into this contitient, everywhere so
superior, from Canada to Florida, and from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, is more improbable than to
believe that no such per.son as General Washington
evov existed. Now let us look at dates and figures.

It is said that a Captain Brewer, master of a ship
trading between Boston and England, brought
over two Williams' Bon Chretien trees in 1799, and
planted them in his garden at Dorchester. This
property afterwards passed into the Bartlett family,
who finding the Pears good, distributed them un-
der the name of Bartlett ; they and all others con-
sidering it a seedling, and calling it the Bartlett, —
but as observing pomologists could not but notice
they were grafted trees, another origin had to be
accounted for, and then it was for the first time
discovered that the trees had been imported from
England a quarter of a century before.

Now the writer has been a gardener. He knows
how gardeners change and lemove trees when the
employers can know nothing of it, from one part of
the ground to another, for the tree's benefit, — how
they get grafts from neighbors and brother gar-
deners, and stick them in in all sorts of places of
which the emi)loyer is ignorant, especially if he be
a seafaring man and a general rover, and perhaps
indiflferent about garden matters at home, though
he may bring over a few trees when the humor
strikes him, — and we cannot but feel that this dis-
covery, after some twenty-five j^ears of forgetfulness,
may possibly be a mistaken one for all ; and a visit
we recently paid to the trees, by the kind favor of
our good friend Col. Wilder, gives some color to
the suspicion. There is at least ten years of diffe-
rence in the ages of the two trees, — theycould not
have been brought over together. One was evi-
dently grafted where it grows, and on a sucker.
They are grafted about four or five feet from the
ground, which is a Gorman practice, and was rarely,
we think we may say never practiced in a London
nursery. All strong probabilities that the plants
never came from England as supposed.

Now let us look at dates.

The Williams' Bon Chretien appears to have
sjtrung up in the garden of a Mr. Wheeler, a school-
master at Aldermaston, in Berkshire, — .some writer
whom Loudon has followed, and our authors copied
.say, in 1770. But this is most probably an error, —
for the fruit was not much known in England till
1810. In 181G it was first exhibited before the
London Horticultural Society, which, however, had
not long been in existence ; but it is evident, from
the reports of the Society, that the leading members
had little knowledge of it, and at the instigation
of Mr. Sabine, the Secretary, Sir W. Hooker un-
dertook to examine into its origin, and he reported
that it originated " twenty }'ears before," in Mr.
Wheeler's garden, which would be 179G. If Mr.
Bartlett' 8 predecessor received the trees from Eng-

If^^

land in 1799, the grafts must have been taken from
the original tree when it was but a seedling of a year
old, if Sir William Hooker's account is of any value.
Sir William (then Mr. Hooker) might, however,
have spoken "in round numbers," as he probably
did, seeing that fruit was known, as we note below
in 1807, — but no doubt with this allowance, meaning
a few years of the mark. He would not have said
20 if he meant 30. That Hooker's account is near-
ly correct is corroborated by the fact that Forsyth,
in his first work on fruits, published in 1802, makes
no mention whatever of the Williams' Bon Chretien,
though he is careful to bring up all varieties of
consequence to the time he writes ; in which of his
numerous editions he first introduces it we do not
know, as we have only the first edition ; but we
take it, if it was an article so well known as to be
cultivated for sale in a London nursery in 1798,
Forsyth would have known something of it in 1802.
McDonald in his excellent " History of Practical
Gardening," published in 1807, is the first writer in
our collection who notices it, and he speaks of it
only by reputation. He calls it " \\ illiams' Seed-
ling, resembling a Summer Bon Chretien, and
which Mr. Forsyth says will be a valuable acquisi-
tion to market gardeners, because of its immediately
succeeding the Windsor Pear." Is it likely, un-
der all these circumstances, this Pear was intro-
duced into America in 1799?

We think not. We think there is a chance
that the Bartlett is an American Seedling Pear, so
much perhaps like Williams' Bon Chretien,' that as
in the case of Risling and Delaware Grape, would
favor a belief in their identity. The original trees
may have stood on grounds built over and the
locality destroyed before Mr. Manning commenced
his investigation, and these grafted trees be the
sole survivors, — at any rate there seems to be rea-
son for some doubts ; and in the absence of direct
means of comparison we publish our suspicions
that the subject may be investigated, and if it
should turn out that the Bartlett is really an Ameri-
can Pear after all, those who think native fruits
best adapted to native soils, will thank us for the
hint.

" BIG TREES."

BY A. FENDLER, ALLENTON, MISSOURI.

As the subject of " Big Trees" seems not to be
without interest to the horticulturist, I give you
the following account of a remarkable tree I met
with in my wanderings through Venezuela, South
America: —

In travelling from La Victoria, a small town in

the province of Aragna, towards Puerto-Cabello
the road leads, in part, along the northern shore of
the beautiful lake of Valencia, situated in a longi-
tudinal valley nearly 1.500 feet above the level of
the sea. This valley is of unsurpassed fertility,
and Humboldt, the great traveller, calls it one of
the most charming realms he has ever seen in all
his travels. And, indeed, he has not said too much
in favor of this delightful region, which with re-
gard to climate, productiveness of soil, and smiling
scenerj', approaches, as near as can be, in this com-
plaining world of ours, the ideal image of an earthly
paradise.

In the middle of the road above mentioned, three
miles west of Turmero, stands the famous 'Zamang,'
an enormous tree, belonging to the suborder Crcsal-
pineas. It is not so much on account of the height
or the dimensions of the trunk for which thi^j tree
is celebrated , but it is the size, and especially the
horizontal diameter of its head, that attracts our
attention and fills us with astonishment.

Its head is somewhat of the shape of an opened
umbrella and covers very nearly an acre of ground.
In 1857 I measured the head in its greatest diame-
ter from E. S E. to W. N. W., most carefully,
and found it to be 206 feet 1 1 in lies. Fifty j'ears
preceding it was found by Humboldt to measure in
its greatest diameter 192 feet French measure,
which is equal to about 204 feet 6 inches English.
Hence we see that this extraordinary tree has, with-
in fifiy-seven years increased the horizontal diame-
ter of its head only by two feet six inches, from
which we may infer that it is of a trood old age.
The natives assert, moreover, that as far back as the
discovery of the country by the Spaniards, three
and a half centuries ago, the "Zamang" was, even
at that early day, reputed for its enormous size.
At the time I saw it, it was but thinly covered with
leaves, and seemed to lack vigor of growth. The
native's hold it in high veneration, and it was
against the law to break even the smallest twig
from it.

In looking at a big tree like this we cannot help
reflecting on the toughness of its fibers, for its prin-
cipal branches stand out over one hundred feet on
either side of the trunk, in a nearly horizontal posi-
tion, free in the air without any natural or artificial
props. Besides their own enormous weight these
branches sustain the additional weight of an as-
tonishing mass of succulent heavy epiphytes and
parasites, such as Bromeliads, Orchides, Cacti,
Mistletoes and fleshy Piperaceae.

The fact that these branches, reaching out hori-
zontally a hundred feet from the point of attach-

-' — ._-__-,.^^— __^____ — QB^^

330

She (Sarbrutr's IHonthln.

ment, can for centuries withstand the continual pull
downward of the combined gravitating force of th.'
whole earth, may well set the philosopher a think-
ing about the nature of that wonderful force ofli/e
that joined atom? into fibres and fibro< into branches
and forced the ultimate particles of matter against
their own innate affinities to cohere to each other
in a nac order of combination, and in this new state
protects the structure it reared against dissolution
frojn the powerful and persevering attacks of at-
mospheric agencies.

Oxygen in connection with heat and moisture is
constantly and with fiendish pertinacity at work to
tear down and destroy whatever the force of life
builds up, that is, all organic bodies, whether ani-
mal or vegetable. It cannot succeed, however, as
long as the living force is sufficiently active and
energetic within these bodies. But the moment
the influence of life over its body is gone the chemi-
cal forces are left masters of the battle field, and
the atoms of the most beautiful and perfect organic
structures are generally the first and fleetest to
follow their powerful sway.

To be sure, by properly protecting the dead wood,
branches, and even leaves and fruit against heat,
air and moisture, their cohesion may be kept up
for an indefinite period ; but leave them exposed to
the same influences they were exposed to while
part of the live tree, and sooner or later the con-
nection of their particles will be dissolved, and the
atoms go from whence they came, to the soil and
the atmosphere.

COAL TAR A PREVENTIVE FOR THE
STRIPED BUG.

BY C. N. DOANK, JAMAICA, L. I., N. Y.

After years of experiment, and having tried with
only partial success all the prescribed remedies, I
have at length hit on a method to prevent the
ravages of the striped bug on Cucumber, Squash
and Melon vines. It is simply bits of paper dipped
in coal tar and laid on the ground clo.se to the vines.

As good a way as any would be to take the leaves
from some worthless book (I used a Patent Office
Report) and dipping them in the tar, lay two or
three pieces close to the plants, then with the foot
draw a little earth on the clean end of the paper to
prevent them blowing away, and the work is com-
pleted.

The plan is a perfect success.

The first attack was made on a hill of Water-
melons, and before the papers had been on the
ground twenty seconds, 1 counted as many bugs fly

away from the hill, and on more than one hundred
hills of vines in my garden, I have not seen a bug
from the moment I applied the tar to the present
time.

Now this remedy may be known to many, but it
is ncic to me, and at the risk of repeating a twice
told tale, I send you the result of my experience,
hoping that others, who have not tried this plan,
may be assisted in their efi^orts to banish from their
gardens that destructive pest, the striped bug.

ASMART FOR FODDER.

BY R. SINCLAIR, BALTIMORE, MD.

Can you or any of the subscribers to the Monthly
inform me relative to the value of the weed vulgarly
called Asmart or Smart Weed, (Polygonum persi-
caria). It is very prolific, springs up spontane-
ously and is ready for cutting about the 20th of
September. It throws out numerous red branches,
and is about four feet in height, bears a profusion
of small, red flowers, or rather a clump of oblong
heads. A friend told me a few days since that it
acts as a tonic and alterative. My horses eat it
with as much avidity as the best timothy hay. I
intend curing about three tons for my horses. I
planted, last Spring by way of experiment, twenty
pounds of the tall Mnltiflora sun flower, I find it
makes an excellent green fodder for horses and
mules ; horned cattle refuse it.

The product of green fodder, seed and stalks I
rate at eight tons per acre (stalks spreading 4 by 5
feet, one in a hill). Next year I expect to plant it
more extensively, and in a few hills will j)lant Lima
Beans, the former about the first of April and the
beans tenth of May. As the bean vines advance
the leaves and branches of the Sun-flower will be
removed, leaving only the main flower, which, when
reached by the vines, will be cut off with the tops
of the vines, thus stopping the vines at the i)roper
time, causing the pods to fill early and increase in
product. Both crops are gross feeders, and requiies
liberal manuring and cultivation.

The Sun-flower, like the Smart Weed, is an
alterative and must be fed with caution, especially
in cold weather.

fer

BEDDING GERANIUMS.

BY J. M., PHILADELPHIA.

The Geranium, from the disregard of most of its
varieties, to the heat of our Summer's sun, has
superseded to a great extent the use of other plants
for Summer decoration of our flower beds. Various
as has been the plants, new and old, used for that I (W\

purpose, it is perhaps, as yet, surpassed by none
for effect.

The attention that has lately been paid to the
raising of seedlings, as well as the production of
good formed petals, has given us such a diversity
of glowing colors, leaves and habits, as to fill amongst
themselves every requirement for garden decora-
tion. We have amongst them the veriest dwarfs
of six inches growth in a season, and intermediate
sizes to the giant of five feet or more. I know of
no other flower, the Verbena excepted, that will
give a continuous bloom of flowers throughout the
season, with such satisfaction.

The season just ended has given me an opportu-
nity to note the differences in a collection of about
fifty, most of them being of the newer kinds, or
standard sorts of an older date. I propose to divide
them, in mj? descriptions, into two divisions. 1st
from dwarfs to medium size, 2d from medium to
the largest, naming the best only of the collection
referred to. The reader will understand the letter
h after the name as signifying Horse-shoe leaf, the
the others are green foliage without the zone.

bWARFS TO MEDIUM.

1. Clara — Pink self, excellent dwarf bedder.

2. Lady Rokebey — Flowers of a deep brick red,
size medium,

3. Rosamond, h — Rosy salmon, white edge, one
of the very best.

4. Christine — fine pink, light centre ; very dwarf.

5. Boule de Feu — Deep scarlet, very like the old
Tom Thumb.

6. Stella — Vivid scarlet, immense trusses of
flowers, will compete as a bedder with any other I
have seen ; it belongs to the Nosegay section.

7. Lallah, 7i — Dark bronze, outer margin of
white ; first-class.

8. Beaute de Suresne, Ti — Rosy pink, light
centre, very thick flower stalks ; petals of good
form, and large.

9. Hector, h — This might be described as a vivid
cherry or salmon cherry ; it is one of the best of its
color I have ever met with.

10. Helen Lindsay — As the above is the best of
the cherry, so this I rank as the best pink, white
centre, it is far superior to Christine.

11. General Scott, h — This is a salmon pink, with
a beautiful leaf; it approaches, in color, the well
known " Col. Harcourt ;" size medium.

12. Tom Thumb — Scarlet, still one of the best,
its leaves will be a little spotted when exposed to
the full sun.

MEDIUM TO LARGEST SIZE.

1. Chance — Fine scarlet, very round, green,
woolly leaves.

2. Really Good, li — A really good orange scarlet,
white eye.

3. Cecilia, li — Darker scarlet than the previous
very clear white centre.

4. Miranda — Beautiful thick petaled, scarlet
orange.

5. Lanata — Dark cherry, noble truss, fine leaf;
good.

6. Countess de Guido — Rose centre, bright
white margin, distinct.

7. Madame Vaucher — V^hite, slight pink, tinge
before decay.

8. President King — Bright vermilion, distinct.

9. Harkaway — The deepest orange of any ; pro-
fuse bloomer, small green leaves.

10. Emperor of the French, A — Brilliant scarlet ;
a first-class flower.

11. Col. Harcourt — Salmon, large, prominent
flower stalks.

12. General Grant — Scarlet ; a first-class flower.
Amongst the newer kinds of which I had formed

"great expectations" was "Lord Palmerston," a
cherry scarlet in the Nosegay class, it proved to be
entirely worthless with me ; loosing almost all its
leaves in August, and was such a lamentable failure,
that I took the whole of them up at once, and
potted them, having found it admirable in partial
shade, though useless as a bedder in the sun. The
above selection are all good bedders, and would give
general satisfaction, in regard to variety.

It will be seen that the list embraces some of the
latest European additions, the majority of them
are of European raising, a few of the number are
American seedlings, and are very fine.

The variegated sorts I have omitted, as I have
not succeeded well with them as out-door plants,
such as the above list is intended to be.

BLACK ENOT ONCE MORE.

BY C. V. RILEY, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

It appears that there never will be an agreement
upon this vexed subject of Black Knot. I have
read with interest the individual views advanced of
late in your columns ; but the last, by L. Mowry,
has induced me to send you these lines.

I merely take an entomological view of the mat-
^^er, having often cut open these knots in search of
insects. I have seen them entirely free of insects,
and again in others have found different species,
but never found any gall makers. From these
facts and without having given the matter very
serious thought, I had concluded that Black Knot
was of vegetable origin, and have lately been con-

^^^

fr/*/;ov3-

i^

532

Cjji; Ciardnur's (Ponthlj.

finned in this opinion by an article from the pen
of Mr. Walsh, in the Practical Entomologist for
March ; the writer having found, from late experi-
ence and experiment, that the Bhick Knot was an
Epiphj'tal fungus, growing on the Plum tree, as
other such fungi are known to grow on other sub-
stances, and that it increases b\- throwing out, an-
nually, about the beginning of August, all over its
surface, little c.vlindrical filaments, one-eighth of an
inch long, which bear the spores by which such
substances usually multiplj'.

Mr. Mowry says he is satisfied that the cause of
the disease in his locality is a small white maggot
or grub, about the form and size of those found in
de ective cheese, the head tipped with brown, and
when put under a magnifying glass, having the ap-
pearance of the white grub found in decaying wood.
There are so many white grubs that live in decay-
ing wood that it is difficult to conjecture which is
meant, but from the above description of the mag-
got, from its being identical with these found by
Mr. M. in his Plums, I know it to be nothing but
the larva of our common curculio, Rhyncluenus
nemiphu\ and I also know that from its nature it
is incapable of causing the swelling, as man is of
causing a pair of wings to grow from his shoulders.
The female curculio, by instinct, pierces out Plums,
as orchardi.sts know to their sorrow, and deposits
therein an egg. That same instinct leads her at
times to deposit the egg in the Black Knot, where
the maggot that issues from it finds nourishment
enough to develop and perfect itself Thus, the
curculio instead of causing Black Knot merely takes
advantage of its being there as do many other in-
sects.

[We showed some years ago, in our magazine,
that the Black Knot could not he caused by small
insects, and was, most probably, of fungoid origin.
The subsequent researches of others has shown
that it is of this nature, and we regard it as a set-
tled fact that it is so.

If it is thought proper to discuss the matter
further, we suggest to our correspondents that the
arguments must be Irom the opposite side, — that
is not to show that the knot is caused by an insect,
— but that it is not of fung .id origin.

j In the mean time we advise all who wish to cul-
tivate Plums or Cherries, to act as if the di.sea^

1 was of fungoid origin, whether they feel full conn-

f dcnce in the theory or not.

That action should consist in cutting away all
" knotty" parts as soon as they appear, and burn
the knots. This will prevent the fungus maturing
spores from those places at any rate, and thus

check its reproduction. Also, persuade one's
neighbors to cut away and burn any they may have
on their trees.

Also, remember that one of the most important
discoveries of modern gardening is that healthy
tiees with healthy roots will become impregnated
with spores of fungi, which may generate from un-
healthy matter in the ground about the roots.
Therefore, much may be done by digging away un-
wholesome soil from about the trees, and replacing
with new, — or, if the trees are not very large,
transplanting them altogether to other parts of
one's ground.

We are much obliged to our correspondent for the

able manner in which he presents the fungoid

theory, — and are sure our readers will profit by it.

— Ed.1

««■»»

UNFRUITFUL BLOSSOMS ON FEAR TREES

BY 1)11. J. S. IIOUOIITON, PHILADELPIIIA.

The remarks which have been made upon the
question which I raised as to the cause of the un-
fruitfulness of certain Pear trees, which blo.ssom
" all over," every year, and yet bear little fruit,
leave the matter just where they found it.

It is really curious how opinions in horticultural
matters may be combatted. The most perfect
theories that can be got up, on almost any point,
may be knocked down by a few facts, and plenty
of facts can be collected to sustain almost any plau-
sible theory. Here are some instances in point : —

From time immemorial almost, it has been
argued that Melons, Cucumbers, Peaches, (kc,
under glass, needed the aid of bees and insects to
help set their fruit. Indeed, so far has the aid of
bees been thought necessary to assist in the im-
pregnation of blossoms, that some gardeners have
put "pots of bees," as one writer calls them, in
orchardhouses to assist in setting the flowers. But
here comes a wi.se man who has discovered that
this practice is all wrong, and that the bees do
more harm than good. Hear him. The extract
is from an EnglLsh journal : —

^' Been and Fruit Setting. — One of j'our corres-
pondents advocates the employment of bees for the
purpose of fertilizing the blossoms of Peach and
Nectarine trees in early houses. Convinced that,
in such houses, bees do much more harm than
good, I carefully shut them out as much as possi-
ble. In the month of March, when the trees are
in blos.eom, there is not a single flower out of doors
which will yield them a mouthful of food ; and it
is extraordinary how, in a fine day, they will dis-
cover where Peaches are in flower under glass, and

^¥?

^^t gardener's (ploutljlj.

333

how thevwill gain admission. When they appear,
as they frequently do, in numbers, it will be found
that they eat up the pollen as fast as it is set free,
and that so completely that little or none will be
found upon the stigmas. All the good they could
do would be to scatter the pollen, a benefit which
is much more effectually and safely secured, by the
'stout stick' recommended by Mr. Rivers. — An
Amateur and Mia'oscopist.'^

To keep the house dry while Peaches, Grapes
and other fruits are in flower, has ever been one of
the cardinal principles of hothouse culture.

But in a late English journal I find a writer who
argues, with no little force, that it is dangerous to
keep the bJossoras very dry, and that it is really
better to ivet them a little in a dry time. This is
the argument. It is somewhat lengthy, but it is
worth reading : —

" Setting of Peaches and Nectarines. — The Rev.
W. F. Radclyffe states ' that if the blossoms of these
are kept dry (and dry they must be keptj they will
often fall and refuse to set, unless the trees are
watered at the stumps.' Doubtless, if the trees
are dry, watering at the roots while they are in
flower is a good and safe practice ; but 1 very much
dmiht the necessity of keeping the blossoms ch-y. No
doubt a dry atmosphere is favorable to the ripen-
ing and dispersion of pollen. But this is of second-
ary importance to the vigor and health of the pis-
til. The former is too often secured at the expense
of the latter, and the crop is sacrificed in conse-
quence. This catastrophe is as often as not the re-
sult of excessive drought. Looking at the delicacy
of the organs concerned in attaching the embryo
fruit to the tree, it is obvious that a genial, and oc-
casionally a moist atmosphere would be much more
likely to strengthen them than a dry one. And if
the whole attention of the cultivator is given to
secure the most favorable condition for the develop-
ment of pollen, is it any wonder that the other sex
droops and dies in consequence? That they do so
is a matter that I have proved over and over again
by actual observation. Out of doors I have long
observed that stone-fruit sets best in genial showery
weather. It is chiefly in those seasons when the
dry winds of March intrude so far into April as to
last through most of the blooming period, that
failures occur. These failures often happen when
there has been no cold severe enough to injure the
blossoms. The stamens are perfectly matured,
pollen is dispersed in showers, but the stigma is
withered with excessive drought, and a crop be-
comes impossible. It was such facts that made me
sceptical of the use of a dry atmosphere for setting

«cr

stone-fruits. It then occurred to me that such
dryness was unnatural. In no country are the blos-
soms of trees kept dry during the ticklish process
of setting. Supposing the Peach, for instance, to
be a nativeof the genial climate of Persia, and that
no rain might fall when it was in bloom, what
about the semi-tropical dews? Certainly this, that
as a Scotch mist is reported ' to wet an English-
man to the skin,' so a tropical dew is equal to an
April shower. -Presuming that Nature's method
at home and abroad could not be far wrong, and
observing, moreover, that she was eminently suc-
cessful, I began many years ago copying her exam-
ple in this matter. Hence, instead of the dry I
adopted a moderately moist regimen, with the best
possible results. During a continuance of dull
weather little or no moisture will be required for
Peaches, &c., in bloom ; but on every other even-
ing of bright days send a shower of diamond dust
from a skillfully used syringe right over and on to
all your trees, blossoms and all, and they will show
their appreciation of your skill by setting all the
surer in consequence. 1 do not recommend ordi-
nary syringing ; that m.ight be too heavy, and would
batter the pistils, perhaps injure the stamens, and
at least too rudely disperse the pollen ; but with
one finger or thumb over the single opening of the
syringe a gentle shower, as like dew as possible, is
easily produced. And such a shower strengthens
every part of the pistil, and is highly favorable to
that development and fixing of ovary which we, for
want of a better name, call 'setting.' Neither
does it at all injure the stamens, nor hinder the
maturation of the pollen. Even the check which
the presence of the moisture in the air places upon
the diffusion of the pollen seems useful, for it is not
always the most volatile pollen that is the most
effective. That most readily dispersed to a dis-
tance often fails in performing its legitimate func-
tions at home. Frequently whole showers of dry
pollen may fall from the trees, and the stigmas re-
main untouched. A certain amount of moisture
seems needful to enable the stigma to retain the
pollen. This is generated and deposited by the
action of vegetable life ; but a dry atmosphere licks
or dries up this natural provision for insuring per-
fect fructification ; all which are additional reasons
against keeping blossoms dry, as a means of setting
fruit. Neither is it quite certain that Mr. Rad-
clyffe's crop was insured altogether by the root-
watering. It is possible that the trees were helped
to set by the evaporation of the water from the
earth into the air. They had been kept very dry,
be it observed, without setting : therefore dryness

I I

alone will not set fruit. They were watered abun-
dantly, and they set '" as if by enchantment. ' Now,
unless the trees were in pots tliey could hardly be
dry at the root, for there is scarcely any drain upon
the trees until after the fruit is set. Hence it is
quite possible that a large jiortion of the abundant
water which found its way into the air, was, per-
haps sensibly as dew, or insensibly as vapor, deposi-
ted on the organs concerned in fructification, and
thus by virtual overhead watering insured a crop.

Be that as it may, I confidently advise .frequent
dustings of water over all stone-fruits in blossom,
as I have prescribed, as one of the likeliest means
of in.-uring a thoroughly good crop. I have done
it for years, and have never failed but once, and
that season it was not done, as not a gleam of sun-
shine gladdened the trees during the whole six
weeks they remained in blossom, and watering was
out of the question." — Censor:

Now, if the blossoms on my Pear trees don't set
fruit, i»erhaps the bees eat up the pollen, or per-
haps there were no bees there to set the fruit ; or
perhaps the season was too drj', or too wet, and the
blossoms failed from these causes. Who knows?
Furthermore, I learn that birds frequently eat the
vital germs out of Pear buds before they open, and
cantharides devour the embryo fruits after they be-
gin to ftrni. Then the Codling moth, that des-
tructive "worm i'the bud," is almost always pre-
sent at the inception of every Pear, and causes
thousands of young fruits to drop prematurely.
Really the theories, facts and opinions are thick as
Blackberries in Jersey.

But seriou.sly, there is still something mysterious
in the fact that many Pear trees, which to all ap-
pearance are well furnished with fruit buds, and
which blossom most profusely, yet set little or no
fruit. My idea is, that the blossoms are imperfect.
But I am getting shy of theories in horticulture.
Even facts and figures seem to pervert the truth
sometimes, or they may be used to pervert it.
Let us have more light on the cause of unfruitful
blossoms on Pear trees. I hope our botanical mi-
cro.scopes will be applied to this subject next Spring.

P. S. — An ob.serving friend suggests that hum-
ming birds, spiders and cat-birds feed upon fruit
bud.-- and blossoms. The external causes of injury
appear to be very numerous, in addition to frosts.

[Most of the differences in opinion our correspon-
dent refers to in the extracts arise from one p5rty not
having an accurate sense of the meaning or intended
meaning of the terms employed by the other party.
For instance, in the quoted remarks of "Censor"
' against Mr. Radclyffe, they each are arguing about

diflFerent things. Radclyffe says in effect "keep the
house dry enough to ripen and disperse the pollen,"
— and the other says, " but not dry enough to wither
the stigma or embrj'o fruit." Both are right.

In like manner about bees in a forcinghouse :
one may be right as a general theory, that insects
are useful in setting the fruit ; and yet it may be
true that occasionally they may be " more plague
than profit."

Our correspondent's suggestion about examining
the flowers of these unfruitful blossoms is the pro-
per one. We have in horticultural theories too
many oinnions, and not enough observers. We
have no doubt now that the subject has been so
strongly brought before the public, some of our
friends, icith the Jtowers actually before them, will
be able to furnish a theory of practical value. — Ed. J

BLUE FLOWERS.

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

Much has been written and said about the impos-
sibility of getting a Camellia, Dahlia, Paeonia and
Rose to bear blooms of blue. We think it a wise
ordination that withholds blue bonnets from those
Queens of the four seasons, as they would make the
bonnie breast h-uots, of very numerous genera, look
too diminutive, — and they look gorgeous and majes-
tic enough without.

The number of species and varieties that bear
blooms of Vdue is immense, and some of them are in
bloom all the year round, (with the aid of a green-
house. )

In the open ground Crocuses and Violets intro-
duce both light and dark blue blooms in March, and
China Asters carry them out in November.

The sizes, forms and shades of blooms are so va-
rious, that every genus has a peculiarity in that
respect: — those of Aconitum are like hoods; Asters
the form of buttons; Agapanthus like umbels; Cam-
panulas like bells ; Convolvulus like funnels ; Del-
phiniums have spurs ; Browallia, Nemophilla, Ni-
gella, Periwinkle, Tradescantia, have flat, shill-
ing-shaped blooms of bright azure blue ; Iris has
beau knots; Crocus has cups; Hoveyaand Kennedya
have pea-formed blooms of indigo blue ; Anagallis
coerula, Myosotis and Lobelia have small florets of
blue ; Wisteria and Justicia have clear, sky-blue
blooms.

The following genera, with their species and vari-
eties, will each furnish blooms of blue six months
in the year, in open ground : — Aster, Campanula,
Delphinium, Lobelia, Viola, Verbena, Veronica,
&c. , and the following Climbing Plants will afford a

i^hfj fiard^n^r's ^oiitlilg.

335

'[?

bloom of blue for six months in the year, out-doors :
Convolvulus major, Ipomea, MaurandiaBarclayana,
Clematis, Wisteria, ttc. ; and what odors more sweet
than Heliotropium, Hyacinth, Levendula, Meze-
reon and Viola, whose blooms are all blue. Here
are a few common plants with the names they are
most generally known by, that bloom in the differ-
ent months of the year, beginning with the "hardy
kinds:" March — Crocus, Violet, Daphne meze-
reon; April — those of March, and Hyacinth, Grape
Hyacinth, Iris, Rocket Larkspur, Anemone, Hepa-
tica. Periwinkle, &c.; May — all of April except Cro-
cus, and Mezereon, Pansy, Campanula, Monks-
hood, Perennial Larkspur, Lobelia, Blue Bottle,
Plumbago Larpentse, Tradescantiavirginica, Forget-
me-not, Verbena, Canterbury bells. Clematis azu-
rea. Wisteria sinensis, Groves Love, &c. ; June —
many of those of May with Lavender, Heliotrope,
Browallia elata. Branching Larkspur, Wisteria fru-
te-scens, Clematis alpina and lanuginosa, &c. ; July
— all those of June, with Asters, Campanulas, Cen-
taureas, Veronica, Blue Sweet Pea, Blue Lupins,
Blue Anagallis, Ipomea, Morning glory, Afauran-
clia Barclayana, &c. ; August, September and
October, — ^nearly all those of July ; November —
A ters. Larkspurs, Lobelias, Veronica, Verbenas ;
In the Greenhouse — December and January — Lo-
belia, Veronica, Heliotrope; February and March —
Blue Crocus, Blue Hyacinth, Cineraria, Sweet Vio-
let, Blue Justicia, &c. , April and Maj' — Hoveya
Celsi, Kennedya monophylla. Wisteria, Gloxinia,
A^apanthus umbellatus, Campanula, &c..

Those in Italics are Climbing vines, generally
known.

In clothing an arbor, trellis and veranda, or deck-
ing a small bed, a garden or a park, we should
always set out, to give grace to the scenery, a good
number of plants that will yield blooms of blue. A
combination of colors, harmoniously blended, en-
hances the beauty of all that we do.

®l

PLUM KNOT-ANOTHER VIEW.

BY ISAAC HICKS, NORTH IlEAIPSTEAD, N. Y.

There is nothing in Nature's kingdom more
strange and will better reward investigation than
the vegetable parasite we call the fungus. Their
name is innumerable, and their presence nearly
everywhere.

Tiie most common is known as mould and mildew,
found on all damp and decaying substances ; others
abound in animals and living plants. The rust of
the cereal grains, mildew of the corn, and the black
knot and many other excrescences of plants and
trees are the work of this powerful agent. It
covers the Gooseberry as with a mantle ; grasps
the rind of the Apple and Pear and causes them to
crack ; attacks the leaves of the Grape-vine, the
Melon and Pumpkin, and crumbles them to powder.
A mighty enemy it is wherever moisture and heat
are favorable to its growth and development.

But a word about the black knot of the Plum
trees.

It is evident there are several of the fungus that
attacks fruit trees. There is one peculiar to the
Wild Cherry, one to the common Cherry, such as
the Morello and Duke class, and one that belongs
to the Plum, Each variety of trees mentioned has

its peculiar type of fungus, as much as different
species of animals and insects have that only para-
site which preys on them. About forty years ago
the black knot swept off all of a kind of bitter-
sweet Cherry that was quite common here, the
name I do not know. About seven years ago the
fungus attacked the Cherry trees to the west of
this place, in Kings County, Long Island, especially
the Kentish and Early Bichmond, and nearly killed
them ail. It gradually spread to this place, moving
eastward, and attacked the trees on the west side
of the orchard first. All efforts, by burning and
cutting, proved unavailing, for being propagated by
minute .'-]>ores, they spread from my neighbor's
trees, and hence our single efforts were unavailing.
They now appear to be clear from this pest such as
were not killed, and perhaps this generation will
not be troubled again.

The Plum fungus has its periods of increasing,
in certain places, to a great extent, and again being
nearly extinct. We may state that the Plum knot
did not prevail here at the time of the Cheny tree
di.^^aster, nor did the Wild Cherry knot show any
thing of an increased abundance. The spores of
the Cherry tree fungus find more resistance or
rather the bark of certain kinds do not allow them
to lodge and grow on some varieties as well as
others, as the Morello class were sadly knotted,
while the Mazzard was entirely free, and Elton,
Downer's Late, Honey, &c., were nearly or quite
free.

Now, we believe and argue that the kind of fun-
gus that destroyed the bitter Cherry forty years
ago could not be the same as the present fungus on
the Cherry, or else it would have also attacked the
Kentish and others then. And if the Plum knot
is not caused by a different fungus from the Wild
Cherry why does one prevail on one kind of tree at
a certain period and the other is free from it. That
insects are found in the excrescences is not much
more a conclusive argument that they were the
cause, than that if an ignorant person should find
an Apple with the worm of the Codling moth in it
he should think the worm was the cause of the
growth of the Apple.

Few .studies or variety of useful reading would
repay the perusal of the farmer and horticulturist
better than the physiology of vegetables and the
habits of insects. There we can read of the won-
derful works of the Creator and nothing will be
found more curious and more worthy of the study
than the tribe of vegetable life called the fungus.

None would doubt then what was the cause of
the Plum kriot, or believe that the larva of the
curculio and other insects found in them placed
there may be six months after the knot commenced
its growth under the bark did the mischief.
_ [We have already handed a communication of
similer import to this to the printer,— but are glad
to have one more of the same sort, as we wish par-
ticularly to impress on our readers the vast impor-
tance of studying the fungus question in connection
with fruit diseases.

A clear recognition of this fruitful source of evil
would institute plenty of "Yankee inventions" to
overcome the trouble, of this we are quite sure. —
Ed.]

336

iih^ gardener's c^onthlj.

PHILADELPHIA, NOVEMBER, 1866.

Xr" All Communications f 'r the Edidr should be addrps^fd.
"Thomas Mekha5, Gcrmantown, Philadelphia," and Business Let.
lers directed to "W. G. P. Briscklok, Box Philadelphia."

For Tonus of Sul.scription see second page cover.

For Terms of Advertising see page 33.

Volumes l.$l; 2, 3, 4. .5, 6, and 7, unbound. $2 each.

PHILOSOPHY OF POTATO ROOTS.

hardening treats of that wliich sustains the bod}',
I'lt-asos the eye and ministers to the palate, — but
not by any means the least of its pleasures consists
in the mental e.Kercise it affords, and which no
other .science, art or pursuit can furnish so ■well.

To illustrate with a Potato. In its relation to
agriculture, the Potato has decided the fate of na-
tions. England while thinly populated was ruled
by what we would call a i)iotective tariff, as one
most calculated to fill up a countrj' with popula-
tion. Under this system, manufacturing and popu-
lation increa.sed until the countrj' became so densely
inhabited that it produced more goods than its
agriculturists could buy, and the agriculturists
could not supply food enough for so many manu-
facturers,— so the far-seeing ones understood that
the time was come when a radical change must be
made in the national policy. J^nglish goods must
go abroad, and foreign food must be imported.
But the love of the past is always a sacred love ;
and no effort of man could make the change. At
length the Potato murrain came. The little food
was reduced still less, and free trade became at
once a necessity to the P^nglish people.

But what we wanted to say, particularly, in this
article was, that the Poiato tuber affords the mind
one of the best illustrations of a modern discovery
in vegetation, namely that almost all forms of plants
are but modifications of one general phni, on wliich
the whole of them seems founded. We will com-
pare the Potato with the Blackberry, and show
that the plan of each is exactly the same.

In the Spring of the year the Blackberrj- is a bud
under the soil. It pushes up and makes a stem.
While under the ground it pushes out what we call
runners, which terminate in strong buds, and have
numerous weaker ones along their length for several
inches, or it may be a foot or more. The connect-
ing part between the buds and the stem dies in
time, and the end buds form plants which are lefl
to form separate existences. A few buds may be

'de-

left at the ba.se of the canes, which form separate
existences without runners, — but, strictly speaking,
after flowering, the whole plant, root and branch
dies ; and the scaly end of the runners or suckers,
which become a little thickened or tuberous, have
to sustain the chief burden of the plant's reproduc-
tion.

The plan of the Potato is precisely the same.
In the Spring the bud shoots up a stem to b ar the
flowers and fruit-balls, and the under-ground
suckers push out to make separate existences.
They are first scaly thickened points, just as in the
Blackberry. After they are perfected, and the plant
flowers, it dies, root and branch, just as the Black-
berry does in time, and leaves these runners or
suckers to form new and independent plants.

The plan of both is exactly the same. The modi-
fication only that the stem of the Blackberry lives
a little longer than the stem of the Potato, — while
the Potato has somewhat thicker points (tubers)
than the Blackberry has.

There is in animal nature a certain force which
we call icill, which makes the organization do pretty
much as it pleases and yet within certain bounds;,
which seems to act uniformlj' in each separate class
of organism, — and yet there are certain circum-
stances from the exterior which seem to produce
motives which react on this interior force, that it is
often diflScult to decide which is leading. The same
plan seems to rule in plants. There is an internal
force which causes them to develop in a certain
way, — and there are external influences which seem
to often decide for the plant how and in what way
it shall go ; but there are times when development
seem so capricious that we cannot decide whether
it is the internal force or outward circumstances
that make the change.

We have had a good opportunity to obseiTC this
in the Potato this j'car. A lot of J*otatoessent out
runners in the usual way, but the ends instead of
being arrested by the internal force in the usual
and necessary way to produce tubers, sent up green
stems and shoots exactly as in the Blackberry or
Ras]>ben-y. Other Potato plants of the same kind
were near, apparently under like condition.s, which
produced proper tubers ; and the only explanation
was that the inner or tuber producing force was
not strong enough to assist growth sufl5ciently to
effect their object.

These are some varieties of the Potato, which
possess this power in so slight a degree that they
exert little force in arresting growth and thus form-
ing tubers. These tubers are very little more than
thickened, scaly, under-ground runners.

^(^h —

-^^^:.

§h£[ ©arbencr'fj J|lonfhl|

337

We give annexed a sketch of the Pine Cone
Potato, which is a variety tueh as we have referred

! !

i !

'■ to. A white and larger variety has been long

; known in Europe, — this one was grown in Massa-

' chu setts.

! This is the transitional grade between the Black-

■ berry form of the same plan and the regular thick

.' tuberous form which we commonly know as " the

' Potato."

I The whole study of development is a singularly

I beautiful, interesting and instructive one, — and no

1 one who has a garden or flowers on however small

I a scale, but would find the pleasure of gardening

1 considerably' enhanced by its pursuit.

RAISINS SEEDS.

Very little is known of this subject. The gene-
rally received theories of the process are unsatis-
factory. For instance, we say Peach seed to germi-
nate well must be frosted ; or else, if not frosted
they must be cracked before planting. A Southern
friend recently remarked to us that freezing must
be unnecessary, — "for," said he, "we have no
frost ; yet stones put in the ground in Fall alwa3'S
come up in the Spring without any trouble."

For our own part we have no doubt but that
freezing is often an injury to many seeds. Perhaps
it is not the frost, but rather the circumstances un-
der which seeds are frozen, that do the injury,

just the same as we find it in vegetation generally.
A Potato will often live through the Winter en-
tirely uninjured in the ground, provided it is four
inches deep under the surface, no matter how
severely it may be frozen, — but at 1 or 2 inches
it has not the shadow of a chance for its life. So
with some Evergreens well known to be hardy un-
der severe temperature when shaded, but which
exposed to the Winter"'s sun when frozen will not
resist comparatively low temperatures.

Thus we suppose that absolute frost is no injury
to seeds, but successive freezings and thawings evi-
dently are ; and this is more apparent with thin ■
.-ikinned, fleshy seeds than with harder ones, as we
should naturally suppose it to be, if the theory we
start with be correct.

Every seed raiser knows the difficulty of getting
any thing from a sowing of Pavias, Horse Chest-
nuts or Acorns, if the season be very severe, or the
beds be in the full sun in the open ground,— and
yet in the woods where the seeds fall, and are nearly
entirely on the surface uncovered, every one not
taken by mice or squirrels, invaribly grows. But last
season we saw a peck of English Acorns taken from
a tree and planted immediately in an open spot in
the garden. In the Spring only one grew. The
bed was examined and the Acorns found about one
to two inclies under the surface to be brown and
partiall3' decayed. The one which grew had got,
by some means, full four inches under ground. If
these Acorns had been sown on the surface and
then covered with some light, non-conducting ma-
terial, which would have prevented alternate freez-
ing and thawing, there is no doubt every seed
would have grown.

We saw another verj' remarkable case last year.
A nurseryman got a piece of ground ready for Maz-
zard Cherry stones in October, and left orders for
his man to set them. There were a few left over
from the preceding j'ear in sand in a shed, of which
the proprietor knew nothing, but which the man
understood were to be sown ; when the.^e were half
planted the error was discovered, and, supposing the
old stones to be worthless the new ones were sown
in with them, and the balance of the old ones
thrown away on the manure heap. The stones
sowed were lightly covered, and by Spring many
were drawn, by the thawing, to the surface, — but
not one new or old grew, while the manure heap in
June when we saw it, was completely covered with
young Cherries from the old seed thrown there.

We have said that burying deep prevented the
changes of temperature from injuring the seed, —
but it must not be forgotten that deep burial is op-

i®

posed to germination. Many seeds 4 to 6 inches
under the surface would either rot away in a short
tiiue or stay many years without growing. Seeds
must be near the air to sprout, and therefore the
shade and protection neces^^^ary to secure regularity
of temperature must he supplied by artificial means.
We had a very singular illustration of the necessity
of shallow planting of seeds the past season. The
writer received some seeds of Cfiilo2)sis linearis from
the Colorada last year. Anxious to raise this beau-
tiful American tree, we sowed and tended it per-
sonally. The seeds were barely covered but none of
them showed any signs of growing until one night drip
came on, and made a narrow channel all through
the centre ot the pot, uncovered the seeds in its
path, all of which grew and none other but these
exposed ones. Many would have said it was the
rain water, but as all in the pot was saturated, it
could only have been the uncovering.

The lesson is clear. To grow seeds well, thoy
must have air and moisture in regular amounts, —
and the only way to secure this is to sow on the
surface to secure the air; and to cover the surface
after sowing with some thin non-conductor, which
will preserve a regularity of moisture and tempera-
ture.

BOSTON HORTICULTUnS.

We had no thought of leaving home so late in
the .season when our gardening operations deman-
ded all our attention, — but the invitation from our
Bo.-ton friends, and especially from Hon. M. P.
Wilder, to come on during their exhibition and
see what they were doing, was so pressing, and yet
so kind, that without great violence to our feelings,
we could not decline; and we are glad we went,— -
not alone for the pleasure we experienced in meet-
ing .':0 many good friends of horticulture, and in
receiving eveiywhere so warm and cordial a wel-
come, but for the many interesting facts and
thoughts we collected together, which will serve to
interest our readers for many months to come. As
our first call in Boston was on Mr. Wilder we will
first say a few words on what we found there.

Mr. Wilder himself we found hale and hearty, —
and though now near his .seventieth year, as full of
zeal and energj'in behalf of horticulture and all the
kindred arts and sciences, that have tended so much
to the eminence of his town and State, and to the
prosperity of the whole Union, as he must have
been ironi his record forty years or more ago.
Everywhere in Boston we found institutions and
public works with which his name was honorably

connected, and while we were there Gov. Bullock,
in a public address, said that Mr. Wilder's name
would be inseperably connected with the history of
the State as one who had devoted a long life, and a
large fortune amassed in one of the most prominent
business firms in Boston, and successfullj' devoted
them to the interest of horticulture and agricul-
ture in the State and in the Union. It is a history
to be proud of, and our sincere wish is that it may
yet be continued for as many years as the best of
his friends dare to hope for.

To our readers Mr. Wilder is best known as a
Pomologist. One of thci founders, in fact, of the
National Pomological Society, and for many years
past its re-elected l^resident. It would, therefore,
be supposed that his garden would show much of
his love of fruit culture, — and so it was. The
Pear particularly occupying the post of honor.
One ]iart of the grounds was an ex]ieriniental Pear
garden, in which was gathered nearly all the known
kinds of Europe and America, and are added as
they ai)pear all the new ones of note. This plan
enables the. proprietor to keep up his knowledge of
varieties so essential to the successful pomologist, —
while he really Iokcs little should any variety prove
unsuited to his climate, as these are all regrafted
with kinds which have proved worthy, and in a
couple or three years produce as many fruit as if
the original variety had remained. Mr. Wilder
accelerates this by using very strong and very long
grafts. Some of the scions used last year we saw
were over afoot loiir/, and had made shoots of re-
markable strength and vigor of five and six feet in
length. Another part of his grounds was devoted
to the purposes of the Pear orchard proper, name-
ly, frvit for tlie sake of fruit, — and these found
the benefit of the experimental garden, for when
any kind gave out, as by cracking, blight or other
unexplained cause, as some varieties at times will,
they are at once regrafted with new kinds from the
experimental ground.s that have proved themselves
worthy of the honor. The best and most profitable
Pears here seemed to us to be Beurre d'Anjou and
Bartlett, — but it was very evident that the gene-
rally prevalent idea that there arc " not more than
a dozen Pears out of all the list worthy of general
culture" is not a correct one. Some Pears are
liable to accidents some seasons that others are
not, — and these again, in their season, suffer when
the others go free. Then again the differences of
taste, of climate, of soil, of sea.son, of maturity and
of uses are so various that the man who depends
on a large, but yet carefully selected list, does not
do very wrong. One of the prettiest sights in the

I

fiJ^VOXT

'm

Sllje §ankiicr's dllai

839

orchard was a Buffum Pear tree. The habit, as is
well known, is very erect when young, — but this,
which had been some years in bearing, had beau-
tifully arched branches, and no more than it
wanted. It is evidently a mistake to thin out a
BuiTum too much when young. It will want all
its branches when the fruiting age comes on.

The vineyard was particularly interesting to us,
from the fact that the fruit was generally about ripe,
— and with all the leading popular varieties together
afforded an opportunity of testing the comparative
merits of many disputed kinds.

The neighborhood of Boston is evidently more
favorable to the Grape than with us, for we saw
Swcetwaters very healthy, and filled with mature
and good fruit, in the garden of the Misses Bart-
Ictts, in Dorchester; so that the fact of a Grape
doing well here will be no rule that it will do well
everywhere. There are peculiarities of climate
and soil that affect the vital principle, and when the
vital principle is weakened fruit may not ripen, no
matter in what part of the world the plant may be
growing.

A feature of Col. Wilder' s vineyard was the
Rogers' Hybrids. The fact that these varieties are
real b3'brids, and not accidental variations of the
wild Fox Grape is now generally cor, ceded, — but
were there yet any doubters, a visit to this vineyard
would satisfy them. The vines do not look like
the class of Fox Grapes, iior have they the appear-
ance of foreign varieties. The "mulish" mixture
is apparent, sometimes a "feature" of each parent
will be strongly prominent. No. 2, for instance, has
bunches weighing one pound, precisely in appear-
ance like Black Hamburg, and similar in quality, —
so much so that we have heard of persons "not
particular" who have made up deficiency of weight
with these, without any one noticing the addition ;
this is rather a late Grape. No. 3 is the earliest
of the lot, quite equal to Cataicha in qualitj", which,
as the Catawba is too late for Boston season is high
praise. No. 4 was another variety with about
pound bunches, ripening however late. No. 1
ripens late, but with enormous bunches and berries,
comparing in this respect with Cannon Hall Mus-
cats. No. 9 is so much like Delaware in appear-
ance and quality that small berries gathered from
each and mixed together are used to confound
those with whom a Rose by another name does not
smell as sweet. Those who think the Rogers'
Grapes very poor eating, smack their lips over No.
9, when supposing they are eating Delawares. No.
15 is well known and esteemed, but to us here it
seemed rather sharp. No. 19 is another large

Black somewhat well known, — but here though
good, not equal to what we have had before. No.
22 is a fine bronze colored one, with a Diana flavor
exactly. No. 28 very large bunch, dark brown
color of berry, with sweet, tender pulp. No. 30 is
one with large bronze berries of a peculiar winey
flavor and a first-class Grape. No. 33 is one of the
earliest, but not equal to others in some points.
No. 39 excites admiration for size, but was rather
too pulpy. No. 44 was very much like Concord in
bunch, but the berry like Black Hamburg in
quality, — but has the remarkable property of get-
ting better after gathering. It keeps easily a
month, and is then, Mr. Wilder informed us, very
superior in quality. We have repeatedly given ac-
counts of these Grapes to our readers, Jbut the op-
portunity to make comparative notes of old vines,
and so many together, had not been afforded us
before, and will be interesting.

Col. Wilder' s collection of Camellias was once
the finest in the United States — and indeed, for
that matter, is not much behind the best yet, —
some magnificent specimens of double white. Im-
bricate, Floyii and double white, which, years ago,
were purchased for several hundred dollars each,
were yet in perfect health and vigor. Here also
where tlie two originals of " Abbey Wilder" and
" Wilderi," yet two of the best known Camellias.

It is an interesting circumstance connected with
these two plants, that when they were young seed-
lings, quite young, Mr. Wilder had a very large
number of such plants with which he was experi-
menting when his houses burned down. These
two were the only ones saved from the conflagra-
tion ; and it is remarkable that the only ones saved
should have been two such fine ones, when usually
so many hundreds have to be raised to get one
good thing amongst all.

Col. Wilder is fortunate in having the services
of Mr. Dillon as gardener, in whom seems to be
united good management, industrial habits and
courteous and gentlemanly instincts, which make
gardening a pleasure to both employer and em-
ployed.

Mr. Wilder' s collection of Japan Lilies were in
splendid condition. Large number of seedlings of
all shades between pure white and dark crimson,
showed that they would vary from seed as much as
the Gladiolus.

We have some interesting recollections of Mr.
Hovey's Nursery, the Cambridge Botanic Garden,
Captain Austen's Fruit Garden and the Horticul-
tural Exhibition, which we will write out for future
numbers.

^)

340

S^he (l^ardciifr's ^lonthli).

it^

^^7^

J:3=Coinmanications for this departmeat must reach tho Editor
on or before :he 10th of the month.

d^*"* Editor cannot answer letters for this department pri-
vately.

TfIUJ.V J.^PONICA— TIV.sV Fhihi,f(fpJn'<i. — ''\\\\\
you please inform a suhseriber of" your Monthhj the
correct name of the enclosed piece of Arborvitaj.
It came from Wa.shington named Japan Arbor-
vitre, it is an open spiral growth, and appears to be
dwarf but handsome; broad base, open and coni-
cal. The mslrking on the back is peculiar.

[We have never been able to get any seed vessels
of this plant, without which it is not possible to
name unknown Coniferae, — this one is believed to
be a Retinospora. If any of our readers should
got plants to bear seed vessels we should be glad of
a specimen.]

IIo.«;es on Manetti Stocks — An " Avxiotm
Jnqm'rer,^' iVeio Haven, Conn., writes: — "I am
making a selection of Ro.ses for training on the
rafters of a greenhouse, and also fur jiot and i'or
garden culture.

''I find much difference of opinion as to the
utility of culture on the Manetti Stoc/i, particularly
for greenhouse climbers. Mr. Saul, of Washing-
ton, in articles in j'our magazine, appears strongly
in favor of it. jMr. Parkman in his ' Book of
lioses,' p. 73, l^the latest authority) says, ^ mani/
kinds of Roses budded on the Manetti stock will
grow with a vigor and bloom and a splendor which
they do not reach on their own roots ; wme Ruses,
however, will not grow well on the Manetti stock,'
others can scarcely be grown in any other way. The
finest Cl'itJi of Gold, Lnmark, Gloire de Dijon,
Lord R'lf/hin and Souvenir de Mnhnaiso)i I have
seen, were planted in the free soil of a greenhouse,
and I was a.«sured, by the gardener, they were all
on Manetti, but I was not quite sure of his accuracy.

" Can you inform the readers of the Monthhj
what is the experience of the best growers, and
what Roses are found to be best on Manetti, re-
ferring to estnhlished planli and not the mere facility
of rooting?"

[For general garden purposes we have not thought
the advantages of the Manetti stock counterbal-
anced by its disadvantages. But there is no ques-
tion but that Roses will grow stronger and bloom
finer on it than on their own roots.

We should be very glad if Mr. Saul or Mr. Park-

man would give us a list of kinds they have found
to be particularly iiiiiiroved by using this stock.]

History of tiik Bautf-kit Pear. — Since the
remarks in another column have been set up, we
have a note from Mr. Barry in reply to some in-
quiries we made, from which we make an extract.
Mr. Barry's reference to the Clapp's Favorite sug-
gests how near one variety may be like another in
every resinx-t and yet be different. As we have said
the Bartlett and W.s' B. Chretien arc possibly the
same, but the historical circumstaiiecs are curious:

" Many years ago we imported Pear trees largely
from England and Fra ce. The Bartletts always
came from pjugland umler the name of ' Williams'
Bon Chretien,' and from France as 'Williams,'
and we have now growing in our specimen grounds
part of a row of Bartletts that were imported from
England.

"It never occurred tons to look for any diffe-
rence and we never observed any. The Bartlett
varies a good deal in form even on the same tree.
Some have a much more strongly defined neck
than others, some are almost without a neck, taper-
ing quite regularly from the eye to the stalk. I
think Kcnrick was the first American author who
described it.

"In his edition of 1833 it is classed among tlie
new Pears. It is said to have been imported in
1799, 29 years after it originated. It was noticed
in 1810 by the London Horticultural Society.

" I think there is but one l\'ar for the two names.

"There are a great many which bear, in tree and
fruit, a family resemblance to it, none so strongly
as Clapp's Favorite. The edition of Manning,
which I have is Ives, of 1844. In it the Williams'
Bon Clir((tien is given as a frontispiece and the
Bartlett is given as a Syn. Ercry author in Enro])e
and America I think make them identical."

Advertisement of Lee & Shepard. — In re-
gard to a "questionable" advertisement of this
firm in relation to Baker's Book, we desire to say
that if any reference is intended to the Gardener s
Monthly, the insinuations are entirely without foun-
dation. As the facts could not pos,sibIy warrant
them in intending the public to .suppose they re-
ferred to us, we should not feel justified in .susjject-
ing their aim ; but when they advertise in circulars,
as we have seen they do, that Mr. Wilder assisted
in the work, and when the book itself as-serts that
he had nothing to do with it, as eveiy horticulturist
knows now he had not, we have reason to feel uncer-
tain as to the real intention of this advertisement.

The "Parlor Gardener," not "Flowers for
THE Parlor AND G-arden."— Excuse us for calling
attention to j'our notice of " Grarden Flowers" in last
month's magazine, j'ou say by the author of " The
Parlor Grardener" when it should be " Flowers for
the Parlor and Garden," an entirely different work
although both are published by us.

We have in press a new book by Mr. Eand on
the Culture of Hardy and Tender Bulbs and Tubers,
it will be published early in October, when we will
be glad to send you a copy.

J. E. Tilton & Co., Boston, Mass.

Name of Apples— Z. A'., Iowa City. — Of your
four Apples the only one we are certain of is No. 1,
Chenango Strawberry. Not feeling sure of the
others we handed them to three different experts
in Apple knowledge, — they all differ from each
other and from us in their ojunion, so we hesitate
to name them. Pernaps they are local seedlings.

"A. BoRNEMAN & Co." — We continue to re-
ceive letters in reference to this " firm" confirming
what former correspondents have said to us, that
" mistakes" of this concern have been more nume-
rous than agreeable to them. On the other hand
no one has written to us that they are doing a
legitimate business. We wish to injure no man,
but it is our duty to protect the public from im-
posters. If any one, on whom we can rely, have
any thing to say in their favor we shall be glad to
have it.

A Grape from Cataavlssa— i^. F. 31, Cata-
tct'ssa, Pa — " I send you a few bunches of a native
seedling from a vine five years old, I took from it
seventy-five bunches, such as I send you, yesterday.
It colors with Creveling though not ripe as early,
is as hardy as Hartford, and holds its fruit finely."

[These were as sweet as the sweetest Grapes we
ever ate, — but we suppose the strong aroma which
would be a recommendation with some, would be
against the variety with those of a more cultivated
class. ]

41

Grape Stems Outside the Vinery — Amateur,
Detroit, Midi. — " I have a span roofed greenhouse
thirty feet long, eight feet wide. I think of plant-
ing some vines, as the leaves will help to shade the
plants in Summer, as well as yield some fruit; but
the hotwater pipes are too near the front and back
wall to allow me to plant them inside. Do you
think they would do well to plant them outside
and bring the vines in through a hole in the front

wall just under the sash. In Winter I could cover
the border up level with the top of the hole with
leaves, stable n)anure, ka., so as to keep frost out
of the roots and bottom of stem."

[Many have their stems in this way, and some
even prefer them so. The stems can be boxed up
in Winter to protect them from frost, taking care
to wrap them first in tarred paper to keep mice
from gnawing them.]

The Last Season in South Carolina — A
Correspondent at Chester, S. C, writes: — "The
past Summer has been one of the driest I have ex-
perienced for fourteen years in South Carolina, not
enough rain to wet the ground two inches deep,
from the 20th of May to the last week in Septem-
ber ; and even now (October 9Lh) the ground is so
dry that it is impossible to dig or do any thmg. "

Grapes FROM T. T. Southwick, Dansville. —
" I send by mail a box of Grapes. They are of a
seedling from the Delaware. Two hundred and
fifty seeds of the Delaware were planted, and the
vine that bore this fruit was the prtducf.

"The vine is nearly as thrifty as the Concord,
leaves like the Delaware, only larger ; it is about as
prolific as the Concord ; ripens same time as Dela-
ware. Is planted on common soil and manured.

" I send you two bunches, they are not selected, ]
but ju.st the common average, I want your opinion i
on them. Are they worthy ?

" The far greater thrift of the vine, and its pro-
lificness, and almost equal quality with the Dela-
ware, seems to me to render it worthy of trial.

" I shall be pleased to hear your opinion."

[These are exactly like Delaware in the form of
the bunch, even to the little shoulder. The color
is dark cinnamon brown, and the berries rather
larger. They have a strong native odor, but not at
all disagreeable, — no more so than Concord, — and
if they have the strong growth of this variety we
think will be a good introduction to our list of
hardy Grapes.]

The Botanic Garden at St. Louis.— Extract
from a private letter from Mr. Shaw : — " Our Bo-
tanical Garden looks well ; have not yet commenced
the new plant houses, material and glass being so
high in price. We had fine Pine-apples and the
largest kind of Muscat of Alexandria Grapes, which,
undoubtedly, are the best of all when well grown
and ripened. The fruit of the Philodendron per-
tuosum is large and fine flavor, but takes two sea-
sons to ripen. For the decoration of the flower

^rS--^

3*=^ — :iA^*

342

<SaiA)nirr*s llloiitljin.

borders we have had the double and improved
Portulaceas, Petunias, Zinnias. The variegated
Japan Maize lasts but a short time, the variegated
Arundo donax is more durable and ornamental for
fine foliage. The Cannas and Wigandia have a good
effect. An improved Bignonia, probalily a hardj'
hybrid of the Chinese B. grandiflora, is much ad-
mired. Your Gl5"cine magnifica is so nearly like
what we previously had, as to be scarcely precepti-
ble.

The experimental Fruit Garden has not produced
successful results in Plums and Cherries, neither
soil (a strong calcareous loam) or climate is here
suited ftir them. The wild Plums are well flavored,
and may be improved, and are the only ones to be
depended on. Of Grapes we have all the usual
kinds ; Catawlia and Concord appear the most pro-
ductive, and may be dejionded on as a crop for
wine ; we have tile drained the Grape borders, and
lay down the stems and cover over in Winter.
Pears are very productive ; Duchesse d'Angouleme,
Belle Lucrative, Beurre Diel and Bonne Louise
are the finest here. As usual we are much troubled
with blight. Our best Strawberries are Triomphe
de Gaud and Kussell's Prolific, which bear abun-
dantly and of full size. Figs under a ten foot wall
and laid down in winter, produce well late in the sea-
.'•on. Brun.'^wick and Brown Smyrna are the surest.
The Arboretum progresses finely. The Quercetum
will soon be a grove of oaks, and the Pinetum is
divided into compartments by gravel walks. We
have nearly all the Pines that will grow here, P.
Banksii and P. Australis, and a few more pungeus
and twda are wanting. ' '

Native Ferns — J. K, Dayton, Ohio. — "Can
you let your readers know where they can procure
our native Ferns, Lygodium palmatum, a climbing
Fern, and the Schizica?"

[The Schizgea grows sparingly about twenty miles
from Philadelphia, at Quaker Bridge, New Jersey.
The Lygodium we have seen abundantly at Brown's
.^lills, near Mount Holly, New Jer.sey. Probably
William South wood, Sixth Street near Market,
Philadelphia, could get thein.j

Grapes in Central New York— J. M., says,
and we hope he will do it : — " If it will be agreea-
ble I will, .some future time, give you a dc'-crijition
of what they are doing on the borders of our lake
in growing Grapes."

Fine Grapes from IMifflin, Pa — C, Mifflin,
Pa. — "I sent 3-ou today, per express, one box

containing two bunches of Grapes taken from a vine
in my garden. The vine was planted out one year
a^ last March, two years old when • planted,
bought of Mr. Knox, of Pittsburg, for a Delaware.
The product of the vine being so greatly at variance
with all the published descriptions of Delaware
that I would like to know what it really is.

"On the 5th of August I noticed my btmches
commencing to rot, cut off twenty-one bunches
weighing thirteen pounds and three-quarters, not
a bunch less than eight inches in length, most of
them between ten and eleven inches of Grapes not
stems. Berries from five-eighths to seven-eighths
of an inch in diameter (measured by rule and com-
pass). Applied flour of sulphur and saved the
balance as per sample."

[This is the Grape we noticed in our last as from
Lewistown, and which came by express two tccels
before the letter by mail. We then supposed it
was the Brinckle, and this note confirms it.]

Sowing Plum Pits— J. M. M., says. — "lam,
to-day, sowing my Plum pits in drills one inch and
half deep, eighteen inches apart, intend covering
the ground with fine manure. I have, heretofore,
mixed my ]iits with moist sand, put them in boxes
and then buried box and pits under the earth, and
let them lay until Spring with good results. Is
there any better plan?"

PiirPAWAN Strawberry — P. B. Mead says: —
" Li your September No. Mr. Prince, in correcting
Mr. Carpenter, has fallen into a slight mistake him-
self, which I will take the trouble to correct. The
' Strawberry Show of the American In.stitute' was
held last June a year ago. The committee of
judges consisted of Charles Downing, Prof Hunts-
man and myself. A prize was offered for the two
heaviest berries, and wasawarded to the Ptipi»awan.
The prize being simply for weiylit, the quality of
the fruit was not tested."

[We have also a note from Mr. Prince acknow-
ledging his mistake, through not understanding that
" a year ago" was meant. He sujiposed last year
was referred to, which he knew must be wrong. 1

Names of 1'lants — E. K. Fepar. — 1. Do not
remember the leaf, we may find its name if you .send
a flower and a piece of the .shoot. 2. Agave Vir-
ginica ; we should like .seeds or a plant of this.
3. Send a piece in flower. 4. TilUea Muscosa. 5.
Adiantum curvatum. 6. Camptosorvis Ilhizo-
phyllus.

■^x^^

K2_

®h^ ©arden^r'a Jltontljlg,

843

Mountain Ash Seed— ^. if. i/., asks: — "Will
some one, who has had the experience, give their
mode of washino- and savinar Mountain Ash seed?"

OBiTUAHY.
Deaths op Philadelphia Horticulturists.

During the past month death has made sad
inroads amongst our honie-ciicle of Horticultural
friends. First M. W. Baldwin, scarcely above
three score, and one of the most magnificent
patrons of gardening Philadelphia has ever had.
His country phice on the Delaware excelled in
every branch of gardening, and of late years manj'
of the charms of our exhibitions have been owing
to his liberality, and the skill of his excellent gar-
dener, Mr. Joyce.

Isaac B. Baxter, as an amateur fruit grower, has a
reputation all over the United States. His fondness
for his chosen part was only equalled by his great
success. His garden occupied nearly a square of
most valuable grounds in the city, but no money
could buy it from him, at the expense of hi.s petted
Pear tre s. His lot was once a " hole," but had
been filled up with bricks and rubbish, giving a
depth of soil, which, no doubt, had more to do
with his success than the iron pots, hoops and
nails which he had hanging all over his trees, and
to which he thought he owed his good luck. He
was a very worthy man, and his loss is great, espe-
c'ally to the Horticultural world.

Mrs. Mary Wright, wife of James Wright, Esq.,
we also regard as a great loss to Pliiladelphia Hor-
ticulture. The beautiful grounds attached to the
family residence, on the township line, between
Germantown and Philadelphia, with the forcing-
houses, vineries, greenhou.?es, &c., owed their ex-
istence and success chiefly to the personal interest
taken in our pursuits by this estimable lady.

It is hard to part with our Horticultural asso-
ciates, even after they have filled the full measure
of life; and by so much the more so when, as in the
case of Mrs. Wright, they do not reach the meri-
dian, and seem comparatively but on the threshold
of usefulness.

Aubrietia Cajipbelli (syn. A. Headersoru.) —
This beautiful variety is one of the most desirable
hardy Spring flowering perennial herbaceous plants
for the decoration of the flower garden yet intro-
duced.

It forms a neat, dwarf and compact growth, re-
sembling the well-known A. deltoidea or A. pur-
purea, equally tuft -like, 2 to 3 inches in height ;
its ovately-deltoid-formed leaves are arranged like
its kindred species in close erect terminal leaf-tufts,
of a sub-rosulate outline, from the axils of which
are produced a profusion of rich violet-purple sal-
ver-like blossoms, so densely covered that in estab-
lished growth the plants, when grouped, appear
like violet-blue flower mounds, couched in lowly
but attractive beauty upon the ground-surface. Its
period of bloom extends from March until July,
and, without the aid of secondary colors, it forms
efteetive groups at a period when continuous-flower-
ing iilants are not plentiful.

It is strikingly adapted for forming select riband
row.s, parterres, or flower belts during the period
alluded to ; and, by superior culture in pots, is
valuable as portable specimens for placing in vase
groups or baskets on terraces, or in cool conserva-
tory promenades, and appears to great advantage
when seen skirting the front ground-level of select
rockwork, or fringing the borders of tei-race slopes.

It thrives in all ordinary garden soils, either upon
the declivities of raised grounds or in the open
borders, in miniature flower groups, or in extensive
riband lines, being unequalled in its rich color and
unique effect by any other known plant of similar
growth and season of bloom. — Gard. Chronicle.

Scilla sibirioa. — A beautiful little hardy bul-
bous plant, 2 to 4 inches in height, blooming in
the early Spring months, thriving in ordinary soil,
and blooming profusely, with pendent azure-blue
bell-shaped blossoms, quite unequalled for marginal
efi^ect in flower gardens, or for front effect in bas-
kets, vases or belts. — Gardener s Ckronicle.

Veronica fruticosa glauca. — A very neat
and distinct new species introduced from New Zea-
land. It forms a compact, densely-branched, dwarf,
half-hardy shrub, with small glaucous ovately ob-
long leaves, squarrousely decussate, in outline, and
numerous terminal heads of white flowers in the
Spring and early Summer months.

Its very glaucous white foliage constitutes a
striking feature in itself, and would produce a
marked contrast if grouped or planted out in flower
beds or on rockwork.— Gardener s Chronicle.

Schizostylis coccinea. — This charming plant,
sent out two years ago bv Messrs. Backhouse, of ri
York, is so thoroughly hardy that it may be planted
with safety auj' where out of doors in the three

m^

'^^3Vi-

344

Cjji; (Sardnur's Jfionthhi.

kingdoms. A fine patch of it here has been flower-
ing beautifull}- since the l-.Oth of October last, the
showy red flowers having a most cheerful appear-
ance in the rockery, where it is quite a conspicuous
feature. A very small scrap of the plant is enough
to begin with, as it "tillers" like wheat. My first
scrap was planted in a handful of peat, "to give it
a start," a wrinkle I learnt originally from your
pages. It is now, however, freely rooted into the
common soil of the place, which is a good loaiu, so
I suppose I may fairly say that | eat is not indis-
pensable to its existence or prosperity. How much
we owe the Messrs. Backhouse for the introduction
of first-, lass hardy jilants.

[At Stoke Ncwington, this plant has been out
two Winters. It is now blooming freely, and is as
green and fresh as in July.] — W. \V. Stratford,
in Gardener's Weelcly.

Fuchsia Beauty (Banks).— A beautiful exhi-
bition variety, with broad bright carmine .«carlet
sepals, gracefully recurved ; the corolla pure laven-
der color, cup-shaped, of a model outline ; growth
free and vigorous, adapted for pyramid or bush
specimen.

^orapsfir InfpniHpnrp,

Hkat in Vegetation. — To form some sort of
judgment of what is rof^piired by vegetation,, let us
take Asparagus. According to souie records by
James Winthrop, Esq^, Fellow of the American
Academy of Arts and Sciences, &c., Asparagus
was fit for the table at Cambridge, Massachusetts,
in the year 1793, on the l.^th of April ; i» the year
17U4, on the 2i")th of April; in the year 1795, on
the 2t)th of Afiril ; and in the year 179G, on the
24th f)f April. In the year ISO^j As]»arag«s was
offered in Boston market on the 27th of April. In
the year 1813, according to the Hon. John Lowell,
of lloxbury, Massiichu.setts, Asparagus fit for table
u.se came on the 14th of 3Iay ; in the year 1815, on
the Gth of May; in the year 1816, on the 5th of
May ; in the year of 1818, on the loth of May ; in
the j'car 1820, on the l.st of May ; and on the same

, day of May in the year 1822. The town of Box-
bury, the residence of Mr. Lowell, is about four
miles .southward of Boston.

I According to the best authorities in gardening,
to force Asparagus, in order to have it in use at an
unusual time of the year, the soil of the forcing
frames must never be lower than 50° Fahr. at
night, and by day the maximum heat may be (>2°

Fahr. The minimum of required warmth in the
soil is at least 25° less than is usually employed in
the ordinary hotbed used for germination and
growth of some kinds of plants. Let it be under-
stood that these fifty degrees of boat must be uni-
formly maintained in order to push forward the
stalk and force it into growth above ground. Was
there, then, all that difference between those springs
when Asparagus was a month earlier — between
1793 and 1818, or between 1804 and 1813— a differ
ence of actual heat of the ground out of doors ;
and, if so, to what cau?^cs can it be traced? What
affected the power of heating by the sun the months
of March, April and May? It is a commonly re-
ceived opinion that cold Summers follow severe
and cold Winters, and in some instances such is the
ca.se. Thus, the Summers of 1836 and 1837 were
so cold that " Indian Corn did not ripen in Ma.<sa-
chusetts, and the Winter of 1835 — '36 was said to
have been the coldest since that of 1780. Long
Lsland Sound was closed about six week-*, and in
the county of Berkshire, Massachu.setts, large num-
bers of our native forest trees were destroyed."

If 1 rightly comprehend this subject, however, I
do not think that it is the amount of cold or its in-
tensity that injuriously effects the coming Spring
or Summer, but the condition in which the Win-
ter's snows find the earth. If the ground is
slightly frozen, or which is possible, is free froui
frost when it is covered by the first snows, and the
cold prevents these .snows from melting away be-
fore other and successive snow-storms succeed, the
soil, on the return of Spring, will rapidly absorb all
the ice and snow, and an early Spring may be the
result. In this case the earth will be ready to be-
couje warm much sooner than when a hard frozen
.'ioil receives scanty snows throughout the ^Vinlcr.
Something of this sort we find in the Arctic regions,
where the warm and celhdar snows at the end of
Summer bury the earth in a light porous envelope,
which, by and by, is protected by the den.^er and
drifting snows of the Winter-time. The present
Winter, 1864 — "65 is one of unusual continued
cold : does it follow (hat our coming Summer will
be «n])ropitious? Conjecture can be, I fear, of
little value, and time can only tell. Still if there is
anything to be gained by such " signs," and no ex-
))ectation of certain crops can be predicted, it is well
worth the knowing beforehand that we labor not in
vain.

There is another point to be considered, viz. : —
whether in .sections of country unvisited by deep
.snows and severe freez,ings, and where the bare
ground is expo.sed to the sun's rays early in the

CjjB ®arbtiur's St^irtljlg,

345

W

@i

year, the Springs are always proportionally more
forward, or this precocity, if it exists, can be de-
pended on? In other words, will a more southern
latitude of two or three degrees help the soil, so
that it may be sooner fit for cultivation in conse-
quence of its facility of being sooner warmed ?

From notes on vegetation J made at the United
States Naval Observatory, at Washington, D. C,
latitude 38° 53 primes N., during the year 1864,
kindly furnished me by the late Capt. J. N. Gillis,
through James S. Grinnell, Esq., I find that Aspa-
ragus is fit for the table on the 28th of April,
which, as it will be perceived, is not so early as at
Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the years 1793 — '95,
nor in Boston in the years 1803 — '04, and about a
fortnight sooner than in Roxbury, Massachusetts,
in the years 1813— '22. The Winter of 1863—64
was mild, with much rain, and cold weather did not
visit us until February, and then for a few daj's
only. The middle of March had a few cold days ;
but the average of Winter was that of open and
mild weather. Taking for granted what I have
unfortunately no means of proving, that the Aspa-
ragus season or the time for cutting it is the aver-
age one at Washington, as denoted in 18G4, then
the occasional ])recocity of more northern and eastern
climates, like that of Boston and Cambridge, must
be due to some extraordinary causes, which must
be taken into account in the general scope of our
subject.

Should one still further estimate the degree of
warmth, and even heat, to which the ground is
raised by the sunshine, we should find it far greater
than is ordinarily suspected. The range favorable
to vegetation is from 34° Fahr. to 140°, as already
intimated ; in like manner, too, the very germina-
tion or first vital action of the seed must have be-
tween 34° and 40°, so that there be no danger of
decomposition, and sufficient warmth to maintain
circulation. The common Pea, to which I have
alluded as being sometimes early sown, requires at
least 40°, and when it is forced for early use the
temperature is from 45° to 52° ; that of the air to
keep it growing healthily is at G6°, and after it has
flowered, from 52° to 70° is necessary to mature its
pods. An ordinary greenhouse, which contains a
miscellaneous collection of hardy plants and shrubs
flowering in the Winter months, may be regulated
to advantage, if its temperature be not lower than
40°, but by the sun's rays in the day time it may
rise to 60°, or even higher, to fall again to 40°, or
a little below. The cooler temperature of the night
time is favorable to all plants, inviting them to re-
pose by diminishing their excitability. — John L.
BussELL, Salem, Mass., m Agricultural Report.

yoFFign IriFffigrnrF,

Apple jam is delicious, and the most wholesome
of any that can be made. It is is very simple to
make, as follows :

Take the Apples, do not peel them, cut into
quarters, take out the core, then fill an earthen jar
with the Apples, tie paper over it, and put it in an
oven not too hot ; when quite soft and cool, with
a wooden spoon pulp them through a seive ; to
each pound of fruit, which should be weighed after
pulping, add three-quarters of crushed sugar; boil
it gently until it forms a jelly, and put in jars. It
will keep for j'cars in a cool dry place.

Croquet Grounds in Gardens. We recently
said a few words in the Gardener s Montlily on Cro-
quet grounds, for the benefit of our young readers.
The following, from the pen of a clergyman, appears
in the London Journal of Horticulture: —

' ' Croquet is to us in the country a necessity. Lon-
doners talk of their Cr3'stal palace, and say they
could not do without it, and cannot imagine a time
in London's history when the.e was not such a
building, so available for all purposes and all wea-
thers. Nay, it is said some Londoners aver that
there always was a Crystal Palace, that it is all non-
sense to say otherwise ; at any rate that the first
was not built in 1851, but rather in 1581, if not
earlier. Now, I say, I cannot imagine the country
without croquet — it must have always been played
or how could there have been any summer sociality?
Besides, we know there have always been weddings
going on, and how, without croquet, could the young
people have met, and we know they must have met
before they were married? Hence it follows there
always was croquet. Two bachelors, each of forty-
five years, fell before croquet. "Poor fellows!"
exclaimed another bachelor, the last left of the set,
"they played each once too often at that foolisli
game." Even supposing the bachelor correct in
charging croquet with spreading the fatal snare, still,
perhaps, his friends did right in choosing wives at
croquet, surely it is a better plan than the old and
somewhat vulgar cheese-paring one. Watch a lady at
croquet— if she be persevering, if she play steadily,
if she play perfectly fair, not trailing her dress
across her ball, of course quite accidentally, but some-
how the ball is put into a better position — if she
play in perfect good humor, not losing her temper
whatever happens, not stamping her pretty foot,
and this, above all, if she be obedient to her captain,

3^6

%\\i CSarbcncr's IHonthlj.

>rM^

it is onlj" fair to presume that she will make a good
wife. In a too artificial age, croquet brings out the
natural character ; this surely is well ; besides, it
affords exercise without fatigue, and all can plaj',
from seven j'ears old to seventy'. One only fault is
to be guarded against ; croquet is apt to become a
ruinous runner-away of time. This I endeavor to
avoid by never allowing a mallet to be touched in
the morning. Time for exercise, time for amuse-
ment, (all the better if both are to be had together),
there must be, but a game must not take the place
of the serious, earnest business of life. Permit, fair
young friends, this word of caution, and do not play
morning, noon, afternoon, and even by moonlight.
If the Great Master asked you " What luvst thou
bctsn doing?" and the only answer you could truth-
fully srive, was, "I have been pla^'ing croquet," that
would be a poor reply indeed.

Some of our readers, perhaps, occasionally give
or wish to give "a croquet:'' that is the ladies' short
for a croquet party ; but as all such things are not
equally well managed let me describe one,at which
I was, happily for mj'solf, present a short time s".nce.
Sui)pose a lawn on which were placed hoops for
three games to be played at the same time ; the
mallets and balls were tastefully arranged at each
starting point. In order to know one ground from
another, and to prevent any dispute in the gajues,
each ground had been clearly marked out by a nar-
row line of scattered bran run round the edge. On
a table were laid the prizes ; these are frequently
flower-vases, photographic albums, or anything ele-
gant and durable. The party had been planned for
some weeks ; there were to be players and lookers-
on. Three sets of eight had been chosen bj one
well knowing the play of all. Each captain of a
side was presented with a paper, upon which the
names of his party and their opponents were written.
A little time is consumed in getting the players to-
gether ; at last, a dilatory gentleman, who comes
panting in at half past three, instead of three, has
arrived, and then the lawn is alive with players.
Gay silks and black coats are intermingled — happi-
ly those odious dress coats are not required to be
worn ; dress coats, the horrors ! making clergymen
look like footmen in mourning.

To return, the game proceeds merrilj'. I thought
I noticed a little Hirting, and somebody looking
across at another set and wishing somebody bad
been playing in her set. Still all went on pretty
well, and as each game nears its end, and that end
is often long in coming, .spectators gather around the
stick almost as eager and as excited as the players
themselves. The glorious uncertainty of croquet is

now seen, for the skill that had been behind all the
time now makes a spurt. A good hit follows, by which
the best player of the hitherto successful side is
knocked out of the game. All is excitement, and
lo ! the lately desponding ones win. So the eight
are reduced to four. But just at this juncture din-
ner is announced, and here a croquet party is again
seen to advantage. It is a cold dinner, and what so
suitable in summer time? Long, narrow tables, ex-
temporized for the day by the carpenter, run along
the .sides of the room, leaving a hollow square in the
centre, and making a small dining-rvom a large one,
or at least capable of containing a great number of
guests, which is just the same. Brightly glisten
the viands, being for the most part glazed marvel-
ously ; there are the substantial viands, there are
the lighter viands, with dishes of juicy fruit inter-
spersed,— semi-transparent Grapes, blooming Plums
and downy Peaches. Bat commend me (after I have
dined) to the flower decorations, — shapely Ferns in
rustic-looking pots, Fuchsias with Cbinese lantern-
like flowers, with the earth hidden by many a rare
device ; then the cut flowers, to arrange which em-
ployed the morning of the young ladies ; care and
time well spent, for the result was giving happiness
to all who beheld them. Oh, the exquisite taste
shown in arranging the colors, and the dainty sprays
of Variegated Ivy made to climb the narrow stems !
]Man ! man ! thou art a very bungler in such mat-
ters. I could only look on and wonder at what the
slender fingers had wrought. "What would any
entertainment be without flowers?" Granted ; but
what would the flowers be without woman's ar-
ranging hand? The dinner is over, — that portly
old gentleman has finished at last. How some old
gentlemen do enjoy their dinners ! Back to croquet;
the games of four, two on each side, are soon over;
then comes the duels, when the two firm friends all
through, who have advised each other in soft ac-
cents, now become deadly enemies. Now they are
at it; the lady is croqueted, but she does not de-
spair. Up she comes again ; the gentleman bun-
gles at the first stick ; the lady advances, he is after
her. Another miss — ah? but she has artfully
wired herself. " He will win." " No, she will."
" Hurrah, the lady has it." The other games are
advancing to their end. Mammas sip their tea and
hope the grass is not damp; the daughters say,
"Oh dear, no," but it is, though the young ladies
are incredulous. The last game is over, the heroes
of the day are congratulated, and advance for their
prizes. They draw lots for the best, and receive
them in order, with a heightened cheek and a trem-
ulous hand. Evening is now advancing rapidly, and

m^

all praise to health-giving croquet, its parties end
when others begin. Croquet causes no late hours,
and brings no headaches The groups are thin-
ning, and soon the last carriage wheels out of the
gate.

One final remark. I think it is a mistake to give
prizes at croquet parties. Like chess, croquet
fchould stand as a game on its own merits. The
Ijleasant gathering, the kind hospitality, the good
game are enough. Prizes make feelings too keen,
and, a little, mar the general pleasure. Human na-
ture is human nature, even when dressed in crino-
lines or black frock coats. Dear me ! how I have
run away from my text, which, on turning back, I
see, for I had forgotten it, is, "How to make a cro-
quet gi'ound a garden ornament." Well, I am not
I the first clergyman who has run away from his text,
that's a comfort. Besides, does not Miss Augusta
Gushington declare that such run-ofi" sermons, (I
have not run off the line, I hope,) are freer, more
natural, more inartistic, &c.

But now to mjr text in all earnestness. A cro-
quet ground with the earth at the edges running
any way, is ugl}' — it is no ornament, that is certain.
The prettiest I know is oval — this shape suits the
game ; it opens out beyond a small geometric gar-
den, and has a grass bank all round, save at the en-
trance and exit. This bank varies in height, but
the average is 2 feet. Then on either bank is a
flower-border planted with standard Roses, Gerani-
ums, x\sters, &c. ; the side near the road has, at the
back, a thick row of Convolvulus major, neatly
trained as a screen.

Someone asked, a few weeks since, "How to
make a croquet-ground," but I purposely did not
read the reply, and so speak simply my own ideas.
The bank around is a great feature, the oval shape
meets the eye pleasantly. Besides, the bank pre-
vents the balls rolling too far, and as ground has
usually to be leveled, the spare earth is used on the
spot. If flowers are not thought advisable there
are are flowering shrubs in abundance, for choice, or
have old-fashioned border plants ; why not? Cro-
quet cannot be allowed to become a garden^destroyer,
and little square fields with nothing around them are
very objectionable. — Wilt.shire Rector.

History of the Radish. — The original of our
Radishes seem to have come from China at an early
date, for they were known in Queen Elizabeth s
time, and are descHbed by Gerarde ; but evidently
had been grown in other parts of Europe at a much
earlier period. The Greeks, according to Theo-
phrastus, Dioscorides and Galen, highly esteemed

them, so much so that the votaries of Apollo off'ered
a dish of Radishes of beaten gold ; whereas Turnips
were imitated and presented in lead, and Beet-root
in silver.

Whilst speaking of the ancients I must not omit
to state the superiority of their culture over us
moderns ; for Tragus tells of Radishes of 40 lbs.
weight; Amatushad seen some 60 lbs., and Matthi-
olus assures us that he had seen them 100 lbs. each.
Thus a single root would be enough for the require-
ment of a whole army ; but I believe that our mod-
ern gourmands would much prefer to tickle their
appetites with our quickly grown Radishes, though
of puny dimensions, and in weight not exceeding
one quarter to half an ounce, than with a slice of
such monsters ! To return to Gei'arde, who, speak-
ing of the virtues of the Radish, says, ' ' They are
eaten raw with bread instead of other foode ; but
being eaten after that maner, they yeeld verie little
nourishment, and that faultie and ill ; but for the
most part they are used as a sawce with meate to
procure appetite; and in that sort engender blood
less faultie than eaten alone with bread only ; but
seeing that they be harder of digestion than meates,
they are also many times troublesome to the stom-
acke; nevertheless, they serve to distribute and dis-
perse the nourishment, especially being taken after
meate; and taken before meate they cause belchings
and overthrowe of the stomacke. " Gerarde men-
tions and figures four kinds of Radish. The first is
evidently the stock from which our fusiform sorts
have been obtained. The second that he calls the
small garden Radish, is so very like a variety of
white Turnip Radish, that by its leaves as well as
its root one would believe that the same kind has
been in our gardens for nearly three centuries. The
third is a Turnip-rooted kind of a larger character,
but not quite identical with any now grown; whereas
the fourth sort is, undoubtedly, our black Spanish
Radish of the present time. It is from variation of
this latter that those from India undoubtedly have
sprung ; and here I may say, that from whatever
source the R. sativus sprang, they and many others
are clearly traceable to the same htock, whilst as
certainly as any distinction is made between species
and varieties, the R. caudatus is one and distinct,
and in no way specifically connected with those in
ordinary cultivation.

Before leaving the subject, I may be pardoned for
introducing these Radishes as subjects for the fine
arts. The reader may smile ; but take my word for
it, I have seen a picture by Fitte, in which a bunch
of these self-same, white-skinned Black Radishes
were introduced with marvelous effect to light up

i®

#t

the left-hand corner of the picture; just as in another
picture, by the same artist, the white belly of a
duck is shown at the same place, and for a similar
purpose, and with a similar intent. — William Mas-
ters, Canterbury, in Cottage Gardener.

Roots and Leavks of Grapes. — Where Vines
grow in carrion-borders, which are one mass of pu-
tridity, little beyond fleshy root-extension takes
place. Very few fibres indeed appear at any time;
the stems require less heat to cause the buds to
swell and break ; the growth appears small, but
gross and long-JDinted ; and the leaves, though
small at first, become something like a Rhubarb
leaf At this stage, if we examine the roots, we
shall find little or no fibres, active or inactive ; but
the plant appears as if it depended on the humus
absorbed by the root-stems for its nouri.^hmont, or
is indebted for its nutriment to the atmo.'^phere by
which it is sun-oundcd. Whether the plant owes
its development to the nutriment collected by the
roots without fibres, or to that colloeted by the leaves
from the atmosphere, the leaves will flag when the
moisture in the atmosphere is dissipated by the sun's
influence rendering the parts about the leaves drier,
and causing the leaves to perspire, or the water in
them to be evaporated more freely than in cloudy
weather. If the leaves flag under a bright sun it is
an evidence of deficient root-action, or a want of mois-
ture in the atmosphere ; but flagging is chiefly caused
by the leaves evaporating more water than the roots
aflFord them. If there be aquantityoffibrestheca.se
will be different. Instead of the plant having one
mouth it will have fifty ; and it is only reasonable
to conclude that a plant with fifty mouths would
absorb more nutriment, and supply the wants of
the leaves better, in a case of en)ergency, when
extra food is needed, than a jdant having only
one.

Fibres, then, are neces.sary tea Vine's healthy de-
velopment, and the extension of the main roots
essential to the formation of fibres. There cannot
be healthy development in a Vine, or any plant with
a fibrous root, without fibres; hence the immense
importance of their preservation, and the necessity
of promoting their ])roduction. Rich soils hinder
the production of fibres: poor soils increa.se their
number. Plants grown in rich .soil have more foli-
age and less fruit than the same species in poorer
soil.

I am led to infer from this, that fibres are the
chief agents in the production of fruit-buds ; and
although I am but partially prepared to prove it, I
am persuaded that they are the sole agents em-

ployed by the roots in their production. But we
were considering the annual reproduction of fibres.
I contend that all plants do, partially, lo.se the old
fibres annually, some plants oftener. Superficial
evidence alone is forthcoming in abundance to prove
the fact, without calling to our aid any internal evi-
dence at all. We give warmth or bottom heat to
plants at the commencement of forcing, keeping the
atmosphere comparatively cool to induce root-action
before leaf-development commences. What neccs-
.sity is there for this extra stimulant to the roots if
their extremities are prepared to absorb nutriment
on the expansion of the buds? Nature gives no
such stimulant. It is a point, in fict, that proves
the roots have not the requisite elements, lying dor-
mant and only needing the expansion of the foliage
to call them into activitj'. In all cases of repotting
the cultivator finds a quantity ol dead fibres, in ad-
dition to the growing, and attributes the presence
of the dead fibres to an unhealthy root-action ;
whereas, such is not the case ; for if there is a quan-
tity of live fibres, in addition the dead, it is evident
that what suits them would .suit others. Sour soil
very often causes the destruction of all the fibres of
a plant ; but that has nothing to do with the peri-
odical decay of the fibres, being simply a medium
in which the fibres cannot extend themselves. — Cot-
tage Gardener.

Hungarian Gardening. — W^hat, however,
strikes an English ej'e the most is the entire absence,
in most Hungarian gardens, of anything like ever-
greens, for there are no Yews, no Cedars, no Firs,
no Holly trees, nor anything that is green in winter;
in consequence of which there is a comparative want
of contrast in summer, and an appearance of utter
desolation in winter. In summer, the foliage is af-
forded chiefly by Acacias, Gleditschias, Poplars, and
occasionally oaks.

The garden is cultivated by peasant girls, under
the superintendence of the gardener, who are paid
2d. a day. They always go about without shoes or
stockings, as the only time when the Hungarian
pea.sants wear shoes, which are considered a luxury,
is when they are at church or when the snow is on
the ground. As was formerly the case almost uni-
versally in Scotland, the boots or shoes are carried
in the hand, and put on only when they arrive at
the church door.

The tools generally used in a Hungarian garden
are very large heart-shaped hoes and wooden rakes.
A spade is very seldom .'<een. . The wheelbarrow
holds no more than a bushel, and is made entirely
without iron, the wheel consisting of a disc of board,
and the spindle of a piece of Juniper or other tough
wood.

:i31::

<x>

"(^?

^

Cjjft ©arkncr's Ulantjjlj.

849

The most prominent feature on entering a Hun-
garian gentleman's garden is the hothouses, which,
though not as magnificent as they are frequently in
our own gardens, are on an extensive scale, adapted
to the exigencies of the clitnate. They are of three
different kinds: 1, the Szaporito Haz, (the slip or
propagating house) ; 2, the Hajto Haz, (the forcing
house) ; 3, the Hideg Haz, (or cool house, answer-
ing to our greenhouse or orangery). — Correspon-
dent of Gardeners Chronicle.

simple process of selecting the longest ears and
largest grains for three or four generations.

In almost any field or garden crop Ave all know
how much, under precisely identical circumstances
the plants vary, but are apt to forget that this must
be solely attributa1>le to differences in the constitu-
tional vigor of the individuals. — English Paper.

Mignonette. — This may be sown in the pots it
is intended to flower in ; and when the plants are
large enough to handle, they may be thinned to one
or three in each pot, according to the time of year
it is sown ; if sown in May, for tree or pyramidal
specimens, then one plant in a pot will be sufficient,
and may be trained in the form desired by pinching
off alj flowers as they appear, and such shoots as are
not wanted for the form desired. These will flow-
er in autumn and winter. Those sown in August,
may have three plants left in each pot, the blos-
soms to be pinched oft' during autumn to form dwarf
flowering masses in Spring. Mignonette may be
grown throughout in a light situation in the green-
house. In giving water avoid as much as possible
wetting the stem and leaves, as this plant is impa-
tient of moisture about its stem and leaves, although
its roots must not be stinted, and liquid manure
luay be given when once it has attained to a flower-
ing state.

Best Size for Potato Sets. — What I now wish
to establish is, that the produce of the crop de-
pends, much more than ordinary practice would
seem to admit, on the size and vigor of the individ-
ual sets. Small Potatoes are diminutive in all
their parts; the ej'es are proportionately small, and
cannot produce such strong shoots as full-sized tu-
bers. All the 8 oz. sets I planted appeared above
ground with remarkably strong and vigorous shoots,
which maintained their superiority over those from
the smaller sets throughout the whole period of
growth, and no one who saw their splendid tops —
nearly double the height of the others — could for
a moment doubt what the result would be at the
harvest.

I believe the mere question of inherited charac-
ter has much to do with the extremely various
weights produced from the different sized sets. Mr.
Darwin has shown how almost any quality can be
established by the selection of individuals tending
in a particular direction, and Mr. Hallett has actu-
ally produced a race of long-eared Wheat, by the

The Story op my First Orchid. — I had a
Dendrobium nobile given me once — -I think it was
in the May or June of 186—. I must confess I did
not know what to do with it ; its thick, white, waxy
roots were bare of soil. I had grown many things,
but never an Orchid — the name sounded very terri-
ble to me.

To ask our gardener would have been useless, for
he would not grow Orchids — "didn't like them."

After a great deal of thinking I potted my plant
after the directions given by some learned man, and
yet with a vague idea that I only half understood
him ; but then, I fancy, gardeners' descriptions are
like the cook's receipt — the most essential ingredient
left out.

The Dendrobium grew and flourished. In the
following year, as the young shoots grew, the leaves
fell off from the old stem. I became very uneasy,
and sought professional advice. '■ Oh, the thing is
dead, clean dead, sure enough," said one ; " You
have pinched it of water ; the young ones may live,
though, if you can winter them ; but they are
scratchy things to manage. " "Your plant is not
dead," said number three gardener, who.se opinion
I sought, "it is in finst-rate condition ; will flower
next spring; never does flower until the leaves fall
off, and the stem is well dried-in."

"Will those dried bits of stick ever flower again,''
I asked. " Yes," said one. "No," said another ;
" and, whatever j'ou do, never let a drop of water
touch your Dendrobium ; that is the secret of Or-
chid-growing."

" Another said, " V\ ater it overhead many times
a day ; it wilj not do without moisture."

Now, I did not do as the old man in the story did
with his ass — if I had been a man probably 1 should
— then my poor plant would have gone to the rub-
bish heap ; but being a girl — a woman — I did not
take all for gospel. So I watered my Orchid when
it needed it, which was very often during the hot
summer weather. I kept it very clean, and think
that is a secret of Orchid-growing ; and when the
autumn came, and the heat lessened, I gave it less
and less, sometimes sponging the leaves, and often
dusting them with a clean handkerchief Whether

^^

350

^C)^

(L'jjc 05a.rdrnrr's |fiOuiljlii.

the treatment was right or wrong the plant grew
and flourished.

In the autumn of that year there came a time of
c:rief, and it was left unattended for da.vs, pushed
out of sight behind a large Crenate Cactus — loft, in-
deed, to its fate. Never shall 1 forget its appear-
ance when pulled into the light — it was covered
all over with the red spider: there needed no glass
to 6nd the insects out, thej' were plain enough even
to the naked eye. Up and down the poor leaves
they hurried in ceaseless crowds — hundreds, nay,
thousands of them. Never was Rotten Row busier
or gayer than those leaves as they stood in the full
glare of the sunshine, — red and yellow, and white
and yellow-green. There were fathers and grand-
fathers, and little ones, meeting and passing and
going on their way, as if each one had a special mis-
sion to perPinn, something to do besides life's suste-
nance to provide, — and all this with an a])pareiit en-
joyment.

1 watched them for a few minutes, then the sy-
ringe and cold soft water thinned their numbers —
cut them down like the plague or rinderpest. The
few left appeared to become larger and fatter, as if
rejoicing in the rich pasturage ; they were not left
there long — no mercy was shown. In a week my
Dendrobium was clean. The red spiders never came
to it again ; if they ever thought to do so, they were
scared by some patriarch hermit telling the sad talc
of the terrible destruction of their " nobile " city,
and the almost total annihilation of the red tribe.
Yes, the flood and storm and tempest had indeed
swept over them, and the wonder where they had
gone to could only be answered by the greater won-
der where they had come from.

8o for a short time the poor Orchid was at peace.
It was no favorite, save with its owner, and one
thing must be said of it — it was like an ungainly
child, attracting attention but never admiration.
"I do not know what the thing is grown for," said
the master, "a mere piece of stick— rubbish !" "It
will never flower," said the gardener, "but be al-
ways just as it is now." " It is veiy crooked, let
me straighten and tie it up for you," said cousin
Walter, (just liome from school, where he had ta-
ken the first prize for botany, and ofcour.se he was
very proud,) "and allow me to rub off those strange
protuberances." I .screamed out "Stop, will you !"
but it was all in vain, for suiting the action to the
word away went clusters of would-be buds. "J^on't
get into a passion, Maud. You will never make
me believe the flowers come before the leaves ; it is
against Nature. Why, child, the leaves come to
feed the flower.-!" "You are a dunce, cousin Wal-

m

ter, with all your book learning. It never will have
leaves on again ; I am not sure it will ever flower
after what you have done. I have cared for it,
watered it, and kept it clean, and loved it for near-
1}' two years, all for your great rough hands to knock
oflf." "Nonsense, child, it never meant to flower
there ; or, if it did, why there are lots of buds left.
But see, I will show you where the flowers come
from — out of the pseudo-bulb down here, and there
is not the least appearance of growth ;" and cousin
Walter pushed it close to a damp wall, and I tried
hard to forget it, not even going to look at it for
more than a week. When I did go, to my great
surprise, I found it standing in a warm, sunny place
in a forcing vinery. The flower-buds, unmistakea-
ble, were swelling on the old stems, and the leaves
on the resting shoots were green, and thick and
leathery. Two or three weeks more and then out
it burst into marvelous beauty, seeming to do all its
work one moonlight night. There were five, seven
— twelve blooms, all opening as if by magic to the
May sun. And then the hou.sehold flocked out to
.seethe new flower, and the master said, "Who
would have thought it !" and the gardener, I "could
not have believed it ; but then I never had much to
do with such things." And cousin Walter lifted
his hat to the fair lady flower, and said softly, "Oh,
Maud I I am so .sorry 1 knocked oft' the buds."
And I looked at it and loved it more, and said, " I
will never part with it, for it was a gift," and the
giver had gone "faraway." So the troubles of
the Dendrobium nobile were at an end. — jMaud, in
(^>tt(ifjc O'lrdnrrr.

]&orfirul(fuPBl Hofirps.

^ PENNSYLVANIA HORTICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

The monthly meeting of the Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society was held on the 2Gtli of Septem-
ber. No annual display was held — the building of
the New Hall, now in progress, kept back attention
to gorgeous display for the season. The exhibition
was, however, the best monthly meeting of the
year.

The best general Display of Plants was awarded
to E. Hibbert, gardener to Mr. Fairnian Rogers.
These were all old and well known species, .such as
Lantanas, Justicias, Russellia, variegated Yucca,
Heliotropes, and a half dozen pretty Anncctochilus
had rarity if not novelty. Donald McQueen, gar-
dener to Mr. Joshua Longstreth, had the secomJ
premium — similar plants to the first — Jasmines,
Callas, Cupheas, Marantas, &c.

Best Table Design to Donald McQueen. There
was strong and close competition in Baskets ; the
best was awarded to C. Fox, gardener to J. V. Mer-
rick, Esq.; second to J. Huster, gardener to C H.
Diihring, Esq. Second best Bouquet to D. Mc
Queen. Best Ornamental Foliage Plants to Mr. R.
Buist, grown by R. Chinnick ; as usual from this
collection the plants were mostly very choice. The
hst contained Draccena odorata, D. Ferreea, D. tri-
color, D. marginata, Allocasia metallica, Ananas
variegata, Philodendron pertuosum, Pandanus gra-
cilis, Croton discolor, C. variegatum, C- rubra, C.
pictum, all good, and two new ones, — Cissus Ama-
zonia and Gymnostachyum Verschaffeltii. Of the
."second premium there appears to be no list sent to
the Secretary.

E. Hibbert, gard3nerto Mr. Fairman Rogers, had
the. premium for the best Ferns and the best x^nrec-
tochilus. Among the former were Blechnum bra-
ziliensiSjGymnogramma Herminieii,Adiantum cune-
atura, Platycerium alcicorne,Asplenium Belangerii,
Nephrolepis pectinata, Cibotium barometz, Asple-
nium nidus, Pteris cretica alba lineata, Pteris trem-
iila, Aspidium felix mas, Dicksonia orbilantum
antai'ctica.

The Best Dahlias, by Mr. Buist, were Amazon,
Coronet, Donald Beaton, Eclat, Conqueror of Whites,
Lady Popham, Lady Pannier, Lord Palmerston,
Maria Louise, Miss Hallam, T^Iirande, Mentor,
Nora Creina, Maggie Lander, Princess Rosella,
Queen Mab, Regularity, Surety, Vesta.

Of the second best no list, and of the best ]2 no
list. First and second best Caladiums no list.

The Best Roses, 20 varieties, Mr. R. Buist, Hen-
ry IV, Charles Wood, Sydonie, La Reine, Pauline
Boudier, Count de Eves, Belliotte, Hippolyte,
Plantier, Homer, Louis Philippe, Mount Carmel,
Mens. Alfred Delmas, Jules Margottin, General
Tartas, Hermosa, Vesuvius, Bressa, Madame Wil-
liams.

Mr. Henry A. Dreer had a special premium for
Gl .diolus, — Reine Victoria, La Poussin, Mathilde
Landevaisini, Daphne, Im})eratrice, Rembrandt,
Theresa, Madame Haquin, Edith, Madame Duval,
Curranti fulgens, Prcmice de Montrouge, Canair,
Don Juan, Ceres, Hebe, Calypso, Victor Verdier,
Aristote, Mazeppa, Rebecca, Laelia, Diana, Emma,
Brenchlyensis.

Miss Harris a special premium for a Basket of
Flowers dried by hand, in their natural colors.

Best market growers' collection of Vegetables to
A. L. Felten. Best amateurs' to Jacob Huster,
gardener to Mr. H. Duhring, The best Cabbage to
A. L Felten, — Drumhead Savoy.

In Fruits, R. Bevis, gardener to Dr. Camac, had
the best hght Grapes, (Cannon Hall.) A. Bellet,
gardener to Mr. A. J. Buckner, (Black Hamburg.)
Special premium to John Brooks, gardener to J.
D. Cameron, for Gros Colman — a fine new Black —
and large bunches of White Nice. Also special pre-
mium to James Astley, gardener to Eden Hall Con-
vent, for large and well-grown Chasselas and Black
Hamburg.

For Muscat of Alexandria and Black Prince, to
G. Huster, gardener to Governor Cummings, of
Colorado. For 6 bunches of very fine Black Ham-
burg and Frankenthal, to J. Huster, gardener to
H. Duhring, Esq.

David Curtin's (gardener to Mr. J. Leedom) col-
lection of 12, were also worthy of the special pre-
mium— awarded. He had Black Prince, Victoria,
Hamburg, Mu.-^cat of Alexandria, Piilestine, Black
Ferrar, Prince Albert.

Wm. Fowler,gardener to John S. Hopkins of Bal-
timore, had a special premium for extra fine Black
Morocco and Muscat of Alexandria. Altogether
the Foreign Grape collection was a good feature of
the exhibition.

Among the Native Grapes, Mr. T. T. Walker
had the premium for the best 12. They were Con-
cord, Catawba, Ohio, Hartford Prolific, Diana,
Chnton, Telegraph, Rogers' No. 2, Isabella, Max-
atawney, Rebecca, Bullitt, Williamsport, Elsin-
boro, Rogers' Nos. 19, 15, 42, Pei kins' Hybrid
Seedling.

Mr. Buist had on exhibition Muscat Hamburg,
and Lorin Blodgett, Esq., had Diana and Concord
Grapes from vines " only 2 years old," and bearing
" twenty pounds each."

The best 1 2 Pears were awarded to J. McLaughlin,
gardener to J. B. Baxter, Esq. White Doyenne,
Hampton, Washington, Brown Beurre, Petre, Sur
passe, Duchesse d' Angouleme, Passe Colmar, Louise
Bonne de Jersey, Lawrence, Surpasse Virgalieu,
Columbia, Bartlett.

Apples, best collection, to S. W. Noble. White
Doctor, Smokehouse, Smith's Cider, Cornell's Fan-
cy, Baldwin, Fall Pippin, Rhode Island Greening,
Fall Pearmain, Maiden Blush, Cheltenham or Calf
Pasture, Porter, Cumberland Spice, Gate or Bel-
mont, Princely, Northern Spy, McLellan, Graven-
stein.

In conclusion, the Fruit Committe say, the dis-
play of Fruits was very large and of superior qual-
ity, but were so crowded for want of dishes and
space to properly exhibit them that they could not be
appreciated, our Hall being entirely too small, either

i*;^ r,

to display the Fruits or acconiniodate the public
who desire to visit these exhibitions with comfort,
sbowine the necessity for the speedy completion of
our New Hall.

We have to regret passing OA'cr the names of
many of the successful exhibitors, through finding no
lists 0/ (he varn'ties among the papers kindly loaned
us by the Secretary. Our object in publishing these
reports is to furiii>h some guide to the public as to
the most valuable things for them to procure which
the awards of premiums show, as well as to give
honor to the exhibitor. Without those lists there-
ports have no value to the general reader.

PENNSYLVANIA STATE AGRICULTURAL
SOCIETY.

BT "our SPF.riAL REPORTER."

The annual fair of this Society was held at Eas-
tnn on the '25th, 2Gth, 27th and 28th ult. Owing to
the unfavorable state of the weather, the opening
was very inauspicious, and the attendance of visi-
tors necessarily small.

The Horticultural Department was exhibited in
a large tent with every convenience for a fine dis-
play, and as far as the contributions were concerned,
they reflected great credit on the growers ; although
we have seen thorn surjiassed in quantity at previ-
ous fairs of this Society.

In the centre of the tent was erected a beautiful
rustic structure, composed of mossy rocks and
gnarled roots of trees, tastefully inter.sper.sed with
Ferns, Rhododendrons and other native plants, with
the A))ipclo[)!i!f< in its gorgeous Autuninal dress,
and loaded with purple berries, charmingly intcr-
s|)ersed, and clambering over the green verdure.
Numerous sinall streams of water sprang out at
different points, whilst the whole was surmounted
by an ingenious fountain with revolving jets, which
greatly added to the interest of the scene. In the
basin below were several minor fountains and water
plants, amongst which floated, quite naturally,
several **"imitation ducks."

At one end of the enclo.sure were two tastefully
arranged arbors of Evergreens and Moss, with cor-
nucopias of fruits and flowers, and containing Aqua-
riums, Hanging Baskets, &c.

The display of flowers was not very extensive,
l)Ut well grown. We hurriedly made a few notes as
we passed along, and only record such as appeared
most creditable. William Johnson, of Easton, de-
posited a beautiful assortment of Bouquets, and
numerous Greenhouse plants. Also, fine specimens
in pots by F. Seitz, Esq., of the same place.

In the department allotted to fruits, James A.
Nelson c*c Sons, of .Moreor County, exhibited as fine
a collection of Apples as we have ever had the
pleasure of examining. This display numbered 150
varieties, and embraced several new seedling.s of
merit. We noticed especially a large showy red
variety, known as ^^Fhkes Fall,'' now becoming
quite popular in some sections of Western Penn-
sylvania. P. McCrea, of Blooujsburg, N. J. ; C.
L ck, of Allenton, Pa. ; A. H. Wind and D. B.
Lorah, had also fine collections of Apples, the
latter showing 43 varieties. The Apples were all
roniarkably fine, and, in view of the present un-
favorable season, deserving of prais.-.

In Pears, Daniel B. Lorah exhibited 40 varieties
well grown and handsome. There were also several
smaller collections by other exhibitors. A large
plate of well-ripened Flemish Beauty, shown by
Henry Richards, attracted much attention.

In Grapes the display was rather meagre, al-
though very fine bunches of Concord and Delaware
were on exhibition by J. Brown, Esq., of Mauch
Chunk, and a splendid plate of Jo)i(i, by Messr.s.
Holton, of New York, with .smaller bunches of the
same variety from the originator, Dr Grant.

The Horticultural display of F. Seitz, Esq., was
the crowning feature, and was universally ad:nired.

It consisted of 12 varieties of foreign Grapes,
(cut bunches) beautifully colored and of fine size ;
also, several specimens in fruit, growing in pots; a
collection of 10 varieties of Peaches in pots, which
could not very readily be excelled for fruitfulness,
size and appearance. In this display we noticed,
particularly, the " Crockett's Latf^. White,'' a me-
dium sized variety, but which were placed on the
branches almost like "ropes of Onions. " The
same gentleman exhibited 21 varieties of Pears, as
well as excellent vegetables of many kinds. From
the market gardens of Wm. John.son, of Easton,
were excellent Celery, Cabbage, kc, with as fine
heads of Cauliflowers as we have ever seen. Nume-
rous other exhibitors made the usual display of
mammoth Pumpkins and Cabbages that were real
"Drumheads;" as well as glorious large Potatoes,
the Goodrich varieties being in the ascendency.

Altogether we think those in charge may be well
satisfied with the many excellent contributions, for
certainly such disi)lays arc well calculated to exert
a highly beneficial influence upon the surrounding
community ; and it should be the pride of every
gardener to endeavor to make each fair superior to
its predecessor, and thus show to the world at large
that we are truly a progressive class.

ii'

M

M

0)

TTIOMAS MEEHAW, Fpitor,
W. G. P. BRIJNrCKIiOlC, ruBi.isHEB,

DEVOTED TO

DECEMBEK. 1866.

VOL. VIir.--N0.12.

I^inh Per ^prrafim

FLOWER-G/iRI>En AND PLEASURE-
GROUND.

When preparing our last December Calendar, we
alluded to the remarkable fact, that the heat given
out by Evergreen trees was so great, as to keep
flowers near them in full bloom, fresh and summer-
like, up to a late period of the j'ear. As we now
write, all bedding plants have been killed a month
ago by frost two or three degrees below the freezing
point; while, a few hundred yards off, even such
tender things as Scarlet Sage, protected a little by
belts of Evergreens, are blooming gaily, and will,
most probably, remain so till the first week in De-
cember. It olten astonishes us to find people com-
plaining of the severity of the winter on themselves,
their cattle, and their fruits and flowers, when
planting belts of Evergreens on the cold quarters
would do so much to make all things comfortable.

The time to appreciate the force of our remarks
is now apiiroacbing. We would not have our friends
I)ut off" thinking of these imjirovements till spring ;
but stake oflF at once where the trees are to go, and
have good soil hauled close at hand to put around
the roots, to make them grow fast, always remem-
bering that a young and thrifty tree in good soil
will make a better show, — a much better show in
a tew years than the "biggest" trees, no matter
how successfully transplanted they may be. The
best kinds of Evergreens for making belts, on ac-
count of their rapid growth and warmth-imparting
character, are the White Pine, Scotch Pine, and
Norway Spruce ; among deciduous trees, the Larch,
Silver Maple, Birch, Scotch or Sj'camore Maple,

and the Cottonwood Poplar, which can be cut away
as the others grow.

Besides trees for shelter, good hedges serve the
triple service of shelter, protection from trespass,
and beauty, — setting aside their cheapness as com-
pared with lumber fences, now that their proper
management is understood, their superiority in the
points we have designated gives them a commanding
claim on every one's attention.

Those who have already had tlieir places well
planted, so as to have some immediate efi'ect from
planting, as well as shelter, will have plenty to do
at this sea.son, thinning and pruning. Trees should
not be allowed to grow thickly into each other. One
fat, bushy specimen is worth a score of miserable,
lean, thin things. In pruning trees or shrubs into
close quarters, follow no Procustean rule, but study
the habit of each variety, and trim to suit the va-
rious forms. Where this form cannot be maintained
without injury to some other tree, better cut it
away altogether. Nothing annoys a man of taste
more than to see a laborer going the rounds in
winter with a hedging-shears, "trimming" each
bush in to a round, close bunch, like a goat-cropped
bush on a mountain side ; which are pretty enough
once in a while, but monstrous when the rule.

Nothing " pays " like surface-dressings of manure
or good soil to Evergreens and ornamental trees.
Life is too short for mere natural growth. It is a
pardonable vice to wish for large trees. Put on
two inches of good stuff", and see how they will go
ahead.

Where Evergreens have been planted late, they
will suffer from keen, cold winds. Any loose brush
thrown around and ovef them will help them much.
Our readers will do well to remember that it is
not so much severe frost that hurts vegetation in win-
ter, as it is severe thawings following the freezings.
Every thing, therefore, no matter how hardy they
may be, will be benefited by having something
thrown over them, to prevent early thaioing. Small
things, such as hardy herbaceous plants, can be
protected by a little earth, and there is nothing

353

Ik

■^j

9- v-<^)<

^:^ rr

-rr^j

354

%\\ (Sard^ner's (Ponthlg,

better. Seed-beds are also improved by this cov-
ering; but if earth is used fur theui, it should be
very sandy, because it cannot well be removed, and
seeds cannot come through stiff soil.

It would be well, at this season of leisure, to ex-
amine and decide on the course of improvements
for the ensuing year.

"Night brings out stars, as sorrow shows us
truths," and winter reveals to us defects in garden-
ing taste and arrangements we should else have had
no conception of. Let us note well every point ca-
pable of improvement, every alteration that can be
made without prejudice to the original design,
every novelty tliat can be consistently with pro-
priety introduced, and everj' change that would
commend itself to our notions of good taste and
elegance ; so that when Flora shall return to roll
away the stone from the sepulchral heart of winter,
we shall be ready to go earnestly to work to prepare
a place where she may feel proud to " sit therein
an angel," and guide us to the enjoyment of one of
the purest pleasures earth can bestow — a beautiful
and well conducted garden.

It does not, in very many cases, require much
time or money so to alter the appearance of a place
as to make it bear a veiy different look to what it
did in the past year. A new clump of cheap shrub-
berj' may be planted, or an old one taken away to
admit a new view that may have grown up since
the original planting. A strip of grass may be laid
down on what was once bare gravel. Here a small
rockery may be put together ; there a nest ot roots
thrown up, and lerns and trailing plants freely in-
terspersed between them. In this corner you may
place a stump, and entice Ivy or some climbing
vines to grow over it — a rustic arbor may be formed
in some inviting nook, and in another shade-en-
ticing spot, a rustic chair or bench be fixed. Even
the outlines of the flower-beds n)ay be changed, or
of the walks themselves, or even the contour of the
surface in some instances, and all, in many cases, at
the expense of a very small expenditure of time and
money.

In all these undertakings, money, time and vex-
ation will be saved by consulting with men who
make it their business to study such matters. —
Every one can, of cour.se, design and lay out his
own garden, just as well as he could make his own
coat, or design the pattern of his own chandelier ;
but he will find, in the end, that his landscape-gar-
dener, his tailor, or his manufacturer of lamps, would
have done the work much more satisfactorily for
him. Many suffer from ill-fitting garments and
and ignuruut pretenders; but the man who has not

tact enough to discriminate in this respect, through
employing botches, deserves to suffer by badly de-
signed gardens.

PLANT HOUSES.

The great effort of plant-growers seems now to
be to have the greatest amount of flowers possible
during the winter months. To have plants bloom
freely at this season, heat, moisture and fresh air
are essential. It is even good economy to lose some
heat in order to gain the advantage of opening ven- j
tilators, or windows, if the weather outside be not
favorable enough without. The Camellia, Azalea, ,
Daphne, Stevia, Poinsetta, Euphorbia, Violets, j
Tree Carnation, Lopezia, Eupatorium, Cineraria, •
Perennial Candytuft, Deutzia gracilis, Tea and |
Noisette Roses, Epiphyllum truncatum, Herman- I
nia odorata, Acacia, Bletia, Scarlet Geraniums, ,
Strelitzia, Chorizema, and most kinds of Austra- ,
Han plants. Verbenas, Bouvardia, Heliotrope, are
a few of the best things to grow for cutting, that >
occur to us as we write. The temperature should I
not often be below 55° to be secure of a good bloom. ;
Insects are apt to be troublesome in growing i
houses, — particularly lled-spider. Green-fly and j
Mealy-bug. A free use of the syringe is a good ■
preventive. Tobacco-smoke, in two oi three light j
doses, is still the best thing for the Green-fly. The !
Red-spider, fortunately, shows his depredations
more villianou.sly than most insects, — light yellow j
lines or spots marking almost at once the scenes of j
its depredations. If one has good eyes, the finger i
and thumb will keep him down, as a slight and j
rapid passing of the finger over the leaves easily j
crusheq his little body. When he becomes an [
"army with banners," more scientific approaches !
must be made to give any show of success. j

Felargoniums become "drawn," spindly, and
worthless, if they are not allowed to occupy the !
lightest and most airy part of the house. If fine I
specimens are desired, tiie shoots should now be
tied down to the surface of the pots and pinched
off so as to induce them to shoot freely ; but a too
frequent use of "finger and thumb" is bad, — no-
thing renders a Pelargonium weaker ; rather encou-
rage them to grow bushy, by the free use of light,
air and manure-water.

A good supply of young Fuchsias should be coming
on now. Re-pot as their roots fill each pot; let
them not want for moisture or light ; do not pinch
off their tops, but let them grow rapidly. The
temperature in which they are grown should not
exceed 55°. A turfy loam, moderately enriched

Silje (Sarbciur'3 Uloutjjli).

with well-decayed manure, and well drained with
charcoal, suits thera admirably.

The Mhnnhis is receiving more attention than it
has been. Where they are grown, they are much
improved by having pans of water kept under their
pots.

Epiphyllums, as they continue to flower, will re-
quire the warmest part of the house, and a fair
supply of moisture.

The most interesting tribe of plants at this season
of the year is, undoubtedly, the Cayndlia. The
buds frequently drop oflp before flowering ; this may
spring trom three causes — from the plants being
kept too dry, or from the drainage being bad,
whereby the soil becomes sodden, or from the house
being kept too warm by insufficient ventilation. As
the leaf-buds burst, the plants are benefited by oc-
casional syringings ; and, indeed, an increased sup-
ply of water altogether, in order to accommodate
the demands of the young growth.

Cinerarias will soon be the chief attraction. The
least frost kills them, j-et they will not do well if
kept in a high temperature. They love moisture,
yet are very impatient of damp. No plant is more
improved by the use of charcoal in potting than
this.

The Calceolaria will require the same conditions
as the Cineraria.

Hyacinths that have been out of doors, or in any
reserve place for protection, may be brought in a
few weeks before wanted ; they should not have
much heat, light or moisture for a few daj'S, and
then only gradually.

Carnations and Pinks are much admired when
grown in pots and flowered there early. They do
not flower well if too much warmth be given, but
the usual temperature of the greenhouse will bring
them forward a month before they can be had out
of doors. Whenever the roots make their appear-
ance through the bottoms of the pots, they should
be shifted into a size larger. They require very
little water, and love the light, and whatever ma-
nures are used to enrich the soil should be thorough-
ly rotten. The Pansy, on the other hand, delights
in half-rotten, strawy manure and turfy loam. If a
quantity of seedlings have been raised in the fall,
they will require potting this month. They do not
flower well here when the weather becomes warm ;
but when grown in pots, and forwarded slightly by
the aid of a cool frame, they do very well.

Cacti, and succulent plants generally, will scarce-
ly require water at all, unless in very dry situations,
and then receive but a slight sprinkling with a sy-
ringe. The rule " When you water a plant at all,

let it soak right through," does not, by any means,
hold good with these plants, if there be not some
other good exceptions.

Oranges and Lemons will require the coolest part
of the hou=e, and to receive no more water than
will just keep them fresh.

GRAPE.CULTURE.

BY A. S. FULLER, RIDGEWOOD, N. J.

Bead he/ore the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society,
November &th, 1866.

It was suggested that this essay should be con-
fined to the history of Grape-culture in the United
States; but that appears to me to be a worn-out
subject, as nearly every author, who has written on
Grape-culture in this country during the last twenty
years, has gone over the whole field, picking up
every word and line on the subject, whether true or
untrue.

A recent writer has gone back to the year 1000,
and there starts with an old Dutch legend, to prove
that America was, by a certain Teutonic explorer,
named Vineland, or Wineland, at that period. I
might quote authorities still farther back to prove
that our land was producing its thousands of bush-
els of Grapes long before the Christian era; and
that, while Pharaoh was holding his cup for the
expressed juice in his own land, America was teem-
ing with ripe Grapes, but skillful vintners came not
to gather them.

Believing that the present and future are of more
importance to us than the past, I beg to leave the
history of Grape-culture with those who prefer
talking about what has been, without endeavoring
to show what may be done.

LOCATION OF VINEYARDS.

That the locdtion of a vineyard is often the cause
of success or failure, no one who has investigated
the subject will deny ; but that every location which
is pronounced to be favorable, even by those who
are supposed to be good judges, is so, in fact, is not
equally true ; for there are many things which can-
not be learned, except from experience.

There are often destructive currents of air, of
which no one can be aware until taught by expe-
rience. These currents may be cold ones from low,
wet soils or shady valleys, or hot and dry ones from
sandy plains. In one location, a protection from
the winds prevailing from some particular direction

^^i

I®

?3 -3-

356

-Hey

C|)C ©:irdriur's Jllonthln.

I?

is all-important ; in others, a similar protection
would be sure destruction.

In confined positions, where the wind cannot freely
reach the vineyard, there is more or less danger of
late Spring frosts, unless there are large bodies of
water near, which may affect the atmosphere suffi-
ciently to prevent sudden changes.

In a level countrj', that which is generally termed
a j)rotection, such as hedges and high board fences,
will be found to be more injurious than beneficial,
because vines thus protected will start into growth
earlier than those exjiosed, consequently more liable
to be injured by cold.

An elevation of only a few feet will often be the
means of saving the entire crop. All those condi-
tions and circumstances must be taken into consid-
eration by tho.se .selecting a location for a vineyard.

Elevated positions, with a free circulation of air,
for warm climates, and elevated, protected ones for
cold latitudes, are to be preferred. There is more
danger from frosts in the latitude of Pliiladelphia
than that of Albany. There is also more danger
from mildew, sun-scald, and insects in the former
than in the latter. But in one the late Grapes may
be succes.sfully grown, while in the other none but
the earliest are valuable.

Therefore, it is apparent to every observer that
specific, experimental knowledge is required more
than that which is speculative or theoretical. I do
not wish by these remarks to convey the idea that
Grape-culture must be confined to certain pre-
scribed limits, nor that particular towns, counties
or States are the only locations where vine culture
can he made profitable ; but that there are certain
locations in every section of the country, which are
better adapted to it than others.

To determine these locations requires observation
and some little experience.

I now refer only to sections where Grape-growing
is to be made a specialty, and prosecuted on a large
scale.

Declivities of hills and mountains have been, in
all ages, chosen as the best sites for vineyards ; and
proVjably, all things considered, they are better
adapted for the purpo.se than plains.

In such .situations, a more perfect circulation of
air is secured ; besides, in sections where an in-
creased temperature is desirable, it can be obtained
by planting on hill-sides inclining to the south.

In the Northern States such situations are pre-
ferable, but are not always absolutely necessary for
succes.s. We susjicct that the time is not far dis-
tant when every one who owns a rod of ground will
grow hid own Grapes, whether his location is fa-

\^rr

vorable or unfavorable. If the soil is unsuited, he
, will remedy the defect, and overcome other obsta-
cles by skill and per.severance.

The question of soils is another which is open for
debate, and is likelj' to be for some time to come ;
for all the theories and speculations of wiseacres
I are so often set at naught, that one often doubts if
there be any really practical rules or facts which
I may be guides to the novice in selecting a soil for a
vineyard.

I In one section we find vinej'ards planted in a st-ff

clay, producing abundant crops; in other sections

, .similar soils are found to be utterly worthless for

! Grape-growing. Just so it is with all other kinds

j of soils, — sandy, gravelly or loamy, — in each of

which wc find vineyards that are successful, and

others that are failures. We have, therefore, to

judge from the majority, and this, I believe, is on

the side of a calcareous, gravelly or stony soil. The

most successful vineyards in our country are in the

limestone regions, although there arc a few that do

finely in soils of an opposite character.

The Grape re |uires a firm soil, not too heavy or
too light. Many sandy soils are so light, that too
much air penetrates, and not sufficient resistance is
offered to the growth of the roots to keep them
healthy.

One ancient author says, that vine-roots require
labor to strengthen, and doubtless it is true.

If the soil is not deep, make it so by plowing or
trenching, for there is no one operation that will
add so much to the healthy growth of the vine as a
deep and thoroughly pulverized soil.

There are but few locations where it will be ne-
cessary to trench the soil four feet deej), as is some-
times recommended ; but there are few soils that
do not require deepening to twelve or eighteen
inche.s.

If the soil is not naturally rich, it should be made
so before jManting ; for we cannot expect a growth
of wood or fruit, unless the material to produce
them is in the soil.

Over-manuring is nearly as great an abomination
as the want of a proper amount.

The application of a large amount of fresh ma-
nure will often cause di.sease and feebleness in the
vine to as great an extent as a poor and unfertile
soil. To produce fine, healthy vines and fruit of
good quality, a deep but only moderately rich' soil
is required.

I am quite certain that many vineyards have
been ruined by a too liberal application of manure,
while many others have failed for want of a proper
amount.

^^

(M

When vines grow rapidly, say six to ten feet per
year where they are allowed to grow unchecked, it is
all that is necessary. I have often seen three year
old Delawares making fifteen to twenty feet of
growth in one season ; but such wood is seldom, if
ever, as well ripened or healthy as when one-half
this amount of growth is produced.

It is, therefore, important that those who are
new beginners in vine-culture should use largely
their own judgment, instead of following implicitly
the directions of any one who is not on the ground
to examine and ascertain by experience how much
or how little manure is required.

One writer will tell you that five hundred or one
thousand two-horse wagon-loads of compost is re-
quired per acre, and all this may be true with him
and on his particular soil (if so, we pity him) ; but
upon your own, one-half this amount might be
ruinous.

Again, there must be discrimination made be-
tween varieties. One will require (in fact, demand)
a very inch soil, while another would be almost un-
controllable under the same conditions. Delaware
will starve where a Concord will thrive, and Taylor
will take what the Concord rejects and flourish
splendidly. Therefore, I have long since come to
the conclusion that there was very little positive
knowledge connected with Grape-culture, and what
there is, was and is obtained by local experience.

MANURES.

What kind of manure is the best? is the ev r-
recurring question. The only general answer which
I am able to give is, the kind which you can get. I
prefer, for general use, barnyard-manure, composted
with two parts muck to one of manure. This com-
post, for sandy soils, is as good a manure as has ever
been invented. For a heavy loam or clay soil, the
order might be reversed, and two parts of manure
to one of muck, always adding one to two quarts of
bone-dust to each vine at the time of planting.

There are many kinds of concentrated manures
that are good, and I have experimented with most
of them, but, so far, with the single exception of
bone, I prefer the barnyard compost, ton for ton.

Others think difi"erently, and practice according-
ly, which only proves the truth of my previous re-
remarks, that only local experience can be depended
upon.

CULTIVATION OF VINEyARDS.

Clean cultivation, frequent stirring of the surface
of the soil, or, in very light, sandy or gravelly f-oils,
applying a liberal mulch.

My personal experience or knowledge will not

warrant me in advising anything additional, except
as a warning, or what not to do. Do not grow any
vegetables or fruit-bearing plants among your vines,
no matter who may advise you to do so. If you
cannot afi'ord to give up the soil to the vines, you
had better not plant them.

PROPAGATION.

The best method of propagating the vine is that
one which produces the best plants. The dissemi-
nators of the new unexcelled varieties tell us that
really good vines can only be produced by a peculiar
process, known only to themselves (and the rest of
the world), and with the aid of artificial heat. If
they do grow better vines under glass than others
can grow in the open air, then we will believe the
assertion ; but is it a fact that they do? We know
that larger vines may be grown by forcing than
otherwise; but is the simple increasing in size a
real benefit? It has been my fortune, or misfor-
tune, to handle many vines grown in both ways, and
I have not yet decided which is best. Good, well-
ripened healthy vines are produced both under glass
and in the open air. Some men will produce first-
class vines in either raam.er, while others appear to
have (to use their own words) no luck.

The principal cause for complaint against a large
portion of the vines produced under glass is, that
they are made, not grown ; for, if the variety is
scarce, and the demand large, they are put through
on the double sweaty with no time to cool off. Good,
strong, healthy vines are produced under glass, but
at the present time I fear that such are the excep-
tion, and not the rule. Vine-growers have sacri-
ficed quality to quantity.

With scarce varieties, and with those which are
now quite common, the process of manufacturing
is really ahead of the days of wooden nutmegs. A
few vines are put into the forcing- house, and as
soon as they have made a few inches of growth, it
is taken off for cuttings, and this is placed in the
sweating-box until they, in turn, produce roots.
Then cuttings are taken from these, and so on in-
terminably. If there should be a lull towards the
close of the season, perhaps a few inches of half-
ripened wood is formed ; but when the plants are
sold, this is carefully reserved for future use.
Every one who has bought any of the newer varie-
ties, understands this clipping process, for it has
become notorious that many of our propagators
send roots to their customers, but never a vine.

We may confidently expect, as an improvement
on this plan, that, so soon as these propagators
learn that root-cuttings will grow, they will only

%

358

Ch^ ©ardnur's (plontljln.

I-

send us, in return for our money, their bill and a
finely got up carte de vmte of an imaginary Grape-
vine.

Purchasers of vines should demand good, strong,
healthy vines, and the grower should he allowed to
produce them in any manner he may choose. Anj'
vine that has not made six inches of ripe wood in
a season is not a strong, healthy vine.

If you do not get the six inches of wood, you can
only gue.ss whether that which has been taken off
(if there has been any) was ripe or green when the
vine was sent. There are only a very few varieties
which will not grow readily in the open ground with
ordinar}' care. I have found only two in two
hundred varieties, and these are Delaware and Nor-
ton's Virginia. These require extra care in the
vicinity of New York, to make good vines from
cuttings.

All cuttings should be made in the Fall, so soon
as the wood is ripe, and then jiut them in, out in the
open ground, and cover sufficiently to keep them
from freezing. Two to three bud-cuttings are the
most convenient to handle, and make as good plants
as more or less wood. I have often tried single-eye
cuttings in the opep ground, but have never been
so succes.-5ful as when two or more were used. The
main points to be observed in propagating vines,
either in the house or in the open air, are: First.
Use none but good, well-ripened wood. Second.
Have your soil deep, fine and rich. Third. Plant
early, carefully, and when the vines begin to grow,
keep them growing through the Summer. The Au-
tumn will take care of itself.

PLANTING.

When the soil is properly prepared, planting a
vine is a very simple process, as it consists in re-
moving sufficient soil to allow the vine to be placed
in position to grow, and then putting it back into
place. If the roots are long, shorten them to with-
in a reasonable distance of the stem. The roots on
a one year oid vine may be shortened to one foot,
or two year old, eighteen inches to two feet.

DEPIH TO PLANT.

There are two sj-stems of planting in vogue. One
is called shallow planting, covering: the upper tier
of roots four to six inches deep. The other is deep
planting, allowing no roots within eight to twelve
inches of the surface, and if any should start above
this point, they are removed. The latter plan is
the old Roman system continued, not revived, be-
cause it has always had its advocates. Both of

these systems have distinct merits to recommend
them.

I presume every Grape-grower is familiar with
the points of excellence claimed by the advocates
of each system. For my own part, I prefer the
shallow i)laiiting.

PRUNING AND TKAININO.

Of all the disputed points in Grape-culture, this
one is, probably, the most persistently contested.
No practical man will dispute the necessity and
beneficial resuUs of judiciously pruning the vine.
Then the question to be decided is, How far shall
we go? Shall we take off one-half or nine- tenths
of the young wood at the annual pruning? This,
in a few cases, will mainly depend upon the va-
riety. Son)e are very strong growers, and compar-
atively unprotected. With such as these we can
leave n)ore wood than with those that are less vig-
orous and more productive. Delaware, Hartford,
Concord, and similar varieties, if left unpruned,
will set more fruit than the vine can mature. No
matter how vigorous and healthy the vine, if al-
lowed to overbear, it will be weakened, if not en-
tirely destroyed. Therefore, is it not far better to
over-prune than not to prune at all ? I am well
aware that we have men among us, who decry close
pruning, and assert that it weakens a vine to keep
it within any particulf.r limits, or to prune it what
they please to term severely.

To strip vines of their leaves at any time, u cer-
tainly injurious, and I have yet to find any practical
vineyardist who ever recommended it, although
such a system has often been accredited to authors
on Grape-culture, but without the least foundation.

Pinching off the terminal or side shoots is not
denuding the vine of its foliage. It is merely a
process which has for its aim the concentration of
the vine into a less space than if the shoots were
allowed to grow unchecked.

A leaf on a shoot that has been checked by pinch-
ing off its terminal bud, will be much larger, thick-
er, with more capacity for performing its functions,
than two or three on a shoot unchecked.

We all know that a large and healthy Grape-leaf
is less liable to mildew than a small one. This con-
centration and full development of leaves, wood and
fruit, is what we gain by Summer-pruning.

I V)olieve that the results have always been satis-
factory when properly performed, and, if expericnr-e
is worth any thing, then we may claim that Sum-
mer-pruning has been fully proved to be a beneficial
operation ; for there is no country, where Grape-
growing is at all noteworthy, in which the practice

m

is not considered important. There is no reliable
work on Grape-culture, from Columella to the pre-
sent time, that does not acknowledge the value of
Summer-pruning, pinching, weeding, pampinatlng
(for it is known by all these names), the growing
vine.

Neither do any of our authors, who write from
experience, advocate the stripping off tlie leaves of
the vine, which many uninformed persons assert.

Another point in pruning is, whether vines should
be allowed a large space in which to ramble at will,
or be confined within certain prescribed limits

A few horticulturists contend that our native vine
should be allowed to ramble, and that no check
should be put upon its growth. The advocates of
this expansive sj'stem claim that it is contrary to
nature, and that vines confined in a space of four
to six feet, will be proportionally short-lived. The
theory is all veiy well, but the man is yet unborn
who will live as long as a Grape-vine will, even if
grown in one-half the spacfe allotted it by those who
advocate close planting. The Grape is governed
by the same physiological laws in America that it is
in Europe, and there some are to be found, from
fifty to one hundred years old, that are not two feet
high, and not occupying more than three feet square
of soil.

pjvery vineyardist is at liberty to choose his own
system, and those who prefer to plant their vines
sixteen feet apart, and wait for the vines to fill up
the space, can do so ; but there are others, who
think differently, and they prefer to plant more
vines and get greater returns in less time.

There is no necessity for going to either extreme.
We have plenty of land, but none to waste.

With nearly all of our best varieties, I think that
six feet by eight is room enough ; and with many,
four by eight would be more profitable.

Men who are anxious to count their acres of vine-
j'ards, instead of the results, always advocate a large
space between their vines.

In training, all the systems aim at one thing ;
that is, the best and most fully developed fruit.
Those who do not advocate any system, generallv
go in for the largest quantity, the quality not being
one of the considerations.

One grower believes he obtains the best results
by the upright caric, with lateral bearing branches,
while another follows the Ohio Bow system, and
when he gets a good crop, he will proclaim that it
is the very best way to train vines. I prefer the
horizontal arm .system and spur-pruning, because it-
can be reduced to almost an exact science, or the
nearest to it of any mode now known.

Training vines horizontally is the correct method
to obtain fruit, and this principle is now being ap-
plied to all vines, whether it be Grapes, Hops, or
flowering vines. Any one can soon prove, by a few
experiments, that it is the true principle for the
development of fruit or flowers.

I offer no theory upon the subject, for they are
unnecessary, but suggest that any one who doubts
the assertion, can try it, and learn the fact for him-
self. Another recommendation for the horizontal
arm .sj^stem is, that it is the most simple, every vine
being pruned the same, no deviation, no guess-
work, but a straightforward, simple plan. Tt is
certainly not a system that will give the greatest
quantity on a given space ; still, so far as quality is
concerned, it is not excelled.

There may be a few varieties, like the
Taylor, Clinton, and others of similar charac-
ter, that will not give a remunerative crop when
pruned to a two or three bud spur. For such
varieties, the Fan .system is better suited. With
this system a longer spur is allowed, and, if still
more fruit is wanted, add the box, as recommended
by Mr. Hussman.

Within these two systems may be found all the
excellencies of all others, without the difficulties so
often encountered in the Ohio Bow, alternate re-
newal, long rod, and a host of other .systems, which
have been advocated by writers on Grape-culture.

A neglect of proper pruning has been the cause
of many failures, and one cannot travel in any di-
rection where vines are grown, without seeing vine-
j'ards going to decay because th> y have been al-
lowed to produce an over-orop, in consequence of
improper jiruning or no pruning at all.

This is not so often the case with old vineyards
of Catawba and Isabella, as with new ones of Con-
cord, Delaware, and similar varieties. The young
vines were allowed to produce fruit the first season,
probably because the owner bought vines for imme-
diate bearing, as advertised in catalogues, and they
probably fulfilled their mission the first j-ear. Canes
that should have been cut hack to six inches, have
been left two feet ; consequently, an abundant, im-
perfect crop with vines nearly destroyed. We see
other vinej^ards, that have not been allowed to bear
while young, the owner having patience to wait
until the vines were strong; but when he pruned
for the first crop of fruit, he failed to shorten the
canes sulRciently to cause the lower buds to push.
The consequence was, that onlj' the upper ones
pushed into growth and produced f\-uit. The next
year, canes two or three feet long are again left, and
the final results are, that, after the third or fourth

%

year, Mr. Vineyardist has to gather all his fruit
from the top of a verj' high trellis, while, if he had
been more severe in his pruning, he would have re-
ceived just the same amount of fruit, and of better
quality, and his vines wguld still have been within
reach. I presume there are just such Grape-trel-
lises about Philadeli)hia. I am certaiti there are in
other sections of Pennsylvania, and quite a number
near New York. If you ask the owners of these
vineyards why they follow such a system of pruning,
they will tell you that the American Grape can-
not be restricted. It will not bear to be con-
fined, tor, like the American eagle, it soars aloft.
To such men I would respectfull} recommend the
Sequoia gigantea of California as suitable trellis-
posts ; for with this delicate help, they could in-
dulge in lofty clinibling ingathering the eggs of their
imaginary bird.

PROFITS OF GRAPE-Ci'LTURE.

This is certainly a very interesting part of the sub-
ject, for it is the great motive power that keeps the
huge car in motion. The great question of the day
appears to be, Is Gi ape-culture profitable?

Vine-propagators say that it is exceedingly so,
while other horticulturists reply, that it is under
some circumstances, but not generally. We have
known men to becoine wealthy from the pr< fits of
Cabbage-culture, others in Potato-culture, and a
few in Grape-culture. Some have always been suc-
cessful in grajK'-growing, while many others have
failed. The causes of these failures are innumera-
ble. Sometimes it is unfavorable situations, soils
or varieties ; but it is my belief that nine-tenths of
all the failures can be traced to neglect or ignorance
on the part of the vineyardist. This may be a
pretty broad assertion ; still, I believe it can be veri-
fied by facts.

The one great error of our cultivators appears to
be in their greediness for large result.s. Therefore,
they plant more vines than they can manage. The
cost of i)reparing the ground, vines and planting, is
a small item in the cultivation of the Grai^e. The
vines require care after this. Stakes or trellises
must be procured, weeds must be kept down, vines
must be pruned, and no cessation in their attention
allowed.

Fruit-boxes for marketing the crop, or casks and
cellars must be provided before the profits are real-
ized.

In foreign countries Grape-ojilture is made pro-
fitable, because the requisite care is bestowed on
the vine, and growers do not undertake their fifty

or one hundred acres without first knowing what it
will cost to perfect the enterprise.

A man that owns the vines, even of five acres' of
vineyard in the best wine districts of Eumpe, gives
them proper culture, and is rich. But here one
that owns five acres, land and all, is mi.serablo be-
cause it is not ten, twenty, or fifty. American cul-
tivators are too grasping, or they seem to prize the
name of being the proprietor fif a large plantation
more than that of a profitable one. They start off
nobly, but often fail signally and disastrously, simp-
ly because they undertake more than they have the
ability or care to accomplish.

There are plenty of men who can manage suc-
cessfully five or ten acres, that would fail if they
undertook fifty or a hundred, simply because it re-
quires a different combination of talent and more
head-work for a large vineyard than it does for a
small one. Some men can do well themselves, but
do not possess the ability of jtroperly directing
others to do the same -thing ; consequently, they
get themselves into difficulty.

A small vineyard can be under the careful and
daily supervision of the proprietor ; but when the
area is extended beyond certain limits, then it is
out of the reach of one man, and hired overseers
must be substituted, and difficulties begin. The
fact is apparent to every experienced cultivator, that
bone and sinew is far more plentiful than brains-
The relative positions of tlie capitalist and laliorer
ill this country are (juite difierent from that* of the
Old World. Here every man is his own lord and
master, and the poorest can compete with the rich-
est, if he chooses to do so. The laborer, who has
become however slightly informed in a certain busi-
ness, reasons thus: " If my employer can make a
profit on my labor, why should I give it to him? —
why not keep it myself?" And, as there is no ob-
stacle, except, perhaps, a small capital he starts for
himself. If any one doubts that this has been the
case in horticulture, T refer him to the forty-eight
pages of advertisements in the Gitrdeners Monthly
for October, 1866. How profitable is Grape-cul-
ture? Ask those who have tried it and failed.
They will tell you that the balances are all on the
wrong side. Ask those who are successful, and
they will tell you that from two hundred to one
thousand dollars i)er acre is a fair return. Never
ask the man who has vines for sale, or take his ex-
perience as a guide, for be will invaria})ly over-esti-
mate, not intentionally by any jneans, but the pecu.
liar circumstances which surround him favor his
vision so that he often sees double. He usually
rea.sons from figures, instead of facts.

If a man is growing vines for sale, that is one
thing ; but Grape-vine growing and Grape-culture
are two very distinct branches of business, if we
consider them in the light of profits.

When we take all the successes and failures and
balance the account, we shall find very small profits.
Doubtless there has been causes of failure, such as
unsuitable varieties, want of experience, &c., which
do not at the present time exist, still we have much
to learn before we shall make Grape-culture uni-
versally success, ul.

Locally it is a success, especially with those who
grow some of the most productive and hardy varie-
ties.

I do not wish to discourage persons from engaging
in this branch of horticulture, yet I would not ad-
vise any one to start in the business until he has
investigated the subject sufiiciently to know what
will be required to carry the enterprise to a success-
ful termination. Not half way through, or to the
first hundred pounds of Grapes, or to the first cask
of wine, but to that point where cost has been fully
returned and profits are accumulating.

When a man has made up his mind to do this,
then he may commence looking for a location and
examine the different varieties. There is one thing
more required to become a successful cultivator, and
that is a confidence in your own abilities and perse-
verance, with a willingness to adopt any improve-
ment that your co-laborers have shown to be valua-
ble. Watch and work and wait, never be discour-
aged, and success is then certain, even in Grape-
culture.

VARIETIES.

In selecting varieties, we find ourselves deficient
in that positive knowledge which is derived only by
local experience. In one section the old Catawba
and Isabella have undisputed sway, and the vine-
yardist finds them very profitable, probably as much
so as any other varieties. When these varieties do
succeed, they are scarcely excelled for market pur-
poses, and we have very few varieties that equal in
quality a well-ripened Catawba.

If we call up the recently introduced varieties,
we find that we want more experience to enable us
to determine their true character. There is, how-
ever, one Grape that may be termed a universal
Grape, and that is the Concord. From Maine to
Georgia, New York to Missouri, the verdict is com-
posed of one word — success. In quality it is not
best ; but in productiveness, hardiness and beauty,
it is without a rival. I have often thought we
should strive for better quality, but the people say

it is a good Grape, and they are satisfied with the
Concord. The Greeley prize, about which there
has been so much contention, has lately been
awarded to the Concord. It is, therefore, cham-
pion of America. Its rivals at present are the
Hartford Prolific, which has the habit of dropping
its fruit; Creveling, which is of excellent quality,
but with too loose bunches ; Adirondac, not yet
sufficiently tried, but, so far, only successful in re-
gions where the Isabella succeeds.

Israella is in the same list with the Adirondac, —
new and untried, and of Isabella origin. Some of
Rogers' Hybrids promise well, but subject to mil-
dew in many locations. lona has been on the
anxious-seat for the past two years, but the Con-
cord has robbed it of the bloom. It is a splendid
Grape, and in locations where it will succeed, it will,
no doubt, be one of the very best and most profita-
ble. For amateurs I would name Concord, Dela-
ware, lona, Creveling, Israella, Adirondac, and Ca-
tawba, where the season is long enough to ripen it.
There are a dozen more in which there is very little
choice. For market. Concord, and any other va-
riety that will succeed. Tiy a few vines of each,
and when you find one or more varieties which suit
your location, soil and pocket, plant them in pre-
ference to those which you have not tried.

The success or failure of the experiments of your
neighbors may be of value to you, so that it is not
always necessary for one to personally repeat an ex-
periment to learn a truth. Grape-culture in America
has become a fact. The people have learned that
good Grapes can be grown, and they are not likely
to forget nor to neglect so good a fruit which is so
great a blessing.

Capitalists have taken hold of it with a will, and
when the Yankee nation says in its heart a thing
shall be done, it is as sure as the immutable laws of
nature that govern their being.

The people have decided that Grape-culture shall
become one of the great features of American hor-
ticulture. ■ It is already accomplished. Science,
art, and the gr'^at Archimedean lever, money, are
contributing their aid in advancing the cause.
There may be a little humbug, which occasionally
puts out a light or two, but the candle is soon re-
lighted and blazing away as though it never had
been darkened.

Plant a few or many, but no more than you can
attend to. Do it well ; get the best you can, but
plant a Grape-vine. It will grow when you sleep,
and work when you rest.

^5

FERTILIZING IMPERFECT FLOWERING
GRAPES.

BV MR. J. M. >L\TTISON, TOMPKINSVILLE, N. Y.

On seeing, a few years ago, some To-Kalon Grrapes
growing near other varieties, loaded with fine, per-
fect hunches, I made up ni}' mind that the To-
Kalon had been fertilized by the other varieties,
knowing that the To-Kalon generally had loose and
scattering berries.

Pr. Campbell, a well-known horticulturist near
here, and I, decided from this, that if the To-Kalon
could be placed near some variety that had strong
stamens, and that would fertilize it well, the bunches
would lie perfect. The Doctor took a Concord and
a To-Kalon and let them run together, by having
one vine above another on a trellis ; and I took ten
vines of Concord and t-^n of To-Kalon and ]ilaced
them a few foet apart, in rows running parallel with
one another, and the result is, the To-Kalon is
loaded with fine, perfect bunches.

We are both satisfied, from these experiments,
that the To-Kalon Grape can be grown with great
satisfaction if treated in this manner.

MT SEEDLING GRAPES.

BY TIORTICOL.\.

Soon after I had planted my first grape-vine, it
occurred to me that our American kinds might be
very much improved by sowing the seeds and grow-
ing seedlings. My hopes were strengthened by the
experience of others, although I had only a very
limited knowledge of them. Acquainted with Van
Mons' as well as Knight's experiments, I had no
choice ; the season was far advanced, and cros.sing
or hybridizing was out of the question, especially
as I had no vines to begin with. I resorted, there-
fore, to Van Mons' plan, and collected, in the month
of September, a small basketful of unripe berries of
old Isabella, which had dropped from a number of
vines in the garden of an acquaintance of mine.
They hud just commenced coloring, being only red,
not blue or black. To carry out Van Mons' views,
I rotted them in a tin vessel ; then I washed out
the seeds and planted them, in December, in a box
filled with common garden soil, which I kept in the
collar during the winter, moistening the soil occa-
sionally with a little water. In the spring follow-
ing, the seeds germinated, .^o that I planted out
about five hundred seedlings into the garden.

Some of them were sickly and tender, others vig-
orous and strong ; no two of them were alike in re-
gard to the shape and form of their leaves. Some
came into bearing the third, others the fourth, fifth

or sixth year. There were very many male plants
among them.

The first one that came into bearing produced a
most beautiful bunch of blue berries, lighter than
those of the Isabella, but rather larger. I watched
it with intense interest, and resisted he temptation
to taste it during the process of ripening ; but when
I judged that it was fully ripe, all the members of
my family went to the vine in solemn procession to
taste the fruit of my first-born ; the fruit looked so
beautiful and promising. I cut the bunch with dig-
nity, anticipating the profound satisfaction it seemed
destined to give u.«. I distributed the berries equal-
ly among the bystanders, and was about to put one
into my mouth, when I was struck with the contor-
tions of the faces of those who had tried to eat their
berries; still Ibravelyattemptedtochewmine. Alas!
my ho])es were cruelly blasted ; for the berry was m
bitter, so sour and foxy, that it .seemed to be a com-
bination of every thing abominable.

Another vine bore, in the following year, a large,
handsomely .shaped bunch of delicately colored ber-
ries. It was of a beautiful verj' light flesh-color, a
little daiker on one side. But it was foxy and in-
sipid. I could give a long list of failures, but I will
confine my.self to my succes.ses.

I have three very good seedlings. The /irsf of
them is similar, in growth and leaf, to the Isabella.
It is an abundant bearer. The bunch is as large as
that of the Isabella, also the berry, but of darker
color. The pulp is very soft, and perfecth/ sweet to
the very centre. It ripens in the middle of Septem-
ber, but the berries hang so firmly on the peduncle,
that not a single one has dropped yet from the
bunches which I suffered to remain on the vine. It
is a decided improvement on the Isabella, s^o that I
shall preserve and propagate it. The vine is vigor-
ous and healthy.

The second is, botanically considered, perhaps the
most remarkable .seedling ever raised from an Amer-
ican variety. While the pulj) of the continental
varieties adheres to the .skin, the i)ulp of the Amer-
ican varieties separates from it. In my seedling the
pulp adheres to the skin, as it is the case in the con-
tinental kinds. Last year it bore a single bunch ;
this j'ear, several. As I had lost all confideiice in
my seedlings, I neglected those remaining very
much ; but I shall now take good care of them.
.My friend. Dr. Thurbcr, of the American Agricxd-
turi.st, takes, as a botanist, the greatest interest in
that seedling. He tasted it in two successive sea-
sons, and can never get away from it when he is
among my vines. A few weeks ago, he tasted it
again, critically. It surprised him to such a de-

gree, that he asked me whether the mother vine
was growing far enough from anj' grapery to pre-
vent bees or other insects carrying the pollen of Eu-
ropean grapes to it. I told him that the nearest
grapery is a mile and a half from it. The bunch is
smaller than that of the Isabella, also the berry,
which is of a bluish-red color. The skin is thin ;
the flesh is sweet, vinous, and so crisp that it re-
sembles the Chasselas Croquet, a most delicious
grape of the Continent.

A German friend of mine, who has much know-
ledge of grapes, thinks so much of it, that he most
urgently requested rae to bestow the utmost care
upon it. The vine is very healthy and a strong
grower. The lobation of the leaf is peculiar, and
different from that of any one variety I am ac-
quainted with. 1 shall also propagate it.

Of the third I can say but little, as the original
vine was injured by one of the workmen last spring,
so that it died. Fortunately, I have about a dozen
young plants. The vine bore, last year, but one
bunch of middling size. The berries were enor-
mously large, thin-skinned, very sweet and vinous.

The loJu'te grape, of which I gave a detailed de-
scription in the October number of this Magazine,
is, of course, ray favorite seedling. Only a few days
ago, Mr. Caywood, of Poughkeepsie, and, a little
later, Mr. White, the foreman of Mr. Henderson,
called on me. I showed them the vine, and re-
quested them to examine it critically in every re-
spect, and then to tell me frankly what they thought
of it. They did so, and corroborated my own opin-
ion of it in the most emphatical manner.

The remarks which the editor of the 3fonthly
appended to my article inserted in the October
number, are certainly fair. They apply, however,
with equal force and truth to our native American
varieties. Long ago, the Catawba, as well as the
IsaheUa, which yielded annually certain crops, ri-
pening them perfectly, commenced failing. The
Catawba, but especially the Isabella, suffer more
from mildew than any other kinds. The Delaware,
which was represented as being so han;ly that it
would stand the rigor of a Canadian winter, is losing
its ground more from day to day. I need not refer
the reader to the many and oft-repeated complaints,
scattered through the public prints ; here I will
only state that just tweny-five out of fifty Dela-
ware vines, presented to me by Dr. Grant, are
either dead now, or so sickly, that I have to destroy
them. They were, several years ago, so beautiful,
that I was really proud of them. Red Bank, in
the State of New Jersey, has a warm, sandy soil,
and an abundance of marl eminently adapted to the

cultivation of the vine. Still, the Delaware is fail-
ing there just as rapidly as in my own grounds.
The lona, though raised " loith a view to hardiness,''^
is a feeble grower with me, and mildewed in spite
of the assertion to the contrary, made by Mr. Mead,
that I had little hope. Mr. Knox, I learn, plowed
recently several acres, planted to the lona, un-
der, as he is unable to do any thing with it. A
strong Israella, which I had covered, as I cover all
my vines, was destroyed last winter ; yet some Al-
len s Hybrids, growing near it, survived, and are
unimpaired and healthy. Even the Concord is
tender in some localities, and that, perhaps, only
the Clinton and a few others may be believed to be
perfectly hardy. From an experience of eight years,
during which period my white grape has continued
steadily improving, I know that its power of re-
sistance against the extremes of our changeable cli-
mate is much greater than that of any varieties
mentioned in the above, except the Clinton ; for it
has not been, in the least, affected by them. At
present its wood is ripe within a few inches from
the top ; still, it was neither pinched nor broken to
hasten the maturing of the wood. A vine that can
stand a icinter as loell as a shimmer like the last,
gives, in my opinion, promise to do as well in the
future.

As this article is already longer than I intended,
I would only remark here, that I firmly believe the
main fault of the tenderness of our vines lies in
the root. The wood does not suffer, in the major-
ity of cases ; for in the spring, young shoots ap-
pear and make a growth of a few inches, or even
feet, in proportion as new roots are forming. C^'uld
we grow our tender vines on the roots of the Clin-
ton, and prevent them from making roots of their
own, lohich icould weaken them, I have not the
slightest doubt that we could convert our tender
kinds into hardy ones.

But how can this be done ? Grafting is too un-
certain an operation ; the union of the two kinds is,
besides, very imperfect in general. Grafting succu-
lent roots alleviates, it is true, the difficulties arising
from the facts mentioned ; still, the scion will emit
roots of its own, which will, in their turn, weaken
the vine, so that it does not differ from one grown
on its own roots. Some of my vines, grafted on
pieces of succulent roots, require an annual cutting
of the roots, in order to protect them against the
weakening influence of them.

An intimate friend of mine, a gentleman of large
experience and of original thinking, suggested to
me and carried out a plan on my grounds, with so
much success, that there was not a single failure.

3tJ4

Sihe (Sarbtner's Hlonthlj,

I feel justified in asserting, that any of our native
vines can be groicn tchere the Clinton thrives. It
may, perhaps, apply to foreigners also.

INSECTS IN THE ORCHARD.

BY DR. J. S. HOUGHTON, PHILADELPHIA.

I am by no means a scientific entomologist, but
I study the nature and habits of insects injurious
to fruit trees, to some extent, with the hope of
devising some means of protection against their
ravages.

The curculio, the borer and the codling moth
have been discussed so freely that there is little to
be .said, which is not already well known, respect-
ing these insects. The bark lou.se or scale, is also
pretty generally known, as well as the remedies for it.

My attention has lately been directed to a new
eneni}- to fruit, the cantharis fly or beetle, an insect
similar to the Spanish fly of which the well known
blistering ointment is made. This is a very large
beetle, of a ravenous character, which feeds upon
the young Pears as .soon as they are formed, eating
large holes into their .sides, and gnawing the .><kin
in a most destructive manner. I think they also
devour the germs of the fruit in the opening blos-
soms,— but of this I am not quite sure.

The cantharides are not very numerous as yet,
but should they increase with great rapidity, a crop
of fruit would seem almost hopele.ss. This insect
may be readily caught, as they are quite large, and
make no attempt to escape. In .size they are three
times as large as the common click-beetle, which
they re.semVjle. I tru.st there is some friendly para-
site to keep this voracious rascal in check.

The relation of evergreens and evergreen hedges
to the production of in.sects presents .some grave
questions. My orchard is surrounded by evergreen
hedges or screen.s, as a protection again.st north-
west gales. And now that these hedges are well
grown, ten to fifteen feet high and very handsome,
I am led to inquire if thi.sis not a mistake ? Is not
the eff'ect of the evergreens, as a harVjor for injuri-
ous in.sects, worse than the effects of the gales?

It really seems to me that I have more than my
share of curculios, apple moths, borers, bark lice,

cantharides, spiders, wasps, hornets, "bumble-
bees" (big ones), yellow jackets, click-beetles,
aphides, slugs and every sort of insect enemies ex-
cept caterpillers, of which last I have very few.

Now, why I don't have caterpillars I can't tell,
unless it is because I have ,so many of the other
breeds above named that they leave no room for
the caterpillars.

Wasps, hornets and spiders my place' abounds in,
more remarkably wa.sps and hornets, I know, form
ne,-<ts in the evergreen.s. So do spiders. I think
I can beat the State on a show of big sjiider.s, of
all colors and styles of conformation. I put up
houses for the birds, but find them occupied by
wasps and spiders — a bird's ne,st below and a wasp's
clay tenement above, in the same apartment I
think the wasps drive the birds out. Then I have
the curious hump-back spider, with a shield and
horn.s, which the entomologists tell me is a car-
nivoroui^, u.seful insect, but that its bite is very
painful and dangerous.

Birds, we are told, are highly useful to destroy
our insect enemies ; but the birds, it is to be feared,
will devour the young fruit buds for want of other
green food in Spring.

To encourage birds I aboli.sh cats, and then the
house and barn is nearly destroyed by rats, which
are too shrewd to eat arsenic when presented in
the most palatable dishes. I know of nothing
more striking in nature than the heroic self-denial
of a hungry old rat, which, when tempted to par-
take of a nice buttered French roll, sprinkled with
sugar, grated cheese and corn meal, and sw etly
scented with fragrant oil of rhodium or anise (and
only just a little pure, white, tasteless, odorless
arsenic scattered over the butter), say to himself,
in.stinctively and sagaciously : — "No! such food is
not good for me ! I am very fond of it, but I will
govern my appetite and my desire for food. I will not
partake of this delicate, fragrantand tempting dish!"

How many human beings, with delicate stomachs,
even while cholera is about, can so govern their
appetites and their will.s, when tempting dishes of
cucumbers, which they happen to love (lull of
colickey colocynth) are set before their eyes? In
this respect, at least, the in.stinct of an old rat is
far superior to the average degree of human reason.

Do Cherries breed the curculio? ]Mr. E. Sat-
terthwait once stated in his fruit catalogue that
they do, e.^i)ecially the black Mazzard Cherries. 1
am inclined to think that the Cherry does not exist
long enough, after the curculio has deposited its
egg in the fruit, to perfect the larva of the cur-
culio. If the Cherry does breed the curculio we

m^

41

Kj)^ ^arkiitr's Hlontljlj.

had better destroy our trees, for we seldom get any
good Cherries, and the crop of curculio must be
very large, every j^ear, from this source.

All these are interesting questions. I should be
pleased to learn the experience of other cultivators
on these topics.

IRON STAKES FOR GnAPE-VINES.

BY JAJIES LAMONT, GARDENER TO C. ZUG, ESQ.,
PITTSBURG, PA.

I have always been a lover of Grape culture, and
I have been often grieved, going, after a great thun-
der storm, into the vineyard to see so many of the
vines laid low and the stakes broken off by the
ground, the vine and the Grapes almost destroyed
by the fall, and in some cases the sap vessels strain-
ed in such a manner that the sap will not flow so
freely as before, and this besides involves a great
deal of time in getting new stakes and making
things as they were before the storm.

For this reason I have adopted iron instead of
wood ; and I am sure that an iron stake can be had
nearly as cheap as a wooden one.

The stake that I would recommend for small
growing vines, such as Delaware, Diana, (tc. , would
be of half inch iron, eight feet long, — three feet in
and five feet out of the ground.

To make the stakes, — eighteen inches from the
ground put a cross piece, two feet long, where, at
that point you have punched a hole one-sixteenth
of an inch in diameter with which pass the two
feet piece in through the stake far enough to
fasten the piece in ; when that is done turn each
end of your cross piece up, say three inches, and
that will keep the shoots from blowing over with
the winds. The second piece, eighteen inches up,
have punched for your next piece, only cross the
direction. The third piece the same way and in
the same direction as the first piece, and give each
piece the turn on the ends ; by this measurement
you will see that you have eight inches above your
last cross piece, and that will just answer for tying
the vine to the stake, three ties will be enough, —
one just above each cross piece, and that will keep
the vines from slipping down, as it often happens
on wooden stakes.

To fasten the stake in the ground, dig out the
ground as is done in putting in any stake or posts ;
when that is done take bricks ordered at the brick-
yard to be made with a hole through the centre of
each brick to suit the size of your stake. It will
take three for each stake. The one at the lower

end of the post hole I think ought to be only holed
half way through, so as to make a good, study
foundation to stand on, then put on two bricks
holed through upon the stake, and set the stake
with the end in the socket of the lower brick. Fill
in the ground till you come up half way and then
let your second brick fall into its place, and the
third within three inches of the grounds level, and
I think this will hold all strong and secure, and you
will have a stake that will give satisfaction.

I would recommend two coats of paint all over
the stake, both under and above the ground.

A friend of mine told me that he had his best
Graj)es on wire trellises. He assured me that his
favorite Grape, the Catawba, ripened better on
that trellis than on a wooden one ; so if this proves
true in all cases we may soon have a rolling mill in
Pittsburg making iron for that purpose, and I am
sure T would rather see a mill making iron for sup-
porting Grape-vines than making plate to build
gun-boats or iron-clads.

Mr. Editor, I hope next Summer to see this
stake tried in numerous vineyards. I am sure they
would favor such a stake instead of wood trellises.
I think the vine likes to grow in a round head,—
sucli as on a tree, and in that shape the sun has
more beneficial influence on the foliage, and the
great point is to keep the main cane, and the fruit
likewise, well covered from the sun by the foliage.
Strong growing vines, such as Concord, Catawba,
&c., will require stronger iron, — three-quarters of
an inch I think will be strong enough in all cases,
and it might be six feet high above the ground,
and four cross pieces. Every man can be his own
stake maker, painter and stake setter.

This is a point for your Pomological Societies to
discuss ; for any thing that supports the vines which
give us the Grapes, the noblest of all fruits, I think
will be worth discussion.

Iron is often recommended to be put about trees
to keep ofi" blight, and it is, I have no doubt, just
as good to keep off" mildew from the vines ; mildew
is the greatest evil that follows the Grape-vine.

[This is an excellent practical idea for making
iron Grape trellises. The trouble with iron stakes
has always been that without much labor they
would not stand up. The idea of brick bottom
may be carried to iron fences, and iron posts of
every description. Thousands of "patents" have
been paid for by millions of people, of much less
value than this idea of Mr. Lamont's, which he
gives our readers for nothing. — Ed.]

366

3Ih^ gardener's JRonthlD.

HORTICULTURAL PATENTS
COVERIES.

AND DIS-

BT PETER HENDKRSON, SOUTH BERGEN, N. J.

It seems we are to be annually treated to some
■wonderful discovery in horticulture. Hardly bad
Hooker's patent tank sunk into oblivion, before the
Grape excitement devolopcs another discovery, (?)
claimed by Mr. Perry, which he hastens to secure
by a patent in case :iny one should profit by his in-
genuity, and rob him of the profits.

He might have saved himself all anxiety and ex-
pense on that head. It is not at all likely that he
will have much trouble in defending his rights, for
few indeed will be likely to trench on this patent
any more than there were on that of Mr. Hooker's.

But aside from all question of whether Mr. Perry
had any right to a patent for simply converting a
practice (which has been in use for probably a cen-
tury) from one cla.^s of plants to another. Let us
examine where there is any benefit to be had from
it when applied to the propagation of the Grape.

According to the photographs and explanatory
note sent me by Mr. Perry, by this " patent" sys-
tem the cuttings or eyes are set in the boxes at the
distance of one inch by six, or twenty-four cuttings
to the .square foot, — thus from the moment they
are set in the propagating house, occupying from
four to .six times the space that cuttings set in the
usual way should do ; for in rooting Grape eyes there
is no use for setting less than one hundred in a
square foot, and in eyes that have been taken from
the .slender wood raised under gla.ss one hundred
and fifty is none too many. ^fr. Perrj' may reply
that cuttings or eyes set thus thick must be potted
off or otherwise planted as soon as they are rooted,
while by his patent process they may remain until
they can be planted out doors. This is all true
enough ; but by the clo.se setting system we can
root 50,000 eyes at once with one fire in one house ;
while by the new patent Mr. I'erry u.ses from 4 to C
houses of the same size, and 4 to 6 fires to produce
his 50,000. It is also true that our 50,000 when
rooted will occupy the same space (or more) as Mr.
Perry's style we save the firing, airing, watering dice. ,
/or this purpoae. In all that space for four or six
weeks, (the time of rooting), a saving in growing
50,000 vines, of not less, certainly, than $.500 ; this
is what the mere saving of labor would be. But
these houses need not be idle during the rooting o^
the Grape eyes. In the neighborhood of all large
cities they can be advantageously used in growing
cucumbers, lettuce, radishes, &c. , or in cut-flowers,
which are sold off in time to receive their vine crop.

;Mr. Perry lays great stress on the fact that vines

grown by his system receive no check in transplant-
ing to the open ground, — neither do they from
pots; — yet it is an open question if this non-distur-
bance of the root is of much importance if the soil
is in the proper condition that it should be to re-
ceive them, for the nioiety of the root that the vine
has when planted from the propagating house has
got but little to do with its Summer growth.

Now as regards the originality of the discovery,
even as applied to Grape-vines. I adopted the
very same practice (for want of pots), nearly twen-
ty years ago, when in charge of the Graperies of C.
F. Spang, of Pittsburg, Pa., but as I was not for-
tunate enough to patent my "invention," I have
allowed Mr. Perry to get the inside track, to which
he is most heartily welcome.

I consider the man peculiarly unfortunate who
asks a patent for what he thinks to be a discovery
in horticulture, for there is a free-masonry about
the craft that begets a generous exchange of infor-
mation, and he that holds a secret to himself or
entrenches his " discovery" behind a patent-right,
is not usually benefited thereby.

But Mr. Perry's is not the only discovery in vine
culture this seas?on that has been brought to light.
He must look out for his laurels. There is " another
Richard in the field." A worthy from " the land
of steady habits," — the land of Barnum, and of
wooden nutmegs, — rather suggestive, perhaps, but
no matter. Di-scoverer No. 2 is destined to knock
di.«coverer No. 1 all to " smithereens," inasmuch as
he tells us in advance (in a printed circular just
received), that he will not " tain* this brilliant dis-
covery,"— this "gift of God toman," — with any
.such " mercenary appendage" as a patent. He is
far too liberal and magnanimous for that. It is
still, however, "a secret," which he will give to
the admiring, grateful public all in good time. At
present he has a few of the productions of this
wonderful discovery, for sale at prices so inviting
that he is obliged to warn us in advance that his
"supply for next Spring is limited to one million,"
to console tho.se unfortunates whose tardiness places
them last on the roll of succession.

I know it is not fair to tell tales out of school, —
and the gentleman may consider me very unkind if
I forestall him in giving the secret of this "won-
derful di.scovery" to the world through the medium
of the Gardener^ s Monthhj before the " proper
time," — but it can't be helped. I never was good
at keeping a secret, — and this one is no breach of
confidence, for it is, at yet, locked in the bosom of
the mighty discoverer. Therefore, should the mo-
mentous intelligence electrify the vine growing

^(5:?^^^^
^i^^^^^

world, — should lona Island be sunk with the shock,
— or the crystal cities of Flushing or Rochester be
shivered to atoms, — the secret, like murder, " must
out. ' '

In this printed circular is a cut of a vine cutting,
about three inches long, from the base of which is
shown a few roots of about a half an inch in length.
This is the result of this wonderful advance in hor-
ticultural science. But how produced ? The great
man tells us " not by the beaten track trod for cen-
turies and detailed by a galaxy of high names known
to horticultural fame," — "not by being steamed by
the sickly heat of a glass-pen," — but is the " result
of the immutable, organic laws of physiology and
chemistry."

The plain English of all this nonsense is that it
had so happened that some bunches ot vine cuttings
placed in sand, moss or soil, in a close box or cellar
of the old gentleman, had emitted roots exactly as
they had done from the days of Adam, — under the
same conditions.

It possibly was new to the old gentleman, and sur-
prised and pleased him to think that such minds as
he says as " Liebig, Lindley, Loudon or Meehan,"
were unable to take a practical advantage of this
" immutable law," and that for him was reserved
the honor, the glory and the gain of the discovery.

I need not tell your practical readers that cuttings
of Grape-vines or any thing else rooted in this way
are all but worthless, — worthless at least, to take
from their dark enclosure and plant at once in the
open ground, which is what the gentleman re-
commended. True, he does not say where they
are taken from, or how they are rooted, for it is
not yet the "proper time" to tell the secret; but
if he can get roots on a Grape-vine cutting, in the
manner he shows, without starting the eyes, other-
wise than by excluding the light, — then it must be
that the " immutable organic laws of physiology and
chemistry" are beginning to change.

This " skillful discoverer" as he styles himself, is
horrified at the system of growing the vine in propa-
gating houses and " glass pens ;" which he tells us
is the sole cause of paralyzing vines seen all over
the country, and that his discovery will ensure uni-
versal health and vigor.

It is hard to say whether this man's ignorance or
presumption most predominates; for ignorant he
must be of the nature of the vine if he thinks it
can be injured by being started, under glass, — and
presumptuous indeed to set up his few year's ex-
perience in a one-horse town, against the universal
practice of hundreds of the best talent of the coun-
try. All practical gardeners know that the hue and

cry against vines or other plants propagated or
grown under glass, is only confined to men of but a
few years' experience like our discoverer, whose
early experiences probably were confined to the lap-
board or lapstone, — and to which for the honor of
trade they had better remained.

This gentleman heads his card " To the Public,"
and requests it to be posted up. I could thiuk of
no better place to post him than the Monthly.

[Mr. Henderson favors us with a sight of this in-
teresting document. Enterprise is evidently profi-
table. There is yet plenty more chances for for-
tunes, which, from time to time, we shall offer as
premiums to the subscribers to the Gardener'' s
Monthly., — on the present occasion we shall offer
only two.

1st. He who will furnish the publisher with the
largest list of subscribers, at $2 each, before the
first of January we will allow to patent the exclu-
sive right to use salt for the growth of Asparagus.

2d. That unsuccessful labor may not go alto-
gether unrewarded, he who produces the next
largest list shall have the right to use soap suds for
growing celery.

Neither of these useful recipes have yet been
patented ; — and as priority of claim before the pa-
tent genii seems to be the only rule of action with
them, — we hope our friends will work with a will.
As every one who grows these delicious vegetables,
will give " any thing" for the "patent-right;" and
the right will, therefore, be worth "millions" we
shall hope for at least a thousand subscribers from
the one who applies for the highest premium. — Ed]

WHAT IS THE ETYMOLOGY OF
GARDENER ?

BY WALTER ELDER, PHILADELPHIA.

Lexicographers say, " One who cultivates gar-
dens," but the literal meaning is. One who is skilled
in all the branches of horticulture: which requires a
score of years of practice, study and keen observa-
tion to attain.

A lad of sixteen goes to learn gardening, and is
forty years old when he is a proficient gardener.
He first goes to the vegetable garden, and learns
how and when to apply manure, the quantity and
quality most suitable for the various soils and crops;
and, in digging, to turn the earth upside-down, to
make a new soil for every new crop, and breaking
it fine, that the atmospheric air may penetrate
every particle and enhance its fertility ; how to im-
prove poor soils by draining, tillage, and how and
when to sow all kinds of seeds, and to know them

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by sight ; how deep and distant apart the drills for
the seeds of the different genera, and how long a
time it is for each genus to show its young plants
above ground after the seeds are sown, and how
long after that until they are mature for use ; when
they are fit for use, and when they become too
stale, to be removed to give place to succeeding
crops ; to know those that perfect themselves as
they are sown ; those that need thinning out and
tho.-e that need to be transplanted ; when and how
to thin out and transplant, and the proper distances
apart the plants should stand ; to know weeds from
the crop^^, and how to destroy them ; the value of
stirring the soil to accelerate the growth of the
crops ; a proper system of rotative cropping, so as
to get the greatest amount of produce from the soil
with the least labor and expense, and without ex-
hausting the soil ; when to harvest the late crops,
and how to store and {yrescrve them through the
winter, so as to have a supply all the year round;
how to nurse tender exotics in hotbeds, pits and
cold frames, to get them early ; how to read the or-
gans of reproduction and understand the laws of
reproduction ; to manage aright the crops whose
seeds and fruits are only fit to use ; the habits and
depredations of insects that prey upon his crops,
and how to prevent their ravages; to know that al-
lowing crops to ripen seeds for sowing next year is
a loss of his own time, a loss of the use of the soil,
and a loss of second crops ; how to make planta-
tions of perennial crops, and how long they should
occupy the same ground. After having acfiuired
all the above knowledge, he is styled a Vegetable
G'lrdener.

lie next goes to the fruit garden, and finds him-
self well advanced in this by the knowledge he
gained in the vegetable garden. But transplanting
is different, and many of the plants are set far apart,
and require some years of nursing before they yield
fruits. The causes and cures of diseases and fail-
ures are to be learned. Pruning and training of the
various kinds of trees, shrubs and vines, are very
intricate, and the proper times for their perform-
ance and the arts of performing require many j-ears
of experience and deep study. A higher knowledge
of Botany and Entomology is needed to insure
fruitfulness, and prevent the ravages of insects. As
toads devour thousands of insects in the vegetable
garden, so birds devour millions in the fruit garden.
The proper kinds of soil, localities, exposures and
a.spects for the various fruiting plants have all to be
learned, and also the time of ripening of all the
different genera ; when to gather in the late fruits,
and how to preserve them from decay until new

• S?fe

fruits ripen again ; how many years the plant should
occupy the same ground; the forcing of fruits in
glass houses during winter, and the care and tem-
perature they require, is all to be learned. The
great multiplicity of names and thesimiiarity of va-
rieties sorely tax the brain, but thoy must be learned.
^Vhen and how to graft and buil, so as to get new
varieties early into a fruiting state upon old trees;
heading down trees of poor kinds, and re-heading
them with better varieties. After having obtained
all the above knowledge and much more, he is a
Fruit Ganhner.

He next goes to the flower garden, where the
great multitude of genera, species and varieties are
almost incomprehensible ; j'et their names, natures,
where they came from, what class and order they
belong to, and how to grow them, have all to be
learned by sore taxation of the brain. This is the
real gem of gardening, and a man feels high to be
styled a Fhicer Gardener.

lie next goes to landscape-gardening, which re-
quires the greatest expansion of mind and compre-
hension of ideas. In.stead of acres in vegetable and
fruit gardens, and peaches, glass-houses and flower-
pots in flower garden.s, he now requires hundreds of
acres ; and instead of Cabbages, berry bushes and
Tuli| s in the other gardens, he now grapples with
great trees of the forest. He must learn the sizes
and forms they attain at maturity, their different
shades and sizes of foliage, how long they are an-
nually clothed with foliage, their time of blooming,
and the colors and sizes of their blooms ; where
they should be set, and what effect they will impart
to the grounds ; the proper preparation of the soil
and times of transplanting, and the effect they will
have in after years ; gradingof the grounds, making
roads and paths, and the purpose of making them ;
the best spots for the entrances to the grounds, and
whether straight avenues or winding are most in
unison with good taste upon differently situated
grounds ; the best locations for vegetable garden,
fruit garden, flower garden, glass-houses, and the
be.st modes of constructing glass-houses and the
most economical system of artificially heating them
in winter ; the different styles of embellishing the
grounds with trees, flowers, &c. , so that harmony
of style will prevail in all parts of the grounds; the
preserving of fine views, and shutting out of sight
all unsightly objects ; the various modes of fencing
and enclosures for the different departments; how
to lay down a lasting lawn, and the best kinds of
grasses to sow. This is the master-piece of garden-
ing, and it requires a master mind to conduct it.
Although the nurseryman and the seedsman are the

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369

suppliers of the materials of the garden, their busi-
ness is set apart from other gardening ; so no gar-
dener should waste his time in propagating and
saving seeds in a small way. Rather strive to keep
the establishment in good order, and keep up a
supply of blooms and eatables all the year round.
That will give satisfaction.

[We fear some of our young gardeners may sup-
pose our correspondent's idea is that age alone will
make a good gardener, wjiich we are sure he does
not mean. Thousands of men — gardeners, and of
other trades and professions — "work at the busi-
ness " for a whole life- time, and know nothing at all
about their trade. Too many, we fear, depend on
their age for their reputation, when a young man ot
judgment and talent will frequently be worth a score
of them. The object of our correspondent is rather
to show how varied are the requirements of a skilled
gardener. — Ed.]

FRUIT NOTES FROM LONG ISLAND.

BY J. H., NORTH HEMPSTEAD.

"We are making fine progress in pomology, but
there remains much yet to be done. Two things
yet we are deficient in ; one is the kinds of fruit
adapted to each locality and soil, for some varieties
of Apples and Pears will often succeed well in even
one part of the field and not in another, one por-
tion may be of the proper degree of moisture for a
certain fruit and too wet for another, and vice
versa. The other subject is the influence of the
stock on the graft. Many orchardists have inferior
varieties of fruit, and desire to renew them with
better. We have found it is useless to undertake
to graft some varieties over, as the graft will not
take, and there are some kinds of scions that grow
so slowly when set on old trees as to be unprofitable.
Let any one try the difference with the Winter
Nelis, Lawrence and other small twig kinds, and
contrast with the Bartlett, Buffam, Meriam and
other strong, upright growing varieties.

We had several fine trees of the Heathcot; and
after bearing a few times we condemned them, and
grafted many better varieties on them. The con-
sequence is, several have died and the others pro-
bably will soon follow. The like success attends
the Louise Bonne de Jersey. The Madeilene has
not succeeded well, and several varieties of Apples
we have tried appear not to be congenial to other
kinds grafted on them.

This subject, no doubt, will claim the attention
of pomologists more after they have settled what
varieties are adapted to certain localities. Had we

known this twenty years ago, we would not have
had trees planted at that time which have not
borne a peck of good fruit, while others, with the
same care, have borne many barrels.

A CHAPTER ON TOMATOES.

BY CHRONICLER.

The Extra Early — Bears large crops of good
fruit, of medium size and scarlet crimson color,
which ripens a fortnight in advance of all others ;
hence, it is prized in private families, and brings a
higher price in market than any other variety.
We have grown acres of it, and sold the fruit for
$12 per bushel, and by the time the later varieties
ripened, the price was down to $1 per bushel. But
when the soil and air gets moist in Fall the fruit
mildews and rots badly, therefore, later and more
solid varieties are necessary to keep up a supply
through the Autumn, until frost cuts them ofi".

The Ijcst late varieties are the Favorite and Til-
den, their fi-uits are more round, solid and full of
flesh than any others; of uniform, medium size,
and scarlet crimson color; free of hard core and
hollow heart, and less subject to rot than any
other ; and of the best quality. Both crack in hot,
dry weather ; the Tilden more so. But that does
not cause rot, nor injure the quality. The flesh of
the Favorite is of crimson color, buttery and sweet ; ■
the juice is sweet and elastic, like syrup. The flesh
of the Tilden is pale red and the core buff color ;
the inner flesh is buttery and pleasant. There is a
solid rind of flesh inside of the skin, a quarter of
an inch thick, of an agreeable flavor; that rind is a
safeguard against injury in transporting the fruit to
market. The juice is sprightly and pleasant, and
contains more vital essence than that of any other
variety ; in short, the Tilden is the best and the
Favorite stands 7iext best; yet each has peculiar
virtues of itself, which the other has not, therefore
both should be grown to make a good whole.

The varieties should be grown as remote from
each other as the extent of the grounds will admit
of, for the reason that their fructifying influences,
when they are in bloom, injure each other, and
make the varieties impure, just as Cucumbers and
Muskmelons destroy each other's flavor when
growing close together. Cucumbers will taste of
Melons and Melons taste of Cucumbers.

The following varieties of Tomatoes were formerly
considered good : —

Large Smooth Red, Mammoth Red, Pear-shap-
ed Red, Cherry Red, Fejee, Bufi", Large Yellow,
Plum Yellow and Cherry Yellow.

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Cbe ©arbrncn Hontljlii.

t (iarhncr's JEontljln.

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PHILADELPHIA, DECEMBER, 1866.

rj- All CummUQications f-r llio Editor should he addre'-scd.
"TnoMiS Meehax. G(>rTn:intown,r!i:ladelpUin,"and Business Let.
tera directed to "W. G. P. Briscklok, Box Philadelphia."

For Terms of Snbsrription see second page of coTer.

For Terms of Advertising see page .33.

Volumes 1, f 1 ; 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, unbound, $2 each.

INFLUENCE OF THE GRAFT ON THE
STOCK.

It has been a mooted question for years, whether
the graft exerts an}' influence on the stock, and if
so, how much? The judgment of observers is not
unauimou.-s, — the most part, urging that there is
no influence whatever.

The stock has an influence on the graft however,
as the process of dwarfing demonstrates. A fast
grower does not develop itself with near as much
vigor on a weak growing stock as on a fast one.
This, indeed, is the philosophy of dwarf fruit cul-
ture. Now, as it is a pretty well known fact that
in almost all the active forces of nature two forces
can scarcely combine without mutual influence on
each other, we might almost expect sonje difference
in the stock by the influence of the graft, as well as
to find the graft influenced by the stock.

Experiment.s have often been made to test this
matter, but little evidence has been collected in favor
of the graft's influence. Muscat Grapes grafted on
Ilamburgs still produce Muscat Grapes, — and the
upper half of a white Beet has been grafted on a
red one when young, and the line of red and white
has been preserved through the whole life of the
Beet ; and we believe a great many similar experi-
ments with other things have resulted the same.

Yet we see things sometimes that scarcely admits
of explanation in our present state of knowledge,
that would indicate that some mutual influence is
probable as well as possible.

If we take two Quince stocks of equal strength
and vigor, and grow them as near as may be in
similar circumstances ; and graft on one a strong
growing variety of Pear, and on the other a weak
variety, we find the Quince stock on the fa.st grow-
ing Pear growing faster than the stock of the weak
growing Pear, — and, indeed, we can get wood of a
Quince on which a Pear has been grafted, much
thicker than any quince would ever grow in the
same time. So far as growth is concerned then the
Pear graft has an influence, — and if there is an in

fluence in one point why may there not be in souic
others ?

We have noticed another instance where an in-
fluence on the stock was perceptible. A tree of
White Doyenne Pear, whidi had borne nothing but
worthless cracked fruit forycais, had, three years
ago, all its u])per branches grafted with Bartletts,
and the lower branches of the White Doyenne wore
suffered to remain. The growth of the Bartletts
has been very strong, and their strength ha been
evidently communicated to the stock for several in-
ches below the point of union. On one of these
branches a sprout of the Butter Pear, growing
just below the point of union, had been overlooked
in the grafting, and the shoot bore last year clean
perfect fruit, — all the rest of the tree being cracked
and worthless as heretofore. The most probable
influence in accounting for this is hat this shotot
had received its conditions of health from the Bart-
lett shoot above it.

Tliat there is really a downward influence of some
kind in plants is shown by occasional circumstances
which vegetable physiologists stow away in their
cabinets of curiosities. Some j-ears ago the late
Mr. William Reid, of Elizabeth, New Jersey,
showed us some variegated Willows which he had
grafted on some plain leaved varieties, and the
variegations were pushing out all down the sides of
the stock below the graft.''. We do not remember
whether the stem variegations were of the same
varieties as the stem or the stock, which would be
very interesting to know, — but we have an interest-
ing note before us from a very intelligent Illinois
correspondent, Mr. J. Stough, which shows that
the influence downwards does carry with it the
identity of the graft. He has a Mountain Ash on
which is grafted, three feet from the ground, a
Bartlett Pear; last year, six incheji hcJoio the graft,
a Pear sprout came out which is now seven inches
long, and there are Mountain Ash sprouts above
and below this Pear sprout. IMr. Stough take
great pride in preserving this curiosity, as well ho
may.

He informs us that he once had a Hose acacia,
{Rohinia hispidd) grafted on the Black Locust
[R. pseudacacin) which pushed out Hose acacia
sprouts from the stem which tried to bear Rose
acacia flowers, in every respect the shoots being as
the grafts above it.

These are all very interesting facts, and have
considerable bearing on the influence of the graft
on the stock, and we should be very glad if our
readers would be particularly on the look-out for
similar freaks and report them to us.

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371

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BOSTON HORTICULTURE.— NO. 2. ' grounds brings ns to the nursery proper, where we

At Dorchester Captain Austin has a very fine find Pears,— Pears, in every direction, — they are
garden, in which the Pears are quite celebrated. 1 mostly dwarfs, and are planted, in many cases, so
Most of them are trained in vase form, — that is, the close as 6 feet apart. They averaged about 20 to 30
branches form a single circle, diverging a little at ' feet high, and had been planted about that many
the top, or bending outward from the weight of 3'ears. Most of them were bearing very well, and
fruit. The laterals from these leading branches Mr. Hovey estimated his crop at about 1200 bushels,
are kept spurred in, and large clusters of very large , Many of course would be small and inferior, others
fruit clothe the lengths of the branches. The crop ' extra fine, — but he expected the average price from
this year was not heavy,— not so heavy as on trees them all to be about $3 per bushel. Bartletts
treated by more popular systems, — but we were i were then bringing $6. We found opinion divid-
told this season was an exception, and that usually 1 ed as to the merits of Mr. H.'s close growing plan,
they bore as much as trees treated in the usual j some arguing that " every other one ought to be
way. ! cut out,V and that they never ought to be allowed

Captain Austin's grounds seem to be kept up | to grow so thick. The trees would each, no doubt,
with- remarkable care and neatness, whicli after all j have been better by such extra care, but looking on
is one ot the chief pleasures of a garden, though I it as a question of mere profit and loss, — we do not
unfortunately not so often appreciated as it might , know but what Mr. Hovey's plan is the best. It
be. is like the argument with railroad horses, some

Riding to Cambridge, we found the nurseries of ; companies run their animals only every other day.
Messrs. Hovey & Co. The firm consists of Mr. C. | It saves them, and they last longer. Others work
M. Hovey, the well known editor of i/of«/'s Maga- \ them till broken down, then sell and buy new ones,
zme, and Mr. P. B. Hovey. The former conducts ' and hard as the fate is for the jioor horses, the
the nursery, and the latter chiefly the seed depart- | hard-hearted corporations say they make much
ment. Mr. P. B. Hovey is not much known by i larger profits by this course. The poor tree we
the horticultural public out of Boston,— but we j suspect, go the same road. Most of Mr. Hovey's
fl>und him a very pleasant gentleman, and highly dwarf Pears have rooted from the Pear stock, and
spoken of by those who know him. So far as we ' thus are not to be taken as illustrations of how long
could judge, the Hoveys, like uiost of the chief | the Pear will produce profitably on the Quince
American nurserymen, have had to "work their j stock. Mr. Hovey says some varieties root with
way" with but moderate means at their c(uumence- ■ remarkable freedom from the Pear stock, while
ment; and their beautiful nursery and grounds is others scarcely at all; though he thinks all will in

@A

creditable to their skill and enterprise. The en-
i trance to the nursery grounds is by a straight drive,
several hvmdred yards long, bounded on each side
by very handsome specimens of Norway Spruces
and other Evergreens, probably 50 feet high. This
drive terminates in a handsome show-house ; which
itself is a very pretty object seen along the whole
approach. This house is heated by hot water,
now being put in thorough repair, but usually filled
with plants in bloom brought from the other houses.
The house, besides serving the useful purpose of
creating a good impression, cuts off all view of a
beautifully laid out piece of ground behind, until
the visitor is desired to see it, and the effect in
landscape art is very good. A winding walk envi-
rons this piece of ground, adding, by rare trees,
shrubs and flowers, interest with every step. One
of the specimens, which attracted us, was a young
and thriving tree, raised by Mr, Hovey himself
from the Charter Oak, which was itself now filled
with acorns. The species is Quercus aVxi^ the
common white Oak. A course through these

time.

We think soil has much to do with this en-
couragement of rooting Pears, — we have never
seen en instance of the Pear rooting out over the
Quince in the heavy soils of Pennsjdvania, while in
New Jersey it is common. The soil of Mr. Hovey's
nursery is just like Jersey soil, — a black sandy and
gravelly peat. Amongst the varieties of Pears we
noted none that struck us particularly by their
novelty, but the Dana's Hovey, which was remark-
ably healthy, and an excellent little Pear. Mr.
Hovey uses sea-weed largely as a mulch, and finds
great benefit from its use.

The Strawberry plantation was interesting from
the fact that we seldom saw so much trouble taken
to get good plants for customers. The runners are
pegged down into the sand as soon as they are
long enough, — they then take root immediately,
and are fine, strong plants by the time they are
called for. The Hovey's Seedling as we found by
questioning horticulturists we met, was still the
chief favorite with growers here. Tiiey, however^

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372

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attribute their success to their " knowing the secret
of its peculiar treatment," — chiefly we believe to
their using the Boston Pine as a fertilizer for it ;
they do not think any other hermaphrodite would
do as well.

In growing hardy Grapes 3Ir. H. strikes thorn
from ej-es early in Spring, then plants them in good
soil in the open air, with temporary glass frames
over them, — as soon as they are well established
the glass is gradually removed.

I'cars, Grapes and Strawberries seem the main
fruits of the Bostonians. We saw few Apples,
Plums, Gooseberries, Currants or other fruits at
Mr. Hovey's or any where, — though as it was rain-
ing the whole time of our visit, it may be our im-
pression would be corrected had we been able to
look about us more.

In the ornamental department Mr. Hovey's col-
lection excelled in the Bhododendron. They were
here by the hundred — magnificent plants, and
growing with as much health and vigor as any
thing Waterer & Godfrey ever showed.

The older plant-hou.ses are scattered, and used
for strong, larger specimens. Several ranges have
more recently been erected, on the long, low, nar-
row jirinciple, and all attached lengthwise, on the
jilan which, since Mr. Henderson brought them
prominently before the American public in the
Gardener's Monthly, is now known through the
country as Henderson's system. Attention is
chiefly given to raiding bouquet flowers and bed-
ding i)lants, — but the collection of rare hot and
greenhouse plants is very good, and much enter
prize shown in adding to it annually such novelties
as may probably prove interesting. Just now one
of the best introductions here is Fortune's new Saxi-
frage. This is allied, although evidently a diffe-
rent sjiecies to S. sarmentosa, and the leaves are
variegated with pinkish white. The old S. sar-
mentosa is itself one of the very best basket plants,
— and we predict for this new one a large popular
demand.

A couple of miles still further forward above
Hovey's nurseries, from Boston, is the Cambridge
Botanic Garden, at once a source of pride and sor-
row to Americans.

Here are the materials and the intelligence neces-
sary to form a botanical establishment that would
equal Kew or the most famous botanical gardens of
the old world, and yet so crippled for funds, that
we are .sure it is nothing but the truth to say that
Europe derives more benefit from the labors of Dr.
Gray at Cambridge than Americans do. A great
number of new plants that annually appear in Eng-

land are from seeds obtained from Cambridge.
The great eminence of Dr. Gray induces collectors
of new or doubtful plants to send them to Cam-
bridge for determination, and thus it becomes a
centre of much that is new or rare. By private
liberality the Herbarium has been placed in a credi-
table condition, — but the garden remains to be
cared for as well. If the citizens of Massachusetts
could only be made to understand the real value of
the materials here collected together, and the rare
opportunities they have to make use of them, we
are quite .Mire State aid would be invoked to place
the garden on a basis which would be an honor to
^lassachusetts, and a source of pride to the whole
United States.

NEW HORTICULTURAL HALL, PHILA.

We give as a Frontispiece, for the present volume
of the Gnrdeners Monthly, a cut of the new Horti-
cultural Hall.

It will be the largest public hall in Philadelphia,
and, as representing Horticulture and its influence,
will possess an interest to all our readers, especially
as the good results of the Pennsylvania Horticul-
tural Society by its lectures and free competition to
all the country, members or not, renders the useful-
ness of the society more universal than is usual
with such local institutions.

53^ Communications for this department must reacli the Editor
5n or before the lOth of the month.

Jt3^»The Editor cannot answer letters for this department pri-
vately.

"Thuja japonioa" of the Agricultural
Department—/?. Buist, Rosedak Nurseries. — "In
the November No. of the Gardener's Monthly, page
340, you request a specimen with seed of the plant
introduced into the Washington Agricultural De-
partment as ' Thuja japonica.' Herewith you have
the specimen froiu the Washington stock, growing
in our grounds. It is no douht lietinosjwra pisifera,
with us as hardy as an American Arborvitoe, and
the greenest of the green in the Winter season, of
rapid growth and easy culture ; it is the only ser-
viceable article sent by Mr. Fortune for his 8000 or
10,000 dollars of which the Agricultural Depart-
ment made some capital, but ignored the Betinos-
pora, and put the accent on the Tea seeds. The
whole of th J Retinosporas and Thujopsis recently
received by private capital from Japan are surpris-
ingly beautiful.

V?^.^ ^mr

[We have had the specimens sent compared with
wild specimens of Retinospora pisifera collected in
Japan, and it is undoubtedly that plant. The fruit
adds very much to the beauty of the plant, which
is not often the case with allied plants. The name
pisifera or " pea-bearing" is very appropriate, the
plant being covered with peas when in fruit.]

Lygodium PALMATUM — G. Such, South Amhoy,
N. J., says : — " If J! F., Dayton, 0., will send me
his address, I will give him a plant of Lygodium
palmatum. It grows in our woods."

White or Black Grapes— "Pbmi^/ Reader"
writes: — "It astonishes me to read pomological
descriptions and note how vague are the terms em-
ployed where accuracy might be expected if any-
where. In the G-rape for instance, many ai'e des-
cribed as white. Who ever saw a 'white' Grape?
Why green colored Grapes are called ' white' is
above my comprehension."

[We judge our young friend has just escaped
from a logic chopping class ^t school, where he has
been proving to his own satisfaction that a Chest-
nut Horse and a Horse Chestnut are one and the
same thing.

If we were to speak of green Grapes it would be
only confounding theai with fruits unripe, — but
the term white is u.sed as the opposite of black,
and rather in the sense of light, as against dark, —
and seems as appropriate as any other term would
be.

Our young friend never, of course, speaks of the
white race of men. No doubt he calls them " pink
men," — or, when a little ''toddied," they may be
"rubicund specimens of the homo genus. " Well
all of us have our tastes.

One Year Grape Vines — 3fr. W. L. Neshit,
Lewishiirg, Pa., sends us samples of lona and
Israella Grapes grown from eyes, and planted out
in the open air. We never saw better one year
old plants of any kind.

Ives' Seedling Wine— One of our friends who
was at Cleveland, and who is a good judge of wine,
writes: — "The exhibition of wine was large and
the quality of some kinds very fine. The Ives'
Seedling makes a red wine, superior to any thing
of ihe kind in our country, and is destined to create
a sensation at home and abroad. The Germans
are now paying $6 per gallon for it, fresh from the
mill, that is, crop of 1866."

Large Catillac Pear— 6'. Crucknell, Futts-
ville, Fa. — " I sold a Catillac Pear a few days since
for fifty cents, which measured twelve inches in
circumference and weighed nineteen and a half
ounces. Can any of your readers beat it."

Rose Grafting— C. K. Fepan, Baltimore, Md.,
writes: — "Will j'ou please inform me
through the Gardener s Monthly what
you think of the enclosed mode of graft-
ing the Rose. I find it to grow very
readily, and the smallest wood will an-
swer best if it is ripe, or hard wood.
Will it answer in bringing seedlings to
perfection?"

[The specimens sent have grown very
well, and it will, no doubt, often be
found useful.

The sprout is cut thin and run under
the bark as soon as it will rise in the
Spring.

It is rather a method of Spring bud-
ding than grafting.]

I

Strawberries — Wm. R. Prince,
Flushing, N. Y. — " I sent you two arti-
cles containing precise descriptions of
the most estimable varieties of Strawberries which
were published in your September and October
numbers. They were, as I stated, the result of
careful observation by Prof. Huntsman and myself.
I now say that if any intelligent and honorable
man can point out a single error I will render him
thanks. As regards my seedlings then described,
including the Welcome and Globose Scarlet, they
are not in the possession of any one at Brooklyn or
elsewhere on this island, and the most of thuin
never left my grounds until the present Autumn.

" The man who has assailed the two above named
has never seen a plant of eitlier. He applied to
purchase plants and was refused, and is not per-
mitted to enter my premises. He is the same who
described Napoleon III, Chili and the Austin to
be tlie same, and who praised the Georgia Mam-
moth and other trash.

" The Prineesse Royale and Prince Imperial are
European varieties. The former is the great mar-
ket berry of Paris, which I have correct, but which
he has erroneously confused with a little trashy
kind he calls Ha-quin.

" Not one of my new varieties has been sold ex-
cept to special amateurs ; and us I cultivate my col-
lection for my own gratification, I shall restrict all
sales to such only as do ja'".ti«e to its merits.

— irW}

feV.fr^

■•■^ r^^y^

Co

^:^^i^

374

:2^'h^ CJardrnrr's (|tlonthIy,

" You will see bj'Prof. Huntsman's recent coni-
munication to the Anieriean Institute, that he pro-
nounces nij' collection superior to anj' other in ex-
istence.

'"The L:idy Finger and Monitor are almost
unanimously rejected, and tlie Ida is the surest of
all yet tested. The Welcome which I have only
lately spared to four persoiv;, has a marked charac-
ter, distinct lioni every other cultivated variety.

'■ I comni'inicate this point to you (privately) hy
which you can defect any one who falsely pretends
to possess it. No one tan have it, except as a
favor, at any price."

[If we understand Mr. I'rinee ri^'ht, the charge
i.s that Mr. Cavai:agh condemns varieties he has
never tried. The.'^e are .serious cliarge.'', and it is
due to ourselves and readers that Mr. C. explain.]

Hf&i anb liar? fhnK

OBITUARV.

Col. Nelson, of !Macon, Georgia, a great nur-
seryman of middle Gei)rgia, died vt;r)' suddenly at
tlie National Hotel, in Aelauta. on Sunday last. —
Da ill/ Paper.

^mf.%, (Jafa(ogups> %'r

FoRE.stT Tree Culturist. — By Andrew S. Fuller.

New York : — Publisheil by Messrs. Wood-

ward.s. A small octavo of ISO j)ages.

On looking carefully through this book of iMr.

Fuller's we find much, both in the pr.nctical details

or culture, and in niritte»-s more strictly scientific,

whinh do not agree with our own observations, —

but nevortheJess there is so much that is really

usjful that we can cordially recommend it to all

interested in the growth of fore.sf trees, as a book

'<bi«ib will fully repay a careful periLsal and study.

Woodwartj'^ *RCHi'n';r'TrRR. — A Rural Annual,
No. 1. Isr.Y. ^v (ho. Vj. k F. VV. Wood-
ward, Editors of the Ilortlcvllnrint.
A very pretty, snnl! book filled with plans and
designs for country seat.s, iee-bouser, farm -cottages,
fruit-drying-houses, &c. A correspondent from
Warrenton. ^'irgini!l. recently asked us to recom-
mend some bonk with a good fd.in for a chicken-
bouoc, — but we know of r>one then to refer him to.
This book supplies .ill such wants, and is one which
the public will appreciate.

I)aiilt.\ Imperialis — Charles J. Foiofir, South
frnmwgham, Masa.--" I send you this day, by mail,
a flower oi the 'Dahlia Imperiali.s.' The plant
has been grown in a pot which was sunk in the
ground till the approach of cold weather, when it
was put ifi the greenhouse.

" The following, by a French horticulturist, gives
a perfect deserii>tion of the plant:

'Tlii" iiugnificent sjiecies of the genus Dahlia,
plafiled in the open border in May last, has now
(September) reachc<l the prodigious height of ten
feet. The majestic habit, graceful foliage, elegant-
ly cut and large drooping white bell-shaped flowers,
justly entitle it to the appellation of Dahlia Im-
perialis. Covered with a multitude of buds and
full-blown flowers, it presented a most enchanting
effect ; these are large, and remind one of the Lily ;
they are of a transparent white, and each petal is
shaded with delicate rose from the base to the
point, producing a fine effect.'

" I expect to be able to flower it next season, in
September, as I have some fine young roots which
I intend growing during the Winter so as to have
strong plants to set out in May or June next."

[No doubt this can be improved as the old Dahlias
have been and a new race originated. AVe are
obliged for the specimen sent.]

UptQ anb ll^aFp l^ruiK

The Bronx Pear. — This fruit was first brought
to our notice .some years ago by the Ilev. Wm. Clift,
Comptroller of Woodlawn Cemetery.

It was raised by James P. Swain, E.sq., of Bronx-
ville, about the year 1850, the last year that the
horticultural exhibition of the American Institute
was held in (?a<tle Garden. The parentage has
not been definitely ascertained. A large quantity
of seeds taken from Pears exliibited at the Institute
that year were planted. The result of the last thin-
ning left only five hardy seedlings, and these were
subsequently reduced by accident to three.

The first of these jiroved to be an early bearer,
giving fruit in its ninth year, and was named by
Mr. Swain, the Bronx, from the rivei of its birth
place. The original tree is an upright grower, in-
clined to a.s.sume a pyramidal shape without the
use of the knife. Tlie limbs droop somewhat with
age and full bearing. The wood is of a reddish-

(t)j

^^^ r^^

(C)^

m

r

((^)

Sh^ ®Hrtoer'i

(Plonthlg,

375

brown color, and has never shown the leas t disposi-
tion to blight. The foliage is a bright glossy groen,
and is retained until the close of the season. Tt is
a regular and abundant bearer, setting fruit three
or four inches apart, and retaining it until ready
for picking. It has borne regularly abundant crops
for seven years.

Fruit medium, obovate pyriforra. Skin dull
greenish yellow, thickly sprinkled with russet dots,
which frequently run together and form i atches of
russet, esj^ecially near the stem and calyx, where
the skin is often completely russeted. Stem about
11 inches long, moderately stout and enlarged at its
insertion, which is usually in a well marked, uneven
cavity, though in some specimens, where the form
approaches to turbinate, the cavity is wanting.
Calj'x open, with short segments, set in a slight
and obscurely furrowed basin. Flesh, yellowish
white, slightly coarse grained, very juicy and melt-
ing— sweet and rich, and when well-ripened, with
a delicate perfume. Season, from first to middle
of September. — American Agriculturist.

Suffolk Beauty Apple. — This is a newvarietv
received by us from H. H. k E. L. Brown, Deer
Park, Long Island. As our pomologists have given
us no system for classifying Apples that enables us
to describe them naturally, we can only say that it be-
longs to what we should call, if we were making a
classification, the " Rambo family." The speci-
mens before us are about 2J inches wide by 2 deep,
that is oblate, though tapering somewhat towards
the apex. The basin is small and shallow, and the
calyx small and mostly closed. The stem cavity is
of medium depth ; the stem an inch long and slen-
der. The color is yellowish white, with a few dark
green dots, and with a little russet near the stem.
The delicate white flesh is of an agreeable subacid
flavor. It is represented to us as a free grower,
early and abundant bearer, and to be in season from
10th of August to first of October.

Fine Peaches in October. — On the 15th of
October, William Parry, of Cinnaminson, N. J.,
presented us with a very la'rge white Peach with a
handsome blush on one side ; flesh white, sweet,
juicy and delicious ; measuring ten and a quarter
inches in circumference, and weighing nine and a
quarter ounces, which he had received from J. H.
Ridgely, of Baltimore, with the following note :

" I send you a specimen of the Peaches grown
on ray tree in our city yard. I found a young shoot
on the premises in August of 1S61, removed it to a
better spot and have nurtured it carefully ; it is now

a large tree, has borne about 1 50 Peaches this sea-
son, one of which weighed 12 ounces, and measured
over 1 1 inches in circumference.

"The specimen now sent is smaller. None
matured earlier than the 2i\h. of September, and
some are now ripening. The Peach is probably a
variety of the Heath, but has a fine blush, as you
see. It is pronounced by fruit growers a very
choice variety, worth special attention. The tree
was closely trimmed last year and there is on it a
fine growth of young shoots. should like to have
your opinion of its merits, &c."

The specimen shown here come fully up to the
above description, and is probably a seedling as we
cannot identify it with any known variety. It is
certainly deserving o a more extended trial, and if
it succeeds as well elsewhere, will be a valuable ac-
quisition to our list of late Peaches.

Mr. Arnold '.s Hybrid Grapes. — We have re-
ceived from Mr. Charles Arnold four kinds of his
seedling CHnton Grapes, and must confess that we
consider them the most important additions made
to Grape improvement since the appearance of the
Concord Grape.

Many have believed that improvement in the
Clinton direction is the proper course if we would
have healthy Grapes, — we think so to. These are
greater successes, however, than could have been
anticipated.

Sources of Vegetable Oils.— A very large
white pea is grown near Shanghai, in China, from
which oil is extracted for burning. So extensively
is this article used, that from Shanghai alone £2,-
000,000 worth is yearly distributed over China.
This leguminous plant is called teuss. There is
another Chinese production called the tea oil, said
to be produced from the seeds of a species of the
two genera, thea and Camellia, which oil is nearly
unknown in Europe. When fresh it is quite free
from smell, of a pale j'ellow tint and devoid of sedi-
ment It resists a cold of 40 degrees, and its den-
sity is 227. It burns with a remarkably clear white
flame. This oil might prove an important article
of commerce in the East, because in its properties
it is superior to cocoanut oil, and the other oils
used for burning.

F.om the leaves of the Australian Eucalypt r'n
oil can be prepared of equal utility to the cajeput

m

H

©hi; ^ardfucr's .^oiithlu.

oil of the East. Among the various kinds of oils
u<ed in Northern Germany, especially in the king-
dom of Hanover, that extracted from the nuts of
the Beech is deserving of notice. Beech oil does
not play a prominent part in commerce, nor is it
likely to do so, owing to the fact that it cannot be
obtained in large quantities. The country people
who collect the nuts, or who cause them to be col-
kcted, use the greater jiart of the oil extracted
from them in their household, and dispose only of
the remaining fraction. About the beginning of
Nuvember, the nuts are gathered either by picking
up tho.se which have fallen to the ground, or t)y
.'Spreading large sheets under the trees and beating
the branches with poles, so as to cause the nuts to
separate from them.

Twenty-five pounds of nuts yield about five lbs.
ut oil. The oil is of a pale yellow color, and has an
extremely agreeable taste. It is often adulterated
with walnut oil ; the latter is even sold as Beech
oil, and this may account tor the difference of opin-
ion respecting the quality of Beech oil. The towns
peo])le use it chiefly as .salad oil, but the peasantry
employ it as a substitute for butter, etc. ; and only
when there has been a good harvest of nuts, for
burning in their lamp.*. The nuts are, after the oil
has been expressed, made into cakes about nine
inches square and an inch and a half thick ; these
are used for combustibles. — Technologist.

Striki.vo Cttttings in Water. We like to see
striking in water and sand and water, and it is a
pretty amusement; but then the cuttings n)ust be
looked after as soon as the roots are formed, and
transferred to nice, warm, sandy soil. When much
is done it is as well to place the cuttings in material
in which they will stand and flourish some time
after they are struck, and hence we prefer, after
good drainage, light sandy loam and a little leaf
mould, with a .slight coating of sand on the surface,
which, if kept rather moist, will prevent air pene-
trating to and exhausting the ba.se of the cutting.
In proportion to the additional heat used in striking
cuttings, so will greater care be required in harden-
ing off the cuttings afterwards. Tho.se with but ^ayi
conveniences slionld do most of their propapatingin
summer and autumn. The sun will then give the
heat which mvst now be supplied artificially by fire
or fermenting material. — Cottarje GarJener.

j^orHruKfupal TQoHrps.

PENNSYLVANIA HORT. SOCIETY.

DI.SCUSSrONAL MEETING.

Mr. Fuller's Essay. [See page Z5o.)

A large and appreciative audience was in attend-
ance. The Corresponding Secretary stated that Mr.
Fuller wished an ajiology to be made for his Essay,
as he expected to be on pcrsonally,and to correct as he
read it himself

Mr. D. Rodney King exprcs.sed his great interest
in Mr. Fuller's remark.s. No greater evidence of
the improved success of Grape culture could be af-
forded than the present fully supplied markets. A
few \-ears ago there were few to be seen ; now they
were abundant, and j'et the prices had risen with
the increased quantity, owing to the increased de-
mand. The President said he would like to hear
Mr. 3Ieehan on Mr. Fuller's E.ssay.

Mr. Mcehan said he agreed with most that Mr.
Fuller had advanced, but did not think soil, aspect,
winds, insects, or any of the reasons usually ad-
vanced to ac ount for failures were satisfactory. —
He attached very little importance to mere soil or
situation. In every part of the United States, and
in every soil, — even in almost impas.sab]e swamps,
as well as on mountain sides, — wild Grapes grew
vigorou- and healthy, and bore fruit abundantly.
The trouble, whatever it might be, must, therefore,
be in sotne way connected with the treatment or
management of the Vine.

Mr. J. E. Mitchell believed it es.sential to success-
ful out-door culture that the air should be, to some
extent, moist. Why could we not grow the foreign
vine in the open air? Simply, because the moist
air of the vinery, where they succeeded so well, was
wanting in our dry climate. He considered the
Grape-culture in the open air never could be satis-
factorily depended on. A cold vinery, on the other
hand, was almost certain to prodtice good returns.
He had a vineyard 11 years old, from which ho
never had a .satisfactory crop ; while his 7 year old
cold grapery never failed. Mr. Kern's vineyard on
the Schuylkill, which, last year, was so famous for
its enormous crop, was, this year, almost a failure.

Mr. Meehan said the f\xct that Mr. Kern had
once got an enormous crop from his vines was suf-
ficient to prove that there could not be any thing in
soil, situation or aspect radically unfavorable to
Grape culture. He had seen these vines, and
though they were a bad failure, there were AviM
Grapes in the woods and on the trees clo.se by.

models of health and productiveness. If the culti-
vated ones fiiiled, and the wild ones succeeded, it
seemed but logical to look to some error in cultiva-
tion, and not to any impossibility. There must be
some reason why Grrapes growing over trees should
do better than those over trellises.

Mr. Mitchell said the shade afforded by the trees
was no doubt beneficial to the Grape-vine.

Mr. A. W. Harrison said he had proved, expeir-
mentally, that Grapes under glass revelled in sun-
light, provided the air was sufficiently moist. He
thought that some unfavorable condition of the soil
was the reason for many failures. Grapes usually
throve well in volcanic soils, and an absence of sul-
phur in the soil might weaken their vitality. A
slight tint of sulphur in the soil and atmosphere
might be a benefit; again, the Grape naturally pre-
ferred mountain slopes, indicating the value of under-
draining.

Mr. Meehan hoped gentlemen would not lose
sight of the fact that wild Grapes over trees and
bushes did well where none of the supposed essen-
tials of successful cultivation existed. The sulphur-
ous air of Pittsburg did not prevent failures there :
and as for under-draining he could take friends to
the swamps in the State of Delaware and show them
wild Grapes as large as Isabellas, and black as jet,
rambling over trees in places so wet that one could
hardly get to the vines.

Mr. Robert Kilvington said that Mr. Meehan's
observations were undoubtedly correct. He knew of
a Catawba Grape, trained on a trellis, which was
always a failure ; but a branch which had got away
from the trellis over to a tree, and had partially cov-
ered it, always brought its fruit to fine perfection.
He had eaten, this year, from it, as fine Catawbas
as he had ever tasted.

Mr. Meehan again begged the indulgence of the
meeting to hope that they would give this fact of
Mr. Kilvington's due weight, yet it was an observa-
tion which any one might repeat for himself any-
where. What could climate, or soil, or aspect do
that one-half a vine should not do well, while the
other half should succeed on the tree? Clearly it
was owing to some circumstances connecting the
vine and the tree which did not exist between the
vine and the trellis. He then attempted to account
for it on philosophical principles, in connection with
the nature and office of tendrils, in some lengthened
remarks, for which we have no room here.

Mr. Thos. P. James remarked that if Mr. Mee-
han's views were correct, the vine might be grown
to great perfection by strewing brush-wood over the
ground and letting the vine run over it. He thought

however, Mr. M.'s theory scarcely consistent with
some of the facts he himself had brought up to sus-
tain it.

Mr. Charles H. Miller had seen Grapes growing
admirably when left to grow naturally over a pale-
fence along a garden boundary. There were Dela-
wares and other choice varieties, — but, last year,
the vines fell into the hands of a skilful pruner, who
cut away and trained according to the highest prin-
ciples of the art, and the vines were, since, nearly
worthless. With regard to Mr. Mitchell's remarks
about the success of the Grape in cold vineries, he
said it must not be forgotten that, however mana-
gers of vines under glass might disagree about other
things, there was always great care taken to prevent
over-cropping. In the open air this was very rarely
cared for. In fact, the idea seemed to be to trim
so as to get very vigorous wood, which, in turn,
produced an enormous crop, which ruined the vital-
ity of the vine, and rendered it liable to all sorts of
disorders. He thought vines rambling wild over
fences or trees were not so liable to overbear as
those trimmed and trained to trellises in the usual
way.

Mr. Mitchell thought shade very important.

Miss Percival remarked that a friend of hers, well
versed in European vine culture, had expressd to
her his surprise that we did not remove the leaves
from the vines, while the fruit was ripening, more
than we did. There was something in the decay of
the leaf, he thought, injurious to the vine, and the
leaves should be taken ofi" before they got so far as
decay.

Mr. Lorin Blodgett had made the climate of the
United States a special study, and also, somewhat,
with reference to its influence on the Grape-vine.
He believed the failure of the Grape were chiefly
owing to climatic causes. He had explained this
some years ago in an Essay published by him, and
subsequent observations had confirmed him in the
views there expressed. The climate at the west end
of Lake Erie he had found to be about the most fa-
vorable in the Union for the success of the Grape ;
yet, even here, success was by no means uniform.
On an average, the general Grape crop of the
United States was a success one year out of three,
yet it had been found that one full crop in three was
a very profitable investment. He was sure that the
best results would ensue where the vines were fre-
quently renewed — as young vines had more natural
vigor to resist depressing influences than elder plants.

Mr. Charles H. Miller was also in favor of at least

frequent renewals of young wood in the Grape-vine.

On motion of Mr. J. E. Mitchell, a vote of thanks

-£-^

Cljc (Ipardnur's JRonthln.

was tendered to Mr. Fuller for his able and inter-

e>ting essay.

- — ■ «•■»»

MASSACHUSETTS HORT. SOCIETY.

ANNUAL E;iniBlTION.

The Hall of the Horticultural Society is one of
Boston's attractive features, and a beautiful build-
in? of which our friends there may well be proud.
Ir-j co'st was over $200,000, and as a "paying invest-
ment" yields a good profit to the Society ; yet it is
not adapted to large exhibitions. The halls, one
above the other, are only, each, about 50 feet square,
and large contributions of fruits and flowers, on the
present occasion, had to be declined for want of
space. Still, the investment of the Society is a
wise one ; they will save antnial exjtenses by having
their own hall, add to their capital by the profits of
the hall, and thus accumulate a fund, which they,
otherwise, never would have liad, with which to do
something still more worthy of the cause.

It was a pleasure to us to find so many of the
principal nurserymen and florists sustaining the So-
ciety by their presence and contributions — so unlike
meetings we have seen in all other places, where
one or two have to take the -whole horticultural
credit of tTie town on their shoulders. We met here
fully two-thirds of the Boston Horticulturists, at dif-
ferent times of the exhibition, all of whom seemed
to take the wannest interest in the success of the
fair. Probably, the care given to make the meet-
ings sociably pleasant and profitable has something
to do with this success. On each day of the exhi-
bition the members of the committees make a point
to dine together at one of the principal hotels, at
which any distinguished Horticulturists from other
cities, who may be visting the exhibitions, are in-
vited guests. From personal experience we can say
that these re-unions are very happy occasions, and
gratif3'ing to the participants.

Of the exhibition, the vegetables and fruits were
finer than we have seen in any other exhibition. —
The vegetables, particularly, interested us. The
Cabbages were enormous: — Drumheads from A. S.
]\Iorrill, of Danvers, were .3.5 lbs. each ; some Mar-
blehcad Cabbages from Scth Hathaway, 40 lbs. —
Tlie Savoys, also, were enormous. The Onions
were in great variety and profusion — the Danvers
being the largest and best looking variety.

There were many fine varieties of Carrots, with
the names of which we were not familiar, but
seemed not distinct from older kinds. " French
Horn," for instance, is probably the same as the old
Early Short Horn.

The Potatoes were extremely numerous, as to va-

rieties, but not near equal to our Philadelphia pro-
ductions in average size. Judging from the fre-
quency of kinds exhibited — the Early Sebcc and the
Eiirly Goodrich are the mo.st popular kinds. The
former has deep eyes, and so far, would give much
waste ; — but it may have other su])erior merits of
quality, or extra earliness to recommend it. It is
a flat, broadly oval-shaped, lai-ge sized tuber, with
the sprouting end pinkish. An unfamiliar face was
the "Davis Seedling," with a blood red skin, and
general good appearance. The " Jersey " Peach
B.'ow was not the Peach Blow usually seen in New
Jersey.

C. W. Gleason had a very large number of un-
named seedlings of the late Mr. Goodrich, some of
which may yet prove of value.

But if the Bostonians were " Small Potatoes,"
they were, at any rate, "Some Pumpkins;" for in
this and the Squash line they were inimitable, —
Boston Marrows, Hubbard, and many others were
perfect monsters. We had heard tliat the Bos-
tonians use the hollowcd-out shell for sentiy-boxes;
from these specimens the "joke" maybe not all
a joke.

We never saw so many varieties of Tomato to-
gether. \\ hether really distinct enough to be wor-
thy of naming we cannot say. J. D. Wolf had Til-
den, Cook's Favorite and "Early Frame" together,
all different, and the first named, by a long way, the
best looking; the " Early Frame" next. "Spin-
ney's Golden Striped" was showy. Hay's Early Pro-
lific was shown in bunches, 18 to a bunch. Lester's
Perfected, as grown in these collections, seemed the
same as the "Fejee" of the Middle States. Among
the other varieties were — "Valencia Cluster," "Bed
Plum," "Mexican," "Smooth Red," all like other
things we have seen, and we came to the conclu-
sion that the Tomato subject is getting " awfully
mixed up."

Celerj' was generally shorter and thicker than in
the Middle States, but whether the result of cli-
mate or ])eculiar varieties we could not learn, — the
quality was excellent. Hill's Solid was a good kind.

Turnip-rooted Parsnips are not commonly grown,
but are said to be of a more delicate flavor than the
long ones.

A large silver cup was offered for the best Cnnli-
flowcr. Competition was therefore lively. The
winner, James H. Smith, had them one foot over,
and so close and firm as to be almost like a solid
piece of ivory.

As our space this month is limited, we will defer
some notes on the fruits and flowers to a future
number.

"tN,

^'Pi

INDEX -VOL. VIII.

A.

Academy of Natural Sciences,

New Building for, 80, 121
Acbimenea, Advance, 246
" Argus, 246

" Aurora, 246

" grandis, 246

" Pink Perfection, 246

Stella, 246
Achryanthes Verschaffeltii, 73
Adams. Reply to D. W., 265
Advertising, 117
Advertisement of Lee & Shep-
ard, 340
" Onr, 116

African Tree, Curious, 218
Agricultural College, Maryland,

83
Agriculturist Strawberry, 52,

31.i
Alton Horticultural Society, 190
American Pomological Society,
124, 287
" InBtitute, Transac-
tions of the, 245
Angers Quince, Fruit of the, 22
Ants in Hotbeds, 149

" Sulphur for, 213
Antirrhinum, Variegated, 150
Apple, Grimes' Golden Pippin,
58
" Washington and Che-
nango Strawberry,
119
" Lansiugburg, 120
" Warfield, 120
" Stocks, Paradise, 219
" of Sodom, The, 251
" Golden Seedling, 310
" History of Improvement

in the, 319
" Starr, 312
" Early History of the,319
'• Jam, 345
" Suffolk Beauty, 375
Apples for Immediate Profit, 55
" Fall and Winter, 117
" Best Six Sweet, 120
" Sour and Sweet on One

Tree, 147
" Sweet in Illinois, 151
" York Imperial, ISO
" Lancaster Pippin, ISO
" Smyrna, 277
" Keeping, 295
" Name of, 341
Aquilegia cierulea, 59
Architecture, Woodward's, 374
Arumlo conspicua, 92

^■fj

Arborvitse, Ell wanger & Barry's

Torn Thumb, 243, 275
Ash Seed, Mountain, 343
Asmart for Fodder, 330
Asplenium Ebenoides, 25
Asters, Improvement in the Chi-
nese, 89
" Eaces of the Chinese, 154
Atlantic Monthly, 245
Aubretia Campbellii, 343
Azalea Princess Alexandra, 245

" Princess Helena, 245
Azaleas, Propagating, 53

" Early Flowering, 114

Bamboos for Paper, 221
Bark,When does the New Form?

164, 204
Barometer, A Natural, 282
Bartlett Pear, Historical Notes

on, 327, 340
Bartonia, or Mentzelia nuda, 68
Begonia Digswelliensis, 60

" baccata, 151
Begonias at the London Horti-
cultural Show, 28
Blackberry, Wilson's Early, 247
The Texan, 249
" Kittatinuy, 312
Black Knot, 205, 296, 331

" on Plum and Cher-

ry Trees, 103
" The Fungus on, 115

" More about, 169

" is a Fungus, 313

" Warts on Plum

Trees, 153
Bletia Tankervillae, 27
Blight and Borer Composition,

Sheldon's, 56
Blight, Remedy for Pear, 185

" Pear, 276
Blue Flowers, 334
Borneman, A. & Co., 277, 341
Boston Horticulture, 338, 371
Botany as an Educator, 284
Botanic Garden at St. Louis,

Mo., 341
Botanists andNurserymen, Why

called Humbugs, 323
Bouquet Flowers, Winter, 20
" Princess Mary's Wed-
ding, 285
Bronx Pear, 374
Brown Thrush, Note on the. 111
Buds on Camellias, Mode of Ob-
taining numerous, 252
Budding the Grape-vine, 212,
239, 244

Budding Spring, 298, 326
Buffalo and McAvoy's Superior
Strawberries, 56

Cabbage, Wintering, 114
" Preserving, 148
Cacti from St. Petersburg, Rus-
sia, 173
Caladiums, My, 72, 101
Callirhoe involucrata, 58
Calypso borealis. Roots of, 116
Camellia, Curious Sport of, 116
Camellias, Propagating, 53

" Mode of Obtaining

Numerous Buds
on, 252
Canada Thistles, Desiruction of,

121
Canna Roots in Winter, 277
Canteloupes, 309
Carnations, Seedling, 244

" Winter-flowering or
Tree, 286
Carr, Col. Robert, Notice of, 181
Catalogues, Nursery' S7
Catillac Pear, Large, 373
Cauliflowers, Fall, 51, 86
Cedars of Lebanon, The, 157
Cement, Portland, 51
Central Park, N. T., Cost of the,

24
Cereus Macdonaldiw, 151
Chamaebatia fulioloea, 59
Change, The Laws of, 240
Chaumontelle Pear,Note on the,

5
Cherry, The Wild, 137
" The Evei'green, 216
" In.^ect on the, 307
Cherries, Forcing, 41
Chili Strawberry, 149
Chiliopsis liueata, 314
Churchyard's, Decoration of, 269
Chrysanthemum, Name of, 56
" Modern His-

tory of the,
253
Chrysanthemums, Different Co-
lors on same Stalk, 22
Cider in England, Production

of, 319
Cincinnati Horticultural Socie-
ty, 127
Clergymen Gardeners, 40
Clerodeudron Thompsonse, var.

Balfourii, 59
Coal Tar a Preventive for the

Striped Bug, 330
Cocoa-nut Refuse, 53

Color of Varieties, 83
" on Hardiness, Theory of,
142, 265
Colors, 61
" of Flowers, 42
" Nature's Law of, 99, 165,
205
Cold Graperies, 305
Communications, 150
Conservatory Pillar8,Pl»nt8 for

91
Contributors, Annoying to, 148,
Consolea, 219
Conifers, New Green, 221
Cook's Favorite Tomato, 324
Correction of Mr. Heaver's Ar-
ticle, 116
Correspondence from Wolcott,

N. Y., 212
Country Life, 150
Crops in Geneseo, Ills., 85
Croquet Grounds in Gardeus,345
Cut Flowers, Preservation of,14
Cultnrist, Forest Tree, 374
Cuttings, Striking in Water, 376
Currants, 249

Cucumbers, Melons and Squash-
es, 270
" Pickling, 309
Curculio, Experiminls on the,
282

D.

Dahlia Imperialis, 374

Dahlias, Treatment of, 141

Darwin, What he has Done, 63

Date Palm, The, 285

Dean Swift, 180

Decorative Planting, Foliage
Plants for, 195

Decoration of Country Church-
yards, 269

Degeneracy of Fruits, 315

Descriptive Lists, 87

Dendrobium dixanthum, 215

Devoniensis, Climbing, 63

Dew, Mr. Fendler's Theory of,
103
" Formation of, 8, 42, 202

Diana Hamburg Grape, 21

Dinner Table, Designs for the,
253

Draccena Cooperi, 59

Drainage into Plower-pots, Put-
ting, 176

Draining Flower-pots, 99

Duhring Raspberry, The, 310

Durion, The, 62

Dwarf Pear, 243

Dwarf Pears in England, 26

" Average Age of, 116

^^

^•jvi.

C|}c (l^ardrufr's Jtlontljlu.

E.

EdiblH riant uf Califoroia, A

New, l.)<i
Edinbiirg tiutaniral Garden, 10
EduCHtor. Boiiiny as nu, 2S4
Eg:; Plant. Flv on the, lU
Eyg Plants, Kail, Stj
E^'Sfs of tlie I'ear Slug, 309
thifdale Kasj. berry, 9
Eng and. GarUeuing in. 168
Eiii^'lieb Feriudicalu, Kditurs of,
22
" Evergroens, 277
Ei'ideodrum myriauthum, 151
Erythnni Cricta Galli, 18.5
Eugenia I'l^ni. 02
Evergreen Shrubs, 113
Evergreen*, Winter on, lu St.
Louis, 211
KnKlish, 277
" New Japau<-.se,809

Exhibition, Great Woilds in
Luudun, 262
The French. 299
Expres-i Charge*', 212, 274

r.

Farming and Fruit, Virginia, 84
Fi^rnandesia robuHta, .310
Ferns and Lycopodiuuis, Climb-
ing, 26
" " Aniencau,

&i
" Taklnt' Imprengious of, 1 J6
" Variability of, Ibj
" Native, 312
Fertilizer, Tear, 309
FilireK. \Ve-.t ludia, 91
Kig Bubhes, Kout pruning and

Winter Pririectiuu, 74
FiRH, Profit of, •^4
Fire-pnof Paint, X'tH

" Blight in Pear--, 290
Floriculture in .Albany. 282
Flower -garden and I'leasure-
Kr.>nnd.l..3.1. 05.97,129. I«l,
IP.}. 225, 2.57. 2S9. 321, a-)3
Flower-garden Plan of a, 17
" Seeds, DistiibutioD of,

53
" Pots, Draining. 99, 176
" Seeds, Ackoowledgiuent
of, 114
Flowers, Colors of, 42

" Winter-blfKjming, 84
•• Double, 11.1, 170
" The N(>n- Book, 183
" Garden, 277
" Uncivilized Love for,
283
Blue, 334
" for the Parlor and
Garden, 341
Flour of Hone, 116
Foreign Coiretipondence, 1^7
Foliage Plantx for Decorative

Planting, 19.")
Fodder, Aomart for, 330
Forcing Ilouhes of S. Morrip, 242
FranciHcea Calcina major, 59
F.'rpHl Tree Culturixt, .374
Fragrance in Blooms andLeares,

2fi7
Freuionlia Callfornica, 309
Fruit Garden, M, m, 98, 130,
l';2, 194, 2i;0, 25fi. 290.
321
" The .Miniature. 183
" " of I n Baxter, 200
" Orowern' Society, I'a., 32,

93. 1S8. 256
" List, .in Important Select,

61
" Preserving House, 83
" and Farming, Virginia, 84
" Is the Quality .Affected by
Hybridization? 144

Fruit. Jfyce"8 System of Preserv-
ing, 146
" Pro.'ipfCt.s at We>t Milton.

Ohio, ISl. 213
" Culture. Practical and Sci-

eulific, 'iW
" Trees, Lufruitful Flower-

intr. 304
" Note- from L. 1 , iM'J
Fruits for WeMern New York,
61
■' Dark-colored. .Tournal of

Commerce on. 7-)
" Are Dark colored Hardier

than Light Cues :' ?0
" Worthless Seedling, 272
" Kespiration of, 284
" Degeneracy of. .'115
Fuchbias at the Loudou Exhibi-
tion, 26
" Beauty ^Bank.«), 344
Fuel, New, 60
Fungus Spots on Pears, 30
" Black Knot is a, 313

Garden Seeds, Timely Supplies
of, 143,
" Syrinee, 275
" Flowers, 277
Gardens. Specialties for Small,

209
Gardener, The, 130

" Eiymology of, 307
Gardening and Gardeners, 48,
8.S ,

" in Utah, h3

" in England, 168

" Hungarian, 348

Gas Tar, Injurious ElK-cts on
Vegetation. 2iU
" Danger from, 271
Geranium, Lord I'alniersloo, 29
Geraniums, DediMng, 26, 331

" New, 246

Gladiolus papilio, 21.;
Glass KaDL'e at (5. J. Whitney's,

Roche^t^T, N. v.. 134
Golden Seedling Apple, 310
G'.od Example, A, 17
Graft, lullueiice on .Stock, 370
Grafting Hardy Stocks, 158
" the Grape vine, 290,

32.1
" Kose 373
Grape-vines in Pots, 15

" " lu the open Air, 15

" Diana Hamburg, 21

" Culture in the Southern

States, 22
" Adirundac, 52
" Vine Border, Injury to a,

" Growing, 81
" " in Kansan, 106

" Vi»B8, Growing for Vine-
yard ana Planting,
107
" " My System of Grow-
ing, 163
" " from Eyes for Vine-
yard Planting, 163
" " Growing underUlass,

165
" House, How to Shade a

Span-roof, 174
" Muscat E-cholala, 178
" Hamburg, 178
" Sugar, 178
'' A New White, 1S4, 291
" Muscat Troveron, 21 1, 244
" Vine, Budding the, 212,239
" Cultivation of, 214
" Trelli^e8, Direction of, 273
" Scuppernong, 2^2
" Culture, Open Air, 292
" Vine Grafting, 296, 325
" from Lewif-town, Pa , .303
" Hiwa.ssc, 312

Grape-houses, Sulphm in, .324
" .Muscat Hamburg. Th.-,326
" from Catawissa, Pa., 341
" Stems Outside the Vinery,

341
" Culture, 35.")
" vines. Iron Stake for, 365
" " one year, .■<73

Grapes, The Largest Hamburg,
2S
" Ropers' Hybrids, 36
" and Grai^e-vinos, 44
" from Canada, Hybrid, 57

375
" Growing Native in Pots
or Borders, 72
" " Outoi Doors, 138

" '■ ("he.iply, 235

" and Wine, 214
" ^Mldew in, 290
" in Kansas, Mildewed, 291
" (ireeley Prize for, 308
" Names of, .309
" Keepiutr, 313
" in February, Nice, 314
" from T. T. Southwick,N.

Y.,341
" inCeuinilNewYork,342
" from Milton, Pa., Fine,

.342
" Roots and Leaves of, 348
" Fertilizing Imperfect

Flowers, 362
" My Seedling, 362
" W^hite or Black, .373
Graperies. Cold, 305
Great Bulfalo. Kussell and Mc-

Avoy's Strawberries, 22
Greeley I'leinioniMm Apploand
Pears, 60. 110, 274
" Prize fortiiape.s. 181,308
Greenhouse, 2, 6s, 99, 194, 227,
259, 322
" Wiirk in England,

Eirly, 122
" for TeXHs, ISO

Grimes Golden Pippin Apple, 58
Qymnostachum, Verschaffeltii,
5S

u.

Habranthus fulgens, 215
Hamburg Grape, 178

" Grapes, The Largest,
2S
Hanoverian Meihod of Training

Fruit Trees, 123
Hardiness and Color, 205
Hardy Stocks, Grafting on, 158
Hawthorn, Historical Note on
the, 318
" asa Live Fence, 115

Heaths, Propagating, 53
Heat, The. 213
" and Moisture in Plant

Houses, 327
" in Vegetation, 344
Hedge,Trimmiug Osage Orange,

314
Hedges, Honey Locust for, 148,
184
" Osage Orange, 308
Hedera helix, 28"i
Hickory, On the Movement of
Sap in the Sliellbark, 139.
167
Historical Notes on the Bartlett

Pear, 327
Hiwasse Grape, 312
Hollyhocks, Fast, 267
Honi^v Locust for Hedges, 148,

184
Hops, The Mnllciu a Substitute

f.)r, 4
Horticulture, Boston. 338, 371
Horticultural Education, 11

" Kc-ading-room at

Ft. Wayne, Ind.
82

Horticultural Congress in Lou-
don, 155
" Enterprise In tl.e

U. States and
Canada, 216
" Hall, New, Phila-
delphia, 372
" Patents, Ac, 3C6

Hotbed by Hot Air, 64
Hotbeds, Salt for Fuu(;us in, 14:'

" and Aute, 149
Hot and Greenhouse, 6S
Hunibu{.'s, 205

Hvbridizatiou, Is the Qualilv of
' ' Fruit Allected by ? Ml, 'l ) |
Hypericum Sampsoni, 120

I.

Ida Strawberry, The, 184
Illinois Horticultural Society,

03, 1S9
ludiaoH State Horticultural So-
ciety, 245
Insect on the Cherry, .307
Insects,(>il as a Remedy for, 176
" Jlineral Oil for Destrov-

iug, 208
" Recipe for Destroyine,
207
Iresine Herbstii, 73
Isjirihan Peach, 187
Ivy, Variotixs of, 27
" Disease in the, 117
" Poetry of the, 253
" Geiigraphy of the, 285
Ivies, Hardy, 180

Japan, Notes from, 134

Sophora. 213
Japanese Kvergreeus. Now, 310
Jeimy Creeper, The, 275
Jucuuda Strawberry, Tlio, 277

Kitley's Goliath Strawberry,! 50
Kittatinny Blackberry, 119,312
Kleinia fnlgeus, 309
Kolreuteria paniculata, 185

La Constante Strawberry, 150
Lancaster Pippin Apple, ISo
LataUia (Turkish) Tobacco, 324
Latin made Cheerful, 91
Lawn-mowers, Small, 275
Lfelia (^randis, 121
Lead Labels for Fruit Trees, <^->
Leavenworth llorticultui-.il So-
ciety, 159
Lettuce in Winter, 83

" and Rhubarb, 82
Lily Trihc, The, .306
Lindley, John, Death of, 16
Live Fence, Hawthorn as a, 115
Lycopodium densa, 181
Lycopodiums, American, 83
Lygodium palmatum,373

M.

Manetti Stocks, Roses on, 340
Manure. Concentrated, 117

" Orchards, When to, 185
Mapes, Prof. J. J., Death of, 51,

85
Market Garden, London, 2H1
Maiecbal Kiel Rose, 271
Massachusetts Hort. Soc., 377
May Number, Notes on the. 175
Melons, A'c, 270
Michigan State Board, Transac-
tions of, 214
Mildew, Plaster for, 175

" in Grajies, 290
Mildewed Grapes in Kansas, 291

■:^mi

'O

*m

'3t|e iardnrtr's (plonf^Ig.

Mignonette, 349

Mi-celUmPous Sketches — The
Wild Cherry, 137

Mimulus, Seedliug, 179

Model Letter. A, 19

Moisture and Heat in Plant-
liouses, 327

Monumental Tomato, 324

Moore, Mr., of the London Gar-
dener's Chronicle, 53

Mountain Ash Seed, 343

Mullein as a Substitute for
Hops, 4

Muscat Escholata Grape, 17S
" Troveron " 211

Hainliurg " 326

Mushrooms, Profits on, 251
" Growing, 296

N.

Nasturtium Cantoniense, 120
National Pomological Society,

93
Natural Order of New Plants, 21
Nature's Law of Colors, 99
Nectarine, Origin of the Yellow

Pitmastoii, 253
New Editors.London Gardener's
Chroniule, 19
" Plants, Natural Orders of,

21
" Bark, When does it Form?

24
" Jersey Fruits, 260
Notes on December Number, 45
' from .lapan, 134
" on 1865, A Few, 1,36
" from Wisconsin, 200
Nursery of A Borneman, 248
Nurserymen's Advertisements,
18
" and their Custom-

ers, 112, 147
" and Botanists,

Why Called
Swindlers, 323
Nyce's System of Preserving
Fruits, 146

Oak Tree Silkworm, 320
Oaks, A Chapter on, 145
Obituary:

R Keid, ."56

George M. Beeler, 117

Joshua Major, 118

Charles M. Fiot, 1.50

L. P. Chandler, 182

Thurlow W. Brown, 213

H. K. Potter, 213

Daniel Maupay, 277

M. W. Baldwin, 343

I. B Baxter, 343

Mrs. Mary Wright, 343

Col. Nelson, 374
Oil as a Remedy for Insects, 176,

208
Oils, Sources of Vegetable, 375
Orchard-house Trees,Treatment

of, 64
Orchards, When to Manure, 185

" Insects in the. 864

Orchid, A Magnificent, 157

" The Story of My, 349
Orchids, Cool, 30

" Importing, 175
Orchideous Plants, 113
Ornamental Gardening, 47
Ophioxylon chiuense, 120
Open-air Grape culture, 292
Osage Orange Hedges in Vir-
ginia, 308
" " "Trimming,

314
Orange Tree, The, 316
Our Political Platform, 306

P.

Pa;ony Seed, 56
Paint. Fire-proof, 155
Palm, The Date, 28.3
Paper, Bamboo for, 221
Paradise Apple Stocks, 219
Parkiusouia aculeata, 283
Parlor (javdeuor. The, .341
PasBiflora HuUettii, 246
Peach Borer, An Observation
of. 13
" Culture, 82
" Artificial Culture of, 238
Peaches, How to Raise every
Year in Iowa, 24
" Fine in October, 373

Pear, Diseases of, 77
" President, 119
" Goodall, 119
" Trees, Unfruitful, 233
" Blight, 276
" Tree.-*, Rout-pruiiinif, 295
" Growing at Pottsville,300
" Slug, Et;g8 of, 309
" Fertilizer, 309
" Historical Note on Bart-
left, 327
" Trees, Unfruitful Blos-
soms, 332
" Large Catillac, 373
" Bronx, 374
Pears, Fungus Spots on, 30
" Kemiuiscences of, 46, 107
" at Pennsylvania Horti-
cultural Society, '53
" for General Cultivation,

61
" at Ilarrisburg, Ohio, 74
" Canton, Mi=.s , 82
" Bearing Early,Standard,

83
" on Pear Stock, 149
" iu Winter, 185
" Correspondence on, 211
" Ripening Late, 285
" Fire-blight in, 290
" Root-pruning, 314
Pelargonium, >J^naging the,198
Pelargoniums at the London
Show, 24
" Seedling, 179

Penna. Hort. Society, 32.93, 125,
188,221, 2)4.
287, 320, 350,
376
" " " Strawberry
Stiow, 158
" New Hall, 2S6
" State Agricultural Socie-
ty, 3.J2
Peristrophe lauceolana, 215
Petroleum Formed from Sea-
weed, 2S0
Phalsenopsi.':, Ruckerii, 59
Picotees, Seedling, 244
Pickling Cucumbers, 309
Pink, New, loO
Pinus laricio, 310
Plant Cabinets, 2
" What to, 4, 84
" Houses, the Pitch and

Width, .50
" Name of, 56
" How to, 68
" Houses, Arrangement of,

142
" " Heat and Moisture
in, 327
3,54
Plants, Are Dark Colored Har-
dier than Light? 80
" forCou^ervatory Pillars,

91
" Orchideous, 113
" Old but Beautiful, 149
" Essay on Growing Spe-
cimen, 171
" Effects of Cold oa the
Wood, 181

Plants, Foliage for Decorative
Planting, 195
" Whence Comes Frag-
rance in? 207
" New in the London Mar-
ket, 245
" On the Jlotion of the

Sap, 298
" Names of, 309, 342
Planting of Grounds, Ornamen-
tal, 108
Plaster for Mildew, 175
Play-grounds for the Young,208
Plum, Footes' Early Orleans,! 18
" Stocks for the South. 152
" Trees, Black Warts on,

153
" Knot, Another View, 335
" Pits, Sowing, 342
PoUein Preservation of, 27
Pomet,'ranate, The, 122
Pomology, The Science of, 8

" 38

Pomological Society of St. Louis,
24 1
" Progress, 179

Portland Cement, 51
Potato-culture, 22
" Bug, The New, 281
" Roots, Philosophy of,336
" Setts, Best Size for, 349
Potatoes, Planting in the Fall,

309
Pot Plants against Broad Bor-
der. 165
Premiums oi the Pennsylvania

Horticultural Society, 20
Primula intermedia, 59
Prizes, Greeley, 181
Propagating Viues.New Method

of, 274
Pruning, Philosophy of, 227
" The M.des and Time
of, 303
Public Parks in Cincinnati, 60

Quercus pyramidalis, 212
Quince Cuttings, 307

R.

Rabbits, Protection against, 143
Radi.<h, The Madras, 114

History of the, 347
Railroad Charges. ,55
Rain, Causes of, 22
Raspberry," Ellisdale, 9

" The Summer Black,

284
" The Duhring. 310

Raspberries, Treatment of, 146,
206
" Cultivation and

Varieties of,216
Hybrid, 249
" Transplanting, 273

Red Spider, The Remedy, 211
Remedy for Black Warts, 153
" "• Pear Blight, 1S5
Reply to " Boy Reader," 165
Retama, The, 283
Rhododendron Nuttallii, 69
" Hodgsoni, 121

" Denisoni. 121

" McNabbii, 246

Rhubarb and Lettuce, 82
Rippawan Strawberry. 276, 342
Rogers' Hybrid Grapes, 36
Rose, Work ou the 22

" Duchess Medina Cccli, 59
" The, 209

" Slug, Remedy for, 270
" Marechal Neil, 271
" Grafting, 373
Roses, Sports of, 21
" ifl Illinois, 23

Roses, London Exhibition, 29
" New of 1865, 31
" New of 1864,71
" 100 Varieties, H. P., 155
On Standard, 170
The Book of, 182
" I'repariug for Winter

Bloom". 213
" 12 White H. P., 2.34
" and Rose-culture, 235
" among Romans, 2S3
" on Manetti Stocks, 340
Root Grafts, Length of, 281
" Pruning Pear Trees, 295,
314
Roots Purifying Water, 308

" and Leaves of Grapes. 348 j

Royal Horticultural Society |

Gardens, London, 3

s.

Sacchrometers, 178
Saccolabium aprauUaceum, 310 j
Sage, Wild, 56,116, 148 j

Salt for Fungus in Hotbeds, 149 ;
Sauchezia nobilis, 310 ',

Sap, On the Movement, in Shell- 1
bark Hickory, 139. J 67 j
" Effects of Heat and Cold on, I
298 j

Sawdust, Stable-manure, 148 j
Schizostylis cocciuea, 343 j

Science of Pomology, 6 ■

Scilla siberica, 343 >

Scuppprnong Grape. 283 ;

Seaweed, Petroleum Formed I
from, 280 j

Sedum Dryuariodes, 120 |

Seed-raising, 337 j

Seeds, Drying before Sovving, 13 j
Sempervirum Paivae, 310
Sensitive-leaved Plants, 30 )

Sequoia gigantea, 30

" in England, 157
Silkworm, The Oak Tree, 320
Shepard, Mr., 131
Shrubs, Hardy, 212
" 113

" Rare near Boston, 212
Smyrna Apple, 277
South Carolina, Last Season iu,

341
Southern Journals, 87
Spau-roof Grape-house, 174
Sparaxis pulchen-ima, 151
SpecimenPlams, Essay on Grow-
ing. 171
Sports of Roses, 21
Spiuce, Variegated White, 179
Squashes, Yield of Yokohama,
152
&c., 271
Standard Pears, Fruiting of, 45
Starr Apple. 312
Stock, 1 nflueuce of Graft on, 370
Strawberry, Agriculturist, 62
" Culture in France, 63

" Chili, 149

" A New Work on the,

153
" Show, Pennsylvania

Hort. Soc.,15S
" Season, The, 177

" The Ida, 184

" The Chili, 213

Stinger Seedlini,',248
" Rippawam, 276, 324

" The Jucunda, 277

" Agiiculturist in the

South, 315
Strawberries, Forcing, 52

" Buffalo and Mc-

Avoy, 56
" Prices of, 86

" La Coustante, 150

" KitleyGoliath,150

" Chili, 179

iu the U. S., 218

-par OiT^ ^

— xHgJ^

/7^

Strawberries, 233

this 6ea»on, 241
" Some Foreign, J47

" New, 248

" in Central Penn-

Kjlvania, 2t>S
" in Ko!.toD, 2«V>

" Transplanted, 373

" New in Weiitern

New York, 278
" Market, 278

Id IIliooiB, 2^3
" 301, 373

" Note on Mr.

Prince's Liflt. 325
Striped Bng, Coal Tar ao a Rem-
edy, 33o
6tnpendot:§ Am. Enterprise, 14C
Suffolk Beauty Apple, 373
Sngar. Grapi', 178
Summer Black Kafpherry, 2S4
Sulphur in Orapo-houies, .324
Supfr-plioR]ihuie, To make, 167
SwainiHiuia magnifica, 24^
Swift, I>«>»n, 1-vO
S.rlva, Our .American, 118
Syringed, Gardt^n, 27d

Tar, A Qnick Process to make,

1.02
Tenne6*ee, Weather and Soil of.
r,5
Down iuEastem,212
" Fruit Prospects in,

276

Tbennometer, Effect of Wind

on. 140
ThUand That. 242
Thuja jap.iiica, 340, 372
ThuJ<>p»i8 dolabrala, 213
Thuul>er)iiii frngruus, 246
Tobiicco. Latakia, .')24
Tom Thumb Arborritie, 244
Tomato, The Tilden, 13, 56, 324

" Co<ik'» Favorite, 324

" MoDunientnl. 324
Tomatoeit, A Chiiptcron, .369
Traluiug Fruit Tr.-es, 123
TruusactiouH of Pennsylvania

llorticaltnral Society, 1S3
Tree Doctor, About a, 21
" Seeds, Sowing, 307
Trees, Trentmeot of Orchard-
hoa«e, 64
Big, 329 ■•

Trellises, 324
Trimming Usage OrangeHedges,

314
Tritoma uvaria. Hardy, 291

u.

Underdraining in the West, .')2
Unfruitful Bl'>89oniH on Pear

Trees, 3t^, 332
Upas Tree, The, 2.')3
Utah, Uardeniug in, 83

V.

Van Houtte Nurseries, Ghent,
Belgium, 2o

Varietle^ Color of, 83
Vegetable Garden, 3.'i, 67,98,130,
las, 194, 227, 238,
2S9
" Physiology, 37
Vegetation, Heat in, .344

" Ga« Tar Injurious

to, 201
Vegetables, Early, 51
Verbenas, Beautiful Seedling,

276
Veronica fruticosa glauca, 343
Vine, A Large, 1.13
Vinepar, M'ine Turned into, 178
Vines in Pots, llow to Culti-
vate, 316
" New Method of Propa-
gating, 274
Vinery, Orape Stems Ontside,

341
Vineries at Detroit, 315

" The Pitch and Width,
60
Vineyard at Lake View, 244
Vineyards, 198
^ntagi' of l>St).'>, LI.')
Virjplia lutea, .308, 43
Violet, Xew Wliiio, .16
Virginia Fruit and Farming, 84

W.

WBter, Roots Purifying, .30.S
Watering with Warm Water,

51
Weather, Serere, 53

Weather and Soil of S. E. Tou-

Dossee, 55
Weekly Paper, A. S3
Welwitsche, The Explorer, Of,

219
Woodward's .Architecture, 374
Wilson, Dr. Thos. 1!., 1.V2

Eariy Blackberry, 119,
247
Winds and Trees, 7
Wind on the Theimoracter, 149
Wino, Cleveland, 0., 23
" Turned into Vinegar, 17$
" and Grapes, 214
" Ives' Seedling. 373
Winter Bouquet Flowers, 20
Wisteria, Weeping, 320
Wharton, Silas, 234
Why Gardeners Change their

Places so often, 174
West Jersey Frnit-G rowers' As-
sociation, 191, 222

Y.

Yam, New Chinese, 85
Ynrnall, F. G., Couutry-seat of,

7
Young, Play-grounda for, 208

Zygopotalum Mockal, 29

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