J£j!^ «3C< CT, vi Eisrt ■ -_ -' '^^ ■ ■*K«7is:*: «-45i5g^ m^^ ^^•^C J^SSl:: ^:: S: <" «gc New Series, Vol. VII.— January to December, 1857. WHOLE NUMBER, 12 VOLS. PHILADELPHIA: PUBLISHED BY ROBERT PEARSALL SMITH, Nos. 517, 519 AND 521 Minor Street. boston: JOSEPH BRECK 4; SON ; NEW YORK: C. M. SAXTON Jb CO. ; BALTIMORE: J. S. WATERS; CHICAGO: S. C. GRIGGS & CO. 1857. Af7 ./> c. r^\ THE HORTICULTURIST. iariotts ^stimatts of its Udiu; HE point of view we take in examining any subject is of the utmost importance in determining its character. This is fully illustrated by several personal interviews we have lately had when in a serai-somnambulent state, and as the observations we record illustrate the above position, we deem it well to print them. Some are not very flattering, but when we awoke we consoled our- selves with believing the point of view of the speakers was erroneous. At all events, the difficulties of the editor's position will be better understood by a perusal of the conversations and remarks. \_A Lady and Gentleman are seen entering a gate Lodge, conversing. ] Gentleman. Well, now, my dear, I like the Horticulturist as well, if not better than ever. It generally contains just what I want to know. I hope the mail has brought it. Lady. I should think so, from your habit of re-reading it so often. For my part, I think it is dreadful dull. We've had but one or two stories in it the whole of last year. Gentleman. Very true, but " stories" are no part of its business. It is designed to impart information, and in a pleasant way to instruct us. Its eompositio^i is evidently a work of love, and great care and much time are bestowed upon it. My only fear is that it doesn't pay the publisher. Lady. I should like to see more poetry and some fiishion in it, for my part. Gentleman. For that matter, if poetry and fashionable intelligence get into it, I give it up. The Gatekeeper. Here are the newspapers and the other post-office matters. How I wish they'd stop that Horticuftur«/ist ! I never could see what people want to keep fishes in vases for, and are always trying to get newer grapes, as if they thought them better than our good old ones ! Gentleman. Ah ! very true, Jonathan. You know better than that, don't you? Gatekeeper. Certainly I do! Why, the old fox grapes never was exceeded, and as for Hamburghers, they're no touch to my old seedlins. Gardener (stepping up). Jonathan, you know nothing, and never will learn it, neither. Why, nobody can do without the Horticulturist ! I wish, however, he had told us last month a little more about the mildew. I'm sure it might be better. What business had they to waste the room with a foolish story about Aunt Charlotte's seedling strawberry ? it was sheer nonsense. Gateheeper. I suppose it was; I never reads them are things, and wonder any- body can. [^Tfie Lady and Gentleman get home, with a new Horlicidturist.'\ Lady. Any tales like the Strawberry Seedling in the Horticulturist this month ? entleman. None ; I have already said we don't want any tales in it. Vol. VII —Jan. 1857. 2 Lady. Well, give nie the Ifom'e Journal, and such ns that. J)((it(/fi(cr. I'm sure, nia, there's a thousand better thiiif^s in it than tales. Those articles on hanging i)lants, you know you liked. L(t(h/. "Why, yo^ — now and then 1 do see something I like, but the fact is, I rarely read it! S(»u Then, ma, you certainly don't know what is in it. / wouldn't give it up for ten times its cost. It seems to me full of information and entertainment com- bined. But here comes neighbor Hob Acres, let's ask him. Acres. If you ask me for an opinion, I'm always prepared. The J foriicultnrist isn't wutli three cents ! It never has drawings of horses, cattle, sheep, or pigs ; and as to your garden flowers, and frip))ery, who cares a coi»per, I don't ! Diincihter. ^Ycll, Bol), but I wish you did. Do you thiidv umj young lady would live at Cloverdale and never see anything but hay ? I won't, believe me. Acres. Wait, my dear, till you're 1 Daiujlder. No, I won't wait till I'm asked! I hate to see a place without fruit, and a garden and flowers, and you needn't ask me — never ! Gentleman. There, Bob, you've got it ; now you take the IlorticuUurist, and get uj) a garden, if you want ever to be married. Bob. AVell, if ever I do, then Son. We'll think you mean to pop the question. Boh. No, no. I'll never read any such stud". Why, do you suppose I don't know how to plant a tree, or cut it down either ! Daughter. Ah! Bob, you are perfectly incorrigible. Boh. Incorrigible or not, you don't catch me reading books. Incorrigible, am I — that's one of your botanical terms, is it ! Gentleman. Come, Bob, that will do. \_Enter, a young Lady, with a hasket.'\ Young Lady. Oh, Maria! I've got such beautiful mosses; I've been in the woods all the morning, collecting to make those elegant moss baskets described in the Horticulturist. I've made enough l)y their sale to purchase plenty of books for our little school, and they say in town they want two dozen more ! That's the way I use my dear Horticulturist! Boh (who evidently has a liking for the last speaker). Oh, Charlotte, why didn't you ask me to help you i)ick the mosses? I should have been so glad. Charlotte. I'll never ask a favor of you, Master Robert, till you have a proper respect for reading and knowledge; and if ever I see you tearing out those colored pictures of apples and pears, I'll — I'll never s})eak to you again ; mind that 1 Boh. Oh dear, what a little hornet ! {Aside. I believe I must take to reading a little, or they'll never talk to me.) \^Enier, Charlotte'' s mother.'] Mother. Really, how perfect your garden looks this morning. Those plants recommended in the Horticulturist are all that was said of them. Can't I have cuttings ? Gentleman. Certainly you can ; but here is neighbor Acres, who thinks this kind of thing all trash ! Daughter. He won't think so always ; will you, Bob ? Bob looks a little crest-fallen, takes up the Horticulturist from the table, asks what it costs, and ends by ordering a copy. He reads it, too, and by next year we hope to record that one of the two young ladies — we believe it will be the basket-maker — has become Mrs. Acres, with a flower-garden, a lawn, some some plantations, and a reformed husband, who has been for six months vainly trying to complete his set of the Hor-ticulturist ! Such are a few only of the contending views which go to make up the host of readers who "take in," as our grandfathers expressed it, a work like the present. The poraologist would like it better if it had no flowers in it; the lover of flowers, perhaps, has no taste for cultivating fruit. The man with a single idea for straw- berries, wonders how we can ever dabble with architecture ; the farmer too often sees no good in a vegetable garden ; a " calendar of operations" to him should include pasturing and soiling cattle ; and thus it is with us all ; ivhat we hnow^ we like to read about, in the hope of hiowing more. Surrounded, then, by these difficulties, we have, pretty much, to follow our own tastes, and the course marked out for us, and be satisfied if we enlist people of our own way of thinking ; well convinced that in the multitude and crowd of periodicals each one can be suited. There has been much time and labor bestowed on the Horticulturist, by many minds, since it made Philadelphia its home ; it has obtained a large additional patronage, which evidently grows with the wealth and taste of the country, and though its friends think its circulation not equal to the wants of the people, we have learned therewith to be content, as we know, after a tour which has embraced within the last eighteen months a very large part of the Union, that it has appreciative readers on its topics everywhere. 01^ PACKING TREES AND PLANTS. BY THOMAS MEEHAN, GERMANTOWN, TA. To one accustomed to packing nursery stock, nothing seems more simple; while to outsiders it seems something of a mystery how plants which they have been taught to believe require such nice proportions of light, heat, air, and moisture with exact regularity, can exist for days and weeks, and endure long voyages, with very little apparent inconvenience, though the supposed necessary conditions of existence are so seemingly confused. Even many experienced packers, who are perhaps known to be something superior in the art, would in many cases be unable to give any reason for their respective processes. Hitherto we have had to follow the Chinese way of doing things in learning to pack. It is related of a sailor stationed in a Chinese port, that he hired a native tailor to make him a pair of pantaloons in place of one, which, on account of two unseemly patches behind, were in a discreditable condition. The pair was handed to Pig-ta-el for a pattern, and when the number of moons necessary for one of these tardy gentlemen to complete the important piece of work, had passed away, he returned with the new inexpressibles, but, with patches of the exact size, and in the identical positions of those in the patterns on the new garment ! Thus our packers pack exactly as their fathers, packed, because their fathers packed so, and precisely as they were learned to pack. In the spring of the present year, I saw a large importation of roses and Nor- way spruces opened. They were from a first class European house, and the packing would have been pronounced by experienced hands very superior, yet there was not one rose alive, while not a spruce out of thousands was injured, were both packed exactly alike ; but what was life to the one, was death to the other. TTad the ])aeker understood the theory of his art as well as he did its praetice, his em))h)ver would ])rol)al)Iy have grained an aiiiiiial eustomer in one who now helieves that roses eannot be imported sueeessfully. Heat, air, lijrht and moisture are necessary for the ^^rowlh of plants; but in paekinj? we aim only to preserve their existence. Li^ht is oidy necessary while the plant is growing. AVhenever growth commences, it must have its due propor- tion of light, or it soon decays. One of the chief points in good packing, therefore, is to prevent growth. This being guarded against securely, plants can be kept bo.xed or baled up in darkness for a long time. The chief agent in -exciting growth is heat. A packer's chief care should be to get full control of this jjower.* Kvery one knows that when vegetable substances are collected in bodies, de- prived of air and light, and become moist, they commence to decay; and, in the process, evolve heat. To avoid this, those substances the least liable to decay by being moistened, are eni])loyed as packing material. Of all substances yet known, njoss is the best in this particular, as under ordi- nary circumstances, its decay is very slow. IIow wet the packing material should be, or how much of it should be employed, will (le])end on the time the plants may have to remain covered, and what description of plants they are. I^lants with soft watery foliage need the packing material rather dry ; while deciduous trees, or plants with bard leathery foliage, may have it quite wet. If plants have to be sent some distance, it is in any case safest to use rather dry packing material; and to depend on maintaining sufficient moisture for the plants' existence, by packing tight so as to prevent evaporation. It need scarcely be added, after what has been said, that the cooler plants can be kept until they are opened, the better for them, unless the temperature is below freezing point, frosty weather being equally, with hot, favorable to evaporation, Jt may be useful to say a few words on the details of packing as well as the principles. Plants are transported in either boxes or bales. The former is by far the most convenient for small trees under three feet, as well as for all kinds of pot plants; trees of larger growth are best baled. Boxes for this pur- pose should be strong, as they are lialjle to rough usage at times on wharves. In packing pot plants, the first process is staking tlie plant, tying in all the branches, as the closer they are tied the less they will get injured by each branch and leaf rubbing against others. Then the soil must be fixed so as to prevent its being thrown out of the pots. This is effected by tying moss over it around the stem of the plant on the upper surface of the pot. There are two ways of tying on the moss. In one case the packer takes the end of the string and the pot in his left hand, crosses the string over the surface and under the bottom of the pot six or eight times, and finishes by bringing it around under the rim. In the other the pot stands on the bench, and the string is brought around under the rim, each time it is made to cross over the moss, and does not go under the pot at all. The first is the easiest way ; the last makes the best job, as it can never loosen, which the first often does. After the plants are mossed, and a box selected capable of holding the required number, a few inches of moss is ]ilaced in the bottom, and the largest and heaviest pots selected and placed on their sides on two faces of the box, so as to "look at each other." Strips of any narrow pieces of waste wood are then cut so as to fit exactly inside the box ; these are placed along the face of the pots, so as to come on a line with * Many packages of plants are now transported in steamboats or ships, and they arc too often carelessly placed near the influence of the boiler. It would be well always to mark the package " to be kept cool," and to give instructions to that efi'ect. — Ed. ON PACKING TREES AND PLANTS, the upper edge, and then are firmly secured by a nail driven into the end of the strip through and from the outside of the box. When one row is thus finished, some few inches more moss is placed on the lov\^er course of pots, another layer of pots, and then another strip ; this is again repeated till the box is full. If the strips are pressed tight to the faces of the pots, they will not press heavily on those beneath them ; and if the whole is properly done, plants may be sent a six weeks' voyage in safety, without the breakage of a pot. Some plants, as oranges, camellias, and other similar plants, are taken out of their pots, and moss or can- vass wrapped around the balls; these are repotted on arriving at their destina- tion, and in proper hands do very well, while it saves considerable expense in freight and express charges. Young trees are packed in moss, in any way they will lie conveniently ; when the box is tight, a very thin layer of moss is employed between each layer of trees ; in open crates, a greater quantity is used around the roots, and less among the branches. Baling is a more difficult operation to perform properly. From fifty to one hundred of ordinary sized nursery trees make a respectable bale ; two or three of the tallest trees are first collected together, then small quantities of damp moss placed in the crevices of the roots, a few more roots laid on, and more moss, until the whole number is laid together ; a band of rye straw is then passed around the bundle near the collars of the roots, and drawn together as tightly as possible ; two or three more bands are passed around at other parts. A bast or cocoa-nut mat — the last to be preferred — is then laid on the floor of the packing shed, and a few bundles of rye straw spread out the length of the stems of the trees, so that six or eight inches of the end of the straw will lap over the mat; then on the mat some six inches of wet straw is placed, and on this, the roots laid in about the middle of the mat; the bundle is placed, the wet straw well l)aeked around the roots, the mat drawn up very tightly around, and sewed together; and then lastly the straw brought equally around the bundle, and corded regularly around, at about six inches interval till the end is reached, when the cord should be brought down on the opposite side lengthwise, secured to each circle of cord as it passes, and finished by being secured to the mat at the base. In cording bales, deciduous trees cannot be too tightly drawn together; ever- greens should be drawn together more loosely, as they are apt to heat, especially if they are somewhat damp. I trust this brief explanation of the principles of packing, and slight sketch of the mode of doing it, will be sufiBcient to set novices on the track of becoming proficients in the art. I am sensible I have done little for their information, for it is truly one of those arts in which " practice makes perfect." cy. o . .=>-'^^v«50'9^ A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF JOHN CLAUDIUS LOUDON. BY HIS WIDOW. JoFiN Claudius Loudon was born on the 8th of April, 1*183, at Cambuslang, in Lanarkshire, the residence of his mother's only sister, herself the mother of Dr. Claudius Buchanan (the author of a work entitled Christian liesearches in Asia), whose labors in India, in attempting to convert and instruct the Hindoos, have made his name celebrated in the religious world. Mr. Loudon was the eldest of a large family; and his father, wlio was a farmer, residing at Kerse Hall, near Gogar, about Gve miles from Edini)urgh, being a man of enlightened mind and erior information, was very anxious that he should have every possible ad 'n his education. Strange to say, however, Mr. Loudon, when a boy, thou fond of books, bad an insuperable aversion from learning languages, and no per suasions could induce him to study Latin and French, though his father had a master from Edinburgh purposely to teach him the latter language. At this early period, however, a taste for landscape-gardening began to show itself, as his principal pleasure was in making walks and beds in a little garden his father had given him ; and so eager was he to obtain seeds to sow in it, that when a jar of tamarinds arrived from an uncle in the West Indies, he gave the other children his share of the fruit, on condition of his having all the seeds. While yet quite a child, he was sent to live with an uncle in Edinburgh, that he might attend the classes at the public school. Here he overcame his dislike to Latin, and made extraordinary progress in drawing and arithmetic. He also attended classes of botany and chemistry, making copious notes, illustrated with very clever pen-and- ink sketches. Still, he could not make up his miud to learn French, till one day, when he was about fourteen, his uncle, showing a fine French engraving to a friend, asked his nephew to translate the title. This he could not do ; and the deep shame and mortification which he felt, and which he never afterwards forgot, made him determine to acquire the language. Pride, however, and a love of independence, which was ever one of his strongest feelings, prevented him from ap])lying to his father to defray the expense ; and he actually paid his master him- self, by the sale of a translation which he afterwards made for the editor of a periodical then publishing in Edinburgh. He subsequently studied Italian, and paid his master in the same manner. He also kept a journal from the time he was thirteen, and continued it for nearly thirty years ; writing it for many years in French, in order to familiarize himself with the language. Among all the studies which Mr. Loudon pursued while in Edinburgh, those he preferred were writing and drawing. The first he learned from Mr. Paton, afterwards father to the celebrated singer of that name ; and, strange enough, I have found an old letter of his to Mr. Loudon, Sen., prophesying that his son John would be one of the best writers of his day — a prophecy that has been abundantly realized, though certainly not in the sense its author intended it. Drawing was, however, his favorite pursuit; and in this he made such proficiency, that when his father at last consented to his being brought up as a landscape- gardener, he was competent to take the situation of draughtsman and assistant to Mr. John Mawer, at Easter Dairy, near Edinburgh. Mr. Mawer was a nursery- man, as well as a planner (as the Scotch call a landscape-gardener) ; and, while with him, Mr. Loudon learned a good deal of gardening generally, particularly of the management of hothouses. Unfortunately, Mr. Mawer died before his pupil was sixteen ; and for three or four years afterwards, Mr. Loudon resided with Mr. Dickson, a nurseryman and planner in Leith Walk, where he acquired an excellent knowledge of plants. There he boarded in Mr. Dickson's house ; and, though remarkable for the nicety of his dress, and the general refinement of his habits, his desire of improvement was so great, that he regularly sat up two nights in every week to study, drinking strong green tea to keep himself awake ; and this practice of sitting up two nights in every week he continued for many years. While at Mr, Dickson's, he attended classes of botany, chemistry, and agriculture ; the last under Dr. Coventry, who was then Professor of Agri- culture in the University of Edinburgh, and he was considered by that gentleman to be his most promising pupil. In truth, it has been highly gratifying to me, while turning over family papers to obtain what particulars I could of my husband's early life, to find continually, copy and account books, letters which had been, no doubt, treasured mother, from different persons under whom he had studied, bearing the most 1 6 LIFE OF JOHN C. LOUDON. honorable testimony to his profu-ienry in the various branches of liis education, and particularly notinjj his unwearied perseverance in inakinfr himself thoroujfhly master of whatever lie undertook. Mr. Loudon was not a man of nniny words, and he was never fond of showinir RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL B. PARSONS, FLUSHING, LONG ISLAND.* The house is built of wood, filled in with brick laid flat in such a way as to leave a space of an inch between the brick and the outer covering. The outer covering is plank, one and a quarter inches thick, three inches wide, tongued and grooved, and put together with white lead. The piazza columns are plain round Doric. The blinds and close sliding shutters all open inside, thus obviating the necessity of exposure to the weather in opening or shutting. On each side of the * See Frontispiece. Yol. YII —Jan. 185T. RESIDENCE OF SAMUEL B. PARSONS. vestibule is a closet, one for hanp:ing coats, and the other for a stnndinp writinp^ desk, with a pas-jet over it. The stairs arc of solid oak, and shut ofT from the rest of the house. The lil)rary opens into the drawiiifr-room, and also into the stair hall. It has a l)ay window, and is finished solidly with English oak, the book-cases being set in the wall. Opening into the dining-room is a china pantry, pr 1 .Jin I r^ "Tt ' A KITCHEN. i6;ox;v.o I j,'2.-x»:9.-'l -<— 17: 9: *Lp'-X^ r^ Pff/A/C//^Al rioo/^. d also a dish closet, in which is a sink drain, and jets of hot and cold water, gas. In the kitchen-dresser is a sliding window opening into the store-room. BESIDENCE OP SAMUEL B. PARSONS. Between the dining-room and kitchen is an entry and side door opening on the porte-cochere. The kitchen is supplied with hot and cold water from a tank which is kept filled from a spring a quarter of a mile distant by means of a ram, and also a windmill. The whple house is lighted with gas, which is also used for cooking in warm weather. The laundry, with permanent wash tubs, ironing range, &c., is in the basement under the kitchen, where is also the dairy, drying- room, &c. From the cellar is a passage communicating with a closet in the ice-house. PBAOTIOAL HINTS TO AMATEURS. On the second floor the chambers all communicate, thuH securiiij? a thorouf?h ventilation at all times either by means of open windows or through the stair hall, which oi)cns into the observatory. Over the kitchen is the water-closet, bath- room, and dressinpf-room. Over the piazza, in the angle formed by the kitchen with the house, is a balcony always shaded in the morning, and used as a sitting ])lace in summer. In the third story are four chambers, a liall, ;iii(l a children's play-room sixteen by forty feet. Above this is the observatory, commanding a view of the surround- ing country, the East River, and the Palisades on the Hudson. The house is heated by two furnaces in one chamber, the second furnace being used only in extreme weather. This dwelling, which is botli elegant and eminently comfortal)le, occupies, nearly, the site of the old family mansion, which was destroyed by fire recently. Its arrangements, including the ice-house, are remarkable for their substantial air. In a separate building is a school-room for Mr. P.'s children, and to this school a very few selected neighboring youths are admitted, a plan which, while it insures a guarded private tuition, removes one objection to that system. The planting in the grounds has been judiciously done, and under such advan- tages of possession at hand of all that could be desirable, will soon prove emi- nently effective. PRACTICAL HINTS TO AMATEURS. BY THE LATE A. J. DOWNING.* You may plant peas, for the earliest crop, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, and it is fit to dig. Choose a warm, sheltered spot, and use rotten stable manure and ashes in preparing the soil, before sowing the seed. Peas don't mind a hard frost, even when on rich or too high ground ; and therefore the earlier you plant, the earlier you pick. If you have to plant in the open garden, you may hasten your crop by sowing the drills east and west, and setting a board on the ground edgeways, on the north side, to shelter each row. "Prince Albert'' is one of the best early sorts. Rhubarb is an invaluable plant to those who like a spring tart. You may have yours ready to cut a week before your neighbor's, without the trouble of forcing, if you set your plants in a border on the south side of a wall or tight board fence, and take the precaution to loosen up the soil, and cover each crown of roots with a bushel basket full of black peat earth the autumn before. Some men are marvellously fond o^ pruning, and go about cutting a limb here, and a branch there, without "rhyme or reason." Don't prune your standard trees, unless the branches are so unnatural as to crowd each other ; and even then, they should be thinned out as little as possible to answer the purpose. Or, in the other case, where the tree has got into a stunted and feeble state, when a shortening-back the terminal shoots, along with a good dressing of manure, will make it push out strong, healthy shoots again. If you wish to get early crops in your kitchen garden, make some boxes two feet square, and a foot high. Knock them together out of any rough boards ; and if you cannot afford to glaze the whole top (and, to say the truth, it is a waste of money), put a single light in — a t-by-9. If you want a hill of early cucumbers, melons, or tomatoes, dig out a hole of the size of the box, and two and a half feet deep, fill it with fresh stable manure mixed with litter, tread the * Reprinted from an early volume of the Horticulturist. manure down firmly till there is room for six or eight inches of good light soil On the latter plant your seeds. They will soon start, with the slight warmth of the manure, and the box will protect them at night, and during cold and stormy days, till the season is settled. Every mild day you will, of course, raise it up on one side an inch or two, for fresh air ; and in positively warm days, remove it for a few hours altogether. In this way, you will get a crop, at small cost, a long start in advance of the unsheltered growth along side, and have none of the bother and vexation of transplanting from hotbeds. The boxes cost very little, if you make them yourself; and if laid away as soon as there is no further need of them, they will last a dozen years or more. When you are planting a tree or shrub, don't be penny-wise and pound-foolish; in other words, so anxious to have it look large, as to be unwilling to cut off a single inch of its top to balance the loss of roots. Remember that if your tree would grow six inches if left " unshortened;" it would grow twelve if properly shortened, besides making far healthier shoots and bigger leaves, to say nothing of its being five times as likely not to die. If you are about to turn " orchardist," never buy a large quantity of trees of any nurseryman, on the strength of his own "extensive advertisements. It is easy to say fine things in print; such as "immense specimen grounds," "50,000 trees, carefully propagated under the direction of the proprietor," &c. &c. Go and see for yourself; and very likely the "immense specimen ground" may turn out to be a dozen old trees in a grass plat, and the nursery a wilderness of con- fusion. Never, in short, buy a large quantity of fruit trees of any man who is a stranger to you, without inquiring first all about his accuracy, from customers who have dealt with him, and proved his sorts. Such people, who have tasted his quality, are not very likely to tell "long yarns," though advertisements some- times will. The neatest and most perfect mode of grafting, is splice grafting. {See Down- ing's Fruits, p. 15.) It can only be done when your stock and scion correspond pretty nearly in size ; but the amalgamation is done in short-hand. Tie the wound over neatly with a strand of matting or coarse woollen yarn, and smear the whole over with thick " shellac paint," and not one in a hundred will fail. No large fruit tree is so readily " reformed" as a pear. Many a tree, of twenty or thirty feet high, that stands, at this moment, within ten rods of your door, and bears nothing but fruit that you would be ashamed to offer at a country fair, may be made to bear bushels of Bartletts, or something as good, in three years' time, by the expenditure of a couple of hours, in cutting back and grafting all the principal limbs as soon as the sap is fairly in motion. " Cleft grafting" is the readiest mode for this sort of subject ; and a little practice will enable any one to perform it very quickly. If you want to be successful in transplanting, don't be afraid of working in dull weather. If you are shy of a " Scotch mist," buy an India-rubber macintosh. Nothing is so cruel, to many sorts of trees, as to let their tender fibres parch up in a dry wind, or a bright sun. Such weather may be fun to you, but 'tis death to them. Dress your lawns with a mixture of guano and ashes ; one bushel of the former to four bushels of the latter. The earlier in the spring it can be put on the better, so that the rains may carry the soluble parts to the roots. A light coat of this, spread broad-cast, is much better for grass than any other manure. The best top-dressing for a strawberry bed is burnt sods. Pile up the brush and rubbish you have at hand in layers with the sods, and set fire to the h smoulder away for several days, till the wood is pretty well burnt out the sodfl well roasted. Then overhaul the heap, chop and beat it up fiue with the spado, and, aflur loosening up the soil in the bed, <,'ive them a coat an inch or two in thickness. It will j^ive new life to the plants, and set them in a way to give you an uncommonly line crop. an old diuukr. — « • » • » DEGEXEKATION OF VARIETIES OP THE PEAR-TREE. Mr. De JoNonE, of Brussels, has been writing lately much about his favorite pear-tree, and comes to the following conclusions respecting the degeneration of varieties, so much talked about. He says : — "From what has been already stated, it will be understood that varieties culti- vated in climates analogous to that in which they were raised, will, in general, retain their characters, provided the trees are planted in a suitable soil, and treated in a ]iroper manner. " If the causes of degeneration are to be ascertained, they may be sought and found : — "1. In the use of improper stocks, which have no affinity with the graft. " 2, In the use of grafts badly selected, either taken from the lower part of very young trees, or from others weak and affected with various diseases. " 3. In the use of grafts grown in an artificial manner, " 4. In a mode of cultivation unsuited to the nature of the variety. " 5. In i)lanting a variety in soil which is cither too poor and too shallow, or too heavy, cold and moist. "6. In want of attention, in consequence of ignorance of the first elements of a rational mode of culture. "With respect to the first three causes, we have touched upon the principal points connected with them on several occasions in previous articles, and it would 1)6 superfluous to revert to them. Concerning the fourth, it is evident to every practical man that a normal degree of vigor, and, consequently, a good crop of perfect fruit, can only be obtained by allowing the tree to take that form which is most in conformity with its mode of vegetation. If that form is constantly restricted by premature pinching, or by too severe pruning, the tree bears a few small, cracked, gritty fruits, becomes barren, and is eventually destroyed. This is not owing to degeneration, but to a want of skill on the part of the cultivator. Nor can we attribute the cause to degeneration, when bad fruit is gathered from a tree planted in a soil which is too strong, compact, and moist. It is not reasonable to seek from the soil that which it cannot give. "We have seen a plantation of more than 100 pear-trees, comprising about 80 of the best varieties of pears. These trees were confided to one who is known to be an able cultivator. They were all trained in the same form — that of a dwarf pyramid — upon the free stock, and upon the quince. On the 15th of June, 1856, the 100 trees had not 200 pears on them. The premature pinching, performed, in a season different from the ordinary run, had caused a disordered vegetation, from which, of course, the trees suffered, and, in consequence of which, they were not able to set their fruit. Moreover, the ground where the trees were planted was covered with a rather thick layer of horsedung, and this preventing the action of the air and sun upon the soil which covered the roots, the trees were unable to profit by the beneficial effects of the solar rays upon the ascending sap. If these trees remain weakly and barren, is that result to be attributed to the circumstance of the varieties treated in this way having reached the period of degeneration ? That fruit-trees," he concludes, "are disposed to degenerate in consequence time they have been in existence, we do not believe." THE BEURRE SUPEEYIN PEAE BEURRE SUPERFIN PEAR*. According to Mr. Dupuy Jamain, and other reliable horticulturists in Paris, this fruit is the product of one of the numerous grafts or young trees sent by Prof. Yan Mons to Mr. Poiteau. The tree is hardy, well suited to this climate, of a rather thorny and wild character, of vigorous and healthy appearance. Its form and shape is rather pyramidal with some diverging branches. It grows on the quince, but is better on the pear stock, on which it will do as an orchard tree. Bark, grayish green, with light brown dots or freckles. The blossom spurs are often terminated with a sharp or an abortive thorn. Leaves, medium, a little recurved, serrated and of a dark green color. Buds, pointed, gray. Fruit, mid- dle sized, pyriform, sometimes above middle size, of a dull green, with numerous brown marlDlings, and occasionally, as in Boston, with a faint dull red cheek. Stem, one inch long, not stout, set on the surface, sometimes swollen at the junction. Eye, very small, sunk in a moderately deep calyx, sometimes made irregular by a few ribs, which in some localities and seasons extend over the whole fruit, and instead of smooth, make it look knobby and coarse. Flesh, white greenish, delicate, very juicy, half melting and buttery, with sugar and flavor enough to make it one of the best pears. Although opinions do not agree in the east, west, and south about the quality of this variety, we can safely predict that in the Middle States, under proper cultivation, and in a rich sandy loam, its qualities will not prove inferior to any of the pears of that region. They have been tested in New Jersey, and at Wm. Reid's nursery it was always found a "very good" pear. It seems not to be as good in Western New York ; but it will be safe to wait for trees of a proper age and steady habits before a final judgment. The Superfin kept well, and ripens slowly from September to late in October, at least so it did with us. This was a little surprising, as in France it rarely can be kept over September, but it is not the first pear coming to maturity later than in its native climate. Perhaps no summer nor fall pear ripens here as early as in Paris. For instance, we have never passed through the end of June without some fine dishes of Madeleines — which do not ripen here until the middle of July. This was not only in France, but in the cool wet climate of Belgium. GARDEN YEGETABLES, NO. 1.— THE CUCUMBER. BY WM. CHORLTON. Allow me to offer a few paragraphs on the cultivation of this generally accepted kitchen edible ; and first, of soil and situation. The Cucumber delights in a rich and loose vegetable mould — consequently, decomposed leaves or vegetable refuse will furnish a good manure. Barnyard dung is the next best substitute, but this ought not to be rank or unfermented, as, in such state, it produces too exuberant a growth of plant and paucity of fruit, with a subjectness to canker and gangrene in the stems. The situation ought, in all cases, to be open to the sun, and, if possible, screened from the action of violent winds. Out-door Culture. — In this there is no more skill required than for ordinary crops of other vegetables. It is well to make choice of land which has been cul- tivated the previous season. Dig or plough deeply in the fall ; let the ground lay as rough as possible throughout the winter, and when it is in good working order, after the frosts, give it a thorough stirring with the fork or plough. About the middle or latter part of April, according to latitude, will be time to prepare * See Frontispiece. 32 OARDEiV VEGETABLES — THE CUCUMBER. for Ro\vinerinost level is ol)taincd over the whole surface. Air will have to be adiuilted iiccurding to cir- cumstances, and it is best to do this by propjiing up the sashes. Let the tempe- rature range from 60° to 65° at night, and 75° to 85° by day. Htuj) the ends of the shoots, and prune as before directed. It is recjuisite tu give a slight shade during strong sunshine, while the ]tlants are young, but, by gradually withholding it, they will, after a time, bear any amount of light. As the season advances, and warm weather comes along, the glasses may be opened accordingly, until, finally, they can be entirely removed, and the plants will continue to bear most, if not all the summer. Dung-beds, during fermentation, give off moisture, which is absorbed by the soil above, and, of course, at the commencement, there is not much water required ; notwithstanding which, it will have to be applied occasionally, but never when rain-storms are present. In fact, it is this kind of weather that makes the great- est difficulty with dung-beds, and, on this account, it is not advisable to begin with them sooner than the middle of February ; but adopt the above-mentioned method, if it be desirable to have fruit in the winter months. GREENHOUSES OF J. McCALL, Esq., STATEN ISLAND, N, Y. New Beighton, Staten Island. J. J. Smith, Esq. Dear Sir: Inclosed I send you a perspective view and ground-plan of a col- lection of horticultural houses, designed by myself, for J. McCall, Esq., Staten Island, and combining beauty of exterior with practical utility. In this case it was required to have an early and late grapery, a large general conservatory, and a suitable apartment for camellias, and other polished leaved greenhouse plants, which are subject to be scorched by the rays of midday sun. The most available site was on a level plot, so situated that the longitudinal extension of the struc- ture should be east-southeast, and west-northwest. It was also desirable that no part should appear as " sheds " or other like nuisance, consequently the ordi- nary conveniences are provided for by a cellar, forty feet long by nine feet wide, being sunk under the northwest part of the building, and which contains the two boilers and sufficient room for the winter's fuel. There are two cisterns, each fourteen feet wide by fourteen feet deep underground, and beneath the stage of the central house. Each house is furnished with a tank for tepid water, having a hose-coupling attached, with faucets so arranged, that one force-pump (which is fixed under the stage) answers all the purposes of drawing water from the cisterns into the tanks, or from any one of the tanks to shower over the whole or any part of the interior, at pleasure. The centre house is twenty-one feet wide by forty-six feet long, and seventeen feet from the ground level to the ridge. The two wings are fifty feet long by twenty feet wide, and fourteen feet to the ridges, which are on a level with the eaves where they join. The groundwork, making of borders, and planting, was executed by Mr. Nicol, the intelligent gardener, and from pre- sent appearances, future success is certain. The vines were one year old from the "eye," when planted, last March, and the greater part are now (August 11th) from twenty to twenty-five feet long, with proportionate strength of cane, and with good ripening, will be fully qualified to bear a light crop of fruit next year. Most respectfully yours, WM. CHORLTON. 1 liit^'^^nii'.a.gl mr:-M-M r I X U S n A R T W E G I — n A R T W E G 'S PINE. Tnis species is a native of Mexico, Avhere Ilartweg discovered it on Mount Cainpanario, growing at an elevation of 0000 feet, and ranging irnniediatcly above Picea religiosa. It forms a tree of moderate size, with leaves six inches Pinus Hartwegi. and upwards in length, of a pale green, and covered with a glaucous bloom. Although this Pine belongs to the five-leaved section of Pinus, it is often found with four only in a bundle. The cones are four to five inches long, and pendulous. Many of the species in the group to which Hartweg's Pine belongs are remark- able for the length of their leaves ; and this, there being five in a sheath, gives them a peculiar and striking appearance, and as such they are much prized by collectors. Unfortunately the winter of 1853-4, and the following one, proved fatal to many of the handsomest kinds, and they may be pronounced too tender for the English climate. Of this section, we lost from our collection leiophylla, Wiucesteriana, Gordoniana, filifolia, Russelliana, Devoniana, Grenvilleae, and even palustris (australis) ; while Hartwegi, Montezuraee, and apulcensis of the long-leaved species survived. And we find pretty nearly the same results happened in other Pinetums. This greatly enhances the value of those which have turned out to be hardy ; among them Hartwegi — which is now the finest of the long-leaved species, capable of enduring our winters, excepting, perhaps P. microphylla. No collection of Coniferae can be called complete except it contains our present THE EFFECTS OP THE COLD. subject, which, even in a younp^ state, has something grand and striking in its appearance. Although the soil should be naturally dry or well drained for growing it, it prefers a good, rich loam, rather heavy than otherwise. In composition, this section should be grouped together, as they do not harmonize well with the short-leaved kinds. Planted in this way, and in appro- priate situations, they will form a striking mass, very distinct from anything else. Our engraving was taken from a fine specimen in the Piuetum at Nuneham Park, near Oxford. — London Florist. [This pine was destroyed last winter at Wodenethe, but would be a very valu- able acquisition at the South. — Ed.] THE EFFECTS OF THE COLD.* BY WM. BACON, RICHMOND, MASS. Autumn seems like a late and "after the fair" period, to speak of the results of a gone-by winter ; yet the effects of such winters as the last are not always sufficiently developed to warrant an opinion with regard to them until the brief spring which follows has passed away, and summer, that, in consequence of spring's brevity, has so much of the work of two seasons to perform, has had an opportu- nity to exercise its resurrection influence, and tell us what is coming into hopeful life, and what is dead beyond all recovery. Our last winter, among the Berkshire Hills, was long and uniformly cold. With us, however, the mercury did not realize the depression that it often does in milder and briefer winters. Its lowest mark, by our observation, was 20° below zero, or 2° and 4° less than was the case in several preceding winters. We had no thaws worthy of the name until late in March, and the number of times from December 25 until that period, when the mercury rose above freezing, were few as well as brief. The quantity of snow, if it had lain level, would have measured from three and a half to four feet, according to localities. But, in most situations, it was badly drifted ; consequently, highways and gardens had a large supply. In the latter, it served as a beautiful protection to tender plants, insomuch they wintered finely under its cover, though it was rather severe in breaking down young trees, especially dwarfs. In consequence of winter's closing in by a fall of snow upon unfrozen ground, the advance of spring, so far as the dying away of mud was concerned, was rapid. But the departure of the snow, and the settling of the ground, did not bring warm weather. Cold and chilling northerly winds prevailed through May, and, in con- sequence, the progress of vegetation was slow and unhealthy. But, to mark the effects of the winter, small fruits, such as strawberries, rasp- berries, currants, &c., never passed its ordeal better. So with roses and all flow- ering plants and shrubs that were covered with snow. Above this snow-line, however, all but the more hardy kinds were killed. Peach-trees suffered most severely of all our fruits. The last year's growth gave out their feeble blossoms and died, so that the trees, until the last of June, looked more fit for the brush-heap than the garden. Many were cut down, but in most cases where they were allowed to stand, they (unless in very old trees) threw out new shoots, and, by the middle of August, assumed appearances of hopeful thrift, so that we anticipate future crops from them. The peach gave no fruit. * Tliis interesting article was intended for a former number, but was crowded out ; however, lost by a short delay, none of its value. — Ed, THE EFFECTS OF THE COLD. PIiiiiis, in some localities, were entirely destroyed. These losses were not pecu- liar to old and decayino; trees, but we saw whole rows of young trees, which were vigorous a year ago, that gave no sign of verdure this year. These losses were greatest in partially sheltered localities. Next to the i)each and plum, the cherry was the greatest sufferer. Some few trees in the circle of our observation were lost, but the damage was principally in the loss of the later growth of last year. The quantity of cherries was moderate, very. Pears. — The trees stood the winter without any apparent injury beyond the breaking down of branches of small trees by snow. They gave a fair amount of blossoms, but in conse(iucuce of the continued cold winds while they were in bloom, but little fruit set — ^such as matured was perfect in its kind. The trees have made a fine growth the last season, and give a reasonable prospect of abundance of fruit in future. Apple-trees wintered well, the only drawback being the depredations of the mice, which is perhaps as much attributable to a want of care on the part of the owner as to any peculiarity of the season, though the great length of the winter probably had a tendency to increase their appetites beyond the supplies they had provided for the exigencies of the season. Unlike their usual mode of warfare, which confines thcii^ depredations mainly to grass lands, they pitched battle on trees on grounds where hoed crops had been taken off, and were sometimes more destructive there than in grass plots. The simplest preventive we know of for such cases, is to stamp the early snows thoroughly around young trees. The apple orchards bloomed abundantly, but a succession of cold northerly winds, almost amounting to frost, continued from the first opening of the buds until the petals fell. These winds were fatal to the general crop, so we have but very few apples, and these are principally on the sides of trees, and in orchards most effectually sheltered from these winds— localities where ordinary frosts which collect in the still, cold air would have been fatal. In view of these experiences, we can see no particular cause for the fruit growers to be discouraged in their labors. The pear and the apjile have given us a new and very cheering assurance of their adaptedness to our soil and climate, and if they have failed to produce the usual amount of fruit for " this once," it was owing to causes seldom existing rather than to anything in the ordinary course of nature. The peach has shown itself capable of standing a long-continued severity of uniform cold, and yet expand its pink blossoms to the sun. Had Avinter closed her frozen reign at the ordinary period, and spring come on with her glad sunshine and warm breezes, these blossoms might have matured into fruit, and the long-confined branches might have given forth beautiful and healthy verdure. Be this as it may, however, let no one neglect to cultivate the peach, though timidity may induce it to be done in a small way. The plum has failed to some extent as the result of the season, but the loss on tliis account is small, indeed, compared with that entailed by the yearly depredations of insects. The season showed marked effects on our native evergreens as well as on our delicate fruits. The hemlock, the pine, and the kalmias, in their native soil, in many instances exhibited their dried leaves as though a fire had passed through their branches. So it was not the exotic — the far-fetched and dear-bought alone — that suffered the influences of a season which those of us who witnessed it will not be likely to forget. -.it-:^- The Savine. — Juniperus Sabina is a splendid lawn plant, when left to take its natural growth, in an open space and kindly soil. A plant on my lawn, twenty-five years old, measures twenty-two yards in circumference. Its branches radiate from a single stem, which is invisible in the centre, feathering all round, without gap or blemish, down to the grass, and rising only about three feet in the middle. It is at all times a pleasing object ; but in the spring, when it has put forth its tender shoots, or in the autumn, when bespan- gled with dew, it is particularly beautiful. — 3f. R. Toivnshend. Let Hexs sit where they Choose. — I have long been a keeper of poultry, and an observer of their habits ; and I have arrived at the conclusion, that hens are most prolific when left to their natural instinct, as I think the following interesting circumstance will prove : One of my hens (a pullet of a late brood last year) formed herself a nest among the ivy on the top of a wall nine feet high, and on Sunday last, August 31, from sixteen eggs brought out fourteen strong, healthy chickens of every color, though tlie hen is a cross between the Gold- Pencilled Hamburg and the Gray Dorking. During the time of sitting, she was several times exposed to violent storms, and the wall faces the high road, with constant traffic. — Wistaria. Mode of Prevexting Fowls Flying over Fences. — Recently, I described a ready mode of preventing pigeons flying, for a few days, by soaping one wing. I now wish to call attention to an equally efficacious plan that is adapted to fowls. Being on a visit to a friend, I noticed a hen with the appearance of having a wooden yoke across her shoulders. On inquiry, he informed me that it was a New Forest plan of preventing the flying of such of the lighter and more active varieties as it was wished to keep within bounds. It consisted merely of a piece of light, thin lath, about two inches longer than the width of the body. Two pairs of opposite notches were cut in it, the distance between the pairs being the exact width of the body of the bird. In these notches a piece of tape was securely tied, leaving the ends free ; the lath was then placed over the back, and secured by tying the loose, free ends of the tapes under the wings close up to the body, taking care that they were not tied so tightly as to cut into the flesh. This contrivance ofi^ers no impediment to the movements of the fowl until it attempts to raise the wings for flight, when they are checked in their upward movement by the projecting ends of the lath, and flight is consequently imprac- ticable. This plan is superior to running the scissors down each side of the primary quill feathers of one wing, inasmuch as the fowl is not disfigured, and it is, beyond all comparison, better than the unpleasant practice of cutting across several of the quills, which destroys the appearance of the fowl, and leaves an ugly set of stumps, which moult out with difficulty. — W. B. Tegetmeier. The Hyacinth. — There is hardly a flower in cultivation so generally a favorite as the hyacinth, and certainly not one which so gratefully repays the attention bestowed upon it. There is not a medium capable of retaining moisture but it will grow in, and it will give us as good a bloom when planted in wet sand as it will in the richest compost. Many people lit to be thankful for this spring visitor, from those whose delicate hands put the finish beautiful stands which grace the drawing-room, to the salamander-like men wh a heat that woiilil broil a steak, blow the tliousands of glasses employed to grow them in water. There is not a smoky liole in the most confined manufacturing town in which the hyacinth will not bloom, if allowed moisture of some kind in which to lengthen its silvery roots. If we calculated by the means required for its growth, instead of the price of a root, it might truly be called the poor man's flower. There is scarcely an individual who is per- mitted to live in daylight, but may indulge himself with two or three, if lie be fond of flow- ers, and they will aff'ord gratification till the bloom is over. Let everybody who can raise three flower-pots, or three hyacinth glasses, buy a bulb of each color, and tliey will have flowers — ay, if they grow them in a smoky attic, or a still more smoky kitchen. The Skirret is a garden vegetable, well spoken of in the Revue Jlorticulc, but little known here. It belongs to the family of Umbellifers, and is a perennial plant, with bunches of fusiform, fleshy roots, from six to ten inches in length, and from three-fourths to one inch in diameter, somewhat crooked, of a russet color externally, the flesh being white. It is one of the richest alimentary roots ; its flavor is slight, slightly resembling celery ; is good fried and for soups. Its produce is enormous, and efforts are making to introduce it in place of the potato. OxALis BowEi. — It may not be generally known that this succeeds well as a bedding-plant. It produces its beautiful rose-colored flowers in great profusion, until destroyed by frost in autumn; and when planted in contrast with other gay colors, I have always found it to be greatly admired. The bulbs should be potted the third week in March, and plunged in a gentle bottom heat. I put three bulbs in a three-inch pot ; when they have grown about two inches, I shift them into four-inch pots, and gradually harden thein ofi' in frames with other bedding-plants. They are planted out about the middle of June, by which time they will be nicely in bloom ; it is necessary to support the flower stems with small stakes when first planted out, for if this is not done, they are liable to be blown off. Until the plants have established themselves firmly in the ground, a situation rather sheltered from the wind, and well exposed to the morning sun, should be chosen for them, as they show them- selves to most advantage during bright sunshine. — William Adderley. Gkeen-Fly. — It has often struck me that your readers might do good service to each other if they would, from time to time, record in your paper the various successes or disappoint- ments which they meet with. For instance, no amount of smoke has ever satisfactorily got rid of the green-fly in my houses. Frequent fumigation kept my geraniums, &c., tolerably clean, but the pest still existed. Tliis year, I have immersed all my plants in a mixture of tobacco, one-fourth pound ; soft soap, one pound ; water, five gallons ; and, although it is now more than four months since they were dipped, I have searched in vain for a single green-fly when cutting them down. — Iota. Sale at Chiswick. — Some of the plants sold here, on Wednesday, realized fair prices, as will be seen by the following account of a few of the lots : Mammillaria globosa, Cirrhifera and Auriceps brought 11. 6s. ; Gasteria conspurcata, a species of Aloe, and Agave filifera, 1/. 12s. ; Polygala Dalmaisiana, 10s. ; Theophrasta Jussisei, 3/. 3s. ; Paonia Moutan salmonea, Zl. 5s. ; P. M. atrosanguinea, 5Z. ; a variety of P. M. versicolor, 5/. 10s. ; and a variety of P. M. atropurpurea, 3/. 10s. The Chinese Tree Paeonies produced, on an average, about 21. each. Life of J. C. Loudon. — We have long wished to present this biography of one of nature's noblemen, and the greatest writer on the topics of horticulture, to the American public. By dividing it into three numbers, we trench but little on the ground devoted to our corre- spondents, who will, we are confident, pardon a little delay for the pleasure of perusing this very graceful " story of a life." In many respects, Mr. Loudon resembled our own Downing ; the same enthusiasm and love of horticulture, the same indifference for mere money matters, and indomitable per- severance in writing, when other affairs pressed for attention, mark the career of each. Mr. Downing, however, entered more thoroughly into descriptions of the pleasures of the mind; Mr. Loudon was engaged in the useful. The account of his sufferings, and the curious circumstance of his writing his greatest works with his left hand, and that seriously mutilated, are entirely novel in the whole history of literary effort. This life, which appeared in a posthumous edition of his Instructions for Gardeners, has never before been printed in America. Mr. Loudon's works are still standards, and continue to be extensively sold, more espe- cially his Arboretum Britannicarn, which was the cause of his pecuniary ruin, and his Encyclopcedia of Plants, to which a supplement has just been issued, bringing down this most laborious and invaluable work to the present day. Feax(jois Andre Michaux. — The death of this distinguished botanist and writer on Ame- rican forest-trees, took place at Vaureal, near Pontoise, France, in November, 1855, as has already been announced. His will proves to be of very great interest to America ; he leaves twenty-two thousand dollars to the American Philosophical Society and the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, fourteen thousand dollars to the former, and eight thousand dollars to the latter, for the purpose of promoting sylviculture and horticulture, and of making ex- periments on the growth of trees in " sandy, rocky, and bog soils." The principal portion of the bequest is to be invested for income in good farm land ; cheap and unproductive land is to be purchased with another portion, and the remainder is to be appropriated to seeding and planting the exjjerimental plantations. We look upon this bequest with peculiar inte- rest ; the liberality of a foreigner in thus considering the Ijenefit he can confer upon our country, strikes us as something unique and highly creditable to the donor, as well as being of rare advantage to the world. It should, and probably will, teach great lessons of prac- tical knowledge. The widow of the donor, who is advanced in life, has a life estate in the money. It will be in the memory of some of our readers, that we stated some months since the destraction by fire of the entire edition of letter press of Michaux's great work on trees ; the engraved plates, however, were saved, and the stereotyper has been since engaged in preparing a new and greatly improved edition, which will be ready for delivery in a short time, in company with the Supplement of Nuttall, making, together, five superb royal octavo volumes, with elegantly colored plates. A sixth may hereafter be added containing the newer discovered California trees. Vol. YII — Jan. 1857. Gossip. — It was the boast of TiUculhis that he clianged liis climate with the birds of pas- sapo; but how often must he have felt that the master of many houses has no home. If alchemy was an error, says the Westminster Review, "it bore a precious jewel on its head," which has lighted men on the difficult path of discovery. By the very necessities of the case, it coerced the minds of men into studies repulsive and difficult — it forced them to create the Experimental Method — it forced them to become accurately accjuainted with all substances, and it furnished thorn with the means of elaborating a science, the marvels of which may fairly be said to surpass the wildest dreams of any alchemist. If the intro- duction among us, says Punch, of hor.scflesli, as an article of food, is effected, it will proba- bly become necessary, in ordering a steak at a chop-house, to tell the waiter whether you mean a rump-steak or a sweep steak ! Since the use of steamships in commerce, oranges have become an item of immense export from the Continent to England ; 200 departures of steamvessels from one port yearly are on record, taking 200,000 boxes of 1000 oranges e^ch. England imports 300 millions of oranges each year, of wliich 100 millions are consumed in the metropolis ; 20 millions of lemons are also consumed, the principal vendors being of the Jewish persuasion. Paris absorbed 4,906,320 oranges and 3,336,100 lemons in 1855. There is a beauty which the Italian poplar possesses which is almost peciiliar to it ; and that is the waving line it forms when agitated by the wind. Most trees in these circum- stances are but partially agitated ; one side is at rest, while the other is in motion ; but the Italian poplar waves in one single sweep from the top to the bottom, like an ostrich-feather on a lady's head. All the branches coincide with the motion, and the least blast makes an impression on it when other trees are at rest. The substance which exudes from Juni- perus communis is the gum sandarach of commerce. This is powdered, and is then known as pounce, an article formerly in much use to fill scratches made on paper when erasures were required. The twigs and leaves of Yew, eaten in a very small quantity, are certain death to horses and cows, but to deer, sheep and goats and birds they are innocuous. The leaves are fatal to the human species, though the berries are not ; the Yew is propagated fiom the latter, sown as soon as they are ripe ; or mixed with sand, and laid in a heap, to be turned over two or three times during winter, and in spring, the seeds from which the pulp will have rotted, are sown in beds of light loamy soil. By either mode, a part of the plants will come up the first season, and the remainder in the following. The oil of nut- megs is highly narcotic ; the grated nut taken in too large quantities produces drowsiness, great stupor and insensibility, and on awakening, delirium. The Clematis flourishes best when planted on a dry subsoil, in a mixture of peat and loam, and all the varieties may be freely increased by layering the shoots from July to October. The generic name is from the Greek, selemn, the climbing tendril of a vine, which this plant resembles in habit. A machine for digging potatoes is in successful operation in Scotland and Ireland. It con- sists of the framework, coulter, share and mould-board of a common plough ; by a pinion working into a wheel which acts as sole-plate in taking the weight of the plough, motion is given to a set of revolving forks placed so as to operate on the furrow slice just as it leaves the turn furrow. These forks fairly disintegrate the whole mass of earth as it is lifted, and scatter the potatoes it may contain over the surface of the ground on which the i:)lough has already operated. Lovers of plants begin to prefer graceful forms to mere spots of color, and this is considered as a satisfactory evidence of a great general advance in good taste. Agriculture in France holds the first place in the production of national wealth ; it employs 25 million hands, and produces in value, every year, upwards of 3600 millions of pounds. This immense mass of produce, in which Wheat figures to the amount of 56 million pounds is, nevertheless, not sufficient to prevent the country from going abroad to make up the necessary supply of grain. We have said, elsewhere, that good authority indicates the same thing as likely soon to occur in Ohio ; if in France this is true, why EDITOR'S TABLE. should we doubt it in agricultural States here ? A proposal is on foot for a testimony to Mr. Mechi, of Tiptree Hall, England, who has done so much for agriculture. The advance of science is marked by the circumstance that in 1696 the Grand Duke of Gotha assembled a council of learned men to tell him what the bones of a fossil elephant were, and they unanimously declared they were sports of nature. The bones of a mastodon, found in Dauphiny, were exhibited in Paris by a surgeon, as the remains of a giant ! It has lately been a subject of discussion whether honey made from Rhododendron ponticum flowers is poisonous or not, and the belief is entertained that it is not, while that made from Azalea pontica is highly dangerous. Dr. Lindley closes an article in a late Chronicle on grape- houses with the remark, " Blood, flesh, and all such substances make vines rank, difficult to ripen, and predisposed to mildew and any other disease." C. F. Otto, late Director of the Royal Botanic Garden, at Berlin, to whom we were indebted for unbounded civilities in 1850, died in September last. He was the author of five or six works on botany, forest culture, and on the cactus tribe, but was most distinguished as the editor of the periodical AUgemeine Gartenzeitung, in connection with Dr. Albert Dietrich. A genus among um- belliferous plants was named Ottoa in honor of him. Too much stress is sometimes laid upon the necessity of having elegant apparatus for teaching science. A man who is eager to learn — who is determined to know his subject — may, if he be at all handy, or ^f•ith the assistance of the village carpenter or blacksmith, extemporize his apparatus. Polished mahogany, and expensive brass work and complicated adjustments, are not at all essential. It is told of the celebrated philosopher, Dr. Wollaston, the inventor of the method of ren- dering platinum malleable, that when a continental chemist of some celebrity called on him and expressed a wish to be shown over the laboratories in which science had been enriched by so many important discoveries, the doctor took him into a little study, and pointing to an old tea-tray on the table, with a few watch-glasses, test-papers, a small balance, and a blow-pipe on it, said, "There is all the laboratory that I have." Again : is music any better'for emanating from expensive rosewood or mahogany ? The prodigal son desired to eat of husks given to swine. This is supposed to allude to the fruit of the locust-tree, part of the diet of the Baptists in the desert. The ancients made wine of this locust, and gave the husks to pigs ; being by no means a tasteless or unsatisfying offal, it might well be desired by the prodigal, in his hunger. Jewish tradition considers the citron, and not the apple, to have been the fruit which our first parents tasted in Paradise. When the dove sent out of the ark returned with a green olive leaf, it had remained, after ten months, green ; this has puzzled some simple writers who did not reflect upon its nature ; the leaves are of a bitter taste, and of a lasting substance, keeping a very long time. Cosmo de Medicis delighted most in his Apennine villa, because all that he commanded from its windows was exclusively his own. How unlike the wise Athenian, who, when he had a farm to sell, directed the cryer to proclaim, as its best recommendation, that it had a good neighborhood. A few friends are all that a wise man would wish to assemble ; " for a crowd is not company, and faces are but a gallery of pictures, and talk hut a tinkling cymbal, where there is no love." Two New Varieties of Fruit are mentioned in the Gardener^s Chronicle, as follows : " The first is a black grape, of most excellent quality, thin skinned, not a Muscat, earlier than the Black Hamburg, and having the valuable property of hanging late without shrivelling. Its leaves are middle-sized, thick, and capable of bearing even such a sun as we experienced last July, when the foliage of so many other vines suffered seriously. Its origin is unknown. In appearance, it somewhat resembles the Black Prince, but the flavor is much more deli- cate, and the berries are longer. The two diameters are as twenty to fourteen in this as seventeen to fourteen in the Black Prince, a very great difference. Mr. Rivers, who seen it, conjectures tliat it is some foreign variety allied to the Amelia or tlie Gros Sapert ; but as this is very uncertain, the variety may bo called the Trcntham Black. "The Melon, which will bear the name of the Trentham Cocoa-^'ut,is much like that fruit in form and size, and is remarkable for combining a very thick, hard rind, with an abundant white, delicate flesh, like that of the Trentham Hybrid Persian. This being the case, it possesses great value as a keeper, or for travelling long distances. It is reported to be an abundant bearer, being hardy and robust in its growth. We understand it has been found still at for table at Christmas." jlosES. — If we arc surprised to hear that a i>each-tree may and does attain a much larger size than a man's body, we might be still more astonished to learn that the " apple bear- ing" rose-tree measures sometimes a foot and a half in circumference, with a large umbra- geous head like an orchard api^le-tree of 20 years' growth. One has lately fallen, crushed by a fall of snow, at Sawbridgeworth, of this extraordinary size. Mr. Rivers, when noticing this in the Florist, adds that no new roses approach Prince Leon or Jules Margottin, in color, form, or habit. He says, also, that " there are nearly forty new roses sent out last autumn by the French florists ; most of these are Hybrid Perpetuals, twenty of which are described as having shades of rose color, six shades of crimson — three or four of these are seedlings of the Geant. There are also two new Summer Moss Roses by Laffay, both of which are rose colored, and a new Perpetual Moss by him, described as ' rouge vif centre rouge violace, superbe.' Tliree new Noisette Roses are also offered, one white, another a seedling from Lamarque, 'd'un beau jaune canari,' another crimson partaking in its habit of the Bourbon family. Three new Tea-scented Roses are to be sent out — their characters as described are an ' oft-told tale.' " We still lack a fine crimson Tea Rose, a pure white Hybrid Perpetual, a yellow ditto, a good crimson Rosa sempervirens, a yellow Moss Rose, and some others, so that there is a good field open to Rose growers." The following remark, by Mr. Rivers, will find many responses : — " There is one remarkable peculiarity attending the cultivation of Roses ; they never seem to fatigue the mind of the amateur ; in youth, in the vigor of manhood, and in old age, their cheerful brilliant tints are alwa3'S grateful, their perfume always exhilarating. I have only remarked a slight drawback ; one, after thirty years of admiration, is apt to be- come fastidious, and to require great perfection in shape, in color, and in habit. I now scan a new Rose with a most critical eye ; at one time a trifling difi"erence in a Rose, if it were a new feature, was hailed with ecstasy ; times are now changed, but then, Roses never were, as far as we know, so beautiful as they are at the present day." Roses ix Wi.nter. — D. Beaton, one of the best gardeners and writers for the Cottage Gar- dener, says, respecting the treatment of roses in winter, in the open ground : — " The philosophy of the thing stands thus : All the cultivated roses like a cool, moist hottom, but no standing wet ; and all the standard roses on grass, ought to get a good spadeful of right rotten dung every winter of their lives, and as much water in summer as will keep the space occupied by the roots constantly moist. The present hole in the grass system can only allow a make-believe in all those essentials, and no more. " The manner of doing is this : The rose-trees, perhaps, are planted on the grass already ; but you may know, from the rusty-brown leaves, that they are three parts starved. Oi)en the grass in a circle of a yard across round each rose ; then scrai)e off the soil carefully till you find the roots. When you find the roots, pour two large watering-potsful over those of tree ; then put two or three inches of very rotten dung all over the roots ; water the rose put on the spout of the watering-pot, and pat down the dung with the of the spade. Now, the dung is just level with the grass, or nearly so, more or less, and you must keep it out of sight. Any good, light garden-mould will do to cover the dung ; let it be full three inches deep, or rather more ; and, to keep up the sides from the grass, you must use an artistic edging to give dignity to the whole. What we use is the best and cheapest burnt brickbats, and whole bricks of a dark gray color, such as are too much burnt in the making ; but stones would be as cheap, or cheaper, in many places, and stamps of larch poles, or of any other poles, would do if cut into six-inch lengths, and sharpened at one end, to be driven down two or three inches close to one another all round. The soil is as high as the top of the edging ; ours is foiir inches high, and quite level on the top, or, rather, with a hollow towards the stem of the roses. Three nice Tom Thumbs, and three equally good Calceolarias out of about 48-sized pots, will fill one of these beds except the edging. As we do not go quite close to the rose stem, (Enotliera prostrata, all the little blue Lobelias, Campanula fragilis, Garganica, and two or three more of them, and many more such 'tit-bits' will do for edgings." New Fruit, &c. — At a late meeting of the London Pomological Society, Mr. Rivers exhibited a Raspberry, produced from a plant which had been raised by crossing the raspberry and blackberry, or bramble. The plant has all the habit of growth of the common bramble, does not throw up suckers, and produces fruit most abundantly, but it is the size and tex- ture of the raspberry, and the flavor, though like the latter, is much more lively and piquant ; the fruit is of a dark purple color. It will be not only a curiosity, but useful for the dessert at a late period of the season. " At the Clapton Nurseries," says the Cottage Gardener, " they grow the Meyenia erecta by the thousands, and sell it by the dozen for ' planting out' in the South of Ireland, first for its bloom, and next for its young shoots for making baskets with. There is no end to the numbers they have of it for English and Scottish greenhouses, and warm conservatory and mixed borders during the summer ; but for stove cultivation they say it is not at all suited. " Thyrsacanthus rutilans, the finest winter-flowering stove-plant we have, is. here treated just like a half-hardy plant, and like Meyenia erecta; but in Ghent and Brussels they get it from cuttings early in the spring, and turn it out of doors all the summer. In the autumn it makes a kind of Love-lies-bleeding fringe round the Orange-tubs, the little pots standing in a circle inside the tub, and the drooping, crimson fringe hanging all round. " The Clerodendron Bungii, or fatidum, is all but hardy on the Continent, and ought to be more so in England. It dies down like a Fuchsia for the winter, and blooms freely on the young summer growth, just like the Brugmansias, where they are taken good heed to. " The lovely Sonerila viargaritacea, a dwarf, spotted-leaved Melastomad, comes from cut- tings in nine days, and in sixteen more days is fit for the market, and worth from thirty to forty penny-pieces. The dearest is the cheapest in the long run. "They have a large stock of a new hardy Oah with fern-like leaves, got over from Mackay, of Liege, who seems to graft them as easily as apples and pears. Twenty years ago these would cost £5 a piece, owing to the difficulty of increasing them. Now they 'come out' cheap as bedding variegated geraniums. " White Glycine, or Wistaria Sinensis, from eyes grafted on the roots of the old one, and come as freely as leaf and bud geranium cuttings. This led to a secret of great importance. The whole of the Kennedyas, Zichyas, and such like, will graft on the roots of Wistaria, and grow to double the usual size as conservatory climbers. The continental mode of splitting the crown of the stock seems the easiest and best way for this root grafting also. " A new hardy Oah, which came from the Alps of Bhootan, promises to be one of the finest for park scenery, being exactly intermediate between an Oak and a Spanish Chestnut in the leaves. Quantities of Pinus fdifolia, one of the finest of the long-leaved kinds, but 46 editor's table not quite hardy. Pinus oricntnlis looks much like a young spriico. Chironia rjlutinoxa, so covered with bloom that it ought to uiake a good hudder in juat to couie in after the Scarlet Crassulas. "Now to tlie Camellia and Azdlin ground. They ^itaml the Canullias in beds, with tlio liighest plants in the middle row, and then fall down both ways as tlie roof of a house. The whole look like ridge-and-furrow, and comprise 7,000 plants, from ono to four feet, all best kinds, and at from 21s. to 60s. per dozen. Three thousjand Chinese Azaleas next to them, and the next all the Pomponcs and C/irysanthcinumx. "A Wcepiiii/ Birch, iliQ first of them in England, used to be crowded with 'stocks' of cojnmon Birch to inarch on ; but that practice is giveu up now, and one great branch of the tree is trained down to near the ground, and the young wood is layered, and thus Weejting Birches on their own roots are obtained at less bother, and far better for the planter. The original appeared first in the collection of M. Soulange Baudin, of Paris, and the tree is about as great an ornament as any one could find in an Arboretum." WixDOW Plaxts. — The cactus tribe are well adapted for window plants ; among their ad- vantages over other house plants, they require but little atteution while out of flower, make no litter or leaves, and are not very apt to be infested with insects. Some of them afford a magnificent display of blossoms, and, when properly treated, will amply repay the slight attention they demand. The injury most frequently inflicted on them is imjiroper attention in watering them. In the tropical regions, where they are indigenous, they are often with- out a drop of water for a length of time, whereas, uninformed window gardeners too often make it a practice to supply them once a week the year round. The Cactus Jlagellifonnis, with long, tail-like shoots, of a pale green, covered with short spines, produces a number of pretty, star-foimed, pink flowers, and is one of the best win- dow plants. It maybe suspended about the middle of the window, in a pot laid on a board, and provided with a saucer, or trained to a light trellis. The Cactus truncatum and C. truncatum violaceum, trained on a trellis, form charming plants when in full bloom. Besides the above, several othere do well in windows, such as C. speriosa and speciosissimn, Epijpliillum Ackermauii, and many hybrid varieties of Mammillaria, Aloe verrucosa, and the Partridge-breasted Aloe. Mesembryanthemums are also a servicable class, more especially coccineum, aureum, muricatum, tigrinum, and dilatatum. Crassula coccinea will show abundance of its rich scarlet blossoms, almost too dazzling to look upon. Water must be withheld until near their natural time of blooming, when it may bo given about once in ten days or a fortnight, until they cease flowering. At Dr. Edmonson's, near Baltimore, we saw lately a conceit that forms a pleasing variety. Pots with cactus roots were hung about the greenhouses with other cactus plants grafted through the opening in the bottom of the pot, from whence they hung down in fantastic foiTus ! Gardens for Children. — Children's gardens are now the fashion in Germany, and have been successfully introduced into London. A practical guide to the English Kintergarten, has been issued by the "Council of Education," and a monthly journal was commenced in May last by Mr. and Mrs. Ronge, who have established an institution for the training of teachers, young ladies, and nurses ; their form of education is introduced into the wealthy families in aristocratic quarters. Nothing could promise better both for youth and age. California is determined to exceed every other section of the Union in the size of its fruits, &c. At the last annual exhibition, they record. a Duchesse Pear, weighing two three-quarter pounds, a beet, weighing one hundred and three pounds, and a cabbage, Catalogues Received.— Robert Buist lias sent us his Catalogue for the Spring of 1857, which, as it contains his own observations on evergreens, &c., we shall notice at some length. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Vines, Roses, Evergreens, &c., cultivated and for sale at Fruitland Nurseries, Augusta, Geo. By D. Redmond. A most full and excellent collection of plants, and a very accurate catalogue. Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Vines, &c., cultivated and for sale, by Isaac Pullen, near Hightstown, Mercer Co., N. J. Prince's Catalogue for 1856 and 1857. Register of Rural Affairs and Cultivator Almanac for 1857, with one hundred and thirty engravings ; Number 3. Albany, Luther Tucker & Son. A risum^ of the intelligence of the past year adapted to the coming one, and a very excellent compilation, and a good almanac combined. The Aquarium and Wardian Case, by Shirley Hibbard, has been published by Dix, Edwards & Company. It is a lucid account of the mode of keeping the smaller inhabitants of the sea and the river in glass cases at home, and of Dr. Ward's mode of growing ferns and other plants in the parlor in sealed glass cases. It is a beautiful volume, and will be read with great interest. Proceedings on laying the corner-stone of the Library Edifice for the Free Public Library in New Bedford, Mass. Highly interesting and progressive are these proceedings ; our own Loganian Library, in Philadelphia, and this new institution, are said to be the only realli/ free public libraries in the States. Matthew Howland, Esq., will accept our thanks. Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, and Plants, cultivated and for sale at the Persimmon Grove Nursery, Princeton, Bureau County, Illinois. By Arthur Bryant. The Araucaria imhricata, at Dropmore, England, has attained the height of thirty-eight feet two inches ; diameter of branches, twenty feet ; girth of stem, five feet. This superb tree grows on a mound of earth, which is the proper mode for it. It is in most luxuriant health, clothed with branches down close to the ground, and forms a perfect pyramid. It would be almost worth while to move from the North to the South, if only to grow this beautiful object, before which we knew an American to be disposed to go down on his knees in admiration ! Necrology.— William Yarrel, the naturalist, has lately paid the debt of nature. Both he and his father were newsmen ; he has left a very distinguished reputation, especially as an ornithologist. The Red Spider. — This troublesome pest in orchard houses, &c., is thus to be got rid of, according to a most experienced gardener : Sulphur on hot-water pipes, and also on walls outside exposed to the sun, are great helps for keeping red spider down, if associated with a moist atmosphere, or a free use of the syringe. From the hot-water pipe, and from the hot open wall exposed to the sun, the sulphuretted fumes given off are what the spider does not like, and these will flit, if not kill him, when he would walk among pieces and particles of the dry, cool sulphur as gay and as happy as a cricket. Dry heat is, of all cir- cumstances, his delight ; but an atmosphere saturated with moisture, and impregnated with sulphur fumes, is his detestation. A strong heat, if not attended with corresponding mois- ture, might not greatly hurt the spider, even though sulphur was used. Unless in very cold weather, indeed, we can hardly see how the pipes could be heated to near boiling point, and a close, moist atmosphere be contained in the house in July, or even part of June. There is no difficulty in keeping a-peach house clear of spider, during the growing and swelling editor's table. period, merely hy keeping sulphur froqucntly on the pipes, with evaporating pans thero also, anil a moilcrate use of tho syringe. Whenever tlio fruit is gatliercd, there is little ditlii'ulty in olTi'i-ting a clearance. Tlio house is kept rather dose, and the trees are syringed several times a day with sulphur and lime-water, madi; hy hoiiing a pound of quick-lime and a pound of sulphur in a gallon of water for a quarter of an hour, allowing it to settle, and pouring off the dear into a hottlo, and then putting ahout a quartern, or a little more, hut not more than half a pint, into a common-sized watering-pot full of water, and syringing the trees well over, ahove, and under tho leaves. Tlie mixture will he more effectual, hut not so cleanly, if a little size and soft soap are added. The ahove is one of the most econo- mical ways of getting the properties of sulphur at once to bear upon the insects. In extreme cases, and where syringing could not well be done, a pair of nimV)le hands, with a small sponge, would soon wash every leaf on a tree, and remove every insect on it. Where cleanliness was an especial object, the sulphuretted lime-water should merely have the size in it. About a quarter of a pound dissolved in a garden pot holding about four gallons of water, will not be too much. I have found it injurious to no plant to which I have applied it in such limited quantities ; and when enough is in the water to make the stickiness just perceived, when a thumb and finger being wetted are placed together firmly, it will case up the vital powers of every little insect to which it is applied. Even when the glue or size Avas used rather strong, the film formed on the leaf broke and foil off in pieces when dry. A HiXT FOR Exhibitors. — The Cottage Gardener has the following remarks on staging j)lants at exhibitions : "The managers here have introduced a now and grand improvement on the former systems of exhibiting plants ; the greatest improvement, in fact, and the ouo which was most needed in our day. They offered .£30 for the best staged collections of thirty plants, as a gardener would say ; that is, for a collection of thirty plants, so placed as to give the best effect. Just the very thing which we have always held forth about flower- beds, vases, baskets, and all other accompaniments to the flower-garden. One man cuts out his beds at random, goes to a great expense to fill them with the best plants of the day> and yet fails, for ' want of eye,' to give the right effect to them. Another grows his plants into ' specimens' with the highest degree of skill, exhibits them for competition, or ' sets' them in the conservatory, or show-house, or in the living-rooms of his employer ; or, may bo, on the dinner-table, before ' all the company,' yet, for want of an eye, he fails to make the best of them ; and, although he is the best gardener in that part of the country, his employers are dissatisfied, because they see such things 'in better style' with common people, who cannot afford to pay much for their gardening — the secret being, that the eye goes further than the purse in all such things — dresses among the rest. Tlie Crystal Palace, as a school, is founded on the principle of teaching by the eye. Its Directors have placed all their own collections and creations on that principle, and now they offer the highest prizes to gardeners, to induce them to learn this principle, and to follow it out through the whole range of the ' establishment,' even to the setting of two pot-plants on the mantel- piece in the drawing-room, or on the window-sill." Seeds of Ferns. — The naked eye, says Dr. Lindley, in the last Chronicle, cannot detect on the under side of a fern-leaf its seed-vessels ; fern seeds are little angular bodies too minute to be visible, and are expelled by the spontaneous bursting of the seed-vessels, wMch then remain empty behind. When the brown dust from the back of a fern-leaf is sown, it may happen that it has no seeds among it, but consists entirely of fragments of the broken seed-vessels, and no success will follow. To obviate this diffici^lty, Mr. Saunders requested Mr. Wallace, the distinguished natu- then at Singapore, to adopt the following method. A little moderately damp earth being spread flat, tlie tinder side of a fresli ripe fern-leaf was pressed upon the earth, so as to detach the seeds and their seed-vessels. The earth was then placed in a vial, corked up and sent to England. The vial was six months on the voyage home ; upon its arrival in mid-winter, its contents were sown in a shady damp hothouse. In a short time, the fern plants sprang up * as thickly as mustard and cress,' and the plants are now successful. " The process thus described is attended by the very important advantages of securing perfectly fresh seed, and of placing it during its passage home in a situation just as damp as is necessary to maintain vitality unimpaired. The only precautions needed are to be certain that the seed is ripe when pressed upon the earth, to take care that the latter is merely damp, not wet, when corked up, and to keep the vial in the dark. In this way all the ferns of the tropics may be now procured with the greatest facility. "Some may think that we previously knew all about fern-raising, and that herbaria need only be ransacked to secure supplies of seeds. Never was a mistake greater. "We are assured, indeed, that Willdenow raised various kinds of ferns in Berlin from seeds thus procured, and that two plants of Gymnogramma calomelanos were once obtained in the garden at Liverpool from seeds 50 years old taken out of the herbarium of Forster. Let us frankly own that we read these stories with incredulity ; such so-called facts are open to great suspicion. Not that we presume to question the good faith of those who are said to have succeeded in the operation ; quite the contrary ; Willdenow, of Berlin, and Shepherd, of Liverpool, who thought they had done these things, were probably mistaken. They raised something — some sort of fern — but we are persuaded that the supposed result was owing to one of those accidents which all who are conversant with great gardens know to their cost are so common, or rather so inevitable, in such establishments. Some years ago, the late Mr. G. Loddiges sowed the seeds of some hundred of ferns preserved in an herba- rium, and if any one could have raised them he was the man. But the attempt was a complete failure, the seeds would tiot grow. " We do not mean to say that fern seeds taken from plants recently deposited in an herba- rium will never grow. Probably they will. But success is uncertain, and it is far less trouble for a traveller to secure seeds in the way proposed, than to dry specimens for the purpose, even if, when dried, it were perfectly certain that they would grow. Many sorts might, at a pinch, be sent home in the same vial, either mixed together or separated by some little contrivance, and thus half a dozen bottles which would travel in a coat pocket would do well, a duty which a bulky package of dried plants would certainly do ill, if at all." Elizabethan Architectuke. — From a very pleasant new book, entitled " Shakspeare's England," by G. W. Thornbury, we extract the following passages : — " The Elizabethan houses are wonderful in their individuality. Tliey seem to share all the hopes and joys, and passions of the builder. They have sunny spots, caves of shadow, bright clear quadrangles, and gloomy corridors. There is no mood in your mind they will not fit. They have about them a calm stately dignity, neither self-conscious nor arrogant. They do not ojipress you with a sense of wealth, but greet you like old friends. They are neither flimsy nor tawdry, nor so massy and dark as to remind you of a workhouse and a gaol. They seem fit for all seasons. They are cool in summer and cheery in winter. The terrace is for June, the porch for December. The bay window is so clear and airy that you could not believe the same house had that red cavern of a fireplace, the very shrine of comfort and warmth, hallowed both by legend and recollection. Alas ! that one cannot order an avenue ready made, that one cannot purchase a genealogy. In these old houses the portraits frown at a mere purchaser as a stranger ; the ghosts refuse to leave their churchyard beds to welcome or disturb you, and the very tenants look ujion you as an up- start and an interloper." * * " The bay window, invented a century before the Tudor age, was at first simply a projecting opening between two buttresses, generally placed at the end of a room, and occupying the bay of a building. When placed at the end of a great hall, it reached in a broad crystal sheet from the roof to the floor. It sometimes consisted of EDlTOa'S TABLE. nine or ten stages, and at hanqucts was furnished with shelves of gold and silver plati The walls wtTo wainscotofl with carvt'd oak panels, and these were fiiniishid with eijiher mottoes. Klizabethan architecture was intended to please the traveller, the neighbor, any. Its inconveniences were that the rooms in street houses were low and dark, the streets narrow and dim." Tlie following is a lively description of a great house in the time of Shakspeare : — " Hero was a town contained under a single roof, a vast family held within the same walls; all living and hating, and wooing and fighting, within this network of courts, pas- sages, towers, and chambers. Servingmen squabbling in the kitchen ; butlers drunk in the cellars; pages stealing in the Imttery ; wenches chattering and being kisseil in the pastry room ; matrons busy in the still room ; stewards weighing money in the bursery ; gallants duelling in the orchard; lovers meeting on the staircase. Days of romance gone to the grave forever." * * " Queen Elizabeth, when visiting Sir Thomas Gresham, remarked that the court should have been divided by a wall. He immediately collected so many artificers, that the wall was erected before the queen had arisen the next morning." The last paragraph reminds us of the Chinese magnificos, who are said to change the whole of their expensive garden scenes in one night, wood, water, and all, so as to surprise their visitors with an entirely new scene in the morning. The Patext Office Repokt is, as usual, filled with useful suggestions, many of which we shall notice, as peculiarly adapted to the readers of this periodical. Mr. D. J. Browne, in his report on " Seeds and Cuttings," gracefully admits that he was in error in stating that the Tamarind grew and fruited in Virginia, his attention being called to the circumstance, in these pages, by our correspondent, Yardley Taylor. Ax AxciEXT Oak. — One of the oldest trees in Europe was struck by lightning in the month of July last. This tree, an oak, had been planted near Chatillion-sur-Seine (Cote d'Or), in 1070, by a Count of Champagne. The oak, which had therefore existed 786 years, measured seven and a half metres in circumference, and had produced acorns up to 1830. The Tansy, and its Value. — M. De Morogues announces that tliis plant — dried — is excel- lent sheep food, and that, when fresh, it makes capital litter for domestic animals. Its pecu- liar balsamic odor most effectually drives away fleas. A lapdog sleeping on a bed of fresh tansy, is immediately freed from these vermin. It should be renewed when the leaves are quite dry. This seems a better application of the plant than following the example of our grandmothers and making it into cakes. Destruction to House Bugs. — The French Academy of Sciences is assured, by Baron Thenard, that boiling soap and water, consisting of two parts of common soap, and 100 parts of water by weight, infallibly destroys bugs and their eggs. It is enough to wash walls, woodwork, &c., with the boiling solution, to be entirely relieved from this horrid pest. Negative Artesian Wells. — The Society of Arts have published Herr Bruckmann's paper on " Negative Artesian Wells" — that is, wells which take in instead of giving out water. Such wells serve as permanent drains ; they are sunk in loose strata, or where communica- tions exist with fathomless fissures, or with deep-lying streams. Mr. Bruckmann, who is a native of Wurtemberg, states that they may be established " in all the so-called normal or sediment formations : diluvium, tertiary deposits, chalk, Jurassic rocks," and others. And he brings forward examples of the benefits that have followed the sinking of negative wells in towns or in swampy country districts. The drainage becomes at once perfect and con- stant ; fluid matters of all kinds find their way to the mouth, and flow away, while solid matters may be stopped and used in fertilization. EDITOR'S TABLE. Correspondents and exchanges will oblige the Editor by directing everything intended for him to Germantown, Pennsylvania. Answers to Corkespoxdents : — Cumberland, Makylakd, Dear Sir : I have various books and papers on gardening, &c., but I see but little said about the following named common " greens," than that nothing can be more wholesome or cheaper: 1. Sorrel. 2. Cowslip. 3. Deerweed. 4. Shepherd Sprouts. 5. Dandelion. G. (Narrow) Dock. I may be thought very " green" to say anything about these, but I have an idea of estab- lishing a bed of them if I can get hardy sorts, and such as will hold themselves in the ground — iveeds like dandelion, &c. — and which are good, and cheap, and wholesome, but beneath the dignity of most writers of books on gardening. Can you furnish me any information about such things ? Respectfully, E. S. Zevelt. (1.) The large leaved French Sorrel is in common use. It grows well in stony ground made very rich by barnyard manure. It does not do well on limestone soils. (2.) We have no knowledge of the Cowslip being applied to culinary uses, except that, in some parts of Europe, the peasantry make puddings of the flowers. Unlike the last, it is at home in limestone soils. (3.) Local names are a nuisance. "What is " Deerweed ?" (4.) " " " " By " Shepherd's Sprouts" do you mean the CapseUa Bursa pastoris of botanists, which is generally known as "Shepherd's Purse?" If so, we are not aware of its uses. As a weed, it thrives in the richest kinds of garden soil, and we should imagine, to get anything from it as a vegetable, it should be sown in the fall, about the same time as spinach. (5.) This makes an excellent salad. Take roots as perfect as possible, lay them in boxes of rich soil, about three inches apart, water well, and leave in the open air for two or three weeks ; then put the box in a dark i^lace, with the temperature about 55°, and it will grow and blanch finely. Or, get a one-light frame, and, in the fall, place it on a bed of leaves three or four feet thick ; plant the roots as in the box ; then line the frame with leaves or hot dung, and cover the box with a shutter. This is an excellent plan. (6.) A variety called the "Patience Dock," should be in every garden. It will come in use before even spinach, and, to many tastes, is superior. It requires only a deep, rich loam, and is very readily propagated from seeds. Once formed, a bed will last for years, if the flower stalks are kept down. We refer you to a late vol-ume for an account of the weed chickory as a winter salad. (D. S. Place, Greencastle.) Your plant is Viola palmata. It is rather common, in damp soils, in the Eastern States, though seldom seen in cultivation. Kingston, Ulster Co., N. Y. Editor of Horticulturist. — Dear Sir : I send you, this morning, per American Express Company, a sample of an apple cultivated a little in this vicinity, and less known in other places. It is called Philip Rick, from the fanner on whose land the original tree grew. It has been introduced by name to one or more nurserymen, and it now figures in several catalogues as Philip Rick, King Philip, and Jonathan, from Jonathan Hasbrouck, of Kingston (the name of its introducer to the late Judge Bird). It ripens about Christmas, and deserves a more extended reputation and cultivation. I regret that the samples sent were not more perfect, as they should have been, notwithstanding the imperfection of our apples this season. Yours, &c., H. H. Reynolds. [This variety has been much esteemed wherever known. Downing described it Fruit, of medium size, regularly formed, roundish, ovate, or tapering to the eye. s 1 thin nnd smooth ; the ground, clear lictht yellow, nearly rovercil hy light rod stripes, and deei>oniiig into a hrilliant or dark red in tho sun. Slalk; three-fourths of an inch long, rather slender, inserted in a deep, regular cavity. Calyx, set in a deep, rather hroad basin. Flesh, white, rarely a little pinkish, very tender and juicy, with a mild, sprightly flavor, evidently of the Spitzbergen class. November to March." It is a desirable kind for culti- vation, and Mr. Reynolds has our thanks for bringing it to notice.] CoLnsiBiA, S. C. Mi;. Editor : I like this place surpassingly well. Columbia is certainly one of the most beautiful rural towns in the United States. The Camellia, Pittosportu/i, Gardenias, Magno- lias, all the new Pines, Firs, Sju-uces, Thuyas, &c., are here perfectly hardy, and very com- mon in nearly every garden in the place, and nearly every dwelling has attached to it from one to four acres of ground under the protectorate of accomi)lished gardeners. There is a Magnolia grandiflora here sixty feet high, with a top whose diameter exceeds seventy feet — a perfect colossus of arboricultural beauty. I saw a Cri/ptomeria Japonica, twenty feet in stature, an Auracaria 7/n&ri'cafa, twenty -five feet high, a CcJrus Z)coc/arn', thirty-two feet from the ground to its extreme apex. Roses are in great profusion, flouting their beautiful heads from miles of hedge, exulting in balconies and parapets, enshrining cottages, and making nature generally exceedingly gorgeous; in fact, it is just the place to locate a paradisaical garden. As soon as I can steal a little time from my present labors, I will send you a description of some of the beauties which make me love — or, as the poet sung : — " A wood coeval with himself he sees, And loves his own contemporary trees." I tried to purchase the Horticulturist here, but it wasn't to be had. Yours, cordially, C. Reagles. JoMET, Will Co., III., Nov. 7, 1856. Mr. Jay Smith, Esq. — Dear Sir: In looking over the " Gossip" in the Editor's Table of tho October number of the Uorticulturist, I observed that the Neirport Neics says he saw fifty potatoes weighed, and the result was a total weight of fifty and a half pounds. A few days previous to seeing the above, I was digging up potatoes, and curiosity prompted me to select and weigh twelve potatoes, in the presence of my wife and a disinterested man ; those twelve potatoes just weighed eighteen pounds regular merchantable weight. Avoirdupois, and if I had expected to have seen the above, I surely should have selected fifty, but I had finished digging up, and covered them promiscuously up among the other roots in the cellar before yours reached my eye. Those I weighed were Mishannocks, and as good as they were large. Can you equal these ? if so, let us hear. "We are pleased and interested here with your Horticulturist, and like to hear it speak free ; and I am, dear sir, Yours, truly, Michael Tait, Sen. Ketsbueg, Logan City, Ky., Nov. 4, 1856. Mr. Smith : A friend from near Elkton some time since sent you a short article upon the fruit of Kentucky. He noticed apples, princii)ally, some of which are new and indigenous varieties, and are not surpassed by any apples of any climate. I am commencing a nursery at this place, and am trying to procure native seedlings of good quality. I will mention one apple in addition to those named by your Elkton correspondent. It is known here as the Robertson Red, and is a fine winter variety ; of its origin I have learned nothing. I have found in this immediate neighborhood some very choice peaches, which, I suppose, originated here, and are not known elsewhere. One which I named the Monstrous Heath, from its great size and resemblance to the White Heath, is the largest peach I have ever EDITOR'S TABLE. kuown, some of them weigMng one and one-fonrtli pounds. Do you know anything that beats it ? It is equal, in flavor, to the White Heath, rounder, with a less prominent point. It must have been produced from that peach. Another very remarkable and fine peach, in this vicinity, is about the size and form of George IV. It is beautifully streaked with red on a yellow ground, the flesh being streaked with red and yellow to the seed, from which it parts freely. It is a delicious peach, perhaps not surpassed by any soft peach in culti- vation, unless it is by another seedling of this county, in flavor, but not in size. There are several others that have originated here, viz ; a soft White Heath, &c. I will mention one more article — i. e., a native strawberry, which was found growing wild by A. M. McLain, and has been cultivated by him for twenty-two years, and has not, in that time, failed to produce a crop. It is a light colored berry, inclined to neck. It has perfect flowers, is of good size, and surpasses all others that I have seen in taste and odor. I am confident there is nothing wanting but attention to the fruits of this country, to develop some of the finest varieties adapted to the South and West. I believe, that to succeed well, we must have native seedlings. SwAix. Oakwood College, Evaxston, III., Nov. 10, 1856. Mr. Jay Smith: Your article in the November Horticulturist, entitled "Rationale of Drain- ing Lands Explained," has furnished me what I have for some time sought — an explanation of a phenomenon I have observed in an orchard I happened to own, near Chicago. The trees were situate in rather sandy, low, flat, undrained land, and had made a fine growth. In September, the fruit would become shrivelled to such a degree, that some kinds were almost as pliable in the hand as an India-rubber ball. Of course I attributed this to the situation of the trees, but the exact reason why that should produce the effect, was far more difiicult for me (novice as I was) to discover. Nor could I see why the fruit should begin to shrivel as the ground seemed to become more dry. I reasoned that the tree being accustomed to a larger amount of moisture during the early part of the season, and its diminishing as the season advanced, left it to carry out its undertaking under diflerent circumstances from which it commenced, and, had the moisture continued as at first, the fruit would not have wilted. This course of reasoning seemed more plausible from the seeming analogy with swamp grasses and shrubs, which fail when their supply of moisture is cut short. But I am now satisfied, that although the ground became comparatively dry by the last of July, yet the water did not disappear to a sufficient dej^th, or early enough to enable the ground to become sufiiciently warm, to ripen fruit, requiring, as it does, much more heat as it approaches maturity than while young. The water did not dry out to a greater depth than about two feet. This, of course, continually imparted its coldness to the ground above it, insomuch that the warm rains and the heat of the sun could not overcome it sufiiciently to meet the demand of the fruit. The proper illustration of your experiments will have a powerful tendency to set our prairie farmers right upon the subject of drainage. Conviction only produces action, and this alone follows a perception of the reasons. If you should desire to know the locality of the place whose name is at the head of this letter, and turn to your map to gratify that desire, you will be disappointed. But perhaps you have learned that maps are far behind the age, so far as they have reference to the West, where towns spring up even while the binder is putting the gilt trimmings upon his splendid large atlas. Evanston is the site of the Northwestern University and Garrett Biblical Institute, lately liberally endowed, and is one of a number of villages that have sprung up along the hore north of Chicago within the last two years, and which are becoming the residences of those woalthr citizens of Chicago whose desire for retirement, fine seats, and tlie delights of rural life, induce them to leave its dusty, noisy streets. The lake-shore between Chicago and Waukegan is high, broken ground, mostly covered with a fine irrowth of timber. The soil is well adapted to the raising of fruit and gardening. Much taste is displayed both in the laying out of the towns and the improvement of resi- dences, and horticulture is the staple of our delights. As I read your "Visits to Country Places," I cannot help immjininij the day when the western shore of Lake Michigan shall vie with the shores of the Hudson. H. B. IIuhd. It is gratifying to find, by several similar notices, that the article on the " Rationale of Draining Lands," page 500 of the last volume of the Horticulturist', has proved a most satis- factory elucidation, in a very simple form, of the most important theory, perhaps, of modern culture. If there are any who have skipped it, we beg they will turn to the page. We can readily imagine the future editor describing the "Country Places" of Illinois with rapture ; for intelligence is a characteristic of even its pioneer horticulturists. Our corre- spondent, we are convinced, is well able to give us some insight now, and why should he not? Maps are too often behind the age, but efforts are constantly made to remedy this ; when they will catch up with the current events of the day, is a problem rapidly solving at the very office of the Horticulturist, where more maps are coined every day than at any other manufactory in the world. — Ed. Elgix, Kane County, Illinois, Sept. 27, 1856. Respected Sir: I wish that I could write interestingly to you, and give you a correct description of this section of the far West. I have taken up my residence here for the present. I have been into different places about here, and have had a look-out for the fruit of the country, both tame and wild. The apple grows very smooth ; the bark has a smooth, bright surface generally, but they do not grow as tall as in the Eastern States, but the limbs are very free from moss ; very little attention is paid to the cultivation of good kinds of apples, so far as I can learn. The cold of last winter was very hard for fruit growing. I cannot believe that this part of Illinois will be a good fruit growing country. Peaches were all killed last winter. I am informed, that once in five or six years they have a good crop of peaches. I have conversed with many persons in this vicinity, and also of persons at Rockford, Rock River, who say that many farmers have mostly given up fruit growing. I have been into the woods some. I found any quantity of the common crab-apple. I have frequently counted from fifteen to twenty in a clump, and fully loaded with fruit. No particular use is made of the fruit : wild plums, the thorn-apple, and the nannyberry. I believe that the crab apple-tree would made a good hedge ; it grows very thrifty, and is perfectly hardy. Inclosed I send you a rose-bud, which I found about a mile north of Rockford, Rock River ; it grew upon the open prairie. I wish you to see what you can do with it. I also send you the nannyberry, which grew on the banks of Fox River, near this place. The timber which I have seen growing in the woods is principally oak (three kinds), walnut, slippery elm, baswood, white ash ; but a very few of the last mentioned could I find. If anything which I have written is worthy of your notice, please accept it from a friend, and one who is fond of the beautiful in all places, and an admirer of the Horticulturist. H. Davis. Display at Exhibit:o:,-=:. — A late visitor at the London Crystal Palace, says : " One thing must have been evident ui .very one who took an interest in the exhibition, that to stage is by no means the best way of showing it to advantage. When a stage is preferred editor's table. to a flat surface, it never ought to be much higher than that of an ordinary table, and, in all cases, there should be a division down the centre covered with green baize, or some other cheap material, so as to prevent more being seen than the eye can easily examine in passing. In the present case, the stage was much higher than it ought to have been, and too narrow. The fruit on the upper tier was so elevated as to be completely hid from the sight of all ordinary spectators ; and many exhibitors must have regretted to find the objects of their care and anxiety in the position they occupied. The want of a screen down the centre was apparent to every one, from its permitting them to see the props and other expedients re- sorted to by exhibitors in order to display their boxes of fruit to the best advantage." Pennsylvania Hoeticcltcral Society. — The stated meeting of this Society occurred at Concert Hall, on Tuesday evening, November 18, 1856, Caleb Cope in the chair. Numerous premiums were awarded. The Committee called the attention of the Society to the growth of the Chrysanthemums from John Anspach's, being the most luxuriant of any collection exhibited for a long time. By the Committee on Fruits. Apples, collection of fifty specimens. Special Premiums — of five dollars to Richard Matthews, gr. to Jos. S. Lovering, for six vines of Black Hamburg Grapes in pots ; of five dollars to Jerome Grafi", gr. to Caleb Cope, for an interesting collection of cut Grapes, consisting of four varieties ; of five dollars to Clias. Sutherland, gr. to J. Anspach, for six Pine-Apples grown in pots. Vegetables. The Committee call the attention of the Society to a dish of Potatoes grown in Luzerne County, called the Dooryard — very superior in quality, and of large size. The Committee were gratified to report to the Society that the display of vegetables made this evening, was superior to any that we have had for many months. The Committee for establishing premiums, reported a schedule for the year 1857, which, on being amended, was adopted. Five gentlemen were elected members of the Society. Objects Shown. — Plants from M. W. Baldwin's greenhouse : Chrysanthemum var. Galatia, Soluudia grandiflora, Clerodendron fallax, Eulopia Mackai, Veronica Andersoni, Daphne indica rubra, and specimen Posoquira longiflora. From John Anspach. A collection of twelve large var. Chrysanthemums, a collection of twelve dwarf varieties, and specimens of both kinds. From John Tucker's gr. A specimen of Cuculia gratissima, in fine flower, and very fragrant. By Alexander Parker. A collection of Chrysanthema and other plants. A Table Design, a Basket, and various pairs of TIand-Bompiets. Fruits. From John Anspach's conservatory, Pine-Apples, in pots, three Black Jamaica, and three Queens. From Jos. S. Lovering's grapehouses. Six pots of Black Hamburg Grapes in pots. From C. Cope's grapery. Cut bunches of Grapes — twelve Muscat of Alexander, eight West's St. Peters, seven Black Hamburg, and three Chasselas of Fontainbleau. By Isaac B. Baxter. Fifty Pears — twelve Duchesse, ten Passe Colmar, ten B. Kance, ten St. Germain, and eight Napoleon ; also ten clusters of winter Grapes. By Saml. W. Noble, Montgomery Co. Apples — sixteen varieties. By John Perkins, Moorestown, N. J. Apples — ten varieties. By Thos. Meghean, Mrs. Wetherill's gr. Two kinds of Apples, and one of Pears. BY -WILLIAM SAUNDERS. JANUARY. TuE Calendar of Operations, a new feature of the Horticulturist commenced with the last volume, is always considered of interest by the gardener and amateur, as remindin emjiloyer and employed of duties in prospect for the coming month, but no Calend editor's table. ho suflioioiitly pxtonsive to embrace all the operations required for each season. In a work like this, which must be cheap to insure its circulation, and therefore limited in its pages, and where every useless word is to be stricken out, a monthly rrstim^ of any prcat length would be improper. We shall, however, endeavor to give such hints as we deem important, studyini; brevity rather than dilfuseness, and dealing more in princii)les than detail. Vi;(;i/rAi!Lii GAraiEX. — The successful gardener will by this lime have ridijed uj) his vege- table ground for winter, but in such parts of the Union where the ground is not at this time bound up with frost, he may continue to do so in the waste quarters, first giving them such manure as they reciuire. Repair fences, rub out and clean your seeds, prepare labels, nails, and twigs, get all garden tools iu repair, provide pea-rods and poles for Lima and other running beans, to be ready for use when wanted. Cauliflower, lettuce, and other plants iu frames, should be kept dry ; cover them up during snow storms, taking care to expose them to sunshine gradually thereafter. Snow is a very effectual covering against frost, and may be allowed to remain with advantage iov a week or ten days if the weather is severe. Grapery. — In the early grapery, the vines having advanced some inches, the temperature should be gradually increased. The cold houses should be well aired, rarely or never entirely closed, the borders kept dry, the outside i)ortions protected by wooden or glazed sashes; if the latter, lettuce, strawberries, &c., may be cultivated; from its forcing habit, the Sir Harry will be found to be excellent, as well as the British Queen. Straw will bo placed over the vines now, in a horizontal position, in the cold house. Strawberries should be lightly covered with manure, short hay, or leaves, and they will be grateful for it when the time of bearing arrives. Raspberries should be now, if they have not been already, under iirotection, by laying down the vines and covering them with soil. Peach-trees iu pots may be kept in the grapery in a cool place. Keep the roots dry, and cover to prevent freezing. Root grafting is now advantageously attended to, and the roots set in boxes of earth are placed in a cool cellar. Grekxhouse. — By day the temperature may average 60° or 650, and at night 40O. Keep your tender plants in the warm end, and water those most that are in flower. Pinch the points of the shoots of plants intended for the flower garden to make them stocky and strengthen their growth. Syringe your camellias freely in fine weather. Fumigate twice a mouth to keep down the green fly, and throw a small quantity of sulphur occasionally on the heating apparatus to destroy red spider. Flower Garden. — While but little can be done here for the present, manure and com- posts may be applied, walks repaired, and a general oversight inducing to cleanliness observed. Both here and in the Pleasure Grounds and Sukubbery, do everything that can facilitate spring operations ; dig out and prepare the ground for trees, laying beside each hole, leaf mould or other ma- terials ready for spring planting. Frames will require regubir attention; new linings of hot manure and leaves or litter must be given whenever the temperature requires, and if the weather is cold, wet, or snowy, it may be proper to lay a quantity of dry long litter all round the general lining, which will protect the whole from driving cold rains and snow, and preserve the heat of the bed in a fine growing temperature. Every good gardener prides himself on having now, at least, an abundance of good salad, placed in the frame iu November. Cresses, mustard, radishes, and lettuce may be sown iu a slight hotbed, and a succession should always be kept up. Asparagus may be forced any time this month for February or JIarch. Take plants of three or four years' growth, and keep the temperature equable, admitting air as often as the weather will allow. Prinixg, etc. — Give a careful penisal to the best works on pruning, as much may be done in fine weather to fruit trees and grape-vines ; the latter, in ordinary seasons, may be trim- med in February, and in extreme winters, early in March. Mulch your newly planted fruit trees, particularly the choicest of the stone-fruit kinds, if not already done. Pear-trees should be protected in this way, and if in an orchard, will be benefited by laying long litter on the surface of the roots. This is a matter of great importance. Most of our winter killed trees are destroyed when the soil around the roots is frozen; there is no absorption, and the tree is placed in the same position as if cut over at the surface, and stuck in the ground. A position it cannot long survive. f itttbstap in Conncttinn toitir frn |)lanling, ^a, HEN" instructed taste goes hand in hand with cultivated nature, scenery maybe created; by studying the varying forms, and seizing on what some author calls "accidents," graceful groups may be produced, full of intricacy, pos- sessing a good sky outline as well as a gracefully fringed vista ; if the position of the plantation has been well- selected, groups complete in themselves as to form, and conducive to the general effect, may certainly be calcu- lated on. A guide to the kind of trees to be selected for plant- ing a landscape, requires study and experience. We hear it said, occasionally, that we have as good trees as any other country ; our own opinion is, that we have better ; and yet, variety, and those plants that are foreign to one's neighborhood, are required to jjroduce the necessary effects. Loudon was among the first to insist upon this, though many had studied it out without having given expression to the fact. He taught that, in modern landscape-gardening, considered as a fine art, all the more important beauties and elfects produced by the artist, may be said to depend upon the use which he makes of foreign trees and shrubs. His reasons for this are grounded on the principle that all art, to be acknowleged as such, must be avowed. This is the case in the fine arts : there is no attempt to conceal art in music, poetry, painting, or sculpture ; none in architecture ; and none in the geometrical style of landscape-gardening. Why, he asks, should there be an attempt to conceal art in modern landscape-gardening ? Because, we shall be told, it is an art which imitates nature. But does not landscape- painting also imitate nature ? and yet, in it, the work produced is acknowledged to be one of art ? Before this point is settled, it is necessary to recur to what is meant by the imitation of nature, and to reflect on the difference between repe- tition and imitation. In what are called the imitative arts, it will be found that the imitation is always made in such a manner as to produce a totally distinct work from the thing imitated, and never, on any account, so like as to be mistaken for it. In landscape-painting, scenery is represented by colors on a flat surface ; in sculpture, forms, which in nature are colored, are represented in colorless stone. The intention of the artist, in both cases, is not to produce a copy which shall be mistaken for the original, but rather to show the original through the medium of a particular description of art ; to reflect nature as in a glass. Now, to render landscape-gardening a fine art, some analogous process must be adopted by the landscape-gardener. In the geometrical style he has succeeded perfectly, by ar- ranging grounds and trees in artificial surfaces, forms, and lines, so different from nature as to be recognized at once as works of art. A residence thus laid out, is clearly distinguished from the woody scenery of the surrounding country ; and is so far satisfactory, as it displays the working of the human mind, and confers distinction on the owner as a man of wealth or taste. A residence laid out in imitation of the undulations of nature, and the trees scattered over it in groups and masses, neither in straight lines, nor cut into arti- ficial shapes, might be mistaken for nature, were not the trees planted, chiefly of foreign kinds not to be met with in the natural or general scenery of the country. Everything in modern landscape-gardening, therefore, depends on foreign trees * iSee Frontispiece. YoL. VII —Feb. 1857. LANDSCAPE IN CONNECTION WlTir TREE PLANTING. iiiul shrubs ; and when it is once properly nnderatood that no residence in the modern style can have a chiiin to he considered as hiid out in pood taste in which most, if not all, the trees and siinil>s employed, are not foreign to the vicinity, or improved varieties of indigenous ones, the gronnds of every country-seat will become an arboretum, dittering oidy in the nundjer of species which it contains. We have liad a scries of single trees and grouj^s ]>repared, to exhibit the beauties and the faults committed by planters, as well as to illustrate the neces- sity of looking forward to the well-ascertained effects that time will certainly produce by the growth of certain descriptions of trees and shrubs, jilanted either singly or together. Groups are often planted in scenery, yet seldom is it per- formed in a satisfactory way. Attempts of this kind, in which the trees being all of one size, and planted in the most circumspect mode, at measured distances, would sometimes lead one to suspect they had been planned by using afoot rule. As the beauties and defects of grouping will be displayed to the eye in these illustrations, we shall at once refer to our first plate; this will be followed by fifteen other illustrations, in succession, and our brief remarks on landscape and planting, will perhaps be more fully understood when the whole, having been printed in this volume, shall be read consecutively by those who take pleasure in this interesting topic. Groriping Trees. — In the arrangement of trees at the time of planting or thin- ning, two principles recpiire to be respected : first, always to maintain a balance in the composition ; and second, there should be form and variety in the groups themselves. What is meant by maintaining a balance, may be thus explained : In a group, and especially a small one, the centre should appear the highest. A group of three (Fig. 1) is much more pleasing than if the lowest were placed in the centre, as in Fig. 2. Again, three trees of different heights, so as to appear like steps, one above another, forming a line, or nearly so, either at equal distances, or otherwise (Fig. 5), would be much less beautiful than if arranged as in Fig. 4. A group of five trees, or more, with one or two tall ones, placed near together, and pretty central, though some may have crooked stems, yet, if they rise perpen- dicularly, produce an agreeable and natural effect, as in Fig. 3. When two oidy are planted, they should be placed at least so close together as to intermingle their branches ; but the best effect is produced when two are placed so near to each other as, to all appearance, to form but one tree, as in the Wych Elm (Fig. G) and in another example of the Beech, in a future figure. No one can plant a group of trees of considerable size, even for immediate effect, without, in the first place, having a variety of heights disposed somewhat in an irregular way. Thick planting must be resorted to in many instances, or how shall the pendulous inclination of stems or branches be produced that gives a graceful outline to the scene ? The distance asunder must be carefully con- sidered, or the unison in producing effect will be lost. The most pendulous or inclining forms must be left for the exterior of the groups, and so forth. AVhile the painter was studying nature only, the gardener, in the infancy of what is now called landscape-gardening, busied himself in cutting and slashing vegetation into all the most whimsical regular figures his ingenuity could invent. Geometry, with its lines and rules, was his text-book, while the artist seized upon nature in all her varied forms, and habits, and hues, exhibiting her as she appeared on the mountain steep, or in the secluded dell, l)y the reedy river-side, on the margin of the placid lake, or on the umbrageous hill. Thus, at the same time, were painters and gardeners employed ; each occupied by the same objects ; the one forming real, the other painted scenery, but with ,r ^%A.^Mi- '.3^ ^^^ i*,»; #i; ^. ,.j.^s-{|,.JM!xiW^T5^<*!***^ ^•"J^^-^-a -.r^i^ LIFE OP JOHN C. LOUDON. very different intentions ; the first was enamored of "neglect and accident;" the other seriously annoyed if a single leaf projected from the smooth surface his shears had made. The love of fine pictures and gardening, however, kept pace with each other, as indeed they should and must do ; at last, the style of the painter's landscape captivated the connoisseurs of taste ; the admirable scenes presented on canvas, were extolled by those who had studied nature, though not painters themselves, because they were, while taking liberties with her, true copies in the main of real or combined scenes ; when these were compared with the then ex- isting most labored dispositions of the garden, the latter sunk in public estima- tion, and soon the cry was : " Why is not every gardener a painter ?" This impression was so strong after the new light broke in upon the minds of students, that Kent, a painter by profession, was induced to become a landscape gardener, though that professional title was not then invented. He had a difiQcult and unpleasant task, for he aimed at producing immediate effect on the lawn at Kew, as he used to do on his canvas; but he soon found this was impracticable, as he had to wait many years before he could possibly see the full results of his growing trees and shrubs. (Zb he continued?) A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WHITINGS OF JOHN CLAUDIUS LOUDON. BY niS WIDOW. (continued from page 19.) The Continent, after having been long closed to English visitors, was thrown open in 1813 by the general rising against Bonaparte, and presented an ample field to an inquiring mind like that of Mr. Loudon. After having made the necessary preparations, he sailed from Harwich on the 16th of March. He landed at Gottenburg, and was delighted with Sweden, its roads, its people, and its systems of education ; but he was too impatient to visit the theatre of war to stay long in Sweden, and he proceeded by way of Merael to Konigsberg, where he arrived on the 14th of April. In this country he found everywhere traces of war : skeletons of horses lay bleaching in the fields, the roads were broken up, and the country houses in ruins. At Elbing, he found the streets filled with the goods and cattle of the country people, who had poured into the town for protection from the French army, which was then passing within two miles of it ; and near Marienburg he passed through a bivouac of 2,000 Russian troops, who, in their dress and general api)earance, looked more like convicts than soldiers. The whole of the valley between Marienburg and Dantzic he found covered with water, and looking like one vast lake ; but on the hills near Dantzic, there was an encampment of Russians ; the Cossacks belonging to which were digging holes for themselves and horses in the loose sand. These holes they afterwards covered with boughs of trees, stuck into the earth, and meeting in the centre as in a gypsy tent; the whole looking, at a little distance, like a number of huts of the Esquimaux Indians. He now passed through Swedish Pomerania ; and, on approaching Berlin, found the long avenues of trees leading to that city filled with foot passengers, carriages full of ladies, and wagons full of luggage, all proceeding there for protection ; and form- ing a very striking picture as he passed through them by moonlight. He remained at Berlin from the 14th of May to the 1st of June, and then pro- ceeded to Frankfort on the Oder. Here, at the table dlwte, he dined with several Prussian officers, who, supposing him to be a Frenchman, sat for some time i perfect silence ; but, on hearing him speak German, one said to the other. must be English ;" and, when he told them that he came from London, they all rose, one .s|>rinjrin!^ over the taltle in his hnsto, and crowdiMl round liini, slinking hands, kif;siiiir hirn. and ovor\vli(.'liiiiii:rcat many ot'Ciirroiices must take ))hice worthy of bcinj^ rcfordod, not oidy for tlie entertainment of gardeninj]^ readers, Init for tlie instruc- tion of practitioners in the art." That this work met tlic wants of a lurpe class of readers, is evident from four thousand copies of the first number havinpf been sold in a few days ; and from the work having continued })opular for nineteen years, and, in fact, till its close at the death of its conductor. The Gardener''s Mafjnzine first appeared quarterly, afterwards it was published every two months, and finally every month. The second number of this work contained an attack on the TiOndon Horticultural Society, the affairs of which were then notoriously ill-managed, though, before the publication of The Gardener''s Macjazine, no one had ventured to complain of them jniblicly. In the same num- ber appeared an article on the " Self-Education of Gardeners," in which Mr. Loudon began those earnest exhortations to gardeners to improve themselves, and those efforts to put them in the way of self-improvement, which he continued almost to the last hour of his life. He also, in this second number, gave a plan for the improvement of Kensington (jrardens, and suggested the erection of "small stone lodges with fireplaces at the principal garden gates, for the comfort of the door- keepers in winter," as, before that time, the door-keei)ers had no shelter but the alcoves ; and he proposed that at least once a week a band should play in the Gardens, and that the i)ublic should be able to obtain the convenience of seats, as in the public gardens on the Continent. In the third number of the Magazine, he began a series of articles on " Cottage Economy," and invited young architects to turn their thoughts to the erection of cottages, as well for laborers as for garden- ers, which should be not only ornamental enough to please the gentlemen on whose grounds they were to be erected, but comfortable to those who were to live in them. These hints were followed up by many gentlemen : and I think I never saw Mr. Loudon more pleased than when a highly respectable gardener once told him that he was living in a new and most comfortable cottage, which his master had built for him — a noble marquess, who said that he should never have thought of it, but for the observations in Mr. Loudon's Gardener^s Magaziyie, as they made him consider whether the cottage was comfortable or not, and that, as soon as he did so, he perceived its deficiencies. In the fourth number of the Gardener''s Maga- zine, the subject of the reform of the Horticultural Society w^as resumed, and it was continued in the succeeding numbers till 1830, when the desired result was at length effected. Both in the early volumes of the Gardener''s 3far/azi}ie and in the Encyclopaedia of Gardening, Mr. Loudon had strongly advocated the necessity of having garden libraries, and, in the second volume of the Gardener''s Magazine, he gave a list of books he considered suitable for a garden library, in which he included the Encychpcedia of Plants and the Hortus Jlritannicus — works then written, though they took so long in printing, that they were not published till two or three years afterwards. It is very gratifying to find that numerous garden libraries were established in different parts of the country, in the course of two or three months after they were first suggested in the Gardener''s Magazine, and that several letters appeared, from working gardeners, on the advantages and improvement which they had received from the books they thus obtained access to. {To he concluded.^ VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES.— No. T. AROUND BOSTON. The neighborlioocl of Boston stands very high as a horticultural region ; pro- bably more exotic grapes are grown there, within a circuit of ten or fifteen miles, than within the same distance around both New York and Philadelphia ; we heard the weight estimated at forty tons some years since, and great additions to the glass structures of the vicinity have latterly been made. The interest in the products of the garden and greenhouse, manifested by the members of the Horticultural Society, and the citizens generally, is shown by their attendance on a weekly exhibition of fruits and flowers, which is well sustained, and very useful in extending a knowledge of what is passing, and in season, and in keeping up a generous rivalry. The weather, while we were there, was unpro- pitious for sight-seeing, but our horticultural party, somewhat reduced in numbers, took several opportunities of visiting the neighborhood, and accepting the kindest hospitality. To complete the list, however, it will be necessary to take another occasion, and a longer time, to describe so celebrated a region. At present, we can only give the results of a few brief notes hurriedly taken. H. HoUis Hunneicell, Esq.''s country residence, near the station of the Worcester Railroad at West Needham, presents, for a new place, evidences of great enthusi- asm and success in planting. The neighborhood is the scene of the labors of that eminent missionary among the Indians, Elliot, who was the printer of the extra- ordinary Indian Bible, which was his great labor of love for the aborigines. Its ])ress-work, if we remember rightly, was done by a poor Indian boy, and the whole was executed under difficulties such as would appal a modern typographer. Those noble old elm-trees, which were planted by the natives in front of their minister's house, in Natick, near Mr. Hunnewell's, still stand as mementos of the grati- tude of the converted red men. The trees in this vicinity are remarkably fine and numerous, and evidences exist in every direction of great progress and improve- ment. Mr. Hunnewell has a large farm, and has devoted a considerable portion of it, most judiciously, to ornamental planting. Not having so great a variety of trees to select from as we have in the Middle States, he has brought together such as are hardy in Massachusetts with a liberality which promises to produce very great results. His noble mansion is situated on the banks of a very fine lake, which possesses the advantage of considerable depth, and being supplied with abundant Avater, is perfectly free from any unwholesome exhalations, is well stocked with fish, and efforts are making to introduce other varieties, by using spawn imported from France. This subject, we are glad to know, is employing the thoughts and purses of many Americans, and we anticipate the happiest results, Mr. H.'s dwelling stands high above the lake, to which a terraced garden, interspersed with fountains, and gay with luxuriant flower-beds, leads the visitor almost im- perceptibly. Inclosing these beds we noticed an arrangement which was new to us — that of the use of large square iron castings for borders ; these are cast thinly, with raised figures on the outer sides, and being light, can be moved from place to place as required ; they give a neat look, occupy almost no space, and may be em- ployed wherever box edging, which we prefer, will not flourish. The fountains, as well as water for the whole place, are supplied by a steam e of three horse power, which will pump 30,000 gallons a day, and grind at same time. This engine cost $500; with the mill, $700; but at the present moment, so much lias this useful machine been simplified, an engine on wliecls, of the same i)()\vcr, can be jjurcliasetl fur pcrliaps half tlic monc}'. Jt is a most dc- siralile ac(iuisition to a country i)hicc. We Iiave already recorded >lr. llunnewcU's eminent success with the Stanwicit nectarine; liis graperies, peadi-liDUsc, greeiiliousc, and gardens, arc entitled to liigh commendation; Mr. Harris, Ills gardener, is a most? intelligent cultivator; he reads and studies his subject, and we could not but remark the greater intelli- gence everywhere between the reading and the unlettered controllers of gardens ; all the difference, iu short, between knowledge and stupidity ; ten words uttered betrays the difference. Mr. 11. 's grapes were equal to any we have ever seen, both iu weight, color, and flavor, Mr. llunnewell showed us several successful attempts in trimming into shai)C a tree, which would have been one of the last we should have thought of attemptiiitr. The White pine, taken young, bears shearing in a most wonderful manner ; it has been made to assume various fantastic as well as ornamental shapes, such as no one, who had not seen or heard of it, could have anticipated. If this can be effected with so loose and open a tree, what may we not expect might be accom- plished with the Bhotan or Finns excelsa, with its closer habits, and more numer- ous branches and leaves. Altogether Mr. Hunnewell's residence jiromises to become, as it already partially is, one of the most attractive "around IJoston." It is a great treat to the Horticulturist to pass a day at Dorchester with ^Marshall P. Wilder, the efficient President of the Pomological and Agricultural Societies. His premises do not comprise more than twenty or twenty-five acres, but they exhibit an industry and results of high culture, in a climate of some more difficulty that our own, that might prove a useful example. His collection of Pear and other fruit-trees is world-renowned, and justly so ; among the new, from which good is expected, we pencilled the names of Buerrc de Wael, Consel- lier de la Cour, Trioraphe de Pomologie, Emile d'lleyst, Pius IX., Beurre Wet- teren, Henri Bivort, Poire de Xonnes, and Dorothee Royale Xouvelle; as these are new and just fruitiug, we are promised descriptions when the time of the Colonel, so fully occupied, permits. Mr. AVilder has given his views on the sub- ject of pear culture, dwarf and standard, in his address at Bochester, and pub- lished in the November Horticulturist, so that we need not enter upon it now; he has pears on dwarfs of twenty-five years' standing in full health and bearing, as he says, to answer any doubts on that subject. Mr. Wilder cultivates, as the best Raspberries, Orange, Gushing, and Knevet's Giant ; Strawberries, Burr's New Pine, which is fully as early as Jenny Lind, and " best;" the Monroe Scarlet, as promising well, and nearly as early. He considers Jenny's Seedling one of the most desirable varieties, coming in rather late. Of Currants, we found here the following new sorts : La Fertile, Hartif de Bertin, Versailles, Precoce de Tours, Caucase, Goundin White, and Cerise Kouge. In the address we have already alluded to, will be found Mr. Welder's views on fruit-rooms, and we have only in conclusion to remark on his fine collection of Camellias ; the specialities of his greenhouses are Wildcrii, Mrs. Abbe Wilder, Maria Louisa, Grace Sherwin, Glory, &c. &c. The late Mr. Becar, of New York, a friend of Colonel Wilder, has left a new and splendid Camellia, to be dedicated to the memory of the late Mr. Downing, in which all lovers of horticulture will take a warm interest. Mr. W. agreed with us in thinking it might be well to employ the proceeds of this elegant plant in founding some experimental garden, or in a gold medal for extraordinary merit We should be glad to know wliat were Mr. Becar's views on the subject. rmrood, tlie residence of Mr. Peabody, near Salem, is quite remarkable, from the good taste shown in the arrangement of the grounds, the planting, and the pretty English pastoral character of the views, as well as from the interior deco- rations and embellishments of the house, most of which, we understand, were by Mr. Peabody's own hands, and many of the cabinets, mantlepieces, &c., being either actually carved by him, or designed and executed under his immediate supervision, with a degree of excellence little inferior to the best German artists. Linmere, the residence of R. S. Fay, Esq. We well recollect, some years since, Mr. Hovey's interesting description of the trees which Mr. Fay (then in England) sent out, and many of which now must doubtless be fine specimens. If we remember right, Linmere resem))les somewhat, in its general characteristics, Mr. Hunuewell's place at Natick, only much larger, there being 500 acres or more in the estate, mostly surrounding a lake; as yet Mr. Fay has not commenced his improvements in building, having principally devoted himself to planting large tracts of land and the various hillsides with larches, Scotch firs, &c., of which many thousands have, we learn, been set out. If Mr. Fay builds a house and carries out all his improvements, Linmere will resemble more entirely a large Scotch estate than perhaps any place in this country, the natural character of the lake and hills resembling portions of Scotch scenery, which will be still more the case when the Scotch firs and larches become more effective. The residences of the late Col. Perkins, Gen. Lyman (now, we believe, in pos- session of his son, and celebrated for its beautiful avenue, one of the finest in the country), Mr. John E. Thayer's, with a very remarkal:>ly fine house, built by L^p- john, James S. Amory's, Mr. J. L. Gardener's, should be enumerated, as well as Mr. Lee's, whose lawn Mr. Downing celebrated so many years since; " Pine Bank," the beauties of which a late number of Hovey's Magazine so well and ably de- scribes, Ignatius Sargent's, celebrated for its grapes almost fabulous in size and weight, "Belmont" (Mr. Cushing's), which all admirers of horticultural success know so well. All these, and many more we had no time to see, or did see so im- perfectly, that we shall postpone all description of them until we can do them better justice. We cannot, however, omit saying, that for general excellence of cultiva- tion, for universal good keeping, and the most distinguished success in all they undertake, the residents of the environs of Boston still continue to bear away the palm, as they have done for a quarter of a century. We paid a short visit to the Botanical Garden at Cambridge, which is under the control and excellent management of the eminent botanist. Dr. Asa Gray, and were extremely gratified with the order and neatness, no less than with the great variety of plants and trees here assembled. These would be much more numerous but for the impediment of climate, and yet, with this disadvantage, the student will find here much that is new and interesting. We found Dr. Gray busily engaged in preparing a work on American trees for the Smithsonian Institute — a book not yet announced, and one which, from the difficulties of procuring correct engravings, and the accuracy which characterizes all that Dr. Gray does, will, we presume, be a long time in execution. Hovey's Nurseries. — We called, on the way to Dr. Gray's, at the house of Professor Longfellow; then visited the extensive nurseries of C. M. Hovey & Co. Their pear-trees, both dwarf and standard, are among the best we have ever seen, and produced fine results in 1856. Mr. Hovey is a firm believer in dwarfs, and those who know him, know with what enthusiasm he enforces a favorite theory. In the morning we had found him superintending a large show of fruits and flowers in Boston at the weekly exhibition, and here he was again directing superintending one of the most extensive commercial establishments in th ion, one, indeed, that has exercised no inconsiderable influence on our cou ^^•t 68 VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. projyrcss. We noticed here the new strawberries, Sir Ilarry, Sir Charles Napier, mill Admiral Diiiuliis, which have been so popular nbroad. AVe noted also, a new Laiilaiia, Lutoa supi-rba, which will connnand allciitioii, as will Ardisia fructo allia, and a hardy Erica, E. vul-5(). Mr. llovcy has a new seediiufr Arljor vitie, somewhat lil GAS FOR COUNTRY HOUSES. "We have already noticed the fact that very many country people are introducing gas of their own manufacture, and that, after the first outlay for the fixtures, the gas costs less than the price paid by citizens. So much is the custom on the in- crease, that several manufactories exist, in different places, for preparing the appa- ratus. We shall take that of the "Maryland Portable Gras Company" as our tration, and merely state that the simplifying of the machinery has been attended QAS FOB COUNTRY HOUSES. such success, that the diiriculties ami (laiif:;er8 of the manufacture have vauislicd, and a new era in tlie mode of lif:;hting ])rivatc dwcUinf^s, churches, liotels, public and private schools, villages, factories, Sic, has been ojiened. Oas lights, hereto- fore considered a luxury only to be enjoyed by those residing in cities, can now be employed in every i)lace. Simplicity, safety, and economy, have been studied, and the results are so satisfixctory that we anticipate a large business for the maiiufacturers, and increased orders for gas fitters. Our illustration represents a simple cylindrical vessel, containing the oil from which the gas is generated. The retort is an iron, hollow cylinder, with a sjihe- roidal bottom and flat cover, bolted and screwed to a ])rojccting rim. The stove containing the retort is of sheet or cast iron, arranged upon the most approved plans, to economize the heat. The siphon box, or condenser, is a cast-iron vessel, with a movable lid bolted and screwed upon it. This is divided into compartments, and half-lilled with water, with a siphon attached, so as to keep the water at all times to its proper level. The water tank, in which the gasometer floats, is made of wood or iron, and placed upon the surface of the ground, or, which is better, sunk to the level of the water. The gasholder is of sheet iron, suspended upon fixed pulleys, and forms the receiver for the gas when generated and ready for consumption. The reservoir communicates with the retort by a feed-pipe, or by a feed-pipe and cock, through a siphon screwed into the cover of the retort. This siphon connects with a tube suspended perpendicularly in the middle of the retort, pierced with small holes in its lower end. Through this feed-jiipe and siphon the liquid passes into the tube thus suspended, and, by the small holes at the end of the tube, becomes dispersed upon the bottom and sides of the retort. The working of the machine, and management of it, require no more than ordinary skill, and may be safely intrusted to a domestic. A fire is made in the stove as in an ordinary furnace, and the retort is heated to a bright cherry-red heat. The cock is then opened, to allow the oil to pass in through the pipes from the reservoir upon the heated sides and bottom of the retort, where it is instan- taneously converted into gas. Ascending from this decomposing chamber, the gas is forced through a super- stratum of chemical substances suspended upon an iron grating for its purification into a vacant upper chamber, thence it is conducted by an iron pipe into the con- densing box. This iron pipe, passing through the cover of the condensing box, descends below and discharges the gas into the water of the condensing box. Thence it rises into the vacant chamber above the water, which, becoming filled, forces the gas again into the water under one of the several compartments above referred to, into a second chamber, and then on through consecutive baths before it finds its exit from the last of the series of consecutive chambers. This exit is through a pipe which communicates from the condenser with the water tank into which it enters, and, passing through the water above, again descends, and discharges the gas into the water for its last bath, thence it rises into the vacant chamber of the gasometer, ready for use. Connected with the siphon of the condenser is a small covered vessel, which receives the impurities washed from the gas in its passage through the baths. The machine, as above described, occupies a space of eight feet by twelve, and in height thirteen feet, with the tank upon the ground. If the tank be sunk, then the height will be but seven feet. The material used is an oil from rosin, though not what is generally understood as rosin oil. It is an earlier, cheaper, and better product of collophony, decom- posable at a lower, and therefore more economical degree of heat. There cannot be found, in the whole range of chemistry, a compound more richly laden with illuminating qualities, or yielding gases more innocuous in respiration, or less injurious to furniture, for it contains neither carbonic acid nor sulphuretted hydrogen. The supply of this material is inexhaustible, and any anticipated demand can scarcely enhance the price. It is now delivered at the Company's Works, in Baltimore, at eighteen cents per gallon. Each gallon of the raw material may be safely estimated to make one hundred cubic feet of gas from this machine. The apparatus, as above described, with a gasometer of the capacity of a hundred and thirty cubic feet, will contain an average of a week's supply, to an ordinary family, the year round, and is sold at the Company's Works, in Baltimore, com- plete, for $350. They are made, however, of any required capacity, and adapted, in form and size, to the necessities of the space they are to occupy, and the require- ments of the burners they are to supply. Of course these requirements and necessities are so varied, and so materially increase or lessen the cost of the whole machine, that it is difficult to furnish a tariff of prices suited to all occasions ; and persons intending to employ this appa- ratus, will of course address the manufacturers, who have spent much time and money to bring about the results now consummated. The principle and its appli- cation through this machine, are now no longer a matter of mere experiment. We congratulate the public on this new source of comfort being perfected, and brought within the reach of country families. NIGHT TEMPERATURE. BY AMICUS, PHILADELPHIA. Facts have been found sufficient to demonstrate that it is the purpose of nature to reduce the force which operates upon the excitability of vegetation at that period of the twenty-four hours when, from other causes, the powers of digestion and assimilation are suspended. As far as is at present known, that power is heat, and, therefore, we must suppose that, to maintain, at night, in our hothouses a temperature at all equal to that of the day, is a practice to be condemned. Plants will, no doubt, lengthen very fast, at night, in a damp heat, but what is produced at this time, seems to be a mere extension of the tissue formed during the day, and not the addition of any new part; the spaces between the leaves are increased, and the plant becomes what is technically and very correctly called " drawn," for, as has been justly observed, " the same quantity only of material is extended to a greater length, as in the elongation of a wire." Some observations made in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, a few years since, place this in a striking light. Certain plants were placed for some weeks in a stove, with a high night temperature supposed to average 69° ; the rates of growth, in inches, showed that they grew as fast by night as by day ; but, when the same kind of plants were grown in the open air, the growth was double or treble by day what it was at night, and continued observation of many plants produced the curious result that the total growth, by night, in the open air, was 119.07, and by day, 337.16. Thus we see that plants exposed to natural circumstances only made one inch of growth by night, while they made three by day ; but that, on the contrary, under bad artificial treatment, they grew equally day and nkjht. The inevitable consequence of this inversion of natural growth, is immature or unripe wood, with imperfect, ill-constructed buds, and a feeble constitution, incapable of bearin shock of great falls of temperature. More especially, water accumulates i A FEW WORDS ABOUT SICKLY PEAR-TEEE8. system, ami is never deeoni posed or removed by perspiration, in tlie requisite dep:ree. In short, ])lants irrowinj? fast by nifj^ht, can neither rijien tlieir wood nor form their inner strneture well, and, therefore, they are inca])al)le of developinf^ their natnral beauty, or of resisting those extremes of temperature which are natural to them. That frreenhouses oujrht not to be lieatcd at nitrht more than is sufficient to exclude the frost, is certain ; that, if j^roperly ))repared, )»lants will bear frost, is also in(lisputai»le, as, indeed, is proved by tlie camellias, Chinese azaleas, and other plants, which are kept in cold frames through the hardest winters, and where they thrive far better than in greenhouses. "With stove plants it is different ; experiments are needed to determine how ranch cold they will bear at night. There seems to be no douljt that the colder they can be safely kept, the better for their health. A celebrated gardener assures me that he keeps his stove plants, during the winter months, at no higher tempe- rature than from 40° to 50° ; it is true,iiis employer desires late-blooming plants, but he has the roof covered with creeping stove plants, including Cambretums, Bignonias, PassiHoras, Stejihanotis, &c. When the warm days of spring return, they l)reak with unusual vigor, enjoying, as they do, almost a natural climate ; his Bignonia venusta is covered with i)loom, and the Stephanotis blooms in July — the Passilloras throughout the year. These facts are deeply interesting, and may serve for hints to those gardeners whose employers reside in the city in winter; they may have a gay house when the family returns in the spring. A FEW WORDS ABOUT SICKLY PEAR-TREES. BY THE LATE A. J. DOWNING. I FIND, on looking about my garden, talking with fruit growers, and looking through the pages of your paper, that it is an undeniable fact, that a good deal more difficulty is exi)erienced in cidtivating the pear than any other of the popular fruit-trees. The time was, indeed, when pear-trees — great, strong, lofty trees, too, though the fruit was rather clwkcy — grew around every farm-house, bore cart-loads of fruit annually, and were looked u]>on as able to " stand more hard knocks" than even an apple-tree. Longer lived the pear-tree certainly is, by nature; and, as standing veneral)le proofs of this, I refer you to the Endicott Pear-tree, near Salem, and the Stuyvesant Pear-tree, in New York. As both of these trees are above two centuries old — by veritable records — it is not worth while to spend time in proving that the pear is, naturally, a long-lived tree. But, in fact, natural pear-trees — that is to say, the chance seedlings of the com- mon pear that spring up by the sides of lanes and fences — are as hardy and as great l)earers now as they ever were. What, then, is the matter with all the sorts whose tenderness our fruit growers groan over ? Is it not owing to the delicate constitutions which these foreign varieties, bred in a more regular climate, have, and which makes them peculiarly alive to our great excesses of heat and cold ? Is it not true, in rich and deep soils, where delicate trees are forced into a sappy condition, when the limbs are too full of juices, upon which the frost or sun acts readily, that blight and other diseases of the pear are most frequent ? it not true that foreign varieties of pear, especially those originated wi the last few years, are far more delicate and liable to disease than native sorts of equal merit, raised from seed in this country ? I throw out these queries to set some of your ingenious and practical corre- spondents, in various parts of the country, at work to furnish materials for answers that will settle some knotty points. For my own part, I have made up my mind that, to grow fine pears for profit, we must, in order to save the trees and keep them sound, keep the trunks and leading branches covered with a light sheathing of straw all the year round. This guards the bark of the principal parts of the tree from all excesses of heat and cold. I have experimented for four years past with this plan of sheathing, and can say that I am quite satisfied with it. Among three dozen pear-trees now just come into bearing, one-third of them have been kept in straw, and not a single one of that dozen has suffered by blight or other dis- ease ; while, of the remaining two dozen, nearly one-half have dropped off, and been dug and consigned to the brush heap. Some careless farmer or gardener — fond of shirking everything that he can — will say : " But who can take the trouble to straw all his pear-trees ?" You can, is my reply. Try it on half a dozen trees, and keep an account of the time and labor spent in it. It will amount to a few cents per tree — not the price of half a peck of Yirgalieus in the York market. And if you can gather pears by the cart-load — for no fruit ripens better, or has a higher flavor, than the pear, in this climate — if, I say, you can gather pears every year by the cart-load for only the trouble of strawing the trees, then the blight take you if you are too lazy to do it ! An Old Digger. FROST, AND THE CUNILA MARIANA (Z.), OR DITTANY. BY J. STAUFFER, MOUNT JOY, PENN'A. The common Dittany, a perennial of the Mint family, with small, purplish flowers, in corymbed cymes or clusters, growing on dry hills from New York to Kentucky, is too well known to require any further description. In August, we frequently observe a capsular body amid the ordinary fructifica- tion and flowers of this plant, which was first pointed out to me by Prof. S. S. Haldiman, desiring me to pay attention, and try to discover what insect produces the excrescence. Notwithstanding my desire so to do, I have not succeeded. December 6, 1856, happening to pass through a wood of chestnut sprouts interspersed with the red cedar, near the Willistown Baptist Meeting-IIouse, in Chester County, I observed the dry remains of stems, foliage, and fruit, of quite a number of plants of this species, with the expectation of finding, at this late season, the empty cells or larvte of the insect. I made diligent search, but could find no trace of such a pod-like excrescence. What, however, amply recompensed me for the attention bestowed, was the discovery that this plant is peculiar, and is truly k frost plant, far exceeding the Helianthemum Canadense, or Frost-Weed, as it is popularly called, from the fact that, late in autumn, crystals of ice shoot from the cracked bark at the root. Our Cunila has attached to the stem a shell-work of ice, of a pearly whiteness, beautifully striated, sometimes, like a series of shells one in another — at others, curved round on either side of the stem like an open, polished, bi-valve ; then, in others, again, curled over in every variety of form, like the petals of a tulip. Though one o'clock P. M., and the sun shining brightly, I carefully took up several specimens, and conveyed them three hundred yards, to the dwelling of Mr. Griffith and exhibited the frost flowers to the family. No other herb or grass had Vol. YII._Feb. 1857. such frost-work around thera, having paid particular attention ; while at least fifty specimens of tlic Ciiiiila examined were so ornamented. We naturally s]ieculate as to tiie cause. On tastinjj the ice, no aroma was perceptible ; the root niauifcsted a vigorous younp 1)U(1 under frrouiid. Plants, in perminatintr, liave the power of gcneratirifj^ heat. That the atmo- sphere absorbs caloric from bodies, and deprives them of fluidity in the form of vapor, is well known, and this vajior, congealed, we call frost. This heat is evinced by the more speedy melting of snow, when in contact with their leaves and stems, compared with what is lodged upon inorganic bodies, provided the preceding frost has been sulTiciently permanent to cool those substances thoroughly. Mr. Hunter has tested this fact by the rise of the thermometer ; and Lamarck mentions an e.xtraordinary degree of heat evolved about the time the Arum macu- latum bursts its envclo])ing sheath. This is the case with our common Indian turnip — the Arum triphyllum also. Though this may not be observable by our sensation of feeling, we are not to sn))pose it absent ; even the thermometer oidy enables us to judge of the state in which the caloric is, with relation to surrounding bodies, without regard to its quantity. That vegetation is not wholly suspended, however cold, as some suppose, is clearly proven by the experiments of Hales and Du Ilamel ; but there is a regular and gradual progress till the returning warmth of spring gives a degree of velocity to the juices, rendering their development more vigorous and apparent. The power of cold on vegetables is well known, and, though the frosts of severe win- ters are, on the whole, more injurious to vegetation than those of spring, yet the latter are productive of more extensive damage, because their effects are evident almost every year. Frosts act more powerfully on ground newly cultivated, on account of the vapors continually ascending from such soil. Trees recently cut, also suffer more than others from spring frosts. Hence, likewise, light and sandy soil are thus more frequently damaged than tough land, though both maybe equally dry. Although it has beeh generally believed that frost meliorates the soil, and espe- cially clay lands, yet, as ice contains no nitrous particles, such improvements can only be of a transitory nature, by enlarging the bulk of some moist soils, and leaving them more porous for some time after the thaw ; but when the water has exhaled, the ground becomes as hard as before, being compressed by the incumbent weight of the air. To conclude, for the benefit of some I will add, that Mr. Baum found, by im- mersing quart bottles, filled with newly-distilled liquors, into a mixture of pounded ice and sea salt, for six or eight hours, the spirit i)roved as grateful to the palate as that which had been kept for several years. Geoffroy remarks that simple waters, also, acquire a more agreeable flavor after having been for some time exposed to the effects of cold. The effects on beef, poultry, &c., are ki^own to everybody. [Dr. Darlington, in his Flora Cestrica, says of the Cunila : " In the begin- ning of winter, after a rain, very curious ribbands of ice may often be observed attached to the base of the stems — produced, I presume, by the moisture of the earth rising in the dead stems by capillary attraction, and then being gradually forced out horizontally, through a slit, by the process of freezing."] ??SX- GARDEN VEGETABLES — THE CAULIFLOWER. GARDEN VEGETABLES NO. 2. — THE CAULIFLOWER. BY AVILLIAM CHORLTON, We do not always find that this delicately flavored esculent is either grown or cooked in the best manner; a few remarks may, therefore, be useful respecting it. The Cauliflower is generally considered to be only one of the many forms of the diversified cabbage, the primitive type of which is a small, open-leaved, cruci- ferous, yellow-flowered plant, found growing wild upon the cliffs near the sea- shores of Britain, and known to botanists as Brassica oleracea. There is, per- haps, no genus of plants which presents more singular peculiarities than this; for, while the different varieties can be, and are continually, kept true to sort from seed, the whole will most readily fertilize while in blossom with each other; and it is further necessary that only the most correct samples should be allowed to produce flower, if the best quality be required in the after progeny. Owing to our excess of heat during the summer, the seeds are generally defective, and, in most cases, entirely abortive, and we have to depend upon the milder climates of Europe for a supply. This being the case, small growers are entirely at the mercy of the seedsman; and as, to say the least of it, some seed-growers are not over particular, it behooves those who import to be careful from whom they pur- chase. The seed lists contain a number of varieties of CauUjioioer proper, but, if all be obtained, the difference, if any, that will be found, is only a deviation of quality ; so that, if we get the best in this respect, we shall have fine heads with good culture. The Cauliflower cannot be grown to perfection under the shade of trees, near a building, or close to a fence. An open, clear spot should always be chosen; it delights in a rich, well-worked, and porous soil. Fresh land, well manured, is to be preferred, and burnt turf sods, or vegetable refuse, in addition to barnyard manure, is of much service, and if, besides this, a liberal supply of liquid drain- ings from the dunghill be given while growing freely, the plant will be enabled to bring out its greatest excellence. An ordinary sample may be got with slight manuring, but, like all other garden products, the best practice is here found to be most economical. In some parts of Europe, cauliflowers may be had all the year round, but, during the hottest part of our summers, if the same were to be attempted, we should only get a production of leaves, and little or no heads; we may, however, have them, with a short intermission, from the beginning of October to the middle of July, and how to accomplish this will be seen below. The times of sowing are given for latitude 41° south of which it will be somewhat later, and north a trifle earlier, according to distance. For Fall and Midwinter Use. — About the last week in May, choose a plot of not over-rich soil, dig and break up well, and sow the seeds thinly in drills, one foot apart and half au inch deep. If the earth be very dry, give a good soaking of water previous to opening the drills; let this percolate down for a time, until the ground will again work without clogging, and, after sowing, water over again lightly ; this will settle all close, and enable the seeds to vegetate freely and quick, lu the course of five or six weeks, the plants will be large enough to transplant in their final places. If the soil is not very fertile previously, dress over a plot as large as may be required with barnyard manure — say two barrow loads to each square perch — or decayed vegetable matter in the same proportions, to which be added one pound of guano ; dig or plough all in, and plant two feet jnittinp; onch plant down to the crown, so as to secure a better hold in the soil and prevent the winds from tearinp^ them ont wlien they hecoine larf^e. Many persons practise earthing up the stems, but our owli experience speaks to the avoiding tins ; for, if the summer should happen to be moist and warm, they are very subject to rot from extreme succulence in the stalk. This need not i>revent the stirring of the soil, and a thorough loosening with the hoe or s]>ade will always prove very benelicial during active growth. Tliis stock will begin to head about the first week in C)ctol)er, and continue on in succession until the frosts are ex- pected to set in severely, when the remainder of the plants may be carefully lifted and buried up to the collar in soil in a cellar, a grapery, or, where there is no such* convenience, they may be put in a trench in the garden, and covered over with leaves and boards so as to keep out the frost. In any of these positions, they will continue to head until February, and may be cut as wanted. For Early Spring and General Summer Crop. — The seed may be sowed the last week in September, in the same way as above stated. In all latitudes where the frost is severe, these plants will require some winter protection. When they have grown three or four leaves, they may be i)lanted four inches apart, in a box frame, and covered with glass sashes or shutters. The former is much the best; but will need to be covered with straw mats or other such material during extreme cold ; the outsidcs, also, ought to be banked up with earth or litter, to keep out the frost. Give air at all favorable o])portunitics, remove the covers entirely in mild weather, but shut up and cover when there is frost. Never give water to these young plants during winter, but endeavor to keep dry and cool ; this will prevent them from decaying in the "shank," a disease that is very common when there is an excess of moisture. If at any time they become thoroughly frozen, let them thaw in the dark, and afterwards let in air and light in abundance when- ever the temperature is above 32°, and never leave the glasses shut when the sun shines on them. ]\[any persons do not succeed in wintering young cauliflower plants, and principally from the neglect of the precautions here laid down. When the fall sowing has not been attended to, a slight hotbed may be made in January as follows : Mark out on the ground, one foot larger on each side than the size of the frame, excavate one foot deep, build up evenly and somewhat solid, to the height of three feet, with hot stable manure in the earlier stage of decomposition, upon this place the frame and glasses immediately, and, when the heat has begun to subside a little, cover over with five inches of friable loam, and in this sow the seeds. Be careful to tilt up the sashes behind whenever the temperature inside rises over 50°. This will allow the steam to escape, and secure a wholesome atmosphere. AVhen the seed-leaves are above ground, admit air more or less as opportunity occurs, but maintain sufficient heat to keej) up a healthful progress, and increase the opening as growth expands. The object now is to get short and stocky plants, which never can be obtained without a free admission of air and light. The frost must, however, be guarded against, for in this state they will not bear it, nor yet until they have been gradually hardened off. They should, also, be taken up when the first rough leaf is formed, and pricked out into the same bed, three inches apart, for the purpose of increasing the small fibrous roots and assisting the above desideratum. This last-described })rocess is only a " make- shift," and ought never to be resorted to when winter-kept plants can be got, as these latter are always more hardy, and generally bring the finest heads. 7h obtain a first early crop for the kitchen, it is necessary to make up a similar hotbed to the one above specified, about the middle of February, of any size, according to the quantity required or convenience of glasses at hand. In thi case, there should be nine inches to one foot of rich mould introduced, plant REMARKS ON SOME OF THE NEW CHINESE PLANTS. eighteen inches apart, keep close for a few days, afterwards give air freely, shut up at night, and cover to keep out frost ; water as occasion requires, and take advantage of any warm showers that may occur. General Summer Crop. — At the beginning of April, have in readiness a well- dug or ploughed, and enriched, openly situated piece of land ; plant out two feet apart, and, if the weather be at all dry, give a quart of water to each plant. This will settle the soil around the roots, and should be always practised, excepting during rain. When the plants begin to grow freely, a spading or deep hoeing between the rows is of great service, and more than repays the extra labor. When the heads are half grown, the leaves may be broken across the midrib, and the tops curved over, which will obstruct the light, and cause the flower to be pure white and better flavored. Hoxo to Cook a Ccmlijiower. — The good or bad cooking of this vegetable makes so decided a difference that it may be unwholesome and tasteless, or nutritive and delicious ; and perhaps a few words on this part of the subject, derived from my wife's experience, may be of use to some of your readers. Immerse the heads in hot water, in which has been dissolved a tablespoonful of common salt ; simmer very slowly one hour; do not let the water boil, or the flowers are subject to break; take out into a colander, cover close to keep hot whilst the water drains thoroughly; have ready a little toast to place them on, and pour over some nice thick melted butter. The insects which infest this plant are a small hlach beetle, about the size of a pin's head, that jumps like a flea. It is so destructive in some localities as to eat up the entire stock of seedling plants in a short time, and is always in most abund- ance in dry and hot weather. A sprinkling of wood ashes, lime, or soot, used while the dew is on in the morning, will keep it off, but the remedy ought to be early applied, and repeated if washed off by rain. A species of aphis, a glaucous colored little fly, sometimes attacks the roots, and ascends, also, to the leaves; they are gregarious, and exist by sucking the juices, and exhausting the plant. In this case, I have always found caustic lime, in powder, dug into the ground, and around the plants, and also sprinkled over the leaves, to be effectual. The same remedy is also of service against the cut-worm, or other caterpillars, which are sometimes troublesome. So far, I have only treated on the Gaulijlower, without any reference to its near aWy Broccoli ; and, as you will no doubt think this communication suCQciently long, we must defer it until some future opportunity. REMARKS ON SOME OF THE NEW CHINESE PLANTS. BY J. B. GARBER, COLUMBIA, PA. There is now much interest manifested in regard to some of the recently intro- duced vegetables and plants from China and Japan. As I have had several of them in cultivation two and three years, it may, perhaps, not be amiss to give my views and experience as to the adaptability of some of them to our climate. The Dioscorea batatas I have had for two years, and have ventured to test my small stock as an esculent. Possibly, some of your readers would be encouraged to try it, who have kept aloof for fear of " multicaulis," did they know its real merits. Farmers and horticulturists have been so often " humbugged" that they fear to venture on a new thing, and more particularly as regards this root, from its high price, and also on account of several writers in different papers their best to frighten the timid. A correspondent of the Dollar Paper last summer cried " humbug" even before he saw tlic plant grow, because his tubers roiled on the way, and he had to pay express charges for rotten tnhers — so, of course, it is u '" liunibug. " A lady, in the Homestead, gives the following receipt for making it : "Take," she says, " a small Irish -potato, wet and weedy ; add to it a turnip tolerably stringy, and not too rank ; splice them together lengthwise, with a morning-glory vine on top ; cultivate strenuously for two years, pulling it in agricultural papers ; then dig up one root (large croj) !) six inches long and three round 1 (immense size 1) ; boil, and eat — if you can." In the Farm Journal for November — again copied from Homestead — a wag (probably the Editor!) says: "Some twenty years since, France — that land of beautiful things and Mississipi)i bubbles — brought out the Rohan Potato, and, from a coarse, rank, yellow-fleshed vegetable, made a dish the gods might have envied. After a long gestation, and with exemplary patience, projjhetic of the coming prodigy, this mother of rare things is again parturient, and the world looks on with admiration and astonishment while the olTsjjring is baptized Dios- corea batatas ; a bubble more injuriously framed and carefully nurtured than the Rohan, but just as truly filled with wind." He continues on in this strain, but it is useless to copy. Then, the Rev. M. S. Culberson, who was ten years in China, says: " It is never eaten, except by some of the very poorer classes, &c., as an accompaniment to rats and young puppies, &c. &c." Now, Mr. Editor, can you tell me what is the meaning of all this twaddle ? Have these persons cultivated and eaten of it from their own raising ? or, is it because they haven't got a stock of it for sale ? I am strongly of the opinion that, had these very writers — these wiseacres I — the article on sale, they would laud it to the skies as a dish the gods might envy ! But, as I intended to give my own opinion of its merits, " without fear or favor," I will briefly say that I pro- cured a single root, or sprout, in May, 1855, and, for fear of accident, kept it in a small pot the first year, where it made no progress. Last spring, it was barely a slender root, less than the size of a finger. I planted it out, in May last, here, and, although the season was very dry till the last of August, it commenced grow- ing vigorously ; run up a pole some six feet, and then spread out, producing some four or five dozen of small tubers at the axillas of the leaves. The root I took up in the fall; it was over twenty inches in length, and some three inches in diameter at the lower end. In digging it up, I broke off about three inches of the thickest part ; this I had cooked. In flavor, it is not like an Irish or sweet potato, but, in my estimation, superior to either ; pure white, no stringiness or toughness about it — more like pure starch than anything I can compare it to. I should suppose, so long as " the very lowest classes" in China have an abundance of this root, starvation ivill not " stare them in the face," though they may use this root as an accompaniment to the other " fixings," according to the Rev. gent. above quoted. I should prefer the Dioscorea toithout the other addenda, but you know, Mr. Editor, "there is no accounting for tastes." It appears perfectly at home in our climate, if planted in the spring, and, judging from its habits of growing straight down, may be ])lanted very close, and, in this way, will, I think, yield full as large a crop as the Irish potato, and, should it withstand our winter's cold, in the open air, as it is said to do in France, and continue increasing in size for two or three years, its yield must be enormous. All the small tubers I shall plant next season, with every prospect of great success. Holcus saccharatum, Sorghum saccharatus, or CJnnese Sugar-Cane. — This is another plant of late introduction from China, and which is now sought after all sections of the Union, wherever its name and fame have been sounded WINE MAKING. plant will grow from Maine to Florida, and produce an abundance of syrup supe- rior to the best from sugar refineries, and can of course be turned into dry sugar as easily as the syrup from the true sugar-cane. Mr. Peters, of Atlanta, Ga., has been experimenting with it, and says "that, on ordinary soil, it will produce from 346 to 468 gallons of syrup to the acre, and that every farmer can make his own syrup at a cost not exceeding fifteen cents per gallon." It is believed by some, that it will supersede the true sugar-cane even in Louisiana. In the Middle and Eastern States, it will probably not pro- duce so much saccharine matter as in the South ; yet it will be well worth cultivat- ing, if only for the syrup, should it yield only 300 gallons per acre. What biher crop can be cultivated that " will pay" as well ? As a forage plant, cultivated broad-cast, cut while young, and tender for soiling, or dried for winter fodder, it is believed that it will be far superior to Indian corn, or any other forage plant yet known. Japan Pea. — We are also indebted to the Celestial Empire for this plant, now pretty extensively disseminated, and I have often been asked the question : What it is good for ? If you will soak them" over night in warm water, and, next day, give them a good cooking, serve them up as Lima beans, and do not say they are superior to beans, then I can only say, "tastes differ." The Pea is raised with less trouble, and produces more abundantly in all soils and all seasons than Lima beans. Last spring, we received two new varieties of the Japan Pea via Cali- fornia, nothing different, however, except in color, one being green, and the other red. These new productions are well worth attending to, and neither of those enume- rated will be classed with Rohan Potato or multicaule " humbugs," in a few years hence. It seems as if nature were always provident. Although I am not yet "the oldest inhabitant," I can nevertheless well remember the time when water, horse, hand, and all other "powers," were becoming inadequate to the demand ; then, at the very "nick of time," steam became the " motor ;" wood was rapidly decreas- ing in quantity, and increasing in price — lo I and behold ! black rocks were found an admirable substitute ! Hickory and birch brooms could no more be had to do the "sweeping;" then broomcorn makes its appearance just when people began to fear that "sweeping" was soon to be " one of the institutions" that had become extinct. Hemp, flax, and wool, were at one time so inadequate to the demand, that serious thoughts began to arise in the minds of many, how, if population should continue to increase, the people could find materials to " hide their naked- ness." Again comes the substitute, just when most needed, in the name of cotton. Thus, as any one particular article becomes scarce or exhausted, Providence provides a substitute. WINE MAKING. A FRIEND of the Horticulturist remarks, that we have repeatedly given in our pages the view, that the domestic manufacture of wine is favorable to temperance, and requests us to insert the other side of the question, taken from a late paper. We do so without expressing our own judgment in the matter. CRIME AND INTEMPERANCE IN WINE-PRODUCING COUNTRIES. BY EDWARD C. DELAVAN. The increase of crime in France is, proportionally, six times greater than the increase of population, as appears from well-authenticated returns. WINE MAKING, From the year 1826 to 1843, the increase of popalation was only at the rate of seven per cent., while (he increase of the various crimes was forty-five (45) pt-r cent. This reionl, fearfully large as it is, contains only tliose < rimes which have heen proved upon individuals ; an(l if these be added to those which have tnvcr cf)me to li;;ht, or which have not been success/alli/ investigated, the percentage must be swelled to an almost incredi- ble degree. The statistics of France, in suicides, show an alarming increase in this kind of amuse- ment so peculiar to that country. From 1820 to 1830 (ten years) the number of suicides were 1,705 ; from 1841 to 1843 (three years), 2,573 ; in 1844 {oite i/far), 2,900 ! It has been frequently asserted, and, we believe, truly, that "the use of wine is as common in France as the use of tea and co/f'ee is here." A distinguishe '\ ,i/Uii. REPLY TO DR. WARD ON DWARF PEARS. CLEMATIS PATENS YAR. AMALIA* AND LOUISA. Two varieties of the Clematis patens of Decaisne (C. cserulea, Lindley ?), in- troduced, with others, from Japan by Dr. Von Siebold. Like other varieties of the same species, they are hardy, and are cultivated in the same manner. They will grow in almost any well-drained soil. The Clematis loves the full sun, but does not bear high winds. They grow best trained ai'ound columns, or when employed to cover an old tree. They do not readily produce seed, but are multi- plied by cuttings or by layers. Other handsome varieties of this species, figured in European magazines, are C. patens Sophia, purple, with a shining green band down the middle of each segment of the flower, and C. p. monstrosa, in which a number of the stamens are transformed into petals, making a semidouble flower. In an article on climbing plants, the Cottage Gardener (London) remarks : " After these come several new, or rather newish. Clematises, which, like CcBrulea, are suSiciently hardy to stand our climate, but are seen to much better advantage in an orchard-house temperature, and protected by a glass veranda, or some very cool greenhouse. Of these, Clematis lanuginosa is, as far as we yet know, the best. " My own opinion is, that Clematis Sieboldi, C. patens (which is the proper name of Ccerulea), and the grandijlora variety of it, together with C. lanuginosa, C. lanuginosa pallida, Sophia, a continental seedling from patens, alias Cceridea grandijlora, C. coriacea, a showy kind from New Holland, and C. barbellata from the Himalayas, and some others of recent introduction, should all be grown on their own roots for pot culture ; but when used for trellis-climbers out of pots, I am certain they would answer better if they were grafted on six-inch pieces of the roots of Clematis montana. Also, I think that, no matter how they " went off" in rapid growth, they ought to be cut back to near the grafted parts the first two seasons, if not the third, so as to get a thoroughly strong bottom, that would hold on for years and years, and still increase in beauty and strength. "Another fine-looking Clematis — indivis lohrata — was new to me; but, in an orchard-house, all these hardy house-climbers will assume their native character." REPLY TO DR. WARD ON DWARF PEARS. BY J. W. FIELD, NEW YORK. Some remarks which I ventured to make at the Pomological Convention at Rochester, and which received confirmation from Col. Wilder, L. E. Berckraans, and others, not nurserymen, have been uniformly misrepresented and raisworded in the several reports. They were substantially these : That being a lover of truth, and desirous of learning the truth, in order to obey the truth. Dr. Ward's articles on dwarf pears had incited in me the keenest curiosity to know if I had been pursuing a phantom. I had therefore visited his place, and procured the visits of other gentlemen, not nurserymen (which unfortunate class seem to have excited the doctor's suspicion of their exact truthfulness), if happily we might discover the cause of such a sad account of the failure of the pear on quince stock. The queries to be answered were: Was it local disadvantages ? accidental causes ? originally bad trees? poor cultivation ? ignorance of the nature of the hybrid plant ? a poor selection of the * See Frontispiece. ■WARD ON DWABF PEARS. kinds suited to tlie quince ? wore the pears budded on American quince stocks ? Or, was tlic quince stock, as a base for pear cultivation, a faihirc ? Tlie united testimony of tlicsc unl)iassed . alba by far more marked characters than divides li. excelsa from Ji. hitea. Qncrn/s o/irce- formis, Dr. Ciray considers to have been made out of an immature specimen of Q. viacrocarpa. Wc liave an o])inion tliat Q. hirolor also has a stronf]^ leaning that way also. To a practical man, the leaves of the oaks allbrd but little oppor- tunity of readily distinguishing the species. Qucrcus tinctoria and Q. coccinea, for instance, we have found to run into each other in every character, except that the flesh of the acorn is, in the Black Oak, orange, and, in the Scarlet, white. Tiie leaves of. the Black Oak do not, we believe, ever turn scarlet, but the other kind has not always got them so. We have only to say that, though strictly a botanical work, we cannot do a better service to the gardening world than to recommend every lover of trees or plants to procure and study a copy. The price we paid for it was two dollars. Strawberries. — Tlie advertising sheet contains an important notice from Samuel Feast & Sons, of Baltimore, of their purchase from the executors of the late Dr. Edmondson, of his new strawberries, -n-hicli are now for the first time offered to the public. They have obtained celebrity from the reports of the few who have seen and tasted them — the Marylandica, especially. The Camellias also will attract attention from oui- numerous readers. Graperies. — Our correspondent, William Saunders, advertises to construct graperies on terms which must command numerous customers. Four dollars and a half for each running foot is so reasonable, when combined with Mr, S.'s experience, that -we ask the attention of our readers to his propositions. (Grapes). An answer respecting the best grapes for a grapery, will be given next month. The Winter Coxtest. — The following lines will be understood and appreciated by many of our readers. It is almost needless to say they are by Cowper: — " Grudge not, ye rich (since Luxury must have Her dainties, and the World's more numerous lialf Lives by contriving delicates for you) — Grudge not the cost. Ye little know the cares, The vigilance, the labor, and the skill. That day and night are exercised, and hang Upon the ticklish balance of suspense, That ye may garnish your profuse regales With summer fruits brought forth by wintry suns. . Ten thousand dangers lie in wait to thwart The process. Heat, and cold, and windj and steam, Moisture and drought, mice, worm.s, and swarming flie.s, Minute as dust, and numberless, oft work Dire disappointment, that admits no cure. And which no care can obviate. It were long. Too long, to tell the expedients and the shifts Which he that fights a season so severe Devises, while ho guards his tender trust ; And oft, at last, in vain." TWO LrrEKARY SALAD-BOWLS. ' Salad for the solitary" — Lettuce alone ! ' Salad for the social" — Lettuce be merry ! — Punch. editor's table. 93 The Journal of the United States Agricultural Society for 1856 — edited by the Secretary, William S. King — and the Transactions of the Pomological Convention,h.Q\A. at Rochester, last fall, have been kindly sent to our " Table" by the Hon. M. P. Wilder, at the moment of going to press. The first is all that it ought to be ; the tone of the whole is earnest, manly, and praiseworthy, and shall receive further notice. The Pomological Transactions are important, and we shall endeavor to imjjart to our readers everything of value that has not already been copied in these pages. Both transactions may now be procured from the State Agricultural Societies, the Horti- cultural Societies, or, failing in these, by addressing Hon. M. P. Wilder (with stamps, we should hope), Boston, Massachusetts. "^ Philadelphia, Dec. 12, 1856. My dear Sir : Can you announce in the February Horticulturist something like the fol- lowing ? The Native Fruit Committee consists' of — Samuel Walker, of Roxbury, Mass. ; L. E. Bergkmans, of Plainfield, N. J. ; C. M. Hovey, of Boston ; P. Barky, of Rochester ; J. B. Eaton, of Buffalo ; A. H. Ernst, Cincinnati ; and your humble servant. You will therefore perceive that some of the ablest jjomologists in the United States are members of this Com- mittee. Very truly yours, W. D. Brinckle. J. Jay Smith, Esq. American Pomological Society. — We learn, officially, that, in March next, the Committee on Native Fruit of the American Pomological Society, at the request of the Hon. Marshall P. Wilder, President of the Society, contemplate issuing, probably quarterly. Intermediate Native Fruit Reports on such new native fruits as may be sent to any of the Committee for examination, or may in any way come under their notice. These reports will be published simultaneously in the leading horticultural journals. Each member of the Committee is requested to transmit, monthly, the memoranda he may make on this subject to Dr. Brinckle, of Philadelphia, Chairman of the Committee. (See March Horticulturist.) Peaks. — Dr. J. M. Ward has exhibited to us some Vicar of Winkfield Pears that exceed, in size, any we have seen. Five of them weigh over six pounds, and they are as delicious as they are fine looking. They arq a portion of those reserved for competition, awaiting, beyond the specified time, the acceptance of a challenge for the production of a better lot, which nobody entered the arena to claim. Notwithstanding assertions that Dr. Ward's trees were neither properly planted nor properly cultivated, he does produce the veritable article. What is the reason that, with sales for many past years of millions of dwarf-trees, pears are still so scarce and high-i)riced, is answered by one of our valued correspondents thus, but it is scarcely satisfactory : — " He who has ten or twelve pear-trees in his garden, is commonly situated as follows : Two or three cooking pears ; five or six worthless varieties ; and the balance, varieties that not thrive upon the quince (although budded upon it), or grafted upon pear stock editor's table. tliroWs out limbs, limbs, limbs, and roots (if not sackere), till the other poor trees are over- shadowed ; all that, badly planted, badly pruned — if pruned at all — near hard walks or fi-nces, surrounded with grass, weeds, rasjiberrieH, currniits, llowers, &c. But, suppcso no ereat mischief is brought upon the trees by children, animals, or the shadow of some tall elm, or other forest-tree, wliiit then ? More than one-half of the fruit is i)icked wilfully or playfully by children, servants, &c. &c. ; and if, by great care, the busy man (never at home) succeeds in ripenhfj some, Js there one of these that can decently go out of tlie family ? Wives, daughters, and inmates, would rather see their preserves and vegetables given away than a Duchesse or Flemish Beauty. " If you must have pears, raise them yourselves, in gardens out of the reach of boyg, and other nuisances." It is true enough that wo much depend on our own trees, for a good pear commands fifty cents in the show window; but what puzzles the outsiders, and to which we have no satis- factory answer, is where are all the promised abundance — the barrels that were growing? We admit progress, and rejoice in it, but, that the idea of supplying the wants of our great cities has not yet been realized, we, in common with the public, regret. The past season has been a poor one, it is true, but one would suppose the various climates should have furnished more than have yet been seen. The purchase of a half-barrel of good pears, we have found it impossible to accomplish. Let us, however, live in hope. KosES. — Tlie finest of climbing roses is the "Cloth of Gold." The finest of yellow roses is the Cloth of Gold. The finest of noisettes is still the Cloth of Gold. And yet how few know it except as a dwarf, grown in a pot or a border, and bearing there a scanty supply of its noble blossoms. Nevertheless, it yields to none in the power of flowering, producing, if properly managed, enormous quantities of golden balls. So says Dr. Lindley. His correspondents agree in adding, that, to bloom it in perfection, it should never be i)runed ; and we add, that the plant must have some age to insure a profuse bloom. Grape- Vine Borders. — ^Mr. Editor : Though house grapes have been successfully grown without the expensive preparation mostly resorted to, they do repay a liberal outlay, both in the construction of the house and materials for the border. When rich borders so often fail in producing, for any length of time, fine grapes, the cause must be looked for in the position of the border, or want of sufficient porous materials in it to keep it open. Gar- deners have difficulties enough in obtaining the means of doing these things as they could wish, and need not a false economy to make things worse. A YocNG AXD Enthusiastic Gardener. Grafting Geraxiujis. — A writer in the Cottage Gardener says on this subject : " Mr. Peed, gardener to T. Tredwell, had a collection of real curiosity and great interest — one of grafted geraniums, thus : 1. Miss Emily Field, a blush-white flower. 2. Kingsbury Pet, an excellent house plant. 3. Reidii, apparently a cross from Baron Iliigel, a.Uas Courcfs Princess Royal, a fine pot plant, grafted three feet high, the two before it not quite so high. 4. Boule de Xeige, grafted fifteen inches above the pot, and four feet high. 5. Commander-in-Chief, five feet high, and ga-afted four feet from the pot. 6. Le Titian, four feet high. 7. Brilliant ditto. And 8. Attraction, three feet six inches high. A gentleman, of great skill and in- genuity, wrote to me six weeks ago, saying that geraniums would graft as freely as apple- trees, and by the same kinds of grafting ; but Mr. Peed grafted all these on the continental of cutting oflF the top of the stock, and splitting the top of it in halves about an half, or not more than two inches, and wedging the end of the grafts to slip down the slit. The union in all of them was perfect. That, in my eyes, was the best triumph at tills show." The Gpava fruited at Cleveland. — We find the following in the Ohio Farmer: — " The Guava {Pskliitm Cuttlyanum.) — Editor Ohio Farmer. — Sir: I herewith send you a fruit of the Guava (Psidiuin). It was produced hy a tree, in my greenhouse, treated with the ordinary care of the tenants of that establishment. As an eatable fruit, it is palatable, somewhat resembling our paw-paws, flavored with the strawberry. For ornament, it is equal to the orange and lemon, and, for both these purposes, it is worthy of attention bj' the amateur horticulturist. It is the fruit from which the Guava Jelly is manufactured. My tree, about three feet in height, has matured, this autumn, thirteen specimens of the size and perfection of the one before you. In the Transactions of the Horticultural Society of London, vol. iv. page 316, is contained a beautiful colored plate of the Psidium Cattli/anum, the name under which I procured mine ; but as the fruit of the one is of a deep livid purple, and the other a rich lemon yellow, the latter must be either a dilferent species or variety. The former is said to be the only species which will ripen its fruit in a greenhouse ; hence I infer that my specimen is a mere variety. Ti'uly yours, J. P. Kirtlaxd." Cleveland, Ohio, Nov. 13, 1856. We are pleased to hear of this ; the fruit is valuable, and may be cultivated successfully at the South ; in East Florida, the Psidium huxifolium is found near the River St. Johns, but it differs from all other species. The twig is round, covered with a gray bark, and, at near distances, marked with the cicatrices of opposite fallen leaves. The berry is blackish- purple, pear shaped, about the size of a cherry ; internally, it is filled with horizontal rows of flat, subveniform, pale, bony seeds, with a narrow embryo curved into the form of a horse- shoe. This species is nearly allied to the purple-fruited Guava, P. Cattleianum (not Cattly- anum, as the Farmer has it), scarcely difi"ering in anything but the smallness of the leaves and the pyriform fruit, though the leaves of the purple Guava, besides being much larger, are also pubescent when young. Most of the species of this genus are cultivated in the tropics for their fruit. Tlie P. pyriferum, or Common Guava, bears a fruit about the size of a hen's egg, yellowish, with a peculiar odor ; the pulp is rather firm, flesh-colored, agreeable, and aromatic. In the West Indies, it is highly esteemed by all classes, being eaten raw, as Dr. Kirtland indicates, as a dessert, or formed into an excellent sweetmeat and jelly. Of the fruit of the Puri^le Guava, to which ours is so closely related, Lindley remarks : " The excellent flavor of its fruit, which is very like strawberries and cream, is far superior to either P. pyriferum, pomiferum, or j^olycarpon." Mr. Sabine remarks of the fruit of this species, that " it is juicy, of consistence much like that of a strawberry, to which it bears some resemblance in flavor." Whether the Florida species may become valuable when cultivated, is uncertain, but, in a genus so generally interesting for their fruit, says Nuttall, the " experiment is worth making." The Guava will now be sought as a useful ornament, like the Eugenia ugni, for its beauty and its fruit. We possess, too, in Florida, a Eugenia, the dichotoma or fragrans, an elegant and fragi-ant species not yet introduced. This genus was named in honor of Prince Eugene of Savoy, who was an encourager of botany, and possessed a botanic garden. The origin of Cuba Bast is at length discovered. The substance known itnder this name has now become familiar to gardeners, in consequence of its general substitution for Russian ng in tying up plants ; but nobody could make out what tree produced it. In inquiry directed to quarters where information on such points might have been expec editor's tablk. to exist. Sir William Hooker, by diligent iuquiriea, has asoertained that it is produced by a \Vost Indian tree, described, years ago, by Swartz under the name of Hibiscus elatus, and which seems to be nothing more than a variety of the common Jlihisciis liliaceous. A full account of the discovery is given in the new number of the Jonnial <»/' liotatii/, from infor- mation collected from Mr. II. Christy, Mr. Scharfenberg, and Mr. Wilson, tbe Sui)eriutend('nt of the Botanic Garden, Jamaica. There is, therefore, some hope that this useful material may now be sold at a lower price than it bears at present. Firewood. — Firewood is becoming scarce in Wisconsin and Illinois. The enormous con- sumption of it by railroads is fast exterminating the forests of our country. Two years ago, the price of cord-wood at Sodus Bay, N. Y., was $1 50 per cord ; this year, Canadians from Toronto came over and purchased all that could be furnished for .§2 50 per cord. It will soon bo worth while for our cultivators to turn their attention to raising trees expressly for the supply of many of our towns with liVewood. At present, wood is worth prices averaging .§5 per cord, in Philadelphia. An acre planted with cherry — excellent fire- wood, and a very rapid growing tree — would be worth, at a rough estimate, S200 in ten years. As there are many tracts of land utterly useless for agricultural purposes, it is well to consider whether this sum per acre, without any labor, is not worth waiting for ? P. Gossip. — In a quaint old book by Gabriel Thomas, will be found the following description of Philadelpliia when it was a mere village : " In the said city are several good schools for youth, for the attainment of arts and sciences — also reading and writing. Here is to be had, on any day of the week, cakes, tarts, and pies ; we have also several cook-shops, both roasting and boiling, as in the city of London : happy blessings, for whicli we owe the high- est gratitude to our plentiful Provider, the great Creator of heaven and earth." Let us describe this great city as it now is : In the said city are several small squares of ground called "public squares," for youth and gray squirrels — also for the entertainment of jump- ing the rope. Here is to be had, on every day in the week, except in winter, when they are shut up, air a little purer only than in the streets, and the sight of a deer, which gores you without charge. We have also belonging to the town a fine site for a park, both for land and water, not improved as in the city of London. Happy blessings, for which we are called upon for the highest gratitude to the great Councils who have taken us all in.— — India- rubber, now so abundant, was thus noticed in the Montldij lievietv, in 1772 : " Our readers, perhaps, who employ themselves in the art of drawing, will bo pleased with a transcript of the following advertisement : ' I have seen,' says Dr. Priestley, ' a substance excellently adapted to wiping from paper the marks of a black lead pencil. It must, therefore, be of singular use to those who practise drawing. It is sold by Mr. Naime, mathematical instru- ment maker, opposite the Royal Exchange. He sells a cubical piece, of about half an inch, for three shillings, and he says it will last for several years.' " Chinese proverbs some- times contain much jjith, as for instance: "Let every man sweep the snow from before his own door, and not busy himself about the frost on his neighbors' tiles." Another: "The ripest fruit will not fall into your mouth." And again : " Dig a well before you are thirsty." A monster pumpkin was raised, last season, in England — a "Citronille," measuring seven feet in circumference, and weighing 150 pounds ; previously, one of the weight of 212 had astonished the gazers. As these valuable articles do not keep well after having been cut open, smaller kinds are greatly preferable. The French make great use of these, par- ticularly the Yellow Poitron and the Brazilian Sugar Gourd. A larger weight of wholesome winter food, both for man and his cattle, can hardly be obtained from the same space of ground than from these articles ; the tender extremities of the shoots form the best spinach known, though they are little employed in this way in America. The Truffle is now said. by a French writer, to be produced by the "truffle fly," which stings the root of the oak trees, and produces the truflle in the same manner as the gall insect produces the gall-nut ; and a Mr. Ravel, of Switzerland, asserts that he can supply the larvae of the insect ; adding that each species of truffle has its own kind of oak and its own truffle fly. We wish some of our insects would produce something as good. But Dr. Lindley poses the Frenchman by asserting that truffles are propagated by spawn in the same way as mushrooms, The Pampas Grass continues to receive attention abroad, and we have a specimen coming on favorably. On stems nine feet high, it produces noble panicles of flowers ; one, in England, had eighteen panicles, and, when it spreads, it will be a fine ornament for a lawn. There are annually manufactured in the United States 2,160,000 shovels, or about six hun- dred dozen per day. They are made entirely in this country ; about one-third the number in Massachusetts, the rest in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, and other cities. As the shovel is one of the civilizers of the world, the annual demand for that useful article shows how much the people of the United States are contributing, by their labor, towards improving the social condition of mankind. A new number (the third) of Dr. Hooker's beautiful Flora of Tasmania has been issued. The plates consist wholly of composites ; the letter- press extends into Ericacete. Pinus Austriaca is found to be an excellent plant for mov- ing ; they may be ti'ausferred without much risk, nine or ten feet high. The solution of gum shellac in alcohol, which gardeners employ for covering cuts and wounds in trees, has been used with success, in Westminster Abbey, as a cement to the loose crumbling parts of old monuments, so that the ancient form and appearance are permanently preserved. If melted white wax is carefully run upon marble for the open air, it will preserve it for an indefinite period, the wax being highly indestructible. Though the name of Sir Jauisetjee Jejeebhoy sounds very outlandish, it belongs to a princely minded Parsee in India, who has just given the sum of $50,000 to establish a school of design in Bombay. One of oiir Phila- delphia merchants rejoices in a correspondent thence who has the name of Pah-Butty- Bassy-Baboo, and a very rich Baboo he is. Two most important points are now attracting the attention of practical people — steam culture, and drying of grain in bulk as soon as gathered; both promise immense advantages, amounting to a "revolution." A great de- posit of copper has been opened, by an earthquake, in New Zealand. A region of about 4,600 square miles was raised in some places one foot, and, in others, much more. A chain of ancient rocks was upheaved vertically, and now forms a clifi' nine feet high, which can be followed for ninety miles, exhibiting the veins of copper. A new process for extracting sugar from all kinds of vegetables, has been published by the Academy of Sciences at Paris ; it is the discovery of M. Maurice, that sugar exposed to the action of cold water undergoes a change known to chemists, which prevents its crystallization. A beet-root, dug up and stowed away, is a cone of cold water, and the longer it lies the more is the sugar diminished, keeping it under shelter making no difference ; and the same with sugar-cane. The remedy is to crush out the juice at once, discharge it into large cisterns, and throw in a quantity of lime whereby a saccharate of lime is formed which will keep a whole year, and an immense increase of sugar over the old processes is the result. At Wilton Park, the place men- tioned by Emerson, in his English Traits, so handsomely, there are some remarkable Cedars of Lebanon — one, the bole of which measures twenty-three and one-half feet in circum- ference, with a fine head in proportion ; there are also several others nearly equally large. Those who have been accustomed to see the South American Orchids grown in a high tem- perature, would be surprised to see the luxuriance of these plants here ; they stand in vineries in which are a quantity of grapes : consequently, they are exposed to currents of air both day and night. Alfred Delvan has written some curious articles on the trees of He states that the climate of that city has been unfavorably modified sine notion of the woods and forests. But his most novel speculation asserts that editor's TAIU-K. rtKinirpB poetry and health to contrast with his physical anfl moral destitntion; he lives l)ottf>r in the open air than in hadly vontilntod lionses ; he lives lonirer in the conutry than in towns ; terrestrial macnctisni acts more directly and more prolitahlyon the ])easant tlian on the citizen, hocause the latter walks on stone pavement, which is an isolator, whel-eas the peasant walks with bare feet on the humus (the eartli), his mother and his nurse, lie forgets, perhaps, that the modern Parisian walks almost as much on as]ihalto as on stone pavements. The Anemone Pulsatilla, and, indeed, all other species, are extremely acrid in all their jiarts. It causes, when applied externally, or introduced into the stomacli, all the effects of acrid and corrosive substances, as violent inflammation, and a stuitefyim? action on the nervous system. A correspondent descrilies the park at Hampton Court humorously thus : "The 'park' at Hampton Court was first laid out, like the garden, in Hk- Dutch style, and there are still long avenues with double-planted rows of trees on oaili side, radiating off from the front of the palace like a pair of tongs with more legs than a pair, with level green Inward between them. A few scores of highland ' stnrks,' alias Scotch bullocks, and some hundreds of fallow deer, graze here at ease and comfort, and shade and shelter themselves in the avenues." He says strawberries are forced there in such abun- dance, that they are gathered by the bushel for routes and public breakfasts. All forcing, it will be found, is up-hill work before the days have begun to lengthen. It is not at all uncommon, in old places, to find magnificent trees so situated, that, instead of being objects of beauty and interest, they are just the reverse — objects of regret. We once saw a splen- did Cedar of Lebanon, the trunk of whicli measured upwards of four feet in diameter, grow- ing so close to the front door of the edifice as to lash the windows with its branches. This, though exceedingly annoying, no doubt still remains a mark of censure upon the hand that planted it. Had this tree been judiciously placed some thirty yards from the building, instead of being offensively troublesome, it would have been highly interesting, and the admiration of every one. Attention is largely attracted to a new disinfecting powder, invented by a Mr. McDougall, the composition of which is yet a secret. Farm-yard manure, in the worst stage of noisomeness, was turned over in presence of a great many observers, and the odor disappeared almost instantaneously on the application of a slight sprinkling of the powder. It is not generally known that the cajepat oil of India is obtained from trees very similar to the common Melaleucas, and that even from the leaves of the Euca- lypti an oil can be obtained of equal utility. The sandarac gum, exuding from the Callitris, or pine-tree of Victoria, is now collected in the greatest abundance. An Australian manna is being introduced into commerce, but is of inferior quality to the Ornus manna. All the gutta percha-trees of Singapore have been destroyed, to procure the gum of commerce, and exi)lorers are in search of new localities ; there is said to be five sorts of the gum, pro- duced hy different trees. The death of the late Professor Edward Forbes, of Edinburgh, is considered, by his fellow-laborers in science, as a national calamity. By the time he was seven years of age, he had foi-med a small, though tolerably well-arranged museum of his own, and, from that early age, he was indefatigable in the pursuit of natural history. It is a most dangerous experiment to write about things without a practical acquaintance with them. When Oliver Goldsmith, genius as he was, tried his hand at a Uistonj of Animated Nature — and a very delightful book he made of it — he knew so little of the chief subject of his chapters (that of (quadrupeds), that he described the cow as casting her horns an- nually. There is no information which passes more speedily and thoroughly away from the memory than that of natural history, if it be learned from books only. Genial Dr. Darlington, who, to extraordinary botanical acquirements, adds the bonhommie of an agreeable man, in his Flora Cestrica, or Botany of Chester Counti/, Penn., allows the student the benefit of his extensive reading, and enlivens the details of the science by an occasional quaint remark or quotation. We cannot do better than to close our " Gossip" to-day with the EDITOR'S TABLE. following, taken from that reliable and able book. The doctor has described the Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhinci) all in botanical correctness, when he breaks ont with the following observation : " The fine purj)le clusters of fruit, on the fertile plant, render it quite an orna- mental little tree ; and, when planted in the yards and public squares of our cities, it aifords an almost literal exemplification of the much admired Rhus in urbe !" Of the Naked-Stem Aralia, he says : " The root is sometimes used as a substitute for the sarsaparilla of the shops. I believe both the original and the substitute to be rather innocent medicines — provided the disease be not serioiis !" The author is evidently an admirer of Shakspeare ; we wish, by the way, some one would collect all the observations of the poet on trees and flowers. The doctor has made a good beginning, and were it not that he is a banker him- self, the observations he has appended to Romeo's remark would have less force. He is speaking of the common plantain and the " obs." is thus put : " A naturalized foreigner — remarkable for accompanying civilized man ; growing along his footpaths, and flourishing around his settlements. The leaves are a convenient and popular dressing for blisters and other sores — a fact which seems to have been known in the time of Shakspeare, as we learn from his Romeo and Juliet, Act. 1, Scene 2 : ' Romeo. Your plantain leaf is excellent for that. Ben. For what, I pray thee ? Romeo. For your broken shin.' " " The plantain leaf," now goes on the doctor, " continued in vogue, for that purpose, from the Elizabethan age down to our own times, when a substitute was furnished by the officious empirics who under- took to reform and regulate our national currency!" Who would expect a dissertation on shin plasters in a severely scientific book ? And who is there that is not pleased with the transition from the grave to the gay ? Trees as Arches.— In addition to our illustrations of landscape in connection with tree planting, there is a very simple mode of making a rapid natural arch in gar- den or shrubbery walks, which will be appropriate in almost any scene. The trees must be adapted by the character of their branching limbs, and once established at proper points, the limbs are pruned as represented. Treated in this way, they form um- brageous bowers, and may serve the double purpose of arches over walks and shady retreats branches, they will grow freely into a compact head. Limes, tilia, are suit- able for such treatment as well as beech, and even the willows; but elms, maples, and most free-growing trees, will serve the purpose, and become permanent ornaments. Individual taste in the selection and trimming of these arches, may make a great variety ; some might be ornamented with Wistarias, and other blooming vines. for, having lost their leading Lippixcott's Pronouncing Gazetteer of the World. — A correspondent from Illinois, last month, said : "Maps are far behind the age so far as they have a reference to the West, where towns spring up even while the binder is putting the gilt trimmings upon his splindid \ EDITOtt'8 TAliLE. larae Rtlas." Wo remarked that map publishers are continually making efforts to remedy this. If tlifi/ do not catch up always with tho incessant Iramp of progressint; civilization, wo must call in tho aid of the Gazcltcer ; if our friend will turn to Lij)pincott's great work, bv Thomas and Ualdwin, wo think he will say that not only havt- the proper men been placed in their proper jnisitions as publisher and editors, but that they have jointly, by the aid of capital, and enterprise, and information, enthusiasm, and perseverance, produced a work that may challenge tho world for its compeer. It is a most portly volume, of 2,182 closely packed pages, every one filled with valuable, matter, so valuable as to bo an indis- pensable work of reference to all who care to possess accurate knowledge, whether student or merchant ; so m.any improvements have been introduced in this great book, such nume- rous sources of knowledge have been ransacked to procure the materials, and such indonii- table labor has been bestowed upon the contents, that, collectively, it exhibits a mass of human intelligence that it is difficult to api^reciate, much less to digest. In geography, it is what Loudon's Knci/clopa'dta of Plants is in botany, or his Arboretum Britannicuin ; it is, in short, the greatest contribution to geography we have ever had. Though a town may have sprung up while it was in progress, the information regarding neighboring towns, counties, and States, is so full that no one can venture on making that an objection ; but it is here that our editors are so correct ; you may take up a post-office book, and find an account of every town in existence, with accurate descrii^tious of even the number of its blacksmith shops. We commend this work no less to our correspondent than to all the readers of this periodical. Taxodicm sempeuvirens. — Our European readers, and those of our Middle and Southern States, may have noticed, in our advertising pages, last month, an opportunity to provide themselves with seeds of this fine Califoniian tree. North of Philadelphia, we are doubtful of its hardiness. It is time its character, in this resj)ect, was more generally known. What has been the experience of our friends ? Washixgtonia Gigantea. — We are assured by letters from California, that a new locality for these gigantic trees has been discovered, and thus the fears of the public lest the few known would be destroyed, and the most extraordinary tree would be lost, at least to the view, for centuries, are needless. Dr. Torrey examined critically tho circles and rings in a complete radius of a Washing- tonia exhibited in this country, and found they were 1,120 in number. The facts showed that the tree lacked about three centuries of being half as old as it was said to be. Its size is rather owing to its continued rapid growth. A Plan of the New York Park, prepared by our correspondent, A. G. Bauniann, Landscape- Gardener, of that city, has been forwarded for our inspection. This park is a parallelopipedon of hundreds of acres, mostly without river scenery, but Mr. Baumann has made much of it, and interspersed his trees and ornaments in a judicious manner. We trust his plan will receive the attention it merits. The Schuylkill Park. — Efforts are making hero to redeem our character by creating a park on the Schuylkill River, by purchasing the property adjoining Lemon Hill, and uniting the two — in fact, the space of about one hundred and ten acres between the two water- works belonging to Philadeliihia. The intention is to purchase the new property, improve the two in unison, and to present the whole in a finished state to the citizens ; a noble enterprise, indeed, and one which may be executed for four months interest on the New York investment. Our park will present a most attractive undulating surface of 110 acres, and rdcred on one entii-e side by the most picturesque of rivers. Shall we fail ? editor's table. Answers to Cokrespondents. — (B. W.) Your plant is Dictamnus, an ancient name of wliat is now supposed to be the Origanum dictamnus ; Fraxinella, in allusion to the similarity between the leaves of the plant, and Fraxinus, the ash. The whole plant, especially when gently rubbed, emits an odor like that of lemon-peel, but, when bruised, it has something of a balsamic scent. The fine scent is strongest in the pedicles of the flowers, which are covered with glands of a rusty-red color, exuding a viscid juice or resin which exhales in vapor, and, in a dark place, may be seen to take fire. The root furnishes an opiate and drastic. Mr. Editor : Not the least valuable part of your periodical is that devoted to answering the questions of correspondents. Those answers are often useful to others than those who make the inquiries. Encouraged by your success in assisting other inquirers, and acting on the principle that editors are presumed to know eveiy thing, I will propound a few ques- tions on subjects on which I desire to be enlightened. I have in my yard a place which would be a good jDosition for a large and showy tree ; but it was formerly the cellar of a house, now filled up with the stone, and sand, and lime- mortar, which were thrown into it when the house was pulled down, and covered over with about a foot deep of earth. Now, what tree would thrive there ? I would prefer an ever- green. Would the Deodar Cedar do ? (1.) Should larches be trimmed up, or should they be allowed to branch from the ground ? (2. ) At what distances should Norway spruces and hemlocks be planted apart ? (3.) A Subscriber. (1.) The larch would do better in such a situation than any other tree. It would suit the Deodar Cedar very well, provided you are in a region where it is hardy. For a grape- vine, it would be excellent. (2.) If you grow the larches for the sake of their timber, judicious pruning will be of service to them. If required for ornament, we would not " trim" them ; but that is a matter of taste too often spoiled by observing the city trimmers. (3.) With what view ? If for a hedge, two feet and a half apart is quite near enough ; nearer, they starve each other. (W. B. M.) The seeds sent you from the city of Mexico, under the name of the "Hand Plant," is known to botanists as Cheirostemon jjlatanoides, and grows there to a large shade tree. Its English name is derived from the shape of the flower buds, which, in their re- semblance to the human hand, are remarkable. If you do succeed in raising the seed, you will find no gi-eenhouse large enough to hold it, and we can afibrd you no encouragement in the hope that " it may prove hardy here." J. Jay Smith, Esq. — Dear Sir : A Washington letter-writer in the Traveller, comparing the Chinese sugai'-cane with that grown in our Southern States, and referring to the mode of propagating the latter (by cuttings), says : " In the case of all plants propagated by cut- tings, there is a constant deterioration ; so that, in many parts of the South, the growth of cane is not over two-thirds what it was some years ago, and that on an equally fertile soil." Is this principle correct ? If so, what is to become of our quinces, and some other trees l)ropagated mainly by cuttings ? R. J. B. The principle is not correct. Some years ago, it was supposed so by some physiologists, because some kinds of plants were showing signs of decay that had mostly been propagated that way. We might with as much reason say, " all the American buttonwood that we have seen diseased were seedlings ; therefore there is a deterioration in all plants raised from seeds." Is the deterioration noticed in western districts once famous for their wheat crops, to be attributed to its being always a seed crop ? We sometimes jump at conclusions when it would be safer to travel slower. Ly^t — editor's table. Saint CATUAniNKs, C. W., Dec. 15, 1856. Sik: a great number of fniit-trees have been destroyed in our jiart of the country, dur- ing the past year, by mice. I have planted an orchard, this fall, of peach and ai)pk'-trees, and find the niico commencing their depredations. Can you inform me of a remedy ? And also, if what I have done is likely to prove one, viz : smearing the stem, with tar from gas-works, from the ground to about one foot up? Is the gas tar au injury to trees .' Yours, obediently, James Taylor. There is a singular difFerence of opinion amongst practical men as to whether gas tar does or does not injure trees applied in the way you suggest. We have applied it to pre- vent the attacks of the peach and api>le borers, smearing the stems below, and two inches above the ground, achieving our object, and without the slightest perceptible injury to the tree. Yet we know cultivators whose opinions and statements we place full reliance in, who say that their experiments with it have injured their trees. It is an excellent means of preserving trees from mice, and, to be on the safe side, tie coarse paper or leather round the stem, and tar that. Scatter, besides, as our friend — Alan Corson — recommends, a few primings under the trees. They will eat these when the desperation of hunger might otherwise, perhaps, encourage them to brave the tar. (Bkevitas.) We are afraid we hardly comprehend your question. A "list of the prin- cipal vegetables, with the soil and manure suited to each," would go far to exhaust a com- plete treatise on kitchen gardening. If we understand your want correctly, we could not do better than recommend you to procure Buist's Kitchen Garden Director)/. You will probably succeed very well with your melons — provided you do not get them too weak by keeping them too long in your hotbed, or too far from the glass. Catalogues, Sec, keceived, — A Statement of Facts, showing the Advantages and Profits of Thorough Drainage. Albany, New York, January, 1857. A most important topic, ably illustrated, and distributed gratis, by the Albany, New York Tile Works. Register of Rural Affairs, and Cultivator Almanac for 1857. A most valuable publication, and illustrated ; full of information to the farmer and gardener. Twenty-Eighth Annual Report of the Natural History Society of Montreal. Montreal, 1850. A useful and enthusiastic Society, the proofs of whose ardent labors in the cause of science are here chronicled. Faii'-Mount Park Contributions. A pamphlet giving the leading views of the gentlemen associated for the purpose of giving a noble park to Philadelphia, which we have noticed elsewhere. Descriptive Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Vines, Evergreens, Green- house Plants, &c. &c., cultivated and for sale at Fruitland Nurseries, Augusta, Georgia. By D. Redmond. An excellent collection, and the catalogue well considered. Catalogue Giineral des Vegetaux Disponibles dans les Pepinieres de E. Defosse-Tliuillier, Orleans, France. A French priced catalogue, of merit, with the articles reasonably low. An Address before the Chester County Agricultural Society, at West Chester, Pa. By John B. Biddle, M. D. Too short by one-half. Catalogue of Tree and Shrub Seeds, for sale by J. R. Ray, No. 90 John Street, Sacra- mento, California. This is a large list, indeed, and though we notice but few of the indi- genous trees and shrubs of California, we trust Mr. Ray will find it to his interest to collect them, and thus answer the many calls he would have from Eastern nurserymen. Etablissement llorticole de Pradel Pere et Fils Ainu. A. Montauban, France. Rosier?, Geraniums, &c. Catalogues of the Rose Hill Nursery, Woodstock, Vennont, includes fruit and flowers. editor's table. and especially, among the latter, roses. Mr. Luther Briggs, proprietor. Mr. B., in a private letter, thinks his climate, with the thermometer occasionally as low as 250 below zero, an uncomfortable, if not an unfortiinate one, and asks for infoi-mation of what will grow in such a region. In the last December number he will find valuable hints, in a letter from Canada, as to fruit ; for flowers and shrubs, we shall endeavor to furnish further matter for his con- sideration ; here we also have much to contend with, but, by careful experience, we are becoming acquainted with what suits our also very cold latitiide ; it often happens, how- ever, that what we had once considered "perfectly hardy," is "lost to our hopes," thoiigh " to memory dear." Descriptive Catalogue of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, and Bedding-oiit Plants, cultivated and for sale by W., T., and E. Smith, at the Geneva Nursery, Geneva, N. Y. A very valuable collection, made with judgment and taste, and an interesting catalogue. ClXCONATI, Editor HoRTicnLTtJEisT : Your Western readers have been much gratified by the descrip- tions given in your valuable journal of the splendid country-seats on the Hudson, and in the vicinity of some of your Eastern cities. They would be still better pleased if you could fiud leisure to make them a visit, in company with some of your friends, during the ensuing spring, and see what they are doing out here for the cause of Jiorticulture and landscape- gardening. They can promise you nothing to compete with their Eastern brethren in these beautiful adornments of the earth, but they can assure you of a hearty welcome, and will be happy to show you their first efforts in embellishing their grounds, and in the cultivation of fruits and shrubbery — all of which are as yet but in their infancy in the West. But they have a climate and soil, and, in many parts, a surface admirably adapted to show such cultivation to the best advantage, and to display the skill of the landscape- gardener. Kentucky, with its many fine, park-like, grazing farms, is especially fitted for such improvements. The wealth and the will are there, and all that is wanted is a few tasteful examples, to make it one of the garden regions of the West. In the vicinity of this city a good beginning has been made, and it will be pursued with much spirit and taste. The Horticultural Society and your journal have done much to bring this about, and a visit from you, with an interchange of opinions, would do more. ResT)ectfully, B. [Inclination, and favorable remembrances of some of the fine scenes in Kentucky, would lead us to such an excursion, and possibly time may be found, in May next, to respond to this and other truly kind invitations for a view of the park-like scenery of the West. We know that Kentucky possesses a good climate and great natural advantages ; that grass grows under its noble trees ; and our Parkomania would be greatly excited by revisiting scenes now almost obscured in the light of memories not lost, but dimmed by time.] TuE Valoxia Oak. — J. Jay Smith : In Leroy's sale catalogue, the " Valonia Oak" is given as the common name of the Quercus jEgilops, and in the Hortus Kewensis edition, 1813, the French name of that species is given from Voijage d'' Oliver as Chene valain, and the English name, "the great prickly cupped Oak, or Velanida-tree." The description of the species from the leaves and fruit is given in Hortus Kewensis from Wildenow, and may be used to djetermine whether the acorn from the Trojan plain is the fruit of the Q. ^gilojis, which seems probable, especially as the species is native of the Levant. Respectfully thy friend, Alax W. Corsox. I expect a tree of that species in the spring ; very possibly to add to the many introduced that are too tender for our climate. I believe it is deciduous, and have more hope ness than of any evergreen oak. A. W, (Lalfui);ir of (Opcralious. FEBRUARY. BY WILLIAM SAUNDERS. VKOETAm.K Gardkn. — Tlio terms "pubsoiling" and "troiicliing" nre frequently mis\inder- stooil as referring to the same operation. Subsoiling implies a mere stirring or loosening of the subsoil ; whereas, trenching means a reversion of the surface and subsoil. Hy "sur- face soil," we mean the top six or ten inches, usually cultivated with the plough or spade. Trenching is the most permanently useful process, as, if the subsoil is ])oor, it is thus brouu'ht to a position where it can be improved. Keeping the good soil at toji, in order to encoura^H tlie roots of jdants near the surface, is only half cultivation. It would be diflicult to assign a limit to the extension of roots in a well drained, aerated, and thoroughly cultivated soil. On the contrary, we know that vegetation on such soils continues in luxuriance during the dryest and most iiarching seasons. This fact cannot be too prominently kept in view. Draining is the foundation of all improvement in culture. Draining tiles are now easily procured, and if your ground does not appear wet, and you dislike the word "draining," call them air tubes, and consider your object to be underground ventilation. Trenching should be performed in the autumn, that the winter frosts may pulverize and disintegrate the newly turned up soil. It will seldom be found so pernicious as to be unproductive after such exposure, although subsoils abounding in oxides frei^uently require several winters to bring tiiem into a congenial state ; but such are exceptions. Fkcit-Trees. — An evil that has been obsei-ved to follow early winter pruning, is the great evaporation from newly-cut surfaces. The effect will be noticed in the complete shrivelling of the terminal buds on pruned branches. Pruning is frequently deferred till spring, in order to avoid the effects just noticed. Evaporation, in such cases, may be prevented hy covering the cut surface with a i)aint of gum shellac dissolved in alcohol. All fruit culti- vators should be provided with this jjreparation, for the covering of cut surfaces, and accidents to the bark of trees. PiuwixG. — Never cut a branch until you can see a satisfactory reason for its removal. In thinning the branches of old neglected trees, endeavor to do it regularly, so as to preserve a well-balanced head. Young, stunted trees should be pruned well back, and all fruit buds picked out. On the other hand, those that have made strong growths should be sparingly pruned, and, if the upright centre shoots are vigorous, and the lower side branches weak, the latter shoiild l)e pruned close, and the centre shoots reduced in vigor by pinching the young shoots during growth ; pruning them severely now, will only increase their future vigor. Grapery. — It is now acknowledged that the making of grape-vine borders has, in many instances, been overdone. Soil that will produce good cabbages, will produce good crops of grapes, provided it is thoroughly aerited, as recommended in former calendars. Greenhouse. — Continue to shift into layer pots, young plants of fuchsias, calceolarias, iScc, and repot generally all plants that require changing. A soil composed of rotted turfs will answer for all purposes; use it without sifting, and let it be rather dry than otherwise. Plants that have hard, matted balls of roots, should have the fresh soil pressed as hard as possible, otherwise the water will pass through it without benefiting the plant; many plants die for want of attention to this point. The pots should be clean, and two or three handfuls of broken pots or small charcoal put in the bottom for drainage. Plants that are put in large pots, as camellias and azaleas that have attained a desirable size, and are likely not to be disturbed for a time, are all the better for having two or three long strijis of charcoal that will reach from the drainage to the surface of the soil in the pot, inserted while undergoing the potting operation. This will prevent solidity in the soil, and insure a free circulation of water and air to the roots. To i)revent worms and insects from entering into the soil through the drainage, a small piece of perforated zinc may be placed in the pot before arranging the material for drainage. Flowek Gardex and Pleasure Grounds. — Where the weather will ]iei-mit, much may be done in preparing for planting, and the formation of lawns. Holes may be prepared for trees, and ground trenched for intended lawns. In making roads and walks, do not dig out deep ditches, and fill up with stone. From nine inches to a foot will be sufficient depth for carriage roads. Break the stones quite fine at the surface, and cover lightly with gravel. Procure gravel, if possible, of a tenacious, irony nature, that will consolidate chemically. No amount of mechanical pressure will form a solid road of gravel or sand, at least fur carriage use ; the materials must be of a binding nature. &^^ ^w -■-■T^. '.', ■ ^'' '•■wif ■■ V^4's*,fe - - 4. ■■ r^-*«^ ^' .-.*i ■'.( ' lA'?^i)iw»-«.'M»mivuI"' .' .is,.^!** ^ fan^stnp in Connection toiti] iru llimting, U0. 2. OTWITHSTANDING Kent's mistakes, so many country-seats were capable of great improvement by merely clearing away redundant formality, the painter's ideas were not entirely neglected, and, ac- cordingly, " improvement by abstraction," as it has been expressed, became the vogue. A sweeping sentence was soon pronounced against every right ine and right angle. The Dutch and Italian designs quickly disappeared. The venerable avenues were uprooted ; the airy terrace, with its verdant slopes, were levelled with the general surface of the ground ; all the nicely clipped hedges and arcades, the pyra- mids and globes — all were banished from the lawn and gardens; insulated clumps replaced the hedge-row trees. The regularity of the old style was recklessly proscribed, to admit the irregu- larity of the new, and thousands of places were sacrificed. Even Sir TJvedale Price was infected with the mania, and ever after regretted his hasty operations ; he admitted that to depart from the old style by introducing the irregularity of the new, was not all that was wanted to give to new scenery a truly natural character. Correct grouping, it was soon found, was one of the first principles of landscape- gardening. Massive plantings, dissociated from groups of trees and bushes, would appear stiff", heavy, and unnatural, as well as totally devoid of interest to the painter. In associating groups with masses, the best and most natural eQ"ect, and that which gives the greatest expression, is generally attained by first placing the largest group or cluster in advance, and pretty near to a projection of the mass, and smaller ones about these. Thus the depth of bay in the mass is augmented, and the projection increased. A few small groups of low-growing trees, placed in the bays at intervals, make the depth more intricate, but care must be taken not to lessen the depth, nor to fill the bay too much. A mass of trees of even half an acre in extent, requires several smaller groups to proceed from it by de- grees. A broken, loose appearance, producing effective light and shade, would thus be attained ; the mass itself ought not to appear one dense body, but should have its monotony broken by parts being left unplanted. We shall continue some brief remarks on this topic in a future number. At present, let us turn to our illustrations, and continue our examination of groups. As in the case represented in Figs. 4 and 5, so is the wry group (Fig. 7) highly improved in Fig. 8. Again ; the striking transition of character between a spruce or a larch and a round-headed tree (Fig. 10), is improved by making the spiral tree a central object (Fig. 11). An eff'ective and balanced group may be made of seven or eight trees, or more, if two of them be placed only a foot or two apart ; a third, three or four feet further off" ; and the rest at various distances — say from five to thirty feet — the taller ones appearing midway, similar to the two larches represented at Fig. 9 ; but if one or two tall trees appeared on one side, this balance would be no longer maintained. A group of Scotch firs, or other pines, spruces, or evergreens, of any kind, having a larch, elm, birch, or some other deciduous tree, on one side, would be objectionable; but place these judiciously inside, and the effect will be good * See Frontispiece. Vol. VII.— March, 185T. Where ttt-0 trees only are planted together, they should inviiriulily he of one kind, or so nearly allied to each other as not to appear very dillVrent, either in form or color. , Nothing, in the association of trees, can be more defective or offensive to the sight than two of decidedly opposite characters. The ramified arms of the sycamore conld never l)e made to blend happily with the delicate birch (Fig. 12), or the round-headed lime with the spruce iir (Fig. lo). PARI AX WARE. A BEAUTIFUL flowef-stand iii Parian ware, is one of the many forms into which this elegant material has been wrought. The stand has been exhibited in the windows in Chestnut Street, and our artist has faithfully copied it. The annexed flower-vase is a specimen of Swiss carving in wood ; the delicate imitative sculpture which it exhibits, is white, and reflects credit upon the ingenuity of the artist. These sculptures are becoming quite the vogue, and it would not do for a work devoted to rural art, to neglect entirely such rustic productions. INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. The Committee of the American Pomological Society on Native Fruits, respect- fully submit to the President of the American Pomolofj;ical Society its first Inter- mediate Report. In presenting these Reports, the Committee is aware of the labor that will be encountered, and the responsibility that must necessarily be assumed. A correct estimate of the merits of a new fruit, examined for the first time, is no easy task. Due allowance must be made for the difficulty of ascertain- ing the precise period when a new fruit has arrived at its full maturity. But as the chances are greatly in favor of its not being examined exactly at the proper time, its excellence will be more likely to be underrated than the reverse. On this account, many varieties have, no doubt, been consigned to the tomb of the Capulets that richly deserved a more enduring existence. The XJwchlan Pear is an instance in point. On its first presentation, it was condemned as worthless by an able and intelligent fruit committee, that would most assuredly have regarded it as a variety of the greatest excellence had it been examined at the right moment. Cata"v\t[ssa Raspberry. — This fine new ever-bearing Raspberry is a native af Catawissa, Columbia County, Pennsylvania, and has been brought into notice by Mr. Joshua Peirce, of Washington, D. C. A plant that had withstood, without protection, the unprecedented and intense cold of last winter, was examined on the Yth of September. At that time it was loaded with blossoms, ripe fruit, and unripe berries, in all the intermediate stages. Size of Berry, rather large, some being three-fourths of an inch in diameter. Form, roundish-oblate, or, more correctly, hemispherical. Skin, of a deep crim- son color, thickly covered with bloom. Flavor, fully equal to the so-called, but spurious, Antwerp Raspberry of the Philadelphia market. Quality, "very good." This variety is an ever-bearer, wonderfully productive, and worthy of cultivation. TiTus Peach. — This fine new Peach originated with Mrs. Sarah Titus, No, G4 Ogden Street above Eleventh, Philadelphia. Specimens of the fruit were exhibited at the annual fair of the Penn- sylvania Horticultural Society, in 1856. Size, large, 2 and 9- 16th inches in length by 2 and 3-16ths broad. Form, roundish. Skin, fair yellow, with a red cheek. Cavity, open. Stone, deeply cut, 1| inches long, \\ wide, | thick — free. Flesh, yel- low, red next the stone, juicy, unadherent. Fla- vor, luscious. Quality, "best." Maturity, from the middle to the last of September. Eaten Sep- tember 29, 1856. Kehkcca Grai'E. — This Uclicious new Grape is an accichnital seedling, that ppning up in the prnrdeu of Mr, E. M, Pcake, of Hudson, New York, and has hccn in hcarin<; for the hist live years. Spocinions were sliown, in 1856, at the annual exhibition of the Pennsylvania llortifultnral Socicly — suhsi-cpienlly, at tlie recent hiennial nieetiii}; of the Aiiiericaii I'oiiiolot^neal Society, and at the United States Agricultural Fair, in Philadelphia. It was descriljed, and its history given, in the report of the Committee at tlie Rochester Meeting. Si)ecimeris received since that time, enable us to give a still more complete and accurate description. Bunch, of fair size, about si.x inches in length, and very comi)act in form. Jicrnj — Size, full medium, three-fourths of an inch long by five-eighths broad. Form, neither round nor oval, but obovatc. Skin, thin, semi-diaphanous, greenish white, sometimes tinged with amber, and covered with a thin, white bloom. Flesh, very juicy, melting, and tender in texture without being l)ulpy. Flavor, rich, saccha- rine, and vinous, with a peculiar luscious aroma, distinct from that of any other grape. Seed, small, usually two, often three or four, and rarely five, iu each berry. Quality, "best." Maturity, middle of Sei)tembcr. Leaf, scarcely of medium size, about seven inches long, and seven in width, very deei)ly lobed, and coarsely and sharply serrated; upper surface, light green, and slightly rough ; under surface, covered with a thin, whitish down ; nerves, prominent ; petiole, rather slender. The sterling merit of this new and very superior native variety, will cause it to be rapidly diifused over the country. Wilmington Grape. — This new native Grape was shown, by Mr. Edward Tatnall, of Delaware, at the United States Agricultural Fair, held in Philadel- phia, iu 185G ; and, from the investigations of Dr. L. P. Bush, of Wilmington, Delaware, it is believed to have originated in that city. Bunch, of good size, 4^ inches long by 3i broad ; not compact ; sometimes shouldered. Berry — Size, eleven-sixteenths of an inch long by eleven-sixteenths in its transverse diameter. Form, round, slightly inclining to oval. Skin, yellow- ish green. Flesh, tender in texture, and not pulpy. Flavor, saccharine and pleasant. Quality, as a native Grape, "best." Maturity, last of September. This variety is well worthy of cultivation, Canadian Chief Grape. — A remarkably fine bunch of this Grape was received through the Editor of the Horticulturist. It is represented to be a hybridizecT seedling that originated at Hamilton, Canada West, and is said to be hardy and very productive, the vine having borne one hundred and thirty-four clusters from sixteen to twenty-four ounces each. Bunch, very large, seven inches long by six broad; compact. Berry — Size, five-eighths of an inch by five-eighths. Forii, round. Skin, green, with a faint amber tint. Flesh, tender. Flavor, pleasant, but subacid, probably from being pulled before being thoroughly ripe, as the seeds were evidently somewhat im- mature. Maturity — the specimen examined was received in November, though no information was given in reference to the time it was taken from the vine. Any grape that will produce such large bunches in the open air, and especially in the cold climate of Canada, must be desirable. But is it a native variety ? Some of the Committee who tliiidv it is not, regard it as the White Sweetwater. There is a difference, however, in the time of ripening of the two as well as in the size and character of the bunch, that of the Canadian Chief being large and compact, while the other is medium-sized, and oi)en or loose in its structure. Archer Grape. — This is an accidental seedling, that sprung up, five or six years ago, in the garden of Mr. Ellis S. Archer, at the X. W. corner of Seven teenth and Arch Streets, Philadelphia. INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. Bunch, rather large, five inches long by four in width. Berry — Size, full raedinm, eleven-sixteenths of an inch long by eleven-sixteenths broad. Form, round, in- clining to oval. Skin, greenish-white, and, where exposed to the sun, of an amber tint, covered with a dense white bloom. Flesh, not pulpy, juicy. Flavor, sweet and pleasant. Quality, "very good." Maiuriiy, eaten on the 5th of November. The leaf of this variety presents strong indications of a foreign parentage ; and though, from this circumstance and its late period of maturity, it may not succeed well at the north, yet it might prove valuable in a southern latitude. Meister Apple. — Specimens of this variety were received from Mr. Charles Kessler, of Reading, Berks County, Pennsylvania. It is believed to have origi- nated in Berks County. Size, below medium, 2^ inches long by 2f broad. Form, round- ish— conical. Skin, greenish- yellow, striped with red, with numerous white spots contain- ing, sometimes, a russet point in the centre, and many russet dots and short concentric curvilinear lines in and around the basin. Stem, from three-eighths to one- half an inch long by one-eleventh thick, inserted in a wide, mode- rately deep cavity. Calyx, small, closed, set in a narrow, shallow basin. Core, medium. Seed, light brown, obovate, one-third of an inch long, three-sixteenths broad, one-eighth thick. Flesh, tender, "very good." Maturity, eaten on the 3d of Oc- tober. Christiana Apple, (R. 9, T. 10). — This beautiful apple origi- nated near Wilmington, Delaware, on the pre- mises of Mr. John R. Brinckle, and fruited in 1855, for the first time. Size, medium, 2f inches in length by three in breadth. Form, round- ish, inclining to conical. Skin, beautifully striped and mottled with carmine on a yellowish ground. Stem, one-half an inch long by one-eleventh thick, inserted in a deep, rather narrow cavity. hjx, partially closed, Christiana Apple Meister Apple. Flavor, sprightly and pleasant. Quality, :i9^ INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. set in a deep, moderately wide, jilaited basin. Cure, small. Seed, brownish-gray, many of tliem trianjrular, one-third of an inch lono^, three-sixteenths broad, one- ninth thick, Fles/i, yellowish while, Gnc tcxtnre, juicy. Flitvur, pleasant, delicate, spri.ditly, vinous. QuaUty, "very good." Maturity, jirobably November ; the specimen examined was eaten on the 4th of December, when it wus overripe. Hitter Pear. — Specimens were received from Mr. Louis Kitter, of Reading, Pennsylvania. The tree from whicli they were obtained was purchased in the spring of 1851, for tlie Seckel, from an agent of !^lr. John Perkins, of ]\Ioorestowii, Is'ew Jersey; but, instead of having a rounded head, it is pyra- midal in its growth. Size, small, If inches long by If broad. Form, obovate. Skin, greenish-yellow — a good deal russcted, with, occasionally, a faint brown cheek. Stem, long. If inches in length by \ thick, in- serted without depression. Calyx, rather large — set in a shallow, plaited basin. Core, medium. Seed, small, five-sixteenths of an inch long, three- sixteenths wide, one-eighth thick. Flesh, fine texture, melting, and buttery. Flavor, saccha- rine, with the full Seckel aroma. Quality, " best." Maturity, October 29. This variety may prove to be the Seckel, although it appears to differ from it in the length of the stem, time of ripening, and in the shape of the tree. It is possible, however, that these several points of difference may be merely acci- dental departures from the normal condition of the Seckel, without being permanent character- istics. Should this not be the case, then the Ritter is worthy of cultiTation, chiefly because Eitter Pear. it will prolong, in another variety, the delicious Seckel aroma. Davis Pear. — Specimens of this seedless native Pear were received from Mr. Samuel Davis, Haverford Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania — six miles from Philadelphia, on the Westchester Road. They were produced by a grafted tree on his premises, the graft having been taken, about twenty years ago, by Mr. Davis's father, from a seedling on the farm of his neighbor, Mr. Adam Litzenberg, soon after which the original tree died. Size, small. If inches long by If in breadth. Form, rather varialjle, sometimes roundish, usually obtuse-pyriform, widest at the crown, and obscurely pentangular. Skin, much russeted, with occasionally marblings of greenish-yellow. Stem, three-eighths of an inch long by one-eighth thick, inserted in a very shallow cavity. Calyx, small, partially reflexed, set in a wide, somewhat irregular, super- ficial basin. Core, medium, solid, being entirely devoid of seed cavities. Seed, not abortive, but altogether absent. Flesh, buttery, gritty around the core. Flavor, slightly aromatic, and somewhat vinous. Quality, "good." Maturity, last of September and beginning of October. This seedless variety, though much smaller than the Poire sans Pepins, is much superior to it in quality. Were it not for the grittiuess near the core, the Davis would be rated " very good." And even with this objectionable feature, it com- mands a good price in the Philadelphia market. Frankford Pear.— Specimens of this new variety were received from Mr. Robert Cornelius, who procured them from a grafted tree on the premises of Mr. Frankford, Oct. 29. Frankford, Nov. 14. Eli Merkins, a mile and a quarter from Frankford, Philadelphia. The seedling from which the grafts were obtained, Mr. Merkins found, four years ago, growing on the bank of Frankford Creek, near the bridge, and having on it three or four pears. The following year, he again saw it in fruit, and found the specimens of so good a quality, that he determined to remove the tree to his own premises. This he accomplished at the proper season, taking the precaution, at the same time, to insert several grafts from it into a large, white Doyenne that stood on his grounds. The original tree perished, but, fortunately, the grafts succeeded, and from them were produced the specimens examined by the Committee. Size, medium, 2;^ inches long by 2 and 5-16ths broad. Form, roundish, some- times inclining to pyriform, not unfrequently obovate. Skin, yellow, containing many russet dots, especially towards the crown, and having, occasionally, a faint blush on the part exposed to the sun. Stem, usually about thirteen-sixteenths of an inch long by one-sixth thick, sometimes short, thick, and fleshy, at its termination ; inserted in a small cavity. Calyx, medium, open ; set in a shallow, moderately wide basin. Core, medium. Seed, generally abortive ; when perfect it is ovate, dark brown, an angle at the obtuse end, plump, three-eighths of an inch long, one-fifth wide, one-seventh thick. Flesh, fine texture, and buttery. Flavor, ex- ceedingly rich, with a delicious aroma. Quality, "best." Maturity, November. This new native Pear is a decided acquisition, and, as soon as its value becomes known to the pomological community, it will be extensively cultivated. One specimen was examined on the 29th of October, and was pronounced "very good." But, on the 14th of November, when it attained its full maturity, there was no hesitation in placing it among the "best." Its original locality, in Frankford, was in the immediate vicinity of the place of origin of the " Philadelphia" Pear. Wilmington Pear (1847, E. 1). — The Wilmington is a seedling of the Passe Colmar, raised from seed planted by the undersigned in 1847, and grafted quince in 1850. This grafted tree fruited for the first time in 1855, and INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. Wilmington Pear. [7 Ontario Pear. only a sinplo sjicciincn, wliich wns eaten on the 2(J of October. In 185G, it matured ten Kpeciincns ; the first was eaten on the 9th of September — the last during the meeting of the American Pouiolo- gical Society in Kochcster. The original tree has not yet fruited. Size, medium, from 2 and 11- 16th inches by 2^ to 2} by 2 and 5-lGths. Form, sometimes ob- tuse-pyriforra, somewhat com- pressed at the sides, sometimes roundisli-ovate ; which of these two forms will ultimately be the normal one, can only be deter- mined when the variety has fully established its characteristic pe- culiarities. Skin, cinnamon rus- set, with patches of greenish- yellow on the shaded side, and sometimes faint traces of carmine on the part exposed to the sun, witli occasionally a number of black dots, encircled by a car- mine margin. Stem, somewhat variable, from 1^ inches by one- eighth to one and one-fourth by one-sixth, of a uniform, cinnamon color, curved ; inserted obliquely in a small cavity, and, in some instances, without depression. Calyx, medium, with short, erect segments, set in a wide, rather deep, sometimes slightly furrowed basin. Core, medium. Seed,d3ivk brown, acuminate, with an angle, at the obtuse end, three-eighths of an inch long, three-sixteenths wide, and one-eighth thick. Flesh, fine texture, melting, and buttery. Flavor, rich and saccharine, with the delicious aroma of the Passe Colmar. Qnah'ii/, " hest.''^ Ma- turity, September. Eaten, Octo- ber 2, 1855. Ontario Pear. — This new na- tive Pear was concisely noticed in our Rochester Report. Since that time, other specimens have been examined, which enables the Committee to give a more full INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REPORT. description of the variety. The Ontario is a seedling of the Canandaigua. It originated at Geneva, Western New York, and, in its general appearance, bears a considerable resemblance to the Washington. Size, 2| inches by 2 and l-16th. Form, long, obovate, inclining to pyriform. Skin, greenish-yellow, with numerous pale green dots, which become russet on the shaded side, and sometimes carmine on the side exposed to the solar rays. Stem, three-fourths of an inch long by one-tenth thick, inserted, by a fleshy termi- nation, in a slight depression. Calyx, medium, open, set in a wide, shallow, fur- rowed basin. Core, medium. Seed, light brown, long-ol)ovate, three-eighths of an inch long, three-sixteenths wide, and one-eighth thick. Flesh, line texture, buttery. Flavor, sugary and rich. Quality, "very good." Maturity, last of September. Huntington Pear. — Specimens of this and the two succeeding varieties, were exhibited at the late meeting of the Society at Rochester, by Mr. S. P. Carpenter, of New Rochelle, New York, and were noticed in the Report of the Native Fruit Committee, but not minutely described. Since the adjournment of the Society, other specimens, through the kindness of Mr. Carpenter, have been received, and exam- ined, and a visit to the original trees has been made by a member of the Committee. The Huntington was found growing in the woods, and, while small, was taken up by the late James Huntington, Esq., of New Rochelle, and planted in front of his residence. The tree is now twenty or thirty years old, and pyramidal in its growth. Having been planted in a shallow, stony piece of ground, it does not appear to thrive well, although it produces fruit of an excellent quality. Size, rather under medium, 2 inches long by 2 and 5-16ths broad. Form, roundish-obovate, broad at the crown, tapering to the base, sometimes resembling in appearance the Vesouziere. Skin, yellow, with a num- ber of russet dots, andnotunfrequent- lyared cheek. Steyn, from five-eighths to one inch long by one-eighth thick, inserted in a mode- rately open cavity, which occasionally is quite wide and shallow. Calyx, rather large, set in a wide, not very deep basin. Core, medium. Seed, dark brown, obovate, five-sixteenths of an inch long, three- sixteenths broad, one-eighth thick. Flesh, fine texture, and buttery. Fla- vor, slightly vinous, with a peculiar, delicate aroma. Quality, Huntincrton Pear. Church Pear. very good." Maturity, middle of September. INTERMEDIATE NATIVE FRUIT REIHDRT. Cnrucir Peak. — I'hc Cliurcli Pear is believed to be a seedling; raised by an old ]Iiiirwfiiot settler at New lloelielle. The ori^^iiial tree stands uii tlie jireiniscs of L. i*. Miller, Escj., and is presumed to be nearly a hundred years uld. It bears, annually, from fourteen to twenty bushels of fruit, is uncomnnuily healthy and vi.u'orous, having no decayed limb about it, and spreads its lordly head over three or four square rods. The trunk, two feet above the ground, is six or seven feet in circumference. Si:c, medium, 2 aud 3-16th inches in length by 2 and 5-16lhs in breadth. Form, short-turbinatc, largest in the middle, and tapering both ways, ^/m, greenish- yellow, russeted at the base and crown, with occasionally russet markings on other portions of the exterior. Ste/)i, long, from 1 to If inches by | iu thickness, of a cinnamon color, and inserted without depression. Calyx, closed, with short seg- ments, set in a moderately wide, plaited basin. Cure, medium. Seed, brown, ovate, with an angle at the obtuse end, one-third of an inch long, one-fifth broad, one-eighth thick. Flesh, of line texture, and buttery. Flavor, mild, pleasant, and sufQciently saccharine. Quality, "very good." Maturity, commences ri|)en- iug about the middle of July, and continues till the end of September. Futui'e observation will determine whether or not the Clark Pear, of Connec- ticut, the Eerga- mot of Dr. Blood- good, of Flushing, the Sallaignac, of Germantown, and Carr's Autumn Bergamot, are synonymous with the Church of New Rochelle. Parsonage Pear.— The Par- sonage is also be- lieved to have ori- ginated at New Rochelle. It stands on the premises of the Rev. Dr. R. M. Morgan, and is a constant and abundant bearer, of from ten to twenty bushels an- nually. Size, large, 3^ inches in length by 21 in width. Form, pyriform, usually rounded at the base, sometimes long-turbinatje. Skin, yellow, in- terspersed with nu- Selleck Pear. merousrussetdots, a good deal russeted at the base, and russet markings at the crown. Stem, five-eighths to six-eighths of an inch long by one-sixth thick, inserted, with little or no depression, by sometimes a fleshy termination. Calyx, medium ; seg- ments, short and stiff, and set in a very shallow, slightly plaited basin. Core, small. Seed, dark brown, acuminate, three-eighths of an inch long, three-sixteenths wide, one-eighth thick. Flesh, somewhat granular in texture, and buttery. Flavor, vinous. Quality, "good" — at least, perhaps "very good." Maturity, last of September. Selleck Pear. — A box containing fine specimens of this Pear was sent, by Mr. Albert Bresec, of Hubbardton, Yermont, to the recent meeting of the American Pomological Society at Rochester. Having, however, been accident- ally misplaced, it was overlooked till after the adjournment of the Society. The specimens were accompanied by a letter from Mr. B., in which it was stated that the tree, supposed to be the original one, was planted, between the years 1818 and 1825, on the farm of Mr. Columbus Selleck, Seedbury, Yermont, where it now stands. Size, large, sometimes very large, usually 3|- inches long by 2 and ll-16ths in width. Form, obovate-pyriform, sometimes roundish-obovate, with a more or less distinct neck, and uneven surface. Skin, thick, yellow, with many large, russet dots, and rarely a red cheek. Stem, \\ inches long by \ thick, curved, inserted somewhat obliquely, by a fleshy termination, into a slight cavity, which is some- times nearly obsolete. Calyx, small, segments erect, set in a shallow, contracted, plaited basin. Core, medium. Seed, black. Flesh, rather coarse in texture, buttery. Flavor, some resemblance to that ot the Bartlett, but more saccharine. Quality, "very good." Matiirity, end of September and beginning of October. Watermelons. — The "Mountain Sweet" Watermelon has, for many years, been universally conceded to be the best market variety cultivated in the Middle States. Of late, however, it has lost some of the qualities that recommended it so highly to favor. This deterioration has probably been owing to the influence of pollen from inferior kinds gi'own in its vicinity. For the last three years, a member of the Com- mittee has been procuring, from the South, and chiefly from the interior of South Carolina, seed of many new watermelons of high repute, and disseminating them. During the past season, fine specimens of some of these kinds were received, and the opportunity thus afforded of ascertaining their merits has not been neglected. At least four of them are unquestionably equal in quality to the Mountain Sweet when in its highest state of perfection; these are the Clarendon, Souter, Ravens- croft, and Bradford. Another, Odell's Large White, though not equal, in some respects, to the four preceding, will, on account of its size and productiveness, become a desirable and profitable variety for market purposes. Clarendon Watermelon. — This fine Watermelon is also known under the name of the Dark Speckled. It originated in Clarendon County, South Carolina, and, when pure, may at all times be readily recognized by the peculiarly charac- teristic markings of the seed. Size, large. Form, oblong. Skin, a mottled gray, with dark green, inter- rupted, longitudinal stripes, irregular in their outline, and comjiosed of a succes- sion of peninsulas and isthmuses. Rind, thin, not exceeding half an inch. Seed, yellow, with a Hack stripe extending around tlie edge, and from one to three black spots on each side, the form and number corresponding on the two sides. Flesh, scarlet to the centre. Flavor, sugary and exquisite. Quality, "best." Souter Watermelon. — This fine Watermelon originated in Sumptcr District, South Carolina. Size, large, sometimes weighing twenty or thirty pounds. Form, oblong, occa LIFE OF JOHN 0. LOUDON. sioimlly roundish. Sli'n, peculiarly marked villi finely reticulated pray islands, separated by i)alc p:roen straits, and having irrcfrular, dark green, longitudinal stripes, extending from the base to the ape.x. Hind, thin, altout half an inch. Seed, jiure cream white, with a faint russet stripe around the edge. Flesh, deep red to the centre. /Vat-or, sugary and delicious. Qualif t/, "hcsV^ Productive- ness, said to be unusuallt great. Ravenscroft Watkrmklon — This valuable Watermelon originated with Col. A. O. Summer, of South Carolina. Size, large. Form, oblong. »SZ-m, dark green, faintly striped and marked with green of a lighter shade, and divided, longitudinally, Ijy sutures, from an inch and a quarter to two inches apart. Hind, not more than half an inch in thickness. Seed, cream color, tipped with brown at the eye, and having a brown stripe around the edge. Flesh, fine red, commencing abrujitly at the rind, and extending to the centre. Flavor, delicious and sugary. Qnaliti/, "Ijest." l^RAPFORD Watermelon. — The Bradford is a highly prized South Carolina Watermelon. Size, large. Form, oblong. S/:in, dark green, with gray, longitudinal stripes mottled and reticulated with green. Find, not exceeding half an inch in thick- ness. Seed, yellowish white, slightly mottled, and with a yellowish-brown stripe around the edge, Flesh, fine red to the centre. Flavor, fine and sugary. Qualify/, "best." Odell's Large White Watermelon This immense Watermelon originated with a negro man on the property of Col. A. G. Summer, of South Carolina. Size, very large, sometimes weighing sixty pounds. Form, round. Skin, gray, with fine green network spread over its uneven surface. Find, nearly three-fourths of an inch in thickness. Seed, large, grayish black, and not numerous. Flesh, pale red. Flavor, fine. Quality, "very good." Productiveness, said to exceed that of most other kinds. The large size and long-keeping quality, after being separated from the vine, will recommend this variety — especially for the market. W. D. Brinckle, M. D., Cliairman. A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF JOHN CLAUDIUS LOUDON. BY HIS WIDOW. (COXCLCDED FROM PAGE 64.) In the year 182T, Mr. Loudon suggested the idea of planting some public walk according to the natural system, and naming the trees in the way that has lately been done in Kensington Gardens. The same year, the first notices were inserted of horticultural societies offering premiums for the production of certain vegetables, flowers, and fruits — a plan which has since been carried to a very great extent. In the year 1828, the Magazine of Natural History was begun, being the first work of its kind; and this work, though not quite so successful as the Gardener''s Mocjnzine, was very popular, and has had numerous imitators. Towards the close of this year, Mr. Loudon paid another visit to the Continent, to obtain informa- tion for a new edition of the Fncyclopcedia of Agricvlture. After traversing France, he proceeded through Strasburg to Munich and Stuttgard ; he afterwards visited Heidelberg and Carlsruhe, and returned by Metz to Paris, and thence to England. In the Gardenerh Magazine for 1828, he 'began to give an account of this tour, and he continued it through several of the succeeding volumes, inter- LIFE OF JOHN C. LOUDON. spersing the descriptions of the various places he saw with a mass of valuable reflections on various subjects, which he conceived would be useful to gardeners, la the following year, 1829, he suggested the idea of having breathing zones, or unoccupied spaces half a mile broad, at different intervals around London ; and, in the next article to this, he first suggested the idea of making use of the manure now carried to waste by the common sewers, a plan whi%h has since engaged the attention of many talented persons. Another plan suggested by him about this period, was for establishing national schools, or, as he termed them, parochial institutions for education. In the same volume, is a suggestion for the establish- ment of a gardeners' fund for the relief of the widows and families of deceased gardeners. About this time, Mr. Loudon formed his first acquaintance with me. My father died in 1824, and finding, on the winding up of his aS"airs, that it would be neces- sary for me to do something for my support, I had written a strange, wild novel, called "The Mummy," in which I had laid the scene in the twenty-second century, and attempted to predict the state of improvement to which this country might possibly arrive. Mr. Loudon chanced to see the review of this book in the Literary Gazette, and as, among other things, I had mentioned a steam-plough, it attracted his attention, and he procured the work from a circulating library. He read it, and was so much pleased with it, that he published, in the Gardener^s Magazine for 1828, a notice of it under the head of " Hints for Improvements ;" and he had from that time a great desire to become acquainted with the author, whom he supposed to be a man. In February, 1830, Mr. Loudon chanced to mention this wish to a lady, a friend of his, who happened to be acquainted with me, and who immediately invited him to a party, where she promised him he should have the wished-for introduction. It may be easily supposed that he was surprised to find the author of the book a woman ; but I believe that, from that evening, he formed an attachment to me, and, in fact, we were married on the 14th of the following September. Immediately after our marriage, Mr. Loudon began to rewrite the Encydopcedia of Gardening, which was published in the course of the year 1831. On the 1st of October, 1830, he published the first part of a work, in atlas folio, entitled " Illustrations of Landscape Gardening and Garden Architecture ;" but, from the very expensive nature of the work, and the limited number of subscribers, he found it necessary to discontinue it, and it did not proceed beyond the third part, which appeared in 1833. In the beginning of the year 1831, he had an application to lay out a botanic garden at Birmingham, and he agreed to do it merely on the payment of his expenses. On this occasion I accompanied him, and after spend- ing about six weeks in Birmingham (which, though it is my native town, I had not seen for several years), we made a tour through the North of England, visiting the lakes in Cumberland and Westmoreland. It was at Chester that we saw a copy of Mr. Paxton's Horticidtural Register, the first rival to the Gardeiier's 3Iagazine, which, at the time we were married, produced £750 a year, but which gradually decreased from the appearance of the Horticidtural Register till the period of Mr. Loudon's death, immediately after which it was given up. After visiting the beautiful scenery in Westmoreland and Cumberland, we passed through Carlisle, and entered Scotland by way of Longtown and Langholme. It happened that there was a fair at the latter place, and the town was so exceedingly full that they not only could not give us a bed, but we could not even find a place to sit down. When we entered Ayrshire, the county to which Mr. Loudon's family ally belonged, he was received with public dinners at Ayr and Kilmar blic dinner was also preparing for him at Glasgow ; but while we were stay LIFE OF JOHN C. LOUDON. at Crosslec Cottntre, near Paisley, the residence of Ari'liil)al(l "Woodhonsc, Esq., one (if liis most Iiiu^hly esteemed friends, he received a letter from IJayswater, iu- furniinir him of the severe iUness of his mother, and her earnest wish to see him. Mr. Loudon was warmly attached to his mother, and as, nnfortiinatoly, we did not receive the letter till late at nijjlit, for wc had been dinincr in tlie nei ). Now seize the tip, of the tongue of the afflicted fowl, and extend it out and downwards, which will enable you to introduce the doubled horse-hair as far down the windpipe as necessary ; let the hair untwist, or assist a rotmry motion with your thumb and finger, which will entangle the slimy worm, and it will be found on the hair on withdrawing it. Sometimes two or more are brought away at one operation, much to the relief of the suflerer, and, when skilfully performed, effects a perfect cure, to which I can testify. The following drawing represents this parasite consider- ably enlarged. Tlie head is cup-shaped, open, the larger being the female ; the male is smaller, and soldered on, centrally, at some distance behind the head of the female, the body of which is con- torted, and watered by thread-like bodies, of various shades of co- lors, curiously i)laited and twisted within, and distinctly visible through the transparent cuticle. Those may prove to consist of species of ento- phyta, or vegetable parasites, found within the animal parasite, many of which are beautifully illustrated, and the accounts published, by the Smithsonian Insti- tute,, the discovery and research of your fellow-citizen, Joseph Leidy, M. D. Very respectfully yours, Jacob Stauffer. Mount Joy, Pa. Entozoa from the trachea of a young chicken. THE BUCKWHEAT-TREE. Cliftonia mylocorium. This curious production has excited very little attention among us. native ; and, no doubt, partially hardy, if not entirely so, in this latitude VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. tnniiiig to the second volume of Nuttall's Supplement to MicJiaux's /Sj/ya, the fol- lownp; curious account is found, together with ca figure of the tree in blossom : — " This elegant tree, which enlivens the borders of the pine-barren swamps of the South, is met with nowhere north of the Savannah River, on the line of Georgia and South Carolina. From hence, it is occasionally seen in all the lower and maritime region of Georgia, as well as the lower part of Alabama and West Florida. It attains the. height of eight to fifteen or more feet, being much branched, and spreading out at the head like an apple-tree. The verticillate branches are regularly covered with a smooth, gray bark. The wood is compact and whitish. It is exceedingly ornamental in flower, which takes place in early spring (March), when the whole surface of the tree is covered with the most delicate, elegant, and somewhat fragrant flowers. * * When the flowers are past, the tree puts on a still more curious appearance, being loaded with triangular-winged capsules, re- sembling buckwheat, and hence its common name. The leaves resemble those of privet, are evergreen, thick, very smooth, not perceptibly veined, and glaucous beneath." Mr, Bartram discovered this tree, and very clearly describes it as " a new shrub of great beauty and singularity. It grows erect seven or eight feet high. A multitude of stems arise from its root ; these divide themselves .into ascending branches, which are garnished with abundance of narrow, lanceolate, obtuse- pointed leaves, of a light green, smooth and shining. These branches, with their many divisions, terminate in simple racemes of pale, incarnate flowers, which make a fine appearance among the leaves. The flowers are succeeded by desiccated, triquetrous pericarpi, each containing a single kernel." (Bartram's Travels, p. 31.) How so fine a plant came to be overlooked for near half a century, and to be still unintroduced among us, is really surprising. " In the Northern States, and in Britain," Nuttall says, " it is a hardy greenhouse plant, and well worth cultivating. But, to see it in perfection, you must behold it in its native swamps, attaining the magnitude of a tree, and blooming profusely on the verge of winter, without any- thing near it as a contrast, save a withered carpet of leaves and leafless plants, and in the midst of a gloom and solitude that scarcely anything else at the same time relieves." He adds : " In Bartram's Botanic Garden, Philadelphia, it appeared to be quite hardy, and survived for many years without protection." If any of our friends have this tree, they will confer a favor by informing us, and if any correspondents at the -South can supply us with a few seeds the coming season, they will especially oblige us. — Editor Horticulturist. VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY — THEORY OF NUTRITION AND GROWTH. BY YARDLEY TAYLOR, LOUDON COUNTY, VA. When philosophers began to make observations on the operations of nature, and to form theories respecting its laws, they did so by observing but a few of the facts bearing upon the subject. Thus their theories were often very imperfect at first, and founded more upon fancy than fact. But as facts began to be more and more observed, and finally acknowledged as the only true base of theory, most of these, being fanciful, have been so modified, as to conform nearer to what appears to be the true laws of nature. Witness the ancient theories of the motions of the earth and the planets, &c., of the circulation of the blood, and the process of ition and growth of animals, as well as the process of nutrition and growth VE(iKTAl{I,E niYsioLoay. of vcirctablcs. riiilosopliers liavt- jiivcir so much altciition niid research to tlic motion of the heavenly botlies, ami made tliemselves so well ae(|uuiiite(l with the laws jroverninp; the same, as to l)e able to predict the time and place of the appear- ance of a hitherto undiscovered jilanct. The tlieory of the circulation of the blood, and of nutrition, is believed to corresjiond very nearly to the laws of its govern- ment, and will account for the varied ))henomcna wo witness. The science of vcii:ctable i)hysiolofry, being of later origin, may be said to have not yet reached that degree of jicrfection of which it is capal)le, nor so fully to correspond to the facts bearing upon it. When ])hiloso|)hy began to turn its attention to the circulation of the sap, and the growth of vegetable matter, and to form a theory of its laws, the circulation of the blood in the animal economy, and its laws of nutrition, were suj)posed to present a parallel case so nearly allied, as to l)c taken as the type of tlie law in that case. The fact of the circulation of the sap from the roots to the leaves, and the proof that carbonic acid gas was iml)il;ed l)y them, while water and oxygen gas was given off, seemed to point strongly to the conclusion that the leaves acted to the vegetable in a similar manner to what the lungs did in the animal. It was believed that the carbonic acid and other substances were taken up by the roots ill a fluid or gaseous state with the sap, and then carried by it to the leaves, where, being exposed to sunlight in their Itroad surfaces, a decomposition or change took l)lace, making these materials organizable, or ready to be assimilated by the plant. This newly i)repared matter was now supposed to descend between the bark and the wood, and to be deposited as growth, thus carrying out the parallel between the animal and vegetable economy. This parallel is beginning to be seen not to exist to the extent it was once thought. Professor Gray, in his Botanical Text- Booh, says "there is no circulation in plants similar to that in animals." In the last number of the last volume of the JlurticuUurist (page 555), is an article on the "True Theory of Grafts." In this article, Dr. Lindley's "own words" are directly applicable to the case. " It is, however, now certain," he says, " that although wood is formed by a descending process, yet that its descent is not in an organized state. Fluid matter — out of which it is produced — passes indeed from above downwards, but the formation itself is wholly local and super- ficial, and, consequently, there is no such thing as an incasement of the lower part of a tree by wood descending from above." This " important fact," as he terms it, receives " a new demonstration" from the experiment of " Dr. Maclean," who, in grafting a white* beet on a red beet, ".and vice versa,'''' showed that there was no " blending of the two colors," but that the growth of the white part made white growth, and of the red part made red growth, whether the root from which it received its sap was red or white. Thus jiroving, that of each ]iart "its own cells produced its own coloring matter as they formed superficially.", "This is entirely consistent," says the writer of the article alluded to, "with all that has been discovered by the modern })liysiologists who have applied themselves to a study of the natue of the individual cells of which plants consist." Admitting these ])Ositions to be true, and "that each cell has its own inherent power of secretion," and that "fluid matter out of which wood is produced," is " not in an organized state" in its supposed downward descent, it may be asked, where is the necessity for such " descending process" at all ? What advantage is gained by the " fluid matter" being carried to the leaves, as is supposed, if, in its descent, it is not organized, but that " each cell has its own inherent power of secretion," and " perseveringly retains that which is natural to it?" Indeed, are strong reasons for believing that there is no such downward process Where is its evidence ? where is the necessity for its existence ? It has " VEGETABLE PHYSIOLOGY. supposed that light acts by decomposing the carbonic acid gas in the sap as it is carried through the leaves, and thus enables the plant to appropriate the carbon in building up its own structure. But is there any evidence in chemistry that sunlight can decompose carbonic acid, or release oxygen from its compounds in any case. Until this is shown, it would seem to be hardly proper to attribute to it an effect without some proof of its power to produce such an effect. That such an effect is produced, is no evidence that that was the agent in producing it ; more particularly, as there is an agent in nature that is known to produce such an effect, and one within reach of every plant. That agent is electricity, the power of which is perhaps not yet fully ascertained, but enough is already known to consider it fully capable of performing all that may l)e required of it in the growth of plants. The beautiful art of gilding by galvanism is proof of this. In this case, the metal is dissolved in acid, the oxygen here dissolving the metal, making it fluid and colorless. Now, if the object to be gildeil is connected with the pole of a battery, and galvanism applied, the one pole will attract the oxygen, and the metal in solution will be drawn to the other pole, and will be distributed over the surface to be gilded. Now, as carbonic acid gas is a union of carbon and oxygen (and it is from this that vegetable physiologists generally consider wood is derived in its growth), and as carbon is positive and oxygen is negative, it is fair to presume that the application of elec- tricity in such case would release the oxygen and retain the carbon, and unite it to the already fornjed wood of the plant. That carbonic acid gas is carried up by the sap as well as imbibed by the leaves, is now generally admitted, and as this gas is readily imbibed by water, and will unite with it in large proportion, we have the exact condition necessary to effect the object desired, on the application of electricity, without resorting to any supposed hypothesis. That electricity is present, in sufficient quantities, during the growing season, we have reason to believe from experiments already made. In a work published in New York, and styled " The Farmer's Guide to Scientific and Practical Agri- culture," by Henry Stevens, of Edinburgh, and J. P. Norton, of Yale College, is an article on "Electro-Culture." In this article, the author quotes the language of William Sturgeon, of Manchester, who has bestowed much attention to the subject of electricity in all its bearings, and who asserts that "this active element of nature is so universally diffused through every part of the terrestrial creation, that it becomes an occupant of every part of the earth's surface, and of the shell of air that surrounds it ; that trees, shrubs, plants, flowers, and crops of every kind, partake of this electric distribution ;" and then goes on to show that "each individual object is requisitely susceptible of disturbance when the circumstances vary," when they become "positive" and "negative" to each other. This con- dition, "the various objects which constitute the vegetable clothing of the land are now in precisely the same condition, being positive and negative with regard to each other. A similar inequality of electric force occurs among growing plants and their manures, and even amongst the various elements which constitute the latter, no two of them being precisely alike at the same time." And after describing the manner of electric action, the writer concludes : " From this train of reasoning, we are led to some of the most interesting points in vegetable physiology. The electro-polar condition of plants qualifies them in an eminent degree for the performance of those operations which develop electro-chemical phenomena ; and, what is very remarkable, the laws of this beautiful branch of electricity are rigidly enforced, and admirably complied with, in the decomposition of carbonic acid gas by their foliaceous parts; for, in this process, the elect positive carbon is drawn to the electro-negative poles of the plants in pre'c FRUIT growers' SOCIETY OF "WESTERN NEW YORK. the same manner as any electro-negative pole, artificially made, would release the carbon from the oxygen, and select it in preference." Tloro, then, we have a theory of nutrition and growth of vegetabk! matter, in connection with the living i)rinciple, that will acconnt for all wo see of growth, without having recourse to the doubtful theory of the downward flow of sa[), and the decomposing power of sunliglit. Admit that the sap carries up with it, from the roots, matter suitable for growth, and that with the carbonic acid gas imbil)ed by the leaves, and distributed through the sap (as it no doubt is), then, Ity the agency of electricity passing through the sap, and decomi)osing the gas, the car- bon is precisely in the place where needed for growth, and its conditions, as far as we know them, are as completely fidlillcd in that case as they can be supposed to be in the other. It will set aside the necessity of a supi)0sed downward flow of sap, which has l^een often asserted, but never proved. It will further release the theory of the absurdity of supposing two sets of vessels, one for the upward, and the other for the downward flow of sap, when no such distinction can be ]ierceiyed, and when there is no power that we know of can produce such an effect. IMiysiologists will doubtless see cause to advance this further step in theory, and no longer assign to nature's laws a round-about way of producing a result, when all we see in her laws are remarkable for simplicity. FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OP WESTERN-NEW YORK. The annual meeting of this Society was held at the Court House, in Rochester. The following gentlemen were unanimously elected officers for the ensuing year :— President — JoHN J. THOMAS, Union Springs. Viqe- Presidents — Asa Rowe, Sweden ; H. P. Norton, Brockport ; E. C, Frost, Catharine. Secretaries — J. B. Eaton, Buffalo ; H. E. Hooker, Rochester. Treasurer — W. P. Townsend, Lockport. A committee having been appointed to propose subjects for discussion, made a report of the following cjuestious, which were discussed in the order reported: — Small Fruits. — Several members of the Convention thought the Currant might be grown extensively, both for sale and for making wine. Mr. Barry being called upon to state some of the best varieties, recommended the Clierry Currant, the Wldte Grape, and the Victoria — the two latter excellent bearers ; the Cherry Currant, not quite so good, though very fair, and the Victoria, valuable on account of its lateness. ;Mr. Warren, of Genesee Co., found the Clierry Currant very productive, more so than any other variety. Dr. Long found the Black Currant to make the best wine, as good as Port Wine, and very much resemljliiig it, and exceedingly valuable for medicinal ])ur- poses. The doctor strongly recommended the growth and use of the Black Currant. The Rasphcrry was recommended by Mr. Burtis, and others, as worthy of extensive cultivation. Mr. H. E. Hooker said the fruit growers in the neighborhood of Cincinnati, had cultivated the Black Raspberry for market. It would bear shipment without y. The Anticerps, and other varieties, would spoil in twelve hours after -^^ FRUIT growers' SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORK. Col. Hodge, of Buffalo, had found the common Black Rasplerry, or Blacl- Cop, as it is generally called, the most hardy, and, take it altogether, the best for general cultivation. The Antiverps were tender unless grown among trees, which would afford sufficient protection. Covering the plants in the fall was troublesome and expensive. The Allen is a variety much grown around Buffalo, and is a native of Ohio. It is of a reddish black, and a superior fruit. Mr. Barry said the growing of the Anlwerps, and other good varieties, is pro- fitable near large cities. The Red Antiverp is the variety grown so extensively on the Hudson River for the New York market. His practice was, in the fall, to bend the tops down, and throw a spadeful of earth over them. The snow soon covers them. The Antwerps are far superior, in flavor, to the native varieties mentioned — so is the Orange, and other varieties that might be named — they are the Raspberry in perfection. The Red Antwerp is hardy in the gardens about this city, requiting no protection. Mr. Hooker observed that the Black Raspberry would usually sell higher than other varieties, being much sought after for preserving. The foreign varieties ripened very fast, and in a few hours were over-ripe, so that they required to be watched, or a portion of the crop was destroyed. This was not so with the Black. It would keep in good condition several days. Mr. Stone, of Oswego, thought it worthy of notice that the Black Raspberry was not attacked by worms when ripe, like other varieties. Mr. Barry considered this a bad sign, as insects were good judges of fruit. If the people want the Black Raspberry, and are willing to pay more for them than for a better sort, so as to make their growth more profitable, of course fruit growers would do well to raise them. But, when all the pains necessary to grow better kinds is a slight protection in winter, in exposed localities, no one should allow the trouble to frighten them from their culture. This would be progress in the wrong direction. The Black Raspberry is too woody for our fancy. If we were obliged to eat a certain amount of wood, we should prefer to have it separate from the fruit. Gooseberries. — Mr. Hooker thought Gooseberries a very profitable crop for market, if they could be grown free from mildew. Had raised some for market, which he sold at eighteen cents per quart. Mr. George Ellwanger had found that the Oroxcn Boh, White Smith, and other strong growing varieties, were not apt to mildew. Mr. Hooker ; on light soils, never got a good berry, even with thorough mulch- ing. Had no trouble in growing Gooseberries free from mildew on a heavy soil. Houghton's Seedling had never mildewed with him. Mr. Ellwanger had never known Houghton's Seedling to mildew, even on the lightest soil. Mr. Hodge cultivated twenty varieties. Found that, after two or three years, the mildew entirely destroyed them. Does better in a heavy soil, but even then mildews. Heavy pruning and a stiff soil, are the best preventives. Never recol- lected seeing mildew on Houghton's Seedling. Mr. Barry said the Gooseberry required a cool, moist soil. In Lower Canada, Maine, and in the northern part of this State, it succeeded almost as well as in the cool, moist climate of England. Mr. Warren, of Genesee Co., had raised the Gooseberry, without trouble from mildew, in a light soil, on the north side of a board fence. Shelter. — Benjamin Hodge thought this subject very important. Shelter was essential to the growth of fruit in many localities. . Peaches could not be raised fifalo — not on account of severe frosts, as many thought, but because cold, l)loak winds. At the lower end of Grand Isliiml, is a tract of land called Peach Haven, it is protected from the west winds hy a natural forest. There the Peach sncceeds well. Would advise the planting of the Norway Spruce; it grows quick, and will afford good shelter. Mr. Hooker said many fruit growers thought the ]n-iiicipal injury to the Peach, was from the cold northeasterly winds in the S|)ring, just after lilussoming. Mr. Burtis, of Rix-hester, would i)refcr the coldest, l)leakcst hill for a ]>each orchard, so that the-gruund would freeze deep, ami thus kec[) the trees l)acl< in the spring. Mr. Fish, of Rochester, had found, by e.\}ienence, that when the Peach crop failed, it was, in almost every case, in consequence of extreme culd in winter. Dr. Roach, of Ontario Co., has two peach orchards, of al)out two hundred trees each. One is exposed to the west wind, and the other })retty well sheltered. From the exposed orchard he gathered about a peck of peaches, last season, and, from the other, one hundred and fifty baskets. Mr. T3arry had no doubt but exposure to the west winds was very injurious. The winter before last, the west sides of hemlock-trees, standing in the natural forest, were injured by the cold of the winter, as were the west sides of ])rivet hedges, and other hardy plants, plainly showing the evil effects of continued cold blasts from the west. Pear plantations that were exposed, bore but little. Mr. Barry agreed with Mr. Hodge, that the Norway Spruce should be recommended as a suitable tree to plant for sheltering orchards. For small gardens, the Arbor Vitcf; would be suitable. Mr. Langworthy had cultivated the Peach for twenty-five years, somewhat as a profession. He found that both the east and west winds destroyed a good deal of fruit. As a general rule, the rows of trees on the east and west ends of the orchards bear but little, while those in the other parts of the orchard bear well. Of the value of shelter for the orchard, there can be but one opinion. Those who have travelled over the Western prairies, and noticed the effects of the tremendous winds that prevail there on fruit-trees, mwsifeel the importance of shelter. Were we to plant an orchard on the prairies, we would almost surround it with a belt of Norways. Hardy Grapes. — H. N. Langworthy would like to have gentlemen talk freely about the best method of cultivating the Grape. The finest Grapes, he often observed, were those that were grown on part of vines that had run up among the branches of some neighboring a[)ple, or other tree, where they seemed to fully ripen in the shade. From this, he argued that the sun was not necessary to ripen the Grape — it seemed to require warm air. Mr. Hodge hardly thought the Isabella Grape would ripen well in the neigh- borhood of Rochester, in ordinary seasons. Mr. Barry thought, with proper culture, the Isabella Grape could be ripened in Pvochester almost every season. He referred to the beautiful, well-riitened Isabellas raised by Mr. McKay, of Naples, Ontario Co., and called upon Mr. Johnson, who resided in the neighborbood of Mr. McKay, to give the meeting some in- formation as to his mode of culture, profits, &c. Mr. Johnson had been somewhat interested with Mr. McKay in the culture of the Grape. He pruned very close every season, and trained his vines on wire trellises some seven feet high. The lower branches, were trained very near the ground. The vines were one rod apart each way, making one hundred and sixty to the acre. He thoroughly manured. The fruit ripened every season perfectly. The soil is gravelly, with a clay subsoil, a-»id a northeastern exposure. The prod is about $1,200 per acre. Mostly sold at fifteen cents per pound. FRUIT GROWERS' SOCIETY OF "WESTERN NEW YORK. Mr. Flower, of Syracuse, stated that a gentleman near Syracuse had sold $800 worth of Grapes from half an acre. Mr. Hodge was acquainted with Mr. McKay's Grapes. They are ripe Grapes — a beautiful black. Not one-quarter of the people of Buffalo ever saw a ripe Isabella Grape. Mr. Ainsworth, of Bloomfield, was acquainted with Mr. McKay's Grapes. He has a favorable situation. He prunes very thoroughly both in the winter and in the summer, and thus the shade is lessened, and the fruit exposed to the light and air. Got a fair crop the third year after planting. At present prices, the culti- vator can depend upon from $500 to $800 per acre profit. Mr. Barry thought that this discussion must have convinced all that the Isabella Grape will ripen here every season ; and that the raising of hardy Grapes is not only profitable, but exceedingly so. Some remarks were made by Messrs. Johnson and Ainsworth in regard to their method of pruning the Grape. Grafting old Apple-Trees. — Mr. Hodge said, if trees were healthy and vigorous, it would be wise to graft ; if old and sickly, it would be much better to cut them down, and plant out young trees. Some years since, a gentleman in his neighborhood wished him to send men to graft an old orchard on his place. Mr, H. advised him to cut down his old trees and plant a young orchard. He found some itinerant grafters that did the work. In three years, he was so sick of the operation that he cut the whole down, and planted young trees. If the ground is well prepared by thorough, deep ploughing and manuring, and the trees well cultivated, young trees will bear so early as to astonish those who plant. In 1848, he furnished a gentleman with one hundred apple-trees. From these trees, in the fall of 1854, were picked one hundred and twenty barrels of apples. They were mostly Baldwins and Greenings. Two Baldwin trees bore three barrels each. Mr. Barber, of Ontario Co., had considerable experience in grafting old or- chards. He did not graft in the tops of trees, but cut off large limbs six or ten inches in diameter, or more. Then put in good, strong scions, of some quick growing varieties, all around the limb, as thick as they can set, about an inch apart. This must be done before the sap starts. Tliese scions grow and form a lip all around the limb of the tree, and the more feeble of these scions can be cut away. Trees treated in this way, had produced three barrels the third year. Had grafted Apple-trees in this manner that had been broken off, leaving nothing but a stump, and Pear-trees that had lost the entire head by blight, and never failed to get a good top. If the grafting was done early, a lot of shoots would soon appear, and furnish leaves enough to elaborate the sap. Mr. Hooker had pursued a similar method with Pear-trees destroyed with blight, and with success. Also, with Apple-trees in a few cases. The wood of the large limb became discolored, and showed signs of decay. Benjamin Fish thought there was no general rule for grafting old trees. If a tree had been well ]iruned and well cared for, it could be grafted with success ; but as farmers generally treat their trees, pruning them with an axe, they become diseased, and when a large limb of such a tree is grafted, the wood decays, and the tree becomes hollow and worthless. T. C. Maxwell said there were a number of old Apitle-trees near Geneva, planted in the olden time by the Indians. These trees were cut down by Gen. Sullivan. They show signs of this, as many of them have two trunks. These trees were grafted fifteen years since, and are now profitable trees. Mr. Barry thought Mr. Barber showed some knowledge of vegetable physiol remarks. He was opposed, however, to grafting old trees, when in a FRUIT UBOWEBS' SOCIETY OF WESTERN NEW YORK. of decline, except in special cases — as when a person takes possession of a farm destitute of good fruit, with a few old Ajiple-trees growing. In such a case, it would be well to graft, so as to have fruit enough for family use as quick as possible. !Mr. Barry said that the growing of Winter Pears was yet a new business. Winter Pears could be grown as easily as Fall Pears — the only difference is the trouble of keeping the Winter Pears until they ripeu. Most of the winter varie- ties wnll keep and ripen in barrels in the cellar, as easily as Apples. He had been surprised to find how little care and trouble they required. The J'Jastcr Buerre, Lawrence, and Vicar of Winljield, may be grown and ripened here as easily as Baldwin Apples. At this stage of the meeting, Mr. Barry presented to the Convention a fine dish of Easter Bcurri Pears, kept in a barrel in the cellar until taken out to bring to the meeting. Mr. Ilodge observed, that in selecting Pears for market culture, it was important not only to get Pears of good quality, but those that bear large croi)s. As to making Pear culture pay, there could be no question about that. A Pear-tree in Mr. H.'s vicinity, bore forty bushels last season, and another, belonging to his brother, bore twenty bushels, w4iich were sold at $2 per bushel. This was an inferior variety. Mr. Hooker found Winter Pears quite variable as to quality. Ilad no trouble in ripening them — the trouble was to grow them good. If well grown, they would ripen well. Mr. Barry observed that trees of Winter Pears did not bear fine fruit until they attained some age. The Gloiit Morceau did not bear fine fruit, even on the quince, until eight or ten years old. Winter Pears must be well grown. Imperfect, poor specimens will never ripen. A small, but very fine exhibition of Winter Fruit, was made by several members of the Society, — Rural New Yorker. 7 '^"''''^ ^^ PHARBITIS RUBRO-CCERULEA. — HABROTHAMNXJS AURANTIACUS. PHARBITIS RIJBRO-CCERTJLEA.* Convolvulaceae, Pentanilria Monogynia. The appearance alone, and the form of the flower, as well as can be produced in a picture, for want of an example from nature, oblige us to append to the Pharhitis this Ipomosa of authors. In adopting as a useful and probably natural division, tliis distinction of the Pharbitis from out of the still very irregular group of tlie Ipom«as, it seeras to us evidently impossible to separate the species in question from the Fharbitis hispida, Choisy (Convolvulus purpureus, L.), proto- type of this group of Liseron's Annual, so popular for the decoration of windows, balconies, and green arbors. Notwithstanding the tropical origin of the Pharbitis, it owes to its annual continuance as well as to its rapid development, the faculty, valuable to us, of vegetating and flowering in the open air in our climate. It is, at least, true of the common species, such as the Pharbitis hispida and P. Nil; as to the less common species here figured from a cultivated specimen, last summer, in the Van Houtte establishment, it appears to be of a more delicate nature. Pre-eminently distinguished in the genus by its general smoothness, and by the remarkable shortness of the calyx divisions, this species probably varies in color, and does not always present the contrast of blue and violet carmine on the two faces of the corolla. Let us add that, in the pictures of the model plant, the angles are sharply acuminate, instead of being, as in the figure, slightly indented and obtuse. Should not this constitute a specific diflerence ? A question im- possible to determine without studying the plant itself. Tiie Pharbitis ruhro-ccernlea comes from Mexico. It was introduced into Eng- land before 1834, by Mr. Samuel Richardson, then in the service of the Anglo- Mexican Society for the working of mines. We have every reason to believe that it is still very rare in the gardens on the continent. J. E. P. Culture. — The Pharhitis rubro-coerulea should be sown in a warm bed, and under glass, redressed, and put into a warm greenhouse ; or, simply sow it, soon after, in a warm greenhouse, in March or April. Its very tender stems require to be trained, twined into juniper branches, or any other small shrub with strong twigs. Later, place these stems within reach of some branched bush, to pass the summer, and the plant will very soon cover and ornament it. It will there display during the whole summer its numerous flowers, which are very large, and of the purest cerulean blue color ! Here and there, a flash of carmine will ornament some part of the corolla. — Flore des Sevres. HABROTHAMNXJS AURANTIACUS. KEGEL. This belongs to a sub-genus of Cestrura, and it is sometimes called Cestrum Aurantiacum. This elegant species flowered first in the garden of Rurich, about 1850; its origin Guatemala; its color suffices to distinguish it from the other species of Ilabrothamnus, and especially H. elegans. It is a valuable addition to our greenhouse shrubs. — Ibid. * See Frontispiece. Vol. VII.— March, 1857. 10 £V£R0REEN8. EVERGREENS.— WHAT SHALL AVE PLANT? Mr. BnisCs Catalogue. WELL prepared catalopne of trees, with information such as an experienced nurseryman is capable of giving, if he inclines to embod}'' liis accpiircd knowledge, we always •welcome. It is a task to make such an one, and we are disposed to give due credit to the maker when we lind liis information reliable. Such, in the main, is " A T>e- scriptive Catalogue of IFardy Trees ami Shrubs, grown and for sale V)y Robert Ruist, Rosedale Nurseries, Darl)j Road, near Philadelphia." Since the hreaking-up of the old Landretli Nurseries, in this neighborhood, Philadel- phia has presented fewer extensive establishments where trees in large quantities could be purcliased than would seem to be her proportion ; but land has become so dear in our vicinity, that nurserymen have been obliged to remove to some distance, Avhere ground was more reasonable, and they are distributed near to the neigh- boring towns and villages, such as Westchester, J. L. Darlington & Co. ; near Norristown, Montgomery County, Pa., Alan W. Corson ; Woodbury, N. J., David J. Griscom ; Germantown, Thomas Median, William Saunders, John Rright, ]\[essrs. Maupay, Bowman, &c. ; Elizabethtown, N. J., Wm. Reid; Marcus Hook, Pa., D. Fulton; near Burlington, N. J., George Deacon; Ilight.stown, N. J., Isaac PuIIen ; Falls of Schuylkill, Pa., David Ferguson. Several other establishments are growing up, and promise, ere long, to have a supply that will keep us by no means in the rear, in this respect. Meantime, we shall make Mr. Buist's Catalogue the text for a few remarks. The Evergreens are the first, and Mr. B.'s list is a highly interesting one. The following, from the Introduction, is excellent ; the difficulty generally is to induce the planter, or his successor, to cat away a fine tree, to make room for better growth : — " We must observe that nearly all planters of coniferons Evergreens make the same fatal error in planting the margins of walks, carriage-roads, and drives. Trees are generally small when procured from the nursery, and tlieyare at once planted about three to six feet from the edge of an entrance in place of twenty feet. Where an approach is required to be l)elted with Pines or Spruce, the ground should be well prepared, at least twenty feet from the edge of the drive ; and any quick-growing tree, such as Silver Maple, planted close to the verge, to give shade or shelter. When tlie Evergreens have attained the height of fifteen or twenty feet, the Maples can be dispensed witli, and removed to some boundary, or destroyed. Some may think this a tedious process, but it is the best and most permanent for having an approach to a mansion worthy of a name, and it will be a permanent memento of the planter to all eyes of taste." Nothing could be better than the above advice. We have seen recently many examples where the newly planted trees have encroached upon walks and drives, after four or five years' planting. It is difficult, we know by experience, to look upon the little trees of three or four feet height as towering monarchs, and this is one of the points which requires the experience of a landscape-gardener, or of a man of some forethought. Commencing on page 1, it may prove a useful service to many about to plant, if we insert Mr. Buist's remarks on the several species of Evergreens which he has for sale : — Trees and Shrubs can be removed from October to April, whilst the ground is ojien roots of trees should never be exposed to the air after arrival. They should be watered and placed in the eai-th at once till properly planted. " Abies, the Spruce Fir. All the species are ornamental, and many are useful as timber- trees. They grow in dry, elevated, rich soils, though some will do well in rich, moist valleys, in the vicinity of water, or in the midst of rocks. Their diversity of growth is excessive. We liave had Pi/rjmea twenty years, and it does not exceed three feet, whilst we have had Exceha to grow as much in one year. " Araucaria, a genus of remarkable trees, natives of the Southern Hemisphere, all of majestic growth, attaining the height of over 100 feet. We fear that none of them will be generally hardy here, but, in Southern latitudes, they grow freely in sandy, rich soil, with a dry bottom. " Berber is, Berberry. Some of the species of this genus have been raised to a new genus, Mahonia, by botanists. We adhere to the original name for all. They are pretty dwarf shrubs, with shining foliage of various forms, and all pleasing. All have yellow flowers. " Bnxns, Box-Tree, principally natives of the East, where they are much iised in formal gardening, as they may be trimmed into every imaginable shape. They like rich, deep, loamy soil, and succeed well in shady situations. " Cedrus. To this family belongs the celebrated tree of Mount Lebanon. They all delight in rich, sandy soil, with a dry bottom ; being natives of mountains, they are impatient of their roots being saturated at any period of the year. They are all trees of a gigantic habit, with a grandeur that excites universal admiration ; growth from 60 to 140 feet. ^^ Cephalotaxus, .Japan Yew-Tree. This valuable addition to our evergreen Conifers is one of the discoveries of R. Fortune, in his enterprising travels in Japan and China. Tlie spe- cies which bears his name, the only individual yet known to us, is a shrub of pleasing habit, and likely to become popular when a little more common ; at present, the supply is rather limited to make it available to the general luirchaser. Fortunii, Fortune's yew. '^Cerasus, the Laurel Bird Cherry. An indispensable family to the landscape, or the most humble gardener who has any pretensions to taste. It is the universal favorite of all Europe ; but, strange to say, the species are not perfectly hardy here, though south of Baltimore they grow luxuriantly. They are all shrubs of from four to fifteen feet high. "Cotoneaster, dwarf shrubs of procumbent habit, much used in covering rockwork or low walls ; small foliage ; white flowers, succeeded by scarlet berries, that are as brilliant as garnets during winter. " Cri/ptomeria, .Japan Cedar, a new tree of very distinct habit, from the mountains of Japan ; it delights in moist, rich soils ; of pyramidal form, with drooping branchlets ; perfectly hardy, and grows rapidly, two to four feet in a season : if planted in a poor soil, the foliage has a brown, stunted appearance." , As reg:ards the Crvptomeria, we have doubts in recommending: it even as far north as Philadelphia, and we would make the same remark regarding Deodara ; it has, in some favored situations, stood well in our neighborhood, but, generally speaking, it has proved a failure ; there may be, and probably is, much in what Mr. Buist says regarding a moist, rich soil for the Cryptomeria, and situation and aspect will have much to do with it, probably. Our native Cedars were every- where extremely injured by the winter of 1855, and we must not abandon these two beautiful Evergreens without furtlier trial. Cupressus funebris has not proved hardy with us, and the others require further trial. "Ciipressus, Evergreen Cypress. It is but very recently that we have been enabled to introduce this family amongst our hardy Evergreens. They appear to be natives of all parts of the globe, and recent introductions render them very interesting shnibs to tlie planter. They are best planted on lawns, or as single specimens in the shrubbery, or on the margin of walks. They attain considerable height, and will grow in any good soil. ^^Cunninghamia, sinensis or lanceolata, approaches Araucaria Braziliensis in appearance, but more hardy ; requires light, rich soil, and will grow thirty feet high ; scarce. " Eleacjnus hortensis. Silvery Oleaster, a rather tender shrub for this latitude. " Eriohotryajnponica, Lo(|uat. A small tree, with large foliage, nearly equal to the Mag- nolia, producing a fruit, in the winter season, very similar to an Apricot ; grows well in the Southern States. 'scallonia, dwarf shrubs, with rosy red flowers ; very desirable for Southern latitudes." (7o be continued.) EDITOa'B TABLE. :t5*ai^ Ad-istehim Report. — The ad-intrrini report from the Committee of the American Pomolo- gical Society, will he found of the highest interest. Tlie new fruits ripened the past season, have undergone the scrutiny of the Committee, and they give their unbiassed opinions in a manner highly satisfactory ; their labore will attract the attention of all persons interested in these important topics. The length of the above report has prevented the insertion, this mouth, of " Visits to Country Places, around Newport ;" Mr. Chorlton's excellent article on " Peas" supersedes one of the " Old Digger's" on the same subject, and contains later infoimation as to kinds to be selected for growth. The interesting biography of Loudon being concluded in the present number, we shall have more sj^ace in our next to devote to our correspondents. Memoir of Loudon. — This graceful memoir is concluded in the present number, and doubt- less has interested mogt of our readers. Mr. Loudon's career was a most useful one ; in respect to its close, it resembled Sir Walter Scott's ; he was ruined pecuniarily, however, by his own publication of the great work, the Arboretum r.t Fruticetum Britannicum, which was issued, on his own account, at an outlay of fifty thousand dollars ; but it sold so well, that only thirteen thousand remained to be paid at the end of 1841, and he died in 1843. The work has since sold extensively, and his debts were paid. In industry, Mr. Loudon will compare favorably with Sir Walter ; he had four periodicals, viz : The Gardener^s, Natural History, and Architectural Magazines, and the Arboretum, which was published in monthly numbers, going on at the same time, and, to produce these at the proper time, he literally worked night and day, suffering much pain, and writing with two finv the old mode ; the spawn maybe broken fine, the largest bits not exceeding a marble in size. Thus prepared, sow it over the surface of the bed, and beat it down at once firmly, and cover it with soil. This plan will require but half the quantity of spawn, and the mushrooms are diffused over the whole surface, no loss being sustained in gathering. They Ijioduce sooner by this mode. We have had good success, the present winter, with spawn obtained from the Messrs. Thorburn, N. Y., after failing utterly with that from others. Nuts axd Seeds. — A large Christmas box was carried out, from this region, by the Persia, which will be gratefully received by Sir William Hooker, at Kew Gardens, near London. They are a present from Dr. Darlington, and consist of nuts and seeds of our forest-trees, collected by Joshua Iloopes, Esq., at the request of Sir William. Last May, the doctor three boxes containing sections of our forest-trees and shrubs, each section a foot in These interchanges of value are highly interesting mementos, and serviceable in ;^ editor's table. the highest degree. Our botanical friend has lately received Dr. Bromfields Flora of ike Isle of Wight, a very complete and interesting work, which frequently mentions the Flora Cestrica of the recipient. Dr. Bromfield recently died, during his oriental tour, at Damascus. Peabody's Seedling Strawberry is now ready to be sent out. Mr. P. requests his sub- scribers to inform him when they wish to receive the plants. Address Charles A. Peabody, Columbus, Georgia. The Societe Regionale d'Acclimation of Nancy, have issued a curious pamphlet entitled " line Precieuse Conquete a Faire," in which they earnestly recommend farmers to breed horses for human food ! The Journal of the United States Agricultural Societij for 1856, contains matter of great interest. — We trust it will be in the hands of all interested in the topics discussed, and can only point to a few of the matters it contains, hoping therel)y to call attention to them. The " Relations of Meteorology to Agriculture," and Lieut. Maury's remarks, are especially worthy of perusal. Townsend Glover's paper on " Entomology as applied to Agriculture," will be read with deep interest and profit. The " True Value of Chemical Analysis of Soils," by Dr. John D. Easter, every farmer should study ; that on " Colza Oil," by Dr. Ware, demands further experiment, as promising profit from the cultivation of this plant. The "President's Addresses," and some of those of members and guests, may be read with profit. Altogether, this volume exhibits a spirit of investigation and progress highly creditable to our country and countrymen. The attendance exceeded, in numbers, any meeting of the kind. Louis- ville, Kentucky, is to be the place of holding the next meeting, and we consider this a judicious selection. Travellers. — The Garclener^s Chronicle regrets, with many others, that the missionary, Livingstone, who has spent sixteen weary years in exploring Africa, should have been totally ignorant of botany and gardening. He has made some sad mistakes in attempting to give information, and thus thrown discredit on what may be true. This want of education is deeply to be regretted in many travellers. For instance, pleasant as Bayard Taylor's books of travel may be, he appears never to have had his attention turned to distinguishing one tree from another, and we read of countries of the highest botanical interest with scarcely an allusion to the vegetation that can be understood. Children's gardens, and a little knowledge infused at school, should be attended to. Flore des Serres. — The three last numbers of this journal, unrivalled for the beauty of its illustrations, contain figures of the following new plants superbly drawn and colored : Lfelia purpurata ; Dircsea blassii ; Mandevillea suaveolens ; Dendrobium bigibbum ; Correa cardinalis; Pentapterygium flavum ; Primula rosea ; Salvia Boliviana ; Bulbocodium verum; Dianthus sinensis, varietates ; Wistaria frutescens, var. Magnifica — quite an acquisition ; Barbacenia hybrides ; Colchicum variegatum ; Salvia splendens, var. Soucheti ; Thalictrum aueminoides, var. flore pleno ; Fuchsia, var. Rosea ; Azalea Indica, var. Beaute d'Europe ; Cypripedium purpuratum ; Hibiscus marmoratus ; Tropreolum azureum grandiflorum ; Pau- sies, Imperatrice Eugenie and Leonidas ; Stenanthera pinifolia ; and lochora Warscewiczii. We wish we could impart all of their beauty to these pages. Of the new Wistaria frutescens, var. Magnifica, the Flore says : " For more than a cen- tury before the introduction of the Glycine of China, Europe possessed the American species, now named Wistaria frutescens, of which the present is a hybrid variety, raised from seed by M. Delaville, Sen., gardener near Clermont (Oise). The flowers are borne in graceful clusters, of a pale lilac, with a yellow spot. It is said to exceed others in the abundance of its bloom, which makes its appearance towards the close of June. The readii-wt metliod of propagating it is by grafting." fjoHsir. — Tlio s{X)res of some of the fungi are said to bo omnipresent, and so numerous are they, that Fries calculated more than 10,000,000 to be present in a single individual of the Lycoperdon of large size. Bauer estimated that 7,840,000, not of the sporules, but of the individual plants themselves, belonging to the common smut — the I'vpfjo Segetum — would be required to cover a square inch. Dr. Daubeny, of England, and Dr. Mitchell, of I'hila- delphia, have written papers of much research, to prove that fungi are the cause of cholera and numeroiis diseases. Some species of lichens are extensively collected, to make dye- stuffs ; cudbear, a well-known article of commerce, is prepared from lichens collected by the peasantry in various parts of Europe. The horseradish-tree of the West Indies — Moringa — attains the height of twenty-four feet in nine months, and that in a stony, poor soil. The power of vegetation within the tropics, is illustrated by the above as well as by the growth of the bamboo, -n-hich sometimes shoots fourteen inches in the course of twenty-four hours. Tlie extraordinary productiveness of the tropics, is by many considered an inestimable advantage, but the counterbalancing evil is the astonishing growth of the weeds. The poet may sing "Of the redundant growth Of vines and maize, and bower, and brake, Which nature, kind to sloth, And scarce solicited by human toil, Pours from the riches of the teeming soil,"' but the planter finds that nowhere is more care and industry required than within the tropics, to make agriculture profitable. The weeds exhaust and smother everything that is not frequently attended to. Why is it? Our government land costs one dollar an acre on an average, and champagne two dollars a bottle. How many a man dies landless, who, during his life, has swallowed a township— trees and all. Captain Pope, who was in command of the expedition to dig artesian wells in Texas, reports a novel source of fuel, in the roots of the mesquit, which are found preserved beneath the soil — perfectly sound and hard — extending sometimes to the incredible depth of seventy feet ! The sales of the land on draining the Lake of Haarlem, produced sufficient money to repay all the expenses incurred. Sixteen years of labor and care were exhausted before the work was completed. As soon as the grounds were dry, they were covered spontaneously with a multitude of plants, reeds, and willows ; these prevented walking, being soon higher than a man. A heavyroller was passed over the brittle plants after the willows are pulled up, and the fallen stems covered with the earth taken from the ditches, and rape-seed was immediately sown ; the rape overpowers the next growth, and the land is then ready for grain. After harvest, they work with large wooden shoes on the horses' feet, when the soil is yet too soft. If the horses sink, they leave them on the spot. Though the Berberries are commonly treated as shrubs, some of them may be formed into the most beautiful and durable small trees that can be introduced into gardenesque scenery. The common berberry, when pruned up to a single stem to the height of eight or ten feet, and all suckers from the root, and all side buds from the stem removed at the moment they appear, will form a fine orbicular head, with the extremity of the branches drooping ; and this pendulous appearance will increase with the age of the tree. Such a tree, covered, as it will be, every year, with yellow blos- soms and scarlet fruit, may rank, in beauty and value, with the handsomest. The low- growing berberries — now mahonias — are very beautiful in masses. The common berberry, trained as above, will reach the height of thirty feet, and endure for centuries. In a cata- for 1825, the now common Mahonia aquifolium is priced at twenty-five dollars ! plan to forward cut flowers to a distance without injury, is to prepare a cylinder editor's table. three or four feet in length, and eight or nine inches in diameter. In the centre of this, place a tin tube, of an inch in diameter, .which fits into sockets in the bottom and the lid. Round this tube the flowers are tied, and it is inserted in the bottom ; the centre tube is now filled with water, and corked, and the lid put on, in which is the socket wliich embraces the tube. The case may now be sent to any distance, the natural moisture and the water keep- ing the flowers cool and fresh. A little damp moss, tied under the flowers, will assist this. Waiil-esha, Wisconsin, Jan., IS.')?. Wisconsin Fruit Growers' Association. — The annual meeting of this Association was held, at Waukesha, on the 14th Jan. The attendance was good, though not large. Some inte- resting discussions were held. Among resolutions passed, was one in favor of a law for the punishment of stealing growing fruit, similar to that of Massachusetts. A meeting for the exhibition of small fruits and flowers was appointed for the last of June, at Whitewater. The fall exhibition will be merged with that of the Northwest Fruit Growers' Association at Milwaukie, in September next. The faith and hope of fruit growers in the Northwest, have been sorely tried in the destruction of our trees the past winter — whole orchards, in some instances, being entirely destroyed, while, in others, " the many were taken, and the few left." Occasionally, an orchard escaj^ed with little or no injury. Generally, fruit-trees have made but moderate growth the past summer ; there seemed to be a struggle for life and health, which, in many instances, yielded at last to death, while the tree was loaded with flowers or fruit. This winter we regard as favorable for the ultimate recovery of the merely injured trees which struggled sickly and weak through the summer, yet determined to live. Snow fell early in December, before hard freezing, to which more has been added from time to time. H. Officers of Wisconsin Fruit Growers^ Association for 1857. — President — CuAeles Gifford, of Milwaukie. Vice-Presidents — Col. H. Crocker, of Milwaukie ; G. Kinney, of Whitewater ; H. T. Woodward, of Beloit. Recording Secretary — Andrew Child, of Delafield. Corresponding Secretary — Charles Colby, of Janesville. Treasurer — C. C. Olin, of Waukesha. Executive Committee. — J. C. Brayton, of Aztalan ; H. I. Starin, of Whitewater ; A. G. Hanford, of Waukesha. Dexter Snow's Verbenas. — The catalogue for 1857 of Dexter Snow, Chicopee, Mass., is one of the neatest things of the kind we have seen. Cultivating the verbena only, he has given a complete treatise on his particular favorite which all admirers of this beautiful plant should possess and study. His plan of doing business is direct and understandable. He will send by mail, or in boxes by express, and will fill several orders from the same town to save cost of carriage ; his prices ai-e moderate, his plants the newest and best. Mr. Snow has inaugurated a new era in plant growing, and we take pleasure in making it known. (See Advertisement.) The Orange Raspberry. — As an additional recommendation of Dr. Brinckle's Orange Raspberry, now generally sought for, we have our own, and the testimony of others, that in the form of a jam it retains more thoroughly its delightful flavor than other varieties ; it has, in fact, the raspberry taste in perfection. Catalogues, &c., received. — Catalogue des Cultures do I'Etablissement Horticole de Claude Sahut, k Montpelier, France, 1856-57. Mr. Sahut is extensively engaged in arbori- culture and the seed business, and would be pleased to increase his connections with Ame A. Frost & Co., Rochester, N. Y., have issued three catalogues in very handsome No. 1, Pt'rfcriptivL' Catalocfuc of Fruits ; No. 2, of Roses and OrnanuMital Trees ; and No. 3, Dahlias, Verbenas, Fuchsias, &c. These " Genesee Valley Nurseriesj" anion^ the largest in the I'nion, scorn to be not only prosperous, but to be controlled by students and readers. Catalogues of Select Vegetable, and another of Annual, &c.. Flower Seeds, sold by Alfred Bridi^tuan, 874 Broadway, New York, embrace all the varieties of each. The Rurfil Annual and Horticultural Directory — from the office of the denescc Farmer — by .Joseph Harris. An excellent and reliable, as well as handsome manual, with profuse illustrations. Descriptive Catalogiie of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, Shrubs, Roses, Vinos, &c., culti- vated and for sale by John W. Adams, Portland, Maine. A capital catalogue in all respects. Special Select Catalogue for IShl of Fruit and Ornamental Trees, &c. Wra. F. Smitlf. Rose Cottage Nurseries, late, Tobin's, Augusta, Georgia. Oh ! for your climate ! II. A. Dreer's Descriptive Catalogue of Garden and Flower Seeds, Implements, Books, &c., 117 Chestnut Street, near Fourth, Philadelphia. This will be found to be a very useful catalogue, containing a variety of information and instruction. R. Buist's Select Catalogue of Greenhouse, Hothouse, and Hardy Plants, Philadelphia. Few catalogues issued in this country, have contained the variety of plants here oflfered for sale at moderate prices. If it were only for the beaiity of the typography and engravings, it is worth possessing, but such a list is valuable to turn to at all times. May be had by inclosing a stamp. It contains directions for culture. Lincoln and Welland Horticultural and Mechanical Society's Circular, setting forth the benefits to be derived from the Association. Oknajiextal Flower-Staxd. — Tlie annexed figure represents a design for an ornamental flower-stand, to be made of wire, which we com- mend to workers in this material. Where a greenhouse is well-managed, there will be no difficulty in furnishing it with a succession of camellias, roses, geraniums, fuchsias, azaleas, calceolarias, &c. &c., and it should be the aim of the possessor to preserve the brightness of the scene all through the year. The moment a plant goes out of bloom, it should be removed, and its place supplied with another ; for, as to rearing plants in such situations, and in dry rooms, it is wasting one of the best opportunities which art affords us for a display of successive pictures. As well miglit the actors dress and rehearse be- fore the audience, as a collection of plants be allowed to present themselves in all their prepa- ratory stages to the eye of the visitor or the host. We do not mean by this, to prevent the window ^ cultui-e which gives many so much pleasure. Washington, D. C Dear Sir : I thought of you, to-day, when I received from the Professor of Chemistry of Georgetown College, a great and valuable vegetable curiosity — the greatest, perhaps America, in the shape of an enormous Truffle found in Virginia. I showed it to Mr. Mas editor's table. Commissioner of Patents, and produced quite a sensation, as tliey liad published in their report for 1854 only an account of the Piedmontese truffles, not dreaming that they existed so close at hand. We may now hope to have Strasburg pies as soon as some American makes the fois gras. My Virginia Truffle weighs one pound eleven ounces, dried, giving double that weight green. It would have sold, in Covent Garden Market, for nine dollars ! [A similar report was circulated some years ago, to the effect that one of the foreign ambassadors at Washington had discovered the Truffle in Virginia, but it was never till now followed by a verification. It has been generally believed that this delicious esculent was not cultivable ; more recent information leads us to believe that, like the mushroom, it may be artificially propagated ; Dr. Lindley says so ; and a Frenchman has lately asserted, without sufficient data, that the Truffle is the result of the stinging of roots of oak-trees by the Truffle fly, which Dr. Lindley denies. We shall probably know more of this ere long. — Ed.] Answers to Correspondents. — We never object to answering the queries of correspond- ents, provided they do not require too long a reply, and that they are on topics of general interest, or such as are not readily found in books : — "The sages say, Dame Truth delights to dwell — Strange mansion ! — in the bottom of a Trell : Questions are then the windlass and the rope That pull the grave old gentlewoman up." As we have got to rhyming, we answer " Betsy W." by saying that she is doing a service by culling from the entire works of Shakspeare his allusions to botanical matters. His felicity in this is as extraordinary as his other apparently intuitive knowledge. The process, now so common, of changing the character of seedling-trees, is thus expressed in his Winter^s Tale, Act 4 :— " You see, we marry A gentler scion to the wildest stock ; And make conceive a bark of baser kind By bud of nobler race. This is an art Which does mend nature — change it rather : but The art itself is nature." (D. W. Ray). Your excellent notice of the Rebecca Grape is superseded by former notices and the official one, in the present number, from the Committee of the Pomological Society. We shall be glad to hear from you again. (Wm. H. Alexander). We shall be pleased to hear from you. (H. A. MiSH, Harrisburg, Pa.) Tan is an excellent covering for strawberries, both as a manure and a mulch. It should be well spent — say a year from the vat. New tan has proved destructive in many instances. It has not been found of service to any other crop. Don't plant " cuttings, small evergreens, and seedlings," in weedy ground. If you will, depend rather on the hoe and the rake as " weed smotherers." Sawdust is a siiperior article to throw amongst raspberries ; but useless, in that form, for any other purpose. If you could char it easily, and throw it into the soakings of your dung- yard, it would probably be the best thing you could do with it. Leather chippings from shoemakers' shops, saddlers', &c., make an admirable mulch for the raspberry, and may often be had for the asking. Best Grapes for a Vinery. — The following list of grapes for a vinery may be relied on, and in this mode we answer many inquirers. The present season will no doubt add the Bowood Muscat and Golden Hamburg, which are to be dispersed in England this spring, and spoken of as most valuable, of the highest grade of beauty, and "best." At present, t is as follows : — editor's tabls. Best Grapes. — Muscat, of Alexau<*i «fc . ^?a>Jt^- fHtt^Kitp in di^onnectifiu toitl] fru Dlanting, HE pictures of the landscape of a private dwelling are formed in the vicinity of the mansion, or with special reference to the views from its windows, balconies, or piazzas. In the execution of this, the most refined taste, united with a competent share of practical, botanical, and arboricultural knowledge, is necessary to success ; the jjainterh eye should also have its influence. If water entered into the composition, it would be disposed in its natural place ; the banks be as natural as possible, nor should too much of the water be exposed in one place, unless it could appear as a reach. Buildings should be only partially exposed, with the most charac- teristic angle jutting out from among trees, shrubs, and vines. Thus the hard lines in the dressed ground would be hidden, the asperities softened, and the exuberance of the imagination would have full play. In planting a larger lawn or a park, and adjusting trees in them, the dressed ground should be linked easily and naturally with the scene, by placing groups of trees and bushes of the same relation or character as those of the kept ground, so as to appear parts of one mass or group ; thus preventing a sudden break between the two scenes. As there is a great diversity of character in places which are to be laid out, the improver ought to have a general stock of knowledge, to be drawn upon as opportunity ofTers ; n^ rule can be applicable to all places, and it is impossible to lay down any code of laws by which a place can be properly improved without a tasteful direction. Perhaps, therefore, the best mode of conveying to the reader a knowledge of the principles and practice of this delightful art, is to first impress him with the beauty of single trees, their character of outline, leaf, and spray, and then to show him the principles of grouping as established by the concurrent taste of the painter and the improver. From what has been said, it will be apparent that both the planting and thin- ning of oi'namental trees require the attention of a skilful hand. The form and varieties of a group or groups, must be studied. When two only are planted, at least so close together as to intermingle their branches (Fig. 15), as before ob- served, the best effect is produced when they are placed as near to each other as, to all appearance, to form but one tree, as also seen in Fig. 6, in the February number, and the Beech (Fig. 18). In Fig. 13, the small Spruce Fir is highly injurious, but greatly improves Fig. 14, An Ash with a Scotch Fir, the Horse- chestnut with the Larch or Narrow Poplar (Fig. 16), would be as improper as the Round-headed Lime with the Spruce Fir (Fig. 13). The union of a spiral with a flame-shaped tree, as the Lombardy Poplar (Fig. 16), is out of keeping, compared with Fig. 17, when a greater breadth of Poplars is introduced, which may form the centre of a group planted on the left as well as on the right. These portraits, addressed to the eye, will prove of great assistance to those who are desirous of appreciating the beauty of groups. Few will deny that one of the chief beauties of shrubberies and ornamental plantations, is the variety of trees and shrubs which are displayed in them. A good deal, no doubt, depends on the character of the ground, the distance, and arrangement ; but still, the grand source of the beauty and interest, when so are botanists and arboriculturists, is the number of species and varieties. YoL. VII.— April, 185T. 11 THE DIANA OEAPJB. AVo must now study not only to display in our f^ronnda the pioturosc|uo, hut the !r!ir; col/cctioiis, instead of a few kinds forever repeated. This will effect a double gooil ; it will estal)lish arboretums, and add innnensely to their interest; and it will render necessary the ])ro])agation of a great number of species and varieties in nurseries, which will greatly increase the business. THE DIANA GRAPE.* lo.vA, N. Y., Fehruar;/, Ig.")?. ^[r. J. J. Smith. — Pk.vr Sir : I send you n painting of the Diana Grape which very truly represents its beauty, and, also, a hasty description of it, believing it will be acceptable to the readers of the Iforticnhunst, and particularly to those who are wishinsf for a grape "earlier than the Isabella, and better than the Catawba." Seven years since, the exquisite perception and unerring judgment of A. J. Downing, after two seasons' acquaintance with its fruit, " unhesitatingly pro- nounced it the best of American grapes." Time has not only affirmed the decision, but more fully developed its surpassing excellences and beauty. In habit and n]ipparance, it strongly resembles the Catawba, and is undoubtedly the offspring of that fine grape, but it is a much more vigorous grower, and, in consequence of ripening its wood much earlier, it is more hardy, and its fruit is not, like the Catawba, liable to occasional injury by "rot." It grows without difficulty from "single eyes," in the hands of the skilful pro- pagator, but does not take root readily, in the open air, from cuttings. Ijayers furnish the best plants for immediate bearing, and, when well grown, produce fine specimens of fruit the first season after planting. To exhibit its excellence, it requires such treatment as all other grapes 7reed: soil deeply worked, dry, and generously, but not excessively enriched, full exposure to the sun, and breadth of border proportioned to its rampant growth. It is not dainty, but does not tolerate ill usage. Its berries are slightly less in size than those of Catawba, of the same globular form — bunches very compact and heavy — conical — not properly shouldered; but the main bunch has generally a small one appended by a long loranch. In color, it resembles its parent, but is subdued by a delicate tinge of lilac, which gives an exceeding loveliness of tone that seems to invite the expectation of its superior flavor. The berries have, generally, upon their exposed surface three or four small white stars whose rays are often obscured by its copious bloom, showing only a milky dot. The berries adhere strongly to the peduncle, which is woody, and consequently fitted for long keeping, which is one of its valuable characteristics. Towards the last of August, in this vicinity (fifty miles north of New York), it has made considerable progress in ripening, and has become " good" to eat, being very sweet and juicy, with but little toughness or acidity in its pulp. At this period, it has something of the foxiness that characterizes the Isabella and Catawba. This is fully two weeks before the Isabella arrives at the eatable stage, and before the Catawba has begun to color. As the season advances, it parts with all of its foxiness and the acidity in its pulp, but retaining a yestige of its toughness scarcely perceptible, it becomes * See Frontispiece. / /-- exceedingly sweet, juicy, rich, and vinous, and delightfully aromatic. In pure, high, vinous flavor, it greatly surpasses the Catawba, in its best state, at Cincin- nati, and ripens two degrees of latitude further north than the Isabella. Although it ripens early, it is not injured by hanging late ou the vines, and severe frosts destroy none of its vinous life or aroma. C. "W. Gr. THE REAL MONUMENT TO DOWNING. BY ONE OP HIS ADMIRERS. Mr. Editor : I was greatly interested to see the representation of the monu- ment erected in the grounds of the Smithsonian Institute, in your last volume, and though I should, with you, have greatly preferred that it should have been placed over his grave, I too, as one of the interested, acquiesce. Perhaps you and your readers will be pleased to see the figure of the real monument erected to his memory. It is at Newburg, in the church ground, where I have frequently visited it with interest ; and I consider it a most perfect memento in all respects, characterized by the best taste, such as he knew so well how to inculcate in what- ever he undertook. MONUMENT TO THE LATE A. J. DOWNING, IN THE CHtJKCH CEMETERY AT NEWBITEG, N. T. The inscription is — " This mortal must put on immortality." " Be not dismayed, I am thy God." Bitter was the day, and bitterer still was the blast, that whirled around me, as with shivering hands I scraped away the snow which had buried in its folds, as with a winding sheet, the above inscriptions ; and yet cheerless and desolate as were the feelings inspired by the scene around me, they did not compare with the deep sorrow with which I well remember I saw entombed here all that was mortal of our lamented friend. I shall not soon forget that summer day, when still stunned by the horror of his sudden death, I witnessed that solemn and impressive service amidst those trees and flowers that he had planted and loved so well, and which seemed, in their abundant gratitude, to bloom more sweetly for his hands than for any other. His death was so sudden, and his burial followed so hard upon it, that one could scarcely realize that even here, into that blooming para- dise, the destroyer had come. It seemed to have been the desire of his friends that the last known and seen of him on earth should be as lovely as was his life. As he was horn among flowers, so among them he lived and was buried. In the earoful culture of his beautiful home, he never jiermitted any evidence of neijloct. p]very fallen leaf, even, was constantly removed ; so in his death there was no evidence of decay, in the full beauty and prime of numhood ; without a spot or blemish was he stricken down; neither old age, nor sickness, nor misfor- tune had laid their heavy hands upon him, but like a beautiful meteor he disap- ])eared ; and many years must roll on ere those who admired and loved him will have forgotten his bri(/htness. The adoption of the texts as above must be deemed every way satisfactory, and more in accordance with proper feeling than any elal)orate ell'ort of the Muse ; and yet there have been successes; I am tempted to quote two examples, which in their sentiments seem to apply to the departed. The first is the Epitaph on John Dryden, hy the Bishop of Rochester. This Sheffield raised, to Dryden's ashes just, There lix'd his name, and tliere his laurell'd bust. What else the Muse in raaii)le miglit express. Is known already ; praise would make it less. Hogarth's is in the proper spirit, and applicable in some respects : — Epitaph on Hogarth, by Garrick. If genius fire thee, reader, stay ; If nature touch thee, drop a tear ; If neither move thee, turn away, For Hogarth's honored dust lies here. Many will l)e the feet in future years that will wend their way to this shrine of one greatly endeared to a large circle. Well, indeed, in Downing's instance, might the beautiful words of the poet have been applied, as his coffin disappeared among his trees. And now — " Linguenda tellus et dormus et placens. Uxor, neque harum quas cells arborum, Te prieter iuvisas cupressos, Ulla brevem dominum sequetur." Which, literally translated, would read thus: "The world must be given up, and home, and the gentle wife ; and not one of all these trees you have cherished, except the envious cypress, shall follow thee, their short-lived master, to the grave." — VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES.— No. 8. AROUND. NEWPORT, R. I. TriouGn climate exercises less influence upon the life and health of animals than on plants, it is very desirable to the animal — man — neither to be roasted nor frozen ; at Newport, by general consent, it is admitted there is a more agreeable temperature, both summer and winter, than in any latitude of ours so far north. If the people of this country are ever able to afford it, and they will be, most assuredly, they will have two cities, one for winter and one for summer; one where trade and manufactures can flourish, and another on the sea-coast, or in the mountains. It is fast coming to this ; our desirable watering-places are now crowded ; those who can manage to do so, have their own dwellings, and Newport can boast of some f the best in the country. Bancroft, the historian, George Calvert, of Baltimore, id Sears, Robert Mason, Sidney Brooks, and Mr. Ritchie, of Boston, William VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. Beach Lawrence, Samuel Nicliolson, &c., of New York, Samuel Powel and John A. Brown, of Philadelphia, Kalph Izard and Henry Haywood, of South Carolina, George Jones, of Georgia, and various other gentlemen, have chosen this place for its climate and its society. From this section and the South, there are fewer housekeepers than from the eastward, and we verily believe it is because the access from New York is over a sometimes rough sea ; but mainly from the arrival of the boats at the Newport wharf at night. In case of a storm or a fog, it is vastly disagreeable. A minor nuisance, but still a nuisance that should be abated, is the horrible din of stentorian lungs hired to cry the names of the hotels, than which nothing can be more preposterous, as every one has made up his mind as to accommodations before arrival. It is a great drawback to Newport that it is so hard to arrive and depart. Had the scheme of the Long Island Railroad, to take passengers to the place, been carried out, the number of residents, in both summer and winter, would have been vastly increased. Once fairly settled on the island, however, you begin to feel the genial influences of the place ; it is climate (and society united) that has given back to the jaded citizen some of the feelings of health ; that this is the case, the return of the same immigrants year after year testifies; many of these are beyond and above the mere requirements of fashion ; they have experienced the benefit, and desire their fami- lies likewise to enjoy it. Hence many have built fine houses ; others, mere boxes for a few weeks' occupancy. Among the most finished, we might say the most, is the Residence of De Lancey Kane, Esq., Beachclyffe, within sight of the bathing- ground, isolated, and yet near the busy haunts of fashion. It is Mr. Kane's own creation, assisted by Mr. R. B. Leuchars, and he has shown, in its details, an educated taste as rare as it is correct. A fine mansion, in the style of the best class of Belgian chateaus, is situated in the midst of about twenty acres, and is so built as to command the sea as well as inland views. The whole town and its visitors bathe at such a distance as to give animation to the scene from one end of the house, bnt they are so far off as to look like birds disporting in the waves. The lawn, however, is Mr. Kane's greatest triumph ; here difficulties had to be encountered which would have discouraged most. The old inhabitants were satisfied that they must live without trees ; the coast is without them ; the winds were too powerful, and the thing was pronounced impossible. Not discouraged by the croakers, our host has solved the problem, and this was his mode of operation. Trees, such as the Abele or White Poplar, were planted on the boundaries, and, within their magic circle, belts, and single trees and shrubs, soon flourished. It is true, that the gales are strong enough to cut the leaves of the Horse-Chestnuts annually into ribbons, but shelter has at length done its work, and Mr. Kane now possesses an arboretum of rare trees and shrubbery such as would do credit to any soil or situation ; but he has given great attention to his planting, opened and loosened the ground, brought the proper manures, staked, triraraed, and tended, till the place presents beauties and effects which more favored and less windy localities rarely possess. We found here, in great perfection, the following trees ; the list, though imperfect, we give with confidence, as that adapted to Newport planting: — All the Maples except the Sugar and the common English. The best are the White and tlie Norway. The English and the Turkey Oaks. The English Elm, and several others. The English Hornbeam. The whole of the family of Willows. .4'%;:vi— VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. Of tlie Pines, the Excclsa, Sylvestris, Austriaca, and Ccmbra, may be said to do extroini'Iy well. Spruces — the Norway succeeds tolerably well ; the lliiiialayaii perfectly ; and !Menzies will no douI)t lautation3 now fairly grown into " woods." ./. Prt'scott HdlVs iilacc, some distance above Newport, is a good c.\ani])k' of successful farming and of opcn-hoartcd hospitality. Here stands the original Uulfuin rear-tree, in full vigor, though it has seen many a blast, and has twice been repaired with cement in its old body. Mr. II. has begun to jjlant, and already his screens promise jjrotection. Alfred Smith, an enthusiast in new Evergreens and other horticultural matters, resides in Newport, and was an esteemed correspondent of Downing's. His garden possesses a great variety of the newer trees and shrubbery ; a visit to it will be a treat. Our fellow-citizen, General Cadwallader, is making great progress in laying out one of the finest sites for building in all this region. It is near the sea, on the south shore, at Cogger-shall's Point, and commands very fine views. The ])lant- ing and levelling has been in progress for several seasons. Mrs. Cadwallader takes great interest in this work, and her taste is eminently successful. Ere long, the Newport visitor will no doubt see a stately mansion rise to ornament this superb situation. WilUnm S. Wetmnre has one of the largest and most costly mansions in New- port, built of Fall River granite. It is situated in the " Neck," on the road to General Cadwallader's. Mr. Wetmore has about forty acres, very large and well constructed graperies, conservatories, &c. lie has a fine view of the ocean. Mr. George Calvert has a cottage with about three acres, which he has made the most of by judicious planting. His literary tastes, and tlic vicinity of Mr. Bancroft, are not to be forgotten in any notice of Newport society — a residence among which is of course rendered more agreeable by a knowledge of the fami- lies of the habitues of the place. At Newport, especially at Edward King, Esq.'s, are fine specimens of Cembran Pine, twelve to fifteen feet in height; a slow-growing tree, when young, but one of the most ornamental. Also, very fine specimens of the different varieties of evergreens, Oak, Purple Beach, and the difl'erent Junipers. In front of the Redwood Library, we noticed the finest specimen, probably, in America, of the Fern-leaved Beech, fifteen or twenty feet in height, which we hope those who read this sketch, and visit Newport thereafter, will not fail to remark. A speciality of the place is the great produce, and the beauty of the Quince-trees ; they attain a size, and bear fruit of a quality, nowhere else realized in our observation ; in fact, they remind us of the finest Orange-trees in their greenness and luxuriance. Before concluding, we may observe that Mr. Kane has planted some three hundred R^hododendrons, quite large; they are employed as "under growth," and are to be cut down when they become too tall ; he has tried this method, and finds it to be the only way to get well furnished, stocky plants. In fact, he thinks if the Spruces, Pines, and most of the Evergreens, were headed in, they would be much improved, by being more compact ; the soil at Beachclyffe is so rich, and the warm, moist climate, so favorable to these trees, is of so forcing a charac- ter, that nearly everything grows too quickly, or, rather, too tall and slender. We shall watch the progress of these places with much interest. No sketches "Around is'ewport" can be complete without mentioning the capi- tal fishing that is to be enjoyed here, both from boat and shore. We are con- stantly reminded, by a wish to throw in a sketch of character here, and a hint of some elegance now and then, that we are encased in a kind of armor which forbids the use of one's natural taste for accounts of conversations, or the introduction of anecdotes of home circles. Were we more unshackled in these respects, and less confined to particular topics, Newport would afford opportunities to sketch pleasant people no less than scenes ; we should, in fact, close every sketch without the mortifying reflection that "kindness," " hospitality," the ladies and the gentlemen who people the delightful places, are to be omitted ; for, after all, the paradise is more frequently in the inhabitants than in the most cultivated scenery. GARDEN YEGETABLES, NO. 4— BEANS. BY Wn-LTAM CHORLTON. The genus Phaseohis, to which our cultivated beans, with the exception of the English, belong, possesses a wide geographical range. It is found indigenous in Asia, Africa, and America, with its adjacent islands ; but Nature has not furnished Europe, so far as investigation has gone, with a single species. We have several on our northern continent, but those that we usually grow as food, and are to be most profitably recommended, are of Asiatic origin. Notwith- standing which, during the growing season, our climate is highly suitable to their condition, and from their productive aud wholesome qualities, they have now become a class of standard vegetables. There have been many species introduced to notice, from time to time, by hardy adventurers, and high expectations have been anticipated ; but when fruiting time came, they were found to be only duplicates of former importations, or were of inferior properties, and we have as often had to fall back upon well-tried, and formerly accepted varieties. The hybridizer is, however, doing his share of improvement, and there is still work ahead. The best soil for this class of plants, without exception, is a rich sandy loam. Any tolerably fertile mould, with a dry bottom, will grow them well enough. A cold or wet situation should always be avoided, as in such the seeds will most commonly rot before vegetating; and, in all cases, there is nothing gained by being in too great a hurry to have the beans in the ground before some solar warmth has been infused into it. Great mistakes are often made in this way, and the seedsman is afterwards blamed for having sold bad seed. The fact is, the organization is of tropical constitution, and we cannot force its healthy develop- ment under contrary circumstances ; therefore we may say, as the best advice — ■ wait until the peculiar chilliness which winter leaves behind, and with which all cultivators must be acquainted, has been evaporated from the soil. According to each situation or locality, so will the suitable state be, and after this no time should be lost in sowing the first crop. The hardiest of the Dwarfs, and also the Scarlet Runners, will generally succeed if put in eai*ly ; but with the Lima, or indeed all Pole beans, it is better to let the soil get somewhat warmed by the sun's influence. Seasons differ, and localities are earlier or later according to the latitude, situation, or dryness of base ; and on this account I have endeavored to show the actual requirement, instead of mentioning exact time. So far for out door culture ; but further, if it be required, and expense is no object, the Dwarfs may be had fresh gathered the year round. Dwarf or Bush Beans (Phaseohis vulgaris). — Some of the varieties are only fit to be used while the pods are in a young and crisp state, cut into small pieces and boiled ; others are allowed to ripen, and the seeds only cooked ; while a few are adapted to both purposes. They require to be sowed in rows eighteen inches Stretch a garden line tight, and with the corner of a hoe open a drill two hes deep ; into this lay the seeds, two inches distant from each other ; cover up ~ P^5^ (JAIU)KN VECJETABLES — DEANS. carefully, and wlien the plants arc fairly above pround, thin out to six inches, at the saiiu' tiiue ioosm tlio Sdil on each side, and draw a jiorlion to the stcnis. TIiIh will assist tlic inch ont the tops of the shoots, wliidi will cause the pods to swell raore evenly. The seeds only are used, and they are lit to jratlicr when fidly swolUn, but not npproacliin.£^ to ripeness. All kinds of beans Avill readily iinprefrnate \vith eaeli other, if tlic different sorts be near neighbors and in bloom at the same time, for which reason, when the savins? of seed is an object, and i)nrity is desired, they ought to be sown in places as far apart as the limits of the premises will admit of. How to Cook. — "String" l)eans, "Snap S/turts," or those of which the pods are nsed, are only good while fleshy and brittle. If they approach towards maturity, they become tough, and are always discarded by any cook who knows her business. Take each pod between the thumb and fingers, with the point u))wards, and with a knife cut or strip ont the stringy substance, which is attached to the back jiart. Cut into small strips and throw into cold water for half an hour. Have ready an ordinary sized pan of boiling water, put in a teaspoonful of salt and one-fourth of the same spoonful of carbonate of soda. Boil three-fourths of an hour, drain through a sieve, and serve up with melted butler. Dried Lima, or the other kinds — the seeds of which are used — may be soaked in water from the night previous, and boiled in the same manner. PETTY ANNOYANCES TO AMATEUR FRUIT GROWERS. BY ANONYMOUS. Dear Editor : Allow me to say a few words to your readers of the HoHicullu- rist about the petty annoyances of the fruit grower. The source of the present sketch might, with some propriety, be ranked among the same category as grulj- worms, millers, butterflies, and caterpillars, were it not that it proceeded, and has to be endured, from a much higher order of beings, though they are often intrin- sically equally vexatious. Now, sir, we live in the country, of course. When I say we, I mean myself and good housewife. A small estate, I may say, is our own, and has become so entirely by our combined industry. We have co-operated together for years, held many consultations in regard to the arrangement of " matters and things" about and around the house, and may congratulate ourselves on having finally succeeded in having things to our taste and satisfaction. Though the whole is, throughout, on a miniature scale, it yet affords us many peculiar pleasures not enjoyed in every condition of life, for it is here that we may reap the fruits of our labor in the true sense of the word. To thiff, indeed, not a few arc strangers. Quite too many fail from neglect to plant and cultivate at all, and hence must reap the fruits of negligence. Let us see the effect of this upon the moral deport- ment of both. The latter often fail to learn to appreciate and projierly respect those that do plant. The systematic cultivator, on the other hand, ])lants and rears around him, and, as years roll by, his place soon grows into a little terrestrial paradise, abounding in peace and plenty, rendering a home an inviting })lace, lovely and beautiful, where friends love to dwell. We greatly enjoy the condition of things around us, and so do our little chuldiy boys. They also love the charming retreats among the various bowers and arbors. Though they are yet quite young, they have already imbibed the influences of the surrounding atmosphere. They take pride in all these things, and seem to thrive all the better for occasionally lending willing hands in aid where anything rec] repair and fixing. They vie to excel, and vie in growing up strong and r not unlike the flowers they are so fond of cultivating. But they have learned more ; the eifeet of these influences does not sto]) here. They would not harm a single flower unbidden ; neither touch any of the tempting fruit which surrounds them, unless directed. They know that they will share it when it has fidly ma- tured, and already look forward to the beautiful pictures, the fine dwarf pears, the rich clustering grapes, will afford them in their natural perfection, uudefaced by them or anybody else. They love pictures, they appreciate them, and know full well that bunches of grapes deprived of half their berries, do not afterwards present a very desirable aspect. At least, but a bad picture. Such is but a meagre description of the influences of our country home upon ourselves and family. Morally, its effects are as obvious, if not more so, than physically. It inculcates and cultivates a sense of taste and propriety which we find of inestimable value in our intercourse at home or abroad. But how does this apply to some of our friends that occasionally honor us with a visit ? Let us draw a sketch from life and see. Let the season be autumn. The summer is well advanced, and a fine prospect of half-ripe fruit decorates our trees and arbors. All presents a fine prospective, and all are looking forward with high anticipations and gladness, especially to the ripening of the newly added varieties. It is a fine, sunny day, and the family is honored with a visit of some half-dozen ladies. In the absence of the husband, the wife seats them comfortably in the parlor, and entertains them until the big hours of noon draw nigh. Din- ner is to be served, and cannot be done by proxy, and, taking circumstances in consideration (for the visit was unannounced), requires rather busy hands to be in time ; for, in the country, we dine in the middle of the day, and not in the afternoon. The company is left to itself for the moment. But time drags heavily with them, though surrounded with mental food and amusement — all that could be desired ; for the company boasts of an acquaintance with all these matters. They break up, and start on a ramble through the gardens. They ask no questions. They seem perfectly at home. They seem to require no guide, preferring to go on their own hook. They advanced but a short distance ; their attention was attracted by a dwarf pear-tree. This was a new and rare variety. It bore a few this year, for the first time — the first fruit looked forward to by the proprietor, after bestowing four years of careful attention. The fruit looked somewhat tempting. It was plucked and tasted by them. It was found unpalatable. Another is tried, and another, and all found equally unripe, and are heedlessly and carelessly thrown away, as though there was no reason for disappointing them. But the depredation does not stop here. They seem to act as though they were in the wild woods, and entirely unobserved. Yet the little boys were taking observations, all the while, from one of their hiding arbors. .Though surrounded with flowers of beauty and fragrance, this seemed to make but little impression upon their cultivated minds (?). But the ornamental grape arbor seems to ofler new and better attractions, and thither they repair. The fruit hung in its grandest beauty, in rich clusters, just on the verge of assuming the amethystine hue of ripening. The temptation was greater than the first (especially to such as have learned more of everything else than "lead us not into temptation.") It proved irresistible, and, for the time, all moral law of propriety was lost sight of. Down came the fruit, and all accessible bunches having berries with only a purple Hush, were picked ! The actual value of such an amount of fruit, and much better fruit than th considered as nothing ; but the almost unsurpassable beauty of the arbor, now TO TREAT rEACII-TREES. the work of art and nature were bo successfully interwoven, presenting a picture of which wc felt jirdiul, was sadly the worse for it in the eyes of an amateur. As these |iroceeditijrs were prot^ressiuf; ; the silent lookers-on could endure it no lonjer. They stole away unohserved, and told their luisy mother all abtjut it. Slie went to the rescue, lint what would she do ? Seold them ? Put 'em in jail ? as these towners would be very ready to do, were we to venture to town, and attempt to act their part. Nay, we must take it all pood-naturedly. Jn this case, as dinner was over, and a few liours spent in social tfle a tite, the poor things needed no further chastisement, for their imprudent violation of the laws of health by eatincT an undue quantity of unripe fruit, inflicted its punishment most keenly ; it told a sickening tale on them. Trivial as the subject of this sketch may appear to you and others, it is not the less truthful, and is what wc have frequently to undergo ; and I ask whether you do not consider such conduct very annoytnfj, especially when it has to be endured from such as lay claims to the advatitages of a good education ? To the generality of amateurs, it is ever a pleasure to give, but few will be found who do not keenly regret having the things in which they feel so lively an interest pillaged and de- spoiled ; most who cultivate, have learned to value them too much to be thus trifled with. Yery often we have new varieties, just coming into first bearing, in the cultivation of which we have spent time and money, and arc thus deprived of ascertaining their real qualities. Sketches, ad injinitum, of a similar character, and some far more vexatious, could be added, if desired ; but this may, perhaps, suffice for the present (if not already superfluous). HOW TO TREAT PEACH-TREES. BY THE LATE A. J. DOWNING. April is the time to " shorten-in" your peach, apricot, and ncctarinc-trecs, both for the sake of the fruit they will bear this season and the health and good condition of the trees. I suppose everybody understands the difference between shortening-in and common pruning. If not, I must make a long story short by saying, that shortening-in is nothing more than cutting off the ends of the last year's shoots. Suppose, for instance, the case of a young peach-tree just coming into bearing. The growth of last year consists of shoots, all over the outside of the head, or top of the tree, each shoot from ten to twenty inches long. Well, in the case of such a tree, I should shorten-in every shoot one-half — that is, I would cut off five inches of the end if the shoot is ten inches long, or ten inches if it is twice that length. If the tree has made but a moderate growth, then I would take off only a third; or the same if there is but a scanty store of blossom-buds. But if the tree is strong and healthy, and shows an abundance of blossom-buds, then half the length of the last'year's shoot is not too much.* The fruit will be larger, you will have as many bushels, and the flavor will be much richer; and what is of great consequence, the constitution of the tree will not be impaired by over- bearing. In the case of large, or old peach-trees — especially if they have been neglected, or badly pruned — something must be done that will bring them within bounds mean, of all the strongest shoots. The weak ones may he left two-thirds their lencrth. HOW TO TREAT PEACH-TREES. again, and restore them to good condition. This, as I have satisfied myself, may be done by " heading-in," which is notliing else than cutting back the ends of the principal limbs — say from two to four feet — in order to make the tree throw out a new head of young, healthy bearing wood. Of course, this proceeding loses you the crop of fruit for this year; so, that if that is important, you must take one side of the tree this year, leaving the other side to bear, and next year head-in the other side. In this way I have restored old apricot and jteach-trees that were "given up by the doctors" as superannuated and worn out in service, to a pretty respectable condition of youth again ; good at least for half a dozen years more. It is the fashion nowadays, when the chemists and doctors wish to know what is to be done to help a plant or tree, to examine its ashes. It is, in truth, not a bad plan, and is evidently founded on the old doctrine that the new grows out of the old ; " ashes to ashes and dust to dust." Exactly what the elements of the peach-tree ash are I don't know, for I have not been able to find any analysis ; but I conclude they are pretty largely litne and potash, for I have found by re- peated trials that ivood-ashes is the very substance (along with sufficient manure in the soil, mind), to maintain a healthy, substantial, and productive habit in a peach-tree. Don't be so foolish (as many persons are, when they are going to give an extra- ordinary relish of a new-fangled manure to a plant), don't be so foolish as to content yourself with sprinkling four or five handfuls of ashes around a peach tree and expect its leaves to turn color with a lease of new life. Take half a peck of /e«c/?ec? ashes to a young tree, or half a bushel to a full grown tree — in that proportion at least ; put not a dust of it around the trunk (that is, so far as bene- fiting the roots go), but make a calculation with your eye of how far the roots of the tree spread ; it may be two feet, it may be six feet every way from the trunk. Then, having satisfied yourself about where the greater part of the young Jihres are, spread the ashes on the surface of the ground, over them, and turn it under about three inches with the three-pronged spud, or a light spade. If such treat- ment as this don't give you healthy trees, then your stock is radically diseased, and only worth a place on the wood-pile. That little enemy, the peach-worm, will very likely have established himself iu your trees; he is already there to a dead certainty if you are not wide awake to his sapping and mining habits. If, therefore, you have not been over your trees last fall, and got the upper hand of him for the next six months, altogether the best way of doing business with this gentleman is to Lynch him on the spot, by ferreting him out of his hole, in the neck of the tree, just below the surface of the ground. You can do this good turn for a peach-tree in five minutes, by lifting the soil around it two or three inches deep, laying bare the stem just between wnnd and water, as the old sailors say. If all looks clean and smooth there, very well ; replace the soil again. If, on the other hand, you see gnm, then look out for the enemy. Scratch a moment with your knife where the gum oozes out, and you will get on his trail ; cut into the bark till you find him — in the shape of a white grub, three-quarters of an inch long — and when found, " make no note of it," but settle his accounts as rapidly as you can. This grub comes from an q^^ laid in the bark, in summer, by the winged in- sect. Unless, the creature is wonderfully abundant, it contents itself with looking about for the tender bark at the surface of the ground. On this account it is a good plan to outwit the rascal by heaping up a little cone or i)ile of wood ashes, tan or sand, say six inches high, around the trunk. The sole object of this is to guard the soft place in the bark at the neck of the tree. On this account must clear away the pile every fall, so as to let the bark harden again. If do not, but keep it there winter and summer, you will iiiid tlint it docs no more pood timn blowing a> These reflections were excited by a perusal of the communica- . ;■;' tion, in the February number of the Ifurticnhurist, misstyled "A > ' l^eply to Dr. Ward on Dwarf Pears," and evidently penned by tlie writer without first having acquainted himself with the con- tents of the articles referred to. Of this I complain, and not that _- the articles should be made the subject of criticism. That there '^ '"''"^ff^" was a degree of sensitiveness in the minds of some that would <•" ■ make a bafe allusion to the failures of the pear on the quince a " ripj)le on the surface of the waters," I well knew; and therefore it was that I asked that the storm of opposition the examination of the subject would wake up, might not rest, even by implication, on the shoulders of the Ilortimltiirist, The publication of these articles, embodying the result of carefully conducted experiments, I regarded due from myself — a debtor to the cause of horticulture for instruction often enjoyed from the recorded experiments of others in the pages of this journal. They were penned as the result " of the observations of but a solitary individual in his own fruit orchards,"* in the hope, that being made the subject of reflection as well as criticism, the successful trial of many varieties would encourage some, and the failures of other varieties — if such failure could not be accounted for — would serve as beacon-lights to the less experienced ; while the idea of the abandonment of the pear stock by the substitution of the quince for the cultivation of this fruit, would appear, in its true light, as an ignis fahius. I claim to be misrepresented where the language used so clearly conveyed my meaning, that a misstatement subjects the reviewer to the charge of xoiJfid mis- representation, or else to the more charitable one of having written without having examined the articles reviewed. Before attempting to substantiate this charge, I would call attention to the closing paragraph, in which Mr. F. more than intimates that I should either cease growing certain varieties of the pear on the quince, or else cease writing against the cultivation on that stock, verily declaring that I object altogether to tlie use of the quince stock. Again he says: "A certain gentleman who had visited my grounds, had found abundant testimony in favor of the quince stock on my own grounds ;" thus intimating, with equal clearness, that I had denied this altogether. Now, do such assertions find support in my recorded views on that point? On page 21T, May number, it is written : " A few pears upon quince stocks succeed much better than upon their native stock, and are really so im- proved in character as to demand their perpetual use," &c. This charge of misrepresentation will now be substantiated by further extracts from the articles alluded to. * Page 216, ilaj number, Mr. T. suggests tliat Dr. W. " should have visited other orchards." Would this have helped him in recording the experiments made in his own orchard ? THE PEAR CONTROVERSY. On page 63, February number, it is written : — " With some varieties I have been eminently successful. The crop during the past season has not only been gratifying to my pride as an orchardist, but has proved eminently remu- nerative ; indeed, the facts will warrant the remark, no crop grown upon the farm has paid so well, in view of the labor bestowed, as a crop of Duchesse d'Angouleme, on the quince. " The sight of a hundred trees, closely planted in rows, about twenty in a row — each tree resembling its fellow in size and form, and each sustaining as much of a crop as it could prudently be trusted with ; the eye here and there lighting upon a specimen with its blush- ing cheek turned towards the sun, and the whole, when gathered, yielding over twenty bushels — was an argument in favor of dwarf-trees, the force of which the most incredulous could not well withstand." Again, on page 350, August number : — " Our experience in this country certainly demands that the Duchess d'Angouleme should, of all others, be cultivated on the quince — the more vigorous growth of the tree — together with the improvement in the quality of the fruit, secures to it, in my judgment, above all others, a substitution of the quince for the pear stock." Could I have said more in favor of this variety on the quince without exciting a suspicion that I was actuated by other motives than simply giving expression to my honest conviction of its worth ? On page 218, May number, read : — " In the same year, I planted twenty Louise Bonne of Jersey on quince, all of which are, as to thriftiness of growth, symmetry of proportion, healthfulness of aspect, and productive- ness of habit, all that could be desired. These stand contiguous to the failing Bartletts on quince — indeed, all the above are on the same plat of ground, and the physical condition of the soil, as far as the eye can judge of it, being similar." On page 211 : — " Forty other Vicars on quince were planted at the same time on a distant part of the same field, have made most wonderful growth, and have borne more or less every year, and from the rax)id development of the wood principle, give promise of long lives of usefulness and profit." Is not my testimony as to the adaptation of this variety sufficiently explicit ? if not, I can add, at the close of another season, that the last year's crop of fruit exceeded twelve bushels, very many specimens weighing over a pound apiece. On page 218, speaking of the three varieties above named, it is said of them : "Which, in their thriftiness and productiveness, have far exceeded all expecta- tion." After quoting the testimony of Mr. Rivers — that most accomplished English pomologist — viz : that out of one thousand varieties of pear in cultiva- tion, he grows but four for the Covent Garden Market ; three of these are on pear stock, the Louise Bonne de Jersey alone on quince. I added, page 350, August number : — " No judge of pears will dare to lift his voice disparagingly to the character of that most rapid growing variety, uniformly bearing abundant crops of well-formed fruit, which, though not of the highest flavor, is yet such a pleasant subacid, as to be a universal favorite." IS'ow, with such testimony in favor of ray successful culture of these varieties of pear on quince stock — testimony corroborating that of our most distinguished pomologists — with what justice should I be arraigned as imperatively "pro- nouncing against the experience of French cultivators for one hundred years, and the English and American for twenty years?" What advantage will it be to the cause of horticultural science, in searching for the causes of the failure of other varieties, to drag the inquirer after truth through the mazes of suppositions and insinuations as to whether the stocks used were not the native instead of the Angiers Quince, when it had been distinctly stated (on page 218) that they Tfl£ PEAB CONTROV£aSY. been obtained from two of our most roliable iinrscrvmen, tlie late Mr. Wilson, of Albany, ami Mr. Win. Ilv'u], of Elizabeth City 1' And since, moreover, the demonstration that they were trne to their character, was found in the fact that the varieties known to be udaptcd to the quince had given vigorous growth ; — or that other unwarranted assertion that they had been i»laiited with the (juince stock from two to four inches above the surface of the ground, when not five in a thousand will show the line of junction without searching for it below the surface. iMjually unwarrantable was the inference on which was based the assertion that "I complained that my trees blew down." If the conversation touching the " exce])tions," reported to Mr. F., and duly credited to me by quotation marks, was faithfully and truly rejiorted to him, charity demands (since I repudiate it altogether) that I regard the communication as made through one of the mediums that abound in this spiritual age. I appeal to that gentleman himself to say if such language as is there ascribed to me, is not irre- concilable with my previously recorded testimony. Equally gratuitous was the remark that where I had success, it was on the much abused quince stock ; for, by Air the largest quantity of pears I have grown, have been on the pear stock. This is trne of the product this past, as well as of all preceding years. The admission, however, of my success on the quince stock — of luy having grown on that stock the largest pear ever known — the acknowledgment of an unaccepted challenge for a comparison of fine fruit, the i)roduct of the quince stock — is, in the hands of Mr. F., a two-edged sword, cutting more severely him who wields than the one against whom it is directed ; for, in the paragraph above, he says : "The doctor's treatment of his trees has violated all the laws governing the growth of the pear on the quince." The admission of success, if not an un- fortunate admission, to say the least, is in unfortunate proximity with the charge of "violating, in the treatment of the trees, all the laws governing the growth of the pear on the quince; for, if there be any one fact clearly established in nature — as well iu art as in science — it is that success depends upon our obedience to the laws governing that department of science or art. But the most unkind as well as unwarranted charge is that in which Mr. F. attempts to arraign me against the nurserymen, by representing me as cherishing a "suspicion of their exact truthfulness." Search the pages of the Horticulturist, and there will not be found an expression that will make plausible such an imi)u- tation. In a challenge for a comparison of fruit, published in the Country Gentle- man, I named a nurseryman as chairman, with power to add two to the committee, restricting him only to those not engaged in the nursery business. Is the challenge oi s, juryman as to his right to occupy a seat in the juryman's box, because he has expressed an opinion on the merits of the case, tantamount to a doubt of his truthfulness ? Most truly unfortunate is it for the cause sought to be advanced, when tlie views of an opponent are perverted — his fticts stated, misrepresented — his admis- sions concealed — and his arguments obscured by engendering in the minds of those who are to weigh them, a prejudice against him by arraigning him as " an accuser of his brethren." And now, in conclusion, let me say, the facts embodied in the articles claimed to be reviewed, viz : of the successful culture of certain varieties of the pear on the quince, and the failure of others that had enjoyed equal culture on the same plat of ground ; the successful culture of certain varieties that ordinarily do well on the quince, that have done well in certain localities on my farm, and that have ^ failed in all other positions — present phenomena that are still unexplained, unless the causes of their success in one position, and their failure in another, is owing to the physical adaptation of the soil in one instance, and its want of adaptation in the other, to the growth of the quince stock ; while the drift of the argument was intended to caution the inexperienced against the indiscriminate engrafting of all the varieties of pear upon the quince, as well as the transfer of even the approved varieties from the garden to the orchard, unless there was transferred with them the high culture of the garden. Will not my recorded testimony of the excellency of the quince stock for cer- tain varieties of pear — my denial of the use of the native quince stock — of the exposure of the quince stock above the surface of the ground — my denial of ever having suffered loss from the blowing down of my trees — of the conversation touching the "exceptions" — ray denial of any wholesale denunciation of the quince stock — make it clear to the reader that Mr. F. was fighting "a man of straw," instead of contributing his mite toward the settlement of a controverted question ? Kind readers, with a solitary apology for Mr. F., we will dismiss the subject. He is still in the first years of horticultural experience. The golden harvests that glitter in the distance, seemingly near enough to heivilder, are yet to be realized. The buoyancy of hope that trees yet under four years of age has in- spired, rests upon promises that may never be redeemed. Those promises that now appear to him as " necessitous of success" when airy castle building has given place to stern reality, may be written promises unredeemed. When a few more years of observation shall have given age to his experience, may we not hope that, as an honest inquirer, he will enlighten ns with the facts — the result of his observations in the orchard — instead of giving us theories ? When such record is truthfully and faithfully made, it may not be unlike that which is begin- ning to be made by other cultivators — as unlike the anticipated results as is the present condition of the celebrated orchard of Mr. Rivers, to what we had reason to expect it to be from the glowing description given of it when visited by the lamented Downing. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE AD INTERIM OF THE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF GEORGIA. YoTJR Committee would respectfully report that quite a large number of fruits have been submitted to them for examination, the past season, of which several seem worthy of general cultivation. Among these are — 1st. Princess Paragon Peach ; ripe specimens were received from Peters, Har- den & Co., Atlanta, Ga. ; ripe August 19. Fruit, large, oval — one side larger than the other. Shi^i, downy, yellowish-white, dotted with red, and, in the sun, nearly overspread with dull red. Flesh, white, melting and juicy. Quality, best. Fi'eestone. 2c?. Baltimore Rove (?) Peach (from the same parties). Fruit, large, roundish, tapering a little to the swollen point, suture extending more than half around. SJdn, creamy white, with red dots, and a fine red cheek. Flesh, greenish-white, red at the stone, to which it adheres, juicy, melting, sweet, and excellent — quite equal to the Old Mixon Cling, with which it ripens, August 24. 3t?. Snoiv Cling (also from Peters, Harden & Co.), is a very sweet and juicy Peach, of entirely too small size to merit further propagation ; ripe August 20. ith. Large White Cling, from Peters, Harden & Co., bought by them as Stew- art's Late, is another Peach of the highest character, ripening about the 20th of AuQ-ust. 5///. The Lf>iifj Crape, from Dr. C. AV. liOiipr, Alliens, (!:». This fruit was foiiti cavity. I Icsh, white, line graiiielan. A. P. W., in Cottage (Jardener. THE TRUE THEORY OF GRAFTS. by logos, philadelphia. Editor of the Horticulturist — Bear Sir : A paper headed as above, in the December Ko., has very much interested me, as it confirms me in the same idea which I have held for some time. I must tell you that I am one of those who care little to know how any operation in this lousiness is performed, unless they can at the same time be permitted to know the reason why. Believing that there are many such among your readers, I make no apology for endeavoring to keep the subject before them. That each cell must have its own inherent poicer of secretion, has often struck me. I once saw a white Muscat of Alexandria grape, grafted on the end of a cane of the black Hamburg. It of course always bore white Muscat grapes, in every shade of color, every form, and every peculiarity of taste the same as other Muscats not grafted ; yet all its sap had to be drawn through the cells or sap vessels of the Hamburg. If the first had the power of forming its own peculiar secretions so as to retain its exact distinctiveness, why should the wood-producing principle be deemed an exception ? If ^oood was formed, corporeally, from above doionwards, would it not in time so encase the wood of the stock, that when a shoot sprung out of what was once the stock, it would be of the same character as the scion? For I have never understood that physiologists believe that the bud or eye producing shoot, pro- ceeds, in all cases, through from the pith, as the heart or pith of trees is often dead and rotten many years before the outsides begin to decay. Satisfied that the true theory of grafting is now settled, I give the following chip for what it is worth, in return for the information I have received : — Two years ago I received a lot of pear grafts from a distant friend. They were buried in the ground at the ends, so as to preserve them a few weeks till the season was further advanced. When that came, the closest search could not find them. In July, while budding pears, I "ran against" these grafts. They appeared NEW PLANTS. JLod green and tolerably fresh, so I budded them, as I would do with young wood. Every bud had started to grow immediately, and made, on an average, shoots a foot long before fall. The result was that, though I had not quite as strong plants as I should have had by March grafting, I had double the quantity I should have had, besides no failures. I think my practical friends may probably turn this fact to some account. While on the subject, I would like to inquire on what theory root-grafting apples is supposed to render them less hardy or vigorous, as I see Mr. Hovey and others hold. I have compared seedling Kentucky coffee's, alianthus' and Paul- ownias, with others raised from pieces of roots, and can trace no difference in their relative vigor or hardiness ; nor can I see any difference in the vigor or hardiness of a root-grafted rose over one grafted in any other way. But even could I see any difference, I should not rest satisfied with the impression that " I could attribute it to nothing else," unless I could see some trace of a physiological reason why it should be so, which I confess I cannot do. I should be glad if some of our friends who hold Mr. Hovey's view would enlighten us. NEW PLANTS, PiNUS Grenville^. Nat. Ord. Coniferce. — A noble Conifer, discovered by Mr. Hartweg, on some of the highest mountains near Tepic, in Mexico. It is of robust habit, and has in consequence been called " Ocote macho," or male Pine, by the natives. The foliage is very robust, from twelve to fifteen inches in length ; leaves are in fives. The cones are solitary, pendulous, straight, sixteen inches long, and three to four inches across the base. This species is easily distinguishable, from its straight cones and robust foliage. In its native habitat it attains to the height of seventy to eighty feet. It has been named in honor of the Right Honorable Lady Grenville. — Hort. Soc. Joiirn. PiNUS GoRDONiANA. Nat. Ord. Coniferce. — A companion to the last-named species, introduced by the same gentleman, from the same locality. It is a remarkably handsome species, possessing the longest foliage of any of the tribe yet brought to this country. It attains about the same height as its predecessor. It is called "Ocote herabra," or female Pine, by the natives. The leaves are produced in fives, are sixteen inches in length, not so robust as in P. Grenvillece, and of a light green. The cones are pendulous, generally solitary, from four to five inches in length, and one inch and a half at the base ; they are slightly curved, and regularly tapering. It is named in compliment to Mr. Gordon, of the Horti- cultural Society's Garden. It is quite hardy, and is a splendid species, the long slender foliage rendering it an attractive object. — Ibid. Lachenalia aurea. Nat. Ord. Asphodelece. — The Horticultural Society purchased this beautiful species of a collector, who discovered it in Natal. It first bloomed in the greenhouse at Chiswick, last spring. It is remarkable for the length of time it remains in flower, a much longer period than any other of this much-neglected genus ; although the Lachenalia is of as easy a culture as the Hyacinth and other spring bulbs, we very seldom meet with them in the green- house. The numerous broad flaccid leaves, which are a lively green, slightly mottled with purple, fall back upon the ground, and the scapes, which are of the same mottled colors, rise erect to the height of near two feet, profusely laden with its brilliant golden yellow tubular flowers. The individual blooms are much larger than those of L. tricolor (the most common species), and are of a firm waxy substance. This species deserves to be in every greenhouse. — Gard. Ch ox THE 11 A BITS OF THE Ci O P 11 E 11 OF ILLINOIS. Geomys burearias. BY J. n. PABVIN, ILLINOIS COLLEGE. I SKNP to the Institution a youn"; Gopher, a little more tlian half prown, whieli I hope will reach you in safety. If he arrives alive, take a (lour barrel and fill it half full of moist earth, i)otatoes, corn, or beets, at the bottom, for food, and he will dip; down and help himself, if the earth is compact, so that he can make a liole in it without its eavinp^ in upon him. I have never seen them driidi ; but it will be well to set a dish of water where he can come out on the top of the earth and drink it. Keep the barrel covered loosely, but so that he cannot climb out ; and set it on a floor or plank, so that, if he should g;ct out, he need not get easily into the ground. His habits of digging and eating you will see only Ijy careful watching in the barrel. He uses his paws and his pouches to carry both dirt and food. He digs long lioles in the ground, extending sometimes for rods or even miles, about two feet below the surface, and at suitable distances makes side cuts, at an angle of about 45°, running from the longitudinal main track up to the surface. Through these side cuts he carries up the dirt from the trunk below, as long as he finds it convenient to retain it, in his pouches ; then he turns back, and fills this side cut full of cpiite hard earth down to his main trenches, and then makes another and another side cut further on, filling all these up, and stopping every crevice where light or air can enter, so that his abode, when finished, is one long, winding passage, wholly excluded from all light and air, from one to three or four, perhaps more feet under ground — generally about two feet, except in places where it is made deeper, to deposit food in piles, or to procure water. In these subterranean passages he lives at all times, and gathers food, roots, &c., in summer, and stores them in large, deep lioles for winter. He is never seen above ground, except in the rare cases when food becomes scarce in one field, or for some other cause be prefers another ; then, he will sometimes condescend to walk a part of the way above ground, rather than persevere in his migration by digging below, and then, for most part, only in the night. Whether they live in droves or families, or only in pairs, is uncertain ; but if two strange gophers are put together, they at once attack each other, and the victor devours his antagonist. I cannot, therefore, send you a pair at once, as I promised ; and this is the first and only one I have seen this summer, exce})t one killed and mangled in taking, so thoroughly did my boys wage their war of extermination on them last year. I will watch for more in the spring, if wanted. I have not time now for a more particular description, but will answer in future any questions desired. You are aware of its mischievous destruction of hedges and fruit-trees, as also of clover and all root crops. — Smithsonian Transactions. ARE THE FLOWERS OF THE AZALEA POISONOUS? BY T. M. A snoRT time since, I endeavored to rescue the Kalmia from what I believed the unjust reputation of being poisonons. I notice that the English horticultu- rists are now in a flutter about the Rhododendron. They say that honey extracted by bees from its flowers, is poisonous. Dr. Lindley, in combating the noti admits that it is so in the case of the Azalea, but not in the Rhododendron. PROTECTING TREES FROM CATTLE, Sir, I do think there is some mistake in such an admission. As I observed, when writing of the Kalmia, I believe that poisons are destructive, in more or less de- gree, to all animals alike. If the honey secreted by the bee, from this source, be so poisonous to man, why is it not poisonous to the bees themselves ? One would think that, in the act of secretion, such poisonous material would be destructive to the life of the bee ; unless, as I presume few people in this enlightened age believe, the bee were to gather the honey, and place it in his "bag" as an apple gatherer would put the fruit in his pouch. I may be " all wrong," but " that is my impression." PROTECTING TREES FROM CATTLE. The beauty of individual specimens, as well as groups of trees, is often marred, to a great extent, by the means employed to protect them from cattle. None of these are more objectionable than the abomination termed a crate. Where such heavy-looking and unsightly objects are thickly placed, as they often are, the effect is disagreeable in the extreme, and as they have to be endured for years, any substitute that will afford equal protection without their objec- tionable appearance, should be readily adopted. The accompanying sketch illustrates a contriv- ance which combines both support and protection from cattle, and is also neat in appearance. This fence, by being entirely below the eye, is very little seen, and the supports of the tree, being of wire, are scarcely to be distinguished, except upon close examination. If the whole were of iron, it would, of course, be still less objectionable, on the score of appearance. The uprights of the fence, as given in the sketch, are supposed to be stout piles, six in number, driven into the ground at an angle of about 45°, at a sufficient distance from the tree to prevent cattle from reaching the stem or branches. The uprights should be about three feet six inches out of the ground. They are connected by rails placed horizontally, and suf- ficiently close to prevent sheep from getting be- tween them. From the tops of three or four of these uprights, stout wires are fixed, the upper ends meeting at the tree, where they are attached to a collar, which should be somewhat larger than the stem it is to surround ; the intervening space is then to be filled with leaves, hay, or moss, and properly secured, to prevent damage to the bark. These wire supports are, of course, only required when the tree is newly planted : by employing them, stakes — which are rarely effective, and always objectionable in appearance — are entirely dispensed with. ^y- YoL. YII— April, 185T. 13 186 EVERGREENS. EVE 11 (J RE ENS. —WHAT SHALL AVE PLANT? Mr. BuisVs Catalogue. — {Concluded.) The Euonyimis, till last winter, was considered here so nearly liiirdy, as to be adopted; it occasionally lost a limb, but was, last year, entirely destroyed; still, it maybe a.cjaia planted, with a prospect of success; the green is much more desiral)le than the variegated, and is a superb shrub. "T^Mon^/wi/.s-, Evergreen Chinese Spindle-Tree. A dwarf shrulj, lliat crows freely in tlio shade or sun ; makes a beautiful hedge south of Philadeliihia, gmwiiig in any soil; height, eight to ton feet. In ornamental gardening, it is with us as the Holly is in England, indis- pensable. " Fitz-Roya Patagonica, a new Evergreen, with drooping branches ; supposed to be hardy here. " I/ex, Holly. Beautiful Evergreens, that do well in Southern latitudes, and tolerably h'ardy in this vicinity, when protected from the sun in winter. For diversity of character and i)eauty of foliage, no family surpasses it ; it delights in rich soil ; many varieties, and our native Opaca not to be forgotten. "Jiiniperus. The Juniper is a very classical plant, being frequently mentioned by, and hichly esteemed amongst the ancients. It luxuriates in every temperate country, even on the most barren soils, being an important feature iu all rugged countries — growing on any soil or situation, even under the drip of trees. The plants generally attain a height of ten to twenty feet ; many varieties. " Kalmia, Sheep Laurel. The broad-leaved Sheep Laurel, or Kalmia latifolia, is common in all moist or shady woods of the Middle and Eastern States. Its beautifully white and pink crimped blossoms resting on a bed of the richest green, are truly elegant. A dwarf bush. " Laurus, Laurel Bay. Plants with very thick, coriaceous leaves, generally of a spicy fragrance ; grow well in any soil, but are too tender for culture in the Middle States ; height, from six to twelve feet. " Ligustrum, Prim or Privet. Shrubs with beautiful, dark, shining green leaves : they are often sheared into various forms, and make very agreeable fancy hedges ; will grow in shade or sunshine ; in height, from six to twelve feet. " Libocedrus, chiliensis. This genus is closely related to Tliuja, very recently introduced from the mountains of Chili ; it has a beautiful silvery soft green appearance, and will grow from ten to fifteen feet ; scarce yet. " Magnolia, the Tree Laurel of the South. "Whether regarded for the richness of its foliage, the beauty of its flower, or the majestic habit of the tree, it has no superior, and is every- where hardy south of Philadelphia and Cincinnati. It attains a height of forty to eighty feet ; requires deep, rich soil. , "Mespilus, Pyracantha, or Evergreen Thorn. There is not a more beautiful plant during our autumnal and early winter months ; neither is there a more neglected one than the present subject ; thickly studded with its beautiful coral berries, it forms a very attractive bush or pillar. " Pliilesia. A very limited and little known family of plants. This is the first species of the genus introduced to this country. The plant has a high reputation in Euroi)e ; we hope it may prove as popular here. The foliage is neat, and the flower large in proportion. Buxifolia, Buxus, or Box-leaved, small. " Picca, Balsam Fir. This tribe differs in its natural habitat from Abies or Spruce, from its growing in lower situations, and will luxuriate in rich moisture where Abies would die ; they will grow from 50 to 200 feet high. Balsamea, Balm of (Jilead Fir. Cephalonica, Black Silver Fir. 7'>a2ern', Frazer's, ditto. iVo?oor treatment. Deep, rich soil, and mulching during dry weather, will be attended with success. Pears. — Attend early to pinching out the points from rampant growing shoots. No opera- tion on trees is practically of more importance than this ; it effects a saving of time, economizes manure, and increases the croji ; indirectly, it is true, hut none the less in fact. There cannot be a more pleasing occupation, for the amateur in fruits, than attending to a collection of dwarf pear-trees. Having in his eye the symmetrical proportions of a pyramidal-formed tree clothed with foliage from the ground upwards, lie will now be bending down strong shoots and elevating weak ones, to equalize their conditions ; and, as growth advances, those shoots likely to take a lead, and disarrange the equality of growth, will have their tops pinched out. Grapery. — The canes will grow with more regularity, if their points are retained in a pendent position ; as the shoots grow out, tie them up. Admit air every favorable day ; of course, cold, rustling winds must bo excluded, but endeavor to inure them to free ventilation, and let the house be opened a little during the night, as soon as all danger from frost is past. It is a mistake to suppose that a constant high temperature will hasten the maturity of the crop. Even the lowering of 10 degrees during night is not sufficient. A dilference at least of 20 degrees is absolutely necessary. To illustrate my meaning, I will briefly state the management and progress of two graperies as observed by me last summer, which I will designate as No. 1 and 2. No. 1 is furnished with a furnace for artificial heat ; slight fires were made early in March, to start the vines. The temperature was carefully kept up, and the house shut up closely at nights, until the grapes commenced to color. No. 2 had no heater of any description ; the vines budded out in April, with the warmth of spring ; the second week in May tlie top ventilators were lowered, so that an opening of four feet was gained continually the whole length of the house, and was kept in that position, without alteration day or night, until November. Now lor the result. The fruit in No. 2 was ripe and colored to the greatest perfection, and was cut before No. 1 — the grapes in the latter were red, while they should have been black. The vines in No. 2 ripened well ; the leaves changed color, dropped oti', and the canes winter-pruned, when those in No. 1 (I saw both houses the same day) were green and succulent, not a leaf indicating a tendency towards maturity. Lawns, especially those recently soNvn, will be much benefited by a top dressing of soil, raked in and rolled, to counteract the lifting out of the grasses by frost. Drain and trench the ground for intended lawns ; put your faith in that, and not in any mere mixture of seeds for a permanent turf. Tkaxsplantixg Evergreens can be proceeded with towards the end of the month. The cold winds of March, and the early portion of this month, are more injurious to evergreens than any other season. Therefore, it is not well to be in too great a hurry. Deciduous trees suffer less, as they do not present so great a surface for evaporation. »-^tf?v i#(ii«,^. ^^?«^fe^^^ ^-: ^lH ^'^K If- 5 ^ ^^^^^^r- f an^snip in (ir0nnctti,ou toiti] ®ru planting, gfo. 4, (CONCLUSIOX.) F we have succeeded in getting the ear of the landscape improver, by illustrating to the eye the effects of grouping, we have only now to add, that the study of the subject, to be effective, must be combined with a certain amount of arboricultural knowledge before the work is com- I menced. If we do not know the natural heights which I each species attains, the first principle is wanting. Merely to group for the effect of the present year, by planting trees according to their respective heights in the nursery I rows, would be attended with certain disappointment as the plants made progress ; while the centre tree would scarcely grow in height, the outside ones might in two or three years overtop them, and throw them entirely out of sight. Hence it is that the services of a landscape-gardener with this know- ledge, is necessary to success, and hence it also is, that persons without this pre- vious knowledge are always pretenders. While groups may be made so very effective, even in small pla'ces, the greatest care, in a large scene, must be taken that irregularity of breadth be preserved in the glades or pastures, and that the dotting system be strictly avoided ; by spot- ting groups equally all over a surface, repose is frittered away, and no breadth or varied expanses of lawn, which are so much to be desired, are shown. The rarest and most interesting kinds of trees and shrubs ought to appear near- est to the road, walk, or mansion, or they might be otherwise overlooked. In a dressed border, efforts should be strenuously made to have shrubs and plants some of which will bloom at all seasons, and such should be selected that do not require much water, where the means of irrigation are not at hand. As regards our final illustratfons of grouping. Fig. 19 is far more in unison with two Spruce Firs, as they there appear, than if they were planted on the out- side of the whole of the Poplars, on account of their deeper tone ; or a group of Spruce Firs or Larch (Fig. 20) with a Silver Fir or Cedar of Lebanon, is more in character than if cither of the latter were placed on one side. A large or massive group, composed of various trees, and of various heights and distances, with the most striking character blended inside, would produce an assemblage of varied outline and of natural loveliness (Fig. 21) ; but if a single tree only, of striking character, were placed on one side of such a group — as, for instance, a Cedar of Lebanon, Scotch Fir, Austrian Pine, Spruce Fir, Larch, or Purple Beech — the balance of beauty would be instantly destroyed. This little essay on grouping and massing may perhaps convey some ideas to improvers, and give to those in possession of country places an impetus to a more extended study of the charming topic ; possibly, too, it may induce others in pos- session of trees to give them artistic changes, affecting and beautifying their whole character for present and after time. The subject admits of much extension, but as brevity has to be studied in these pages, we give place at present to other topics. -3^ Vol. VII.— May, 1857. U SAXE-GOTH.EA CONSPICTJA. Tnis remarkable plant, to wliich His Royal lliL^^hjioss I'riiu^e Albert lias per- niitted one of his titles to be j,nven, and whieli will ])robably rank anion<^ the most highly valued of our hardy evergreen-trees, is a native of the mountains of Pata- gonia, where it was found by Mr. William Loljb, forming a beautiful tree thirty feet high. In the nursery of Messrs. Veitch, of Exeter, it has lived in the open air for four years without shelter, and has all the appearance of being well-adapted to the climate of England. The country in which it grows is, indeed, more cold and ^orray than any part of Great Britain, as is shown by the following account of it, given by Mr. Lobb in one of his letters to Messrs. Veitch: — " During my absence, I visited a great part of Chiloe, most of the islands in the Archipelago,, and the coast of Patagonia for about one hundred and forty miles. I went up the Corcobado, Cayliu, Alraan, Comau, Reloncavi, and other places on the coast, frequently making excursions from the level of the sea to the line of perpetual snow. These bays generally run to the base of the central ridge of the Andes, and the rivers take their rise much further back in the interior. The whole country, from the Andes to the sea, is formed of a succession of ridges of mountains gradually rising from the sea to the central ridge. The whole is thickly wooded from the base to the snow line. Ascending the Andes of Comau, I observed, from the water to a considerable elevation, the forest is composed of a variety of trees, and a sort of cane so thickly matted together that it formed almost an impenetrable jungle. Further up, amongst the melting snows, vegeta- tion becomes so much stunted in growth, that the trees, seen below one hundred feet high and eight feet in diameter, only attain the height of six inches. " On reaching the summit, no vegetation exists — nothing but scattered barren rocks, which appear to rise amongst the snow, which is thirty feet in depth, and frozen so hard that on walking over it the foot makes but a slight impression. " To the east, as far as the eye can command, it appears perfectly level. To the south, one sees the central ridge of the Andes stretching along for an immense distance, and covered with perpetual snow. To the west, the whole of the islands from Guaytecas to the extent of the Archipelago, is evenly and distinctly to be seen. " A little below this elevation, the scenery is also singular and grand. Rocky precipices stand like perpendicular walls from two hundred feet to three hundred feet in height, over which roll the waters from the melting snows, which ajipear to the eye like lines of silver. Sometimes these waters rush down with such force, that rocks of many tons in weight are precipitated from their lofty stations to the de[»th of two thousand feet. In the forest below, everything appears calm and tranquil ; scarcely the sound of an animal is heard ; sometimes a few butterflies and beetles meet the eye, but not a house or human being is seen. On the sandy tracts near the rivers, the lion or puma is frequently to be met with, but this animal is perfectly harmless if not attacked." It is from this wild and uninhabited country that many of the fine plants raised by Messrs. Veitch w-ere obtained, and among them the Soxe-Gothcea, Podocarptis nubigena, Fitz-Roya patigonica, and Libocedrus tetragoiia. Of these he writes thus : — " The two last {Fitz-Roya and Libocedrus) I never saw below the snow line. The former inhabits the rocky precipices, and the latter the swampy places between the mountains. The first grows to an enormous size, particularly about the win- ter snow line, where I have seen trees upwards of one hundred feet high, and more eight feet in diameter. It may be traced from this elevation to the perpetual snows, where it is not more than four inches in height. With these grow the Yews {Saxe-Goth(Ea and Podocarpus nuhigena), which are beautiful evergreen-trees, and, as well as the others, afford excellent timber." Saxe-Goth^a may be described as a genus with the male flowers of a Podo- A. — Brancli of Saxe-Gothjea conspicna. SAXE-aOTHyEA CONSl'ICUA. carp, the females of a Dammar, the fruit of a Juniper, the seed of a Dacrydium, aiul the habit of a Yew. Its fleshy fruit, composed of consoliihited scales, inclosing nut-like seed, and formint; wliat is technically culled a Ciulbulus, places it near Juniperus, from which it more especially differs in its anthers not being peltate, B. — Fructification of Saxe-Gotbaea. nor its fruit composed of a single whorl of perfect scales, and in its ovule having two integuments instead of one. In the last respect, it approaches Podocarpus, and especially Dacrydium ; but the exterior integument of the seed is a ragged. SAXE-GOTH^A CONSPIGUA. abortive membrane, enveloping the base only of the seed, instead of a well-defined cup. In a memorandum in my possession, by Sir William Hooker, I find this distinguished botanist comparing Saxe-Gotliaea to a Podocarp with the flowers in a cone — a view which he was probably led to take by the condition of the ovule, and which may be regarded as the most philosophical mode of understanding the nature of this singular genus, to which Nageia may be said to be a slight approach, and which is not distinguishable, by habit, from a Podocarp. In its systematic relations, Saxe-Gothtea possesses great interest, forming as it does a direct transition from the one-flowered Taxads to the true imbricated Coni- fers, without, however, breaking down the boundary between those orders, as I understand them, but rather confirming the propriety of limiting the Coniferous order to those genera which really bear cones instead of single naked seeds. In the language of some naturalists, Saxe-Gothaea would be called an osculant genus between Taxads and Conifers. The leaves of this plant have altogether the size and general appearance of the English Yew, Taxns baccata ; but they are glaucous underneath, except upon the midrib and two narrow stripes within the edges, which are pale green. The male flowers consist of spikes appearing at the ends of the branches, in a raceme more or less elongated. These spikes (Fig. B, 1) grow from within a few concave acute scales, which form a kind of involucre at the base. Each male is a solitary membranous anther, with a lanceolate, acuminate, reflexed appendage, and a pair of parallel cells opening longitudinally. The female flowers form a small, round- ish, pedunculated, terminal, scaly, imbricated cone (Fig. B, 3). The scales are fleshy, firm, lanceolate, and contracted at their base, where they unite in a solid centre. All appear to be fertile, and to bear in a niche in the middle, where the contraction is, a single inverted ovule (Fig. B, 4). The ovule is globular, with two integuments beyond the nucleus ; the outer integument is loose and thin, and wraps round the ovule in such a way that its two edges cannot meet on the under side of the ovule ; the second integument is firm and fleshy ; the nucleus is flask- shaped, and protrudes a fungous circular expansion through the foramen. The fruit (Fig. B, 5) is formed, by the consolidation of the free scales of the cone, into a solid, fleshy mass of a depressed form, and very irregular surface, owing to many of the scales being abortive, and crushed by those whose seeds are able to swell ; while the ends of the whole retain their original form somewhat, are free, rather spiny, and constitute so many tough, sharp tubercles. The seed (Fig. B, 6) is a pale brown, shining, ovate, brittle nut, with two very slight, elevated lines, and a large, irregular hilum ; at the base, it is invested with a short, thin, ragged membrane, which is the outer integument in its final condition. The nucleus lies half free in the interior, the fungous apex having shrivelled up and disappeared. Explanation of the Cuts. — A, a branch with male and female flowers, natural size ; B, various details of the fructification, more or less magnified ; 1, a spike of male flowers ; 2, a male or anther apart ; 3, a twig and young cone ; 4, a scale seen from the inside with the inverted ovule, showing the fungous foramen pro- truding beyond the primine (outer integument) ; 5, a ripe fruit ; 6, a seed, show- ing the two slight elevations upon the surface, and the remains of the ragged primine at the base. — Dr. Lindley, in Horticultural Society Journal. [Mr. Sargent considers the Saxe-Goth^a hardy in the climate of the North Biver. It belongs to the yew-leaved form of evergreens. — Ed.] VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. — NO. 9. AllOUND UAL TIM ORE. How much or how little a traveller sees, depends upon two circumstances ; the state of his own inquisitiveness, and the amount of iiitcllifrence he meets with from those whom he associates with on his tours. That the masses who visit our principal cities as " travellers" know very little of the places they pass through, is evident; without introductions, conversation is perhaps confined to the fellow- passenger, who knows more of the place just left than of the one api^roached. The hotel life is unfavorable to accurate investigation ; we may see the outside of a city just as most Americans see Paris, but as to its inner life, how few know anything of it. Who has ever described country life in France ? and yet there is such a thing ; Ijafayette's family was an example, and there are many others equally agreeable. Who has described country life in America ? or who has seen it ? As to the neirfliborliood of New York, Boston, Philadelphia, or Baltimore, how many of the miilious who land in their streets and hotels know anything of the clever, quiet people who are leading sensible lives on the outskirts ? Not one of the thousands. And yet, these honest livers are numerous, are thrifty or wealthy, and pursuing objects of interest in agriculture, horticulture, literature, and those subjects of an enlightened social life, that lend an indescribable charm to civiliza- tion. When we say one-half the world knows not how the other half lives, we mean, how it gets its living — procures its bread ; but we might say as correctly, that nine-tenths of our population know not the extent of the civilization of their neighbors. This will be apparent, for instance, if a traveller who has heretofore made the Baltimore hotels his sole acquaintance, will domesticate himself in the vicinity, and, with the aid of an intelligent friend, explore the neighborhood; he will find much more intelligence, progress, and high civilization, than the external aspect of things, as he viewed them from the cars, has led him to expect, however attractive in many particulars, that may be. We found, after such an examination, much more to admire, in a horticultural sense, than we had any expectation of; indeed, Baltimore, in proportion to its population, is not behind its compeers in enthusiasm for good culture, botanical riches and results. It has had no Magazine of its own, to chronicle and spread a knowledge of its doings, and yet it has a spirited horticultural society, excel- lent commercial gardeners, private collections of plants, and an amount of ama- teurs that quite surprised and delighted the little horticultural party which had surveyed with admiring eyes the finest places "at the North." In private life, there is a style, and even grandeur, which is rare anywhere ; landscape-gardening has taken a high rank, and we cannot but wish the writer in the last North Ameri- can lieview, whose vision is so lamentably bounded by his "Boston Common," could extend his trips, and see scenery beyond " Cambridge;" we can assure him there is something beyond. Farm Lands, the noble summer residence of Gustavo W. Liirman, Esq., we have already described as a farm of six hundred acres, cultivated with a discrimi- native liberality, and yet with a large profit (see ffoi-ticid/nrist for December, 1856). It is about seven miles west of Baltimore, in a rolling country, commanding fine views of the city, the bay, and surrounding scenery. The lady of the mansion is the presiding spirit of all that pertains to horticul and planting ; an enthusiast, in short, who never allows an opportun' VISITS TO COUNTRY PLACES. escape for tbe acquisition of a new tree or plant. They have already as extensive a collection of rare trees and shrubbery as we know anywhere, most judiciously selected and planted, and promising to become one of the most beautiful in this country. The house, one of great extent and comfort, without architectural pretension, is situated on a gradually ascending elevation from the gate, in the midst of an open grove of lofty oaks and chestnut oaks of such magnitude, as to permit the lower branches to be trimmed up sufBciently high to give the most extended views without interfering with the dignity and character of the wood itself. These views extend, in the rear, to a forest of some hundred odd acres, attached to the estate, giving one an idea, from its repose and depth, of the ancient chase. And, in front, for many miles over a most charmingly rolling and park-like country, where all the fences and barriers are most ingeniously concealed, to Baltimore — a distance of seven miles — and to the Chesapeake. We believe, in fine weather, this view even extends to the State House at J^nnapolis. The middle distance, after emerging from the grove, consists of a gradually rolling and sloping lawn, with some fine cedars and other trees judiciously grouped, until it finally terminates in a valley, advantage of which has been taken with much taste and discrimination, to place a French flower garden of great beauty in gravel and box edging, and immediately in rear of which is a very handsome architectural greenhouse; a gardener's house, a grapery, a double curvilinear house, frame yard, with several hundred feet of brick pits, a well-concealed vege- table and fruit garden, and the other necessary appliances of country life. A well designed and admirably executed walk conducts from the house through the valley to the garden and greenhouse, bordered by masses of the newer and more beautiful shrubs, with occasional single trees or plants of rare value. Through the deeper part of the valley, the plantations assume the character of what in England is called "the American garden," and fine masses of Rhododen- drons, Kalmias, Azaleas, Mahonias, Hollies, &c., abound in the greatest profusion and luxuriance. We do not remember ever to have seen finer or more superb Magnolias than in this portion of the grounds. The return walk passes over the side of several gentle elevations, and is in like manner tastefully planted with groups, masses, and single specimens of the rarer trees. We believe it is the intention of Mrs. Liirman to form a Pinetura walk on this portion of the pleasure-grounds. There are, however, already at Farm Lauds many fine specimens of the new Conifers. Take it all in all, we know of no finer place south of Philadelphia, and, in fact, no place where a more charming effect is produced than the view from the house, under the canopy of lofty trees, over the gently rolling lawn to this soft and pretty valley, terminated in so bright and sparkling a manner with its brilliant French flower-garden and attractive greenhouse completely shutting in the view in this direction. The defects, if defects they may be considered (and what place is without some ?), are, perhaps, too great openness and extension in certain portions of the view ; for we quite agree with Loudon in believing that even a park may be too large. Our idea of the perfection of a place is such an amount of landscape as may reasonably be supposed to be within the compass of the ordinary fortune of the country in which the property is situated. Windsor Castle and Park would therefore be as inconsistent with our American fortunes as one of our suburban villas and lots would be for an English nobleman. We would therefore be quite satisfied if the views at Farm Lands were confined five or six hundred acres comprising the estate, instead of reaching, as 208 ELY ASTON CASTLE. r^TA' do, over rnniiy miles beyond; to he sure, similar liindscnpe, luit so extended as at oiieo to imj)ross the visitor with the impossiliility of one individual owninfr the whole. However, this is a defect more or less beloufriiifj to nil elevated situa- tions, and one which so few ])ersons would allow, that we may he tliou;j;ht ea])- tious even to have mentioned it. We therefore conclude our impressions of Farm Lands by repeatinir that, taking the farm ami estate together, wo know of few jtlaces more desirable. ELVASTON CASTLE. A LEAF FROM MY NOTE-BOOK. BY ROBERT BUIST, PHILADELPniA. No doubt, Mr. Editor, you have often been interrogated, by your friends who were about making the "tour of Europe," with the question : "Which are the finest parks, pleasure-grounds, and pinetums, to visit t" The reply of course would be, Chatsworth, Woburn, Kew, &c. Elvaston C.\stle, to which I will call your attention, has been rarely viewed till within the past few years ; it was a sealed book to all but its late owner and his workmen. It has, however, recently become one of the "sights," and is ])ublic on a specified day of the week. It is the seat of the Earl of Harrington, near Derby, and is celebrated for its profusion of evergreen-trees and shrubs ; it is also known for its symmetric and natural ])lanting. If there existed a hardy evergreen, it was soon deposited within the domain of this enthusiastic modern planter. When I first visited it, in 1831, to see my youthful friend, Mr. Barrbw, who then entered as gardener, I noted the place only for its long, level avenues of lindens and chestnuts, that had stood the storms of the past century. Mr. Repton, the famous landscajie-planter, was invited, by the grandfather of the late Earl, to improve the grounds, but considered them so tame and level that nothing could be done ; he planted about half a dozen Cedars of Lebanon, which remain, and they were the only evergreen-trees of any character on the place, in 1830. So meagre was the character of the place for trees, that the late ^Ir. Loudon, in his full garden statistics p.liuut 1829-30, did not even notice it. The house is of the plainest exterior, with all the appendages of the establish- ment in conjunction with it; and, strange to say, the parish church in juxta]iosi- tion, but so retired and secluded, that no intrusion from thence could be eflccted. A plain sheet of water, and an ancient flower-garden, with hedges of yew and laurel, formed the picturesque of this now noted spot in the above year. How changed the scene ! The cool, collected, ingenious talent of the gardener, backed by the Earl's wealth and will, with a determination to produce what he had so long desired, has resulted, in so short a period, in eiTecfs which no other person has yet achieved, even with nature in all its grandeur at his command. The whole has been produced so quietly and privately, that comparatively few had realized a solitary view, unless taken from the top of the church, as was done by your friend, the late Mr. Downing, or on a very few special occasions granted by his Lordship. The following feeldy shows what a few years have accomplished. The whole feature of the place is decidedly Evergreen ; so that the grand avenue of lindens gives way to rows of Deodar cedars, Douglas firs, and Austrian pines, till you approach within half a mile of the mansion, where there is an inclosure by a ha-ha, or sunk fence, within which you enter by massive, gilded, iron gates. On the right, the column is covered with the golden ivy, and, on the left, the lod embedded with mantles of the green. So striking a contrast could not be aaSX , = ELVASTON CASTLE. looked. You are now within the paddock, in a serpentine approach, planted on the right and left with variegated holly, backed with Cembra pine, whose sombre shade forms a striking contrast with the pale variegations of the holly. The next turning opens on beds of heather, beautifully in bloom, interspersed with boxwood, and screened from the mansion by towering specimens of Douglas fir and Cedars of Lebanon, whose tops are grafted with Deodars ; the dark green of the former contrasting with the soft green of the latter, you could not resist the impression of the trees being covered with silken mantlets. Another turning places the winter garden on the left, and brings you up in front of the mansion, from which you have a full view of the winter garden and mount of pleasure, that has no equal in "Victoria's dominions, or perhaps any other country. By a covered yew walk, you enter the garden, and figure to your mind's eye an old, bushy yew that had been growing for centuries before its re- moval to its present site twenty years ago, forming now a beautiful, artificially- clipped arbor, fifteen feet square and twenty feet high, perfect every inch, not a branch or twig out of place (except a morsel of a new variety, or sport scrupu- lously reserved for multiplication), surmounted by two peacocks formed on the top of each, other, and over them two rings, all made with the shears ; and perhaps the whole cost as much as some of the fine architectural churches of our city. The Irish Yew stands in regimental phalanx, about eight feet high, grafted with the Golden Yew, formed into crowns, and shining in the sun with dazzling splen- dor. The Swedish and Irish Junipers make boundaries of various tints of green, are worked up into masses, creating variegations of foliage, habit, and sli contrast of color, and the disposition of plants. The prevailing charact 210 £LV ASTON CASTLE. produced a pnrtrrre with colors so coiilrastcd as to rivet the ovo ; this was readily accomplished iiy every iiiiaji'iiKible shade, even surpassirif:: any lloral arraiificiiient. For example, take a half circle or crescent, and jilant the disk with dark, iip- riijht, sombre Yew or Juniper, and tlie concave with variegated ))lants such as reriwinkic, Thyme, and Santolina; you will have at once a winter bouquet. I give you the outline, and leave you and your readers to form the picture. The gilding of the statuary — to mc, questionable taste — the elaborate work of the baskets surrounding some cherished novelty, the feathered declivity of the embank- ments, the terraces, and the slopes, the plains and the mounts, circular and square, oval and angular, all exhibit an artistic skill fascinating in the extreme. "What is this surrounded with such bea>itiful wicker-work ?" " Libocedrus chiliensis ; a groat acquisition; it looks like a Silver Arbor-vitiva." "Oh yes, you may call it Thuja Chiliensis." " There is another cxcpiisitc plant !" " That is Biota aurca." " Ah ! very like a Thuja, too." " Yes, Thuja aurea." " What i)eculiar shaped Pine is that ?" " A Douglas Fir." "Ah! you have been using the knife on it." "Yes, and on many others, freely. I exploded the idea that Evergreens will not liear pruning. Do it at the proper time, and judiciously ; they are, with few excep- tions, perfectly under control." "I thought Douglas Fir was an exception, and that it was only handsome from seed?" "Of all the magnificent specimens on the place, there are only about half a dozen of seedlings." " What is the object of those pieces of paper at regular distances along the top of that Y''ew iiedge ?" AVith a smile : " They are to cover the grafts of the Golden Yew that I put in a few days ago." " What ! graft at this season of the year — July ?" " All those trees have been grafted in the same way, by what, you know, is called herbaceous grafting, taking the soft young wood of this season's growth, and inserting it into the shoot of the same age on the stock, and they unite in a few hours !" MuLe a note of that. From the east front of the house, the east avenue extends ten miles in a straight, uninterrupted view, which is not used as an entrance, but merely as a prospect. A walk of about thirty feet wide extends half a mile, or as far as the ha-ha ; within this space, the majestic Ilorse-Chestnut has been replaced by the Araucaria, Cryp- tomeria, Taxodium sempervirens, Deodars, Cedars of Lebanon, and Ficea pinsaj)o, disposed with a gracefully waved outline. As you enter this amazing vista, you have, en your right and left, specimens of Picea nobilis, each twelve feet high, and about the largest in England, of the most symmetrical form, and without a fault, surpassing in beauty the famed Araucaria excelsa (Norfolk Island Pine), and grown from cuttings planted out when only three inches high. Onward, are magnificent trees of Araucaria imbricata, thirty-five feet high, planted on mounds, and clothed to the ground with their distinct and unique foliage. These trees have been eighteen years planted, so that their average growth has been about two feet a year. Onward was the Cryptomeria, with its graceful, airy form, and pendulous branches, contrasting with the stifl" habit and upright mien of the Arau- caria. How grand, how expansive the view ! What will those new features attain ? Shall I see it again in twenty years ! To the left of this prospect, and entirely obscured Ijy mounds and planting, is the tame sheet of water of 1831, now a magical lake, interspersed with islands, peninsulas, promontories, and steeps, of the most verdant grass, artificial rock- work, palisades, and geological formations, all having been brought many miles to adorn this magical spot, to which you are gently drawn by the musical whisper- ings of a secluded waterfall. In your search, you cast your eye on a view called the " Vista of Spondon," being a church, with its towering spire, three miles across the lake, forming the termination of this picturesque view. At your is a beautiful boat with golden oars, in which we paddled from island to island, viewing and comparing the growth of trees, the formation of artificial rocks, and the design of the planter, where the towering Douglas and Norway Firs were flanked by our Hemlock Spruce, which makes an agreeable tree for rock and water scenes ; its delicate foliage and drooping branches kissing the ripple of the silver lake, adding new charms to the scene ; one of our most common trees luxuriating in those fairy isles with native splendor. Those trees were not planted on low mud islands, but on high, artificial hills, nearly every foot of which had cost a shilling to the spirited owner, whose great delight was to employ the poor in creating those objects of his fancy. His sole pleasure was planning, planting, and replanting — the cost rarely estimated ; the question was, can it be done? On the margins and inlets of this romantic sheet of water, great effect is produced by the shades of foliage. The Austrian, Corsiean, and Norway Pine, give dark shades ; the Silver, Scotch, Bhotan, and Sabin Pines, give light shades, using the Deodar, on all occasions, for union of design ; the Khutrow Cemtljran and Silver give green shades, with an occasional Yew, whose histories go back into other centuries, and give a tone of ancient and modern grandeur, which must be seen to be fully realized. On the south of the lake, and very near the mansion, is formed a grotto and foun- tain, where all the gems of dwarf evergreen-trees, lava, and rocks, are collected, and rather systematically arranged, which appears to have been the prevailing taste of his Lordship. How wonderful are the productions of the vegetable kingdom ! it can only be realized in collections thus brought together. We have been admiring the rapid growth of many of the firs and pines, fre- quently exceeding five feet in a season. What are we now to say of those minia- ture affairs, such as Abies clanbrasiliana ; those Pigmy and Hudson Firs, some of which were twenty years old, and had not attained the height of as many inches. The view from this point across the lake, was on the artificial ruins of an old castle, composed of rocks, pieces of buildings, tufa and limestone formations, covered with ivy and wild flowers, all erected within a few years, and appearing as having stood for ages on a spot that was a low meadow as late as 1831. All the walks in the vicinity of this lake, and, indeed, for miles, were asphalted, by taking four parts of clean gravel, and one part of quicklime, and gas tar suflicient to make the whole of the consistency of mortar ; this was heated on plates of iron, and laid down whilst hot about two inches thick, and has become as hard as marble. So much was I absorbed with what I could barely realize to be real, that 10^ o'clock of the night found me under the soft silver beams of the moon, still en- joying those magical scenes, where I had seen but yesterday, comparatively, the muddy pool skirting the field of the mower. I retired to rest, but found none for ray excited imagination. The early dawn (2^ o'clock) found me alone amidst the golden-crowned Yews of the winter garden ; not altogether alone, I found, for there followed me the silent watchman of the night, who has trod the rounds for seventeen years, amongst those, to him, no doubt, monotonous scenes. The thorough secret of the successful growth of all I have seen, consists in a complete system of under-drainage, the ground being so level the main drain had to be extended one and a half miles in a direct line. All the leading trees are planted on mounds of earth. No tree was too large to remove, and none too small to plant ; every power and facility was on the spot ; all fibrous roots, on removal, were securely protected; copious waterings were given ; strong stays of No. 8 wire were fixed from the ground to various parts of the tree, to prevent " eing displaced after planting ; evergreens were successfully removed at all times, but preference given just before their growth. Even a Yew that had ELV ASTON CASTLE. for three hniulred years, wns brought from a distance, and, tlic second year after reinKval, nmdc a luxuriant frrowth. Another striking fact, was planting the best tliat could be got ; from three inches to three feet was the general height of all those now unitjue specimens of rare Evergreens. Seedlings, cuttings, layers, and grafts, all were alike acceptable ; if they were not of the proper form, the knife was freely applied to either root or branch. "Where roots had been confined in pots before planting, they were washed from the old soil, carefully extended, fresh soil jdaced amongst them, freely watered a few times, and success was the result; experience proved this to be fche true plan, for the roots, as grown in the pots. take the screw form, and, when planted a few years, tend actually to grow the tree out of the ground, and, in a few years more, a storm prostates the specimen by the tendency of the screw throwing it upwards. The most critical judges cannot now decide whether the tree was originally a cutting layer or graft. The whole energies of means and art have not been entirely directed, during the time, to the grand achievement of an evergreen pleasure-ground and winter garden. There is a fruit and vegetable gar- den, with graperies, peach-houses, forcing-houses, ])ine-pits, hot and cold walls, and all their accompaniments, kept in corresponding order, flourishing and fruitful ; but these are every-day affairs. The achievements in the grounds, and the planting, their growth and keeping, in the short space of twenty years, have no precedent in modern landscape gardening. The place viewed now (in 185T) will be found densely covered ; the growth has been exuberant ; the trees and shrubs having, for effect, been planted thick, they are constantly engaged in removing, to clothe other grounds, their present owner being still desirous to keep up and protect the character of the place, which is now generally appreciated by the privilege granted and previously alluded to. One beautiful fact connected with the establishment is, that the lord and the laborer are all advocates of the temperance cause, giving a comfort to all the cottages, families, and people of the place SPRING. SPRING. BY W., NEW YORK. What a magic word ! How we delight to anticipate thy coming through the long and dreary winter months ! We have awaited thee with anxiety. Thou art here at last. We salute thee, we bid thee welcome. Thou comest to infuse joy and gladness into every heart. Thou art the harbinger of many good things in embryo. Thou comest decked and adorned like a youthful maiden, with floral beauties entwined about thee. All nature rejoices. The feathered songsters are glad ; they sing with sweeter notes ; they delight to bask in thy genial warmth ; in harmony and love they select their mates, and build their little nests together ; they toil and care for their young, showing all the maternal fondness that is possi- ble for a kind and tender parent to exhibit. Shall man — intellectual man — fail to profit by their example ? We trust not. Thou infusest new life and vigor in the vegetable kingdom. Everything therein bids thee welcome, and puts on a gladsome appearance at thy approach ; even the emerald turf is made to smile and greet thee ; even the aquatic animals rejoice and sing thy praise. Spring, like youth, is a season of anticipation. It is then that everything looks charming and lovely ; it is then we lay our plans ; it is then that we should dig, plant, and delve. We anticipate much, and it is well that we do, for what is life without anticipation. In truth, it is the joy of life itself, although we often anti- cipate much that is never realized. Who can walk abroad on a lovely morning, in May, when every tree and shrub is robed and adorned with the wedding gar- ment of floral beauty — when the sense is greeted at every turn by vegetable odor of the most enchanting kind — when the grass itself is made to smile with joy — when the very insects are humming their notes of gladness, and greeting spring — we say who can, and not feel his pulse beat with a quicker stroke, and his heart leap with joy, and feel grateful to the beneficent Creator for all the beautiful and lovely things that He in his goodness bestowed upon man, to cheer, to encourage, to gladden his heart, and to bring forth grateful emotions that will lighten his labor in his journey through life ? Who can doubt that spring is an emblem of eternal joy and felicity ? We do not. We say, that ihe man who can walk abroad and behold all these things, and not appreciate them, in some degree, is unworthy of being called a man; he has a defect in his nature that he ought to be sorry for. How kind of the Creator to bestow upon man so many rare gems of floral beauty with which he may embellish, adorn, and beautify his home. What more lovely, when one is travelling, than to see a cottage npstled among honey- suckles and climbing roses ? How inviting to the traveller ! How it bespeaks intelligence and virtue for the inmates ! How it denotes the abiding-place of in- dustry and contentment ! Alas ! we arc sorry to say, that in some parts of our country — even the old parts — those that have been settled for more than two hundred years, there is but little of this taste to be seen. One may often travel a whole day in some of the interior towns, and scarcely meet with anything better than a common May rose. These things ought not to be so, and we are sure they wall not long remain ; plenty of good examples exist in various parts of the coun- try, and fashion is fast doing the work ; nothing can long withstand her sway, as it is generally irresistible. In a few years, it will be as rare to sec a cottage without honeysuckles and climbing roses as it is now rare to sec old-fashioned short pants 'ong stockings. PEARS n\' HON. M. p. WILDER, llOSTON, MASS. >rR. Epitor : In fiilfilinent of my promise, I ani\ex ck'scriptions of a few modern pears, wliich promise to be worthy of extensive cnltivation. Although we are in(lel)te(l to Europe for many of our l)est fruits, and, by a judieiuus seleetion, shall continue to add other fine kinds to our catalogues, yet it is to the production of new kinds from seed that I especially look for those adapted to our soils and climate. "Whate^'er may have been the disappointment of foreign cultivators in this branch of pomology, there can no longer be a doubt as to its success in America. Excuse this digression, and upon which topic I may address you here- after. Calebasse Delvigne. — Size, large, about three and one-fourth inches long by three inches broad. i'(>r/«, obovate, obtuse- pyriforra, broad at the base, tapering gradually towards the stem. iStem, three- fourths to one inch in length, fleshy, insert- ed in a slight cavity. Calyx, rather small, set in a shallow, ir- regular, wide basin. Skin, green, a little rougli, dotted, and flecked with russet, and tinged with crim- son on the sunny side, i^/es/i, yellowish- white, buttery, and melt- ing. Flavor, sweetish, pleasantly perfumed. Season, October, but may be prolonged for some weeks. Class, " very good." Tree, vigorous and product- ive. Grou-th, upright. Shoots, erectand stout. Succeeds well either on the pear or quince stock. This variety was imported from France ten or twelve years since, and being of foreign origin, it is somewhat singular that it has thus far had no synonym. Shephard's Seedling. — Size, large, or very large. Form, obtuse-pyriform varying from that of the Beurre Diel to the Bartlett. Calyx, closed, Calebasse Delvigne. coarsely-plaited basin, nearly even with the base of the fruit. Stem, short, sometimes scarcely rising above the apex, inserted in a small, wrinkled cavity. Skrn, green, coarsely dotted, and with some splashes of russet, espe- cially at the stem and calyx, dull yellow at ma- turity, and frequently marked with brownish- red cheek. i'Ves/i, yellow- ish-white, melting and juicy, a little granular at the core. Flavor, rich, with slight astringency, resembling that of the BeurreDiel. ^Seec/s, small, light brown. Quality, Shepliard's Seedling. "very good." Tree, hardy, vigorous and prolific. Origin, Dorchester, Mass., supposed to be an accidental cross of the Bartlett and Beurre Diel, both of which are growing in the grounds where the Shephard was raised. Emile d'Heyst. — Size, above medium, sometimes large. Form, obtuse-pyriforra, outline irregular, surface a little uneven and kno1)by. Calyx, closed, set in a ribbed cavity. Ste7n, rather stout and short, planted with little or no depression. Color, dull green, becoming yellowish at maturity, covered with dots and traces of russet, and occa- sionally reddened on the side next the sun. Flesh, yellowish- white, melting and juicy. Fl vor, rich, saccharine, not with a very acrrccablc, piquant, vinous flavor, rcsemblin;^' tlie IJourrc d'Arcniljer}:. Scfi/s, small, Ions, narrow, sharpIy-iiointL'd. Season, Octol^er to Novoniljcr. Class, " best.'' 7V » SEASONABLE HINTS. BY THE LATE A. J, DOWNING. If you wish to raise the earliest vegetables, or get the best growth possible in any annual plant, be sure to use well rotted manure. The chemists may say what they please about the loss of ammonia and the gases, and what they say about the actual waste in letting manure rot before using it, is true enough, doubtless ; but, setting that aside, practice has told me, time and again, that I can get a crop of peas four or five days earlier than my neighbors, in the same soil, by using manure a year old, and quite fine, when they use it almost as fresh as when it first comes from the stable. The fact is, fresh manure is like corned beef and cabbage — very hearty food, but requiring a strong stomach. Annuals of moderate growth, like something easier of digestion. As all old gardeners know this by constant trial, you can no more beat the value of rotted manure out of their heads than you can make an elder bush bear white berries by scolding it. It is quite wonderful what a passion some men have for what they call pruning trees, and what I call murdering them by inches. Only put a knife or saw into their hands, and a tree before them, and you will see that it is only because they were not born Caliphs of Bagdad, that their neighbors have any heads left on their shoulders. Gardeners from the " auld countrie" — especially all such as have served their time behind a wheel-barrow, are mighty fond of this sort of thing. One of these " gintlemen" was lopping off and utterly despoiling the natural ways of a fine linden-tree lately. When he was cross-questioned a little as to what he about, ruining the tree in that manner, he replied : " Bless yer sowl ! I'm only n' the hair iutil it!" But, in fact, many a better gardener than this I — many a man who has done as jyood things in the pardcninpj way in Great l)ritaiii us can be done anywlicre in the world — is placed in the same awkward fix wlun he comes into a country with a dry, hot climate like the United States. All his lifc-lonp; has he been busy learuinpc liow to " let the air in" to the top, and keep the wet away from the roots, till it is a second nature to him, and he finds it almost as im])ossible to adopt just the contrary practice when he gets to America as it is for a Polar bear to lay aside his long, white, furry coat, and walk about like a tropical gentleman in his natural nankeen pantaloons and waistcoat. He cuts away at his trees to let in the sun, and raises up his flower-beds to drain oft" the wet, when it is just the very sun and drought that we have too much of. No man can be a good gardener who will not listen to reason, and in a country where nature evidently meant leaves for um!)rellas, take care how you snap your fingers at her, by pruning without mercy, and '' liltin'' the hair i)i!^' If you find some of your transplanted trees flagging, and looking as if they were going to say good-by to you, don't imagine you can save them by ]ionring manure water about their roots. You might as well give a man nearly dead with dcljility and starvation, as much plum-pudding as he could make a hearty meal of. The best thing you can do is, first to reduce the top a little more (or a good deal more if needful), for the difficulty most probably is, that we have more top to exhaust than root to supply. Then loosen the soil, and water it if dry, and lastly, mulch the ground as far as the roots extend. This you may do by covering it with three or four inches of straw, litter, tan-bark, or something of that sort, to keep the roots cool and moist, so as to coax them into new growth. Watering a transplanted tree every day, and letting the surface dry hard with the sun and wind, is too much like basting a joint of meat before the kitchen fire, to be looked upon as decent treatment for anything living. If your tree is something rare and curious, that you are afraid will die, and would not lose for the world, and yet that won't start out, in spite of all your wishes, syringe the bark once every night after sunset. This will freshen it, and make the dormant buds shoot out. If you find any of your fruit-trees barren, from too great running to wo«d, about the first of June is the time to shorten back the long shoots, and clip or pinch off the ends of the side shoots, so as to force the tree to expend its substance in making fruit buds, instead of wasting every bit of sap in overgrowth. Make war upon insects all this month, and especially at the end of it, as if it were the oliief duty of man to destroy them (there is no doubt about its being the chief duty of the gardener). Tobacco water is your main weapon, and with a syringe or a hand-engine, you can, if you take them in time, carry such slaughter into the enemy's camp as would alarm the peace society, if there is one among these creeping things. Slugs on rose bushes, or the green fly on plants, will make their appearance by thousands and tens of thousands, as the weather gets hot, and the nights summery. The time to open your light artillery upon the "inemy," is very early in the morning, or just after sun-down — the latter the better time, by all odds. Find out whetlier they " roost" on the under or upper side of the leaves, or nibble away at the tender points of the shoots, and shower them to the tune of " Old Yirginny" — i. e., strong tobacco water. If your plant is of a delicate substance, mind, however, that you don't give it a fainting fit as well as the vermin. Always make the tobacco water by mixing some rain water with it, for such plants, and, if you have had no experience in the matter, dilute and use some on a single plant before you undertake your whole border. After half a day, you can tell how it works, and act accordingly. What you want is, just strength enough to kill the insect, and not enough to injure the young leaves. An Old Digger GROUNDS FOR FARM HOUSES. BY L. DURAND, DERBY, CONNECTICUT. The grounds which are about a farmer's dwelling are of more or less impor- tance, and they should be studied and looked after by the farmer himself. The ordinary manner in which farmers look upon this subject is more a matter of in- difference in regard to site or situation as will be more often seen by the choice they make in selecting their house lots. In laying out grounds for farm houses, no general rule perhaps can be given as to extent of land occupied ; all will de- pend on circumstances, the amount of lands to be laid out, the expense of doing the work, &c. Every farm house should have some grounds around it appropriate to and with the style of the buildings which the farmer has adopted for his resi- dence. At least an acre of land should be set off for this purpose, for the most moderate and least unpretending farm house in style and architecture, size, &c. And yet how often is it that we see farm houses set as near the highway as possi- ble, while old rubbish, such as broken carts, ploughs, sleds, wagons, and the like, lie scattering by the broken garden fences, while the wood-pile is often left so near the door that, taking the broken farming tools and the wood together, they make up the wan features of the outside show of the farm house. All this comes from a want of a little taste shown and laid out on the part of the farmer, which is so often neglected by him as being of no particular consequence. But this influence for neglect of home embellishments on the part of the farmer does not stop with him ; it is transmitted to his sons, and they, in turn, either follow in the footsteps of their sire, or else they abandon the farm and farm pursuits altogether, and go into some business which they can make some " money" at and live. Now who cannot see what the natural influences would come to when a life is spent on the farm with no object in view save that of buying lands and a constant accumu- lation of hard labor to subdue the same, to a profitable account. But when a spirit of home improvements takes possession of the farmer he will very soon show it out in his life ; his sons will naturally become imbued with the same spirit, and hence a whole revolution on this subject may take place in a neighborhood in a few years. In speaking of grounds for farm houses, we do not intend to include " Park Scenery," though it may be all well enough to allude to it. Generally speaking, in this country the best kept grounds are the public ones, such for in- stance as " Greenwood Cemetery," also " Mt. Auburn" and "Boston Common ;" each and all of these places are worthy the attention of all lovers of rural art. Among those grounds of a private nature and large dimensions, we may name "Montgomery Place," "Barevurych," "Kenwood," "Mount Hope," &c., on the Hudson. Also in connection with these we may name Mr. Wadsworth's farm, " Meadow Park," of several hundred acres interspersed with giant oaks and elms at Genesee. Of course no ordinary or common farmer can have grounds of such dimensions, nor is it desirable that they should have. Yet the influence of such works and outlays by men of liberal means has a great effect on the rural popula- tion of the country at large, much more so than they have a just idea of. And while the common farmer's grounds may be confined to a single acre, yet it may be made as useful as grounds of tens and hundreds of acres in extent. In laying out grounds of some extent, it is usual to have the roads or carriage " drives" take a serpentine or circuitous route winding about, forming all sorts of "freaks" in their course. But when the grounds are tolerably level or slightly inclined, we think that as good or better eil'ect may be produced by crossing the drives at a nearly right angle with each other. Also a bold straight drive from the street directly up to the house, when the situation of the house will admit of it, may have as good or better effect tlian the usual circuitous drive. Of course, a drive straight over a knoll or -bright poiut of land would nut be economy or in good taste. But in this case the drive should take the circuitous route, and wind around on the lowest grades to overcome the resistance easy. As to the natural forest trees, they may be managed according to the owner's taste pretty much. About all the attention they require will be to keep down the underbush and thin out some of the thickest of the smaller trees, take off the dead limbs, then leaving the trees to take pretty much their own course. Stagnant waters are generally looked upon as a nuisance, yet on large grounds there may be numerous small ponds that are fed from the bottom by springs. Such ponds may and will often remain apparently fresh through the year, and although not as agreeable as run- ning water, yet they are worthy of protection and consideration by the farmer. It is not to be expected that the common farmer can spend or lay out a great amount of time, expense, or labor, on grounds of this character. Hence he should choose a house lot where nature has or will do a good part of the labor, though the farmer will consider that his extra labor on such grounds is not lost or thrown away. This work can be done by littles and at odd spells where the farmer has really a taste for such work, and in no way will it interfere with his ordinary farm work. One of the finest ornamental shrubs that may adorn the farmer's grounds may be found we think in the common " Forest Laurel," or what the farmers call " Green Ivy," to be had in any quantities in most all forest lands. This shrub, as is well known, is a dark evergreen through the year, growing from three to six feet high, as may be. About the 20th of June it comes into flower, and then for some two weeks may be seen some of the finest variegated flowers, bright pink, light pink, &c. Any one who will take the trouble to examine these flowers by going to the forest may see for themselves if they are not worthy of note and remark. We declare that if the common Kalmia was a foreign shrub and was imported and sold at $5 or $10 a plant, it would be seen and found in most of the amateur's grounds in the country. But as it can be had for asking or nothing as a wild shrub no cultivator takes any notice of it whatever, and so the " Green Ivy" is left to its own glory, and is considered of no sort of conse- quence, unless it be to " poison sheep" by eating the green leaves in the winter season. This may be true if the sheep were to eat the leaves to any great extent, which they may do when the ground is covered with snow. It is our opinion that this shrub may be transplanted in the spring or fall with little or no trouble, while the after culture would be or need but little attention. Who will try this shrub the coming season, and report progress on the trial, as an ornamental shrub for grounds in future, for, as an evergreen bush, we think it (without the flowers), as highly ornamental and instructive. NOTES ON EYERGREEN TREES. BY J., WESTCUESTER, PA. Notwithstanding the large number of Evergreen-trees introduced into this country, I doubt very much any one being able to name more than six varieties that are perfectly unexceptional, as regards hardiness, shape, color, adaptation to every soil,