UMASS/AMHERST 312066 0333 2896 II Hi i ! II i I OM^ c:^'} ^7^ ^ ^y/?- u /Vx-^^^^ 7^1 ^j^zi^y '-1 ^.yd-l^ 'Ci. I~^ \ /^' THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE, BOT ASTir, AND ALL USEFUL DISCOVERIES AND IMPROVEMENTS IN RURAL AFFAIRS. " Je votidrais echauffer tout I'univers de mon gout pour les jardins. II me senible qu'il est im|)ossible qu'uii mediant puisse I'avoir. II n'est point de vertus que je ne suppose h. celui que aiine a pailer et h faire des jardiiis. Peres de fauiille, inspiiez la jardiuoniauie a vosenfans." — Prince De Lignt. VOL. XII., 1846. (vol. II., NEW SERIES.) Edited by C. iM. HOVEY BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY HOVEY AND CO, MERCHANTS ROW 1846. "Pe-r V. 10. PREFACE. The present Volume completes the Second of the New Series, and the Twelfth of the entire work. In this volume, having brought to a close our series of articles upon European Gaidens and Gardening, we have found more room to devote to our correspondents, and also to our pomological articles. Some excellent papers have been contributed, on Pomol- ogy, by our correspondent, Mr. Humrickhouse, particularly in relation to an uniform nomenclature for fruits, (p. 47.) We have brought up our Notices of New Fruits, and have also given the descriptions and drawings of eighteen varieties of pears, embrac- ing some new, very little known, and choice kinds. Our Flori- cultural articles have not been quite so numerous and varied as in some of the preceding volumes, but we shall devote more atten- tion to this department in the next volume. The cultivation of fruit seems to be the absorbing interest, and we have endeavored to offer as much information upon the subject as possible. Our first article on Ornamental Trees will be found in the present volume, (p. 58,) and it may be taken as an example of what we intend to accom[)lish hereafter. One of the most valuable papers is that upon the Cultivation of the Grape in what are term- ed Cold-houses, by Mr. Russell; in connection with the descrip- tions and engravings of Mr. Gray's Graperies, we may view it as one of the most important we have ever published. The curvi- linear plan of building is admirably adapted to graperies, and we are gratified to find so many gentlemen have already adopted it. If to this plan, the Polmaise mode of heating can be applied suc- cessfully in our climate, grapes may be produced from June to December, in the greatest perfection. The Reviews, and the Miscellaneous Intelligence, afford a variety of useful information. A new feature has been introduced, by which questions upon every department of Horticulture will be fully answered; and this we hope to make highly instructive to every reader. And now, again, we appeal to all lovers of the science, especi- ally in New England, to give us their aid. It is our aim to make the Magazine the first among the Horticultural publications of the day. C. M. H. Boston, Dec. 4, 1816. CONTENTS. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. GENERAL SUBJECT. A Retrospective View of tlie Progress of Horticulture iu tlie United States, dur- ing the year 1845. By the Editor . 1 Notes and Recollections of a tour through part of England, Scotland, and France, in the autumn of 1844. By the Editor 12 List of places to be noticed; Knap Hill Nursery, Messrs. Waterer . . 12 Bagshot Nursery, Messrs. Waterer ; Bagshot Park, the Duchess of Glouces- ter; Dropmore, Lady Grenville . . 41 Windsor ; Frogmore Gardens; Bays- water, residence of Mrs. Loudon . 81 Chester; Chester Nurseries, Messrs. F. & J. Dickson; Glasgow; Glasgow Botanic Garden; Garscube, Sir Archi- bald Campbell 121 Bothwell Castle; Nurseries of Messrs. Austin S'tatice macrophylla, Napoleonm impe- rial is, Tropajohun Lobb/d7??/m, &c. ; these have been added to the collection of J. R. Valk, Esq., Flushing, L. L, which we i;hall notice in a future number. N&70 Fuchsias. — The following new and very choice fuch- sias have been added to the collection of Messrs. Hovey & Co, : — Miller's Expansa, Duke of York, Enchantress, Bal- loonia superba, Captivation, and Queen Victoria ; Ivery's Sir H. Pottinger ; Kendall's Erecta elegans, and Epps's Nymph. Zro/a odordia is the name of a splendid new species re- cently introduced to England by Messrs. Lucombe, Pince &. Co. of Exeter. The leaves are nearly of the size and texture of the India rubber tree; and the flowers, v/hich ap- pear in a panicle a foot in diameter, have a red tube, white above, the white buds tipped with rose, the segments of the limb white, some twisted, and then changing to buff. It is withal deliciously fragrant. Gesnera. Gerard\kx\di. — M. Neuman, of the Jardin des Plantes, describes this -new species as having much resem- blance to G. zebrina, in its flowers, which are half red and VOL. XII. — NO. I. 4 26 Ploricultural and Botanical Notices half yellow, but it differs in not having the zebra leaves, and being much easier to grow. It is described as being very handsome, having a panicle of from fifteen to twenty flow- ers, all opening at nearly the same time. It is one of the finest of the genus, and much like an achimenes. — Gard. Chiton. Tacs6n\?i mollissima is stated to be one of the most beauti- ful greenhouse climbers, producing its blossoms (similar to the passion flower) from August to winter. It grows freely in a cool greenhouse, and is eminently deserving a place in every collection. BerbericZdcete. BE'RBERIS actinacantha Mar^zus Ray Spined Berberry. A hardy sub-evergreen shrub; growing four feet high; with deep yellow flowers; appearing in May and June; a native of Chili ; increased by seeds or layers ; grown in sandy peat or loam ; Bot. Reg. 1845, pi. 55. In the climate of England, this has proved a hardy ever- green shrub, growing to the height of three or four feet, with small foliage and numerous clusters of deep yellow, sweet- scented flowers, which completely clothe the slender branch- es, and render it a conspicuous object, in May and June. The branches are set with strong spines, in a ray-like man- ner, from whence its specific name. It was found on the first range of the Cordilleras in Chili, and flowered in the garden of the Horticultural Society last April. It may prove hardy in our climate. It is raised by layers or seeds, and thrives well in a sandy loam or a mixture of loam and peat. {Bat. Reg. August.) 'Rosacea. POTENTI'LLA blcolor Lindl. Two-colored Potentil. A hardy herbaceous plant; growing one foot high ; with crimson and yellcw flowers ; appearing from .July to September; a native of Cashmere ; increased by seeds or division of the root, grown in any common soil. Bot. Re^. 1S45, pi. 62. A very pretty species of potentilla, with something of the habit of the old P. nepalensis, but with very delicate and beautiful flowers ; the ground color clear yellow, over which at the base is drawn a series of long hexagonal red meshes, which form towards the circumference of the fiower, other meshes of a finer and closer fabric, till at last they melt and run into each other, and form a clear red border to each petal. It was raised in the garden of the London Horticul- tural Society, from seeds received from Cashmere or Thibet, and it proved entirely hardy the last winter. It grows freely of New Plants. 27 in any good rich garden soil, and flowers from July to Sep- tember.. (^Bot. Reg. November.) Monimiace(E. BO'LDOA fiAarans Jussieu Sweet-scented Boldoa. A greenhouse shrub ; growing six feet high ; with white flowers ; appearini; from September to December ; a native of Chili ; increased by cultinss; grown iu sandy loam and peat. Bot. Reg., 1845, pi. 57. A greenhouse shrub, growing six or eight feet high, and possessing a highly aromatic odor in every part. The leaves are roundish ovate, and evergreen, and the flowers, which are of a greenish white, are produced in terminal panicles. It was introduced from Chili, and flowered in the Horticul- tural Society's garden in December, 1844. It requires to be partially shaded from the sun in summer, but in winter ordi- nary greenhouse treatment will suit it ; as it flowers in the autumn it should only be repotted in spring. It is increased by cuttings. {Bot. Reg: October.) EricdcecB. AZA'LEA LsEtilicB (garden hybrid). A hardy shrttb ; growing two feet high ■, with yellow flowers ; appear- ing in June ; increased by layers ; grown in sandy luam or heath soil. Bot. Reg., 1845, pi. 51. "' A beautiful and fragrant hybrid," raised by the Hon. and Rev. Mr. Herbert, from seed of the common /Rhododen- dron ponticum, impregnated with azalea. The flowers are very large and of a pale straw, spotted with yellow. Mr. Herbert, in describing this variety, states, that "it is difii- cult to conjecture why, in expelling the purple of the fe- male flower, the yellow of the male should have substituted white. The mode in which colors act in hybrid crosses is singular. When the bright yellow flower of the white turnip is crossed with the dull golden of the Swede, an in- termediate color is not obtained, but some of the males (as to the color of the flower) follow one parent and some the other. When a blue anagallis is crossed with the orange colored, the effect is to discharge the yellow from the orange and leave dull red which was combined with it, while the blue remains in abeyance." The object in crossing /Rhodo- dendron ponticum with an azalea, was to obtain some of the permanency of foliage of the former; this has, however, been done only in a slight degree. The variety is worthy a place in every collection ; named in compliment to Mrs. Her- bert. {Bot. Reg., September.) 28 PlorinultwaL and Botanical Notices Ludoviciae Cgarden hybrid). A hardy shrub ; growing two feet high ; with rose and straw col- ored flowers; appearing iu June; increased by layers; grown in heath soil. Bot. Reg., 1845, pi. 60. Another delicate and charming variety, also produced by the Dean of Manchester, and a sister seedling of the one above described. It is named in compliment to his eldest daughter, Louisa. The flowers are not so large as those of Lsetitise, but to the strange color of that variety, is added a charming tint of rose, which gives it a gay and lively aspect. Highly worthy of introduction, {^Bot. Reg., November.) VhimhagindcecB. STA.'TICE Fortuni Lindl. Mr. Fortune's Sea Lavender. A frame or greenhouse perennial : growing a foot high; with yellow flowers; appearing from July to October; a native of China; introduced in 1844 ; increased by seeds and division of the roots ; cultivated in good soil. Bot. Reg. 1845. pi. 03. One of the few acquisitions yet made by Mr. f"'ortune, in his expedition to China. "A yellow flowered sea lavender is a rarity;" and this proves to be a very interesting species, with yellow flowers, unlike any thing previously introduced. In the Horticultural Society's collection it has been treated as a greenhouse plant, and the specimens grew two or three feet high ; but Mr. Fortune's wild plants were only about one foot high, and consequently handsomer from their com- pactness. It may be propagated by seeds or division of the roots, in March, and the young plants, if brought forward, will flower the same season. It is best wintered in a frame or cool greenhouse. (^Bot. Reg., November.) dnchonaceoi. GARDEN/^i Stanley Dirt HooVer. Lord Derby's Gardenia. A stove shrub; growing two feet high ; with white and crimson flowers; appearing in June; a native of Sierra Leone; increased by cuttings; cultivated in peat, leaf mould and sand. Bot. Reg., 1845. pi. 57. This gardenia is undoubtedly one of the greatest acqui- sitions to our gardens of late years. Possessing the same habit and appearance of the well known G. florida, its flow- ers are three times as large, and of surpassing beauty. It was first exhibited at one of the shows of the London Hor- ticultural Society, in 1844, from the Kew collection, where its remarkable flowers were one of the principal objects of attraction. The flowers are trumpet shaped, eight or nine inches long, and nearly five inches in diameter, with a snow- Avhite ground, and delicately spotted with crimson, in the manner of the brilliant i^ilium lancifolium rubrum. Our correspondent, Mr. Glendening, in whose collection it also of New Plants. 29 flowered, and who purchased the whole stock, thus speaks of this truly noble plant : — Mr. Thomas Whitfield, a most successful mvestigator of the most unhealthy part of Africa, succeeded in introducing, along with other rare species, from Sierra Leone, all which are now in my possession, this remarkable and beautiful Gardenia. The flowers are sent up in great profusion from the base of the numerous shoots, which, under good cultiva- tion, are always abundant and healthy. They thrust them- selves upward through the beautiful green foliage, in a nearly erect position, and are nine inches long, resembling a series of spotted trumpets, thus presenting a very singular and attractive object. The flowers themselves are not unlike the spotted Japan lilies, and like them are also very fragrant. What will render the plant a great favorite in our stoves, is its easy cultivation. I would recommend rough peat, leaf mould, and silver sand in nearly equal proportions ; let the pots be well drained, and place a little moss over the drain- age before potting, to prevent the compost from mixing with the drainage ; place the plant in a rather high temperature in a close house or pit, and give abundance of atmospheric moisture; under these circumstances, the cultivation and flowering of this choice exotic will be certain and complete. Such is the account of this plant, and we soon hope to have the pleasure of seeing it in flower. The pame is in honor of the Earl of Derby, who sent out Mr. Whitfield to collect plants. Another species, called G. Whitfieldi« Lindl. has been also introduced, and is in the possession of Mr. Glendening. It has beautiful white flowers five inches long. {Bot. Reg., September.) M.yrsiniaceie. LABI'SIA polhonia /,»id/. Pothos-like Spoonflower. A stove plant; growing a foot high; with white flowers; appeariu; in June; a native of Penang ; increased by seeds; cultivated in sandy loam and peat. Bot. Reg., 1845, pi. 48- A new and interesting plant, throwing up an erect stem, terminated with a close slender spike of small white flowers. It requires the heat of the stove ; it is of slow growth, and will only require potting once every season. It is propagated by seeds. (^Bot. Reg., September.) 30 Floricultural and Botanical Notices. LamidcecB. EREMOST.VCHYS lasc'unatu. Betith. Jn?-leaved Desert rod. A hardy herbaceous plant; growing six feet high, with yellow (lowers ; appearing in May and June ; a native of Caucasus ; increased by division of the root; growing in auy light rich soil. Bot. Reg., IS45, pi. 52. A rather showy herbaceous plant, from the dry hills of the Caucasus, and hardy in England, but perhaps requiring the protection of a frame in our climate, as the roots are said to suffer from an excess of moisture in winter. The roots are large and fleshy, and throw up a stem four to six feet high, with a succession of axillary whorls of bright yellow and orange flowers, which resist the hottest sun. It flowered in the garden of the London Horticultural Society, last April, where it was raised from seeds received from the Imperial Botanic Garden of Petersburgh. It succeeds well if grown in pots, during winter, and kept dry, and in summer turned out into the border, where its gay flowers are very showy. The fleshy roots should be planted partly above ground. Increased by seeds and the plants bloom the second or third year. {Bot. Reg., September.) OrchiddcefB. CHLOR.5;'A virescens Lindl. Green veined chlorsea. A greenhouse plant ; growing two feet high ; with oranije (lowers; appearing in May; a native of Chih; increased by ofisets; callivated in rough sandy peat. Bot. Re?., 1845, pi. 49. This is one of the few terrestrial orchids, which have been introduced into cultivation. Formerly, it was thought very difiicult to make them succeed ; but the difficulties have been overcome, and they may be as easily grown as the other division. The present subject throws up a spike of deep orange colored flowers, similar to a hyacinth and ex- ceedingly beautiful, the ground color being delicately veined with green, from whence its specific name. It is a native of the subalpine country between Conception and Valparaiso, where it is as plentiful as our meadow orchids. The plants require simply a warm greenhouse, and a rough sandy peaty soil; and, when in flower, an abundant supply of water. When done blooming, they should be kept dry until the grow- ing season again arrives. {Bot. Reg., September.) Boston Journal of Natural History. 31 REVIEWS. Art. I. Boston Journal of Natural History., contairiin^ Pa- pers and Communicaiions read before the Boston Society of Natural History., and published by their direction. Vol. V. No. II., &c., Boston, 1845. The second number of the fifth volume of the transactions of this enterprising society, is before us, and is unusually rich in botanical interest. On this branch of science, it con- tains a paper from our correspondent. Prof Russell, on the mosses of Eastern Massachusetts ; and an article on the plants collected in Texas, by F. Lindheimer, with remarks and descriptions of new species, &c., by George Engelmann and Asa Gray — the latter gentleman well known, herea- bouts, as an eminent botanist, occupying the chair of Natural History in Harvard University. To this enumeration of Texan plants we shall probably have occasion to refer at some future time. A short article from J. E. Teschcmacher on a species of a cactus, is also to be noticed in this number. This corrects a mistake, in the generic position of a Melocac- tus, (M. viridescens Nutt.) considered as an Echinocactus by Messrs. Torrey and Gray, in their important work on the North American plants : — "This difference of opinion arose probably from Nuttall's description stating that the flowers proceeded from the upper clusters of spines, whereas the flowers of Melocactus proceed from the woolly head characteristic of this genus, in which they are usually imbedded. But Nuttall also states that the fruit is smooth ; this is a character of Melocactus, the fruit of Echinocactus being generally more or less scaly from the remains of the sepals ; PfeifFer says rarissime l 10 00 7 00 10 00 7 00 5 00 3 00 305 00 5 00 5 OQ 76 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. To W. Newhall, Lynn, for seedling apricot, . . . $5 00 To Samuel Walker, for Figue Pears, . . . 3 00 To Mrs. Sheldon, for fine lemons, . . . . . 3 00 Total, . $326 00 For the Committee, S, Walker, Chairman. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON VEGETABLES, AWARDING PREMIUMS FOR 1S45. The Committee on vegetables for 1845, make the following report. The amount appropriated by the Society and placed at the disposal of the Committee, was S 150, and they have awarded the following sums in pre- miums and o-ratuities as follows : — Asparagus. — To A. D. Williams, for the earliest and best 3 bunch- es, a premium of . . . . . $ 5 00 To Geo. Walsh, for very fine, a gratuity of . . 5 00 Beets. — To James Nugent, for the best 12 roots, a gratuity of . 3 00 Brocoli. — To Josiah Lovett, 2d, for the best 3 heads, a premium of 5 00 To John Hooper, a gratuity of . . . . 2 00 Beans. — To J. F. Macondry, for fine Chili string, a gratuity of . 2 00 Lima Beans. — To J. F. Macondry, for the earliest and best, a pre- mium of . . . . . . . 3 00 To A. Bowditch, for the second best, a gratuity of . . 2 00 Shell Beans. — To J. F. Macondry, for the earliest and best, a pre- mium of . . . . . . . 4 00 Cucumbers. — For the best pair under glass, to James Nugent, a premium of . . . . 4 00 To Orr N. Towne, for the second best pair under glass, a premium of ...... To John Bumstead, a gratuity of . To Thomas Need ham, a gratuity of ... Open culture, to John Hovey, a premium of . Cauliflowers. — To Josiah Lovett, 2d, a premium of To A. D. Williams, a premium of . Cabbage. — To A. D. Williams, for the best drumhead cabbage, a premium of ...... Celery. — To James Nugent, a premium of . . . To A. D. Williams, a premium of . Egg Plants. — For the best display during the season, to Orr N. Towne, a premium of . To Thomas IMotley, a gratuity of . To W. Quant, a gratuity of . . Lettuce. — To Josiah Lovett, 2d, a premium of . To A. D. Williams, a gratuity of . 3 00 2 00 2 00 3 00 5 00 3 00 5 00 5 00 3 00 5 00 3 00 3 00 3 00 2 00 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 77 Potatoes. — To A. D. Williams, for the best and earliest peck, a premium of . To James Nugent, a gratuity of . Rhubarb. — To Josiah Lovett, 2d, a premium of To M. P. Wilder, a gratuity of . . . To A. D. Williams, a gratuity of . To Messrs. Winships, a gratuity of Squashes. — For the greatest variety during the season, to Josiah Lovett, a premium of . . . Tomatoes. — To A. D. Williams, a premium of To Wm. Seaver, a gratuity of . . . Vegetables. — To Josiah Lovett, for the best display during the season, . . . . . . . 10 00 To A. D. Williams, for the second best display during the season, . . . . . . . 5 00 Pdmpkins. — To John Marland, for a mammoth pumpkin, a gratuity of . . . . . . . 2 00 . 2 00 . 5 00 . 2 00 . 2 00 . 2 00 tl . 5 00 . 3 00 . 2 00 $125 00 Leaving unappropriated, . . . . 25 00 S 150 00 Your committee very much regret that the display of vegetables has not been greater for the past season, but are much gratified with the very fine specimens exhibited, though few. Quality in some measure has made up for quantity. For the Committee, Wm. B. Kingsbury. The Chairman of the Flower Committee, in his very excellent report, has appended thereto some statistics in regard to the exhibitions of the Society, which may be interesting to many. It appears from the report that there were sixty-two contributors during the year 1845. Nineteen of them exhibited but once each ; four but twice each ; eleven but three times each ; two but four times each ; four but five times each ; leaving tioenty-tivo individuals who made the principal exhibi- tions during the season. The names of these members, and the number of limes they exhibited are as follows : — Messrs. Hovey & Co., twenty-six ; J. Breck & Co., twenty-one ; Messrs. Winships, twenty ; P. Barnes, eight- een ; M. P. Wilder, eighteen ; S. Walker, eighteen ; W. Ivenrick, seven- teen ; Mr. Warren, fifteen ; W. E. Carter, fourteen ; J. Hovey, thirteen ; W. Meller, twelve ; A.Bowditch, twelve ; W. Quant, eleven ; J. A. Ken- rick, eleven ; Jas. Nugent, eleven ; S. R. Johnson, ten ; S. A. Walker, seven; J. Arnold, seven ; E.Allen, seven; T.Mason, six; F. W.Macon- dry, six ; T. Needham, six. The Reports of the Committees offering premiums for 1846, will appear in our next. 78 Faneuil Hall Market. Art. III. Faneuil Hall Market. Roots, Tubers, d^c. Potatoes, new : r>> S per barrel, Ohenanffoes, \ '^ i v, i = ' I per bushel ^ S psr barrel, Common,.... J Jig, bushel c . t S per barrel, Ea^tport, ^^er bushel Long Reds,.. ^J^;];^;'^^^! Sweet, per bushel . . . Turnips : per bushel, . Common, Ruta Baga, . . . Onions : Red, per bunch, . . While, per bunch, . White, per bushel, Yellow, per bushel, Beets, per Dushei, Carrots, per bushel, . Parsnips, per bushel, . Salsily, per doz. roots. Horseradish, per lb. . Garlic, per bunch, . . Cabbages, Salads, d^c. Cabbages, per doz. : Savoy, Drumhead, . . . Red Dutch, . . Brocolis, each, . . Cauliflowers, each. Lettuce, per head, . , Spinach, per peck. Celery, per root, . , Cucumbers,(pickled) pr. gal Peppers, (pickled) per gal. Pot and Sicect Herbs. Parsley, per half peck, Sage, per pound, . . Marjorum, per bunch, Savory, per bunch, Spenrmint, per bunch, From To ^ cts. $ cts. 2 25 75 1 50 50 3 00 1 25 2 00 1 00 2 00 50 3 3 1 00 50 62 50 75 25 10 50 75 75 ' 20 I 6 25 I 8 1 25 I 37^! 3 25 l2 50 62 50 62a 75 62i 10 75 00 00 25 10 37^ I2k 75 20 12i 12 Squashes and Pumpkins. Squashes, per cwt. : Canada Crookneck, Winter Crookneck, Autumnal Marrow, Pumpkins, each, . . Fruits. Apples, dessert and cooking Fall Greening, per bbl Baldwiu, per bbl. . Russets per bbl. Blue Peaiinain, per bbl Greenings, per bbl. N. Y. Pippins, per bbl Common, per bbl. . Danvers Winter Sweet, per bbl Nonsuch, per bbl. . Spilzemberg, per bbl. Golden Russei, per bbl Hub. Nonsuch, per bbl Dried Apples, per lb. , Pears, per doz. or half peck St. Germain, per half pk Baking, per bushel, Cranberries, per bushel, Tomatoes, per peck, . Grapes, (foiced,) per lb. Black Hamburg, White Sweetwater, . Isabella, .... Malaga, .... Oranges, per doz. St. "Michael's, . . Havana, .... Sicily, Lemons, per doz. . . Pine Apples, each, Chestnuts, per bushel. Walnuts, per bushel, . Cocoanuts, per hundred. Almonds, per lb. . . From I To S cts. S cts. 2 50 00 3 50 12i 3 00 2 25 4 00 17 il 75 20 25 20 17 12i 2 50 4 25 30 37 25 20 25 00 [2 25 50 1 1 75 Remarks. — Since our last report, there has been a succession of very mild weather for January. With the exception of two mornings, u hen the mercury indicated 3° or 4° below zero, it has, a greater part of the month, averaged 20^ or 25° above ; a drifting snow fell on the 17th, but very little of it remains at this date. Vegetables. — Potatoes have considerably advanced since our last, but they are now again tending downward ; the ultimatum in price has probably been reached, and it is doubtful whether they will again command so good rates during the spring ; there has been a good many arrivals, and as they ^ HorlicuUural Memoranda. 79 are dearer to feed out to stock, at the present rates, than grain, a great quantity will be reserved for spring sales in this way ; some excellent long reds have been brought in. Sweet potatoes are yet tolerably well supplied. Turnips of the best quality have advanced considerably. Onions continue very abundant, and without change of price. Garlics are now furnished by the bunch, and some finely grown ones have been received from Connecti- cut ; their sale is upon the increase. Cabbages continue rather scarce, particularly reds. Brocolis are all gone. Cauliflowers are quite scarce, and good heads command our highest rates. Lettuce good for the season. Sphiach not quite so abundant ; the last few days of snow and frost have prevented the usual supply. Parsley continues in demand, and prices have improved. Squashes continue to advance, and marrows of prime quality sell quick at the highest prices. Fruit. — Apples remain without alteration ; there has been a steady de- mand, but without improvement in price. Russets and Baldwins constitute the principal stock ; but we continue our quotations as in our last, though only a few barrels, or perhaps bushels, are to be found of some of the kinds. Pears are about gone, with the exception of baking ; the warm season of 1845 ripened them off at least a month earlier than usual. Prime cranberries are a shade higher. Grapes are abundant. Oranges and lem- ons remain the same. In nuts, there has been considerable doing, and we quote chestnuts 25 cts. higher than in our last. The stock of walnuts is good and demand steady. — Yours, M. T., Boston, Jan. 30, 1846. HORTICULTURAL MExMORANDA FOR FEBRUARY. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape Vines will commence swelling their buds m greenhouses during February ; and they will soon need some attention preparatory to their breaking ; if the shoots are long, the tops may be bent down towards the front of the house ; this will check the flow of sap to the top, and when the eyes are all slightly broken, the vines may be brought up to the trellis and properly tied. Keep the the temperature from 45° to 50° at nicrht. Peach trees in pots may be still brought into the greenhouse for a succes- sion ; those now coming into bloom should be watered with a weak solution of guano. Grafting apple and pear trees on the roots may be commenced now and continued till spring, the roots having previously been laid in. Pruning orchards may be done this month, when there is more leisure than there will be in March. Scions wanted in April or May should be cut soon and placed away in a box in a cool place, with the lower ends in earth. 80 Tlorthmltural Memoranda. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. Camellias will be in full bloom this month ; continue to keep them well supplied with water. Any straggling plants should be tied up to neatly painted stakes, and the soil top dressed, if mossy. If seeds are wanted, at- tend to the fertilization of the flowers, which should always be done about noon. Water fortnightly with guano. Roses now coming into full bloom will require attention ; look out care- fully for the aphis, which is exceedingly troublesome at this season, and fu- migate often with tobacco, to prevent their increase. Young plants growing freely may be re-potted. Water with guano. Fuchsias will require attention ; re-pot all growing plants, and continue to propagate, if young plants are wanted. Japan Lilies will now be throwing up their shoots, and should be placed in a cool and half shady part of the greenhouse. Water sparingly till they are well up. Dahlias should be potted, if not already done, if plants are wanted for flowering early ; or if it is intended to raise young plants. Put the cuttings in sand and loam, under a bell glass. Mignonette and 10 loeek stock seed, for flowering early in the open border, should be planted soon. Schizanthuses will require another potting, if fine specimen plants are wanted. Calceolarias will require re-potting this month. Gladiolus gandavensis, and ftoribundus, cf-c, should now be potted. Pelargoniums may be shifted again, and if young plants are wanted, now is a good time to put in cuttings. Verbena cuttings should now be put in for making healthy young plants for turning out into the border in May. Oxalis Bowiei and Hirta done blooming, should be more sparingly wa- tered. Cactuses should now be more liberally watered. Ranunculuses may be planted the latter part of this month, if the weather is mild. Plants in frames should be aired in all good weather. VEGETABLE DEPARTMENT. Sow all kinds of vegetable seeds if the hot-beds made up last month, are in good order. Cucumbers already up will be ready for hilling out by the middle of the month. Make a second sowing of lettuce, radishes, egg plants, tomatoes, cabbages, cauliflowers, cucumbers, &c. Peas may be forwarded two or three weeks, by sowing them on an in- verted sod, and in April transplanting them to the open ground. Rhubarb routs covered with a barrel, and the barrel covered with hot ma- nure, will come forward very early, and produce a good crop. THE MAGAZINE O F HORTICULTURE. MARCH, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Notes and Recollectio7is of a Tour through part of Englarid, Scotland and France^ m the autumn of 1844. By the Editor. (^Contimied from page 57.) Windsor, Oct. 4. — We reached Windsor, after a very pleasant afternoon ride, about an hour before sunset, rather later than we intended to arrive here, when we left Knap Hill ; but the many objects to be seen at the places we have noticed, detained us, and we now had but little time to spend here. The queen and Prince Albert had just arrived at the castle, from their tour in Scotland, and the town was thronged with visiters, who had come to witness the event. Windsor Castle is a picturesque looking building, in the oldest castel- lated style: the gardens have been lately considerably im- proved, but we arrived too late to see only the Frogmore Gardens, which are part of the royal demesne, and have re- cently been so much enlarged and improved, that they are said to be the finest in England. Frogmore Gardens. — The whole quantity of land im- proved, is upwards of twenty- three acres ; twelve of which are enclosed by a brick wall, and intersected by other walls, for the purpose of training quantities of fruit trees, which will not do well in any other situation in this climate. The gardens are about half a mile from Windsor Castle ; they are under the care of Mr. Ingram, a skilful and excellent gardener, as every thing attested. We did not, however, owing to the lateness of the hour, find him at home ; but his son pointed out to us, very politely, all that was worthy of note. The VOL. XII. — NO. in. 11 82 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. gardens had very recently been laid out, and the whole grounds had not yet been planted. The principal feature of attraction, is the splendid range of houses, upwards of nine hundred feet long, built in the most thorough and substantial manner, without regard to expense. In the centre of the range is a beautiful dwelling for the gar- dener, erected in the Elizabethan style, with one room fitted up for the queen, when visiting the garden. The frame work is of iron, and the sashes are glazed with panes of Dutch glass, each pane being about eight by forty or fifty inch- es ; with only one lap in each row of glass in each sash. There are, we believe, five compartments in each wing of the range, the outer one of each being occupied as greenhouses, and the others as graperies, peacheries, &/C. &c. The grape vines had only been planted fourteen months, and they were now producing from two to four bunches each, of as fine grapes as we ever saw. The Hamburghs were unusually well colored. We saw here the new grape, called Prince Albert, which was said to excel the Hamburgh. It certainly was a fine looking grape, whatever its qualities might be; the bunches very large and handsome. Mr. Ingram had exhib- ited a vine in a pot, a week or two previous, at a meeting of the London Horticultural Society, one of the bunches of which weighed upwards of three pounds. It was yet so new, that only two vines were growing in the grapery. The va- riety originated in Jersey. We have never had the pleasure of seeing finer specimens of vines, for their age; they were planted in July, 1843, and in October, 1844, were producing six or eight pounds weight of fruit each, with as strong a growth of new wood as the best cultivator could desire. It is true, no expense was spared in the preparation of the bor- der, which is the principal thing in growing grapes. In the enclosure in the rear of the range of houses, are several ranges of pits, small green-houses, hot-houses, &c., which contained a variety of plants for replenishing the green-houses in the long range, but we saw nothing particu- larly new, or worthy of record. Indeed, the place was quite too recently built up, to expect much in this way. The splendid range of houses, their superior construction and ar- rangement, are the only objects of special notice. Bayswater — Residence of Mrs. Loudon. 83 It was quite dark before we left the grounds, and after passing a pleasant evening with Mr. Godfrey, to whom we were so much indebted for our day's ride, and to whom we again return our warmest thanks, we took the train of cars, at the Slough station, and arrived in London about half past nine o'clock. Bayswater, Residence of Mrs. Lov.don. — It would scarcely be expected that we should leave London without giving some account of Bayswater, the residence of the late Mr. Loudon. Some years previous to his death, he stated that it was his desire to visit this country, and we had confidently hoped, in common with many of his friends, that he would have been able to gratify his wish ; but from subsequent lan- guage, incidentally used, in an article in the Gardener^ s Mag- azine, the " subject of slave population filled his mind with horror, and diminished, in a considerable degree, the ardent desire he once had to visit the United States." So great an admirer of one who had done so much for gardening, in this country, as well as in Europe, we still anticipated the pleas- ure of seeing him at some future day. Deeply regretted by all, however, he fell a victim to his own incessant and her- culean labors, but a short time previous to our visit. In company with Mr. Charlwood, who was an intimate friend of Mr. Loudon, we called on Mrs. Loudon, but she was absent from home, and we had not the pleasure of an acquaintance. Another opportunity did not again offer to renew our visit. Fearing this, we took a brief survey of the library, filled to overflowing with most of the works on hor- ticulture, botany, &c., of the present century. Allowing the imagination a little sway, it became the same busy scene, — the same literary workshop, — of a few months before. At one table sat an amanuensis, at a second another, and at a third a draftsman. To and fro, in busy thought, walked a crippled man, now dictating to one, now to the other, and anon giving directions to the third. Daily, weekly, yearly, the same unceasing toil went on ; until, worn by care, and wasted in health, the master hand sunk beneath the comple- tion of a work, which few would have had the courage to have undertaken, and fewer to carry out. The garden was a source of interest; it had been the scene 84 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. of many changes in the hands of the proprietor, and must essentially have been an experimental garden, in the true sense of the vrord. The garden contains about quarter of an acre, and was laid out in 1823. The whole ground was well trenched, and before trenching the surface was limed and thick- ly coated with the best London stable manure. The trenching was done in the autumn, and in the spring the whole was planted. In the Suburban Garden., the author has detailed all his experim.ents in this garden from 1823 to 1837, and if we had room we should copy the entire article here, but as it is quite too long, (filling several pages,) we shall notice some of the principal changes which were made, to show how much can be accomplished on so small a spot of ground. In 1823, the garden was planted with a specimen of all the trees and shrubs which could be procured in London, for the purpose of studying their character, and also with "fifty pear trees, nearly as many of apples, and a corresponding number of plums, cherries, and other fruits." Many of these, as soon as they began to bear, were cut down to make room for others, and in 1837 only about tiventy-seven were remaining. In the hot-house, the first year, he grew melons ; the next two years, pines. In 1830, it was wholly devoted to a repre- sentative system of tropical plants, in pots ; and in 1837 was only filled with grapes and figs. This house has been succes- sively heated with flues and tan, flues without tan, and by hot water in various modes. The greenhouse was first plant- ed with peaches and nectarines ; subsequently with vines, which bore enormous crops in 1829. In 1830, all were re- moved, and a representative system of greenhouse plants succeeded. In a pit, melons and cucumbers were first grown • in 1826 it was filled with greenhouse plants, chiefly from Au- stralia and the Cape : but in 1835 the sashes were given to a friend, and the pit filled up with a collection of hyacinths and pgeonies. In a small bed, culinary vegetables were grown the first year ; then an arrangement of herbaceous plants was made in it, so as to have an equal number in flower every month in the year, except December and January. In 1830, the trees overshadowed it, and the plants were removed. In a tank of salt water a small collection of fuci were grown ; this tank Bnyswater — Residence of Mrs. London. 85 was cleared away, and a collection of American peat earth- plants received from Col. Carr, of the Burtram Botanic Gar- den cultivated. In another small compartment, " 150 sorts of tulipSj nearly that number of ranunculuses, anemonies, pinks, carnations, primroses, (fee," and some dahlias were grown ; and in 1831 these gave way to another representative system of herbaceous plants. In a small border a complete collection of strawberries, named agreeably to the Horticultural Socie- ty's Catalogue of Fruits, was planted; but in 1826 these were removed, and the border divided into 464 small divi- sions, (by flints and vitrified bricks,) to contain that number of orders and tribes, and consequently representing the whole vegetable kingdom, hardy or tender, indigenous or exotic, in Great Britain. In 1830, these were all removed, together with the flints and bricks, and a universal representative system substituted, limited to the representatives of the hardy trees and shrubs cultivated in Britain, amounting to 58 species. The stronger-growing trees and shrubs in this miniature arbo- retum were taken up every other year, and their roots redu- ced, to keep them of moderate dimensions. A stone shelf for Alpines contained at one time 600 species in small pots, all named. These are, however, but a very small portion of the experiments, all of which are minutely detailed in the work before alluded to. In closing his description of the garden, Mr. Loudon says, " we might say a great deal more on the subject of the numer- ous experiments we have tried in this small piece of ground, in the course of twelve years ; one great object being, as far as we could, to try every thing that could be tried in so small a space. Owing to the liberal preparation we gave the soil, and the liberal supply of water during the growing months, (May, June, and July,) the growth of the trees and shrubs was so rapid, that it would hardly be credited were we to detail it ; and as we procured the trees in the London nurse- ries, and planted them in the autumn, they produced some fruit the first year, a tolerable crop the second and third, and in 1828, '29, and '30, many bushels of apples and pears. So large had these trees become, that there is scarcely one of them now remaining (in 1S37)." After reading this, the most impa- tient must perceive that six years are ample to give a good crop 86 FremonVs Expedition of fruit, and that, in twelve years, in a small garden, trees will grow to such a size as to require to be wholly removed, if flowers or vegetables are cultivated. The house stands about thirty feet from the street, and is planted in front with groups of trees, viz : Cedar of Lebanon, Morbus hybrida, Cerasus Padus, C. semperflorens, Prunus myrobalana, Amelanchier Botryapium, Symphoria racemo- sa, Persian lilac, rose acacia and Althsea. The Myrobalan plum comes first into bloom, then the Amelanchier ; next the bird-cherry, then the Sorbus, and last the Robinia ; the pur- ple berries of the cherry, tht red of the Sorbus, and the snow white of the snowberry, have a fine eflect. At the time of our visit this group was highly picturesque. Other planta- tions were all made with the same view to efiect, and from the street the masses of foliage give the house the appearance of standing in the country, rather than in the crowded city. (To be Continued.^ Art. II. Notice of the " Report of the Exploring Expedition to the Rocky Mountains, in the year 1842 — and to Oregon, and North California, in the years 1843 — 1844. By Bre- vet Captain J. C. Fremont, of the Topographical Engineers, &c. &c. Printed by order of the Senate of the United States. Washington. 1845." By X. The Botany of North America is being yearly developed, in new and striking points of view. The vast plains, deserts, prairies, and mountain ranges, which lie in the regions of the Rocky Mountains, have been but partially explored, and their natural productions are scarcely known. During the expe- ditions made by Captain Fremont, a great range of country was passed over, and even particular sections visited, where, probably, the foot of civilized man never before trod. The collections of specimens of the Natural History of these re- gions, were but an incidental circumstance of his attention ; and these, repeatedly subjected to accidents of a most serious nature, were likely to have been ruined, were it not for the to Oregon and California. 87" perseverance and industry, which only saved them from utter loss. From the remains of the dried plants, recovered from such sad mishaps. Dr. Torrey, to whom they were submitted, has published, in an Appendix to the Report, a list of species, and has been enabled to determine and describe some new species. The specimens of Compositce^ collected in the first expedition, were confided to Dr. Gray, from which he has enumerated and described several species, and some new ge- nera, which have been published in the Boston Journal of Natural History, Vol. V. No. 1, accompanied by figures of two, viz : Mondptllon bellidifonnis, and Amsbcoma acaulis ; the latter, an annual plant, belonging to the order Compositse- cichoracese, with yellowish flowers, on simple naked scapes, and with linear-pinnatified leaves. The Monoptilonbellidifor- mis, (^Torrey c^* Gray, ined.) is described as a "highly cu- rious plant, and probably gathered in the southern ranges of the Rocky Mountains. The generic name is expressive of its most striking peculiarity, that of a pappus, composed of a solitary plumose bristle." Plant annual, small, depressed villose pubescent ; leaves few, oblong, or linear-spathulate, en- tire : heads of flowers, {capiiula,) subsessile or bracteate. Flowers ; disc yellow, ligules seemingly white, tinted with blue or lilac. The resemblance, judging from the accompa- nying figure, is somewhat that of a daisy, and of which the flowers are particularly conspicuous. Besides these, mention is made of an addition to Hooker's Genus of Townsendia, in T. Fremontu, Torrey ^* Gray, ined.; — of specimens belonging to the "group of biennial asters, which form Mr. Nuttall's genus Dieteria, and which are characteristic productions of the wide arid tracts, which occupy so large a space on this side and beyond the Rocky Mountains. Also, a new genus, in the yellow or homochrous series of asteroid plants," viz: Amphip^ppus ; bearing in its specific, the name of the discoverer, viz : A. Frem6nta. This article, to which we have thus alluded, in connection with the Report, under notice, makes mention, also, of Pyrroc oma foliosa, T. iSf* G. a new species. Aplepdppus torti- folius, T. 6^. G. n. sp. " Several novel plants, of the tribe Senecionideae, which are not in sufficient good state for satis- factory determination — a new Balsamorhiza, probably. "Ac- 88 Premonfs Expedition tinella grandiflora, T. 6^ G. ; which is, perhaps, a variety of A. Torreydna, with the heads immersed among the leaves." "Calhachyris Fremontn, T. & G.. — gathered in the mountains of CaUfornia, in March;" probably distinct, as a genus and species. For particulars, and detailed de- scriptions, the reader is referred, in the number of the Boston Journal^ cited above, pp. 104 — 111. Returning to the subject matter of this notice, we find Dr. Torrey's list of plants, collected in the first expedition, pre- faced by some very interesting remarks. From this, we gather, that the " expedition left the mouth of the Kansas, on the 10th of June, 1842, and. proceeding up that river, about one hundred miles, they continued its course, generally along the " bottoms''' of the Kansas' tributaries, but sometimes passing over the upper prairies. The soil of the river bot- toms is always rich, but generally well timbered ; though the whole region is what is called a prairie country. The upper prairies are an immense deposit of sand and gravel, covered with a good, and, very generally, a rich soil. Along the road, on reaching the little stream, called Sandy Creek, (a tributary of the Kansas,) the soil becomes more sandy. The rock formations of this region, are limestone and sandstone. The Amorpha canescens was the characteristic plant ; it be- ing, in many places, as abundant as grass. Crossing over from the waters of the Kansas, Lieutenant Fremont arrived at the Great Platte, 210 miles from its junc- tion with the Missouri. The valley of this river, from its mouth to the Great Forks, is about four miles broad, and three hundred and fifteen miles long. It is rich, well-timbered, and covered with luxuriant grasses. The purple Z/iatris scariosa, and several asters were here conspicuous features of the vegetation. On the Lower Platte, and all the way to the Sweet Water, the showy Cleome integrifolia occurred in abundance. From the Forks to the Laramie River, a dis- tance of about 200 miles, the country may be called a sandy one. The valley of the North Fork is without timber ; but the grasses are fine, and the herbaceous plants abundant. On the return of the expedition, in September, Lieutenant Fremont says, the whole country resembled a vast garden : but the prevailing plants were two or three species of the heliantlius (sun-flower.) ***** to Oregon and California. 89 The route along the North Fork of the Platte afforded some of the best plants in the collection. The /S'enecio rapi- folia (Nuttall) occurred in many places quite to the Sweet Water. Lippia (Zapant'a) cuneifolia, (Torrey, in James's Plants, only known here from Dr. James's collection,) — Cerco- carpus parvifolius Nvtt. Eriogonum parvifolium, and E. csespitosum Niitt. Shepherdid argentea Nutt. ; and Ge- ranium Fremontii a new species, (near the Red Buttes,) were found in this part of the journey. In saline soils, on the Upper Platte, near the mouth of the Sweet Water, were col- lected several interesting Chenopodiace^, one of which was first discovered by Dr. James, in Long's Expedition ; and al- though it was considered a new genus, I did not describe it, owing to the want of the ripe fruit. It is the plant, doubt- fully referred, by Hooker, in his Florea Boreali Americana, to Batis. He had seen the male tlowers only. As it is cer- tainly a new genus, I have dedicated it to ihe excellent com- mander of the expedition, as a well merited compliment, for the services he has rendered North American Botany. * * * * * Along the Sweet Water, many interesting plants were collected, as may be seen by an examination of the Catalogue. I would, however, mention the curious ffi'nothe- ra Nuttallii (Tor. & Gr.) Eurotia Janata Mocq : (Di Otis lanata Ph.) which seems to be distinct from E. ceratoi- des; Thermopsis montana Nuit. Gilia pulchella Doiigl. iSenecio spartioides Tor. c5* Gr.., a new species ; and four or five species of wild currants, (i2i6e5 irriguum, Dougl.&Lc.) Near the mouth of the Sweet Water, was found the Plan- tago eirophora 7 or., a species first described in Dr. James's Rocky Mountain Plants. On the upper part, and near the dividing ridge, were collected several species of Cas- tilleja; Pentstemon micrantha Nvtt.; several Gentianr ; the pretty little Androsace occidentalis Nvtt. ; Solidago i;:cana Tor. <^* Gr. — and two species of Eriogonum; one of which was new. On the eighth of August, the exploring party crossed the dividing ridge or pass; and found the soil of the plains, at the foot of the mountains, on the western side, to be sandy. From Laramie's Fork to this point, different species of Arte- mesia were the characteristic and prevailing plants; occupy- VOL. XII. NO. III. 12 90 Fremonfs Expedition. ing the place of the grasses, and jfilling the air with the odor of camphor and turpentine. Along Little Sandy, a tributary of the Colorado of the West, were collected a new species of Phaca (P. digitate) and Parnassia fimbriata. On the morning of the 10th August, they entered the defiles of the Wind River Mountains, a spur of the Rocky Moun- tains, or Northern Andes, and among which they spent about eight days. On the borders of a lake, Grubos, in one of these defiles, were collected ^S'^dum rhodiola, D. C. (which had been found before south of Kotzebue's Sound, only by Dr. James,) >S'enecio hydrophilus Nittt. ; Faccinium uligino- sum; ^etula glandulosa, and JS. occidentalis Hook: E\ekg~ nus argentea and Shepherdia canadensis. Some of the higher peaks of the Wind River Mountains rise one thousand feet above the limits of perpetual snow. Lieut. Fremont, attended by four of his men, ascended one of the loftiest peaks, on the 15th August. On this, he found the snow line twelve thousand five hundred feet above the level of the sea. The vegetation of the mountains is truly Alpine, embracing a considerable number of species common to both hemi- spheres, as well as some that are peculiar to North America. Of the former. Lieut. Fremont collected Phleum alpinum ; Oxyria reniformis, Veroiiica alpina; several species of ASalix; Carex atrata, C. panicea : and, immediately below the line of perpetual congelation, iS'ilene acaulis, and Polemonium caeruleum, var. Hook. Among the Alpine plants, peculiar to the Western hemisphere, there were found Oreophila myrti- folia Niitt.^ Aquilegia cserulea Ton-.., Pedicularis surrecta Benth ; Pulmonaria ciliata James; ^Silene Drummondii Hook ; Menzies/a i^^mpetrce formis, Potentilla gracilis Dougl. Several species of Pinus Frasera speciosa Hook ; Dodeca- theon dentatum Hook; Phlox muscoides Nutt., {^"Sei LongReds,..JP:[.J-£i Sweet, per bushel . Turnips : per bushel, . Common, . . . Rula Baga, . . . Onions : Red, per bunch, . . While, per bunch, . White, per bushel, Yellow, per bushel, Beets, per bushel. Carrots, per bushel, . Parsnips, per bushel, . Salsify, per doz. roots. Horseradish, per lb. . Radishes, per bunch, . Garlic, per bunch, . . Cabbages, Salads, cj-c Cabbages, per doz. : Savoy, .... Drumhead, . . Red Dutch, . . Brocolis, each, . . Cauliflowers, each. Lettuce, per head, . Rhubarb, per pound. Water Cresses, pr. half'pk. Dandelions, per half peck, Spinncli, per peck. Celery, per root, . . . Cucumbers, (pickled) pr. gal Peppers, (pickled) per gal Pot and Siseet Herbs Parsley, per half peck. Sage, per pound, . Marjorum, per bunch, Savory, per Imnch, Spearmint, per bunch, From ^ cts 2 25 7o 1 75 50 3 00 1 25 2 00 I 00 To $cts. 2 50 1 00 2 00 75 [3 50 '2 25 50 60 3 3 1 00 62i 62 50 75 25 10 12i 62 62i 75 75 62^ 1 00 12J 10 73 1 00 75 il 00 75 1 00 6 17 25 37i 25 8 25 37^ 50 17 6 6 12.^ 10 20 12^ 20 12i I2I Squashes and Pumpkins. Squashes, per cwt. : Canada Orookneck, Winter Crookneck, Autumnal Marrow, West Indies, . . . Pumpkins, each, . . Pruits. Apples, dessert and cookin P^'all Greening, per bbl Baldwin, per bbl. . RussetS; i^er bbl. Blue Pearmain, per bbl Greenings, per bbl. N. Y. Pippins, per bbl Common, per bbl. . Danvers Winter Sweet, per bbl Nonsuch, per bbl. . Spitzemberg, per bbl. Golden Russet, per bbl Hub. Nonsuch, per bbl Dried Apples, per lb. . Pears, per doz. or half peck St. Germain, per half pk Baking, per bushel, Cranberries, per bushel, . Cucumbers, each, ... Tomatoes, per peck, . Grapes, (forced,) per lb. : Black Hamburg, . . While Svveetwater, . . Isabella, Malaga, Oranges, per doz. St. Michael's, . . . Havana, Sicily, Sicily, per box, ... Lemons, per doz. ... Pine Apples, each, • . Chestnuts, per bushel. . Walnuts, per bushel, . . Cocoanuts, per hundred, . Almonds, per lb. ... From $ els. 50 00 00 00 12ii To 3 cts. 20 20 25 20 50 17 12i 25 50 00 3 00 5 00 37J 25 30 37 25 3 00 20 25 2 50 1 75 ■1 50 Remarks. — If February was an unusually cold, stormy, and disagreeable month, March has been, on the contrary, more than ordinarily mild, fair and pleasant. The snow disappeared gradually during several fine sunny days, and a warm rain succeeded, which took off the remainder, and left the ground with little or no frost. Appearances now indicate an early spring. Vegetables. — The bad condition of the roads has been adverse to a good supply of potatoes from the country, and the stock has been mostly of Eastern growth, consequently prices have been well sustained ; it is antici- pated that when the travelling is better, so large a stock will be brought in Horticultural Memoranda. 159 that a reduction "will take place. Radishes are now well supplied, and of very fine quality, the weather having been favorable to forcing. Horse- radish is abundant and good. The stock of cabbages is low, with but few of fine quality, the larger part being small and ordinary. No new Broco- lis or Cauliflowers have yet come in. Lettuce abundant and excellent. Rhubarb has come to hand the past week and of fine quality, brought for- ward by forcing. Dandelions have also come to hand and sold at our quota- tions. Water-cresses are tolerably plentiful, and Spinach abundant and good. The stock of Celery is rather low, but as lettuce comes in, it is in less demand. Parsley more plentiful. Fresh mint is brought in, in small lots. Some late arrivals from the West Indies have brought a supply of squashes, but the quality is ordinary. Fruit. — Apples have been in good request, and the stock is pretty well reduced ; good Baldwins sell readily at our prices ; Russets are also much called for, and these two sorts constitute the principal stock ; a few barrels of other sorts yet remain. Baking pears are nearly gone. Spring cran- berries have been brought in, and of very good quality. Cucumbers have come to hand since our last, but only in very small lots ; the late favorable weather, however, will soon bring forward a better supply ; prices take a wide range according to size. Oranges are a shade higher ; they are of much better quality than usual, and in consequence sell quicker. Lemons remain the same. Little doing in Chestnuts or Walnuts. Arrivals of Cocoanuts have furnished a fine supply. — Yours, M. T., Boston, March 28th, 1846. HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA FOR APRIL. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape Vines. — In greenhouses : They will now be advancing rapidly after the late pleasant weather, and the fruit buds will soon be very promi- nent; continue to syringe freely every afternoon, and tie up the shoots to the trellis if all the eyes are broken. In cold houses : The vines should now be uncovered, if they have not been before, and tied looselv to the trellis, allowing the ends of the shoots to droop down till the eyes are well broken ; syringe every day in dry weather. Vines in pots : These will now be coming forward, and will require occasional supplies of guano. In the open air: Isabellas, and other native kinds, may now be pruned, if not yet done ; they will bleed some, but it will not hurt the vines so much as to go wholly unpruued. Foreign grapes should now be uncovered and tied up to the trellis. Grafting trees, of all kinds, may be performed this month. Pruning orchards and trees, of all kinds, should be continued during April. 160 Horticultural Memoranda. Raspberry bsds should now be uncovered ; this month is the time to make new plantations. Currant and Gooseberry bushes should be set out now. Strawberry beds should be uncovered ; rake the beds carefully and apply guano, if the soil is not rich, (two pounds to the square rod.) New beds may be made this month. Fruii trees, of all kinds, should be transplanted in April. Peach trees, for forcing in pots, should be potted this month, selecting young trees branched low. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. Dahlias, which have been potted, will now be six inches high. If early flowers are wanted, continue to shift them into larger pots. Tubers may now be divided, and started by placing in a hot-bed or frame. Seedlings should be potted off singly in small pots. Camellias will now be making their new wood, and should be freely syringed, and the soil kept well watered. Inarching may be performed yet. Gloxinias and Achimines should now be put into small pots, and kept in a warm place. Roses in small pots may now have a shift into a larger size. Chrysanthemums will now be coming forward, and cuttings may be put in, or the roots divided, and potted off. Calceolarias, Cinerarias, and Fuchsias, will need potting off again, if fine specimens are wanted in June. Cactuses, now showing their flower beds, should be freely watered. Pansy seeds, may be sown now in a good prepared bed, in a cool situ- ation. Carnations should be repotted this month. Hydrangeas may be propagated from cuttings now. Hyacinth and Tiilip Beds should have the soil carefully stirred, as soon as it is in a good condition. Dwarf Rocket Lockspur Seed may be sown immediately, in beds. Ealsams, Amaranthuses, Brachycome, German Asters, Schizanthuses, Coxcombs, and all such annuals, may be sown now in pots in hot beds, for turning out into the open ground, the latter part of May. Herbaceous Plants may be removed this month. PcEonies, both tree and herbaceous, should be transplanted in April. Coreopsis, Clarkias, Gilias, Petunias, SfC, may be sown this month, and a succession in May. Gladiolus and Tiger Flowers may be set out in the border the latter part of April. Heaths, Diosma, cj-c, may be propagated from cuttings at this season. Plants in frames should now be well aired, and such as need it, repotted. Oxalises done blooming, should now receive only occasional waterings. Japan lilies may be shifted again, if the roots have fitted the pots. THE MAGAZINE O F HORTICULTURE. MAY, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. 1. Notes and Recollections of a Tour through part of England^ Scotland and France^ in the autumn of 1844. By the Editor. {Continued frontpage 126.) Bothwell Castle, October 11th, 1846. — Bothwell Castle is so familiar to all readers of Scottish History, as the place where the unfortunate Mary Q,ueen of Scots was for some time con- fined, that we need but mention it to recall the events so graphically recorded by historical writers. Whatever it might have been at the time it was in the possession of Lord Both- well, it is now one of the most beautiful places we visited. The grounds cover many acres of high and level surface, but on one side descend precipitously to River Clyde : on the edge of the bank, surrounded by groups of trees, stands the ruins of the once strong and noble castle, now overgrown with ivy, and forming a picturesque and romantic object. As we stood within its walls, amid the stillness of the place, only disturbed by the occasional cries of the rooks, which rear their young in the crevices of the walls, and the murmuring of the wa- ters below, our imagination wandered back to the time when it was the scene of the stirring events, which occupy so prom- inent a place in the history of Scotland's beautiful Queen. The house of the present proprietor is situated at some dis- tance from the castle, and is a building of no pretensions to style. Near it is situated the kitchen garden, flower garden, &c., and a beautiful Gothic cottage, in which the intelligent gardener, Mr. Turnbull, resides. The entrance is through a large arched gateway, and a long curved avenue, hedged with VOL. XII NO. V. 21 162 Notes and Recollections of a Tour. thorn ; a great portion of the land, on either side, being under cultivation. Fortunately, we found Mr. Turnbull at home, and had the gratification of a pleasant walk through the prem- ises. The proprietor deserves great credit for his liberality in keeping up the appearance of the place, as he does not reside upon it, and the products of the garden, beside much that is distributed in the neighborhood, are sent away to some dis- tance. Bothwell castle is about three or four miles from Glas- gow, on the mail route to Edinburgh. The grounds near the entrance to the walled garden, are beautifully laid out and planted, just to our ideas as they should be: varied walks bordered with laurels, rhododen- drons, and other evergreens, turf green and smooth, without a raw edge, and the gravel even and well rolled. The garden contains three or four acres, with a range of houses on the south, devoted to miscellaneous plants, &c. ; there is also a pinery, and a house for Orchids. Mr. Turnbull is a great lover of flowers, and also one of the best cultivators of heaths in Scotland, excelled perhaps by no one unless Mr. McNab. Among the great number of herbaceous plants which fill the border, but which were now nearly out of bloom, we noticed Xythrum alatum, Z/ychnis vespertina pleno, and Achillea ro- sea, each very desirable. The calceolarias were very beauti- ful, and planted out in beds had a superb appearance. Clarkia pulchella and pulchella alba, were among the most attractive objects of the border : these two beautiful annuals are sadly neglected by lovers of flowers; properly grown, they are truly the greatest acquisitions to the flower garden. The neatness, order, and systematic arrangement of this depart- ment, pleased us as much as any place we had seen. The Heath house is a small span-roofed building, and was filled with superb specimens, of which the following are the dimensions of some of the best : — vestita, 4 J feet in diameter ; elegans, 3 feet ; Ait6n^^, 2 feet ; rupestris, 2 feet ; retorta ma- jor, 2 feet ; declinata, triceps, Svailed^ia and others, 2 feet : Mr. Turnbull does not approve of the plan of raising the un- sightly ball in the centre of the pot ; and the appearance and health of his plants is conclusive evidence that it is objec- tionable in every respect. These plants are all clothed with foliage or foliage and flowers to the edge of the pots ; this is Bothwell Castle. 163 done, as we have before remarked, by continually pinching off the shoots as soon as they are an inch or more long. Mr. Turnbull has been very successful in raising heaths from seed, and his last fine variety is figured in Paxton's Magazine. It is called Murraydww^/z^, in honor of Mr. Murray, curator of the Glasgow Botanic Garden. It is a fine scarlet flower, free bloomer, and beautiful habit. Numerous yoimg seedlings were coming on, and some other fine ones, we presume, have bloomed since we saw the young plants. It was a source of great pleasure to see the specimens of heaths produced by Mr. Turnbull ; and his success assured us, that there is no obstacle in the way of entire success in their cultivation, if proper attention is given to the plants. Mr. Turnbull has a brother residing near Boston, who for- merly was in our employ ; and our visit afforded him much gratification. He had always felt a great desire to visit America, but he had advanced in years too far to make the attempt, especially so well situated as he is at this fine place. Nurseries of Messrs. Aiisiin 4* ^on. — Messrs. Austin have an extensive warehouse in Glasgow, and a nursery connected with their business, in the suburbs of the city. Though not so extensive as some of the Edinburgh establishments, they have a very good stock of plants, and a fine supply of trees and shrubs. The necessity, however, of a short visit, in con- sequence of our departure for Edinburgh, by the rail-road, in season to reach that city by night, only enabled us to take a hasty ramble through the houses, without a chance of giv- ing much attention to the nursery grounds. Messrs. Austin & Son have a good stock of rhododendrons and azaleas, and also a variety of camellias. But the plants were being taken into the houses ; and the confusion always attendant on such an occasion prevented our particularizing many plants. In the frames were great numbers of seed- lings, particularly of pinuses, which are so much in demand. Mr. Austin pointed out to us a cedar of Lebanon, which is perfectly hardy ; and, at the same time, he showed us some of our hemlock spruce, which had suffered from the winter, and indeed is considered as scarcely hardy around Glasgow. The Chinese arbor vitge is also often injured by the winter, and does not stand the winter better than it does in the lati- 164 Duration of Races of Plants. tude of Boston, where it is nearly or quite killed to the ground, unless in very high and dry situations. This shows that we cannot always judge of the hardiness of a tree from its native climate ; and actual experiments only afford the test in many instances. Thus, for many years, the tree pseony, a native of China, was cultivated as a greenhouse plant, and considered quite tender, until plants accidentally left exposed, were found to be quite hardy. This should lead every nurseryman to attempt the acclimization of various trees, shrubs and plants, judging more by their growth, habit, and other appearances, than by the climate from whence they may have been intro- duced. Messrs. Austin cultivate a good collection of herbaceous plants. And we here saw in fine bloom, Anemone vitifolia, Pentstemon Murrayd/mm and Scabiosa canariensis, all showy and desirable. We here saw also, one of the finest stocks of calceolarias, planted out in the open gromid ; many of them being superbly banded, spotted and clouded, with purple and maroon, on cream and yellow grounds. ( To be cotitinued.) Art. II. SoTne Remarks on the Duration of Races of Plants. By A. H. Ernst, Cincinnati, Ohio. Do races of plants wear out? This is a subject attracting just now much attention and discussion among horticulturalists, and which it is to be re- gretted, is not always conducted in a becoming spirit. A subject on which some of the most intelligent seem to differ widely^ should secure at least, common courtesy ; ostentation and haughty bearing are but feeble arguments, and will not weigh much with the well informed, however high or scien- tifikc the source from whence they emanate. To my mind, there is rather a misapplication of terms, than a difference on matter of fact. On the one hand, it is held, with no small amount of plausibility, that " varieties of fruit do run out," on the other hand, it is insisted that it is con- Duration of Races of Plants. 165 trary to the " laws of vegetable life for races of plants to run out," and can, therefore, not be true. I will not presume to enter the lists with that talented and learned horticulturalist, Lindley, or to enter on the defence of the opinions of the late Mr. Knight, to whose observing and practical knowledge and experience, the world is largely indebted for the present ele- vated position of pomology, though I would not pass them by without due " respect." The truth is readily admitted, that in the original state, " races of plants are constantly repro- ducing their kind without change or wearing out." But does the subject not assume a different aspect by the application of science and art, in changing the original condition and char- acter of the oflFspring of a race or variety ? May we not, with as much propriety, expect the Williams's Bonchretien pear to reproduce its sort from seed, as to argue that there can be no such thing as a sort becoming worthless or run out, from the admitted fact, that in an original condition veg- etation proceeds on without degenerating ? Why not 7 it is an offspring of the original pear, which does continue to re- produce from seed, its kind, as it always has when unmo- lested by foreign agents. Is the answer not plain 7 it no longer possesses the entire properties of the original parent. It has undergone a radical change. The botanist finds no difficulty in classing or understand- ing the order, to which plants belong in the natural or origi- nal condition, but when he comes in contact with the perver- sion the ingenuity of man has given the subject, his beau- tiful system of application ceases to apply, and he calls it a " monster," of which he finds man has produced an endless variety, of as many hues and character, which can only be propagated or continued in existence by an unnatural pro- cess ; or, in other words, by a process not known to the origi- nal law of propagation. We cannot go back to the original parent to renew a vitiated health, by the natural process of generation from seed, hence the analogy does not hold good. To prove this, it is only necessary to attempt the continua- tion or reproduction of the Williams's Bonchretien, or any other individual sort of our fine pear, by what is termed the natural process, that is, from the seed. If this cannot be done, are we then not called on to consider a new creation. 166 Duration of Races of Plants. subject to none of the laws for its continuation in existence, beyond the individual that controls the original parent 7 If, then, this position is sound, does it not clearly follow that a variety of fruit may, from constitutional defect, or other cause, become partially or generally diseased, and run out, without infringing or doing violence to the laws which govern the natural order of vegetation ? Let me be fully understood : although it is unhesitatingly admitted that originally there can be no such thing as a race of plants wearing, or running out, it by no means follows that all the descendants of a race, however operated on by artificial means, remain in per- fect health, but, on the contrary, it is more than probable that every innovation on the original law of generation, is but a step to undermine and impair the constitution of the product. If, then, after having produced, by the application of science and art, a variety of fruit deemed worthy of propagation, and having lost, by the application of science and art, the power of propagation or continuing this variety or sort by the natu- ral process, and being able to do so only by engrafting or budding on other trees, or by layering it, what do we more than continue that identical tree in existence, no difference to what part of the world, or how extensively it is spread? And do we not as much spread with it any constitutional disease which it may have inherited, as the color of the fruit it bears? And although, like a family of children who have inherited the consumption, under various treatment and in different climes, a portion may survive for a brief period the rest, the whole and entire variety in all parts of the world, must become subject to the effects of the same inherent cause. I think, then, the plain and irresistible conclusion to which every practical inquirer must come, is, that varieties of fruit may, and do, wear or run out. The health and vigor of the stock on which the variety is grafted, undoubtedly has a partial effect as the soil in which it grows, to retard or promote to its final termination the con- stitutional tendency of the variety, but can no more prevent the result than to change the color of the fruit. In fact, the stock has but little to do with what is put on it, more than Duration of Races of Plants. 167 to act as a medium of communication between the earth and the extremities above. This is proven from the fact that the pecuharities of growth with other characteristics of varieties, remain unchanged in their habits, on these new sorts. The vigor of a feeble growing eort, is not materially effected to promote its growth, if any, by being grafted on a vigorous stock. If it were otherwise, we should have nothing to de- pend on as landmarks to guide to satisfactory conclusions, except the fruit, as to what the variety is. It is, therefore, fallacious to look to this source for the permanent continuance of a variety in health or existence ; but each sort must wholly depend for duration on its own constitution, and this will dif- fer very widely in different sorts. That many valuable fruits once perfectly and generally healthy, and free from blemish, are no more so, will hardly be disputed, among which may be named, in our own country, the White Doyenne Pear, once the pride and boast of that deli- cious family of fruit, and the Pennock Apple, once an universal favorite. This has become so generally affected in the west, with spots or flakes of dry decay throughout the flesh, that it is rare to meet with a perfect specimen. This disease is not identical with the bitter rot, but very distinct, having none of the bitter taste predominant in that disease. Many other parallel cases might be named, but they are not deemed im- portant to establish the fact that varieties may, and do, wear or run out. Is there, then, not a want of candor, after science has pro- duced an illegitimate offspring with a defective constitution, to throw itself back on the lata governing the original race, and argue, from that law, that there can be no such thing as a sort running out "? The above reflections were induced by the reading of an article from The London Gardener'' s Chronicle, and repub- lished in the New England Parmer, by Prof. Lindley, in which the writer in fact admits the position contended for, but most strenuously endeavors to avoid the conclusion, and treats those who differ with him, with a degree of asperity unbecoming one occupying, in the scientific world, the exalted position he does. They are not offered as advancing new or 168 Guano, its Use and Application. original views on matter of fact, but to place them in an un* varnished garb before your readers. Spring Garden, Feb. 2^th, 1846. We had marked Dr. Lindley's article, when we first re- ceived it, for insertion in our Magazine, intending to offer some remarks thereon. But the crowded state of our pages has prevented us from yet finding an opportunity to insert it. We hope, however, to do so soon, and in the mean time we commend the remarks of Mr. Ernst, to the attention of our readers. — Ed. Art. III. Guano : its use and application. By Charles Robinson, Esq., New Haven, Conn. With us, much injury was done to gardens last season, by the use of this most powerful manure. For this result there were three obvious reasons, either of which alone would have been sufficient. First. — It was applied too freely. From a vast number of experiments carefully made in England, it is found that three hundred pounds of the Peruvian is equivalent to twenty cords of stable manure, and is abundantly sufficient for an acre. It is undoubtedly true, however, that on strong and deep soils, thoroughly tilled, the quantity may be greatly increased. In- deed, it is safe to use it in moderate quantities as a top dress- ing on such soils, even where the ordinary amount has been previously worked into the soil. Two pounds, therefore, to the square rod, or one ounce to the square yard, is a full allowance on ordinary soils. With us it has been tried generally as an experiment, and has been applied, either as a top dressing, on a small space or with the seed. In such case, who would think of using so small a quantity as one ounce to the square yard ? In the April number of the Monthly Journal of Ag?'iculfure, I notice that " Alexander Jones, Esq., used eight pounds with half a bushel of ashes, on a patch of tobacco plants, ten feet by sixteen. It killed them outright ;" and so it ought to have Guano: its Use and Application. 169 done, since he put on more than seven times the proper quan- tity, beside the ashes, or at the rate of one hundred and fifty cords of stable manure and two hundred and seventy bushels of ashes to the acre. He should have used, at the utmost, only eighteen ounces of guano. Second. — It was applied to the surface, or worked into an mSh. or so of the surface. No one, without careful reflection upon the manner in which manures are reached by the roots of plants, would think of digging so small a quantity as one ounce to the square yard into the whole depth of his soil. He might well fear that it would all be lost. Experience in the use of plaister of Paris, however, proves that a less quantity even, is not lost in the soil. The ordi- nary amount of that substance, applied to lands away from the sea, is one bushel, or seventy pounds, to the acre. That quantity is found to be as efficacious, for the season, as a larger amount. On corn and potatoes, it is ordinarily used in and around the hills ; but careful and repeated experiments have established the fact, that even this small quantity is fully as effective, if sown broadcast over the entire surface, and worked into the ground. The truth is, the roots of plants pervade the whole soil, and their spongisles find in it all which is valuable for their sustenance. There is this special advantage in mixing manures with the whole soil, that, as the season advances, and the surface soil becomes dry, the roots of plants descend in search of moisture, and thus they then find abundant nutriment when most needed. If, however, the manure is upon or near the surface, the roots, in moist weather, are attracted upward by it, and where drought ensues, either perish or are so parched and impoverished, that the whole plant suffers. Who would be so inconsiderate as to mix stable manure, equivalent to even so small a quantity of guano as one ounce to the square yard, into some one or two inches of the sur- face, or into and among his seed ? Why then need we be surprised that our crops, instead of being invigorated and increased, as they would have been by its judicious applica- tion, are all burnt up '? Third. — All manures, to exert their full influence, need moisture in proportion to their power. It is an old maxim, VOL. XII. NO. V. 22 170 Guano ; its Use and Application. that " "with manure and leate)' you can raise any thing." In fact, with an abundance of water, the quantity of maniure may be greatly increased. Last summer we had no water, and of course comparatively no crops. Indeed, it is doubtful whether, in oiu: hght soil, we might not have recourse to regular irrigation, to great advantage ; and whether, too, as our climate becomes more and more dry, we shall not %e compelled to resort to it, in order to insiire the results at which we aim. Is it therefore surprismg that with us the experience of last summer, with this concentrated essence of manure, should have been somewhat discouraging ? Too much on the sur- face, in a drought, could scarcely fail to ruin crops. That guano is a cheap manure is obvious, since, for an ordinary garden of a quarter of an acre, seventy-five pounds only are required. Last year I purchased a ton of prime Peruvian for forty-five dollars, or one dollar and seventy cents for that quantity. For use. mine was carefully broken and sifted, mixed thor- oughly with an equal quantity of gypsum finely ground ; and to these two parts, four parts of fine loam were added, and the whole, carefully mixed by riddling and siftmg, was pressed into barrels to prevent loss by evaporation. When used, it was sown upon the soil and thoroughly incorporated with it. When I applied it in excess on corn, last summer, as a top dressmg, the crop was injured by it, and the injury was just in proportion to such excess. That was my only unsuccessful experiment. On the whole, therefore, if a proper quantity is thoroughly incorporated with the whole soil, as all enriching matter ought to be, in the spring, this will be found to be the cheap- est and most satisfactory of all manures. Such is the result to which I have arrived, after a full and careful trial of it for the last two seasons. New Haven, April 1.5, 1S46. The remarks of Mr. Robmson are particularly valuable at this time. We have used guano two years, and, judiciously apphed, the results are truly surprising. — Ed. Pomological Notices. 171 Art. IV. Pomological Notices : or notices respecting new and superior fruits, worthy of general cultivation. Descriptions and engravings of six varieties of pears. By the Editor. We have the pleasure of now offering a continuation of our descriptions of new pears. The favors of our corres- pondents have not allowed us this opportunity sooner ; and at the present time we are compelled to omit some prefatory re- marks which we had intended to offer, in regard to some of our engravings, until our next article. 37. Beurre' Diel. Hort. Soc. CcU. Diel, Diels Butterbirne, Dorothee Royal, Grosse Dorothee, Beurr6 Royal, Des Trois Tours, Beurre d'Yelle, (of some,) Gros Dillen, Dillen, De Melon, Melon de Kops. Beurr6 Spence, (of some) Beurre Magnifique, Beurre Incomparable, Sylvange verte d'hiver, Mabille, Fourcroy Bouvier, Thompson, in Gard, CAron., 1845. According to Hort. Soc. Cat, 3d. Ed. I or some collections. It would be of much service to cultivators, if pomological writers could agree upon some system for classing the season of fruits. Some pomological writers call the Beurre Diel a winter, while others consider it an autumn, pear. That accu- rate writer, George Lindley, in his Guide to the Orchard, classes it as a winter fruit, and Mr. Kenrick, in his Orchard- ist, so classes it : while Mr. Downing, in his Fruits and Fruit Trees, places it among the autumn pears. This fine variety generally ripens the latter part of November and the begin- ning of December, coming between what may be truly classed as fall pears and those denominated winter ; perhaps, there- fore, it should be classed among the former, keepmg, as it 172 Pomological Notices. does, only a week or two after the commencement of the sea- son of winter pears. This truly valuable pear was originally sent to the London Horticultural Society, by Dr. Van Mons, in 1817, under the Fig. 5. Beurrd Die!. name of Dillen, and it is described under this synonyme in Lindley's work ; it first came to this country through the medium of the late Mr. Knight, in his most liberal donation of fruits to the Massachusetts Agricultural Society, through the Hon. John Lowell, in 1825, under another synonyme of Sylvange verte d' hiver, and subsequently it has been received under many of the above names, the most common of which are Beurre Incomparable, Beurre Magnifique, Beurre Royal, Desa'iptions of Six varieties of Pears. 173 Des Trois Tours — we ourselves having received it under these and three other names during the last three years. It is sup- posed to have been raised by Dr. Van Mons, and named by him in honor of Dr. Augustus Frederick Adrien Diel, a Ger- man pomologist, of great celebrity. The Beurre Diel is of a somewhat variable character, both as regards form and quality, according to the soil or situation in which it is placed; and, from this circumstance, has arisen its many synonymes, when in its best condition being truly " magnifique," as the French nurserymen have denominated it. The tree is a most vigorous grower, often making annual shoots an inch in diameter ; and the foliage is large, broad and handsome. The wood is of an olive brown shade, sprinkled with grayish specks ; the young growth, light brown and slightly downy ; the flowers are also large, with strong an- thers. It bears most abundantly. Size, large, three and a half inches long and three in diame- ter : Form, obovate, slightly irregular, little contracted below the middle, tapering to an obtuse point at the stem : Skifi, rough, uneven, dull green, becoming bright yellow when ma- ture, regularly sprinkled with russet specks, with some few scattered russet and greenish brown patches : Stem, rather long, about one and a half inches, stout, curved, brown, deeply inserted in a contracted cavity : Eye, medium size, open, con- siderably depressed, in a ridged basin ; segments of the calyx, long, narrow and projecting : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, buttery, melting and juicy : Flavor rich, sugary, perfumed and delicious : Core, large : Seeds, medium size, dark brown. Ripe in November and December. The Beurre Diel succeeds admirably on the quince, and the fruit is much less liable to injury from high winds, which often blow off a great portion of it in consequence of its size and weight. Our specimen was from a tree on the quince, which had been planted out only two years. 38. Henri Quatre. Hort. Soc. Cat. Jacquin, Hort. Soc. Cal. 3d. Ed. Henry the Fourth, Fruits and Fruit Trees, cj-c. Among the autumn pears, which should find a place in every good collection, may be named Henry IV., {fg: 6,) 174 Pomological Notices. as it is termed in catalogues, and which, from the brevity of the title, and the general desire to abolish long names, it is likely it will continue to be known. We follow the London Horticultural Society in the authority of Henri Quatre. FHg. 6. Henri Quatre. This pear, though of only moderate size and far from being beautiful, is, notAvithstanding, a delicious fruit, and, when better known, will be more sought after. It is also a great and certain bearer. The tree is tolerably vigorous, the branches slightly straggling. It is stated to have been raised by M. Whitzumb, of Flanders. Size, medium, two and a half inches long and two and a quarter in diameter : Form, obovately pyramidal, very full at the crown, which is often oblique, and tapering regularly into the stem : Skin, smooth, pale yellow, mixed with some green near the stem, clouded and spotted with light red on the sunny side, and covered with pale russet specks : Stem^ medium length, about one inch long, slightly curved, smooth, Desct^iptions of Six varieties of Pears. 175 light brown, fleshy at the base, and forced into an obUque direction by a small protuberance or lip on one side : Eye, small, closed, moderately sunk in a shallow, rather furrowed basin ; segments of the calyx slender, pointed : Flesh, yellow- ish white, with a slight grit at the core, but melting and very juicy ; Flavor, rich and sugary, with a pleasant, musky per- fume : Core, large : Seeds, medium size, dark brown. Ripe the latter part of September and beginning of October. 39. Doyenne' Sieulle. Hort. Soc. Cat. 3d Ed. Beurr6 SieuUe, ) j,^ -^^ ^^^ ^^^.^ ^^^^^ ^y America. Sieulle, > This is a new and recently proved fruit. The name is in- serted in the last edition of the London Horticultural Socie- ty's Catalogue, but its qualities had not been ascertained, at the time of publication, in 1842. Last year we had the pleasure of receiving two very fine specimens from two differ- ent cultivators, our own trees not yet having produced fruit, though now full of buds ; and we were highly gratified to find it so excellent a pear, nearly or quite equalling the old white Doyenne, and equally if not more beautiful, having a brilliant red cheek and fair skin. It is of large size and rather peculiar form, quite distinguishable from most other varieties. Of its origin, we have no information, as we do not find it described in any work except Mr. Downing' s Fruits and Fruit Trees, and very briefly there. It is, how- ever, a first rate fruit, and well worthy a place in every collection. The tree, in the color of the wood and habit of growth, resembles the white Doyenne, but the fruit is char- acterized by its nearly round form, with a slight suture on one side, and its very stout, swoollen stem, as in the engrav- ing, {Jig. 7.) It succeeds well on the quince. Size, large, two and a quarter inches long, and two and a quarter in diameter : Form, roundish, little irregular, some- times depressed : Skin, fair, smooth, dull yellow and pale green, very broadly shaded and marbled with brilliant red on the sunny side, and regularly covered with large reddish rus- set specks, thickest where exposed : Stem, medium length, about one inch, very stout, smooth, and deeply sunk in a cavity 176 Pomological Notices. formed by a large projection on one side : Eye, medium size, open, slightly depressed in a broad shallow basin ; segments of the calyx broad, reflexed : Flesh, white, fine, melting and Fiff. 7. Doyenne Sieulle. very juicy : Flavor, rich saccharine, vinous, and slightly per- fumed : Core, large : Seeds, large dark brown. Ripe in Oc- tober and NoA'ember. 40. Marie Louise. Hort. Soc. Cat. Forme de Marie Louise, Marie Chretienne, Princesse de Parm6, Braddick's Field Marshall, -' Maria, Thomp. in Gard. Chronicle, 1846. Hort. Soc. Cat. 3d Ed. One of the most common pears which we observed in Cov- ent Garden Market, was the Marie Louise. The high recommendation which has been bestowed upon it by the Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 177 London Horticultural Society, together with the reputation which it had acquired when first introduced in the collection of the late Mr. Braddick, has caused its wide dissemination among amateur and market cultivators. Its qualities have not been overrated. We esteem it equal to any variety in cultivation, and united to the excellent quality of the fruit, the tree is a vigorous grower, hardy, and an abundant bearer. The Marie Louise {fig. 8) was raised by the Abbe Du- quesne in 1809, and named by him in honor of the Empress Fl^. 8. Marie Louise. Marie Louise, wife of Napoleon. Specimens of the fruit were first sent to the London Horticultural Society by Dr. Van Mons, in 1816, and the variety was soon after introduced. It was first sent to this country in 1823, by Mr. Knight, in his donation, before referred to, through Mr. Lowell ; and though upwards of twenty years ago, it has not yet become VOL. XII. NO. V. 23 178 Pomological Notices. a generally cultivated fruit. Our notice of it, we hope, will make it better known. The tree is of a rather straggling and declining habit, and does not make a handsome standard, unless tied up to a stake until it forms a good head. The wood is stout, of an olive gray color, with brown spots, and the leaves are smooth and oval, with very long, slender petioles, by which it is readily distinguished in summer. It is stated by Mr. Thompson to succeed well on the quince. Size, large, three and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter : Form, oblong, largest in the middle, taper- ing towards the stem and crown, the latter of which is ob- lique : Skin, fair, smooth, pale green, becoming of a bright lemon yellow at maturity, marbled and slightly streaked with red on the sunny side, exhibiting slight traces of russet at the base of the stem and around the eye : Stem, long, about one and a half inches, curved, smooth, obliquely inserted, without any cavity, under a swollen lip : Eye, medium size, closed, and rather deeply inserted in a crumpled or furrowed basin ; segments of the calyx short : Flesh, yellowish white, fine, but- tery, melting and very juicy : Flavor, rich, saccharine, vinous and delicious : Core, large : Seeds, medium size, dark brown. Ripe in October and will keep into November. It is somewhat singular that this variety is scarcely known in the nursery collections around Paris. And orders for the Marie Louise have always been filled with another pear, whose qualities we have not yet ascertained. The Marie Louise Delcourt, of some French collections, is said to be the same as the Marie Louise. 40. Van Mons Leon le Clerc. Gard. Mag. Vol. XIV. J Poire de Boulogne, Celestin, \ Of some French collections. Louis Bonne de Boulogne, No pear of recent introduction to notice, has been heralded with so much praise as the true Van Mons Leon le Clerc. Throwing aside the usual adjective terms, it has been called " the best pear in the world." We have already alluded to it so many times in our previous volumes, (VI. p. 47, VII. p. Descripiiotis of Six varieties of Pears. 179 285,) and given so full an account of its origin, 6ic., that it seems superfluous to repeat the same. It does appear to us, however, that there must be some error in regard to the origin Fiff. 9. Van Mons L^on Le Clerc. of this pear. It has already been stated that it was raised by Mons. Le Clerc, and placed in the hands of M. R. Langlier, of Jersey, for sale, and the trees disposed of at one guinea each ; this was in 1838 and '39. Some time previous to that date, however, Mr. Manning of the Pomological Garden, received scions from Dr. Van Mons, under the name of Celestin, which have proved the last season, to be the true Leon le Clerc ; and in the spring of 1842 we received a collection of pears from France, having expressly ordered the true Leon le Clerc among them. After waiting three years, we had the satisfac- 180 Pomological Notices. tion of seeing the fruit, last season, and it proved to be the old Leon le Clerc of Van Mons. But what appeared remark- able, was the fact, that a tree received at the same time, in the same invoice, and from the same nursery, under the name of Poire de Boulogne, proved to be the true Leon le Clerc. Now if, as has been stated, (VI. p. 47,) the whole stock was put into the hands of M. Langlier for sale, in 1838 and '39, before it was known to the trade in France, how could Mr. Mamiing receive it from Van Mons as the Celes- tin ? and how should we receive a two-year grafted tree imder -the name of Poire de Boulogne, when the true Leon le Clerc was not known? Unless M. le Clerc gave away scions long before he offered it for sale, it would seem that this pear could not have originated with him, but might have been one of Dr. Van Mons's seedlings, scions of which were so freely distributed to his friends, of whom M. le Clerc was one, before the fruit was named. The third synonyme above quoted, was discovered in the collection of our correspondent, Mr. Wilder, last season. The tree was received from France in 1839 or '40. The experience of two seasons, in our climate, has sus- tained its previous reputation, and proved it a first rate fruit, ripening freely, bearing quite early and very abundantly, of the largest size, and coming in just after the early autumn sorts, between the Marie Louise and the Beurre Diel. The tree is of moderately vigorous, nearly upright growth, with yellowish olive wood, speckled with round, grayish white spots, and very smooth, rather narrow leaves. The bark of the old wood has a rough and crackled appearance, similar to the t7nie Burgomaster. It succeeds very well on the quince. Size, large, about four and a half inches long, and three in diameter : Form, obtuse pyramidal, nearly regular, largest in the middle, tapering to a slightly obtuse point at the stem : Skin, fair, smooth, pale yellow, becoming orange when ma- ture, little russeted at the base of the stem, slightly browned on the smmy side, and regularly sprinkled with russet specks : Stem, medium length, about one inch, curved, and obliquely inserted, little on one side, in a very shallow cavity : Bt/e, large, open, rather deeply inserted in an open and slightly ridged basin : segments of the calyx long, pointed, and so Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 181 much reflexed as to lie quite back upon the skin : Fleshy yel- lowish, fine, buttery, melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, vinous, little perfumed and delicious : Core, medium size : Seeds, large, very long and pointed. Ripe in November. 41. Dix. N. E. Farmer, Vol. VIII. The Dix pear {fig- 10) has been briefly described in our Magazine, (Yol. I. p. 88,) with several other native varieties, Fig. 10. Dix. by Mr. Downer, who was one of the most zealous amateurs, in the introduction of native fruits, about the time of the or- ganization of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The 182 Pomological Notices. Fulton, Lewis, Andrews, Gushing, Harvard, and some others, were fully described by him, and the history of their origin communicated to the public through the New England Far" mer ; and the thanks of cultivators are due to him for his continued endeavors to bring them to notice, and make known their merits, at a period when it was supposed the native fruits of our woods and pastures, could by no means compare with foreign varieties, possessing a high somiding title and a repu- tation obtained abroad. That the Dix is in reality one of the very finest pears we now possess, is, we believe, admitted by all cultivators. Of the largest size, beautiful in appearance, ripening at a sea- son when there are but few fine pears, a hardy tree, and a good bearer, — all these qualities give it a rank second to no other. It does not come into bearing at an early age, but when the tree has acquired a good size it produces freely. The history of its origin, as communicated by Mr. Downer, is as follows : — It sprung from seed in the garden of Madame Dix in Boston ; contiguous to the house, at the time the ac- count was written, was a large garden, containing many fruit trees, and among the number, a St. Germain, a Bon Chretien, which stood near together, and within a short space of the place where the Dix sprung up from seed, about the year 1814 or 1815. In 1829, the tree was twenty-three feet high and ten inches in diameter, four feet from the ground. With the exception of some of the lower limbs, it had never been pruned since it sprung from seed, and the quantity of small limbs rendered it difficult to ascend the tree. It first began to bear in 1825 or '26, and in 1828 produced a full crop of very large and fine fruit. The tree was some years ago cut down or removed, and the place where it stood is now covered with dwellings. The general resemblance of the Dix to the St. Germain has led to the supposition, that the latter was one of its pa- rents. The branches are rather slender, often thorny, and of a pale yellowish hue ; the leaves are rather small, finely ser- rated, and of a light, shining green. Size^ large, four inches long, and three and a half inches in diameter ; Form, oblong, inclining to pyramidal, regular, largest in the middle, tapering to an obtuse point at the stem : The Tulip. 183 Skin^ slightly rough, greenish yellow, becoming pale yellow when mature, broadly marked with bright red, and mottled with dots of a deeper shade, often russeted around the crown, and regularly and thickly covered with large, distinct, russet specks : Stem, medium length, about an inch long, rather stout, curved, inserted in a shallow cavity, formed by swell- ings and projections of the fruit, highest on one side : Bye, medium size, open, and slightly sunk in a very shallow, plaited or furrowed basin ; segments of the calyx short, stiff, project- ing : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, slightly vinous, perfumed and excellent : Core, rather large : Seeds, small. Ripe in November. Our drawing was made from fruit selected from a dozen specimens sent us by a friend, who possesses one of the finest trees any where to be found ; it is upwards of twenty feet high, and bore several bushels last season. It stands in a garden within a few rods of our residence at Cambridge, and was grafted when the Dix was first brought into notice. We make this remark, as the figure of the Dix in Mr. Downing's book is so unlike any thing we have ever seen, that we should suppose it was taken for almost any other pear than that. Our drawing is an exact outline of more than two thirds of the twelve pears which were sent to us last autumn. Art. IV. A Chapter on Tulips. By E. W. We have regretted to notice, of late years, a great indiffer- ence to the cultivation of the Tulip, and the few beds that have been formed in this vicinity, were soon discontinued, the names lost, and they have, we believe, been finally broken up and disposed of. This is much to be regretted — for, in the whole range of the attractions of a well cultivated garden, the effect of a bed of tulips, when in full bloom, is one of the most striking ; whether it is owing to the representations of the beautiful varieties depicted by the old masters in their paintings, and probably painted from nature — though formerly so different from any thing we had ever seen, that we believ- ed them to be only the productions of the imagination, or 184 The Tulip. whether it is from a natural taste for the blending of colors, we have always enjoyed the view of a good tulip bed, though the opportunities have been few — and, indeed with the excep- tion of the bed formed by our friend, Mr. Walker, and that displayed in the gardens some years since ; but little opportunity has been given for the encouragement of a taste for the tulip. Even now we well recollect the satisfaction we first experi- enced in the view of the bed formed by Mr. Walker, and the delight we found in the discovery, or the supposed discovery, of some of our old pictured favorites, especially the dark sorts almost black and gold. We should hardly know at present where to enjoy the treat of a good tulip bed, (provided we are unsuccessful in its cul- tivation,) unless our neighbors, the Messrs Breck, have been enabled to form one out of the wreck of that of the public garden. Indeed, we fear that few of our best florists know what constitutes a good flower, and in what manner the best effect can be produced in planting out a bed of tulips. The best form for a perfect tulip, is perhaps more generally known, which is that of from one third to one half of a hol- low ball ; but as to its compactness, the cleanness of its stripes, the still better quality of opening well without quartering, many of us are, doubtless, ignorant. There is another important point which, perhaps, has been overlooked in the few beds formed in this city and vicinity, and that is in the disposition of the flowers in the beds, in or- der to produce the best eflect. A very common bed, well ar- ranged, will appear to better advantage than a superior one ill arranged. In order to do this, a large variety of flowers is, by no means, necessary, but only duplicates of good clean sorts. Then suppose a bed of seven rows, and the middle row to be of the tallest and most grand varieties ; then on each side of this row, the varieties in both rows are to be the same as regards each, but entirely different from the centre one. The next two rows also, each side of the three rows are to be the same, but different again from the three centre rows, and so on, so that the outer rows of the bed will be just alike, unless there are some odd flowers which may be placed on the outside, provided they have short stems — but if long, they may be placed in the centre. In this way, the arrangement of A Chapter on Tulips. 185 heights and their colours are uniformly contrasted. If this plan is disregarded, or the names of the flowers be lost, all kinds, bizares roses and bybloemens may be jumbled together, so that the bed may exhibit only white, yellow and red patches, and no regard to uniformity of appearance. Where a tulip is of a conspicuous kind, or liable to come badly, it is best, perhaps, to plant them double, or two in one hole, which gives a double chance to conform to the general plan, both as to the height and colour. Polyphemus, for in- stance, should be grown double, for the first reason, and Claud- iana for the second, as this is apt to be treacherous ; Char- bonneir is uncertain, again, as to colour, and should be grown double ; Rosa Blanca, one of the most beautiful of the roses, should also be grown double, being so apt to fail ; Mad- ame Vestris, showy, but also of this character ; Duke of Clar- ence hardly ever comes twice alike ; also, Siam is similar as to its uncertainty, but never comes so coarse as does the for- mer. I close these few hasty remarks by sending you a list of the best sorts for a small bed, which may help a florist in his selection of a few bulbs, and turn the attention of the am- ateur to a flower which has again come into favor in England. Cerese Blanche, Salvator Rosa, Solon, Wallace, Gloria Mundi, Came use de Croix, Hamlet, Polyphemus, Reubens, Aglaia, Ambassador, Compte de Vergennes, William 4th, Magnificent, King (Holmes,) Emily Rose, Ulysses, Madame Vestris, David, Julia, Roxbwy, March, 1846. VOL. XII. NO. V. Dutch Ponceau, Jutio Romans, Selim, Cerese Bellforme, Rose Catharine, Queen of Sheba, King, (Strongs,) Cameuse, Washington, Sylvia, Brulante, Rosa Blanca, Titian, Duke of York, Charbonneier, Alexander, Fabens, Hamlet, Claudiana, Princess Charlotte. 24 186 Browne^s Forest Trees of America. REVIEWS. Art. I. The Trees of America., Plctorially^ Botanically, and Entom.ologically delineated ; embracing a conijylete Descrip- tion of the Forest Trees of North America, their Cidture, Managenie7it and Propagation ; Uses, Ecojiomy in the Arts ; introduction into Commerce, and their application in Useful and Ornam,ental Plantation and in Landscape Gardening. By D, J. Browne, author of the Sylvia Ameri- cana, 1 vol. 8vo., with many engravings. Nearly two years since we announced the preparation of a volume under this title. Circumstances have, however, pre- vented its publication, and we are glad now, not only to state that the stereotype plates are nearly all completed, but, by the kindness of Mr. Browne, the author, we are enabled to lay before our readers a specimen of the manner in which he has accomplished his part of the task. When the work is ready for distribution to subscribers, which will be in the course of a few weeks, we shall notice it at length. We, therefore, omit any further remarks, only calling the attention of every one interested ui arboriculture, to this specimen of the volume. Ailantus glandulosa, THE GLANDULOUS-LEAVED AILANTUS. Synonymes. r Desfontaines, Actes, etc., Paris, 1786. Ailantus glandvlosa, < De Candolle, Prodromus. ' Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum. Ailantus procera, Salisbury, Prodromus. Aylante glanduleux, Tilou, France. Drusiger Gotterhaum, Germany. Ailanlo, Albero di Paradiso, Italy. Ailantus, Tree of Heaven, Britain and Anglo America. Engravings. L'H^ritier, Stirpes, pi. 84 ; Du Hamel, Traite des Arbres et Arbustes, i., pi. 35 ; Loudon, Arboretum Britannicum, i., figure 159, et v., pi. 60 ; and the figures below. Specific Characters. Leaves impari pinnate ; the leaflets coarsely toothed at the base ; the teeth glandulous on the under side. — De Candolle, Prodromus. Description. The ailantus glandulosa is a deciduous tree of the first rank, growing to a height of sixty feet and upwards. Its straight, erect, column-like trunk, Brown^s Forest Trees of America. 187 Fig. 11. The Ailan- tus glandulosa : a full grown tree. from two to three feet in diameter, its gigantic boughs and shoots, clothed with large, pendulous leaves, give it a noble appearance, and seem to jus- tify the original appellation, " Tree of Heaven." The leaves are from one and a half to six feet in length, pinnated, with an odd one, and having leaf- lets with coarse, glandular teeth near the base. On the first approach of frost, the leaflets begin to fall, without having previously shown much change of color, displaying, in this respect, a striking difference from the leaves of most species of rhus, to which those of this tree bear a general resemblance. The flowers, which appear in June and Jul)', occur in rather large, compact panicles, of a whitish-green color, and exhale a disagreeable odor. The keys, or fruit, resemble those of the ash, but are much smaller and more numerous. In some years, the tree is said to bear only male flowers; and L'Heritier states that only twice in ten years it bore both male and female blossoms at the same time, in France. In his time, it had produced fruit in the Jardin des Plantes, at Paris, and in the botanic garden at Leyden ; but in both cases, it was immature. It has since, however, produced perfect fruit, from which plants have been raised. It has also ripened seeds at White Knight's, near Reading, in England. At Philadelphia and New York, the seeds of this tree ripen freely in October, and plants are raised from them in abundance. Geography and History. — The Ailantus glandulosa is a native of the northern provinces of China, more particularly in the neigbbor- borhood of Pekin. Mr. Loudon states that seeds were first sent to England, to the Royal Society of London, by the Jesuit missionary, D'Incarville, in 1751 ; and that they were sown by Miller, in the Chelsea botanic garden, and by Philip Cartaret Webb, at Bushbridge, in Surry, the same year. As the tree produced suckers freely, it was soon generally propagated, and there are many fine specimens of it growing in different parts of that country. The largest tree of this species in Britain, is at Syon, near London. In 1835, it had attained the height of seventy feet, with a trunk three feet, ten inches in diameter, and an ambitus, or spread of branches, of forty feet. Its trunk formed an erect column about thirty feet high, before it ramified, Ttie leaflet andjlower of the Ailantus, 188 Brmime^s Forest Trees of America. and its head was hemispherical. This tree is said to flower, and occasion- ally to produce fruit. The Ailantus glandulosa was introduced into France in 1780, by M. Blaikie, and the oldest specimens are at St. Leu, and at Paris. At St. Leu, there is a tree, planted by M. Blaikie, in 1794, which attained the height of eighty feet in forty years, with a trunk from three to three and a half feet in diameter. In the Jarden des Plantes, at Paris, there is another tree, which, in 1835, had attained the height of sixty-eight feet, with a head forty-four feet in diameter, flowering most years, and occasionally ripening seeds. At Geneva, in Switzerland, at the entrance of the botanic garden, there is a tree of this species, fifty or sixty feet in height, which, when in flower, emits so powerful an odor that it may be perceived at a distance of nearly a quarter of a mile, (cinq minutes de distance.) The suckers from this tree shoot from the ground in every direction, for forty or fifty feet. Many other interesting specimens are to be met with in the chief gardens and collections in Britain, Ireland, and continental Europe, and the tree is generally cultivated for ornament in all the temperate countries of the civi- lized world. It is not destined to thrive, however, in a very rigorous cli- mate, for it dwindles down to a mere shrub, no farther north than Montreal, in Lower Canada. The Ailantus glandulosa found its way into the United States from two distinct sources- It was first introduced from Europe, in 1784, by Mr. William Hamilton, at the Woodlands, near Philadelphia, and a sucker, planted from the original tree, in 1809, is at present standing in the Bar- tram botanic garden, which is sixty feet in height, with a trunk nearly two feet in diameter. On the authority of Governor Charles Collins, of Newport, this species was brought from South America, in about the year 1804, and was pre- sented to General Andrew McCorrie, of Portsmouth, in Rhode Island, by a master of a vessel. From this tree there were numerous others produced by cuttings, and six or eight of them were planted in 1807, by Governor Collins, at Bristol, several of which were felled and sawn into boards about twenty years after. In about the year 1810, Rev. Henry Wight, of the last named place, procured a young shoot, and planted near his house, which has grown to a magnificent tree, fifty-five feet in height, with a trunk seven feet in circumference, at a yard above the ground, and an am- bitus or spread of branches of fifty feet. In Portsmouth, Bristol, and Providence, there are numerous other trees of this species with trunks nearly two feet in diameter. In about the year 1820, Mr. William Prince, of Flushing, Long Island, imported the ailantus from Europe, and from this source, most of the plants of this species in New York and vicinity, have been supplied. It may here be remarked, that both male and female trees grow in abundance in the last-named places, and that the male may generally be distinguished by its more graceful leaves and handsome form. Propagation, Culture, o., for a superb specimen of Veronica speciosa. Bouquets and Designs. — For the best bouquet, a premium to W. Ken- rick of $2. For the second best, a premium, to Mr. Warren of $ 1. A gratuity of $2 to Messrs. Winship, for their trisulc design or bouquet. Fruit : The show of strawberries was by far the best ever exhibited in the hall, and we think we may venture to say the best ever seen anywhere. And as our own seedlings occupied a prominent place on the tables, we depart from our usual plan, and give the entire report of Mr. Walker, the chairman, which has been drawn up with care, after a trial of all the varie- ties exhibited, by the whole of the Committee on Fruits. The report is as follows : — The Messrs. Hovey presented four large baskets of strawberries, two of Hovey's seedling and two of Boston pine. The berries were very large and the flavor delicious. Hovey's SeedUng is well known to cultivators through the length and breadth of the land, and we shall be greatly mis- taken if the Boston Pine is not found, in a ievf years, in every good col- lection. It is perfect in its organs, and when grown within twenty feet of Hovey's Seedling, will ensure a certain and large crop. We recommend both the varieties as deserving of extensive cultivation. William Gordon, of New Bedford, by the politeness of Benjamin Rod- man, Esq., a box of Gordon's SeeJling, color and size fine, flavor only second rate. Otis Johnson, of Lynn, three boxes of Hovey's Seedling strawberries. 276 Massachusetts Hortictiltural Society. Joseph Richardson, Cambridgeport, three boxes Hovey's Seedling, and two boxes of Seedling strawberries. We think somewhat favorable of these seedlings, but wish further specimens before we give an opinion. Fine specimens of Hovey's Seedling, and also a large dark colored Seed- ling by Mr. Fay. William Meller, of Roxbury, Seedling Wood strawberries. J. L. L. F. Warren, of Brighton, Jenney's Seedling, Mottier's do., Hovey's do., Willey's do,, also Red and White Wood strawberries. The specimens of the White Wood were the best we ever saw. The Jenney's and Mottier's Seedling are very acid and are not worthy of cultivation. These two varieties, as also the Willey's, we think are better adapted to a southern climate. Mr. Warren also presented specimens of the May Duke and Early Bigarreau cherries. J. Fisk Allen, of Salem, again graced our tables with a choice collection of his early greenhouse grapes. The color and bloom of his specimens of Black Hamburg was very fine. The Grizzly Frontignan is one of the highest flavor and quality ; to the lovers of fine and high flavored fruit, this variety will commend itself when compared with the Black Hamburg. We will only add it is one of the best. Mr. Allen also exhibited specimens of the Zinfindal grapes. Two varie- ties of peaches, also, fine nectarines and figs. Vegetables : From Thomas Motley, Jr., cucumber of extra size. From J. A. Kenrick, Victoria rhubarb. From J. Hovey, six heads of cabbage lettuce. June 27th. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. No business of importance was transacted, and the meeting was dis- solved. [The stated quarterly meeting will be held on Saturday, July 4] Exhibited — Flowers : From Messrs. Hovey & Co. a large variety of new and fine roses, among which were, Moss Celina, Catharine of Wur- temberg. Princess Royal, French crimson, Ponctu6, Precoce and others ; Prairie roses. Queen, Superba, Baltimore Belle, Pallida, Anne Maria, and Milledgeville ; also, Euralie la Brun, Marceau, Pauline Garcia, Jean Bart, Duboys Dessauzais, Donna Sol, Zhera, Pergolese, Marie Antoinnette, Jeanne d'Albret, and many others; also one superb bouquet. From Messrs. Winship, Prairie and other roses in variety, with a quantity of perennial plants. From J. A. Kenrick, a superb flower of Magnoha maorophylja. From W. Quant, very fine cut flowers of Stephanotus floribundus, Ticoma ^asminoides, and Mandevillea suaveolens — the former a great addition to hothouse climbers ; also, a seedling cereus, very beautiful, the flower hav- ing the deep tinge of speciosissimus, and the foliage robust and good. From Joseph Breck & Co., fifty anemonies, several of them very fine, Martagon and other lilies, and a variety of perennial and annual flowers. From R. West, Salem, a fine seedling pelargonium and a handsome bou- quet. Bouquets and cut flowers from P. Barnes, D. Crowley, Mr. War- ren, Walker & Co., W. Kenrick and W. Meller. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 277 The premiums were awarded as follows : — Bouquet and Designs. — For the best design, a premium to Walker & Co. of S2. For the best bouquet, a premium to Miss Russell of $ 2. A gratuity of $ 2 to R. West for a handsome design. A gratuity of ^3 to W. Quant, for superb specimens of Stephanotus flori- bundus. The pot plants were not considered by the judges worthy of a premium. Fruit : The display of grapes was one of the best ever made so early in the season. Messrs. Haggerston and Quant exhibited most superb speci- mens, excellently colored and well grown : the Muscat of Alexandria of Mr. Haggerston having unusually large and fully ripened berries, and the St. Peters of Mr. Quant being perfectly black and covered with bloom. Mr. Johnson and Mr. Allen also showed some very fine grapes, not so large clusters as the above, but well colored and ripe. From J. P. Gush- ing, Esq., Black Hamburg, Muscat of Alexandria, Poonah, white Frontig- nan. Grizzly Froniignan, and white Chasselas grapes; the committee pro- nounced them delicious. From Hon. T. H. Perkins, Golden Chasselas, Grizzly Frontignan, White Frontignan, Black Froniignan, St. Peters and Frankindale grapes. From S. Motley, Jr., Black Hamburg, White Chas- selas, and Muscat of Alexandria grapes. From J. F. Allen, twelve varie- ties of grapes, the same as exhibited at a previous meeting, also Washing- ton peaches. From O.Johnson, Zinfindal and Black Hamburg grapes; also, four boxes of large and fine Hovey Seedling strawberries, and one box of Black Tartarian cheiries, not quite ripe. From J. T. Buckingham, White Wood and Hovey "s seedling strawberries. Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited five large baskets of strawberries — two of Hovey's seedling, two of Boston pine, and one of Deptford pine, all extra large and fine ; also, a small box of Princess Alice Maud ; the Dept- ford pine will prove a valuable late variety. The committee state that the " Boston pine fully sustains its good character." From Messrs. Winship, White Bigaireau cherries, and a seedling raised by Mr. T. Munroe of Brighton. From George Walsh, four boxes of the New Black Bigarreau cherry, very handsome. From Isaac Fay, specimens of his strawberry, supposed to be a seedling, as it was found growing in his grounds among other kinds ; it is of good size, but second quality. From Josiah Richard- son, one basket and three boxes of Hovey's Seedling, very handsome. From Mr. Warren, Red and White Wood, Methven, Jenney's seedling, Willey's Seedling, and Bishop's Orange strawberries. Fjom G. Merriam, Black Tartarian cherries. From J. A. Kenrick, fine Black Tartarian cher- ries. From J. G. Thurston, Lancaster, large white gooseberries. Vegetables : A peck of early potatoes from A. D. Williams. From F. W. Macondry, a basket of early potatoes. From A. D. Williams, three heads of cabbage, two bunches of carrots, and three heads of lettuce. From J. Hovey, Roxbury, six heads of lettuce. From W. Quant, one dish of tomatoes. 278 Faneuil Hall Market. Art. V. Faneuil Hall Market. Roots, Tubers, (|'c. ,....[ Common Potatoes, old : ni-u S per barrel, Cheiian^oes, ^ Jgr bushel, per barrel, per bushel, /-« . , S per barrel, ^^■^t"^' ^?er bushel, T T> 1 ^ per barrel, L«°?R^^lS'- J per bushel, New, per bushel, . . . Turnips : new, per bushel, Onions : White, per bunch, . . . New White, per Imnch. Yellow, per bushel, Beets, per bunch, . Carrots, per bunch. Parsnips, per bushel, . Salsif}', per doz. roots, Horseiddish, per lb. . Radishes, per bunch, . Garlic, per bunch, . . Cabbages, Salads, if-c. Cabbages, per doz. : Early York Early Dutch, .... Brocolis, each, .... Cauliflowers, each, . . Lettuce, per head, . . Rhubarb, per jxiund, . . Beet lops, per peck, . Calibage sprouts, per peck, Peas : per bushel. Marrowfat, extra, . . Marrowfat, common, . String beans, per peck, . Cucumbers, (pickled) pr. gal Peppers, (pickled) per gal. Pol and Sxoeet Herbs. Parsley, per half peck, Sage, per pound, . Marjorum, per bunch. Savory, per bunch. Spearmint, per bunch, From % cts. 25 75 75 50 3 00 1 25 2 25 1 00 2 00 To «cts. 3 2 12.J 16 00 75 50 25 37^ 6 10 20 \2h 12i Squashes and Pumpkins. Squashes, per cwt. : West Indies, .... Summer bush, per doz. Pumpkins, each, . . . Pruits. Apples, dessert ami cooking Haldwir., per bbl. Russets per bbl. Common, per bbl New, per bushel, Dried Apples, per lb Cherries, per quart, Downer's, red, . Common, . . . Strawberries, per quart Hovey's Seedling, Early Virginia, . Wood, .... Currants, per quart : Red White, .... Blueberries, . . . Raspberries, per quart, . Gooseberries, (green) per qt Peaches, per doz. Forced, .... Watermelons, each, Cucumbers, each, . . Small, per dozen, . Tomatoes, per doz. Cranberries, per bushel, Grapes, (forced,) per lb. Black Hamburg, Sweet water, . . Muscats, .... Other sorts, . Fresh Figs, per dozen, Oranges, per doz. St. "Michael's, . . Havana, .... Sicily, .... Sicily, per box, . . Lemons, per doz. . Pine Apples, each, (Chestnuts, per bushel. Walnuts, p^r bushel, . Cocoanuts, per hundred. From $ cts. 3 37d 5 00 2 50 5 12 10 31 20 25 6 6 17 37 i 12^ 2 00 25 10 37.i 374 5 00 I 00 75 1 50 1 00 50 25 50 17 To $ cts. 4 50 5 50 3 00 6 17 12.-i 37 25 20 50 3 00 75 12 50 50 5 50 1 25 1 00 75 37 37 00 20 RemarivS. — The warm and favorable weather of April and May has beea succeeded, as all very early springs usu.illy are, by a cooler summer. A greater part of June has been cool, cloudy, misty, and rainy, and at this period vegetation is probably but little in advance of last year, though at least ten days earlier by the middle of May. Not a large quantity of rain has fallen, but in consequence of the damp, cool temperature, crops have been highly benefited and now promise a good harvest. Vegetables. — Since our last, new potatoes have appeared, and now there is a very good supply of early whites as well as some chenangoes ; the Horticultural Memoranda. 279 stock of old ones remains about the same ; good long reds have advanced a shade in price, but in other sorts there is no alteration ; crops look ex- ceedingly well, no appearance of the rot having yet been seen ; it is hoped that later crops will be equally free from the disease. Old turnips are gone, but to supply their place there is a plentiful supply of very finely grown ones of the new crop. Last year's crop of onions is all gone. Beets and Car- rots of the new crop are now tolerably abundant by the bunch. Radishes plentiful for the season. Cabbages of the new crop have come to hand, and of very good size and quality ; they are chiefly early York and early Dutch. Lettuce plentiful and very fine; indeed the market has rarely been stocked with heads of so fine growth. Rhubarb well supplied and in good demand. Greens are all gone, with the exception of cabbage sprouts. Peas are now plentiful, and marrowfats of the finest quality are brought in. String beans are also abundant. Parsley is more freely brought in. Some new squashes have been received from New York and sold at our quota- tions ; West Indies yet remain on hand. Fruit. — The demand for fruit has been good and the supply only moder- ate. Some fine russet apples yet remain, and in excellent order. Cran- berries in less demand, and the stock nearly exhausted. Strawberries tol- erably abundant, though prices have been very well sustained. Hovey's Seedling has been in great demand, at an advanced price over others ; this variety, the Early Virginia, and the Wood, are the only three kinds which are raised to supply the market ; the Boston Pine will soon be added to these. Gooseberries scarce and in demand. Currents very abundant. Tomatoes have come to hand from the south and sell quickly at our quota- tions. Grapes are more abundant, and prices have fallen off; Malagas are about gone. Cherries are rather poor in consequence of so much damp weather ; what few there are, of good quality, are quickly taken. Oranges are little higher. Arrivals of Pine apples have kept the market well filled. In lemons no alteration. — Yours, M. T., Boston, June 29ih, 1846. HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA FOR JULY. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape Vines. — Early vineries will now need but little attention; the grapes being well swelled from the late timely rains, the shouldering having all been done, the superfluous laterals pruned, and danger of mildew being about over, attention will be only required to the proper airing of the house ; this, it is true, will require constant care, on account of sudden changes, yet the critical period is over, and the latter part of the month the berries will begin to color ; keep the house well damped night and morning. In later houses attention will be more necessary, as the vines will be in the same 280 Horticultural Memoranda. state as those in earlier houses were last month, and the directions then given by us must be followed. Vines in pots for fruiting next year must be kept tied up and well watered, occasionally using liquid guano. Vines in the open air will now need much pruning ; nip off all bearing wood not wanted for next year's crop to within one or two eyes of the fruit, and when too crowded, entirely cut out all weak laterals. Strawberry beds must be looked after ; weed and clean new beds, and lay in the first strong runners, clipping off the others as they appear. Old beds may be renovated by digging in part of the last year's roots, and allowing the remainder to make new roots where the others were turned under. Budding cherry and plum trees may be commenced about the middle of the month. Fruit trees of all kinds may be summer-pruned now — that is, pinching off the tips of the young growing wood ; this will soon throw them into fruit. Attend to the destruction of insects, particularly the aphis and the pear slug ; two or three good syringings with oil soap, will effectually stop their ravages if begun in time. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. Dahlias will now require some attention ; the late favorable rains have given them a good start, and the prospect now is of a good bloom. See that they are properly staked and tied up at least once a week, at the same time pruning off all laterals but two. Pelargoniums may still be propagated from cuttings. Chorizemas may now have another shift into larger pots. Azaleas may yet be shifted, if not already done. Cinerarias may be turned out into a rather dry border, where they will make fine suckers for potting. Verbenas for flowering in pots, in the autumn, should now be shifted into larger size. Roses for flowering early in pots, next winter, should now be plunged in the open border, and mulched with some strong manure. \Q-xoeek and Victoria stocks should now be sown for flowering in winter. Mignonette should now be sown in pots for flowering in November and December. Camrllias may now be potted ; grafting may also be commenced soon. Tree PcFonies should be grafted this month. Hardy Roses of all kinds should now be layered, either in pots or in the ground. Fuchsias should be kept cool and shaded from the hot sun, and occasion- ally watered with liquid guano. Carnations and Picotees should be layered this month. Chrysanthemums should be topped this month to make the plants bushy and compact. Pansy seed may be sown this month for flowering in the spring. O. Talis hirta should be potted this month. Heliotropes may now be propagated from cuttings tor next winter stock. Orange and lemon trees should be budded soon. THE MAGAZINE O F HORTICULTURE. AUGUST, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Notes of a Visit to several Gardens in the Vicinity of Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, in October, 1845. By the Editor. ( Continued from page 2 48 . ) Philadelphia, October 21st, 1845. — We arrived here early in the morning, from Baltimore, and had but a short time to remain in the city ; this we improved by a visit to the princi- pal nurseries and gardens. City Garden of G. Pepper, Esq. — The limited space of Mr. Pepper's garden prevents the erection of additional houses, or "we presume, he would soon have better accommodations for many of the fine specimens which now make up the col- lection ; many of them are suffering for room, particularly the large palms. Considering, however, the. crowded state of the plants, they looked remarkably clean and healthy. The camellias were remarkably vigorous and healthy. Mr. Chahners, the gardener, fully understands the management of this splendid family, for we have rarely seen more luxuriant growth and well colored foliage, at the same time abundantly covered with buds. They are kept in the house the year round, being shaded by a light curtain of grass cloth. They are potted in July and August, and receive a top dressing in autumn when arranged for the winter. Mr. Chalmers has raised several seedlings, one or two of which are said to be very fine ; he has also become part owner of a fine seedling raised by an amateur in the city ; the two former are named Emily and Pepperi, and the latter, Chalmerii perfecta, which has already been offered for sale. VOL. XII NO. VIII. 36 282 Notes of a Visit to several Gardens. Emily, if our memory serves us, being a striped variety, of good shape. Chalmerii perfecta is a well formed, deep red flower, of good habit and desirable in every fine collection. The cactuses, which embrace some large specimens, were in fine order ; every thing showed the unwearied attention of Mr. Chalmers, the excellent gardener. Exotic Nursery of R. Buist. — Since 1843, Mr. Buist has made several additions to his ranges of glass, which now cover many thousand square feet. A small house, heated on the gutter system, has been erected, which Mr. Buist informed us had worked exceedingly well. One of the greenhouses is heated with a boiler on the plan of Messrs. Burbidge 60 Healy, which we shall soon describe, with engravings. To show the economy of the plan, we need only state, that the house is 122 feet long, and is heated from one boiler, during the winter, with a consumption of only about four tons of coal. The heat can be got up in twenty minutes ; the pipes are four inch and of cast iron. In the Moyamensing grounds, Mr. Buist has added a new rose house since our last visit ; this is a most convenient structure for blooming tender roses in perfection in our cli- mate, and as they can be erected at a moderate expense, we hope to see them in the gardens of amateur rose fanciers. The house is about fifty feet long, fifteen wide, and six feet high in the centre, with a span roof, and a single flue, side of the path, which runs through the middle from end to end under the ridge. The roses are planted out in the ground, and during the summer season the sashes are taken off"; as soon as frosts set in, in October, they are put on again, and, with occasional fires when cold weather occurs, the plants are kept in full bloom until January ; after this, shutters are put on, and the plants allowed to rest, no fires being required only in extreme cold and then not sufficient to raise the ther- mometer above 32°. By the first of March the shutters are taken off, the plants pruned, and in May they commence blooming again, and continue until the succeeding January, when they are again allowed to rest. In this way the China, tea. Noisette, and Bourbon roses, are flowered in the greatest perfection. We should not omit to say the house is only about two feet high on the sides, and consists merely of posts Philadelphia. 283 set into the ground, and planked or boarded up. In the months of November and December, Mr. Buist is enabled to cut hundreds of roses every day. Many additions have been made to the collection of plants, especially camellias ; but at this season but few were in bloom. A bed of Phlox Van Houttei/, now showing its last flowers, had been very brilliant. Noisette rose Ophire stands the winter here, and a plant three feet high had several of its fawn colored flowers fully expanded. It will undoubtedly prove hardy in the latitude of Boston, with a light covering of leaves or strawy manure. Mr. P. Mackenzie^ s Garden. — A new camellia house, 120 feet long, had just been erected, completing d. full square of houses, with Mr. Mackenzie's dwelling in the rear. This house we found well filled with fine large specimens, a portion of them part of the importation the previous year, which we have already noticed. Among the new ones were Lowii Alexina, liady Henrietta, Napoleon, &c. ; we noticed some remarkably fine specimens of Donckelaerij, candidissima, tri- color, &c. The camellia house is heated with a flue. The Philadelphia potters now manufacture the largest sizes that are needed for plants. We saw here several two feet in diameter and of good proportion ; they are far better than the unsightly looking boxes which are every where used, and we hope to see these pots introduced in their place ; they can be obtained for about two and a half to three dollars each, and they are so well made that, with careful handling, they will last any length of time ; besides being far more beneficial to the plants than pots, their neat and appropriate appearance must commend them to the attention of all amateiu's. The stock of young camelhas here is very large and well grown ; the stock of azaleas is also large and contains a quantity of seedlings. The miscellaneous plants were in fine order, and arrangements were making to remove the whole to their winter quarters. Nursery of Ritchie c^^* Dick. — The proprietors of this es- tablishment are extending their nursery department, and in walking through the grounds we saw quantities of young trees coming on. The camellia receives the usual attention, and we saw large quantities of young plants, many just in- 284 Notes of a Visit to several Gardens. arched, and others covered with flower buds. The plants are well grown, and in fine vigor. Great quantities of all the dou- ble varieties are grown from single eyes or cuttings on their own roots, and in two years they are ready for sale ; one long pit was filled with plants raised in this way. One value these plants possess is. that in case the top is accidentally broken or dies, a sucker is immediately thrown up from the roots. The roses were yet flowering in the open ground, but with a fading beauty, owing to late severe frosts. Many new kinds have been recently added, but from their rarity we did not note any strong enough to bloom well. Lmidreth and Fulton^ s Nurseries^ Federal Street. — Our first and only visit to these nurseries, previous to last autumn, was in the fall of 1831, then well known as the establishment of Messrs. D. & C. Landreth, who for many years had obtained the reputation of the most extensive nurserymen in the coun- try. A few brief notes taken at that time, appeared in the first volume of our magazine (p. 201) in the spring of 1835. A great change has been made in the premises since that period ; then we only found one or two small greenhouses, but now they number five or six, and all well stocked with a very fine collection of plants, more particularly camellias and cactae. The neighborhood of the nurseries has also greatly improved. We now found it hemmed in on all sides with dwellings, where in 1831 only extensive fields and pastures spread out, nearly two miles from the thickly populated part of the city. Referring to our account above mentioned, we particularly alluded to the fine hedges of the arbor vitse which existed here, and recommended this fine tree as peculiarly well adapted for screens or hedges to shut out one part of the gar- den from another, or hide disagreeable objects. Twelve years' experience has convinced us of the correctness of our remarks, and we may still urge them upon the attention of our readers. The arbor vitse is unquestionably one of the finest of ever- green trees, and far superior to any other for forming hedges or screens. The same old tree of the Madura aurantiaca, which we then saw in fruit, produced the last year upwards of twenty- six bushels of fruit. It is now an unusually large tree and Spurrey — an Annual Grass. 285 has lost none of its beauty by age ; male blossoms to fertilize the flowers were brought two miles. We saw some fine specimens of the Thuja plicata, a very desirable species or variety, with fine foliage, and forming a handsome tree. It is raised in quantities from seeds. Magnolia conspicua stands fifteen feet high. There is a good stock of M. macrophylla, grandiflora, and purpurea ; and fine specimens of many trees and shrubs, among which we noted Virgilia lutea, Chimon4n- thus virginica, &.c. Immense quantities of camellias are raised here, and one or two houses are entirely devoted to their cultivation. A small house is wholly devoted to cactuses, and we do not recollect of seeing so large a collection in so good order; among the num- ber were several quite new to us. Mr. Fulton informed us that he had found the old heptagonus to be the very best stock for all the Echinocdctuses ; its stout stem fully supports the larg- est top. Cereus serpentinus is, he has also found, the best for the mamillarias. One plant of Echinocactus Eyriesu was more than thirty inches in circumference. Grafting the Echi- nocactus is done by simply cutting off the stock to a smooth surface, the globular head is also smoothed on the under side ; it is then placed on the stock, and after turning it round re- peatedly in one direction, to unite the sap vessels of each, it is tied down by means of matting or strings ; in this way it becomes firmly attached. The collection of miscellaneous plants is large, but we had not time to take down the names of particular specimens. The neat and systematic arrangement of both the houses and nurseries highly pleased us. (T(9 be continued.^ Art. II. ^purrey^ (^Spergel) — an annual g}^ass, adapted to light soils J with remarks 07i its mdiivation. By F. An annual grass, extensively cultivated in some parts of Germany, Belgium and France, as a soiler to reclaim their sandy, sterile lands, also as a green fodder for their dairies. 286 Spurrey — an Annual Grass. It grows luxuriantly on exhausted, worn out sandy soils, where no other grass will vegetate. It ripens in two months from sowing, of course will grow three successive crops in a season. When the ground is prepared it should be sown like clover — ten or twelve pounds of seed to an acre. It is very succulent, and all grazing animals are exceed- ingly fond of it and eat it with avidity. Cows fed on spurrey are said to yield one third more milk and make one third more butter, and of very superior quality. For soiling, spurrey may be sown, we think, early in May, and turned under when the seeds begin to fall from the lower tendrils in July; again in September ; and the third turning as late as possible before frost, if a good crop is looked for in the spring. For seed it should be cut just before or as soon as the seeds begin to drop ; and when carefully and sufficiently dried it should be thoroughly thrashed and will yield from ten to twenty- five pounds of seed per acre. It is said to be superior to clover for soiling and unsurpassed as green fodder for the dairy, especially the latter part of the season when other feed fails. Though spurrey is an annual grass, its seeds will survive the winter if turned under late in the fall. Spurrey grows about ten or twelve inches in height, and when fully grown, it covers the ground like a mat. Little or nothing is known of this extraordinary grass in this coimtry, and the remarks above are given from some experiments of the last year and this only. Springfield^ Mass., June, 1846. Spurrey is the Spergula arvensis L. of botanists, a native of Britain and northern parts of Europe, where it is consid- ered as a weed, unless especially cultivated. As a forage plant, it is highly valued on the continent, and Von Thaer, the celebrated writer on agriculture, considers it a most nutri- tive herb. In the Farmer^ s Dictionary, reviewed in a late number (p. 221,) is a short account of this plant; it is there stated, that "its growth is so rapid that in five or six weeks it acquires its full height, which seldom exceeds twelve or fourteen inches. The crop is of course a light one, but is considered of great value, both as supplying a certain quan- tity of provender, at very little cost, and as being the best Pomological Notices. 287 food for milch cows to improve the qiiahty of butter." We should like to see it more extensively tried in our climate, and on very light soils its introduction must be of much benefit. — Ed. Art. III. Pomological Notices; or notices respecting new and superior fruits worthy of general cultivation. Descrip- tions and engravings of six varieties of pears. By the Editor. Descriptions and engravings of forty-eight varieties of pears have been given in our series of articles under the above head, in the last three voliniies of the magazine, and ten other engravings have accompanied the notices and descriptions of new varieties by Mr. Manning and other correspondents. A larger portion of them have been new and rare kinds, of recent introduction, and first presented to pomologists in our pages. It will be our aim to continue to offer descriptions and engravings of every new pear, as soon as its merits shall be fully established, and what, with the aid of Mr. Manning, Col. Wilder, and other amateurs in the vicinity of Boston, and our own collection, we shall possess facilities which will enable us to do so at the earliest opportunity. We are now gratified in offering the descriptions and engravings of six pears, which, with one exception, have never before appeared in any periodical or pomological work : and as rapidly as our space will permit, we shall describe other valuable kinds of which we have a large number of drawings. 49.* Paradise d'Automne. Lon. Hort. Soc. Cat. 3d Ed. Very few of the more recently introduced pears combine so much merit as the Paradise d'Automne, {fig. 14.) To say that it is superior to the Beurre Bosc, which it greatly resem- bles, is sufficient to convey to all lovers of fruit the best idea of its excellence. It first fruited in this country in the pomo- * Owing to a typographical error in the enumeration of the varieties of pears de- scribed in our last article, (p. 171,) numbers 37 to 42 v/exe duplicated ; they should have numbered 43 to 48. 288 PoTTwlogical Notices. logical collection of Mr. Manning, of Salem, in 1844, to whom the public are already so highly indebted for the first intro- duction of our choicest pears, and a brief account of it was F^ff. 14. Paradise d'Automne. given in a late number (p. 149) by Mr. Manning, who sent us two outline drawings, one from the fruit produced in 1844, and another — from recollection — of the fruit of 1845, when the tree bore a large quantity, and which Mr. Manning thought the more general form of the variety ; we fortunately had made a drawing from one of the very handsome speci- mens exhibited last September, and given us by Mr. Manning, an engraving of which is amiexed. Descriptions of /Six varieties of Pears. 289 The Paradise d'Automne is supposed to be of French ori- gin, and was received, we believe, from England, through Mr. Kenrick, who brought scions with him on his return from Europe in 1840 and '41. The very correct account he has given of it in the Orchardlst, we presume he received from Mr. Thompson. We esteem it very highly. Mr. Manning states that it is "much more" vigorous than the Beurre Bosc, and Mr. Kenrick, that it produces "great crops;" and we can add that it is of more delicious flavor than the Bosc — qualities which will render it a most desirable pear in the most limited collection of fruit. The tree is of very vigorous growth, with upright shoots, which afterwards become straggling and pendulous ; the wood is of a deep reddish brown shade, distinctly covered with very large whitish gray specks. Size, large, about three and a half inches long and two and a half in diameter : Form, pyriform, slightly irregular and uneven, large and full in the middle, above which it is little contracted, tapering to, and ending obtusely at the stem : Skin, shghtly rough, dull yellow, profusely covered with bright russet, thickest on the exposed side : Stem, long, about one and a half inches, moderately slender, uneven, brown, with pale russet specks, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy, and oftentimes wrinkled, base : Eye, rather large, open, moderately inserted in a much furrowed basin ; seg- ments of the calyx long, reflexed : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, buttery, melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, sprightly, perfumed and delicious : Co)-e, small : Seeds, medium size, very long and pointed. Ripe in September, and will keep two or three weeks. The great resemblance of this variety to the Beurre Bosc has induced some cultivators to think they are synonymous ; they are, however, quite distinct in shape, as well as in leaf and wood. The form of the Beurre Bosc is more regular than the Paradise d'Automne, the latter often having the knobby appearance peculiar to some of the Bon Chretiens. 50. FoNDANTE Van Mons. Hort. Soc. Cat. 3d Ed. This fine pear is well known in the vicinity of Boston, from the very handsome specimens which have annually been VOL. XII. — NO. Tin. 37 290 Pomological Notices. exhibited the last three or four years, by' Mr. S. Walker of Roxbury; and from a specimen selected last autumn from upwards of a barrel of pears, produced on the tree in Mr. Fig. 15. Fondante Van Mons. Walker's garden, our drawing {Jig. 15) was made. Wish- ing to ascertain the period of the introduction of this variety, and other particulars respecting it, we addressed a note to Mr. Walker, who kindly sent us the following account — so full, as to render any remarks of our own unnecessary : — " The first specimens I ever saw of this pear, were from a tree on the estate of the late William B. Sweet, Esq., about twelve years ago. I understood Mr. Sweet to say that he obtained the tree from Messrs. Prince & Co. of Flushing, L. I. I afterwards purchased a part of said estate, with the tree thereon, and exhibited specimens of the fruit, at the rooms of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, some two or three years ; and it was not until the late Mr. R. Manning, of Salem, fruited and presented specimens of it, that I could obtain its name. "The tree is a free grower, a good bearer, and every other Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 291 year produces a very large crop. The fruit is roundish, second in size ; color of the skin, pale yellow. When fully ripe it is the most buttery fleshed pear I ever tasted ; yet it does not rot at the core, and will keep, in its ripe state, for several days. The skin can, (when the pear is fully ripe,) be taken off like the skin of an orange, leaving a mouthful of delicious, juicy, buttery, sweet flesh. It has a peculiar perfume and flavor, to some persons very grateful. It ripens in October, and were it not that we have so many delicious pears, in eating, in that season, the Fondante Van Mons would be classed among the best. I place it as a good second rate pear ; but by those who love a sweet pear, with its peculiar flavor, it will be esteemed and cultivated." Mr. Thompson ranks it first quality, m the last edition of the Horticultural Society's Catalogue ; and from repeated trials of several specimens, in successive years, we should not hesitate thus to class it, though we must admit that it is not quite equal to the Marie liOuise and some other first rate pears. Mr. Downing states that it was first introduced by Mr. Manning, but this is an error, as will be seen by Mr. Walker's communication. Size, medium, about two and a half inches long and two and a half in diameter : Form, roundish, very regular and slightly depressed : Skin, fair, smooth, thick, greenish yellow at maturity, marbled with red on the sunny side, and very regularly covered with large pale russet specks : Stem, me- dium length, about one inch, stout, curved, smooth, light brown, with russet specks, and deeply inserted in a round open cavity: Eye, large, open, little depressed, in a round shallow basin ; segments of the calyx long, pointed, reflexed : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, melting, buttery, and juicy : Flavor, sweet and pleasant, with a slight, musky perfume : Core, large : Seeds, large, dark brown. Ripe in October and keeps to November. 51. COMTESSE DE LuNAY. One of the best pears which we tasted last season was the Comtesse de Lunay, {fig- 16.) This beautiful variety we received from our correspondent. Col. Wilder ; and it was one of several fine specimens exhibited by him at the annual 292 Pomological Notices. exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticuhural Society in the autumn of 1845. It is entirely new, and does not appear to have been known to any pomological writer, neither do we Fig. 16. Comtesse de Lunay. find the name in any catalogue in our possession. We learn from Mr. Wilder that he received it from Orleans, in France, with other new sorts, in 1841 or '42, and the tree produced a few fruit, for the first time, in 1843; and last year it bore in sufficient quantity for exhibition. Few pears possess the beauty, combined with great excel- lence, of this variety; too often the fairest looking pears are of very inferior quality ; and, as a general rule, indifferent looking sorts are among the finest fruit, — such, for instance, as the Fondante d'Automne, Glout Morceau, Beurre d' Arem- berg, Ne Plus Meuris, &c. &c. The Comtesse de Lunay will compare with the most beautiful pears, — even with the Forelle Descriptimis of Six varieties of Pears. 293 in its best condition, — possessing a remarkably waxen skin, delicately marked with crimson on the sunny side. This variety is not to be confounded with the Compte de Lamy — a most excellent pear, and ripening at nearly the same season. When the former fruit came under our notice we supposed there was an error in the name ; both varieties, however, were exhibited together by Col. Wilder last fall, so as to leave no doubt of their distinctness. The Compte de Lamy is of rounder form, with a shorter stem, and does not possess the beauty of the present variety. Size, medium, about two and a half inches long, and two and a quarter in diameter : Form, obovate, regular, full around the eye, and tapering to an obtuse point at the stem : Skin, fair, waxen, smooth, pale yellow, thinly washed with red on the sunny side, little russeted at the base of the stem, and covered with reddish russet specks, thickest where exposed : Stem, long, about one and a quarter inches, wrinkled, slightly curved, much enlarged where it joins the branch, and very slightly inserted in a cavity, little swollen on one side ; Eye, large, open, sunk in a round smooth basin ; segments of the calyx, long, reflexed : Flesh, white, coarse, exceedingly melt- ing and juicy : Flavor, rich, sugary, perfumed and very deli- cious : Core, medium size : Seeds, rather large, brown. Ripe in October. 52. VicoMPTE DE Spoelberch. N. E. Farmer, Vol. X. Despoilberg, of some French collections. Among the numerous varieties of pears produced by Dr. Van Mons, perhaps few have received a higher commenda- tion, from his own pen, than the Vicompte de Spoelberch, {fig. 17.) It was among the scions of seventy varieties which he first sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1831, and which selection he stated " to possess the greatest merit and of recent introduction." None of those scions, however, lived ; and though scions were subsequently forwarded, with numerous other varieties, to Messrs. Manning and Kenrick, we are not aware that this variety ever survived. It ap- pears to be quite unknown to English cultivators, and the name is only found in two or three catalogues which have ever come into our possession. 294 Pomological Notices. The tree which we have in our collection, was received in the spring of 1843 from Jersey, under the synonyme above quoted, of Despoilberg, and last season it produced four or Fig. 1 7. Vicompte de Spoelberch. five pears, from one of which our drawing was made; the present season the tree also has upon it about the same num- ber ; it is a dwarf upon the quince, and has not yet attained a sufficient size to allow it to produce any quantity, as it would prevent the growth of wood for the increase of so desirable a sort. In the New England Farmer., above quoted, is a full de- scription of this variety, translated by Gen. Dearborn ; this description corresponds with the fruit, but probably owing to the age of the tree they have not acquired the size they will hereafter, which Van Mons states is "very large," though Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 295 "varying in size according to the quantity produced," and intermediate in form between the Beurre gris and Bezi de Chaumontelle ; and its resemblance to the latter induced him to call it the Bezi de Spoelberch. He named it in honor of the Vicompte de Spoelberch, one of the trustees of the University of Lou vain. An engraving of this pear, with sev- eral others, was presented with the scions, and is in the library of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. The tree is moderately vigorous, with upright branches, inclining towards the stock; the wood is yellowish brown, and finely speckled with whitish gray specks ; the leaves are rather large, irregularly dentated and folded, with a slender petiole. Size, large, about three inches long and two and a half in diameter : Form, obovate, full and slightly flattened around the eye, swollen in the middle, and contracted near the stem, where it is also little flattened : Skin, fair, slightly rough, greenish yellow, becoming lemon yellow when mature, washed and marbled, or blotched, with purplish red on the sunny side, somewhat russeted in patches extending from the stem, and covered with small greenish brown specks : Stem, rather long, about one and a half inches, stout, curved, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a slightly fleshy junction : Eye, me- dium size, moderately sunk in a shallow round basin ; seg- ments of the calyx short and stiff, projecting : Flesh, white, fine, buttery, melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, sprightly, sac- charine, and delicious, with a very high perfume : Core, me- dium size : Seeds, medium size, dark, nearly round. Ripe in December and January. Dr. Van Mons states it to be decidedly a winter fruit, some- times keeping till spring ; probably this is true, as all pears were very premature, owing to the warm and dry summer of 1845. Even the d'Aremberg scarcely kept till January. 53. Plombgastel. Dusnas, of some French collections. Last autumn we received from J. C, Lee, Esq., of Salem, a very handsome and excellent pear, called the Plombgastel, ^fiS- 1^>) ai^d subsequently another specimen was sent us 296 Pomological Notices. from the Pomological Garden; both the name and the variety- were new to us, and we could not find any description of such a pear, or even the name mentioned in any of our nu- i^ifi-. 18. Plombsrastel. merous catalogues. We were informed the tree was received from Vilmorin, of Paris ; though we had sent to him for every new pear, in the spring of 1842, but did not have this among the number. Wishing to know the source from whence it was obtained, as well as the proper orthography of the name, having seen it reported in several ways, we addressed a note to Mr. Manning, who sent us the following reply : — The Plombgastel was imported from Vilmorin about 1840, by Mr. Lee, from whom my father received scions. The tree is vigorous and of very upright growth. Mr. Lee, in copying it from the French invoice, wrote it Plumbgartel ; but the Descriptions of Six varieties of Pears. 297 writing of French nurserymen is often so hard to read, that I place more dependence upon the printed catalogues, and Mr. Lee does the same. I find it in the Catalogue of Jamin, for 1838, Plombgastel, 1st size, September and October. Oudin Aine, 1841, has it Plombgastel. In his Catalogue for the au- tumn of 1845 and spring of 1846, he has it Plougastel. This last is different from all others, and so different that I think it must be a misprint. Plombgastel appears to me to be the most used, and it is that which I have myself adopted." The Catalogue of Jamin for 1843 does not include this name, though Mr. Manning finds it in that of 1838. Under the name of Dusnas it has been received by Mr. Manning, as he has stated at page 1.50, where, by some error, we have it " Deasnas." A pear is described and figured in the Pomological Report of the Horticultural Society of Rouen under the name Juzils, which answers perfectly to the Plomb- gastel. This variety is a large and excellent pear : not first rate, but possessing a peculiar spicy perfume, which will rank it high among those of second quality. Slze^ large, about three inches long and two and a half in diameter : Form, pyriform, regular, large in the middle, slightly contracted near the stem and tapering to a point : Skin, fair, smooth, greenish yellow, faintly tinged with red on the sunny side, regularly covered with greenish russet specks, and peculiarly marked with an irregular circle of russet, ex- tending one fourth the length of the fruit from the base of the stem : Stem, medium length, about an inch, stout, smooth, inserted without any cavity, but having some slight projec- tions around the base : Eye, large, open, deeply inserted in a moderate sized basin ; segments of the calyx, long, reflexed : Flesh, white, rather coarse, half melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, with a highly perfumed peculiar aroma : Core, large : Seeds, large, brown. Ripe in September and October. 54. Saint Andre'. The late Mr. Manning, in his notes on new pears, in our magazine, (Vol. VIII, p. 57,) enumerates the St. Andre among the names of thirty-nine varieties, which first fruited in his VOL. XII. NO. VIII. 38 298 Pomological Notices. collection in 1841 — a large portion of which were the un- named sorts received from Dr. Van Mons. The St. Andre, Mr. Manning informs us, was received by Fig.\9. Saint Andri. his father from Messrs. Baumann, of Bolwiller, in the spring of 1836, at the same time with the Rostiezer ; and it stands on their Catalogue for the autumn of 1838 and spring of 1839 as the Poire St, Andre. The specimen from which our drawing was made, i^Jig. 19,) was received from the very large and extensive collection of the Hon. J. S. Cabot, of Salem, and was one of several fine specimens exhibited by him at the annual exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, last September. It is a very excellent pear, of good size and fine appearance. Size, large, three inches long and two and a half in diame- ter : Form, turbinate, slightly irregular, and tapering to the The Fastolff Raspberry. 299 stem : Skin, fair, smooth, yellowish green, regularly covered with dark green specks, and finely spotted or rather marbled with dull red on the sunny side : Stem, medium length, about one inch, green, with a swollen and fleshy protuberance where it adjoins the fruit, which is slightly upon one side : Eye, medium size, open, little depressed, in a very shallow ba- sin ; segments of the calyx short and round : Flesh, greenish white, fine, buttery, melting and juicy : Flavor, sprightly, with a peculiar delicious perfume : Core, small : Seeds, me- dium size, very pointed, light brown. Ripe in September and October. Mr. Manning states that it ripened September 17th, in 1841 ; last year, which was remarkably early for pears, our draw- ing and description was made the last week in that month. Art. IV. The Fastolff Raspberry : an account of its origin, qualities, S^c, with an engraving of the fruit. By the Editor. The first information we have of this very superior rasp- berry, is an advertisement by Messrs. Youell & Co. in the Gardeners' Chronicle, oflering the plants for sale ; this was in the autumn of 1842. In the summer of 1843, specimens of the fruit were exhibited before the London Horticultural Society, for which a premium was awarded ; specimens were also sent to Mr. Robert Thompson, who stated that it was " very large, obtusely conical, and of rich flavor, far exceed- ing, in this respect, some other new and large varieties." In the fall of 1844, when in England, we made many in- quiries concerning this new variety, and of those too who had seen the fruit ; and we every where heard it so highly spoken of that we immediately wrote to Messrs. Youell & Co., and engaged a quantity of fine plants. With their an- swer to our letter, they also sent us a beautiful drawing of the fruit, a copy of which (^fig- 20) we now annex. This variety is said to have originated, long since, in a garden in the neighborhood of Yarmouth, on the eastern coast 300 The Fastolff Raspberry. of England, where it was found growing in an old laurel hedge ; from the size and appearance of the fruit, as well as its excellent quality, young plants were removed to a favora- Fig. 20. The Fastolf Raspberry. ble place, where they produced abundantly and showed the very valuable properties which have given it so high a reputa- tion. The place where it was found growing was a garden attached to an old castle, which was formerly the residence of Sir John Fastolff, from whence its name. In the season of 1844 and 1845, the Fastolff raspberry was again exhibited by Messrs. Youell & Co., and again received the prize ; thus testing its merits before such a tribunal three successive years. The vines in our garden were set out last year, and but Floricultural and Botiuiical Notices. 301 little can be expected from them until they get well rooted, and throw up strong shoots 6 to 8 feet high ; then will be the opportunity to see how valuable it will prove in comparison with the Franconia — a variety which does not appear to be known in England. They have, however, borne a sufficient quantity to show that its merits have not been overrated, and to warrant us m recommending its extensive cultivation. The Fastolff is very large, nearly the form of the Franco- nia, with very large grains, and of a bright and rich color : the flesh is tender, high flavored and excellent, and will compare in this respect with the Antwerp. It is not so solid a fleshed fruit as the Franconia and does not carry jso well, and for the market, perhaps, it may not be quite so valuable as that variety ;. but all who wish for a most delicious fruit, and at the same time an abundant crop, will prefer the Fas- tolff. It ripens about ten days earlier than the Franconia, and has the merit of bearing in long succession. To ensure good crops, high cultivation is necessary; the ground should be sufficiently good to induce the plants to throw up shoots to the height of 6 or 8 feet. These should be headed partially down in the spring, when they will throw out very large clusters of fruit. Plantations may be made in October or April ; but if at the former season, they had better be covered with a little coarse manure, and a small crop will then be produced the first year. For further directions on the cultivation of the raspberry, we would refer to our previ- ous article, (Vol. VIII. p. 364.) Art. V. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of New Plants^ figured in foreign jjeriodicals ; with remarks on those re- cently introduced to^ or originated ifi, American gardens, and additional information upon plants already in cultiva- tion. Edwards's Botanical Register, or Ornamental Flower Garden and Shrub- bery. Each number containing from six to eight plates ; with additional miscellaneous information relative to new plants. In monthly numbers : 3s. plain, 35. 6ard and seen in goodly numbers, in the neighborhood of Williams- burg, (L. I.,) this season, and numbers have come over from New York, in the mornings, to hear their sweet song. The American Jnslilute has sent word all over King's county not to shoot them through ignorance, and in the neighborhood where they are, watchers are employed to protect them. If all this is true, what an acquisition ! They were, it is said, introduced by a cage full escaping accidentally, a year ago, from the deck of the Great Western steamship — the birds betaking themselves to Long Island, as the western dock is just opposite (or nearly) Williamsburg. — G. C. T., Asto- ria, L. I., N. Y., June, 1846. The Gushing Raspberry. — At the exhibition of the Pennsylvania Horti- cultural Society, of June 2d, Dr. W. D. Brinkle presented specimens of a seedling raspberry which he has called the " Gushing." Nothing is said respecting its merits. Hovey^s Seedling Strawberry. — We see by the reports of exhibitions, which have reached us, that our seedling has, as usual, everywhere taken the premium. Even in Philadelphia, Mr. Engleman carried off the prize for the best strawberries, which were Hovey's Seedling. At the semi- annual exhibition of Long Island Horticultural Society, on the 11th and 12th of June, Mr. Huntsman was awarded ihe premium for three dishes of Hovey's Seedling. — Ed. Rochester Horticultural Society. — This new society held its first exhibition last month, and the display was as good as its most sanguine friends could anticipate. Messrs. Ellwanger «Si Barry exhibited upwards of 80 va- rieties of roses and 70 pots of plants. The show of strawberries was not large. Semi-annual Exhibition of the Long Island Horlicuhurnl Society. — This new society held its exhibition on the 11th and 12th of June. The princi- pal exhibitors were Messrs. Valk & Co., Parsons & Co., and Prince & Co. Messrs. Valk were awarded the premium of $6 for the best 50 cut roses, and $ 8 for the best 32 roses in pots. Messrs. Parsons & Co. $ 3, for the best 12 roses in pots, and Messrs. Prince and C'o. $3, for the best 24 summer roses, also a premium of $ 3 for upwards of 20 varieties of moss roses. Mr. Huntsman received a premium of $ 2 for Princess Alice Maud strawberry, and W. R. Prince & Co. $2, for the best six varieties of strawberries, which were Hovey's Seedling, Crimson cone. Prince's Early Seedling, Prince's Prince Albert Seedling, Royal Scarlet and Hudson's Bay. G. W. Huntsman, $3, for the best strawberries, Hovey's Seed- ling. Stoddard^s Alpine Strawberry we perceive will turn out. as we supposed it would, to be only the common Wood strawberry under high cultivation. 320 Domestic Notices. We had learnt from Col. Wilder, who had plants in bearing, that it showed no evidence of the superiority attributed to it in the account which went the rounds of the papers last autunnn, and we now perceive that Mr. Carry, in the Genessee Farmer, states that it has no ^'■Jixcd superiority," being merely a seedling, " that will retain its astonishing productiveness only so long as it receives Col. Stoddard's superior management." If amateur cultivators will believe all the accounts of remarkable fruits which they read in the newspapers, they must make up their minds to frequent disappointment as well as loss of time and money. We see some cultivator in Ohio has raised and exhibited 50 varieties of seedling strawberries this year, several of which are larger and belter than Hovey's Seedling. How much of this statement do intelligent cultivators believe 1 — Ed. Marchioness of Ormonde, and other new Dahlias. — Marchioness of Or- monde is coming fine this year ; so is Marc Antony, (this was wretched last season,) and will I trust, as also Emp. of the Whites, (which has lately given me a superb specimen,) redeem the high name and flourish of John Bull's trumpeters last season, on their being ushered into the new world. Marchioness of Ormonde is superb. I have a specimen just now out, that assures me it is all you and your friends abroad have said of it. I hope Sir E. Antrobus will have on his " Sunday suit" next month. I have three fine looking specimens out, which appear very promising. Alphonse is fine. Brown's Arelhusa is in flower and is excellent, and of unsurpassed thrifty habit. I have received Orlando, and will give it a good place in my show ground, which consists, in front of the house, -of over 1800 select plants, and as many more in another place — season so far, A. 1. — Yours, G. C. Thorburn, Astoria, L. I., July, 1846. The Blight of the Pear Tree, its Remedy, (SfC. — The pear does remarka- bly well with us, barring the blight, which, however, has only shown itself within the last two years. One of my neighbors, who has a very large tree, some two feet through, generally supposed to be the Bartlett, (Williams's Bon Chretien,) discovered it to be attacked, and was not aware for some time what was the matter. It was so far gone that he had to cut it in, to a mere skeleton. He then bored holes in the stem, filled with sulphur, and plugged up last winter. It is now growing vigorously and without a speck. He has thus saved several ; whether or no they will stay saved is a query. Mine, as yet, show no symptoms, as I keep them growing very vigorously ; I think this is the true secret of prevention. Many of my new Flemish and French pears, grafted on 12 year old apple trees, (the only ones I had, gave them a full head,) have fruit on them this season. They were grafted two years ago ; the Seckel, Williams's Bon Chretien, and Julienne, are loaded. We have an abundant supply of fruit this year. There will be vast quantities of peaches sent to New Orleans. — Yours, tru'y, Thomas Affleck, Washington, Miss., May, 1846. [We hope our correspondent will keep us informed of the health, product, and growth of the pears grafted on the apple. — Ed.] Massachusetts Horticultual Society. 321 Art. 111. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Saturday, July 4:th, 1846. — The quarterly stated meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. Voted, That the provisions of the Constitution which conflict with the code of By-Laws, adopted at the stated meeting in April, be, and hereby are, repealed. Adjourned one week, to July 11th. Exhibited. — Flowers : From Jos. Breck & Co., a variety of herbaceous plants, double anemonies, &c. From W. Quant, six plants in pots, includ- ing Achimenes and Vinca alba. From D. Crowley, two plants of Veronica speciosa. Bouquets and cut flowers, from P. Barnes, W. Meller, and W. B. Richards. Fruit: From W. Quant, two very superior green-fleshed Persian melons, exceedingly rich and delicious. From Josiah Richardson, Hovey's Seed- ling strawberries. From O. Johnson, four boxes of extra fine. Black Tar- tarian cherries. From F. Tudor, Nahant, a large basket of Hovey's Seed- ling strawberries. From C. Newhall, a large basket of very fine Knevet's Giant raspberries. From Messrs. Winship, Fastolft' raspberries. From I. Fay, two baskets of his strawberry, which, the committee state, "were large, but lacked in flavor." From George Walsh, New large black Bi- garreau cherries. From W. Jenney, two boxes and a large dish of Jen- ney's Seedling strawberry, which the committee pronounce " extremely rich." In a former report they considered them very inferior, but the spec- imens came to hand in poor order, having been gathered when the fruit was wet. July nth. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. Several copies of a treatise on the Grape and Strawberry, by Mr. Long- worth, were presented by Mr. Ernst, and the thanks of the Society were voted for the same. The following members wars admitted : — Thomas Groom, Franklin King, and D. S. Greenough, Dorchester; S. H. Cleaveland, Freeman Fisher, Lewis Bullard, J. W. Mandell, H. S. Waldo, Dorrance Davis, John Fassell, and William Seaver, Roxbury ; Lewis Davenport, Henry Liversedge, and Thomas Liversedge, Milton ; D. C. Baker, Lynn ; B. G. Loring, Kimball Gibson, Harvey D. Parker, Hen- ry Robins, Theodore N. Hall, J. M. Blaney, Cyrus W. Jones, B. C. White, S. A. Elliott, and George H. Gray, Boston. J. A. Wight, Chicago, 111., and Louis Van Houtte, Ghent, Belgium, were elected corresponding members. Adjourned four weeks, to August 1st. Exhibited. — Flowers : From Messrs. Hovey & Co., six plants of Gloxin- ias, viz. : — rilbra, macrophylla variegata, two seedlings, and the rare Car- tint and tubiflora ; also, Aquil^gia Skinneri, Potentilla Murrayana and Bar- ratu, and other flowers. From Messrs. Winship, a fine cluster of Perpetu- al pink rose, having twenty-six full blown flowers ; also, Yucca filamentosa, and other flowers. From W. Meller, a fine display of seedling Picotees, Vol. XII. — NO. V. 41 322 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. some of them very fine ; also, dahlias and other flowers. From Messrs. Walker & Co., several very good dahlias, and a variety of perennial and other flovi^ers. Bouquets and cut flowers, from J. Breck & Co.,Wm. Ken- rick, Mr. Warren, W. B. Richards, T. Needham, John llovey, James Nugent, and R. West. The following premiums were awarded : — Plants in Pots. — To Messrs. Hovey & Co., for six fine Gloxinias, a premium of $2. Bouquets and Designs. — To R. West, for a design, a gratuity of $ 1. To J. L. L. F. Warren, for a bouquet, a gratuity of $ 1. Fruit: From O. Johnson, very fine specimens of Black Tartarian, and Bigarreau Napoleon cherries. From J. F. Allen, Black Hamburgh, Wil- mot's New Black Hamburgh, (fine,) Zinfindal, Black Portugal, and Bar Sur Aube grapes. From Messrs. Hovey & Co., fine FastolfF raspberries. From E. E. Bradshaw, five boxes of Franconia raspberries, and two of gooseberries. From C. Newhall, two boxes of Knevet's Giant, and branches of Nottingham Scarlet raspberries. From A. McLennan, two boxes of fine gooseberries. From S. and G. Hyde, two boxes Seedling cherries, and a variety, supposed the Black Tartarian. From Jonathan French, Roxbury, gooseberries. From Messrs. Winship, Franconia rasp- berries. From John Gordon, Brighton, four boxes of fine gooseberries. From John Hovey, gooseberries. From Mr. Warren, Fastolfl^ and Fran- conia raspberries, and Honey heart and Transparent cherries. From J. Stickney, Seedling cherries. From George Walsh, Seedling cherries. From A. D. Williams, Red and White Dutch currants, Elkhorn and Down- er's late Red cherries, and Franconia raspberries. Vegetables : From A. D. Williams, very fine Blood beets. Turnip-rooted do., cabbages, carrots and potatoes. From W. Quant, six fine heads of Royal Cape lettuce, and twelve tomatoes. From A. McLennan, six heads of Royal Cape lettuce. July I8lh. Exhibited. — Flowers : From the President of the Society, two good specimens of JLilium lancifolium album, and three seedlings, similar to speciosum ; also, six pots of Gloxinias, including the fine Cartoni, Gladi- olus Christianus, a very splendid variety, with white stripe in the upper petals, and six pots of Achimenes. From Messrs. Winship, magnificent specimens of Yucca filamenlosa and gloriosa, with other flowers. From J. Breck & Co., several new and fine phloxes, among which were picta. Van Houtten, Charles, nympheea alba, Artabanes, alba Kermesina, &c., with a variety of liliums, cut flowers, picotee pinks and bouquets. From D. Crow- ley, a fine display of double hollyhocks. From A. McLennan, a fine bou- quet of double balsams. From Messrs. Hovey & Co., a fine specimen of the Passiflora fragrans, new, beautiful, and highly fragrant ; Thunbergza chrysops, and Ipomeea Learw ; also, carnations and picotee pinks, in great variety. From Hon. J. S. Cabot, several fine herbaceous plants, among which were Gaillardm pic- ta coccinea, coronata and sanguiuea. Clematis Sieboldn' and HendersoniV, Phlox bicolor, Donckelaerii, alba Kermesina, Nimrod and Charles, with sev- Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 323 eral other new and fine perennial flowers. From Dr. T. M. Harris, Phlox picta. From T. Needham, a fine Phlox Van Houtteti, and other flowers. From Mr. Warren, carnations and picotees, bouquets, water lilies, Gladio- lus gandav6nsis, and other flowers. A fine seedling white verbena, from Capt. Geo. Lee. From Walker «.V. Co., carnations and picotees, and a va- riety of other flowers. From P. Barnes, two fine specimens of Agapan- thus urabellatus, dahlias, and a variety of other flowers. From W. Meller, a fine show of carnations, seedling picotees, and other flowers. Cut flow- ers, bouquets, dahlias, &c., from W. B. Richards, John Hovey, R. West, W. Kenrick, and Edward Lewis. The following premiums were awarded : — Plants i.Nf Pots. — To the President of the Society, for Japan lilies, Gladiolus Christianus, &c., a gratuity of $3. Bouquets. — To R. West, for the best bouquet, a premium of $2. To Wm. Kenrick, for the second best bouquet, a premium of $ 1. Hollyhocks. — To D. Crowley, for the best display, a premium of $3. Carnations and Picotees. — To J. L. L. F. Warren, for the best eight flowers, a premium of $5. To Jos. Breck & Co., for the second best, a premium of $4. To W. Meller, for the best display, a premium of $ 3. To J. L. L. F. Warren, for seedling picotees, a gratuity of $2. Fruits : From J. F. Allen, of Salem, four boxes of Sweet Montmorency cherries, fine and delicious ; also, Franconia raspberries ; six varieties of peaches, viz. : Early Crawford, Kenrick's Orange, Grosse Mignonne, New Jersey Grosse MignonneC?), Tippecanoe(') and Noblesse. Nectarine, Vio- lette Hative ; also, six varieties of grapes, viz. : Wilmot's New Black Hamburg, berries large, highly colored, and fine flavor ; White Frontignan, Black Hamburg, Zinfindal, Black Prolific, and Chasselas Bar Sur Aube. From Hon. J. S. Cabot, good specimens of Amire Joannet pears. From Messrs. Hovey & Co., Chapman's Early pear, a new variety, similar to the Amire Joannet, but higher flavored. From F. W. Macondry, Sharp's Seedling peaches, and a variety without name ; also, Brown Turkey figs. From O. Johnson, four boxes of very fine White Dutch currants. From A. McLennan, fine gooseberries, and a Persian melon. From E. E. Brad- shaw, Franconia raspberries. From A. D. Williams, four boxes of fine White Dutch currants. From. Mr. Warren, Franconia raspberries, and Seedling cherries, called Honeyheart and Transparent, Vegetables : From A. D. Williams, tomatoes, carrots, and potatoes. From Thomas Needham, cucumbers, extra size. From Jeremiah Macarty, three heads of cauliflowers. July 25th. Exhibited. — Flowers : Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited six pots of Japan lilies, four of L. lancifolium album, and two of L. lancifoli- um rubrum ; the tallest of the white ones mensured seven feet, and one of the plants had four stems, with upwards of thirty buds and flowers ; the crimson ones had six flowers open on one, and four on the other; also, a cut flower of roseum, very new and rare, and four pans of achimenes, viz. : longiflora, rosea, grandiflora, and picta, the latter two feet high. From 324 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Messrs. Winship, a very pretty bouquet, composed, mostly, of white and purple phloxes. From Messrs. Walker & Co., dahlias in variety, and other flowers. From J. L. L. F. Warren, sixteen bouquets, and a variety of other flow- ers. From R. West, Salem, a design of flowers. From P. Barnes, two pans of well grown achimenes, — longiflora, and grandiflora ; also, fine hol- lyhocks, and other flowers. From R. M. Copeland, a plant of Eugen/a australis. From Brack & Co., double hollyhocks, a fine specimen of Mili- um sup6rbum, and other cut flowers. Bouquets and cut flowers, from S. Crosby, Jas. Nugent, T. Motley, Jr., Wm. Doyle, W. Kenrick, W. Man- dell, W. Meller, John Hovey, W. B. Richards, and others. Premiums were awarded as follows : — Plants in Pots. — To Messrs. Hovey & Co., for fine specimens of Japan lilies, a gratuity of $ 3. Bouquets and Designs. — To R. West, for a design of flowers, a gra- tuity of $1. To Messrs. Winship, for a fine bouquet, a premium of $ 2. To W. Kenrick, for the second best bouquet, a premium of $ 1. Fruit : From John F. Allen, Citron des Carmes pears, four boxes of ex- tra fine raspberries, two dishes of very fine peaches, viz. : Crawford's Early and Yellow Rareripe ; superb specimens of Elruge nectarines ; also, a dish of Violette Hative ; ripe Black figs ; Black Prolific, Ferral, Red Chasselas, Grizzly Frontignan, Black Hamburg, (fine,) Golden Chasselas, (very fine berries,) Red Traminer, Esperione, Chasselas Bar Sur Aube, Zinfindal, Verdelho, Aleppo, and White Frontignan grapes. From O. Johnson, Black Hamburg and Zinfindal grapes. From Cheever Newhall, a box of very fine blackberries, and a box of Knevet's Giant rasp- berries. From E. E. Bradshaw, four boxes of Franconia raspberries. From Capt. F. W. Macondry, a dish of fine peaches, variety Sharp's Seed- ling ; also, a dish of large figs, not quite ripe. Fastolfl" raspberries, by Messrs. Hovey & Co. From J. L. L. F. War- ren, six boxes of Franconia raspberries. From Aaron D. Williams, two boxes of Red, and two boxes of White Dutch currants. From D. S. Greenough, Roxbury, Citron des Carmes pears. Seedling gooseberries, and early Harvest apples, by John Hovey. From Mr. Wheildon, Concord, Persian melon. From A.. McLennan, two Persian melons. From Wm. Quant, two Persian melons. Vegetables: From W. B.Williams, endive. From A. D. Williams, cabbages and carrots. From Henry Poor, specimens of White Winter wheat, of an extra fine quality, — grain very plump and full ; straw five and a half feet high. Answers to Correspondents. 325 Art. IV. Ansioers to Correspondents. At the commencement of the present volume, it was our intention to give notice to our correspondents and subscribers, of the introduction of an article in every number, under this head This was intended for various reasons ; one of the greatest of which was, that hundreds of letters are constantly re- ceived, making all kinds of inquiries relative to Horticultural operations. To devote a letter to each required more time than we had to spare, and the answer would only benefit the one who proposed the question. To aid our friends, and at the same time confer the greatest benefit on all, as one an- swer may suit a hundred individuals, this mode of reply occurred to us, and we now have the pleasure of offering our first article. Notwithstanding this number contains an extra sheet, we find ourselves so short of room, that several questions must remain unanswered till our next. Dahlias. — XX. — No remedy, that we are aware of, has been discovered for the fly which destroys the dahlia. We have ourselves tried various things, such as tobacco water, snuff, and oil soap, but we could not see that they had any effect. We now intend to try a little guano, dusted over the ends of the shoots. Its effect we will give an account of, after the experi- ment has been fully tried. Fuchsias. — A Subscriber. — It is difficult to designate the best six fuchsias, but, taking into consideration all the qualities, such as broad and handsome foliage, a free, blooming habit, and easy culture, we can recommend Defi- ance, Chauviern, Miller's Queen Victoria, exoni6nsis, majestica, and ex- pansa. Guano. — /. W. W. — The best mode of applying guano to plants in the open ground, is in the dry state, just before a shower ; the earth should then be drawn away to the depth of an mch, and the guano dusted on ; the earth should thea be covered over the guano, and in this way the ammonia is pre- vented from immediate evaporation. An Amateur. — The proper quantity for a prairie rose, which has been set out the present year, is about a table spoonful, once a month, or half that quantity every fortnight, according to the weather, — its application being of no benefit unless succeeded by rain, or a liberal watering. Strawberries. — L. — We know nothing more about the Black Prince, than that the London Horticultural Society class it in the last edition of their catalogue, as loorthless. As the other varieties which are so desig- nated are not improved by our climate, we presume there is no exception. Some persons call the Methven first rate. The Swainston has been grown about Boston these four years, and has been proved to be wholly unworthy of general cultivation. A notice of it is postponed to our next. Some queries remain unanswered until our next. In the mean time we invite our readers to send us any questions upon subjects on which they need information. V. Alwood, is received, and will be replied to. 326 Paneuil Hall Market. Art. V. Faneuil Hall Market. Roots, Tubers, tf-c Potatoes, new Chenangoes per barrel, per bushel, /-• ™ 's per barrel, Common,.... J j^g^ bushel, Turnirs : new, per bunch, . Onions : New While, per bunch, Rareripes, per bunch, . Beets, per bunch, . . . Carrots, per bunch, . . Garlic, per bunch, . . . Cabbages, Salads, <|'c. Cabbages, per doz. : Early York, Early Dutch, Drumhead, Green Globe Savoy, . . Cauliflowers, each, . . Lettuce, per head, .... Rhuliarb, per jiound, . . . Peas : per bushel, Marrowfat, extra, . . . Marrowfat, common, . String Beans, per peck : Cranberry dwarf, . . . Common, Shell beans, per quart : China dwarf, Corn, per dozen ears : Early while, Sweet, . Cucumbers, (pickled) pr. gal Peppers, (picided) per gal. . Pot and Sweet Herbs. Parsley, per half peck, . Sage, per pound, . . . Marjorum, per hunch, Savory, per hunch, . . Spearmirit, per bunch. Squashes and Pumpkins. Squashes: Summer bush, per doz. Summer crookneck, pr. dz. From S$ cts. 2 00 1 00 1 50 50 4 3 4 50 50 75 75 25 3 2 I 00 25 20 12 25 37* 12i 17 To Sots. 2 25 1 75 75 6 6 6 6 6 10 75 75 1 00 I GO 33 20 12^ 12i 17 25 Pruits. Apples, dessert and cooking Early harvest, per bushel Early bough, per bu.^hel, Early sour, per bushel. Common, per barrel, . Dried Apples, per pound. Pears, per half peck : Citron des Cannes, Jargonelle, .... Windsor or Bell, . . Sugar top, Common, Plums, per quart : Early, Peaches : Forced, per dozen, . . Common, per half peck. Nectarines, per dozen, Whortleberries, per quart. Blackberries, per quart, . Black Mulberries ))er box. Currants, per quart : Red, White, Black, Rnspberries, per quart. Gooseberries, (ripe,) per Watermelons, each, . Mnskmelons, each, Cucumbers: Small, per dozen, . Tomatoes, per half peck Grapes, (forced,) per lb. Black Hamburg, Sweet water, . . Muscats, .... Other sorts, . . . Fresh Figs, per dozen, Oranijes, per doz. St. "Michael's, . . Havana, .... Sicily, .... Sicily, per !iox, . . Lemons, per doz. . . Pine Apples, each, (jhestnuls, per bushel, Wabuits, per bushel, . Cocoanuts, per hundred, qt. From S cts. To $ cts. 1 50 1 50 1 00 !l 25 3 00 3 50 10 75 50 50 37-i! — 37|j — 37^1 50 2 00 1 00 i 2 00 : 10 i 17 ! 25 j 6 6 10 I 37^ 12^1 20 »2i 12^1 50 I 75 50 I 00 75 50 25 37 3 50 17 25 1 50 4 00 :2 00 25 50 75 25 25 1 00 75 1 25 1 00 75 37 50 4 00 20 37i 1 75 4 50 Remarks. — July, though quite warm in the early part, has, on the whole, been a cool and partially cloudy month, with more East winds than are often experienced so late in the season ; considerable rain has also fallen, and probably vegetation has never been in a more vigorous and ex- cellent condition. Fruit promises well, and early sorts are already abund- ant. Nothing has yet been seen of the potato rot, and early crops have been gathered perfectly clean ; it remains to be seen whether later ones will suffer or not. Vegetables. — Potatoes have come in plentifully since our last, and prices Horticultural Memoranda. 327 have now receded considerably ; old are entirely gone. Turnips are abund- ant, and a variety, probably the red-top flat, appears to be in good request, and marketers are introducing it into their grounds. Onions are plentiful for the season, and the fall crop look finely. Horseradish is now out of season. Radishes are done. Cabbages are abundant and good, of both the early and late sorts ; very handsome and well filled drumheads and Savoys have come to hand. Scarcely any Brocolis or Cauliflowers have yet come to hand. Lettuce plentiful and fine. Rhubarb abundant, but the demand is nearly over now that fruit has come in. Peas are on the decline, but some good lots occasionally come in. Beans are abundant, and good shelled Cranberries are in request. Corn is brought in, but the stock is yet limited. Squashes are more plentiful, and the supply from the vicinity. West Indies are now all gone. Fruit. — The fruit market has been well supplied for the season ; at least 300 barrels of apples are daily received from New York, of the various early sorts common to that market ; from the vicinity a few fine Early har- vests have come to hand, and a few Juneeatings ; Dried apples have ad- vanced to a high rate. Pears very abundant ; from New York large quan- tities of the Sugar top. Jargonelle and Bell pear (Windsor) are daily re- ceived. A few plums from the vicinity have just come to hand. Peaciies from New Jersey have also made their appearance, but they are yet small and rather inferior ; good forced ones yet sell freely. Currants are plenti- ful ; but the greater portion being reds, the price of whites has slightly advanced. Raspberries are nearly gone ; but there has been a good supply. Whurltleberries and Blackberries are abundant and excellent. Water- melons and Muskmelons, the former from A'irginia, are now received in con- siderable quantities, and prices take a great range according to size. Toma- toes are now received from New York in abundance. Grapes are now quite plentiful, and the best Black Hamburgs scarcely command our highest quotations; there has also been a good supply of Muscats and other sorts. Oranges are scarce and prices high. Pine apples are rather short, and, in the absence of new arrivals, prices have reached a high rale for the sea- son.— Yours, M. T., Boston, July 29th, 1846. HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA FOR AUGUST. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape Vines. — In early vineries and greenhouses the grapes will now begin to color, and by the latter part of the month will be nearly ripe ; give an abundance of air now, and keep a dryer temperature ; as soon as the berries are all evenly colored, leave on some air during the night, and dis- continue wetting the walks. The wood must now be attended to, in order 328 Horticultural Memoranda. that it may be well ripened ; continue to nip off all laterals to the first bud from whence it starts. In cold houses now is a critical time ; be on the look out for mildew, and if any appears immediately syringe with sulphur water ; give air betimes and close up early in the afternoon ; avoid sudden changes of temperature, and there will be but little danger. Keep the floors well damped in good weather, as it will aid in swelling up the fruit. Vines in pots should be watered freely, and if of a proper height, topped, in order to swell up the wood plump and round, and strengthen the buds. Vines in the open air will continue to need topping as the new buds break out. Keep the bearing wood tied in. Strawberry beds may be made this month, commencing about the 20th. Prepare the ground at least two weeks beforehand, and it will be all the better for the plants. Select the strongest runners. Budding cherry, plum and pear trees should be continued and finished as soon as possible. Raspberries should have all the old wood cut out as soon as done bearing. Pruning and slaking all kinds of young fruit trees should now be at- tended to. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. Dahlias should now be pruned about once a week, cutting out all the small laterals, and tying up only one main stem ; the weather has continued favorable, and the fall bloom promises well. Pelargoniums should now be repotted, shaking off the old soil and placing them in the same sized pots. Tree pcronies should be grafted in the early part of the month. Camellias should be grafted this month. The old plants should also be repotted if not done before. Inarchings in May should now be cut off. Chrysanthemums may be repotted and watered with liquid guano occa- sionally- Orange and lemons should be budded this month. O'xahs Bowiei may be potted now and the plants will bloom in September. Chinese primroses may now be shifted into larger pots. Salvia splendens should now be propagated from cuttings for next winter's stock. Heliotropes for a winter's stock should be propagated now. Roses may yet be layered ; budding may also yet be done. Fuchsias, if large specimens are wanted, should be repotted again. Nemophila insignis, schizanthuses , and other annuals for blooming in the greenhouse should now be sown. Perpetual violets should now be shifted in order to have strong plants for blooming in winter. Pansy seed may yet be sown in beds. Scarlet geraniums should now be propagated for next year's stock. Aloysia citriodora should now be shifted so as to have the plants strong before winter. Petunias for flowering in winter should now be propagated from cuttings Gloxinias should now be propagated from the leaves. THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. SEPTEMBER, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Notes of a Visit to several Gardens in the Vicinity of Washingtoti, Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York, in October, 1845. By the Editor. ( Concluded from page 285 . ) New York, October 2Ath. — We presented some notes on the gardens in the city, at the time of our last tour, in 1843, and in consequence of the lateness of the month, we found it im- possible to give many of our amateur friends another visit. We had, principally, to confine ourselves to a hurried trip among the Flushing nurserymen. Murray Hill Nursery. — We found Mr. Reid's excellent establishment undergoing quite a demolition. The city cor- poration, in the rapid strides of improvement, had laid out several streets through the grounds, and our egress to the dif- ferent parts of the nursery was over fences, and newly ploughed-up roads, among rocks, and through sand and grav- el. Whole squares of trees had been moved off the ground, and Mr. Reid was preparing to remove others, in anticipation of more new streets to be graded and opened. It reminded us of the appearance of Mr, Hogg's premises, before his removal to Yorkville. Mr. Reid has a fine nursery in New Jersey, Avhich he has already well filled with trees, and from whence he expects to receive his stock to fill his orders. Since our last visit, in the autumn of 18-12, Mr. Reid has built a handsome dwelling-house, and we were gratified to find that the industry and energy of the proprietor has been so well repaid by his many customers, as to enable him to erect such a commodious and handsome dwelling. VOL. XII. — NO. IX. 42 330 Notes of a Visit to several Gardens. Mr. Reid's stock had been tolerably well reduced by a good demand for trees, and especially of fruit. The collection of pears embraces most of the good sorts, and Mr. Reid is con- stantly making additions of all such as have proved really fine. The prominent object we found here was the weeping peach, of which we gave an account at the period of our last visit, (Vol. IX. p. 45.) At that time, Mr. Reid had not propagated the plants for sale; he subsequently sent plants to England, where it is now offered for sale in some of the principal col- lections. It is a great novelty,— possessing a handsome broad leaf, and a drooping habit, equal to tliat of the ash ; we are not aware whether it has produced fruit, or what may be the quality, but as an ornamental tree, only, it is a great acquisi- tion. Of ornamental trees, the Murray Hill Nursery possesses a good stock ; the deciduous cypress stands here very well, but in some severe winters the branches are more or less killed. Chinese Arbor Vitaes are raised in quantities, from seeds, which are sown in boxes, where they are allowed to stand till they get three or four inches high, when they are transplanted into beds. Magnolia glauca, and other trees, are also raised from seeds. With the exception of the disorder, consequent upon the work of the city corporation, the nursery Avas in very excel- lent condition. Garden of Mr. Monck. — The demand for many kinds of plants in New York, such as heliotropes, roses, rose gerani- ums, salvias, begonias, &c., is very great, and no one contri- butes a greater supply than Mr. Monck. His houses are erected with a view to growing strong and stocky plants, and, com- bined with his good knowledge of cultivation, he succeeds most admirably. Another object is to supply fine bouquets of flowers throughout the year, particularly in the winter season, and we were struck, at the time of our visit, with a display of roses in such a flowering condition ; we particularly allude to those in pots, of which one low house was nearly filled with fine specimens of the Cramoisie superieure, or Agrippina, as it is often erroneously called. The rose geraniums, too, were in great vigor, with very large leaves, and of deep color; in NeiD York. 331 many collections, the old rose geranium is often seen in a weak and spindling condition, with leaves hardly large enough to identify the kind. To grow it handsomely, continued shift- ing we believe to be injurious ; one good potting is enough, and then disrooting should be sparingly done. In the rose house, the roses were in fine bloom, and among the new ones, Opliire was a prominent object. Noticing some very fine specimens of the old yellow tea, Mr. Monck informed us that he had succeeded in producing these fine specimens by budding on the yellow Banksian rose, which we some time since alluded to. No other stock seems to suit it; on its own roots it is always a weak growing plant, and on the Boursault, Indica major, or Dog rose, it does not grow freely ; but when worked upon the yellow Banksian, it push- es up shoots with the kindness and vigor of the strongest growing Bengals. The same remark may be made with the Tea Compte de Paris ; though a most superb variety, it is rarely seen in collections ; this is owing to its constitutional weakness, which it retains until worked on the Banksian. We doubt not there are many others which might be greatly improved in the same wa3^ Tea Elize Sauvage, Belle Alle- mande, Safi'rano, and others, are well worth the trial. These are the important objects of the gardening art ; we all know that there are many kinds of pears which will not grow on the quince, or, at least, so as to produce any good results. No doubt the same causes which produce this, are equally appli- cable to the rose, as Avell as all other tribes of plants. To as- certain these results is one of the triumphs of the gardener's art, — to make them known should be his pride and aim. In the stove we found a few new and pretty plants ; one of them was Cestrum diurniun, an evergreen shrub, Avith camel- lia-like foliage, and terminal umbels of the most delicate tu- bular corols, with the edges quite curled over ; it is slightly fragrant, and is a very pretty fiower for a bouquet ; it needs a good heat to bloom freely. A very handsome fuchsia, called afFinis, but which we believe to be the F. rddicans, of the Bot. Reg-1 and of which we have before given a full account, (Vol. VIII. p. 138,) was finely in bloom ; the foliage is quite differ- ent from others of the family, and the plant has a very strong and rambling growth, throwing up shoots, in a short time, six 332 Notes of a Visit to several Gardens. or eight feet high. It is particularly adapted to our climate, as its thick, almost fleshy foliage, stands the sun well, and planted out in the border, it blooms very freely all summer. In its native country it grows rapidly, and climbs up trees, hanging in festoons from limb to limb, forming a truly beauti- ful object. In our first visit to Mr. Monck's, we noticed some Isabella vines, which he was then inarching with the best foreign kinds ; the Isabellas were planted outside of the house, and as the stems could not be easily protected, this experiment was tried. It has succeeded exceedingly well; the vines had pro- duced good crops, and they were now taken out of the house, and trained along the front wall. Dunlap and Thompson's Seed Store, Broadioay. — The large and extensive greenhouse, in the rear of Messrs. Dunlap and Thompson's store, we found filled with large plants, principally camellias, of which a great quantity is required to furnish cut flowers, particularly of the old double white. The main stock of flowers, especially roses, is raised at the garden in Harlaem, where the proprietors have several ranges of pits, particularly devoted to the cultivation of such plants as are best adapted for furnishing fragrant, as well as beautiful, flow- ers, for bouquets. Mr. Dunlap, in a recent visit to Boston, informed us that they were extending their arrangements for this object, and had jusi completed a new rose house, to be wholly planted with the very choicest kinds. The next op- portunity which oflers, we shall endeavor to give an accomit of the structures erected at Harlaem, for tliis object, with plans of their construction, &c. Flushing, L. I. — A full day would be as little time as any individual should allot to himself, to visit all the nurseries here, which now number six or eight. Some years since, the only establishments were those of Messrs. Prince and Blood- good, but, with the demand for trees, others have sprung up, and now six or more appear to be doing a good business. A society has been organized in the town, and the exhibitions which have been held, have been highly creditable to the members. Commercial Gar-den of Messrs. Parsons t5* Co. — Since the autumn of 1843, the proprietors have added a large stock to Flushing, L. I. 333 their establishment. We now found a good quantity of fruit trees, more particularly of the peach, cherry, and apple ; pears being slower in their growth, have not yet been brought for- ward in similar quantities. The stock of ornamental trees is also large, and of good variety. Magnolias raised from seed, particularly M. glauca, grow freely and rapidly in the soil here, which is a good stiff loam. The Cedrus Deodara, Arau- caria imbricata, Paulo wma, &c., have been planted out, and the former, as well as the Paulownia, found to stand the win- ter of Long Island without protection. Messrs. Parsons pos- sess a capital stock of the Norway spruce. Since our last visit, a greenhouse and grapery, one hundred feet long, has been added, and a span roofed building for grapes was in the course of completion. In the grapery, twice the number of vines have been planted which will finally be allowed to remain, in order to test the correctness of the kinds. The building is heated with hot water. The collection of greenhouse plants is small, with the ex- ception of the tender varieties of the rose, of which Messrs. Parsons possess an excellent collection, and they are constantly adding the new kinds. Nursery of Messrs. Valk ^ Co. — This establishment is of recent commencement : a short account of it was given by a correspondent, in a previous volume, (X. p. 19,) and since that time, the proprietors have added many new and rare plants to the exotic department, and made arrangements for the growth of trees and shrubs. The greenhouse is about two hundred feet long, and twenty wide, span roofed, and built in the best manner ; the internal arrangements consist of a two feet shelf against the front and back, with a walk corresponding, and a bed in the centre, which is used partly for peach trees, and large plants, such as camellias, &c. Grape vines are trained under the rafters, and they were now just beginning to produce a small crop. The gardener is Mr. Jones, formerly of the Kew Gardens, near London, and he brought with him, in the spring of 1845, a great assortment of new plants, bat many of them did not survive the importation. In the stove, which is a small building about twenty-five feet long, we found a greater portion of the new plants, among 334 Notes of a Visit to several Gardens. them the following: Gardenia Stanleydwa, Clerodendron splendens, Napole6n^a imperialis, Achimenes argyrostigma, curious, with leaves spotted with white; Whitfieldia lateritia, Ruelha fioribunda, Turnera elegans, Gesnera splendens, and Schenedia, Justicm carnea, and MacDonnellii, and several other rare things. Some of these could scarcely be considered alive, but with the good treatment of Mr. Jones, we hope they have all been saved, and that we may soon see them dis- tributed among amateurs. The greenhouse was gay with a variety of fuchsias and other plants, all of which were well grown and in excellent condition. Messrs. Valk & Co. have a fine collection of roses. The grounds around the house are neatly laid out, and were planted with the most showy annuals, roses, &c. The dwelling of the proprietors, which is an old mansion, stands back from the road, and the situation is pleasant, and less than a mile from the steamboat landing. We hope, at a fu- ture opportunity, to visit this place, when we shall be less hurried than on the present occasion. Ltinnman Gardens and Nurseries, Messrs. W. R. Prince <^" Co. — It is some years since we have noticed this place; since then the establishment has been increased by the occu- pation of a piece of ground of several acres, about half a mile from the old premises. On this, a new greenhouse has been erected, and preparations were making for extending the nur- sery department. The old grounds, near the residence of W. R. Prince, were filled with trees and plants. Here v/e saw a large quantity of the Paulownia, very strong and vigorous, some of them having thrown up stems 8 feet liigli ; the leaves had already fallen from the effects of an early and rather severe frost. Messrs. Prince have raised several seedling tree pa3onies, which have already been described in our pages (X. p. 333.) The stock has uoav been sufficiently increased to be ofiered for sale. Walking through the grounds, we noticed a variety of shrubs and trees, of recent addition, and among tlie number the pretty Lonicera Brownw, and Ledebouri. The collection of roses has received especial attention, and the new varieties have all been added. The collection of strawberries comprises Flushing, L. I. 335 a great number of kinds, but we doubt the propriety of culti- vating twenty or thirty sorts, when the merits of the whole are embraced in two or three ; strawberries are raised with the greatest facility from seeds, and if every seedling produced is to be named, our catalogues would soon be filled to an ex- tent exceeding even the immense varieties of pears. Dr. Brinkle, of Philadelphia, has raised 254 kinds, of which he has named and described upwards of forty ! The London Horticultural Society have retained only thirty-one kinds out of one hundred and twenty-one, and we believe that this num- ber might be judiciously reduced to ten in England, and to five in our climate ; and we believe the time has arrived when our cultivators should discard all seedlings which do not pos- sess some 'particular merit over old kinds. Our remarks are not intended to apply to the collection of Messrs. Prince alone, but to all cultivators who seem to think that a strawberry, because a seedling, should have a name and reputation. In the spring of 1834, we raised one thousand seedlings. These all fruited in the summer of 1S3G, and at that time we looked over the bed and selected more than foi'ty varieties which were superior to the kinds then generally cultivated ; but of this great number we thought it quite useless to save only four or five, which were particularly remarkable, and after cultivating these some time, to test their qualities, we reserved but two, viz : Hovey's Seedling, and the Boston Pine. It would only have made confusion to have named about forty kinds, all of them inferior to these. LinncBan Garden of Messrs. Winter ^' Co. — This estab- lishment contains a portion of the old nursery of Messrs. Prince & Co. The old greenhouses yet remain, but they have been refitted, and put into a good condition for the plants. As we did not find Mr. Winter at home, and the hour of de- parture for the boat at hand, we regretted that it was impossi- ble for us to look through the premises. Messrs. Winter have made great exertions to extend the collection of fruit trees, and have procured from Mr. Manning, and other good sources, the newest and best varieties of fruits. The stock of ornamental trees embraces a good variety, and of large specimens. The grounds appeared clean and well kept. 336 Pom.ological Notices. Art. II. Pomological Notices : or notices respecting new and superior fruits, worthy of general cultivation. By the Editor. During the last year, owing to the space devoted to our notes of European gardens, and gardening, we did not find room to offer our usual notices of miscellaneous fruits. A variety of information has consequently accumulated on our hands, and we now proceed to continue our account of a por- tion of the new varieties, both native and foreign, which have recently been introduced to notice. Pears. — Several new varieties, which have already been fully proved, have been described or noticed in a previous ar- ticle, (p. 143.) The following bear a high recommendation abroad, and will, undoubtedl}^, prove valuable ; of this, how- ever, we shall not omit to keep our readers informed. Langelier' s Beurre. — M. Langelier was the first to intro- duce the Van Mons Leon le Clerc, to the notice of cultivators ; the whole stock was placed in his hands for sale, and it has proved equal to the character he gave it. M. Langelier has now offered a new variety, which he calls Langelier's Beurre. Very sm.all trees sold rapidly last year, at a high price, and from the following description, which we copy from a circular forwarded to us by M. Langelier, it appears to possess great merit. As our trees have the appearance of showing fruit another year, we hope soon to be able to test its excellence. " M. Langelier begs leave to draw the attention of pear growers to his new Pear, named Langelier's Beurre, of first rate merit ; perfectly melting, ripe in January, of a fine Beurre shape, larger than Napoleon, bears well as a standard, trees very vigorous, and one of the best flavor in cultivation, other- wise it would not be recommended by R. L., as his motive for advertising it is not for the sake of publishing, but for the good of the public in general, to whom he is happy to have an opportunity of rendering himself useful, and of which Yan Mons Leon le Clerc will be a sufficient guarantee, having proved itself as it was represented, and given universal satis- faction." New Varieties of Pears. 337 Such is M. Langelier's account, and we doubt not it will prove excellent. The trees are among the handsomest in our collection ; having very large, almost round, leaves, of a deep, shining green, somewhat resembling the Napoleon, but with dark, reddish brown wood, with large, whitish grey spots. It is a very free grower, either upon the pear or quince ; young trees have attained the height of five feet, and well branched upon the latter stock, the present season. Our original trees cost one guinea each. Jersey Gratioli. — This is the name of a new pear, recently brought into notice, and as yet but very little disseminated. It is supposed to have originated in Jersey, where, in 1843, only one tree was known to be in existence. In the autumn of 1844, Mr. Thompson received several specimens of the fruit from Mr. Bucknall, of Jersey, and from these he gave a de- scription and figure of the variety, in the Gardener's Chroni- cle.^ for 1844, p. 868. and from this account we gather the fol- lowing information in respect to this pear : — Half a dozen pears were forwarded to Mr. Thompson, Oc- tober 12th, by Mr. Bucknall. As a pear cultivator, he does not hesitate to pronounce it, according to his taste, the finest pear, in flavor, and all its qualities, he ever met with. The fruits he selected were of average size, from a fine old standard of 40 or 50 years, and a free and constant bearer. " Fully agreeing with these remarks," says Mr. Thompson, "it is pre- sumed the notice here given will prove acceptable, although the origin of the variety cannot be satisfactorily traced ; nei- ther can the application of the name Gratioli be accounted for, as this name has been, for centuries, the acknowledged synonym of the summer Bon Chretien, a very different fruit from the one in question. The Gratioli, or Gracioli, being held synonymous, as above, by Duhamel, Dr. Diel, and many other French and German authors, was sufficient cause for demurring, in naming the fruit, in 1843, when specimens were first forwarded by Mr. Bucknall : and, more especially, as the name of Gratioli had only been heard indistinctly, and casu- ally applied to the present variety. But according to Mr. Langelier, who is acquainted with this fact, it is cultivated in Jersey, under the name of Gratioli. This being the case, it has been considered proper to designate it as the Jersey Gra- VOL. XII NO. IX. 43 338 Pomological Notices. tioli, in order to prevent its being confused with the summer Bon Chretien, which of course it otherwise would. The fruit is regularly formed, color, pale brown, somewhat rough, with russet specks ; the eye is in a very even depression, open, the segments of the calyx standing outright ; flesh melting, like honey, exceedingly rich. It, however, continues but a short time in perfection, as is generally the case with early pears. In its decay it does not become mealy, or insipid, but still re- tains its honied nature. The season is October. The tree grows vigorous, with erect, dark brown shoots. The buds are rather obtuse and hoary, leaves ovate oblong, shortly acumi- nate." The trees grow freely on the quince, as well as the pear stock. Episcopal. — This is stated to be a very superior late pear, of medium size, and in eating from April to June. It was raised by Mr. Bougere, of Lyons, and was, he believed, intro- duced into England by Mr. Rivers, of the Sawbridgeworth nursery. Captif St. Helens.- — Under this name a variety has been sent to this country, which Mr. Manning has proved to be the Napoleon, (p. 149.) The true variety is quite a different pear, and can at once be distinguished from its foliage. It is stated to be a most excellent, high flavored pear, but of rather small size, and ripening in December. O.sborne. — First introduced to notice, and described by Mr. Ernst, in the Western Farmer and Gardener^ (Vol. V,) who states that it originated on the farm of John Osborne, at Econ- omy, Indiana. It has a richness and delicacy of flavor that entitle it to rank as a first class pear. Fruit small, regularly diminishing to the stem, which is an inch long, and planted on one side ; skin thin, and of a greenish yellow color ; flesh white, tender, juicy and sweet, with a slight astringency, and a lively, highly perfumed flavor ; ripens beginning of August. It fruited in Mr. Ernst's nursery, in 1844, from which speci- mens this description was made. Many new varieties of pears have recently been introduced into the collections of the Belgium nurserymen, and we enu- merate a few of those which appear to possess the greatest merit : — New Varieties of Pears. 339 Calebasse c?' Ete. — Half melting, first quality, ripening the end of August. Fondante de Maliries. — Melting, first quality, ripening in December and January. Grand SoUel. — Breaking, first quality, ripening in Decem- ber or January. JosepJiine dcs Malines. — Melting, first quality, and ripening from February to April. Stated to be one of the best of pears. Seigneur cZ' Esperin. — Melting, first quality, and ripening in October and November. Soldat Lahorour. — Half melting, first quality, ripening in December and January. This has a high reputation. These six, with several others, have been lately produced from seed by Mr. Esperin, of Malines. Louise d' Orleans. — Melting, first quality, medium size, ripening in November. Lucien Le Clerc. — Melting, first quality, large size, ripening in November. Nouveau Poiteau. — Melting, first quality, very large size, ripening in November. Nouveau Simon Bouvier. — Melting, first quality, large size, ripening in February and March. Pergamotte de Louvain. — Half melting, second quality, medium size, ripening in November. Princess Marie. — Melting, first quality, large size, ripening in November. These six, and many more, have been recently produced from seed, by M. Bouvier. Beurre Dufour. — First quality, first size, melting, ripening in January and February. Large and excellent. Colmar c?' Are7nberg. — First quality, first size, melting, ripening in December. A very fine new variety, large and handsome. De Pepene. — First quality, second size, melting, ripening in January. A good late pear. Jalvie. — Second quality, first size, melting, ripening in April. A very good late pear on the quince. Saint Denis. — First quality, first size, melting, ripening in the middle of August. Handsome and juicy, with slight noyau flavor. 340 Ponwlogical Notices. Rondelet. — First quality, second size, melting, ripening in October. Excellent. The latter are from the collection of Mr. Rivers of Saw- bridge worth, and merit a fair trial. Many more varieties might be enmnerated, but these are such as will probably prove valua- ble acquisitions to our collections. As fast as they are fruit- ed, we shall give a full accomit of their qualities. Plois. — Within a few years, nearly all the really good ad- ditions to our list of plums have been American seedlings ; and it is even doubtful, whether many of the foreign kmds will equal the Jefferson. Columbia, Lawrence" s Favorite, &c., &,c. A few, however, have obtained so high a reputation, that cul- tivators may wish to make a trial of the best. Some new na- tive sorts have also been recently produced, which promise to rival those we have already named. Heine Claude de Bavay. — A rival to the old Green Gage is at last said to have been found in this new variety, which is thus spoken of m the Annales of Flora and Pomona, for 1843. This beautiful and excellent plum appears destined to be placed beside the old Green Gage, possessing all the good qualities of that variety, and considerably surpassing it in size, some of the plums having measured 15 centimetres (six to seven inches.) in circumference. The form is less regularly spherical towards the summit, which is often termmated in a very obtuse point ; it is also a little compressed, and is more swollen on one side than the other. The color is the same as the Green Gage, more or less green, (according to the degree of maturity.) less spotted, but very strongly marked with red on the sunny side. It ripens later than the Green Gage, and keeps until the end of September. This most excellent variety was raised by M. Esperin, for- merly attached to the army, and who, after much service, has settled down on his patrimonial estate in Malines, where he devotes his time to the production of new fruits. It was raised about five years ago, and is named in honor of his friend, M. De Bavay. Prince of Wales. — A new seedling from the old Orleans, and raised at Brentford End, near London, in 1S3U, by Messrs. Chapman. It is quite distinct from the Orleans. It is larger, of a different shape, being inclined to be oval, differ- New Varieties of Plums. 341 ent in color, which is a bright purphsh pink, with much more bloom, and the flavor is superior. The flesh is yellowish, or pale amber, and parts from the stone. Unlike the Orleans, it never cracks, and the shoots differ from those of that variety in being smooth, whereas m the Orleans they are downy. The leaves are broad, roundish, and easily distinguishable from those of any other plum. The trees are of vigorous growth. Upon stocks planted in the spring of 1844, and budded in August followmg. shoots were produced in 1845, measuring upwards of eight feet. The flowers are protected by the foliage in a most remarkable manner, and it has a pe- culiar habit of spm-ring all up the branches. Trees three years old have been covered with plums, as thickly as they could be placed at three feet up the stem, and the trees were obliged to be staked, to prevent them from breaking down. It was exhibited before the London Horticultural Society, in September, 1845, and awarded a prize. Bradshaic^s. — For the want of a name to distinguish a very large and excellent plum, exhibited for three or four years in succession, by E. E. Bradshaw, Esq., Charlestown, we have called it the Bradshaw plum. No variety has yet fruited in our collection, which answers to this variety ; the nearest ap- proach to it, appears to be the Minims, as described by Lind- ley, in his Guide to the Orchard. It is a very large and de- sirable plum, ripening from the middle of August to Septem- ber, with a rich reddish purple skm, covered with an azure bloom ; flesh, juicy and rich. We shall soon give a further account of it, with an engraving of the fruit. Gutherie^s Topaz. — First quality, first size, color yellow, ripening the end of September. Gutherie's Taybank. — First quality,, first size, green, ripen- ing in September. Much larger than the Green Gage, later, and excellent. Gutheries Ajjricot. — First quality, first size, yellow, ripen- ing the end of September. Flavor of the Apricot. These three are all very hardy, and excellent bearers. They orig- inated in Scotland. De Montfort. — First quality, first size, purple, ripening in August. Large and excellent. Fellemberg. — First quality, first size, purple, ripening in October. A first rate plum, large, late, and delicious. 3 12 Pomological Notices. How's Amber. — This is the name we have given to a very fine seedhng phim. produced in the garden of Hall J. How, Esq., of South Boston, about eight years ago. It produced for the first time in 1844, and last season, specimens of the fruit were exhibited, which Avere very beautiful, and of ex- cellent quality. It is a clingstone, of large size, with a yel- lowish, or amber colored skin, and a light red cheek. We shall give a more particular account of it in a future number. Denniston' s Superb, Hudson Gage, Mulberry, Denniston's Albany Beauty, Denniston's Red, Orange, and Howell's Early, are American seedlings of recent origin, which are described in Mr. Downing" s Frit its and Fruit Trees, as Avell worthy of cultivation. Cherries. — The additions to our catalogue of cherries have been rather limited; within a year or two, however, several new kinds have been brought to notice, which appear to be deserving of extensive cultivation. We believe the cherry is susceptible of great improvement, and the same attention be- stowed on this fruit, would be attended with as good results, as with the pear, apple, or plum. The late Mr. Knight, by his experiments, in which he made some of the greatest addi- tions, showed how much cultivators might expect from seed- lings produced by careful cross impregnation. The French seem to have attained the greatest results, and the recent pro- ductions, which we are about to notice, have been originated by their skilful cultivators. Reiue Hortense. — A new and beautiful variety, of the largest size, and first quality: ripening in the beginning of July. Originated in France. De Spa. — Another large and fine variety, ripening the end of July. The editor of the Jardin et la Ferme, in a notice of the new varieties, states that " the size and flavor of these two varieties place them m the first rank of this fine class of fruits." Donna Maria. — Large and fine, ripening the end of July. Monstreuse de Bavaij. — Large and excellent, ripening in the early part of July. Originated in Belgium. Bigarreau d' Esperin. — Larger than the Monstreuse de Bavay, of superior quahty, and ripening the nnddle of July. New Varieties of Cherries. 343 Tardive de Mons. — Large, and late, and stated to be good, even as late as November. Lemercier. — This new and fine variety fruited in our col- lection this year, producing however, only a dozen or two cherries; owing, however, to the lateness of the season, when all others were gone, the birds destroyed our best specimens. They were ripe about the 5th of August. In the Annals of the Horticultural Society of Paris, as long ago as 1S3.5, is an account of this variety. It was found by M. Lemercier, in Brabant, and is the largest cherry seen around Paris. The fruit is nearly true heart shaped; rather compressed, with a very shining, transparent skin, marbled with red. which is also visible in the fle.sh. as may be seen through the transparent skin : it is netted "with a greyish red on one side, and a dark brown red on the other ; some of the stems are quadrangular near the fruit, and glan- dular at the other end. Before the cherry is ripe, the flesh is yellowish; at maturity this is pretty firm, but melting, is easily cut with a knife, and contains a large quantity of sugary juice, slightly acidulated, but with a peculiar fragrance ; the stone adheres but slightly to the flesh, and although large for a cherry stone, is small in proportion to the size of the fruit. This description corresponds with our specimens, and we believe the variety will prove one of the most valuable which has been introduced. The tree is a vigorous grower, with spreading shoots of the habit of the Duke cherry, and with moderate sized, deep, shining green leaves. Apricots. — Neivhall's Early. — A very excellent apricot was exhibited last year before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, from Mr. Newhall, of Lynn. Its good qualities in- duced the committee to give it the above name. This season, just as we were preparing this article, it has been exhibited again, and fully sustains its reputation. It is only of medium size, but from its bright orange skin, sufi"used with deep red on the sunny side, possesses much beaut}". It is a clingstone, but full of a rich; sweet, delicious juice. "Want of room compels us to omit our notices of a variety of new apples, grapes, and strawberries, mitil another num- ber. 344 The ^wcet Moyitmorency Cherry. Art. JIl. The Sweet Montmorency Cherry : an account of its origin and qualities., with an engraving of the fruit. By the Editor. In our volume for 1842, (VIII. p. 281,) the late Mr. Man- ning gave a descriptive account of fo7^ty-four varieties of cherries, which, during a series of years, he had gathered to- gether from various sources, and proved in his Pomological Garden, in Salem. Eight or ten of the varieties had never been previously described, and of this number the Sweet Montmorency was one. Mr. Downing, in his Fruits and Fruit Trees, gives as his authority Mr. Manning, which is perfectly correct ; but he omits to add, as he has done in nu- merous instances, that his description was taken from our Magazine, thus leaving Pomologists to believe, who might be desirous of seeing the original description, that it appeared in Mr. Manning's Book of Fruits. Some time since, we requested our correspondent, Mr. Allen, to give us some account of the origin of the Sweet Montmo- rency, which has proved so valuable a variety, and we now have the pleasure of pre- senting the same to our read- ers, with an engraving of the fruit., {fg. 21.) " The Sweet Montmorency cherry is an accidental seed- hng, and was so named by the late Mr. Manning, from its sup- posed parent, the Montmorency of the French, an early, acid fruit. Several small seedling trees were planted out, in the The Sxceet Montmorency . ^ i r^n a t xi Cherry. sprmg of 1834. and they came into bearing about 1836. This tree was the only one thought worthy of cultivation, and it has every year since ripened a crop, with very little, if any, injury from the weather. In 1841. the fruit was first exhibited at the rooms of the Horti- The Sweet Montmorency Cherry. 345 cultural Society, in Boston, and has been every succeeding year, as may be seen by a reference to the records in " Hovey's Magazine." The fruit is small, and when ripe, a light x'ed color ; it hangs long on the tree, is in eating from 15th July to 5th August. Dm-ing its growth the fruit is very small and ordinary, and when ripening is very bitter, which, however, all passes away when fully ripe ; the stone is very small." We may add to this that it possesses many of those excel- lent qualities which few other cherries have ; it is one of the latest sweet cherries, and, as Mr. Allen has stated, produces good crops every year ; it is also scarcely ever injured by the weather, which often cracks other varieties. One thing must be peculiarly observed, that it should be allowed to hang on the tree till fully colored and ripe, otherwise it has the bit- ter quality mentioned by Mr. Allen. We annex the following description : — Size, rather small, nearly round, slightly flattened at the base, with a shallow suture on one side, and a distinctly in- dented point at the end : Skin, deeply colored, at maturity, on the sunny side, somewhat mottled and clouded, and of a pale amber in the shade : Stem, rather slender, about three quar- ters of an inch long, inserted in a small, shallow, ronnd hol- low : Flesh, yellowish, rich, melting, sweet, and vinous : Stone, small. The fruit is borne in pairs, as represented in the engraving. In 1841, when Mr. Allen first exhibited this cherry, we had the pleasure, by his invitation, of tasting the fruit. We im- mediately saw its very superior quality, and applied to Mr. Allen for a few buds, which he kindly gave us, and which, with the exception of a few given to Mr. Manning, were the first cut from the original tree. From the produce of these few buds other trees have been propagated, and during the last three years we have highly recommended this variety, and disseminated many trees, and it is now to be found in many of the good collections of fruit in the vicinity of Boston. The tree has a very handsome, rather upright, habit, with strong shoots, a smooth, clean stem, and medium sized dull green wavy foliage. VOL. XII. NO. IX. 44 346 Campanula Grandis. Art. IV. Campanula Grandis, its cultivation and treatment, with an engravi77g of the plant. By the Editor. Few additions to our hardy herbaceous plants have been recently made, than the fine Campanula grandis. Its flowers are of the largest dimensions among this showy tribe, and they are produced in great profusion on stems from one to four feet long. In our Vol. IX. p. 306, is a brief account of it among our Floricultural Notices, from Pax. Mag., where it was fig- ured, and from which we copy the vignette {Jig. 22,) now annexed, which gives a beautiful representa- tion of it when well grown. In the spring of 1845, we received from England, with many other new things, two fine plants of the grandis. They came in good con- dition, but as it had been repre- sented a half-hardy plant, we took the precaution to put one in a pot, and the other in the open ground. They both grew well, the latter, however, attaining the largest size. In the autumn, it was covered with a few inches of strawy manure, and left to take its chance with other perennials ; this spring, we were very agreeably surprised to find it had stood the winter well, only suf- fering in the loss of its centre shoot, which appeared to have damped ofi". From the base of the plant, ; however, numerous stems soon sprang up, and in June, at least six of them were clothed with its very large deep purplish bluebells, nearly three inches in diam- eter, thus proving it to be, in our climate, a hardy border plant. Fi"-. 22. Campanula grandis. Floricultural and Botanical Notices. 347 Under pot cultivation; it is a fine object, excelling even the old and beautiful C. pyramidalis, a plant too seldom seen in collections. Its treatment is precisely the same as for that species, of which we have given some good directions from the Gardener'' s Chronicle, (Vol. XI. p. 230.) The plants, however, grow much more freely than that species, and they have the very valuable habit not possessed by that, of blooming freely when in very small sized pots, with stems not ex- ceeding a foot in height. Plants raised from otfsets in the spring, and properly treated, will bloom finely in the autumn. If grown in the open ground, no other care is required than to occasionally renew the plants from offsets, giving it the same soil as other species, and protecting it in the winter with a light covering of leaves, old haulm, or strawy manure. If cultivated in pots, the old plants may be wintered in frames, or the greenhouse, and towards the spring, the offsets which spring abundantly from the old stem should be taken off and potted in four inch pots, in a good compost of loam and leaf mould ; in a few weeks, they should be shifted into six inch pots, and again, in a few weeks more, to ten inch pots, in which they may remain to flower. They should be freely watered during summer, and probably a weak solution of guano would be beneficial. In August, they will begin to bloom, and will continue in flower until October, during which period, they will form the finest ornament for the balcony, the verandah, or even the lawn. Art. V. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of New Plants, figured in foreign periodicals ; tvith Remarks on those re- cently introduced to, or originated in, American gardens, and additional inform,ation upon plants already in cultivation. Edwards's Botanical Register, or Ornamental Flower Garden and Shrubbery. Each number containing from six to eight plates ; with additional miscel- laneous information relative to new plants. In monthly numbers ; 3*. plain, 35. Gd. colored. Paxton's Magazine of Botany, and Register of Flowering Plants. Each number containing four colored plates. Monthly, 25. &d. each. Edited by J. Paxton, Gardener to the Duke of Devonshire. 348 Floricultural and Botanical Notices The Gardeners'' Chronicle, a stamped newspaper of Rural Economy and General News. Edited by Prof. Lindley. Weekly. Price Qd. each. Curtis''s Botanical Magazine, in monthly numbers. By Sir Wm. Jackson Hooker, K. H., &c., 3d series, vol. 1, 1845. Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Journal of the London Horticultural Society. In quarterly numbers, octavo, 5s. each. ^anunculacecB. VJEONIA Wittniaiudvfa Hartwiss The yellow Pfeony. A hardy shrub; growing two feet high; with yellow (lowers; appearing in June; a native of Crimea ; cultivated in loam, peat and manure; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 9. " A more remarkable acquisition than a yellow pseony, not a pale, straw colored species, which is only a spoiled white, hut a true, yellow flowered plant does not occur," consequently, it might have been expected it would have been put on record by the first botanist who saw it ; it appears, however, accord- ing to Dr. Lindley, no mention of it is made in any work, not even in the "last index of the St. Petersburg Garden, a place so rich in hardy plants." All that is known of its history is, that it was received in October, 1842, in the garden of the London Horticultural So- ciety, from Mr. Hartwiss, director of the Nikita Garden, in the Crimea, and is just mentioned in the London Journal of Botany, for April, 1842, in a letter to Sir W. J. Hooker, from Dr. Fischer, who states that it was sent from Abcharia, by Count M. Worontzoff, with many other interesting plants. It is named in honor of Mr. Wittman, a traveller in the Taurian Caucasus, and afterwards gardener at Odessa. In the Garden of the Horticultural Society it is quite hardy, growing where any other pa^ony will grow, and flowers in May. It was nearly dead when received in 1842, and has only been recovered by the good management of Mr. Gordon, who has charge of the hardy department. The flowers re- semble the common form of the single pseonies. diftering, principally, in color, which is a bright yellow ; the leaves are triternate. Its greatest value will be as a stock for the pro- duction of double varieties, and, probably, a race of yellow, or various shades of that colored flowers. It will undoubted- ly continue scarce for some years. (^Bot. Reg., February.) of New Plants. 349 Malvacew. WIBI'SCUS Jenold/anus Paxton Mr. Jerrold's Hibiscus. A stove plant ; growing eight feet liigh ; with crimson flowers ; appearing in summer; a native of Brazil ; cultivated in loam and leat mould ; increased by cuttings. Pax. Mag. lS4fi. p. 1. A handsome species, "varying from four to nine feet high, composed of numerous shoots, well clothed from the bottom upwards with their fme palmate foliage, and freely developing for a long time their splendid crimson flowers." It was rais- ed, in 1843, in the Duke of Devonshire's collection, from seed sent by Dr. Lippold, from Brazil. In the great conservatory at Chatsworth, it is planted out in the border with several of the hibiscus, and a splendid show of flowers is produced throughout the season. The flowers are single, but quite large, and of the deepest and most brilliant crimson. It re- quires a good heat in England, but Avould probably thrive in the open air in summer in our climate, and a rich soil com- posed of loam, leaf mould, and manure. It is increased by division of the roots and also by cuttings, which, however, do not root easily : the best mode is division of the roots. It is named in compliment to Douglas Jerrold. the well known wri- ter and author. {Pax. Mag., February.) CampanidacecE. PLATYCO'DON grandiflorum Lindl. Great-flowered Platycodon. A hall liardy herbaceous plant ; growing four feet hi:^h -, with blue (lowers ; appearing in summer ; a native of China; cultivated in loam, leaf mould and sand; increased by cuttings. Pax. Mag. 1S46. p. 7. This is one of the acquisitions of Mr. Fortune in his China expedition; it was originally received as a " beautiful cam- panulacesB." Upon coming into flower, it was said to be the old Campanula grandiflora ; but in respect to the name, culti- vators do not agree, some thinking it quite new. It proves to be a half hardy herbaceous plant, with ovate lanceolate leaves, and large funnel-shaped flowers, of a rich deep blue, produced in terminal clusters. The same treatment given to the C. pyramidalis and grandis will probably suit this species, of which it is a fit companion from its very showy flowers. {Pax. Mag. Bot., February.) PortulacecB. CALANDRl'NIA umbellita Paxton Umbel-flowered Culandrinc. A greenhouse shrub ; growing six inches high ; with violet purple flowers ; appearing in summer; a native of Cliili ; niltivated in a light soil ; in- creased by cuttings and seeds. Pax. Mag. 1845. p. 271. . A very pretty suflruticosc plant, of a rather prostrate habit. 350 Floricultmal and Botanical Notices with numerous linear leaves, and corymbs of rich violet pur- ple flowers, which, however, like the other Calandrinias, ex- pand only when the sun shines upon them. It was introduced from Chili, by Messrs. Yeitch and Son of Exeter, where it in- habits dry rocky places. It proves to be a greenhouse or frame plant, requiring protection in winter, but in summer, it may be planted on rock work, or set in a rather dry soil, where it will display its brilliant flowers freely all the summer. It is propagated from cuttings, or from seeds which are abundantly produced. (Pax. Mag. Bot.^ January.) PassiJiordcecE. TACSO'NIA luollissima Hooker Soft-leaved Tacsonia. A greenhouse climber ; growing ten feet high ; with rose-colored flinvers ; appearing in summer; a native of Quito; cultivated in light sandy loam! increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. ISio, pi. U. The Tacsonia pinnatistipula, though introduced into Eng- lish gardens some years ago, is yet a rare plant in American collections. It is a really beautiful climber, and should find a place in every greenhouse. T. mollissima is a new species, equally beautiful with the former. The flowers are pendant, with a tube four inches long, and petals of a bright and vivid rose, and they require to be above the eye to be seen with effect. It was found in Quito by Mr. Hartweg, and bloomed in the Garden of the Horticultural So- ciety in August last. It is a greenhouse plant, and may be grown in a pot and trained to a trellis, or planted out in the ground and trained to a column or the rafter of the house. If potted, the soil should be rather poor, or it will only make an abundance of shoots without flowers. An ample supply of water is at all times necessary. It is readily multiplied by cuttings. {Bat. Reg.., February.) Oar plants have not yet produced flowers. CaprifoliacecB. ABE'LIA rupestrisL/nri/. Rock Abelia. A greenhouse shrub ; growing three feet high; with white flow- ers ; appearing in autumn ; a native of China; cultivated in sandy loam and peat ; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1816, pi. 8. A rather pretty, honeysuckle looking plant, of free growth, with terminal clusters of white flowers, which remain in bloom a long time, and are very sweet-scented. It was found by Mr. Fortune amongst rocks on the Chamoo Hills, and was received by the Horticultural Society in 1844. It requires only the ordinary treatment of greenhouse plants, and is prop- of Neiv Plants. 351 agated from cuttings of tlie young wood. (^Bot. Reg. Feb- ruary.) AcanthacecE.. RUE'LL/.4 macrophylla Vahl. Large-leaved Ruellia. A stove plant ; growing 2 feet high; with scarlet flowers ; appearing in autumn ; a native of South America; cultivated in any good soil ; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1846. pi. 7. Those who are famihar with the old R. formosa will appre- ciate the beauty of this species, which produces " large, branch- ing, forked panicles, loaded with flowers of a glowing scarlet, and nearly three inches long ;" the leaves are also large and handsome, and set off to advantage its abundant display of flowers. It was raised from seeds in the garden of the Duke of Northumberland, and a fine specimen was exhibited last October from Mr. Carton the gardener. It requires the same treatment as the R. formosa, growing freely in any good soil, and flourishing well in a moist heat. During summer, it likes a good supply of water, and after it is done flowering, the old plants should be cut back in the same way as a pelargonium ; but when too old, it would be better to throw them entirely away, and have a set of young plants to take their place. It is readily propagated by cuttings. {^Bot. Reg., February.) Sci^ophulariacece. VERO'NICA salicifolia Forst. Willow-leaved Speedwell. A greenhouse shrub; growing three feel high; with white Howers ; appearing in summer; a native of New Zealand; cultivated in light sandy soil ; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 5. The beauty of F. speciosa is now well known : V. salicifo- lia is a fit companion to it. The leaves are narrower and longer than the former, and the racemes of flowers, which are produced in the same manner, are much larger, more slender, and of a pale blush or white. It was found in New Zealand, and first flowered in the collection of Mr. Glendenning, in whose garden the drawing was made last August. It requires the same treatment as F. speciosa ; that is, a light sandy soil, plen- ty of water during summer, and abundance of air. As the flowers appear on the young wood, the old plants will make neater objects if headed down after they have done blowing : but the best mode is to bring on a succession of young plants. It is well worthy of introduction to our collections. {Bot. Reg., June.) A red variety of F. speciosa has been raised from seed, which is said to be very beautiful. 352 Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. Art. VI. Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. Residence of Horace Gray., Esq.., Neirton. Ang. 1th. — The great objects of interest here are the graperies, of which there are two large houses, each two hundred and ten feet long, and twenty-four wide, built on what is called the curvilinear prin- ciple, without moveable sashes, but only ventilators at the top and front. One of these houses was erected in 1840, and the other in 1845. The vines in the former are now in their fifth year, and are producing as fine a crop as could be de- sired ; the estimated product being not less than 2000 pounds. Mr. Russel, the excellent gardener, whose communications have so often appeared in our pages, fully understands the treatment of the grape vine, and it is with much gratification that we state our intention of giving an engraving of Mr. Gray's vinery in our next number, with plans and sections, showing the mode of construction, and accompanying the same with the entire treatment of the vines from Mr. Russel's pen. We have long promised our readers an article on the growth of grapes in what are termed cold houses, that is, houses without artificial heat, and we shall soon be able to fulfil our engagements. This will be followed by one by our- selves on the management of the vine in greenhouses, so that with Mr. Johnson's article (Vol. VIII. p. 201,) the culture of the grape in these three modes will be fully detailed in every par- ticular. Mr. Gray's vines are producing about thirty bunches to each, and one bunch on a spur; Mr. Riissel prunes on the dor- mant eye system, viz., cutting the spur entirely back, and tak- ing up a new spur from the buds at the base; he not only succeeds in producing very large bunches, some of the com- mon Muscadine weighing two pounds.^ but the vines have a much neater appearance than on the usual plan of heading back to one or two eyes. We siiall endeavour to illustrate his article with the system of pruning. In the new house, Mr. Gray has a great number of new varieties planted which were imported from England ; we may soon hope, therefore, to see them all in fruit here, and at other establishments, and some facilities afforded for clearing up the confusion in regard to the nomenclature of some sorts. Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. 353 Within a year or two, the kinds of grapes cultivated have been almost confined to four or five kinds, without any eftbrt being made to add some of the recent additions to this delicious fruit. A peach house, the same length of the vineries, has been erected, and the trees planted out ; it is, however, only ten feet wide with a span roof at an angle of more than forty-five degrees. The sashes are to be moveable, and have not yet been put on. It is intended to start the trees as early as possi- ble without fire heat, and, in summer, to entirely remove the sashes, that they may have all the benefit of out-door culti- vation. The premises are in very good order, and Ave were partic- ularly pleased with several hundred yards of buckthorn hedges planted by Mr. Russell two years ago ; they are now about two feet high, and one dense thicket from the ground up. They are pruned, as all good hedges should be, in the form of an inverted V, and have a far handsomer appearance than the usually clumpy square form given to most hedges : the buck- thorn is, j>(ir excellence^ the hedge plant for our climate, and perfectly impenetrable by an^^ animal when properly pruned and managed. Around the mansion, we noticed some superb specimens of fuchsias, one of which, globosa splendens, was six feet high, and one mass of brilliant flowers. Several others were also fine objects, and showed the care and skill of Mr. Russel in producing handsomely grown specimens of this fine tribe. Garden of Mr. Mather., Brighton. — We have been much pleased with an inspection of the grapery under the charge of Mr. Needham at this place. The house is about 60 feet long, divided by a partition, and is heated Avith one furnace and flue, and, by means of a damper, one part can be forced into growth several weeks before the other. In the spring of 1844, the grapes were planted, and, during the year, made a free growth : in the winter, however, the mice destroyed nearly all the vines. In the spring of 1845, the vacant spaces were renewed with young vines, which commenced growing vigorously, but, in the early part of the summer, Mr. Needham, having occasion to be absent a week or two, during this period, nearly all the newly planted vines VOL. XII. — NO. IX. 45 354 Notes on Gai'dens and Nurseries. were again eaten off. Disappointed thus a second time, Mr. Needham found he must lose no time in his endeavor to make up the loss : having a quantity of young vines on hand, which had mostly been raised from eyes in the spring, he selected the strongest, and planted them out. The border being rich and well made, they advanced rapidly, though it was August when set out ; and, in October, some of them had reached quite to the top of the rafters : they were then nipped off to swell up the wood, and, in the winter succeeding, were most of them left with three or four feet of bearing wood. These very vines we now found producmg from six to twelve bunches of grapes each, some of them — the white Portugal — weighing 2 lbs. to the bunch. Mr. Needliam is an excellent grape cultivator to produce these results : the bearing wood for another year is as strong as could be wished, and the vines are in no way injured by the crop : to the excellently prepared border, of course, this growth must be attributed, though strong wood, unless prop- erly ripened, will produce but little fruit. One of the main points of grape treatment is the production of solid, short joint- ed, thoroughly ripened wood: without this, the utmost care will fail to give good results. We saw here m fruit the Cannon Hall muscat, which has been so highly recommended for its size and beauty. Mr. Needham" s plant is only a year old ; but it has one bunch of noble berries upon it, which at once attest its good qualities. This, and Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, will be indispensable in every good collection, as the appearance of their immense ber- ries contribute more to set off a dish of fruit than any other varieties: the berries of each are nearly as large as good-sized plums. The Chasselas Musque is also bearing here : it is a fine early muscat flavored fruit, but subject to crack when forced : for cold houses, it is one of the best. We hope to be able to offer cultivators of the grape an article by Mr. Need- ham in a futia-e number. In the greenhouse, the achimenes and fuchsias were bril- liant objects, and some remarkably fine specimens were in bloom, particularly of Achimenes picta and longiflora : a vari- ety of seedling calceolarias were also flowering freely. Every thing indicated the clever management of Mr. Needham. Character and Habits of the Strawberry Plant. 355 REVIEWS. Art. 1. The Cultivation of the Grape and Manufacture of Wine. Also, Character and Habits of the Stj^aivberry Plant. By N. LoNGwoRTH. Pamphlet. 8vo., pp. 19. Cincinnati. 1846. This pamphlet was sent to us by Mr. Longworth early in the season, immediately on its publication. We should have noticed it at the time, but, as we were desirous, after the vari- ous articles which have appeared in our magazine during the last three years, to arrive at some satisfactory conclusions upon this vexed question, we laid it aside in order to have the ex- perience of the present season. We shall endeavor now to fully discuss the matter, and if we differ in many points from Mr. Longworth, we hope our results will be satisfactory, and of some practical value to all cultivators. Mr. Longworth has combated the subject with great earnest- ness, and, if he obtains no other credit, he certainly can claim the merit of having drawn attention to the question, and of seeing his views practically confirmed. We say practically, for although our opinion has changed, as facts have pre- sented themselves, we have for two years always advised the planting of perfect and imperfect blooming kinds in near prox- imity, in order to msure abundant crops. To give Mr. Long- worth's views as summed up in his pamphlet, we quote the following : — " I regret that the Committee on the character of the Strawberry plant have not yet been able to make up an unanimous report. It arises from a failure of the crop with some members of the committee, and from a convic- tion with our European gardeners, that all varieties were perfect in both organs in Europe; and they are slow to believe the contrary. This I am positive is not the fact in England. In some soils and some climates, and in favorable seasons, such staminate plants as are partially perfect in the female organs, yield a larger crop than usual ; but can never be made to bear a full crop. But in raising from seed, fully one half will in general be staminate plants, and not one in fifty of ihem bear even a single fruit. Those that do bear produce many defective berries. I do not believe that any soil, climate or season can make the pistillate plant bear singly; and it is the only one worthy of cultivation for a crop. Of this, and of the stami- 356 LongwortK s Pamphlet on the nate and pistillate character of the plant in England, we have positive evi- dence from their great horticulturist, Keen himself. In the year 1809, (if my memory serves me as to dale,) Keen discovered that a new seedling of his planted by itself, did not swell the fruit. On a careful examination of the blossom, it struck him that it might be owing to a defect in the male organs. He then placed some staminate blossoms in a phial of water, and suspended them in the bed. He found the fruit in the vicinity to swell im- mediately, and he placed more phials of staminate blossoms in different, parts of the bed, and had a fine crop. His letter will be found in the Trans- actions of the London Horticultural Society for that year. What was true m 1809, will be found still to be true. 1 have further evidence of the char- acter of the plant in England. Fifteen years since, I imported several vari- eties of strawberries from London, and among them I had both staminate and pistillate plants, but not one variety in which both organs were perfect in all the blossoms. The staminate varieties bore from one-tenth to one- third of a crop. Under the name of Keen's seedling, I got a pistillate plant, that impregnated, produces abundantly, and the fruit is large and fine. By themselves, an acre would not produce a perfect berry. It is not what in England is generally known by the name of Keen's seedling. — Mr. Keen raised many varieties. The true Keen is a staminate plant, and is more perfect in both organs than is usual, and produces a partial crop of large fruit. I incline to the belief, that for market, their gardeners cultivate the same seedling of his as the one sent me, and probably the same kind he im- pregnated by hand. It is truly a valuable kind, and worth twenty of the staminate seedlings. The staminate Keen is cultivated for forcing, and as the object is large fruit, all the blossoms are picked off, except three or four that set first. But it will be asked, if true, why is not this known to botanists, and to all our nurserymen who raise the plant for sale. The reasons are obvious. The strawberry belongs to a class of plants that have both the male and female organs in the same blossom. In all the white varieties I have seen, and in the Alpines, both organs are always perfect in the same blossom. Both organs existing in all other varieties, though not both perfect in all the blossoms, the attention of botanists is not directed to it, or, where noticed, is supposed to be an accidental defect. In all the other species and varie- ties I have seen, both wild and cultivated, I have met with one only where the defect in the one organ or the other was not apparent, and in that the fruit was very small. I have never seen a pistillate plant, (one in which the female organs predominate,) that would by itself produce any perfect fruit. Staminate plants (those in which the male organs predominate) where partially productive, generally produce the sweetest and most highly flavored fruit. In certain soils and certain seasons. Keen's seedling, Wil- mot's, the Iowa, and some other staminate varieties, will produce half a crop. Where our horticulturists raise from seed, all the stammate plants that are entirely barren are of course thrown away, and the few staminates that produce a partial crop of large fruit, retained. A pistillate plant, that. Character and Habits of the Straioberry Plant. 357 mixed with others, bears a full crop of large berries, is transplanted as a treasure into a bed by itself, for increase. The gardener is the next season surprised to find it wholly barren, and, after one or two trials, throws it away. The nurseryman, within a space of 100 feet square, cultivates twenty or more varieties, and a large portion of them are always staminate, and im- pregnate the pistillate varieties. Fruit not being their object, their atten- tion is not directed to their bearing, and the failure of a full crop in any vari- ety is attributed to frost, or accident, or its being a bad bearer. Of this, we have a strong instance in Hovey's seedling. It is eleven years since he raised this plant; he has increased it extensively for sale. Six years since, I made known the defect in the male organs of the plant, and drew his atten- tion to it ; and asserted that an acre of them separated from all others would not produce a perfect berry. Till 1842, he continued to contend, and was positive that his plant was perfect in both organs. In 1842, he admitted, in his Magazine, its defect in the male organs. In 1844, he went back to his old doctrine, as will be seen by his Magazine ; and it was not till the August No. of his Magazine of the present year that his mind was again mystified on the subject. How are the mere tvorkies to gain information, when the editor of a Horticultural Magazine, and a nurseryman, who under- takes to enlighten others, has not, in eleven years, ascertained the charac- ter of his own seedling] lam the less surprised at this, and acquit Mr. Hovey of blame, as Mr. Downing, in a recent letter, assures me, that last season, he raised a fine crop of Hovey's seedlings, on a bed far separated from all others ; and for a still stronger reason — that even the London Hor- ticultural Society holds the same doctrine. But the question is now under investigation, and light is thrown on it yearly by cultivators, and even the London Horticultural Society will soon acknowledge their error ; but not till Mr. Hovey has satisfied his own mind, when he will doubtless draw public attention to it. Yet Mr. Hovey, in his August No. of the present year, states, a person had cultivated an acre of his seedlings, where they were mixed with staminate plants, and raised two thousand quarts, and that his new seedling is valuable for impregnating his old one. Here is a tacit admission, that his old seedling is defective in the male organs. The yield was not a large one. Mr. Jackson raised at the rate of five thousand quarts to the acre, near Cincinnati, as he informed the public in a late publication. Mr. Downing, I am positive, had not Hovey's seedling unmixed Aviih oth- ers. To keep varieties separate is next lo an impossibility, and the more so, as new ones are often produced in the bed from chance seed. I was absent from home two months this summer, and left it in charge with my gardener to watch the beds, and keep down runners. On my return, I found the pis- tillate beds had become mixed, and the staminate Iowa had run on the ad- joining pistillate beds, on each side, a distance of nine feet. But though Mr. Hovey appears to admit that his old seedling requires staminate plants near, on the same page, he remarks, " It is time and labor thrown away to cultivate sterile plants, as has been recommended by some individuals, when 358 hongwortK s Pamphlet on the varieties unusually productive, and of large size, can be planted out for that purpose." He here of course refers to his own seedlings. To put this question at rest, 1 make the following proposition — He shall send a plant of each of his seedlings to Mr. Wilder of Boston, and Mr. Jackson of this city ; and if, after a fair trial, they report them " unusually productive," I will present the Massachusetts Horticultural Society with $500. 1 will do this, if they report them as producing as large a crop as the old seedling will do, where one-tenth of the ground is lost, by barren plants being in- serted. I will go further. If they report his old seedling as producing half a crop of perfect fruit, I will do the same thing. If they report the con- trary, he must present the like sum to the Cincinnati Horticultural Society. Mr. Hovey now states, that among all the species and varieties of straw- berries there are only four worthy of cultivation — the Virginia Scarlet, Al- pine, his old seedling, and a new seedling of his, which he calls the Boston ; and, though raised in 1834, he has never before discovered its fine qualities. This he pronounces " perfect in both organs, a great bearer, and fine fruit ; and also suitable to impregnate his old seedling.'''' He is here wide of the mark. The Scarlet is an old native fruit of Virginia, and its greatest merit is its early maturity. The fruit is of good quality, but not large. The Alpine was introduced into Cincinnati fifty years since from the Alpine Mountains, by Governor Sargeant. Itis deemed of little value. The flavor is not good. Its size is small, and it is only cultivated in a few of our gar- dens as a curiosity, and not a quart of them is ever found in our markets. What will English cultivators, who have raised so many new seedlings, say to this? What will they think of their wisdom, in having enriched some of their Horticulturists, by paying high for new varieties? By the time Mr. Hovey has cultivated his new seedling eleven years more, he will discover that it has not one-tenth the value of his old seedling, and its only value to impregnate it ; and, for that purpose, we now have as good bear- ers, as fine flavored, and larger fruited seedlings. His old seedling stands unrivalled with us for size, where impregnated. But we have other varie- ties, that are as good bearers, of nearly equal size, and of finer flavor. But I would highly recommend his old seedling to all cultivators, whether for family use, or for sale. His new seedling, I have not seen. The new doc- trine of Mr. Downing, " that all plants in their natural state are perfect in both organs, and staminate and pistillate ones, chance monsters produced by high cultivation," surprises me, for he deservedly stands high as a Horti- culturist. In a late number of the American Agriculturist, I discover V\^m. R. Prince disputes his theory, and contends for the true character of the plant. Mr. Prince is an experienced Horticulturist, and the discussion will call out other experienced Gardeners ; and I hope, in a few years, to see strawberries in as great abundance, and sold as cheap, in the Eastern cities, as in our own. The plant, be it staminate or pistillate, never changes its character in running." pp. 11, 14. The substance of these remarks has already appeared in our pages in Mr. Long worth's communications upon the straw- Character and Habits of the Strawberry Plant. 359 berry (VITI. pp. 257, 404,) and commented upon by us at various times. They have also been ably discussed by our correspondents in the last four volumes. We shall, therefore, only correct Mr. Longworth in some of his statements, and sum up the whole in three questions, viz : — 1st. Are there male and female plants'? 2d. Can what are termed (erroneously) pistillate plants, be made what are termed (erroneously) staminate ? and 3d. Are perfect flowering plants necessary to fertilize im- perfect flowering ones 7 Mr. Longworth's remarks abound in so many errors and inconsistencies that we shall scarcely expect to notice all. In the first place, he states, that Mr. Keen discovered the evi- dence of the male and female flowers in 1809 in a bed of his ^^ new seedlmg.^'' Our correspondent, Mr. James, has shown, (X. p. 110,) that this experiment was with the common Haut- bois, and not with any seedling of Mr. Keen. In the next place, he asserts that we have denied that our seedling had defective blossoms : we should be pleased to have him point out the time : we did assert that it was owing much to culti- vation whether they were defective or not, from reasons which we have before given (IX. p. 415,) which we would commend to the notice of our readers ; for, although we have changed our views, from more recent experiments in regard to the ne- cessity of perfectly developed blossoms to impregnate imper- fect ones, those remarks form the groundwork of our opinion in regard to the true nature of the strawberry blossom. Another gross assertion Mr. Longworth makes in regard to our new seedling, the Boston Pine. He states that " although raised in 1834, we have never before discovered its fine qual- ities." We never made any such remark ; the Avords are his own coining. Not only did we discover its qualities at the same time of Hovey's seedling, in common with five or six others ; but we have devoted time and patience ever since that time, to the selection of the best of these, all of which were finer thari two thirds of the commonly cultivated kinds, till at last we were assured the Boston Pine had no superior in all its qualities combined. It is Jive years since the fruit was first exhibited, but we were not desirous to dispose of the plants till the autumn of 360 LongwortK s Pamphlet on the 1845. His statement about the Wood Strawberry is equally incorrect. We now take up the questions we have proposed. 1st. Are there innle and female strcnrberry 'plants ? We say Avithout hesitation — no, — so far as the strawberry has yet been seen. It is necessary, in discussing subjects of this nature, that we call things by their right names. There are perfect and imperfect flowering kinds ; the committee of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, chosen to look into this matter, admit, that a "critical examination of the flowers will disclose the stamens, few in number, and so imperfect in an- thers and pollen, that they appear incapable of fertilizing the stigmas." (See p. 308.) On this head. Mr. Thomas has made some sensible remarks in the Cultivator, which fully coincide with our views, (IX. p. 415.) He has accompanied his re- marks with engravings, in which the stamens are shown, but so few and short as to be deficient for impregnating the pistils, and he also states that they "are evidently imperfect and flattened, partaking thus, in a slight degree, the character of the petals of a double flower :" and further, that after many careful observations of Hovey's Seedling with a compound achromatic microscope, on " some of the anthers no pollen was obtained; they, however, usually aflbrded a small quantity; and their fertilizing power appears to be slowly developed as they burst and discharge the minute portions tbey contain in most cases, about the time or after the petals open." This is the true character of our seedling, and all the large kinds usu- ally denominated pistillate. Can any further facts be re- quired to establish the correct name of the blossoms ? If so, Ave stand ready to become convinced when they are equally as well substantiated. 2d. Can what are termed {erroneonsly^ pistillate plants be onade what are termed (^crroneoiis/y) staminate ones 7 i\gain. we answer — no. The instance has never yet been shown, notwithstanding the luminous views of Mr. Downing and his offer to make tbem to order. Our seedling has an im- perfect flower, and no cultivation, or " allowing it to exhaust itself by overbearing," will produce that result. Every culti- vator who has found staminate flowers, so called, in his beds of Hovey's Seedling has found either accidental seedlings (as we have often done, and recorded the fact, VIII. p. 261,) or Mr. hongwortK s Pamphlet^ ^c. 361 other varieties. If strawberries are allowed to decay on the vines, seedlings will be seen to spring up if the beds are not disturbed. A large majority of the Cincinnati committee state that plants " never change their character." This question we therefore consider as satisfactorily settled, without discuss- ing Mr. Longworth's conflicting views, about "male and female Keen's," "male and female Hudson," &c. 3d. Are perfect flowering plants necessary to fertilize the imperfect floivering ones ? Here we say unreservedly, — yes. Without them a good crop can never be produced ; and this we have advised for up- wards oftu-o years, after testing the fact. Out of the great number of English strawberries which have been introduced, only five or six have been found with imperfect flowers : that which will afford the best example is the Methven scarlet. It is not very surprising, then, that English cultivators should say but little on the subject, as the Methven was so inferior a variety that it soon went out of cultivation. Our strawberry was, we believe, the first seedling raised in this country, not- withstanding so many have been produced since ; and it has been a source of great satisfaction to know that our example has produced such good results. Its immense size and excel- lence induced many cultivators to root out all other sorts, and cultivate this alone, justly thinking it useless to grow inferior ones : their haste, however, ended in disappointment. In the place of the abundant crop anticipated, in many instances the beds were entirely barren, and the variety was at once con- demned. Hence arose the controversy on this subject ; but we have at last, by the repeated discussion of the subject, arrived at certain results. No longer need there be any doubt. We repeat, as the one essential thing to produce Hovey's Seedling, in its fullest abundance and excellence, the planting of perfect flowering kinds in near proximity, say loithin six, ten or twelve feet, and for extensive cultivation, alternate beds, in the jiropor- tion of three or four rows of the latter to ten or twelve of the former. The best sorts which we have found for this pur- pose are the Early Virginia or Old Scarlet, and the Boston Pine, the latter having the largest flowers and the strongest stamens, with a profusion of pollen. We have extended our remarks beyond the limits of a Re- VOL. XII NO. IX. 46 362 Foreign Notices. view : but the importance of the subject, and the hope that further discussion will be unnecessary, have induced us to give our views at length. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Art. I. Foreign Notices. ENGLAND. July Exhibition of the London Horticultural Society. — In our last number, we gave an account of the June exhibition of the Society, but owing to want of room, were compelled to omit that portion which related to the fruit. To make up for this, we now give the account of the exhibition of Fruit alone at the July show, when it was not only more abundant, but the specimens much finer : — The exhibition itself was an excellent one for July, more especially when we consider the very unfavorable weather we have had. The Heaths, of which we had lately to complain, were here brought, as a whole, in first-rate condition ; the Orchids were a decided improvement on the June show, both as regards quantity and quality ; and there was a large and magnificent ex- hibition of Fruit, which in July generally forms a prominent feature of attrac- tion ; we shall therefore commence our report with it. The display on this occasion was not only extensive, but contained many productions of very superior merit. The Pine-apples, of which there were 60 in all, were gen- erally large and handsomely grown. Some of the 32 Melons produced also were large and fine ; the Grapes, too, were admirable on the whole, although there were some exceptions as regards colouring ; we allude more partic- ularly to the fine bunches of Black Hamburgh from the garden of the Duke of Marlborough, at Blenheim, which were fine specimens of growth, but not being well coloured, were on that account disqualified. To proceed to a more detailed account, we shall first advert to the collections of Miscella- neous Fruit, of which there were three. That to which the first prize was awarded was produced by Mr. Spencer, gr. to the Marquis of Lansdowne, at Bowood. It contained fine Black Hamburgh Grapes, whose bloom was, however, somewhat rubbed off by travelling; good Violet Hative and New- ington Nectarines, together with Royal George Peaches, finely swelled ; Circassian and Bigarreau Cherries, Elton and British Queen Strawberries, Hybrid Green-fleshed, Terry's prize, and Beechwood Melons, and two Prov- idence Pine-apples, the heaviest weighing 7 lbs. 6 oz. ; also two Queens, and a well-grown Black Jamaica, the latter weighing 4 lbs. 1 oz. The next collection in point of merit was shown by Mr. Fleming, gr. to the Duke of Sutherland at Trentham. It comprised three Queen Pines, two Melons Foreign Notices. 363 — one a hybrid, the other the Sweet Ispahan ; good Elton Strawberries, and Antwerp Raspberries ; also fine Royal George Peaches, and Murray and Scarlet Newington Nectarines, together with Cannon-hall Muscat Grapes, and fine bunches of Muscat of Alexandria, Chasselas Musqu6 and Black Hamburgh. The third collection was communicated by Mr. Dods, gr. to Sir George Warrender, Bart. It contained good Muscat and Black Hamburgh Grapes, two Hoosainee Melons, fine-looking Violet Hative Nec- tarines, and four handsomely-grown Pine-apples. Of Grapes, some fine fruit was present ; more especially famous bunches of Black Hamburgh from Mr. Hunt, gr. to Miss Traill, of Bromley ; and admirable Cannon-hall Muscats from Mr. Hamp, gr. to J. Thorne, Esq., South Lambeth. Excel- lent bunches of Muscat of Alexandria were communicated by Mr. Frost, gr. to Lady Grenville, Dropmore ; and fine bunches of the same variety, to- gether with Black Hamburgh, were shown by Mr. Davey, gr. to G. Smith, Esq. Mr. Tillery, gr. to the Duke of Portland, at Welbeck, sent very good bunches of Black Frontignan, and Muscat of Alexandria ; and good bunches of Black Hamburgh were produced by Mr. Dodemeade, gr. to W. Leaf, Esq., of Streatham. From Mr. Urapleby, of Leeds, were well-coloured Black Hamburgh ; and good bunches of the same variety, together with Sweetwater, came from Mr. Bray, gr. to E. Lousada, Esq., Sid- mouth. Mr. Boyce, gr. to Sir L. Shadwell, Bart., Barn Elms, Surrey, sent Black Hamburgh ; and Mr. Elliott, gr. to J. B. Boothby, Esq., Mus- cats, Black Hamburgh, and Sweetwater ; Mr. Elphinstone, gr. Heckfield House, Hants, Black Hamburgh, hardly sufficiently ripened ; and bunches of the same variety were also sent by Mr. Blackburn, gi. to C T. Whit- tingstall, Esq. It was stated concerning these that they had been raised from eyes planted in pots on the 13th February, 1845, and placed in a pit in May of the same year ; that each Vine was now producing five bunches of fruit, each bunch weighing, on an average, 2 lbs. Finally, from Mr. Hewitt, gr. to G. Purday, Esq., were fair bunches of Sweetwater. — In the Market Gardeners' Class, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Mitchell, of Kemptown, Brighton, for exceedingly fine, well coloured bunches of Black Hamburgh, and Cannon-hall Muscats. Mr. Wilmot, of Isleworth, also sent Cannon-hall Muscats, equal to the above in point of merit, together with specimens of his new Black Hamburgh, and a Muscat from Portugal ; Mr. Gadd, of Betchworth Castle, Dorking, good bunches of white Frontignan and Black Hamburgh, the latter, however, hardly sufficiently coloured ; and finally, Mr. Chapman, of South Lambeth, produced Black Hamburgh, in fine condition, both as regards colour and bloom. — Of Vines producing Grapes in pots, we must not forget to mention three plants of Black Ham- burgh, exhibited by Mr. Wright, gr. to the Hon. Mrs. Rushout, of Wan- stead Grove. These were beautifully laden with fruit ; we counted on one plant nine fine bunches, with well swelled berries. — Of Pine-apples, the first prize was awarded to Mr. Dods, for three fine specimens of Providence. A handsomely grown Queen was shown by Mr. Fleming, gr. to the Duke of Sutherland. Mr. Collinson, gr. to the Marquess of Westminster, Eaton Hall, sent two Providences, both fine specimens of cultivation ; and another 364 Foreign Notices. Providence, not well formed, and hardly ripe, was produced by Mr- Brown, gr. to C. W. Packe, Esq., M. P. Mr. Fraser, gr. to E. D. Davenport, Esq., sent two handsome Queens. A well-formed Providence was shown by Mr. Belton, gr. to C. Winn, Esq., of Nostell Priory ; and six specimens of the same variety were produced by Mr. Christie, gr. to Viscount Folke- stone, Langford Castle, Salisbury ; the largest of which was a handsome well grown fruit. Mr. Bray sent a Queen, having no crown ; and a Provi- dence, small, but well formed ; Mr. Hewitt, five Queens ; Mr. McEwen, gr. to Col. Wyndham, a Providence; Mr. Thompson, gr. to G. Byng, Esq., Wrotham Park, Barnet, a Providence ; Mr. Braid, Hanworth Park, a tol- erably well-grown Queen ; Mr. Brewin, gr. to R. Gunter, Esq., five Queens ; and Mr. Elphinstone, a Ripley Queen. From Mr. Baggs, Southgate, was an Enville ; and Mr. Ayres, gr. to J. Cook, Esq , sent three small but well formed Queens; Mr. Bennett, gr. to J. Smith, Esq., two Ripley Queens with small crowns ; Mr. W. Death, Netteswell, two Queens ; and Mr. Da- vis, gr. to Lady Braidfoot, four Queens, the heaviest weighing 2 lbs. 15 oz. In the Market Gardeners' Class, only one exhibitor came forward, viz., Mr. Wilmot, of Isleworth, who showed four good Moscow Queens, which were, however, barely ripe. A Table, showing the comparative weights, together with the total weight of all the Pines exhibited, will be found in another column. — Of Melons, Mr. Fleming showed a hybrid between the Ispahan and Hoosainee, which was small, ovate, but said to be excellent. Mr. McEwen, good specimens of Beechwood and Benares ; Mr. Parker, gr. to J. H. Oughton, Esq., Roehampton, Hill's green-fleshed ; Mr. Braid, the Ispahan, named a Cabul green-fleshed ; Mr. Elliott, three specimens of Hill's gr-^en-fleshed ; Mr. Bray, three Persian varieties ; Mr. Barton, gr. to J. Thorp, Esq., Chippenham Park, two unnamed Melons; Mr. Slowe, gr. to W. R. Baker, Esq., a hybrid green-fleshed ; Mr. Carson, gr. to W. F. G. Farmer, Esq., of Nonsuch Park, a hybrid from the Beechwood ; Mr. Davey, a scarlet Egyptian ; Mr. Sullivan, gr. to W. Paynter, Esq., a Cantaloupe ; and the same variety was also sent by Mr. Allen, gr. to J. Davis, Esq., Walthamstow, and by Mr. Gadd, Betchworth Castle, Dorking ; a green- fleshed Melon also came from Mr. Martin, of Camberwell. Of Cherries, excellent samples of Bigarreau were shown by Mr. Elliott ; and not less handsome specimens of the same variety, together with Black Tartarian, were produced by Mr. Whiting, gr. to H. T. Hope, Esq., of theDeepdene, near Dorkiug ; a beautiful dish of Black Eagle was contributed by Mr. Bray ; and good Black Tartarian by Mr. Hewitt ; Mr. Meyer, of Brentford, com- municated dishes of Bigarreau and May Duke, and Mr. Martin, of Camber- well, Morellos. Of Plums, a dish of Black Morocco was exhibited by Mr. Bruce, gr. to B. Miller, Esq., of Tooting, who also sent specimens in good condition of Stone Pippin Apple of last year's growth. Madras Citrons were shown by Mr. Kendall, gr., Anthony House, Davenport. Of Peaches and Nectarines, some fine fruit was placed on the table, and foremost amongst them may be mentioned famous specimens of Violet Hative Necta- rines from Mr. Wright, who also sent very fine Royal George Peaches. Mr. Parker produced excellent Elruge and Violet Hative Nectarines, and Domestic Notices. 365 finely swelled Galande Peaches. Handsome Violet Hative Nectarines were likewise shown by Mr. Collinson, and very fine specimens of the same variety, together with the Elruge, were contributed by Mr. Mason, gr. to Sir J. Kenaway, Bart., of Escot House, Devon. Mr. Collins, gr. to E. H. Chapman, Esq., Hornsey, sent fine Royal George Peaches ; and good No- blesse and Royal George Peaches and Violet Hative Nectarines were com- municated by Mr. Fleming. Mr. Wilson, gr. to J. Tucker, Esq., of Wood- ford, produced Violet Hative Nectarines ; and inferior specimens of Elruge Nectarines were exhibited by Mr. Slowe ; and finally Mr. Dods sent Royal George Peaches. British Queen and Elton Pine Strawberries were pro- duced by Mr. Cole, of Bath ; and a dish of Raspberries by Mr. Cornwall, of Barnet. — Gard. Chron., pp. 480, 481. Art. H. Domestic Notices. Another liberal Donation to the Mass. Hort. Soc. — We are happy to learn that another liberal donation of $ 1000 has been made to the Mass. Hort. Society, by the Hon. Theodore Lyman. It is to be invested as a perma- nent fund, the income from which is to be annually appropriated as pre- miums either in medals or plate, for the choicest specimens of fruits. — Ed. Exhibitions of Horticultural Societies. — The Eighteenth Annual Exhibi- tion of the Mass. Hort. Society will be held on Wednesday, TJmrsday and Friday, the 17th, 18th and 19th of September. The Annual Exhibition of the Long Island Hort. Society will be held in the village of Flushing, L. I., on the same days, viz., the 17th, 18th and 19th of September. The New Haven County Hort. Society will hold its Sixteenth Annual Exhibition at New Haven, Conn., on Tuesday, Wednesday cind Thursday, Sept. 22d, 23d and 24th. We have not room to enumerate the articles for which premiums will be awarded. The Pennsylvania Hort. Society will hold its next Annual Exhibition in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the 16th, 17th and 18th of September. The Horticultural Exhibition of the American Institute will be held at Niblo's, in New York, commencing Tuesday, October 6lh, and will con- tinue several days. The horticultural address will be delivered at noon, on the 6lh..— Ed. IpomcE^a Learn. — I perceive you publicly recommend Ipomas^a Learn for an o.ut-door runner, which is wise, for I know of none so beautiful as this fine plant. I have two pyramids of it in the garden twelve feet high, al- ready clothed to the top, and have commenced flowering ; nor are these the most select year-old plants, but the common run of plants, that we sold ev- ery body, — indeed, with the exception of one plant, they are the refuse of the selling stock, and yet are so strong and fine as to be already flowering. I have not the least doubt that four plants of a year old, kept over in the 366 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. store and in growing vigor, turned out about the middle of May, in a warm aspect, would, by the middle of July, cover a frame or pyramid of stout hickory poles fifteen feet high, and be a dense mass of foliage and flowers till the middle of October, or longer. It is folly to sow convolvulus seed now that this " azure zone" has come over to us from the golden clime of Ceylon. I have sold a large quantity the last two years, and have one cus- tomer who is such an admirer of it that he ordered and planted in his gar- den, on Staten Island, no less than a dozen and a half. I have seen repeat- edly eight and even ten blooms out at a time on one spur, forming of itself a beautiful bouquet, for you know they are very large. Hard by my Ip. Learu I have a bed of some hundreds Tigridia conchiflora ; it is very pleasing, (as you know they are both early risers,) to fill two tall champagne glasses, one with Ip. L. the other with Tig. con., and place them on the breakfast table : properly viewed, they aid morning worship ; such divine productions cannot but elevate the mind, and give a zest both to it and — the Hyson. Yours truly, G. C. T., Astoria, N. Y., July, 1846. Art. 111. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Saturday, August \st, 1846. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The President read a letter from Rev. H. Colman in relation to medals, which he had procured and forwarded to the Society. The thanks of the Society were voted to Mr. ('olman, for attention to the subject. The Librarian was requested to procure duplicate keys for the Library, to be kept in the Room, in the Chairman of the Fruit Committee's hands. The Recording Secretary was requested to procure a Book, in which the names of all persons proposed for membership should be registered with the name of the member proposing the same. Voted to subscribe for the Horticulturist. Gideon F. Thayer, A. S. Lewis, and J. E. Tcschemacher, Boston ; A. Allen, Newton ; J. G. Morton, West Needham ; and Jeremiah Sheehan, Salem, were admitted members. Adjourned 2 weeks, to August 15th. Exhibited. — Flowers : From the President of the Society, Phlox QCuil de Lynx and Princesse Marianne. From Jos. Breck & Co., several new phloxes, among which were Princesse Marianne, Nymphae^a alba, Blanc de Neuiljy, LawrencJa, picta, marchantia speciosa, &c. ; also Gladiolus gandavensis floribiindus and natalensis, and a variety of annuals and bouquets. From Mr. Warren, Gladiolus belviderus, a new and beautiful striped variety ; also dahlias in variety and bouquets. From P. Barnes, a fine specimen of Ipo- mopsis elegans. Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited a variety of new phloxes, among which were Charles, Blanc de Neuilly, ffiuil de Lynx, Apollo, alba Kermesina, &c. ; also Gladiolus gandavensis, and other flowers. From T. Needham, Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 367 fine phloxes, dahlias, and other flowers. From Walker & Co., Gladiolus floribiindus, dahlias and other flowers. From G. Gilbert, Plymouth, a fine display of native plants, among which were Sabbatic chloroides, and chloroides alba, Orchis fimbriata and blephariglottis, Lobeha caidinalis, &c. Bouquets, Designs, and cut Flowers were also presented by W. Keniick, Messrs. Winship, W. B. Richards, W. Meller, John Hovey, James Nu- gent, J. Sheehan, W. Doyle and P. Barnes. The following is the award of premiums : — Bouquets and Designs. — To J. Sheehan, for the best bouquet, a premi- um of $2. To J. L. L. F. Warren, for the second best bouquet, a premium of $ 1. To Miss Russell, for baskets of flowers, a gratuity of $ 1. To W. Doyle, for a design, a gratuity of $ 1. Fruit : From the President of the Society, Doyenn6 d'Ete, Golconda nova, and Jolemont pears, also, Augou-mois hatif apricots ; the Jolemont pears were not in eating. From O. Johnson, fine specimens of Zinfindal and Black Hamburgh grapes, and Citron des Carmes pears. From E. M. Richards, Red Astrachan apples. From John Hovey, Early Harvest apples. From F. W. Macondry, fine Sharp's Seedling peaches. From Major Brown, Cambridgeport, Jaune Hative plums; this old variety has taken some cultivators quite by surprise, who supposed it to be a new and rare sort, as the tree from whence they were taken had lost its name. From W. Quant, fine Heath peaches, and Persian melons. Hovey and Co. exhibited fine specimens of the Doyenne d'Ete pears, which the Committee do not think quite equal to the Citron des Carmes ; we think another year's trial will be necessary before its qualities can be well ascertained. From J. F. Allen, Grizzly Frontignan, Red Traminer, Black Portugal, White Chasselas, While Nice, Black Hamburgh, Verdelho, Esperione, Chasselas, Bar Sur Aubel Zinfindal, Black Prolific, and White Frontignan grapes ; also, Franconia raspberries, and Yellow Rareripe, Early (Crawford, Noblesse, and Kenrick's Orange peaches: Violette, Ha- tive, and Elruge nectarines. From A. D. Williams, Early Bough and Sopsavine apples, and Citron des Carmes pears. From A. McLennan, a fine Persian green-fleshed melon From Mr. Warren, St. Peters and Black Hamburgh grapes. Wood strawberries, and Franconia raspberries. From George Walsh, apples. Vegetables ; From A. D. Williams, 12 very fine tomatoes. August 8th. Exhibited. — Flowers : From the President of the Society, fine phloxes, among which were Henry Clay, CEuil de Lynx, Richardsonw speciosa, &c. ; also. Lady Alice Peel, Hebe, Beaute Parfaite, Beaute de Jour, lucidum and one seedling petunia, all new and handsome ; and Combr6- tum purpureum, verbenas, &c. From W. Quant, a very fine display of annual flowers, including fine varieties of sweet peas, zmnias, balsams, &c. &c. From P. Barnes, Ipomopsis 61egans, fine double balsams, and other flowers. W. E. Carter exhibited a fine lot of phloxes, including some new seedlings ; one called Russelha/ia, finely variegated, and another without name with white flowers, delicately pencilled with pink ; also -S'cilla 368 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. marilima, a fine bulb, gloxinias, cut flowers, and bouquets. From Dr. E. Wight, Montjoy Prairie rose, very handsome. From S. Gilbert, Plymouth, fine specimens of indigenous plants. Messrs. Hovey and Co. exhibited a variety of Roses and new Phloxes, the same as those shown at the last meeting. From Mr. Warren, several Dahlias, Gla- diolus belviderus, and other flowers and bouquets. From Jos. Breck & Co., Gladiolus gandavensis, and new phloxes, the same as exhibited at the last meeting ; also a variety of annuals. Bouquets and cut flowers from W. Meller, James Nugent, Messrs. Winship, D. Crawley, S. A. Walker, W. Kenrick, W. B. Richards, Walker & Co., S. H. Hay ward, J. W. Mandell, and W. Doyle. The following premiums were awarded : — Bouquets and Designs. — To W. Doyle, a premium of $2 for the best bouquet. To Miss Russell, a premium of $ 1, for the second best bouquet. Plants. — To. W. E. Carter, a gratuity of $ 1 for a fine plant of Scilla maritima. Fruit : From John Fisk Allen, twenty varieties of greenhouse Grapes, viz., Aleppo, Red Chasselas, Golden do. White do. Black Hamburgh, Black Hamburgh, (Wilmot's New,) Black Hamburgh (Wilmot's No. 16,) the lat- ter very sprightly and fine. Grizzly Frontignan, White do., White Nice, Red Traminer, White Gascoigne, Zinfindal, Esperione, Tottenham Park Muscat, ]51ack Prolific, Yerdelho, Black St. Peters, Black Portugal, Black Tripoli (new,) being a larger number of varieties than has ever been exhibited at any of our luetkly shows. Mr. Allen made a display of some of his handsome peaches, nectarines and apricots. W^e omitted to state, in our report of the first, that some of Mr. Allen's peaches, then on the table, weighed up- wards of half a pound each. Also, Jargonelle Pears and Franconia rasp- berries. O. Johnson exhibited very fine specimens of the Red Astrachan Apple, also specimens of the " Newhall Apricot," from the garden of Paul New- hall Esq., of Lynn, who raised this variety, and which, in the opinion of the Committee, may be classed among the best. It is not quite number one in size, but is very delicious in flavor. Ispahan Melon, by Thomas Needham. John A. Kenrick, Peach Plums. Samuel Walker, seedling and Red Dutch Currants ; also Green Chisel Pears. T. H. Perkins, by William Quant, Black Hamburgh, Grizzly Frontignan, White do., Black do.. White Nice, and Muscat of Alexandria Grapes. The Grizzly Frontignan, Black Fron- tignan and Black Hamburgh were of fine flavor. Cheever Newhall, Benoni, Summer Rose, Williams's Favorite, and Cur- tis's Early Apples. From Josiah Lovitt, fine specimens of Blackberries. From Samuel Pond, Duane's Purple, Peach, Apricot, and other Plums. Sumner Crosby, Peach Plums. This variety was exhibited under three names viz., the Wheeler, Red Orleans Damask, and Louis Philippe — they all prove to be the true Peach Plum of the French. Parker Barnes, five boxes of Apricot Plums, and two dishes of Jargonelle Pears. From Sam- uel A. Walker, Moorpark Apricots. Wm. Meller, Early Bough and other Apples. James Eustis, Early Harvest Apples. Capt. Macondry, Peaches, Massachusetts Horticultual Society. 369 var. Sharp's Seedling, and Apricots. Charles E. Grant, Moorpark (?) Ap- ricots. From Hovey & Co., Peach Apricots. Vegetables : Ornithogalum, or California Soap Onion, brought from the coast in the ship California, five and a half weeks since, is used for washing clothes, and equal to any soap for that purpose. Presented by Geo. Web- ster Mecum, Boston. August 15th. — An adjourned meeting was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The President announced that the medals sent by Mr. Colman had been received, and placed in the hands of the Chairman of the Medal Committee. Adjourned two weeks, to August 29th. Exhibited. — Flowers : From Hon. J. S. Cabot, a variety of very fine Phloxes, viz., Blanc de Neuilly, Princesse Marianne, Rosea Superba, CEuil de Lynx, New Blush, Mazeppa, Nymphae^a alba, Pottsn, &c. ; also several fine herbaceous plants, among which were^conitum Halleri, ^4. speciosum, pyrenaicum, Z/ythr;im roseum, &c. From W. Doyle, a fine plant of Catt- leya Harrisonz in flower : also a pyramidal bouquet. From Messrs. Hovey & Co., ten varieties of phloxes, which came too late to compete for the prize ; they were, Chai'.es, Nymphae^a alba, Blanc de Neuilly, alba Kerme- sino, Almerine, La Nymphe, Mazeppa, New Blush, &c. ; also roses in vari- ety. From D. Crowley, four plants of Achimenes, and two of Fuchsias. Dahlias, Bouquets and cut flowers from the President, J. G. Sprague, J. Parker, Messrs. Winship, T. Needham, W. E. Carter, E. Winslow, W. Kenrick, S. A. Walker, J. Hovey, W. Quant, J. Breck & Co., Mr. War- ren, Walker & Co., P. Barnes, Jas. Nugent, G. Gilbert. The following premiums were awarded : — Plants. — For a specimen of CaltleyaHarris6n«, to W. Doyle, a premium of $2. Phloxes, — For the best ten varieties, to Hon. J. S. Cabot, a premium of $5. For the second best ten varieties, to Walker & Co., a premium of $4. For the third best ten varieties, to Breck & Co., a premium of $3. For fine seedling varieties, to W. E. Carter, a gratuity of $ 3. Bouquets and Designs. — For the best bouquet, to Miss Russell, a pre- mium of $2. For the second best bouquet, to J. L. L. F. Warren, a premium of $ 1. Balsams. — For the best display, to W. Quant, a premium of $3. For the second best display, to J. L. L. F. Warren, a premium of $2. For the third best display, to Walker & Co., a premium of $ 1. Fruit : From E. E. Bradshaw, fine Moorpark Apricots ; also, Bradshaw plums, a very large and good variety. The Committee state that they " have eaten and seen this plum for two or three seasons, and as they cannot find the true name for the present call it the Bradshaw." This is the same name we have adopted for this variety in a preceding page. From Josiah Lovitt, 2nd, Blackberries, very large. From H. K. Moore, fine Moorpark Apricots. From B. D. Emerson, Grapes, White Chasselas. From Parker Barnes, Apricot Plums. From Andrew Wellington, River Apples. From VOL. XII. — NO. IX. 47 370 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Samuel Pond, Washington, Pond's Seedling, Duane's Purple, Bingham Royal de Tours Plums. From F. Tudor, Esq., Nahant, very large Figs, open culture. From J. L, L. F. Warren, pears ; also Dearborn's Seed- ling, Black Hamburgh Grapes, and River Apples. From John F. Allen, Hunt's Taw^ny, Elruge, and Golden Nectarines and the Nivette Peach, the latter very beautiful ; also, August Muscat Pears ; White Fig of St. Michael's ; Zinfindal, White Nice, Black Ham- burgh, Wilmot's New, Wilmot's No. 16, White Gascoigne, White Chas- selas, Esperione, and Ferral Grapes. From George Walsh, Sopsavine Ap- ples. From John J. Stimpson, Providence, Dearborn's Seedling Pears. From Mr. Haven, Cuisse Madame Pears. From the President, Bloodgood Pears. From S. Walker, Chelsea, Peach Plums, fine. From Hovey & Co., Turkey Apricots. From Wm. B. Richards, Black Hamburgh and Chasselas Grapes. From R. Manning, Pomological Garden, Mabile Apples, and Hastings Pears. From W. H. S. Cleaveland, Burlington, N. J., Black Hamburgh Grapes. From Samuel Hildreth, Seedling Plums. From S. A. Walker, Dearborn's Seedling Pears, Italian Damask Plums, Moorpark (?) Apricots, and a variety without name. From Otis Johnson, Jargonelle and Apple Pears of Essex County ; Fotheringham plums, very fine ; Red Astrachan and Early Bough Apples, extra fine, and others without name. From A. D. Williams, Williams's Favorite Apples, fine ; and Jargonelle Pears. From Wm. Quant, Royal George Peaches, fine, and Persian green-fleshed Melons. From Anson Dexter, Summer Rose Apples. AuguU 22d. Exhibited. — Flowers : From ihe President of the Society, new dahlias, among which were Salter's Isis, Cleopatra, Du Petit Thouars, «&c. From T. Needham, five pots of Achimenes longiflora and grandiflora, two pots of gloxinias, and a pretty specimen of Buddlea Lindleyana; also eight varieties of phloxes, including Princesse Marianne, and Van HouttezJ. From Geo. B. Richardson, a plant of Yiicca serrulata in bloom. From W. Quant, eight plants in pots of Superb Cockscombs ; also a fine specimen of Cypripedium insignis, and cut specimens of double Balsams. Bouquets, Cut Flowers, and Dahlias, from Messrs. Hovey & Co., P. Barnes, J. Breck & Co., W. B. Richards, J. M. Fessenden, O. N. Towne, W. Meller, Messrs. Winship, Mr. Warren, S. A. Walker, James Nugent, John Hovey, F. W. Macondry, Walker & Co., R. West, W. Doyle, John Arnold, Geo. Walsh, Geo. Parker, and W. Kenrick. The premiums were awarded as follows : — Plants in Pots. — For fine coxcombs and Cypripedium insignis, to W. Quant, a gratuity of $ 5. For six plants, to T. Needham, a gratuity of $ 1. For Yivcca serrulata, to George B. Richardson, a gratuity of $2. Bouquets and Designs. — To Mr, Doyle, for the best design, a premium of $2. To. J. Sheehan, for the second best design, a premium of $ 1. To Miss Russell, for the best bouquet, a premium of $2. To Messrs. Winship, for the second best bouquet, a premium of $ 1. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 371 Fruit : From O. Johnson, Summer Franc Real, Julienne, English Jar- gonelle, fine, do. French, Dearborn's Seedling, and Bloodgood pears; Early Bough and Red Astrachan apples ; also, Frothingham plums. From E. M. Richards, a fine flavored pear, name unknown. From A. D. Williams, apples, viz : Williams's Favorite, Bartlett, and a variety name unknown. From Samuel Walker, Colmar d'Ete, and Summer Franc Real pears. From Capt. Lovitt, fine blackberries. From W. Whitney, Orleans plums. From Wm. Quant, very fine specimens of Eiruge nectarines. From Orr N. Towne, White Chasselas and Black Hamburgh grapes. From the President of the Society, Coq and Fondante Van Mons (?) pears. By the Messrs. Winship, several baskets of the Washington and Winship seedling pears ; the latter a good second rate variety, and worthy of cultiva- tion ; also, Tomlinson's Charlotte plums. Hovey & Co. exhibited White Frontignan, Macready's Early White, Muscat Blanc Hatif, new and superior, Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, fine. Black Hamburgh, and Royal Muscadine grapes ; also, Black figs. From S. Pond, plums, viz: Bingham, Washington, Duane's Purple, Royal de Tours, Kirke's, and Pond's seedling. From J. F. Allen, fine peaches, viz: Bellegarde, Royal, Violet Hatif, Crawford's Early and Lafayette; E'ruge and Hunt's new Tawny nectarines ; White Gascoigne, Black Hamburgh, and Grizzly Frontignan grapes ; also, figs, and Summer Franc Real and Passans du Portugal pears. From E. E. Bradshaw, very fine plums, and Muorpark apricots. From the Pomological Garden, Winslow pears. From Isaac Parker, Waltham, seedling pear, worthless. From George Walsh, apples (?) Vegetables : From F. W. Macondry, Lima beans. Aug. 29tk. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, the President in the chair. The President announced that he had the pleasure of informing the meet- ing, that the Hon. Theodore Lyman had made the Society a donation of $ 1000, the interest of which was to be appropriated in premiums. Where- upon it was unanimously Voted, That the thanks of this institution be tendered to the Hon. Theo- dore Lyman, for his munificent donation of $ 1000 Voted, That the Society entertain the highest respect for the liberality that prompted so substantial a token of interest in its welfare. Voted, That the donation be permanently invested by the Finance Com- mittee,— that it take the name of the Lyman Fund, — and that the annual income be distributed in medals or plate, as the Society may hereafter direct. The Hon. Theodore Lyman was unanimously elected an honorary mem- ber. The Committee of Arrangements were voted the privilege of adding to their number, if necessary. Adjourned one week to Sept. 5th. Exhibited. — Flowers : From Messrs. Winship, a fine specimen of A']oe sp. in bloom, and a variety of cut flowers. From W. E. Carter, i/edychium GardnertawMm, superbly in bloom ; also, cut flowers. From Walker & 372 Answers to Correspondents. Co., four pots of fuchsias and other plants and cut flowers. From T. Needham, a superb cut specimen of /Salvia patens. From W. Doyle, Cat- tleya intermedia, Funkia jap6nica, and one large bouquet. Cut flowers, dahlias and bouquets from P. Barnes, J. W. Mandell, W. Kenrick, W. B. Richards, H. W. Button, W. Meller, J. Breck & Co., W. Quant, J. Ar- nold, Hovey & Co., D. Crowley, Jas. Nugent, Mr. Warren, and D. T. Curtis. Mr. Gilbert, of Plymouth, sent a fine lot of indigenous flowers, in- cluding a new variety of Liatris scariosa, with pink flowers. The premiums were awarded as follows : — Plants in Pots. — To W. E. Carter, for Hedychium Gardneriawwrn , a gratuity of $2. To Messrs. Winship, for A'\ob sp., a gratuity of $2. Bouquets and Designs. — To W. Doyle, for the best design of flowers, a premium of $2. To Miss Russell, for the best bouquet, a premium of $2. To P. Barnes, for the second best bouquet, a premium of $ 1. Fruit : Messrs. Hovey & Co. exhibited the following grapes : Grizzly Frontignan, White Frontignan, Macready's Early White, Black Hamburgh, Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, Black Prince, Chasselas de Fontainbleau, and Esperione ; Washington and Cruger's seedling plums, the latter a fine va- riety. From S. C. Mann, Prince's Yellow Gage and Green Gage plums. From Otis Johnson, Bloodgood, Julienne, St. Ghislain and Dearborn's Seed- ling pears ; also, Early Bough apples. From J. F. Allen, White Gas- coigne, Zinfindal, Black Hamburgh and Whortly Hall Seedling (?) grapes ; Manning's Elizabeth, Passans du Portugal, Summer Franc Real, Julienne, Dearborn's Seedling and Williams's Bon Chretien (fine) pears ; also, peaches. From Josiah Lovitt, fine Early Bough apples, and Christiana melon. From George Walsh, Green Gage, Washington., and Prince's Im- perial plums ; also, Williams's Bon Chretien pears. From the Pomological Garden, Sucree de Hoyerswerda, Bloodgood, Eli- zabeth, Double Amanda, Tyson and Rostiezer pears ; also Benoni, Duchess d'Oldenburg, Charlomoski(?) and Putnam's Harvey apples. From J. L. L. F. Warren, Duane's Purple Plums ; Diamond Seedling Peach ; Julienne, Dearborn's Seedling, Summer Bergamot Pears, and Pitmaston Nectarine. From B. V. French, Devonshire Quarrenden Apples. From Messrs. Win- ship, Seedling Orleans, Washington and other plums, and Belle et Bonne pears. From J. W. Cole, Sutton pear (?) worthless. From J. S. Cabot, Sucree de Hoyerswerda pears. From Josiah Richardson, Bradshaw and Bingham plums and Native grapes. From Samuel Pond, Washington (fine) Diamond, French Long Blue, Prince's Imperial Gage, Bingham, Duane's Purple, Kirkes, Dana, Pond's Seedling, Corse's Nota Bene, and Isabella plums. Art. IV. Answers to Correspondenls. Budding the Peach. — Tulips, Hyacinths and other hardy bulbs, may be. planted, out in all this month. Azaleas, and other young stock raised from cuttings, will now require to be potted off. Greenhouse plants, of all sorts, should be prepared for the winter; and, if needed, repotted, pruned and tied up. In case of early frost, they may be removed to frames, from whence they can be taken in at leisure. THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. NOVEMBER, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Horticulture in Mississippi ; Budding Fruit Trees ; Labels for Trees ; Soaking Cucumber and Melon Seeds, Sfc. By M. W. Phillips, Esq., Log Hall, Edwards, Miss. The improvement in fruits is rapidly progressing in this State : quite a rage has sprung up to market fruit to New Or- leans. One gentleman within some ten or fifteen miles of me has an orchard of pear trees of several hundred, and will, in 1847, have over one thousand trees. Another this fall will have some three hundred. I can point to one orchard of peach trees that number over one thousand ; — to an apple orchard of eight hundred that was planted this year within four miles of me : my peach orchard numbers over one hun- dred trees, with over three hundred large enough to place in orchard, and over four hundred budded this spring ; — and, by the by, I can show a bud that was put in about the 7th of June, that is now near three inches long ; it will be large enough to remove by fall. Our cotton crops, so far as I can see and hear, are fully three weeks behind last year, and are more dependent on a favorable fall than any I have ever seen. Such a wet and grassy year, I never before saw. I cannot get my crop clean under ten days. I never worked in my crop in August before, and have often laid by. clean, before July 4,^ — too soon to form any certain calculation of the crop, but as we are, nine years out of ten, picking before this date, we can of course say, our crops are very backward, when there is no probabil- ity of picking before September 1. Those who know how much depends on the number of days to pick, and the ear- VOL. XII. NO. XL .54 426 Horticulture in Mississippi. liness or lateness of frost, can form a notion what we think, when we know we must lose at least fifteen to twenty days in August, which time always gives us the pretty, clean, cot- ton and good weights. A crop under two millions will give an impetus to business that will be felt from the Lake Grand to the Rio Grande. Look for it. I am desirous of adding to my selection of trees, and though I have received my trees mostly from New York, yet Hovey's Magazine — the spirit that impels the Boston folks — the great society there — and a desire to test trees from that mart, in- fluence me in selecting from your nurseries. I have here a very large variety of fruits, indeed, far more than I want, but I am determined to test the relative qualities on this farm, when I will be able to give to the South and South West some good news, and very valuable information. I crave at your hands, (and really of every lover of fruit in our land) all the aid you can give, without detriment. Un- less I succeed in budding peach trees, and then in selling some, there must fall on me an expense and a labor that would be onerous on a private citizen, and one that I think should not be borne without some help. I have now, I assure you, more varieties of peach, apple, pear, plum, apricot, cherry, fig and grape, than I would accept as a present, but for the desire to test. I have carried out many experiments within the past fif- teen years, and have lost very largely, often going to too much expense in the outset; this induces me to be more econom- ical, and to endeavour to sell enough young trees to pay my way. I may err, but I think I will prove conclusive- ly that we have the peach, nectarine, apricot and pear country ; if I can, I will aid my country, and of course aid nurserymen ; for I have no sort of idea that I will ever quit the cotton crop, as my rule of action. Aid your magazine ? Why, dear sirs, I have never dared to do more than to write for ploughmen in an agricultural, or in a political paper. Yet I assure you. if I could be found worthy, I would be greatly pleased. I presume I have picked up something in the horticultural department that would be interesting, but I am at a loss to place my hands on the matter. I have occasionally planted Horticulture in Mississippi. 427 a tree since 1832, have had something to do with fruits since I was a mere boy : the first tree I ever saw budded was in 1822 or '23, and the first tree I ever succeeded in raising was from a cutting of an apple tree in 1818; since which time, I have propagated sundry shrubs and trees by all the various methods in common use. In 1844, I thought I had made a " grande" discovery, by budding without taking out the wood, cutting a thin scalp of bark with very little of the wood ; but not long after making my method known, a friend gave me a great secret how to bud, and, unfortunate for both of us. Downing told everybody of it, as being practised north. It was new to me, and learnt somewhat accidentally, which teaches me for the fortieth time, not to make known any discovery I make — as smarter folks than I am have lived and died. But for all this, there are many old and expert budders who will not try the American mode. It seems to be a mooted point among horticulturists wheth- er fruit trees should be cultivated or not, and the great difii- culty is to decide. On many subjects, there would be no dif- ficulty, but as this, like many others, has warm advocates for the negative and affirmative, in proportion as the individ- ual has strong passions, — that is, one who is very positive, or forms an opinion frequently to be in opposition will almost certainly warp his experience to coincide with his opinion, then, were we to examine any orchard, and listen to the ex- perience of each, we would be about as wise as when we started forth. As an evidence, a neighbor of mine, who is certainly a clever man, and an excellent planter, asserted very broadly, that the reason my fruit rotted so very badly this season was, I cultivated my orchard. I denied the inference, because I have always cultivated my trees, and they never rotted so much before, though it " might be that culture caused too rapid growth" ; but, upon being asked how his trees were attended to, his reply, " I plough the ground thoroughly in the spring, and thus leave it. I never cut the roots after putting forth leaf" I then told him that my land was ploughed as his was, and that I kept clean with hoes and implements that did little more than merely clean the surface : this staggered him. But again, in conversation with a gentleman of much practical 428 Horticulture in Mississippi. skill, though a merchant, he assured me that his fruit trees in his garden rotted their fruit this season more than he had seen, all, whether they had been cultivated or not. Others have had no rotten fruit, whether cultivated or not, and others have had all to rot whether cultivated or not. If the fact could be known, as to the growth of the trees, we might probably ar- rive at some conclusion. For instance, I have a seedling that has never borne any fruit ; it is now five years old ; that is, seed placed in the earth in February or March 1841, and planted into orchard in the spring of 1842. There is a large limb broken down, by weight of foliage I verily believe : the trunk is some twenty to twenty-two inches in circumference, as many others are adjoining. The foliage is so remarkable, that though it has not borne fruit, I could not cut it down and cast into the fire. My trees that were budded last August, about six to twelve inches from the earth, on stocks that grew from the seed in spring of 1845, are this day ten feet high, and five inches in circumference above the budded point, — I am positive, having placed the seed in the earth in the fall of 1844, taken up the plant in the spring of 1845, had it replanted in nursery row, budded myself, and headed down this spring., after the budded had put forth. Such luxuriant vegetation will destroy all fruit, and Mr. Lambert of Vicksburg pursues the correct practice — spade in vegetable manure, and cut otf roots about five feet distant all round the tree, then prune freely. I have a tree, from the seed planted in 1841, that will measure twenty-five inches in diameter, and the fruit will continue to rot while so luxuriant ; its parent did so until I removed it. How now shall I remedy the evil with 1200 peach trees ? I will scatter manure round trees, run a furrow lengthwise of rows four feet from each young tree, and follow with a subsoil plough, then place as near as I can, and sub- soil between rows. I told several, in the spring, that my crop of fruit on young trees would be a loss, because there was too much thrift ; cotton will cast its forms in like circumstances, and I presumed that vegetable economy was alike in all in- stances. Can you inform me what will prevent rabbits from girdling peach, apples, pears, &xj. 7 I have seen coal tar recommend- ed,— and a warning — I have used whitewash ; and the best Horticulture in Mississippi. 429 whitewash with cow dung mixed. Will not tar and grease destroy a fruit tree 1 I had some killed by it. The best labels for five or twenty years ? What kind is best 1 I find paint on white pine or cedar is gone in this cli- mate in three years. I am now trying zinc, with an ink made with verdigris, sal ammoniac of each one part ; lampblack, one half, and water ten, parts. Mix and write on zinc brightened with pumice stone : this latter is my addition — the balance — see page 382 Cultivator, new series. The question is, how long will such labels last 1 I am also trying zinc labels with black lead pencil. Have you ever tried soaking cucumber and melon seeds in any steep to prevent the striped bug ? If not, try saltpetre and soot, a teaspoon even full of the first to a teacup nearly full of water, then pour in seed and soot in any quantity, stir Avell, and let soak about eighteen to twenty hours. I have not had a leaf eaten in three years, and I defy any one to have shewn me a bug on my vines last or this year. Are there not some pears which seem to be too late for your climate 7 The difficulty here is late winter pears and apples. We can grow early summer and fall pears, but, so far, we have none for the winter. I ate, on St. John's day, (24th of June,) the Amire Joamiet, and saw a friend, on the 21st, who had seen ripe pears before the 15th. If we can succeed in procuring winter pears, we are very certain of a constant sup- ply of fruit. Our season is six weeks to two months in ad- vance of yours; as some evidence, I plucked yesterday an ear- ly York peach, fully ripe : I saw one, on the 21st, that was fully ripe, and the last on the tree, growing on hilly land : mine is on flat land, and this season has been a constant del- uge of rain. What do you think of a pear graft making six measured feet before the 22d day of June ? I measured it myself I saw, a week since, the stump of a peach tree, that (I) meas- ured sixty-two inches in circumference : the spot on which it grew was covered with cane in December, 1830, for I camped within a few yards of it, for several weeks ; I think the land was cleared in 1832 or '33 ; the tree was cut down winter of 1844 and '45, being in the way. Is budding the pear admissible I Wliy not as good as graft- 430 Horticulture in Mississippi. ing 1 Is the apple stock admissible ? Would you advise bud- ding apricot and plum on the peach ? Log Hall, Edwards, Miss., June 30^^, 1846. We are happy to know that our western friends have one among them who is so enthusiastic an amateur as our corre- spondent, and whose labors are likely to produce such good results. We are sure nurserymen must feel deeply indebted to one who is doing so much to test new fruits, and dissem- inate only such as are really valuable : a few cultivators with such noble aims would do much towards spreading through- out the west, as well as the south and east, only those varie- ties— the wheat among the chaff — which really possess qual- ities that entitle them to general cultivation. The queries of our correspondent we will endeavour to an- swer. A good label for trees seems yet to be wanted. We have tried, and use quite extensively, white pine or cedar labels, coated with white paint, and written upon with a good lead pencil ; if the writing is made when the label is painted, they will generally last three or four years, and sometimes longer : they are then renewed. Zinc written upon with a prepared ink [A^ol.III, p. 312,] will last much longer, but it does not appear to be so ready a mode. A friend of ours assures us that zinc, coated with a thin surface of paint made of white lead, oil, spirits and copal varnish, rather thin, so as just to cover it, slightly sandpapered when dry, and then written upon with a lead pencil, will last for years. This mode ap- pears to be the best yet discovered, as a whole sheet of zinc can be painted, and then cut up into labels which will be ready to use when wanted. We intend to try it and report the result. Budding pear trees, and, indeed, fruit trees of all kinds, is not only admissible, but we think far better than grafting. We practise it almost exclusively on both the pear and apple. In regard to the use of the apple stock for the pear, our corre- spondent has probably already read the capital article of Mr. Humrickhouse (p. 393.) which gives more information than we have in our possession. We do not, by any means, advise budding the apricot and plum on the peach ; the latter is a poor stock, as we know it is so subject to the borer which Pomological Notices. 431 quite destroys the trees ; it is often done by nurserymen, but we must condemn the practice. We have seen, in agricultural papers, various modes of pre- venting damage to trees by rabbits, but cannot, at this mo- ment, place our hands upon any of them. We should think coal tar might answer. Tar and grease might be applied safely to a tree, by first covering the stem with a strip of tar- red cloth or paper, in the same way that we apply it when trees are tarred for the destruction of the canker worm. Oil soap may answer a good purpose. If any of our correspond- ents know of a good mode, we hope they will communicate it for the benefit of Mr. Phillips, We shall try soaking cucumber and melon seeds, and re- port the result : and we would advise our friends to try the same experiment : Mr. Phillips will have conferred a great benefit if his discovery should prove effectual. — Ed. Art. II. Pomological Notices : or notices respecting new and superior fruits^ luorthy of general cnltivatio7i. Descri])- tions and Engravings of Six Varieties of Pears. By the Editor. We now have the pleasure of presenting our Pomological friends with engravings and descriptions of six of our native pears of fine quality ; which have never yet been figured in any other periodical : among these, we may particularly men- tion the Tyson, which appears to be quite unknown, and un- described, with the exception of Mr. Manning's brief notice at p. 146. It will be our endeavour, if possible, to present our na- tive fruits together, hereafter, that their comparatii^e merits may be more readily determined. Every year is bringing to notice very superior native kinds, and it would not surprise us if, in a few years, we shall be as dependent upon our own pears for general cultivation as we are now upon our own apples. We have drawings of many new seedlings, and only await another season's trial, when we shall speedily give a full description of their qualities. 432 Pomological Notices ; 55. Lawrence. The first published account of this new pear will be found in our Vol. X., p. 36, in our Report of the Exhibitions of the Fiff. 29. Lawrence Pear. Massachusetts Horticultural Society, where a copy of a letter appears from Messrs Wilcomb and King, of Flushing, L. I,, who sent some very large and fine specimens for exhibition, which we had the pleasure of tasting with the Committee, and from one of which our drawing {fig. 29) was made. Messrs. Wilcomb & King state " that it is a native of Flushing ; that it produces abundant crops every year, and is in eating over four months, from October to February. It is not inclined to rot or shrivel, as is the case with some of our winter pears. The tree is of fair growth, and very full of thorns, and ap- pears to be a cross between the old St. Germain and St. Mi- Descriptions of Six Varieties of Pears. 433 chael (Doyenne blanc) as it resembles both of them in wood, foliage and fruit ; and there is no other variety in the neigh- borhood of the tree." The specimens were received on the 25th of November, 1843, and the committee were of the opin- ion that it should be classed with our best pears. This variety has been introduced into our gardens from scions liberally forwarded to the Society, by Messrs. Wilcomb & King, and distributed among the members. These scions have not yet produced fruit, but will probably do so another year. The tree is of moderate growth, wood rather small and thorny, and of a light yellowish brown. We understand the pears from the original tree are much sought after, and com- mand a high price in the vicinity of Flushing. Our descrip- tion is as follows : — Size^ large, about three inches long, and two and a half in diameter : Form, obovate, full at the crown, tapering but lit- tle to the stem, where it ends very obtusely : Skin, fair, nearly smooth, pale lemon yellow when mature, much freckled with dull green above the middle, with a circle of russet around both the eye and stem, and regularly covered with small, blackish gray, specks : Stem, medium length, about one inch, stout, straight, nearly smooth, dull brown, swollen at its junction with the tree, and rather deeply inserted in a large round cav- ity, with a projection on one side : Eye, large, closed, and deeply sunk in a large, open, furrowed, angular basin ; seg- ments of the calyx medium length, projecting : Flesh, yellow- ish white, very melting and juicy, and slightly gritty at the core : Flavor, rich, sugary and excellent, without much per- fume : Core, medium size : Seeds, small, dark brown. Ripe from November to February. 56. Tyson. The Tyson pear {fig. 30,) is of recent introduction, and is but little kno\vn. It has only fruited the last three or four years in the vicinity of Boston, and we first had the pleas- ure of tasting it in the fall of 1845, when it appeared to be so fine a variety that we requested our correspondent, Mr. Man- ning, who has exhibited some superior specimens, to send us a few fruits the present season. We were kindly favored with VOL. XII. NO. XI. 55 434 Pomological Notices ; several, from one of which our drawing was made. It is de- cidedly one of the most luscious pears, fully as high flavored Piff. 30. Th/son Pear. as the Seckel, and, in our opinion, holding the highest rank among our native, or foreign, fruits. The precise origin of the Tyson is, we believe, unknown ; it was introduced into this vicinity by the Hon. B. V. French, of Braintree, who informs us that he received a few scions from the late Dr. Mease of Philadelphia, in the year 1837 or '38. These he distributed among his friends, and the trees first fruited in 1841 or '42, when only one or two specimens were exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Dr. Mease, in a note to Mr. French, stated, that it was considered equal to the Seckel ; that it was believed to have originated in Jenkenstown, near Philadelphia, and named after Mr. Tyson, a Q,uaker gentleman of that vicinity. Mr. Manning has already noticed the Tyson, (p. 146,) where he has stated that the tree is "of vigorous and upright Descriptions of Six Varieties of Pears. 435 growth, a good bearer, but does not bear young," Since then, Mr Manning informs us that he is not certain that this is al- ways the case ; the tree in his collection was grafted in 1838, and did not bear until last year, (1845,) when it had acquired a good size ; but, the present season, he saw scions in Mr. Lee's garden, which had been set only four years, full of fruit. From the fact that W. Oliver, Esq., of Dorchester, ex- hibited the fruit in 1842, from the same lot of scions as those sent Mr. Manning, we suspect it comes into bearing at the usual period of most pears. Wood reddish brown. Size medium, about two and a half inches long, and two in diameter : Form, pyramidal, but rather variable, rounded at the crown, and tapering into the stem : Skin, fair, slightly rough, dull yellow, brightly shaded with red on the sunny side, somewhat russeted, and irregularly covered with black specks : Stem, rather long, about one and a quarter inches, moderately stout, curved, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy junction, much swollen on one side : Eye, medium size, open, sHghtly sunk in a round, very shallow basin ; seg- ments of the calyx short. Flesh, white, fine, melting, and very juicy : Flavor, rich, very sugary and delicious, with a high aromatic perfume, to which we are at a loss to give a name : Core, small : Seeds, small, plump, brown. Ripe in August and September. 67. Hull. The Hull pear {^fig. 31,) was first introduced to notice by Mr. D. Wilbur, Jr., of Somerset, Mass., in which town it orig- inated, and where the original tree is now growing : speci- mens were sent for exhibition in the autumn of 1843, and the committee pronounced it nearly or quite first rate. Our drawing is from one of the handsomest of the specimens then exhibited. To the politeness of Mr. Wilbur, we are in- debted for scions from the parent tree, and next season we hope to see them in fruit. We esteem it one of the best native varieties which has yet been introduced. It is a free and vigorous grower, making upright, reddish brown shoots, with rather large gray spots ; leaves broad, coarsely serrated, 436 of a dark, dull green bearing rather early. Pomological Notices ; it has the appearance of coming into Fig.Zl. Hull Pear. Size, medium, about three inches long, and two and three quarters in diameter : Form^ obovate, tapering towards, and ending obtusely at, the stem : Skin^ rather rough, pale yellow- ish green, tinged with dull red on the sunny side, regularly covered with brownish red specks, and interlaced with cinna- mon russet, with a russety blotch at the base of the stem : Stem, long, about one and a half inches, smooth, rather slen- der, dark brown, with a few whitish specks, and inserted with- out depression on an obtuse point : Eye, medium size, open, and sunk in an uneven, shallow basin ; segments of the calyx short, round : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, buttery, melt- ing and juicy, slightly gritty at the core : Flavor, rich, and sugary, with a spicy delicious aroma : Core, large : Seeds, Descriptions of Six Varieties of Pears. 437 medium size, mostly abortive, long and pointed, dark brown. Ripe in October. 58. Wilbur. The Wilbur pear {fig. 32,) originated in the same town as the Hull, and upon the farm of Mr. Wilbur, after whom it has I^g. 32. Wilbur Pear. been named. Its merits appear either to have been underrated or overlooked : specimens presented for exhibition at the Eigh- teenth annual Exhibition of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society last September, from the President and other gentle- men, were pronounced by the committee of sufficient merit to rank among first rate fruits. Like the Buffum and many other pears, it is probably affected by the season, and some years inferior to others : our drawing was made in the autumn of 1843, from specimens received from Mr. Wilbur, and we did not then consider it first rate, or we should have given an accoimt of it before ; another trial of it this season, however, we think, fully gives it a claim at least among the best pears. 438 Pomological Notices ; Tree moderately vigorous, shoots, reddish brown, with whitish gray spots ; leaves roundish. Size^ medium, about two and a half inches long, and two inches in diameter : Form, nearly oval, regular, largest about one third the distance from the eye, and tapering, in a swollen manner, to the stem: Skin, dull yellowish green, very regu- larly interlaced and speckled with russet, and much russeted at the base of the stem : Stem, medium length, about one inch, smooth, brown, and inserted in a shallow cavity : Eye, me- dium si^re, open, prominent, set even with the surface of the crown ; segments of the calyx medium length, round, reflexed : Flesh, yellowish white, coarse, melting, and juicy : Flavor, rich, sprightly, and excellent, with a pleasant perfume : Core, large : Seeds, medium size, dark brown. Ripe in September. 59. Heathcot. N. E. Farmer, Vol. VII. One of the principal objects to be attained in the establish- ment of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society was the in- troduction of new and superior varieties of fruit, either of for- eign or native origin. Native seedlings were yearly being brought forward, and some of them of such excellent qualities as to induce some eminent cultivators to deny their origin, and to assert that they would probably prove foreign sorts, as if our own climate could not produce a fine pear. Even the late Hon. Mr. Lowell, with all the enthusiasm and energy with which he labored, for many years, in the cause of Horticultu- ral improvement, and whose talents and zeal will ever have our admiration and respect, was slow to admit, as late as 1828, that our climate had produced but two really fine pears. In the N. E. Fo.rm.er of that date is an article under the signa- ture of a " Roxbury Farmer," upon new varieties of fruits, from which we extract the following: — "It is thirty-three years this season, since I turned my attention to Horticulture, and I am not able to recollect any valuable table pear, the evidence of whose origin in this country is to be deemed un- questionable, except the Seckel, and a pear raised by Mr. Jo- honnot at Salem [the Johonnot,] not to be elevated to the first rank, though very desirable : a small winter pear, probably native, and said to be good, on the estate of Mr. Lewis, at Roxbury, [the Lewis] ; a very pleasant summer pear, said to Desc7'iptio7is of Six Varieties of Pears. 439 be the produce of a Jnneating, sent to me by Dr. Alfred Bay- lies of Taunton ; and a fine pear raised on the estate of the Fig. 33. Hcathcot Pear. late Hon. Mr. Gore, [the Heathcot,] and which seems to be between the Doyenne blanc and Doyenne gris. These are all that have come to my knowledge." Thus it will be seen how tardy were the admissions of our fine native fruits. But we have copied the above extract for other purposes: first, to show the rapid strides which Pomology has made since 1828 ; and, second, to give Mr. Lowell's opinion of the pear we are about to describe, which, it will be observed, he states was the only fine native pear, except the Seckel, then known. Eighteen years have passed away, and yet the Heathcot is comparatively a new fruit, Avhose merits we have heard cul- tivators extol the present season as of the very highest charac- ter. We have not space to make an enumeration of our na- tive fruits now cultivated and considered of the first class, as compared with 1828 ; but every cultivator will supply the in- formation himself, and he must feel that we have done more. 440 Pomological Notices ; in this short space of time, towards adding to the list of fine pears, than all the cultivators of Europe, excepting Yan Mons, during the present century. The Heathcot {Jig- 33,) was raised in 1812, on the estate of the late Gov. Gore in Waltham, and was so named after the old gardener who planted the seed. It first bore fruit in 1824, and up to 1828, when it was first brought into no- tice by Messrs. Winships, it had uniformly produced good crops. In 1830, Mr. Toohey, the gardener, exhibited fine specimens which weighed eight and a quarter, and seven oimces each, and the committee pronounced this variety as deserving of extensive cultivation, resembling, in its qual- ities, a sprightly St. Michael, and of equally fine appearance. We write our description with six specimens before us, three from J. B. Thomas, Esq., of Plymouth, whose garden we had the pleasure of visiting, a few days since, and three from Col . Wilder : our drawing is from one of the latter, but the former, being rather more mature, from a warmer locality, were of superior flavor and excellence. The Heathcot is often varia- ble in form, but that now figured is the general shape of the fruit. Tree moderately vigorous, having much the appear- ance of the Dix, with rather slender, brownish gray wood, and small, rather narrow, wavy leaves. Size, medium, about three inches long, and nearly three in diameter : Fonii, obovate, tapering to an obtuse point at the stem; Skin, greenish yellow, becoming lemon yellow when mature, more or less clouded, and interlaced with russet, par- ticularly around the eye and stem, and slightly browned on the sunny side : Stem, medium length, about three quarters of an inch, rather stout, somewhat knobby, dull brown, curv- ed, and obliquely inserted in a small, round, moderately deep cavity, highest on one side : Eye, small, closed, slightly de- pressed in a small, uneven, ridged basin ; segments of the ca- lyx short, thick, and fleshy : Flesh, yellowish white, fine, very melting, buttery and juicy : Flavor, rich, sprightly, vi- nous and excellent, with little perfume : Core, rather large : Seeds, large, peculiarly pointed at the obtuse end, dark brown. Ripe in October. Descriptions of Six Varieties of Pears. 441 60. Edwards's Elizabeth. Probably no individual has raised a larger number of seed- ling pears, in this country, than Ex-Governor Edwards of New Fig. 34. Edwards's Elizabeth. Haven. We believe upwards of twenty-five varieties have been reserved, out of his numerous seedlings, which have been named, and considered as possessing qualities worthy of cul- tivation. In our last volume, (XI., p. 251,) we gave brief de- scriptions of several of the best from Mr. Edwards's own pen, and, among the number, the Elizabeth. Since then, we have had the opportunity of making drawings and descriptions of eight or ten from specimens sent, in October, 1845, to the Mas- sachusetts Horticultural Society for exhibition. The speci- mens were, many of them, premature, and thequality of some of the late varieties could not be well ascertained, but, among those then about in season, was the Elizabeth, which proved to be a fine fruit. It is certainly one of the handsomest pears VOL. XTI. NO. XI. 56 442 Van Zandfs Superb Peach. we have ever seen, having a clear, smooth, and very waxen skin, and, with its fine quahties, is well deserving of exten- sive cultivation. Size, medium, about two and a half inches long, and two and a half in diameter : Form, roundish obovate, slightly an- gular, little swollen about the middle on one side, tapering to an obtuse point at the stem, and slightly narrowing to the crown, which is oblique : Skin, fair, smooth, waxen, uniform pale lemon yellow, profusely sprinkled with very minute, pale russet, specks, considerably russeted around the eye, and a few grayish patches on the shady side : Stem, short, about half an inch in length, moderately stout, smooth, brown, inserted with- out any cavity on a slightly depressed base : Eye, large, open, sunk in a rather large basin ; segments of the calyx broad, long, reflexed, lying back upon the surface of the fruit : Flesh, white, rather coarse, melting, very juicy : Flavor, rich, and vinous, without much perfume : Core, large : Seeds, small, pale brown. Ripe in October. Art. III. Descriptive Account of Vaii Zandfs Superb Peach, By Wm. R. Prince, Flushing, L. I. Van Zanut's Superb Peach. Waxen Rareripe of some Catalogues. This admirable variety originated from seed in the garden of R. B. Van Zandt, of Long Island, who presented the fruit and scions to my father and self, and from us it received its title. It was also called, by some of Mr. Van Zandt's neighbors, the " Waxen Rareripe," on account of its beautiful waxen ap- pearance. Some persons have, for several years, been vend- ing another variety, or varieties, under this name, the fruit of the spurious kind being round, and bearing no resemblance to the genuine kind, and there does not, perhaps, exist at pres- ent a single tree of the true variety, except in our specimen orchard and nursery grounds. Mr. Downing has described a spurious variety in his work, totally different from the gen- uine one. The following description will serve as a guide to Seedling Fruits of the West. 443 distinguish the true variety, and is taken from Prince's Trea- tise on Fruits : — The form inclines to oval ; the flesh melting, juicy, and of fine flavor : but the greatest peculiarity is the color of the skin, which is considerably mottled, and of a beautiful waxen ap- pearance. In point of beauty, in this respect, there is, per- haps, no peach which surpasses it. I shall, in my next, give a description of " Prince's Para- gon peach," a most admirable fruit, large, oval, and of deli- cious flavor, a free stone, as I perceive it is enumerated in two other catalogues, whereas there is not a tree of the gen- uine kind in any other collection in the Union except our own. Princess Linncean Garden and Nurseries, Flushing, October, 1846. Art. IV. Some Remarks on the Seedling Fiiiits of the West. The Court of Wyke Pippin — New Seedling Nectarine. By T. S. HuMRicKHousE, Esq., Coshocton, Ohio. With De- scriptions of Four Neic Varieties of Apjiles. By R. Seevers, Pike Township, Coshocton Co., Ohio, in a Letter to Mr. Humrickhouse. I am endeavoring, and have been, for a feAv years past, to collect, from the numerous seedling orchards hereabouts, all the kinds thought by their owners to be fine and deserving of cultivation, first also myself examining the fruits where it is possible, and v/here not, requiring the concurrent testimony of neighbors who have had an opportunity of judging. In this way, I have already brought together about sixty or seventy sorts. I raise from four to six trees of each kind, by the meth- od of root grafting, intending to plant two of each in an or- chard where their merits may be hereafter fully seen, tested, and compared ; until which time I do not think it advisable to extend the cultivation of any of them. Among the kinds thus on trial with me are four sorts, the scions of which were furnished me by Mr. Robert Seevers of Pike Township, who, with them, at my request, sent me the 444 Seedling Fruits of the West. enclosed descriptions, which, though not intended for pub- hcation, you may yet insert in your Magazine, if you see proper. I transcribe, for your use, an account of the " Court De Wyck," apple furnished me by Mr. Robert Coxe, son of Stephen Cox, the present proprietor and occupant of the estate or man- or of Court De Wyck. " Court De Wyke, pippin : originated and first propagated by John Warrell, of the Parish of Yatton, in the County of Somerset, England. It was raised from the seed of the old golden pippin, on the estate or manor of Court de Wyck. The original tree was standing in the year 1817. It is a favorite and much valued apple" (in England,) " for its beauty of appearance, fine flavor, and quality of long keeping. The cider made from it is very fine, and held in high estimation. The present proprietor of the manor, Stephen Cox, has taken infinite pains in the cultivation and dissemination of this va- riety." In both the instances, where the name occurs, I have followed the orthography of Mr. Robert Cox, who assured me that "Court de Wyke" is the more ancient spelling. We have in town a very fine seedling nectarine which fruit- ed this year for the first time. It is ripe the beginning of Au- gust, has a red cheek marbled and shaded into yellow and green. The size is that of a small peach. The flesh is yel- lowish green, juicy and rich. Coshocton., Ohio., August 28, 1846. Patton's Winter Sweet. — The original tree stands in the orchard of Mr. James Patton in this Township. Size, about medium : Skin., greenish, with a dull red blush on one side : Form., oblong or conical : Flesh, light, tender, juicy and sweet. Keeps till spring. Uncle Archy. — I received this kind from my neighbor, Archibald Gardner. Fruit, rather above middle size : Skin, dull green, covered with a brownish russet : Form, roundish, flattened at the base, narrowing to the eye : Flesh, yellow- ish, tender, juicy, with excellent flavor. It keeps till spring. Smith's Seedling. — This tree stands on the farm of Mr. George Smith, in Bedford Township. Fruit, large : Skin, Floricultural and Botanical Notices. 445 yellow, with (I think) a faint blush on one side. Form^ roundish, flattened at the base, narrowing considerably to the eye. Flesh., tender, and very fine. Mrs. Smith informed me that they are good for cooking in harvest, and they will keep till the middle of winter. Botts's Beauty. — This kind I obtained from the orchard of Mr. Wm. Botts in this Township. Fruit., above medium size : ^kin., yellow, striped with red : It presents a rich and beautiful appearance : Form., oblong : Flesh., juicy and tender, with a very pieasant, subacid flavor ; the stalk is very small. It is good in the fall, and will keep till about the middle of winter. These descriptions may not be exactly correct, as I describe from recollection, not having any of the apples at this time. But I think I have given you something near the size, shape, color, &c., of each kind. If the trees produce fruit this sea- son, I will try and let you see the apples. R. Seevers. Art. V. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of Neia Plants^ figured in foreign periodicals ; loith Remarks on those re- cently introduced to., or originated in^ American gardens, and additional inform,ation upon plants already in cultivation. Edwards's Botanical Register, or Ornamental Flower Garden and Shrubbery. Each number containing from six to eight plates ; with additional miscel- laneous information relative to new plants. In monthly numbers ; 3s. plain, 3s. 6d. colored. Paxton's Magazine of Botany, and Register of Flowering Plants. Each number containing four colored plates. Monthly, 2s. 66?, each. Edited by J. Paxton, Gardener to the Duke of Devonshire. The Gardeners'' Chronicle, a stamped newspaper of Rural Economy and General News. Edited by Prof. Lindley. Weekly. Price Gd. each. Curtis's Botanical Magazine, in monthly numbers. By Sir Wm. Jackson Hooker, K. H., &c., 3d series, vol. 1, 1845. Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The .Journal of the London Horticultural Society. In quarterly numbers, octavo, 5s. each. Neio Plants from China. — We some time since announced the arrival of Mr. Fortune in England, last May, with an im- 446 Floricultural and Botanical Notices mense collection of plants, after an absence of three years. Several of the new plants which he sent home have been fig- ured in the botanical periodicals, and some few others have been mentioned in the Gardener'' s Chronicle. In the July number, however, of the Journal of the Hortictdtural Society^ is a full account of Mr. Fortune's visit to China in search of new plants, from his own pen ; it is very interesting, and we wish we had room to transfer it all to our pages : but this we cannot do, and must content ourselves with merely naming a few of the fine things which he sent home, and which must be most valuable additions to our hardy, as well as Green- house, collections, of plants. The most important in the collection appear to be a new double yellow climbing rose^ which Mr. Fortune first saw in one of the Mandarin's gardens one fine morning in May, when he was "struck with a mass of flowers which com- pletely covered a distant part of the wall ; the color was not a yellow, but had something of a bufi" in it, which gave the flowers a striking and uncommon appearance. He imme- diately ran up to the place, and, to his surprise and delight, found he had discovered a most beautiful new yellow climb- ing rose." He afterwards learned that it came from the North, and will probably prove hardy in England. A rose^ called \he Jive-colored^ was also discovered; it belongs to the Chinese or Bengals, but sports in a very strange and beautiful manner, sometimes having self-colored blooms, " either red or French white, and frequently flowers of both on one plant at the same time, while, at other times, the flowers are striped." It is as hardy as the common China rose. A white Glycitie (Wista- ria) sinensis^ with very large racemes of white flowers. Twelve or fourteen varieties of 7ieio i7-ee jiceonies, " having flowers of various shades oi purple, lilac, dark red and white." Many of these varieties Mr. Fortune saw in flower, and we quote his account of the manner in which he obtained them in order to show the obstacles he had to contend with in ob- taining new plants, and the duplicity of the natives. Mr. Fortune had drawings with him of the kinds which were said to exist in the country. He showed them to a nurseryman at Shanghae, who said he could get them at Sou-Chou, dis- tant nearly a hundred miles, and, as the expense was great, of New Plants. 447 he agreed to get them at one dollar a plant. This was agreed to, and the plants delivered in good order and sent to England. This was in the fall of the year, when the plants were out of flower. When he again visited Shanghae, in April, he intend- ed to send his old friend to tSou-Chou again for another lot, with an agreement that they should be in flower, in order that he might see the colors. "One morning, however, as I was going out into the country, a short distance from Shanghae, I was surprised by meeting a countryman with a load of Moutans in full bloom. The flowers were very large and fine, and the colors were dark pwyle, lilac, and deep rec/, kinds of which the very existence had been doubted in England, and which are never seen at Canton." Mr. Fortune further states, that, with the aid of Dr. Lockhart, a Chinese scholar, they soon found out the name of the moutan district, and, as the state of the roots of the plants showed that they had L "^en out of the ground only an hour or two, they thought the distance could only be a few miles, a surmise which they afterwards found to be correct. This was the place where the nursery- man procured his plants, for Mr. Fortune ascertained there were none in the vicinity of Sou-Chou. He therefore visited the ' ' moutan district daily during the time the different plants were in bloom, and secured some most striking and beautiful kinds for the Horticultural Society." A beautiful 7iew shrub called Wegelia rosea, with rose-col- ored flowers, from Northern China, where the thermometer falls within a few degrees of zero, and where the ground is covered with snow. A drawing of it is appended to this number which we shall notice. It will probably prove a fine hardy shrub in our cli- mate. Many other fine things were introduced, of which the following are named, besides many already noticed in our pages : — Azalea obtiisa, Rose, double white climbing, ovata dark red climbing, squamata, Scutellaria, sp. a fine herbaceous plant 4 sp. from north with blue flowers, of China. Dielytra spectabilis, Daphne Fortun?, Camelh'a hexangularis, (true), Forsythia viridissima, Mandarin orange, (true,) Gardenia florida, var. Fortum, Quam-quat, a curious small orange. 448 Ploricultural and Botanical Notices yiburnum, sp., fine shrubs with A'cersp. from Japan, large, round heads, like the Pinus sp. from Japan, Guelder rose, Oak from Chusan, Edgeworthia chrysantha, Juniperus, sp. north of China, iSpirae^a prunif61ia fl. pleno, i?6sa, sp. (a curious anemone flowered Hydrangea, sp., from the woods, kind,) Shanghae peach, a fine large var., 130 plants of tree pasonies in twelve Prunus sinensis, fl. alba pleno, or fourteen varieties. Birberis (Mahonia) Fortun?', Seeds of the true Shantung Cabbage, Spirae'a sp. a very valuable northern kind. The whole number of plant cases sent home was 69. As all the, fine plants were duplicated, only two are lost to the coun- try. The others are growing well, and will soon be distrib- uted from the Garden of the Society. Neiv Species of Salvia. — I have a new Salvia now in bloom raised from seed gathered in the Rio Grande, by Dr. Conrad, a surgeon in the United States Army. The seed was sent in a letter last April : the plant is now four feet high, and in full bloom : the leaves resemble the /Salvia fulgens, but somewhat larger : the flowers lighter than the fulgens but darker than the splendens. The plant blooms much better than the ful- gens at the lateral shoots, and it is quite showy. — Yours, T. Allen, Winchester Gardens, Va. [We suspect this is the same species which we have already noticed, (p. 246) as in bloom in the collection of Mr. John Feast of Baltimore, and which ' he calls S. Rhodenwaldii, from the seed having been received from Texas, and given him by Mr. Rhodenwald of New Or- leans. Mr. Feast gave us a few seeds, from which we raised plants last spring, which were planted out in the border, and made a most brilliant show till frost. It seeds free- ly, and, treated as an annual, it must be ranked as one of the finest things of late introduction. Young plants raised from cuttings are now coming into bloom in the stove, and we suspect it will prove a valuable winter plant, blooming as it does more freely than either ^S*. fulgens or splendens, and, in our opinion, more delicate and beautiful than either of those old kinds. — Ed.] Scrophulariacece . liUDDLE'A L. LmWeydna Fortune The purple Chinese Buddlea. A half hdrdy shrub •, growing three feet hish; with purple flowers; appearing in summer; a native of China; increased by cuttings. Hot. Reg. 1846. pi. 4. of New Plants. 449 This was " one of the earUest plants found by Mr. Fortune on his arrival at Chusan." Seeds were sent home by mail, and from them plants were raised which flowered in the Garden of the Society where the drawing was made. It is a small shrub, with ovate, acuminate, leaves, and terminal spikes of rich purple or violet colored flowers, somewhat resembling in habit of growth and flowering, a lilac. It grows easily, but does not seem to bloom freely, running, as it is termed, to wood. We introduced the plant in the fall of 1844, and have not ourselves succeeded in flowering it well : but a plant ex- hibited by Mr. Needham, of Brighton, was full of bloom, and he has promised us an account of his mode of treatment. It requires a rather sandy soil, not too rich. (^Bot. Reg. Jan.) FRANCI'S£^ acuminata Pax. Acuniinate leaved Francisea. An evergreen stove shrub ; growing two feet hi?h -, with bluish violet colored flowers ; appearing in August ; a native of Rio Janeiro ; increased by cutiings ; cultivated in loam, peat and leaf mould. Pax. Mag. Bot. 1846, p. 27. A beautiful stove plant, with "bunches of violet blue flow- ers," rather freely produced on plants of very small dimen- sions, and well adapted for a small collection of plants. It is grown in two thirds fibrous loam with peat and leaf mould, and cuttings root freely in bottom heat. {Pax. Mag. Bot. March.) CH.ENO'STOMA polyinthum Pax. Many-flowered Chaenostoma. An herbaceous plant ; grovring about a foot high; with bluish lilac flowers; appearing in summer ; a native of South Africa; increased by seeds or cuttings ; cultivated in any good soil. Pax. Mag. Bot. p. 31. A dwarf and bushy plant, producing a great profusion of large loose racemes of small bluish lilac flowers. "Treated as an aiuiual, it may be had in flower a greater part of the year," and may be "either employed to decorate the border in the open air, or ornament the greenhouse." It is stated to be highly useful to cultivators for producing flowers for the market, and, by making successive sowings of the seed, may be had in bloom all the year. It also grows freely from cut- tings. {Pax. Mag. Bot. March.) PTEROSTI'GMA graiidi.ldruni licnlk. Large-flowered Wiug Point. A half hardy herbaceous plant; growing eigh- teen inches high ; with blue flowers ; appearing iu spring ; a native of China ; increased by divis- ion of Uie root ; ciUtivatcd in any good soil. Bot. Reg. ISJl. pi. 16. Found by Mr. Fortune, who sent it home as a " blue-flowered herbaceous plant." It has flowered in the Society's Garden, and is described as having flowers " as large as those of a digitalis, and of the deep color of Gloxinia violacea" growing VOL. XII. NO. XI. 57 450 Floricultural and Botanical Notices singly at the axils of the leaves. It has been treated as a greenhouse plant, shading it in summer, and keeping it rather dry in winter ; it should also be grown in small pots, or the plants make too much foliage. {Bot. Reg. March.) Acanthdcem. LANKESTE^RM parvifldra Lindl. Small flowered Lankesteria. A stove plant ; with yellow flowers ; appearing in winter; a native of South Africa; increased by cuttings; cultivated in sandy peat and loam. Bot. Reg. 1846. pi. 12. A rather interesting plant, requiring, in England, the warmth of the stove, where it blooms freely, producing heads of pretty bright yellow flowers. It may be grown in the greenhouse in summer, and removed to the stove in autumn, where it will continue to flower for some months : increased freely from cut- tings. (^Bot. Reg. January.) RUE'LLIJ lilacina i/ooA-cr Lilac-flowered Ruellia. A stove shrub ; growing three feet high; with lilac flowers; appearing in summer; a native of Guiana; increased by cuttings; cultivated in loam, peat and sar.d. Bot. Reg. 1S46, pi. 13. " A charming shrub," with panicled spikes of handsome hlac flowers, which are abundantly produced during summer. It requires the same temperature as the R. formosa, and some- what similar treatment ; keep them in a warm and humid at- mosphere during spring, and then remove them to the green- house, when they will flower for a long time ; afterwards, they should receive less supplies of water, and be kept in a dormant state till spring. (^Bot. Reg. March.) CompositcB. MULGE'DIUM machorizon Roijlo Large-rooted Mulgede. A hardy perennial plant ; growing a few inches high.; with blue flowers; appearing in September and October ; a nalive of Cashmere; increased by seeds ; cultivated in any good soil. Bot. Reg. 184ti, pi. 7. "A charming perennial, with numerous branching stems two feet long, and scarcely rising more than a few inches high. For decorating rock work, it is misurpassed among autumn perennials." The flowers have very much the appearance of the common succory, but the dwarf habit of the plant and the profusion of bloom render it a fine object. It should be planted in a dry situation, and protected in winter by a cov- ering of leaves. Readily increased by seeds. {^Bot. Reg. March.) Lythj'dcecB. CirPIIEA strigilWsaiJfn^A. Coarse haired Cuphca. A greenhouse shrub ; growing two feet high; with yellow and scarlet flowers; appearing in October ; a native of Mexico; increased by cuttings ; cul- tivated in sandy peat and loam. Cot. Reg. lS4t), pi. 14. A pretty greenhouse shrub, with ovate lanceolate leaves, of New Plants. 451 and axillary clusters of gay, orange and scarlet flowers, much of the form of a Tropaeohim. The plant grows freely in san- dy peat and loam, requiring an ample supply of water during summer, and kept in an airy greenhouse in winter. It should be repotted early in spring, in order to encourage wood for flowering in summer. {^Bot. Reg. March.) \ erbenacecB. MASTACA'NTHUS sinensis ^nii. Chinese Beard nut. A greenhouse plant ; growing two feet high; with violet flowers; appeiiring in autumn; a native of Cliina; increased by cuttings; cultivated in sandy loam and peat. Bot. Reg. 1846, p. 2. Found by Mr. Fortune in Chusan. It is a rather pretty herbaceous plant, furnishing "an abundance of rich violet blossoms at a season when that color, never abundant, is pe- culiarly rare in gardens." The flowers appear in bushy tufts at the axils of the leaves. It requires greenhouse culture and plenty of pot room, with plenty of water in summer ; after it has done flowering, the plants should be kept rather dry in a cool greenhouse. {Bot. Reg. January.) Gesnej-^Aceve,. GE'SNER^ Gerard JaHrt Pax. Gerard's Gesnera. A stove plant; growing two feet high ; with scarlet and yellow flowers ; appearing in autumn ; a native of South America; increased by cuttings ; grown ill leaf mould, peat and sand. Pax. Mag. Bot., 1846, p. 35. A very splendid species of this showy genus, somewhat resembling G. zebrina, but, "in its habit, is combined all the freedom of character of the most graceful Achimenes, with the sterling nature and substantial worth of the gesneras. Dwarf growing, its leaves heart shaped, and, under favorable cir- cumstances, fine, large, glossy green — the flower spikes ter- minally borne, of great size in proportion to the plant, with large flowers that strongly remind us, by their color and mark- ing, of Achimenes picta, and supported by long, slender pe- duncles, in a peculiarly fine and graceful manner, constitute it when flowering, in the most extended sense, a most beauti- ful object ; added to the excellent traits just described, the free- dom with which plants not six inches high, produce fine spikes of flowers." The foliage is not so remarkably shaded as G. zebrina, but the flowers are larger, more brilliant, and pro- duced more freely than on that species It may well be com- pared to Achimenes picta in beauty. It will thrive freely under the same treatment given to G. zebrina, and is readily increased by cuttings of the leaves, or by offsets from the root. {Pax. Mag. Bot. April.) 452 Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. Art. VI. Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. Residence of G. R. Russell, Esq. , West Roxbury, Septem- ber 25th, 1846. — We have been highly gratified with a visit to this place. It is situated on the old road to Dedham, and occupies some sixty or seventy acres, several of which, in the immediate vicinity of the house, are being improved as a flower garden, orchard, kitchen garden. &c. The house is a large and commodious cottage, having had a large addition, and otherwise been much improved since the place was pur- chased by Mr. Russell. The flower garden is immediately in front of the house, occupying a piece of ground considerably elevated. It has been wholly trenched over, and newly laid out the past spring, and the plants were now thriving with unchecked luxuriance, the dahlias being one sheet of flowers. From the garden, the walk conducts to the grapery, which was completed last spring ; it is constructed upon the plan of Mr. Gray, as described in our last number (p. 377,) and, with the exception that the work has been rather more thoroughly finished without regard to expense, it is precisely the same. Mr. Russell, how- ever, has had every thing done with a view to permanency, as well as perfect neatness, and spared no labor in the con- struction of the border, drains, cistern, &c. The Grapery is one hundred and fifty feet long, and twenty-four wide, and, with every thing complete, the making of the border, &c., cost upwards of twenty-five hundred dollars. The vines Avere planted out on the 17th of last May, and were young plants, one year old, furnished by Messrs. Hovey & Co. ; they were in pots, and, when planted, headed down to three eyes ; at the present time, they have reached the top of the house, (about twenty feet) and have been stopped, the shoots on many of them measuring th?'ee quarters of an inch in diameter. Indeed, we never saw a more thrifty growth. This was, of course, owing to the well prepared border, which had wholly been made in the spring, just before the vines were planted, and in the following manner. The whole earth was excavated three feet deep, on each side of the house, to the dis- Notes on Gardens and Nurseries. 453 tance of twelve feet, and six feet inside, making the border eighteen feet wide. At the outer edge of this excavation, which formed the bottom of the border, a thorough drain was made of brick, so as to conduct off all superfluous moisture. On this bottom was thrown ten inches of small stones ; then six inches of good turf, the top spit of an old pasture ; then six inches of manure, mostly street scrapings ; then six inches of good loam ; then two inches of oyster shells, on that part of the border iniide, and two inches of bones on the border out- side ; and six inches more of loam to finish. Three loads of ref- use bones, containing meat and gelatinous matter, were also mixed in as the border was made. When these had laid to- gether a week or two, the whole was trenched over down to the stones, thoroughly mixed, and completed ready for plant- ing out the vines, after allowing the soil to settle. In a border so well made, the vines cannot fail to make a fine growth, and rapidly become strong enough to bear a good crop. A large part of the vines are Black Hamburgh, with several of the Muscat of Alexandria, white Malvasie, Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, (fcc. Mr. Burns, the gardener, has managed them well, and kept them free from mildew, with plump wood, ripening off finely. Much work was yet to be completed around the grapery, such as finishing the walks, &c. From the grapery, we passed into the kitchen garden which, together with the fruit garden, is separated from the other part of the grounds by a public lane. The kitchen garden is laid out in a square, with a neat substantial wall. The ground had been subsoiled, and was now in fine condition. ' The fruit garden is partly filled with trees, set out before Mr. Russell took possession of the place, and many of the peaches are nothing but natural fruit. Mr. Russell is rapidly intro- ducing the finest kinds, and, in a short time, will have none but the best varieties upon his grounds. There is much sat- isfaction in noting down such improvements as have been made here. Mr. Russell does every thing with a vieAV to neat- ness as well as utility : and the grounds throughout are kept in the best manner. 454 Retrospective Criticism. MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Art. I. Retrospective Criticism. Hovey's Seedling Strawberry, with staminate flowers, p. 360. — In your notice of Mr. Longworth's pamphlet on the Character and Habits of the Strawberry Plant, in the September number of your magazine, I observe the following passage at the bottom of page 360 : — " Every cultivator who has found staminate flowers, so called, in his beds of Hovey's Seedling, has found either accidental seedlings, or other varieties." If it is to be inferred, from the passage above quoted, that the true Hovey's Seedlings are all fis- tillate plants, so called, then I beg leave to dissent from the proposition laid down, for the following reasons, viz :— In 1845, when the strawberries were in blossom, I examined a bed of Hovey's Seedling at this place several times, in company with Mr. Downing, and others, as well as by myself; and a large ma- jority of the flowers which stood up in trusses, several to a plant, were perfect in their organs of fructification, having both their stamens and pistils fully developed, and produced one of the most uniform and handsome crops of fruit I ever saw ; and that, too, at the distance of one hundred yards from the regular strawberry plantation, or a strawberry plant of any kind ; and I am certain there were no accidental seedlings among them, for they were two years old plants ; the ground between the plants having been dug and kept clean from weeds, and nothing permitted to grow but the plants which were taken from runners of as pure stock of Hovey's Seedling as there is in the country, entirely free of mixtures of any kind whatever. Having no desire to become a partisan on either side of the strawberry controversy, believing it to be the result of circumstances rather than fixed laws or prin- ciples, and having no other interest than a desire to contribute any facts that may come under my observation, — the above remarks are submitted in a spirit of candor and good will. — A. Saul, Foreman. Highland Nurse- ries, Newburgh, September 22d, 1846. We are certainly willing to receive the above in a spirit of candor and good will, as our sole object is to bring forward every fact which may bear upon this question ; still we are so uncharitable as to believe Mr. Downing has endeavored to throw the responsibility of his own views upon his fore- man. If Mr. Saul or Mr. Downing intend to say that they know more about the true character of Hovey's Seedling than we do, it would be very little use for us to discuss the question further. We unhesitatingly say, that every plant, which Mr. Saul or Mr. Downing has found in their beds of Hovey's Seedling ivith stamens, is not the true kind; or, if originally true, they have been allowed to become intermixed with some other varieties, until the original seedlings have been mostly displaced. In 1339 or '40, we had the pleasure of presenting Mr. Downing with a dozen plants of our seedling, which had then just been offered for sale, and Retrospective Criticism. 455 with the remark that they had proved so fine, we wished him to give them atrial. Three years afterwards, when on a visit to Newburgh, we were desirous of learning Mr. D.'s opinion of the variety : he then stated it had not done well with him. Now was not this to be attributed to its true charac- ter ? and that the plants had probably been set out by themselves, and had failed to produce fruit from the want of some fertilizing kind in near prox- imity % We apprehend this to be the case, for two or three years is ample time to bring any variety of the strawberry into fruit ; and if strawberries could not be produced from 1839 to '42, what nev/ system of cultivation has Mr. Downing discovered, which has enabled him to produce " one of the most uniform and handsome crops," ever seen, from 1842 to 1845? The pre- sumption is, that, owing to the failure of the plants to bear, the beds had been neglected, as it is well known they often are in nurseries, and neigh- boring kinds allowed to overrun and take possession of the ground ; and hence the discovery of staminate plants in 1845. It will be taxing the patience of our readers who have already heard so much of the strawberry question, to extend our remarks. Our views have been given in the page referred to by Mr. Saul, and remain unchantred. If tivelve years have failed to produce a single perfect flower on plai. is under every aspect of cultivation, under our own eye, from the very highest to the most neglected state, we certainly think that no other cultivator has done so in the less period of seven years, since they have been disseminated. " No result of circumstances" will ever change pistillate to staminate flowers, as they are generally termed ; and every cultivator may rkst assured that, IF HIS plants are STAMINATE, HE DOES NOT POSSESS THE TRUE HoVEY'S Seedling Strawberry. — Ed. Mr. Longworlh'' s Ideas upon the Strawberry , and the Editor'' s Remarks, p. 360. — I see, in the September number of the Magazine, that Mr. Longworth of Cincinnati is still impressed with the idea that Hovey's seedling strawberry, when left to itself, will not bear a crop, and Mr. Hovey himself, to some extent, endorses his opinion, by recommending that other kinds be planted in near proximity, in order to ensure a good crop. So far as our practical experience goes, (not theory,) we beg leave to differ from both, and to main- tain that Hovey's Seedling will bear as good, and, we think, a better crop by itself than any of the larger kinds of strawberries, no matter whether they be planted a distance apart from the fertilizing ones, or side by side \ neither do we think that any of the smaller kinds, although ])roducmg a lar- ger number of berries, will bear more weight of strawberries on the ground than Hovey's seedling when it is properly managed. When Hovey's Seedling was first advertised for sale, we did not send to Boston for a sup- ply ; the distance was great ; and so many different lines of commanication to pass through deterred us. The spring following, some of the plants hav- ing found their way to Baltimore, a friend, as a special favor, procured a single plant from Mr. John Feast, now being for sale. This plant he gave to me on his return. Wiiether it was possessed of too many or too few male or female organs, or whether it belonged altogether to the one de- scription or the other, we cannot now determine ; for, at that time, our atten- 456 Retrospective Criticism. tion was not devoted with so much interest, neither were we so well enlight- ened on the subject as we have been since : however, we planted this plant on a border seventy yards distant from the nearest strawberry plant, and we are pretty sure that there was not, nor had ever been, any strawberry plant in any portion of the ground nearer from the time the Shawnee Indians held undisturbed possession of this part of the valley of Virginia. We are, there- fore, firmly inclined to believe that the plant had all the fertilizing and pro- ductive powers necessary within itself. We paid a liitle attention to the plant during the summer, and, by fall, found there were between sixty and seventy young plants : most of them, the spring following, were taken up and planted elsewhere, leaving the old plant with some ten or twelve round it, in order to test the variety as soon as possible : they bore as many strawberries as could be expected from any kind of strawberry in the same state, and proved to be the true Hovey's Seedling. A few were again left the second year, and still bore a good crop. In the summer of 1844, we planted out a bed by itself (our attention having been called to the subject) not at so great a distance, it is true, as the original plant was from some beds of the Hud- son strawberry, but, as we thought, quite sufficient to keep them apart, the intermediate space being filled up with vegetable crops. This piece of ground is seventy yards in length, and six yards wide ; the strawberries planted in rows two feet from centre to centre, leaving a path between each row, the ground, in our opinion, not the best suited for strawberries, being a deep alluvial bottom soil, and too light, bat it was most convenient to put them there. The summer of 1845, a light crop was produced, and from the demand for young plants, the runners were allowed to grow out, so that the paths between the rows were nearly covered. This prevented us from working the ground in the fall of 1845, and, in my opinion, sacri- ficed one third of the crop for the present year. We continued to take up the young plants from the paths, and sometimes encroaching on the rows until late in the spring of the present year, when it was considered too late to cultivate the ground, only to clean the strawberries off, and let them go into bearing. The weather, too, the last week of May, and first week of June, was too damp to bring the strawberry to perfection, and yet, from this piece of ground, a little over four hundred square yards, we picked one hun- dred and twenty quarts of strawberries, a good many measuring from three to four inches round. — Yours, Thomas Allen. Winchester Gardens, Va., September 2G, 184G. We have ah-eady been indebted to Mr. Allen for some remarks on the same subject, (Vol. VIII, p. 353) His experience is similar to many others that we have before noticed, but it does not touch the question at issue, for Mr. Allen admits he did not notice the character of the flowers oi the first plant he had, whether perfect or imperfect; nor does he state whether his beds which produced fruit were so or not. It is well known that plants many yards distant may be fertilized and produce a good crop. Mr. Allen's was by no means an average one, as he only produced one hundred and twenty (quarts from four hundred square yards : this is only about twelve hundred iniurts to the acre ; and Mr. Aspinwall and many other cultivators have pro- Retrospective Criticism. 457 duced from two thousand to two thousand five hundred, without any extra culture m(Jre than is necessary for ordinary sorts. But their success has been so great from the intermediate planting of fertilizing varieties. Our views are unchanged. Such instances as Mr. Allen's may be attributed to many unknown and unseen causes, such as a few perfect flowering kinds intermixed, accidental seedlings, oic. Hovey's seedling was an imperfect flowering variety, is so, and ever will remain so. — Ed. The New York Virgalieu Pear. — Mr. Downing, in the first number of the Horticulturist, has kindly noticed my second edition of the Guide to the Or- chard. With some exceptions, his principal objection to the work appears to be that we have not made out more new sorts, and followed modern improve- ments by multiplying names and synonyms, already too numerous ; by the by, we felt more inclined to take the pruning knife and cut away, leaving only superior fine sorts. The principal improvement in the London Horti- cultural Society's new catalogues, as far as we can understand, has been to prune away pretty largely, and they have yet much more to do in that way ; some new and good sorts have been added, but we are not prepared to stand sponsor for all their new names, without further investigation. We have received all the acknowledged and proved sorts, and have them under culti- vation. Our principal design, in this communication at present, is to notice what Mr. D. calls the '' droll part of the aflair." Mr. F. quotes, as syno- nyms to this sort, (New York Virgalieu Pear) the following names, viz., (page 45) :— Virgalieu, Nursery Cat. 1807. Surpasse Virgoulouse, Parmcntier. Columbian Virgoulouse, Bloodgood. Columbia, Doivnmg. St. Michael, of Boston Cultivators. For several years, we had supposed that the original tree of the Virga- lieu Pear grew on the farm of Mr. Andrew Cursor, Fordham, West Ches- ter. In order to ascertain if this was the fact, I visited Mr. Cursor's Farm, and inquired for the old Virgalieu Pear Tree. He shewed me two sorts said to be originals, and had sprung up accidentally, and, indeed, as far as I could perceive, they were seedlings; one of these he called Columbian Vir- galieu. There was fruit on the tree about half grown when I saw it. On ex- amining the fruit, habit, and appearance of the tree, I could not discover any difference between this and the New Vork Virgalieu ; however, as it seems to be an original seedling tree, and as I expect to examine the fruit more attentively this fall, it may turn out to be a diflferent variety. Mr. Cursor informed me that he got a great price for the fruit, which were very uelicious and of superior quality : now if this is the Columbian Virgoulouse of Bloodgood, as a matter of course, it would be the Columbia of Downing, else his synonyms would be incorrect. The other original Pear of Mr. Cur- sor he called Columbus, in honor of Christopher Columbus, the first discov- erer of this country, as he informed me. This is a very diiFerent Pear, and not a Virgalieu ; it appears to be a very handsome pear, and he speaks high- ly of it. I have had no opportunity to test its qualities fully, but hope to VOT-. XIT. NO. XI. .58 458 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. be able to do so this fall. I procured scions of both sorts, and have them under cultivation. No doubt but this is the Pear Mr. D. alludes to, and if so, it ought to be called Cursor'' s Columbus, not Columbia ; but yet we are in the dark about the synonym " St. Michael of Boston Cultivators.'''' This " medium" Pear — is it a distinct sort or a synonym? Certainly the Boston folks ought to know the White Doyenne, or white Butter Pear of Philadel- phia, and, if they do, they would call it so, and not St. Michael, which is a synonym of that sort. These synonyms are confusing things — these mod- ern improvements of the last fifteen years — and while Mr. D. seems to ad- mit that the Surpasse Vimoulouse of Parmentier is the same as the one we claim for Williamson's Tirgalieu, we should be glad to have this St. Michael disposed of one way or other. Is it a distinct sort, or a synonym of some- thing else? I must observe further that the Columbian Yirgalieu of Mr. Cursor cannot be the original New^ York Yirgalieu. The tree is not old enough, probably not more than thirty years, but it is very likely to be a seedling of that sort, and may be very desirable. — Respectfully, your obe- dient servant, Michael Floy, Harlem Nursery, August 2ith, 1846. We apprehend there is a misunderstanding in relation to this subject. The Boston cultivators are well aware, that the St. Michael, so called, is the same as the White Doyenn6 of Europe, and the Butter pear of Phil- adelphia, and also supposed to be the A'irgalieu (we doubt the propriety of this mode of spelling, and do not adopt it ourself,) of New York. But long usage has rendered the name of St. Michael so familiar, that, like the Bartlett pear, it is difficult to change it among the mass of the people. With this explanation in relation to this variety, we leave the other ques- tions in the hands of Messrs. Floy and Downing. We would hope, how- ever, that Mr. Floy has not forgotten his intention to test Mr. Cursor's pears this fall, and that he will send us an account of them, particularly of the one called Columbus, which appears io be an entirely new variety. Cox describes a pear which he calls Williamson's Virgoulouse. Is it the same as the Surpasse Virgoulouse ? If so, the latter name should give way to the former. — Ed. Art. II. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Saturday, September 26, 1846. — The Annual Exhibition of Dahlias for premiums took place to-day, and, considering the very unfavorable sea- son, there was a fair display of flowers. Not a sufficient number of stands, however, were put up to obtain all the prizes, some of them having been disqualified, for their very large number of inferior flowers of inferior varieties. We are glad to see the judges have set up some standard, for if the mere putting up twenty-four flowers will obtain a premium, why hun- dreds of cultivators might be competitors. From the President of the Society about one hundred flowers, some of Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 459 tliein very fine, particularly Cinderella, glowing crimson tipped with white ; Queen of Perpetuals, good, but scarcely equal to Orlando, which it resem- bles in color; Cleopatra, very fine pale yellow ; Cheltenham Queen, white, but not superior to Antagonist ; Arethusa, beautiful, fine formed, rich pur- ple ; Isis, sulphur, tipped with orange, &c. &c. From Messrs. Hovey & Co., about fifty blooms, among which were Punch, a superb flower, deep, dark, velvety crimson, striped with white on the outer edges of the petals ; Columbine, a novel fancy flower, buff shaded with sulphur, and tipped with white ; Viscount Ressegeur, rich purple, tipped with white ; Orlando, fine formed delicate peach ; also, a variety of roses, Salvia Rhodenwaldw ; new scarlet Pelargoniums, Tom Thumb, and Nimrod, and bouquets. From J. M. Thorburn & Co., New York, a box of fine dahlias, among which. Ultimatum, a rich scarlet, Beeswing, Marc Antony, fine yellow, Cleopatra, Harlequin, scarlet, tipped with white, Asmodeus, and others were fine. From P. Barnes, a variety of azaleas, cut flowers, and bouquets of amaranth flowers. Fine Dahlias were also shown by J. Breck & Co., W. B. Richards, (nearly one hundred,) J. Hovey, (about one hundred and twenty,) N. Stetson, J. W. Mandell, J. Nugent, Jolm Parker, and J. L. L. F. Warren ; Bouquets, &c., by W. Kenrick, R. West, and Mr. Warren. The following is the award of premiums on Dahlias, Messrs. Haggerston, P. B. Hovey, Jr., and W. Mellen, judges in Division B, and Messrs. Barnes, E. Allen, and A. Bowditch, judges in Division A and C : — DIVISION A. Premier Prize. — For the best twelve dissimilar blooms, a premium to W. Quant, of P 00 The names as follows : — Widnall's Queen, Harlequin, Lady St. Maur, Essex Triumph, Admiral Stopford, Fairy Queen, Lady Antrobus, Antagonist, Victory of Sussex, Cleopatra, Bees- wing, Mrs. Shelly. No competitor. Specimen Bloom. — For the best flower, Widnall's Queen, to J. Nugent, a premium of . . . . . . . . 4 00 Specimen Blooms of Various Colors. — To Wm. Quant, a pre- mium of $ 1 each, for Antagonist, white ; Widnall's Queen, rose ; Miss Shelly, crimson ; Essex Triumph, dark ; Cleo- patra, yellow ; Madame Chauviere, tipped, . . . . 6 00 To W. Meller, $ 1 each for Pet Rival, maroon ; Nonpareil, scar- let, 2 00 division b. Class L — Disqualified. Class H. — For the best twelve dissimilar blooms, viz., Silvia, Cleopatra, Harlequin, Great Mogul, Paul Pry, Unique, Oddity, Hero of Stonehenge, Preceptor, Viscount Ressegeur, Latour I'Avergne, and Cheltenham Queen, to J. L. L. F. Warren a premium of . • . 5 00 For the second best twelve dissimilar blooms, viz., Orlando, Stand- ard of Perfection, Viscount Ressegeur, Nutwich, Lady Harland, 460 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Miranda, Striata formosissima, Constantia, Nonpareil, Cinde- rella, Antler and Arethusa, a premium to Messrs Hovey & Co., of $3 00 Class III. — The judges were also of opinion that Hovey & Co., and J. L. L. F. Warren exhibited flowers worthy of premium in Class No. 3 ; but as it is not considered in accordance with the design of the Society to award two premiums in the same divis- ion, they are necessarily withheld. Hovey & Co.'s flowers were as follows : — Orlando, Viscount Ressegeur, Primrose, Standard of Perfection, Lady Harland, Victory of Sussex. J. L. L. F. Warren's were : — Antagonist, Competitor, Viscount Ressegeur, Harlequin, Ultimatum, Unique. DIVISION c. Class I. — Disqualified. Class n. — For the best twelve dissimilar blooms, viz., Cleopatra, Lady Antrobus, Ad. Stopford, Antagonist, Lady St. Maur, Widnall's Queen, Unique, Fairy Queen, Essex Triumph, Essex Champion, Mrs. Shelly, Nonpareil, to W. Quant, a premium of 5 00 For the second best twelve dissimilar blooms, viz.. Antagonist, Marchioness of Ormonde, Duke of York, (Keyne's,) Cleopatra, Primrose, Beauty of Sussex, Lady Harland, Essex Bride, Miss Watson, Unique, Beauty of Birmingham , and Pickwick, to W. Meller, a premium of . . . . . . . . 3 00 Class HL — For the best six dissimilar blooms, viz., Sir E. An- trobus, Admiral Stopford, Arethusa, Great Mogul, Argo, and Viscount Ressegeur, (No Competitor,) to Henry Reed, gardener to N. Stetson, a premium of . . . . . . . 3 00 To the President of the Society, for fine dahlias, a gratuity of . 5 00 Bouquets. — For the best bouquet, to Miss Russell, a premium of $2. For the second best, to R. West, a premium of $\. Fruit : From Nahum Stetson, fine peaches and Beurr6 Diel pears. From Wm. Stickney, melon. From Josiah Lovitt, 2d, White Sweetwater grapes, and two dishes of fine peaches. From Robert M. Morse, two Wil- liams's Bon Chretien pears, very fine. From J. F. Allen, White Fron- tignan, Syrian and Black Hamburgh grapes ; Belle de Vitry peaches ; Gan- sel's Bergamot, Williams's Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne de Jersey and Seckel pears. From Otis Johnson, Crawford's late Melacaton peach, very fine. From George Newhall, two kinds seedling peaches and Newington ; Isabella grapes ; pears, Fulton, Bon Chretien, Seckel, Doyenn6 blanc, Roi de Wurtemberg, Catillac; apples, kind unknown, Tippecanoe. From Messrs. Hovey & Co.. Tippecanoe and Clinton peaches; also, Wilmot's new Black Hamburgh grapes, firm fleshed, rich and fine flavored. From G. Merriam, Yellow Alberge, Morris White, and Blood jieaches. From Isaac Fay, peaches, Owen's Lemon Rareripe, Jacques, Old Mixon free stone, Lemon Rareripe, and fifteen kinds of seedlings. From J. S. Sleeper, Beurre d'Amalis and Dix pears, fine. From F. Tudor, Esq., Na- Massachusetts Horticultural Society. 461 hant, Richmoncl(?) peach. From William Quant, large quinces. From Clieever Newhall, Cumberland pears. From George Walsh, peaches, White Magdalen ; apple, large seedling ; pears, Williams's Bon Chretien, Julienne ; grapes, Red Chasselas, White Sweetwater. Oct. 3. — The annual meeting of the Society was held to-day, for the choice of officers and other business, the President in the chair. The polls were immediately opened, and remained open thirty minutes, when the President announced the names of the officers elected. The following is the list of officers elected for the ensuing year, from Jan. 1, 1847, to Jan. 1, 1848:— President — Marshall P. Wilder. Vice Presidents. — B. V. French, Jona. Winship, Cheever Newhall, E. M. Richards. Treasurer. — Samuel Walker. Corresponding Secretary. — J. E. Teschemacher. Recording Secretary. — E. C. R. Walker. Professor of Botany and Vegetable Physiology. — John Lewis Russell, A. M. Professor of Entomology. — T. W. Harris, M. D. Professor of Horticultural Chemistry. — S. L. Dana, M. D. Standing Committees. Committee on Fruits. — Samuel Walker, Chairman: P. B. Hovey, Jr., Otis Johnson, Josiah Lovitt, David Haggerston, J. F. Allen, Eben. Wight. Committee on Plants and Flowers. — Joseph Breck, Chairman: H. W. Dutton, W. E. Carter, Parker Barnes, Alex. McLellan, E. A. Story, William Quant. Committee on Vegetables. — A. D. Williams, Jr., Chairman: W. B. Kingsbury, A. D. Williams, Josiah Newhall, James Nugent, Azell Bow- ditch, E. C. R. Walker. Committee o?i Library. — C. M. Hovey, Chairman : C. K. Dillaway, R. M. Copeland, Joseph Breck, W. B. Richards. Committee on Synonyms of Fruit. — M. P. Wilder, Chairman: B. V. French, C. M. Hovey, J. S. Cab(>t, the Chairman of the Fruit Committee. Executive Committee. — The President, Chairman : the Treasurer, A. Aspinwall, E. M. Richards, Otis Johnson. Committee for establishing Premiums. — The Chairman of the Committee on Fruits, Chairman : the Chairman of the Committee on Flowers, the Chairman of the Committee on Vegetables. Finance Committee. — Josiah Stickney, Chairman : Joseph Balch, F. W. Macondry. Committee of Publication. — J. E. Teschemacher, Chairman: C. K. Dil- laway, Eben. Wight, Recording .Secretary, Chairman of the Committee on Fruits, Chairman of the Conmiittee on Flowers, Chairman of the Committee on Vegetables. Messrs. S. Walker, C. M. Hovey, and D. Haggersion, were chosen delegates to attend the Exhibition of the American Institute, New York. 462 Massachusetts Horticultural Society. Jas. Kelt, Jr , and S. W. Cole, Boston ; A. A. Andrews, and S. Pay- son, Roxbury, were elected members. Adjourned one month, to November 7th. Exhibited. — Flowers ; Owing to the lateness of the season, bat few flow- ers were exhibited. A few Dahlias, Bouquets, &c. were contributed by the President, Messrs. Hovey & Co., P. Barnes, W. B. Richards, O. N. Towne, J. Hovey, J. L. L. F. Warren, J. Nugent, and D. Crowley. Premiums were awarded as follows : — • Bouquets. — For the best bouquet, a premium to J. L. L. F. Warren of $ 2. For the next best, a premium to J. Nugent of $ 1. Fruit: From S. Walker, Duchesse d'Angouleme pears, very fine spec- imens ; the largest weighing 17 ounces. From T. W. Mead, Gloria Mun- di apples. From John Hovey, a dish of English walnuts, of his own growth. From Anson Dexter, Seckel pears, fine. From H. Vandine, peaches, seedling ; plums, Coe's Golden Drop. From Amory Bemis, Cambridgeport, Beurre d'Amalis, Louise Bonne de Jersey, and Passe Col- mar pears. From S. W. Cole, apples, White Sweet, Garden Royal, Quince, Richardson; the last named, proved juicy, with a pleasant aromatic flavor. From John Washburn, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Wilkinson, Pitt's Prolific, Louise Bonne de Jersey, and Flemish Beauty pears. From J. A. Kenrick, quinces. From C. E. Grant, peaches, two dishes, var. Me- lacaton(?); grapes, Isabella, fine. From G. Merriam, Blood, Heath, and Bergen's Yellow peaches. FromK. Bailey, Catawba, White Sweetwater, and Red Chasselas grapes. From Geo. Walsh, grapes, a seedling, raised from the Isabella, Red Chasselas, White Chasselas ; pears, Doyenne blanc, Chelmsford, Julienne, and two kinds without a name. From Mr. Sander- son, pears, Williams's Bon Chretien, and one dish of grapes. From Hovey & Co., Beurre d'Amalis pears, and Wilmot's new Black Hamburgh grapes. From J. F. Allen, pears, Williams's Bon Chretien, Ronville, Seckel, (large and well colored,) Gansel's Bergamot; peaches, Belle de Vetry ; grapes, Black Hamburgh, fine. Oct. lOth. Exiubited. — Flowers : Dahlias, and other flowers were ex- hibited by the President, W. B. Richards, Messrs. Hovey & Co., J. Hovey, Miss Russell, L. Davenport, J. L. L. F. Warren, J. Nugent, and D. Crowley. The following is the award of premiums : — Bouquets. — To Miss Russell, for a beautiful pyramidal bouquet, a pre- mium of $2. Fruit : From the President of the Society, Buffum, Gore's Heathcot, and Fulton pears, very fine : The Committee tasted of Gore's Heathcot, and found it first rate. From S. G. Perkins, Esq., the following remarkably fine specimens of pears : Easter Beurre, Beurr6 Diel, Duchesse d'Angou- leme, Great Unknown, (?) Le Cure, Dix, Josephine, Chaumontel, Winter Nelis, Napoleon, Doyenn6 blanc. Winter Doyenn6, Louise Bonne, Jalousie, Seckel, Isambert, Vanillons, (?) Van Mons Leon le Clerc, Marie Louise, St. Germain. From E. Browii, pears, Roi de Wurtemberg, very fine, Wilhama's Bon Chretien. From Charles Hadwiu, Worcester, Strawberry Horticultural Memoranda. 463 apples. From Otis Johnson, peaches, Smock's Freestone, Kenrick's Heath, both fine. From James Eustis, South Reading, two kinds of ap- ples for a name. From R. Manning, Columbia peach, very handsome ; Las Canas, Beurr^ Bosc, and Paradise d'Automne pears. From T. Need- ham, White Portugal, White Frontignan, Black Frankindale, and Black Hamburgh grapes. From Z. Hosmer, Duchesse d'Angouleme pears, very fine and large, (vi^eighingl9oz.,)Beurr6Diel, fine. From J. F. Allen, pears, Gansel's Ber- gamot, Beurre Diel, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Seckel; grapes, Black Ham- burgh, and Syrian ; peaches. Late Admirable. From G. Merriam, Seedling, Cravpford's Late Melacaton, Bergen's Yellow, and Old Mixon peaches. From J. W. Sever, Crawford's Late Melacaton, fine. From Geo. Walsh, pears, Easter Beurr6, Beurre d'Aremberg, Doyenne blanc, Buffum, Ju- lienne, Winter Nehs ; grapes, open culture, White Sweetwater, Isabella, Seedling, and Red Chasselas. From John Duncklee, Fameuse apples. From G. A. Crocker, Taunton, peaches, unknown, large and handsome. Vegetables : From J. F. Hall, a cucumber weighing four pounds. From A. D. Williams & Son, fine celery. [In our report of the Annual Exhibition, in our last number, there was an error in the Record Books of the Committee, in omitting the names of 26 varieties of pears, exhibited by the President, — making the number 154 instead of 128, as stated in our report.] HORTICULTURAL MEMORANDA FOR NOVEMBER. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Grape vines will soon require pruning ; some grapes may yet remain, and if the house is kept dry, they will hang until December ; Black Ham- burghs in our collection, ripe last August, yet hang in fine order, and the Black Prince, a fine grape, will probably hang till Christmas. In the greenhouse, as fast as the leaves turn yellow, they may be carefully swept off, without injury to the vines. Keep the house still well aired, in good weather, in order to harden the wood. On the approach of severe frost, a few inches of manure should be thrown over the border, to prevent it from penetrating too deep, and thus retard the starting of the vines in the spring. Isabella, and other native grapes in the open air, should be pruned now, and foreign kinds laid down and protected from severe frost. Strawberry beds will be benefited, if they have a light covering of old haulm, coarse manure, leaves, seaweed, or even tan. Raspberry plants will produce a more certain crop, if they are protected, unless they are in a very sheltered situation. Frutt trees of all kinds, Grape vines, ffio?u'es in pots should be shifted into a larger size, if not done be- fore. Verbenas in pots should be sparingly watered, and kept in the warmest part of the greenhouse. Victoria stocks should now be repotted. Herbaceous plants of all kinds may be safely transplanted this month. Cactuses, with the exception of Epiphyllum truncatum, should now be sparingly watered, and kepi in a cool, dry part of the house. Greenhouse plants of many kinds may now be safely propagated from cut- tings ; such as heaths, camellias, azaleas, and other hard wooded kinds. They will root more readily now than earlier in the season, if placed in a good warm situation. THE MAGAZINE O F HORTICULTURE, DECEMBER, 1846. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. Art. I. Horticulture in the Old Colony : with a few Notes on several Gardens in Plymouth^ Mass. By the Editor. The great facilities of communication which Rail-roads have effected, have been of great importance in the dissemi- nation of horticultural taste and information. Distant towns have now become the mere suburbs of the metropolis ; and the results of frequent communication are the introduction of the advantages which the neighborhood of large cities afford, particularly in the examples of the neat suburban villas, and highly cultivated gardens, which spring up every where around them. The new and rare fruits and flowers are a long time in finding their way into the gardens in the coun- try, but no sooner does the town become connected by rail- road communication, than they are at once sought after and obtained. Indeed, in no one thing is there a more percepti- ble change than in their gardens and grounds. This increase of taste gives rise to the formation of horticultural associa- tions, and, subsequently, to the dissemination of information upon every branch of gardening. The Societies of Worces- ter, Lowell, Providence, and lastly that of the Old Colony, have been the resultsof bringing together both town and coun- try by rail-road communication. The earliest Agricultural, and, perhaps, we should also add, Horticultural, operations of the country were commenced in Plymouth aijd its vicinity, extending to and around Boston ; for we learn, by early Historical writers, that, as early as 1633, '•• Dorchester \ididi YQYj good arable ground, and hay VOL. XII. NO. XII. 59 466 Horticulture in the Old Colony. grounds, fair cornfields, and pleasant gardens, with kitchen gardens," and that Roxbury had " impaled cornfields and fruitful gardens." And later,' in 1663, that " fruit trees pros- per abundantly, apple trees, pear trees, quince trees, cherry trees, plum trees, barberry bushes." Below Plymouth, and on the Cape, the quince has long been cultivated to great ex- tent, and in Sandwich and Eastham, there are specimens of the old Bon Chretien pear, one or two hundred years old. Thus we see how early were the Horticultural operations, and can contrast them with their condition after a lapse of two centuries. The same zeal which caused the plantation of the gardens around Boston and Salem has been continued by the descendants of the Pilgrims, and, while their example has been imitated every where throughout the Union, still we believe it has continued here far in advance of other portions of the country. The soil of Plymouth, though considered generally poor and sandy, has many localities of good land, as will be seen from our review of the gardens here. On the slopes of the hills, whose tops scarcely bear a verdant spear, may be seen some of the best specimens of cultivation, and where once stood " nothing but a few canvass booths and old houses," now spread the verdant boughs, loaded Avith the choicest fruits, the results of science applied to Horticultural Art. Since the formation of the Horticultural Society, a great deal of enthusiasm has been infused into the amateur cultivators. Proud, as they should be, of their superior specimens, which have been already produced in their gardens, they are zealous to continue their good work ; and hence we find that the new- est pears already have found a place in many gardens. One exhibition has been held, which would have been a credit to much older associations. The specimens Avere not, of course, as numerous as near large cities, but, for size and beauty, have hardly been surpassed. They are determined to main- tain this distinction, and they have our heartiest wishes for their success. Garden of J. B. Thomas^ Esq. — Mr. Thomas is an enthu- siastic amateur cultivator, and has crowded into his small garden in the town a great number of fruit trees ; he has also a garden of an acre in extent, about half a mile distant, in Notes on Gardens in Plymouth. 467 which there are a number of trees, particularly peaches, and he is yearly adding the newest and best kinds. This spot is finely located, on the westerly slope of a hill, skirted by a small pond at the base, and protected from northerly winds by a range of hills on the opposite side : indeed, no better place could have been chosen : the soil is a rich sandy loam well adapted to the peach, as the trees already planted, and now beginning to bear, attested. In order to get rid of the borer, so troublesome to the peach, a number of hens are al- lowed to have the range of the garden ; and as no crops are cultivated between the trees, they can do no injury, and are constantly scratching and destroying all kinds of grubs, work- ing under or around the trees. The plan, where it can be put in practice, appears to be a good one. The town garden is an elevated spot, and is laid out in three terraces, one above the other, receding from the street, and commanding a fine view of Pl3/"mouth bay ; each terrace forms a small garden, the front one of which is chiefly occupied with flowers and shrubs, and the remainder fruit trees, the pears mostly dwarfs upon the quince, which were just beginning to bear. The older trees are the Heathcot, Marie Louise, Wil- liams's Bon Chretien, Lewis, &c. : some specimens of the Heathcot, which, were given to us by Col. Thomas, were re- markably high-flavored and excellent. The flies have been exceedingly troublesome to the peaches, and, to stop their ravages, Col. Thomas adopted the plan of hanging wide-mouthed bottles, half filled with molasses and water, among the branches : it worked exceedingly well, and he informed us that the bottles were found nearly full every day ! The great quantity of fine fruit procured from so small a garden would surprise many, especially in the light soils of Plymouth ; but it shows how much may be accomplished with industry and perseverance by the enthusiastic cultivator. Garden of Mr. J. Washhiirn. — The Garden of Mr. J. Wash- burn is a narrow strip about sixty feet broad, and four or five hundred feet long, occupying the slope on the westerly side of the burial ground, and sheltered from the northerly and easter- ly winds. The soil is a good rich deep loam, on a gravelly 468 Horticulture in the Old Colony. subsoil, and, with a moderate quantity of manure, trees make a vigorous and handsome growth. Mr. Washburn's time does not allow but little attention to his garden, and that at leisure moments snatched from his en- gagements at his store : but, enthusiastically fond of the pur- suits of gardening, he has not neglected such opportunities as he could find, to introduce and cultivate many of the finest varieties of fruits, especially of pears. The garden is laid out with a central walk through its entire length, and on each side of this are planted dwarf pears, some trained as pyramidal trees, some as quenouilles, and some as espaliers : and with these Mr. Washburn has tried various experiments, such as inarching the terminal branches of the two trees together, ty- ing down, ringing, &c., in order to hasten the formation of fruit buds. The kinds which we saw in fruit were the Easter Beurre, very large and superior specimens, Le Cure, Fulton, and a few others. Mr. Washburn has a tree which he purchased at auction a few years ago, in Boston, for the Beurre Spence ; it did not bear this year, but, from specimens which he gave us last season, and of which we have a draw- ing, we suspect it will prove the trme variety. As soon as we ascertain this, which we hope to do when the tree fruits again, we shall give a full description, and an outline of this pear, in regard to which there has been so much confusion. Mr. Washburn has made use of guano in his Garden, and with the best effect : a pound or so applied to a good sized tree, has produced the best results : to pears upon the quince its effects have been excellent, imparting vigor to the growth of the wood, and swelling off the fruit to a fine size. All the trees were in a flourishing condition, and, in a year or two, Mr. Washburn will be able to procure fruit from a great por- tion of his trees, which embrace all the new and choice sorts. Mr. J. B. Fowler'' s Garden^ near the Bay, is a small place, fifty feet wide, and about two hundred long, but we found every inch of room occupied. On the fence on the south side are planted grape vines, which are trained up to a trellis, and for size, we never saw any which could surpass them : some of the clusters of Isabellas weighed thirteen ounces each. Mr. Fowler has them trained on a neat and regular system, taking a horizontal shoot along the bottom of the trellis, and training Notes on Gardens in Plymouth. 469 upright ones from that, which are alternately cut down to produce new wood: few cultivators pay any attention to the form in training a vine, but, to our eye, we think nothing shows the skill of a good gardener quicker than the handsome shape in which a vine or tree is trained. But the most remarkable specimen in Mr. Fowler's garden is a tree of the Doyenne SieuUe pear, which has been plant- ed about six years, is trained in the quenouille form, and now full of fruit, some of the specimens, (especially one now before us, sent us by Mr. Fowler, November 7,) weighing over twelve ounces. Last year it produced upwards of a bushel. The tree fully equalled any thing we saw in the French nur- series, and it has been wholly brought into its present handsome shape by Mr. Fowler from a very small tree ; a work, however, of considerable labor. The specimens of this variety, which is one of the very finest pears, usually seen in the vicinity of Boston, are quite small and inferior, but as pro- duced by Mr. Fowler, it is one of the very largest and best kinds. The tree is upon the quince, and continues to grow with much vigor : we are, therefore, under the impression that, like many other pears, it needs a rich soil to be produced in perfection. Mr. Fowler also grows the Easter Beurre to the weight of twelve or fourteen ounces ! and upon the pear stock. Finer specimens of cultivation, and such superior fruit, raised " along the seacoast, where the climate is rude, mid the soil rather sandy, ''^ cannot be produced even "in the apparently cold and clayey soil" on the Hudson River; and it sets at rest the dogmatic idea that the decline of varieties is only " along the seaboard, on Long Island, in New Jersey, near Hartford, and around Boston." Mr. Fowler had a tree full of fruit, which was purchased at auction five or six years ago as the Charles d' Autriche ; but it is not that variety. It is a medium sized, and very good pear, which we believe to be the Autumn Colmar of Lindley : it is a most abundant bearer, and well worthy of cultivation. Mr. Fowler has several varieties of pears in his lim- ited garden, every part of which is made use of to a good purpose. Garden of N. M. Davis, Esq. — On the main street, near the old Pilgrim Hall, is situated the Garden of Mr. Davis, occupying about an acre of ground, which slopes otf to the south, and full half of which is occupied as an apple orchard. 470 Horticulture in the Old Colony. being filled with thrifty specimens of old trees, among them a variety which Mr. Davis calls the Holmes apple, a great bearer, and an excellent variety, which originated in this coun- ty. The apple trees in Plymouth, and also further south, have been greatly injured by the green fly, which appeared in such quantities, that the entire crop was, in many places, destroyed, as well as the growth of the trees for the year : on some of the trees in Mr. Davis's orchard, there were great quantities of fruit not larger than a crab apple. Mr. Davis stated to us, that the insects were so numerous that ordinary modes of destroying them seemed to be of no use : we apprehend, however, that if, on a still, cloudy evening, large quantities of tobacco had been burnt underneath each tree, their ravages, if not wholly prevented, would have been greatly lessened. In the garden, we found several pear trees full of fruit; Mr. Davis also pointed out to us one tree, the pears of which had been gathered, which was purchased at auction in Boston, five or six years ago, and which produced several remarkably large and fine pears, nearly the size of the Duchesse d'An- gouleme ; this, Mr, Davis stated he had been unable to find a name for, as the variety appeared to be quite unknown. Upon inquiry, however, and an examination of the wood and habit of the tree, we are satisfied it is the Doyenne Boussock of the French gardens, a variety we had in fruit this season, and a drawing and description of which will soon appear in our pages : it is a large, handsome, and most excellent pear. It is somewhat singular that specimens of this variety have been brought to Boston from Plymouth County and Rhode Island, produced from trees which had been purchased at auction in Boston, and yet that it should not have been produced in any of the gardens of cultivators in the vicinity, who have been annual- ly receiving trees from France, with two exceptions, and that am- ateurs should not have been able to recognize the variety. The Doyenne Sieulle here, as well as at Mr. Fowler's, was full of handsome fruit. The Beurre Diel and Beurre Incomparable, Mr. Davis thinks, are different kinds ; one tree being exceed- ingly full, of only moderate size, and very much russeted ; the other bearing but a few pears, very large, and nearly green ; this, however, may be attributed to numerous causes ; we have had trees which were identically the same. Notes on Gardens in Plymouth. 471 Nursery of Mr. B. M. Watson. — There are one or two small nurseries in Plymouth, but we only had time to visit that of Mr. Watson. The quantity of ground was less than half an acre, but we found it filled with rows of well grown trees, embracing some of the leading varieties, and also in- cluding a new seedling, which we have before noticed, (Vol. X., p. 212), called after the father of the proprietor, on whose grounds, we believe, it originated near Plymouth. Mr. Wat- son not residing in town, we did not have an opportunity to see him, but we are glad to add our testimony to the hand- some and vigorous growth of the trees, and the skill evinced in their cultivation. The Nursery of Mr. Weston is situated on the main road from Boston, near the present rail-road depot and Samoset House. At another time we shall endeavor to give some ac- count of it. The Samoset House, erected by the Rail-road Corporation, is a very large and commodious building kept in the best man- ner by Mr. Stetson, and we commend it to our friends who may take a trip to Plymouth, either to see the interesting things which pertain to this ancient town, — its gardens, — or, in summer, to inhale its pure and invigorating breezes. Mr. Stetson is laying out about an acre of ground as a fruit and kitchen garden, directly in front of the house, and as he is somewhat zealous in such pursuits, he will undoubtedly be able to load his tables with the good things from his own premises. One good thing he has done, viz., to subsoil the ground : by this means, the soil is deepened at least ten inches^ thus forming a reservoir of moisture, which, in a soil with sandy bottom, is of great importance. The ground is laid off into six squares, with a slip around the whole, — one centre walk lengthwise, and two crosswise. On the edges of the squares Mr. Stetson will plant fruit trees, leaving the other part for vegetables. On the north slip he will plant a variety of ornamental trees, together with evergreens, especially the white pine ; and these, when grown up, will shelter the gar- den, and protect it from cold winds. It is a good arrange- ment, and well carried out, 472 Mr. Humrickhouse'' s Description Art. II. A Descriptive Account of Two New VaiHeties of Ap- ples, with Engravings of the Fruit. By T. S. Humrick- house, Esq., Coshocton, Ohio, No more of the origin of this fine apple is known to me than that it has been widely disseminated through Ohio and the West from the nurseries in Harrison, Jefferson, and Belmont Counties in this State. The form varies. The above outline is drawn from a specimen given me on the 10th Au- gust inst., by Mr. Henry Seevers of West Carlisle, and is an Fiff. 35. Early Pennock Apple. accurate representation of its size and shape. I saw one pre- sented by Mr. Seevers at the same time to Alexander Hay, Esq., of this place, which is one third larger and slightly con- ical in shape. They are generally slightly oblong or conical, and a trifle smaller than the above. The color is red, some- of Two New Varieties of Apples. 473 what flecked, and shaded off to a pale yellow on the side least exposed to the sun. The flesh is yellow, moderately juicy, with a fine, subacid flavor. Its season is from the first to the middle of August. The specimen above referred to was rath- er over-ripe when I received it. It was also more highly col- ored than usual with the variety. The tree is thrifty and fruitful. Above I send you an outline and description of the Early Pennock, or at least an apple cultivated by that name in Ohio. Mr. Belzer has this moment brought me in another early apple, an undoubted seedling. Fig. 36. Belzer Apple. A seedling of Coshocton County, Ohio. Red striped on a greenish yellow ground : flesh, white, fine grained, tender, juicy, subacid and good. First to middle of August. Coshocton, Ohio, August 17th, 1846. VOL. XII. — NO. XII. 60 474 Pomological Notices ; Art. III. Pomological Notices ; or Notices respecting Neio and Superior Varieties of Fruits, worthy of General Cul- tivation. Notices of Several Varieties of Apples. By the Editor. In our volume for 1844, (X.,) we gave an account of a great variety of new apples, several of which were supposed to be natives of the West. Since then, other new kinds have been introduced to the notice of cultivators, and our correspondents in various places have furnished us with specimens of the fruit of some new varieties, and with descriptive notices of others which we now present to our readers. Early Joe. — This is a very handsome and excellent variety cultivated to some extent in western New York, where it is stated to have originated in an orchard in Bloomfield, Onta- rio Co., the parent tree of which is, we believe, still alive. It is said to have received its name from an individual called Joe, who for " some time stole the apples, early in the morn- ing, before the family were up, and only desisted after the hired man had cut ' Early Joe' on the bark of every tree." This account we have from our correspondent, J. W. Bis- sell, of Rochester, who sent us some fine specimens of the ap- ples. The fruit is of medium size, oblate form, with a yel- lowish skin, beautifully and distinctly striped with purplish red : Flesh, white, fine, very tender and juicy, with an ex- ceedingly pleasant flavor. Mr. Bissell states that the speci- mens sent us were from trees in a rather neglected state, but, when properly cultivated, they attain double the size ; the tree grows slowly ; the wood slim ; the bark dark colored ; and the hue of the foliage dark green and rich. Fall Jermeting. — This is the name of an apple cultivated in the vicinity of Rochester, when it was originally brought from the Hudson River, about twenty years ago ; but it does not appear to be described by either Kenrick or Downing. The trees grow very rapidly, and bear every alternate year. In form and appearance, it greatly resembles the R. I. Green- ing, but is in eating a month before that variety, and is a less acid, but equally excellent variety. Descriptions of Several Varieties of Apples. 475 English Sweeting. — A most beautiful apple, received with the two above sorts, from Mr. J. W. Bissell. It is nearly round, very regular in form, with a yellowish skin distinctly striped and dashed with brilliant red. Flesh, white, exceedingly tender, juicy and sweet ; indeed, it is the handsomest sweet apple of the season we have seen. It is in eating in October, and keeps a few weeks. Its origin is not known, and why it should have the name of English sweeting, is not ascer- tained, as it is evidently an American variety. Walpole. — A new native fruit from Walpole, Mass., introduc- ed by our correspondent, E. M. Richards, Esq., of Dedham, who furnished us with scions and specimens of the fruit. It is an early fall apple, in eating the early part of September, and appears to be well worthy of cultivation. It is of medium size, oblong form, with a red skin, yellowish in the shade. Liincoln. — A native fruit from Hallowell, Me., where the original tree stands on the grounds of Mr. R. G. Lincoln, and is supposed to be about fifty years old. Specimens of the fruit sent us last year, and again the present season, show it to be a handsome as well as most desirable fruit, ripe the lat- ter part of September, and keeping three or four weeks. Form, roundish, slightly flattened at the base : skin, smooth, deep yellow, with a broad tinge of red on the sunny side. Moses Wood. — Another seedling from Winthrop, Maine, sent to us by Mr. Glazier of Hallowell. It was first exhib- ited as long ago as 1833 or '34, when specimens were sent to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, who pronounced it a good summer apple. It ripens in August, is of medium size, roundish form, with a yellowish skin, nearly covered with distinct pale and bright red stripes. It is a constant and great bearer, ripening in Maine about the 15th of August, but does not keep long. Marston^s Red Winter — Mr. Kenrick, in his last edition of the Orchardlst^ gives a brief description of this apple. Speci- mens sent us last year were remarkably beautiful, as large, or larger than, the Baldwin, similar in form, nearly covered with bright red, in darker and lighter stripes, with a tender and juicy flesh, and a rich, subacid flavor. It keeps till spring. Leicester Sweet. — A handsome and excellent sweet apple, rem Leicester, Mass., sent to us by our correspondent, J. M. 476 Pomological Notices. Earle, Esq., of Worcester. It is a fruit of good size, of round- ish form, with a handsome golden skin, and keeps till spring. Loring Sweet. — Supposed to be a native of Hingham, where it is considerably cultivated, and highly esteemed. It is of medium size, with a yellow skin, and keeps till spring. Or7ie. — A fine early apple, which we received from Mar- blehead, where the original tree is said to be still growing. It is a good sized fruit, of a slightly conical form, with a yel- lowish green skin, and slight blush on the sunny side : Flesh, tender, juice abundant and excellent. It ripens in August and September, just after Williams's Favorite, and before the Porter, filling up the season with a variety equal in excel- lence to these fine kinds. The following are varieties described in the Transactions of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, which we referred to at p. 304, and which we then stated we should notice again. They are supposed to be natives of the West : — Home Beauty^ called also Gillett's seedling from its having been raised by Mr. Gillett of Lawrence Co., Ohio. Fruit, above medium size, oblong form, bright red on a yellow ground : flesh, white, subacid. The fruit holds on the tree well, and it keeps till spring. A vigorous growing tree, and prolific bearer. Keller^ s Seedling. — Originated on the farm of Mr. Ferris, Montgomery, Ohio. A small fruit, of a dull red color, defect- ive in flavor, and only valuable for its keeping qualities. Helenas Favorite. — Raised by Mr. S. Widney, Troy, Ohio, and figured in the Western Farmer and Gardener^ Vol. V. It is of medium size, roundish form, slightly depressed at the ends, with a dark red skin, approaching black, and a remark- ably tender buttery and juicy flesh, very delicately flavored. It keeps till mid-winter. The description answers very well for the Fameuse, — perhaps it may prove that variety. Dana. — A beautiful summer variety, raised by Mr. J. Knoop of Troy, Ohio, and also figured in the volume just alluded to. It is of medium size, nearly round, with a fair and smooth skin striped with red : Flesh, tender, juicy, and of a pleasant flavor. Ripe in July. Winter Orickson. — A handsome and fine apple from Car- lisle, Ky., of medium size, flat at the base, tapering to the Some Account of the Hog Artichoke. 477 crown, with a greenish yellow skin, streaked with bright red, and mottled with dark blotches. Flesh, yellow, breaking, juicy and fine flavored. It keeps till mid-winter. Milan. — Probably a native of Virginia or Kentucky, where it is extensively cultivated and prized. Fruit, small, round, light red on a yellow ground : flesh, white, tender, juicy, subacid and fine flavored. It keeps till spring, and the tree is a great and constant bearer. King. — From Mason Co., Ky. Fruit, medium size, dull red mixed with yellow, and obscured with dark clouds over the surface : form, oblong, flattened at the base : flesh, white, tender, juicy and pleasant. It keeps till January. Stump. — A seedling, from an old stump in the garden of the Shakers of Union Village, Ohio. It is in eating in the au- tumn, and in point of flavor, cooking qualities, and its re- markable adaptation to drying for sauce, one of the best win- ter fruits. The tree is remarkably productive, and the fruit of large size. Our next Pomological notice, in an early number of the next volume, will contain a review of the new fruits which have been introduced and tested the present year. Art. IV, Som,e Account of the Hog Artichoke. By W. S. Rockwell, Esq., Milledgeville, Ga. How the Hog Artichoke came to be referred to Solanecc, I am at a loss to conjecture. The plant which was sold in this vicinity as the Hog Artichoke, is certainly a Helianthus, al- though I am not prepared to assert that it is H. tuberosus, (Jerusalem artichoke.) It differs materially in habit. The two agree in the fringed linear lanceolate leaves of the invo- lucrum, the three-cleft concave palese, the two-awned com- pressed quadrangular seeds, though in the Hog artichoke, they (the awns) are rather persistent, and, perhaps, in the alternate ovate-lanceolate leaves with the petioles ciliated at the base. H. tuberosus rises with an erect, rarely branched stem to the height of eight to ten feet, bearing a few 478 Some Account of the Hog Artichoke. scattered flowers at the summit, on long peduncles. The Hog Artichoke rises to the height of ten to twelve feet ; stem much branched, few flowered. I would suggest with some hesita- tion, however, that it may be the plant described by Michaux, Pursh, Nuttall, and Elliott, and perhaps Walter, as H. divar- icdtiis, and perhaps the variety ferugmeus of Elliott, which, after all, may be but an accidental variety of H. giganteiis. I subjoin Mr. Elliott's minute description of H. divaricatus : " Root, perennial : Stem, five to six feet high, glabrous di- and tri- chotomously divided ; the branches much more nu- merous than usual in this genus : Leaves, ovate lanceolate, serrulate, with a long, tapering, somewhat acuminate point, scabrous on the upper surface, pubescent, and sprinkled with glandular dots underneath, the loAver ones opposite, the upper generally alternate, on petioles three to six inches long : Floio- ers, very small, numerous, in terminal panicles : Involucrum, imbricate, the leaves ovate lanceolate, very acute, fringed : Florets of the ray five to ten, (?) yellow, slightly three-tooth- ed ; of the disk, yellowish, tubular, not very numerous : Ari- thers, larger than the florets : Seed, compressed : Pajjpus, two very slender awns, hairy : Chaff of the receptacle, con- cave; as long as the florets of the disk, hairy, and slightly angled at the summit." Considering the Hog and Jerusalem Artichoke as the same plant, I have never cultivated the first, the other growing too abundantly in the garden. But when the Hog Artichoke was referred to y^olanecB, I felt some curiosity to examine it. I am not aware that its roots, cultivated in this vicinity, pre- serve their tuberous character : although the tubes, as they were called, were planted, the products were mere strings, no tubes being found among them, as far as examined : their val- ue as food, in this particular, is thus rendered somewhat prob- lematical. Indeed, the roots, as I remember, which were ofiered for sale, were rather fusiform than tuberous. Milledgeville, Ga., November, 1846. [In justice to Dr. Ward, we should state that the paragraph we inserted, in relation to the artichoke, was written in haste, and not intended for publication. — Ed.] Floricultural and Botanical Notices. 479 Art. V. Floricultural and Botanical Notices of New Plants, figured in foreign periodicals ; with Remarks on those re- cently introduced to, or originated in, American gardens, and additional inform,atio7i upon plants already in cultivation. Edwards'' s Botanical Register, or Ornamental Flower Garden and Shrubbery. Each number containing from six to eight plates ; with additional miscel- laneous information relative to new plants. In monthly numbers ; 'is. plain, 35. %d. colored. Paxton^s Magazine of Botany, and Register of Flowering Plants. Each number containing four colored plates. Monthly, 2s. 6^. each. Edited by J. Paxton, Gardener to the Duke of Devonshire. The Gardeners'' Chronicle, a stamped newspaper of Rural Economy and General News. Edited by Prof. Lindley. Weekly. Price ^d. each. Curtis'' s Botanical Magazine, in monthly numbers. By Sir Wm. Jackson Hooker, K. H., &c., 3d series, vol. 1, 1845. Nos. 1, 2, 3 and 5. The Journal of the London Horticultural Society. In quarterly numbers, octavo, 5s. each. Horticidtural Intelligence — Mr. For tunics Mission to Cal- ifornia.— The last number of the Journal of the Horticultural Society has an article from Mr. Fortune, giving an account of his visit to California. So far as he had then proceeded, he had not met with many plants ; but as his journal will be con- tinued, we shall endeavour to give an account of all the new- things worthy of notice. Camellidi japonica Wilderi, and Abby Wilder. — We learn that our correspondent. Col. Wilder, has disposed of the whole stock of his two seedling camellias, Wilder* and Abby Wild- er, for the very large sum of one thousand dollars. We have often spoken of these two varieties, which are equal to any that have been raised, but we were not aware that the ca- mellia had become so favorite a flower as to command such a high price. In Europe, where the demand for new things is immense, compared with this country, it is rare such a high price is paid for the stock of any new plant. We are glad, however, to find the camellia in such good demand by our cultivators. The purchaser was Mr. J. L. L. F. Warren. 480 Floricultural and Botanical Notices. FabdcecB. INDIGO'FERA L. decdra Lindl. The comely Indi?o. A half-hardy (or hardy) shrub ; growing four or five feet high; with pink flowers ; appearing in spring; anativeof China ; cultivated in good soil; increased by cuttings- Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 22. One of Mr. Fortune's acquisitions, found in the nurs- eries at Shanghai, where the winter is so cold it will probably prove hardy. It has dark green pinnate leaves, and axillary horizontal racemes of light, rose-colored flowers, which are " very handsome." It has so far been treated as a green- house plant, growing freely in any good soil, with an ample supply of water in summer, and a slight shading from the sun. Keep rather dry in winter. It roots freely from cut- tings. {Bot. Reg. April.) OXYRAIMPHIS fVall. niacr6styla De Cand. Long-styled Oxyi'amph. A greenhouse shrub ; growing five 'feet.high ; with crimson and rose-colored flowers ; appearing in October; a native of India; cultivated in sandy loam and peat ; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 28. " A very pretty greenhouse shrub," with trefoil leaves and axillary dense racemes of deep crimson and rose-colored flow- ers, Avhich appear abundantly in October and November. It loses its leaves in winter, when it should be allowed to rest. In summer, it grows freely. It was received from the Botanic Garden of Saharunpar. {Bot. Reg. April.) CaryophylldcecB. SIL&NE L. schafta Gmelin. The Schafta. A hardy iierbaceous plant ; growing six inches high ; with purple flowers ; appearing from June to October ; a native of Russia ; cultivated in any light soil ; increased by seeds. Bot. Reg. 1S43, pi. 20. "One of the prettiest of all border and rock plants," pro- ducing a great number of spreading, slender, downy stems, which form compact tufts, and terminated by four or five bright purple flowers, more than an inch long — the topmost opening first, and the others in succession, so as to cover the branches with flowers. For rock work, it is a beautiful plant. It is a hardy perennial, and is readily increased from seeds. It flowers till frost. {Bot. Reg. April.) Ascle^ididdcece. SCHUBE'RT/^ "rav^olens Lindl. Sirong-scented Schubertia. A stove plant ; growing ten feet high ; with white flowers; appearing in winter; a native ofBrazil; cultivated in peat, loam, and sand; increased by cuttings. Bot. Reg. lS4ti, pi. 21. A fine climbing plant, producing clusters of large, white, fragrant flowers, resembling the Stephanotus, and not infe- rior to that in beauty ; they are also produced in great profu- of New Plants. 481 sion, and continue in bloom four months. Mr. Glendenning, who first exhibited it, received the Banksian medal for a specimen. It grows freely in the stove, and, when done flow- ering in winter, it should be allowed to rest till started into growth again in spring. It should have plenty of pot room, and a coarse peat and turfy soil. {Bot. Reg. April.) VlumhaginacecE. PLUMBAGO L. zeyliiiica L. Ceylon Leadwort. A greenhouse plant ; growing six feet high ; with white flow- ers ; appearing in spring ; a native of Afghanistan ; increased by cuttings; cultivated in loam and heath soil. Bot. Reg. 1S46, p. 23. A very pretty acquisition among greenhouse climbers, and a good companion to the well known P. capensis ; having pure white flowers, produced in dense, branched spikes, and desira- ble, especially for bouquets. It is one of the few plants which have been received from Afghanistan, by the London Horti- cultural Society, in whose garden it first flowered, September, 1845. The roots possess medicinal qualities, and, when bruised, act as severe blistering applications. {^Bot. Reg. April.) ^olanacece. SOLA'NUM lycioides L. Lycium-like Solanum. A greenhouse shrub -, growing four feet high ; with purple and yellow flowers ; appearing in November ; a native of Peru; increased by cuttings ; cultivated in any good soil. Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 25. " A charming shrub," having a neat and erect habit, and clothed with an abundance of flowers " of the richest sapphire and purple, enlivened by a bright yellow eye." It is also of easy cultivation, succeeding in any good soil, but preferring a sandy loam and rough peat. It should be kept out of doors during summer, when it will form its flower buds ; and in October brought into the house, where it will display its bril- liant flowers so desirable at this season. It succeeds freely from cuttings. (^Bot. Reg. May.) VolygonacecB. FAGOTYRUM cymdsum Trevirantis Loose-flowered Buckwheat. A hardy perennial ; growing two feet high ; with white flowers ; appearing all summer ; a native of Tartary ; increased by seeds ; culti- vated in auy good soil. Bot. Reg. 1846, pi. 26. " A hardy perennial of the easiest culture" growing either by seeds or division of the roots, and producing large, loose, spreading panicles of small white flowers. As an annual, it is well worth cultivating, flowering freely as it does the first season, from July to September. It forms a spreading bush. VOL. xn. — NO. xn. 61 482 Floricultural and Botanical Notices. Like other buckwheats, bees are extremely fond of it, and to bee amateurs, it will be an ornamental as well as useful plant. {Bot. Reg. May.) Lamiacem. CEDRONELLA pdllida Lindl. The Pale Cedronel. A greenhouse plant -, growing two feet high ; with pale red flowers ; appearing in summer ; a native of Mexico ; increased by seeds and cuttings ; cultivated in any light rich soil. Bot. Reg. 1S46, pi. 29. A very pretty plant, with the habit and general appearance of a salvia, but with more slender and delicate flowers, pro- duced in spikes in great profusion on the laterals and main branches. There is another species called C. mexicana, of which we have not seen the figure, but we suspect that the plant which we have noticed (p. 448,) as /Salvia Rhodenwaldw is a Cedronella, and the mexicana, as this was introduced from the north of Mexico, and figured in the Bot. Mag. t. 3860. C. pallida is less beautiful than mexicana, but is suf- ficiently handsome to merit a place in a collection. In our cli- mate, it may be treated as an annual. {Bot. Reg. May.) DRACOCE'PHALUM grandiflormn Great-flowered Dragon's Head. A hardy herbaceous plant ; growing a foot high; with blue flowers ; appearing in summer ; a native of Silesia ; increased by division of the roots ; cultivated in any good soil. Pax. Mag. Bot. 1846, p. 52. An old and beautiful herbaceous plant rarely seen in our collections, though first introduced to England as long ago as 1769. It is a hardy plant, although sometimes likely to be killed from the succulent nature of its roots. It is a splendid object when grown in pots, and well repays the care bestowed upon it. Its treatment in pots is similar to that of campan- ula and other herbaceous plants ; wintering in a cold frame, and repotting once or twice in the spring into good sized pots. Any good soil will suit it. (Pax. Mag. Bot. April.) ^remnndracecB . TETRATHE'CA hirsiita Hairy Tetratheca. A greenhouse plant ; growing one foot high; with purple flowers ; appearing in spring; a native of Swan River; increased by cuttings; cultivated in sandy loam and peat. Pax. Mag. Bot. 184G, p. 54. "A pretty greenhouse plant, producing profusely, for along period, its light purple, somewhat star-like flowers, on rather long peduncles at the axils of the leaves." It is of a slender habit, and should be managed similar to other New Holland plants, giving it an airy, half-shaded place in summer, and a cool greenhouse in the winter. It is propagated from cuttings. {Pax. Mag. Bot., April.) Browne^ s Forest Trees of America. 483 REVIEWS. Art. I. The Trees of America^ Pictorially^ Botanically^ and Entomologically delineated ; embracing a complete Descrip- tion of the Forest Trees of North Am,erica, their Ctdture, Manageinent and Propagation ; Uses, Economy in the Arts; Introduction into Com,m,erce, and their Application in Useful and Ornamental Plantation and in Landscape Gardening. By D. J. Browne, Author of the Sylva Americana. 1 vol. 8vo. pp. 520 ; with many Engravings. New York. 1846. The vokime of Mr. Brown has been before us longer than is usual, with a work of its importance, without a notice ; our apology, however, for the delay, is a want of room ; and also because we have already given some account of its preparation, and furnished our readers, in advance of publication, with a specimen of the style in which the work is executed, (p. 186.) The Trees of North America is a subject of sufficient scope, in its nature and importance, to furnish a most interesting and useful volume — surpassed by no country in the grandeur, state- liness, and beauty of its woodlands and forests — to a mind im- bued with a love of scenery, and open to the impressions of the picturesque, what a grand theme does the subject present ! Michaux and Loudon, though they have already revealed to the world the riches of our forest scenery, have yet left much of local interest which an industrious gleaner might garner up and present in a most interesting and entertaining volume. To say that the author of The Trees of America has ac- complished this would be more than we are willing to admit. The volume, however, presents us with a great deal of valu- able information in a convenient form and at a reasonable rate, and accessible to many who cannot afford to purchase the expensive volumes of Michaux, or the still more costly and complete work of Loudon. The principal faults of the volume are, that the author has occupied too much space with the orange, almond, peach, cherry, pomegranate, apple, pear, plum, grape, &c., giving details which rather belong to a treatise upon the cultivation of these various fruits, than to a work describing the Trees of America. It would have been better to have comprehended 484 Colman's European Agricultttre, S^c. all the strictly American trees agreeably to the title, and to have left out many of the numerous European varieties which have never been introduced, and some of which are scarcely worthy of a place in our gardens. Take, for instance, the holly, in which upwards of twenty-three varieties are enume- rated, and not more than five or six of which are really dis- tinct, and when it is considered that none of these will stand our winters north of Washington, of what value are these de- scriptions 1 So too with the rather long account of the mahog- any tree, Paraguay tea, camphor tree, &c. : of what use are they unless to some cultivators who may attempt their growth and acclimazation in some parts of Florida 7 Mr. Browne, we know, has not spared exertions to render the volume accept- able, but he has erred in not confining himself strictly to an enumeration of at least every American tree : thus several im- portant and very common kinds are omitted altogether. The Coniferous plants, as well as the oaks, &c., are wholly omitted ! but the author states, in the preface, that, should an extension of the work be called for, these will be included in the supplement ; this we regret, for it would have been more satisfactory to have comprised all in one volume. In the page we have already referred to, we have given a specimen of the work, and, in conclusion, we only need say, that, although the volume is not exactly what we could wish, it is a very good contribution to our arboricultural literature, and will, we trust, by a general circulation, be the means of making individuals better acquainted with our native trees and shrubs, and extend their introduction into our gardens, and around our dwellings. The volume is from the press of the Harpers, and is a neat and beautiful specimen of typography. It is also illustrated with many well executed vignettes, and engravings of trees. Art. II. Eiircypean Agriculture and Rural Economy^ from Personal Observation. By Henry Colman, Vol. II. Part VII. pp. 105 to 222. Boston. 1846. Another part of Mr. Colman' s Tour has been upon our table, awaiting a notice. The subjects which are treated of American Floiver Garden Companion. 485 are few, but they are important and discussed in detail : they are a continuation of the last number, and named as follows : — CI. Tile and Pipe Drawing : CII. Subsoil-Ploughing con- nected with Thorough Draining : CIII. Irrigation : CIV. The Rotation of Crops : CV. Soiling or House Feeding : CVI. Crops. This is a practical and excellent number. The drainage of soils is yearly attracting more attention among our farmers, and any information on the mode in which these operations are performed in England must be highly desirable to our agri- culturists. The rotation of crops, too, is a subject worthy of all consideration, and the system adopted in Britain must be equally applicable to our own husbandry. It is the main point in high and successful cultivation to follow up a proper suc- cession of crops ; for, under any other course, the land must gradually lose its invigorating qualities, and finally become what is termed wo/m out. Our space will not permit us to offer any extracts at this time, but we may commend the work to the favorable attention of agriculturists. Art. III. The American Floicrer Garden Companion. Re- vised and Enlarged. By Edward Savers, Landscape and Ornamental Gardener, &c. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 207. Cincin- nati. 1846. In the present edition, Mr. Sayers has added much useful information, and we may commend 'it as a great improve- ment upon the first edition, which has been noticed by us. Mr. Sayers' s Avorks are wholly practical, and he enters into those minute details which many authors take it for granted every body knows, but which contain the very information many readers are particularly in search of In the present edition, the selected lists of plants are brought down to a late date, and additional information is also given in relation to the propagation of various kinds of plants, both hardy and tender. The volume closes with a glossary of the gene- ral terms used in describing plants. We commend it as a cheap and useful book to new beginners in the art of cultivation. 486 Culture of the Grape, 6^0. Art. IV. NormarCs Southern Agricultural Almanac for 1847, Edited by T. Affleck, Esq., devoted exclusively to the Ag- ricultural Interests of the South, Pamphlet, 12mo. pp. 44. New Orleans. 1846. That the South is awaking to the importance of agricultu- ral information, is attested by the call for an agricultural al- manac, a copy of which we have now before us, edited by our correspondent, Mr. Affleck of Mississippi, formerly of the Cin- cinnati Farmer and Gardener. It is the first of a series which the Editor states, in the preface, will be published annually, and hereafter, will consist of about one hundred pages, the size originally intended for the volume ; but the matter could not be prepared in time, and consequently it had to be reduced and sold at a proportionally low price to introduce the work. Mr. Affleck is able to make it a most acceptable yearly ofier- ing upon the Farmer's table. Art. V. Remarks on the Cidture of the Grape and Manu-- facture of Wiiie in the Western States: comprising a Re- port made by Direction of the Cincinnati Horticultural So- ciety, May 2cZ, 1846. By Melzer Flagg, M. D. Pamph- let. 8vo. pp. 18. Cincinnati. 1846. We are indebted to the author for this very interesting pamphlet on the progress of the vineyard culture of the vine in the West. The substance of it is embodied in the Trans- actions of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society, reviewed at page 304, and, had Ave room, we should be glad to notice it at length. Dr. Flagg shows conclusively the profit to be derived from the manufacture of wine, and states that but little of last year's vintage remains unsold, the price varying from ^1 to |1 50 per gallon. The advocates of total abstinence, we fear, will not agree with the doctor in his views of the use of wine ; especially that the cultivation of the vine to supply a wholesome drink will "improve our moral condition as a nation." We, how- ever, must side with him when he states that the "idea that Allen's Compend of American Agriculture. 487 the American people will ever become a nation of entire wa- ter drinkers, is founded upon neither common sense, nor a correct knowledge of the people, and, like all ultra notions, will have its reaction." And, as we must have some kind of drink, he thinks it is far better to have such a wholesome bev- erage as light wines than malt and alcoholic liquors. And the introduction of pure light wines, "he is confident, will produce a great natural and moral reform — one that will be received by our temperance brethren, ere long, as a national blessing." Art. VI. A Brief Compend of Atnerican Agriculture. By R. L. Allen. 1 vol. 12mo. pp. 437. New York. 1846. Among the several agricultural Treatises which have been issued within a few years, scarcely one has come up to our idea of what they should be. It is therefore gratifying to be able to announce the appearance of one which is, as its title indicates, a full compend of American Husbandry. Mr. Allen comes to the task with many years of practical experience, and with varied and extensive reading, and the volume abundantly shows that he has not been idle while pursuing the duties of his profession. The author states, in his preface, that much of the volume " has been tested by the writer's own experience and observation. For the remain- der, he is indebted to various oral and written information, derived from the best agriculturists, and especially from the valuable foreign and domestic agricultural productions of the day." The volume is dedicated to the young farmers of the United States. The book is divided into twenty-one chapters ; but it is to be regretted that the author did not add a table of contents, as well as a copious index, as the former greatly facilitates the finding of any particular subject. Chapters 1 to 3, are devoted to soils and manures, and occupy upwards of sixty pages. That upon manures is a complete digest of all that has been written upon the subject since the publication of 488 Foreign Notices. Liebig's Chemistry. Chapter 10 is devoted to fruits, and we notice the author states, that all the raspberries are hardy in latitude 43° north : this, we apprehend, must be an error, as in most situations in Massachusetts, except in and around large cities, the shoots are liable to be killed quite to the ground. In light soils and mild winters they are not injured, but there is danger of losing the whole crop unless the vines are covered. Grasses, Wheat, Roots, Woodlands, Farm buildings, the Dairy, Stock of all kinds, &c. make up the re- maining chapters ; and we commend the volume to the at- tention of every farmer, knowing that it will greatly assist him " in carrying forward the great agricultural improvements of the present day." {Preface.^ MISCELLANEOUS INTELLIGENCE. Art. I. Foreign Notices. ENGLAND. Dahlias and Dahlia Exhibitions for 1846. — Our summary of new Dahlias, for 1846, does not contain a great deal of interest. The perfection to which the dahlia has been cultivated renders it yearly more difficult to produce vari- eties which surpass those that already fill our catalogues. And the severe test which all really good flowers have to undergo, renders it difficult to pass off upon the public inferior flowers, provided amateurs will read, and purchase only those which have stood the ordeal of an exhibition at some of the principal shows around London. We therefore proceed to give the names of the flowers which have taken prizes at some of the principal soci- eties, adding a list of the new seedlings which our correspondents assure us are the leading kinds to come out next year. Caledonian Horticultural Society. — Best twenty blooms. — Capt. Walner, Mrs. Anderson, Sir J. S. Richardson, Isabel, Beeswing, Sir E. Antrobus, Princess Radziwell, Marchioness Cornwallis, Caractacus, Cleo- patra, Emperor of Scarlets, Cloth of Gold, Marchioness of Aylesbury, Al- ice Hawthorne, Mrs. Shelly, Cream of Jest, Standard of Perfection, Van- guard, Beauty of Hants, and Lady Featherstone. — To Messrs. Dicksons & Co., Edinburgh. Royal South London Floricultural Society. — Best twenty-four blooms : — Cleopatra, Consolation, Victory of Sussex, Athlete, Essex Tri- umph, Duchess of Richmond, Gloria Mundi, Princess Royal, Alice Haw- thorn, Mrs. Shelly, Blue Bonnet, Marquis of Exeter, Antagonist, Lady St Foreign Notices. 489 Maur, Essex Triumph, Admiral Stopford, Lady Leicester, Rose d'Amour, Biondetla, Compacta, Bathonia, Beauty of Sussex, Nonpareil, Essex Bride, — To Mr. Weedon of Hillingdon. Royal Horticultural Society of Cornwall. — Best twelve flowers : Bathonia, Mrs. Shelly, Cleopatra, Alice Hawthorn, Orlando, Princess Royal, Lady Antrobus, Sir E. Antrobus, Marquis of Bath, Beeswing, Antagonist and Orange Superb. Metropolitan Society's Dahlia Show. — Best twenty-four blooms : — Beauty of Sussex, Mrs. Shelly, Nonpareil, Prometheus, Cleopatra, Bees- wing, Eximia, Marquis of Aylesbury, Indispensable, Essex Triumph, Queen of Roses, Springfield Rival, Lady St. Maur, Raphael, Mrs. Anderson, Victory of Sussex, Duchess of Richmond, Capt. Warner, Biondetta, Prin- cess Radziwell, Cloth of Gold, Sir J. S. Richardson, Princess Royal, and Admiral Stopford — To Mr. Turner, of Chalrey, near London. These are four of the principal societies, and they afford the best index of the true merit of the different varieties. The seedlings exhibited before the Metropolitan Society are reported upon as follows : — Among the seedlings were some of great merit, especially Keynes's Yellow Standard, and Turner's Scarlet Gem, to both of which first class certificates were awarded : the former is a large flower, of fine form and clear bright color ; the latter is also large and brilliant, and finely formed. First class certificates were also given to Turner's Berryer, a large dark maroon flower, to Bragg's Master Geo. Clayton, a good formed fancy flower, with white edged purple petals, and to Turner's Miss Nye, a large flower, white, with rosy tips — all of fine properties. A first class certificate was also given to a light rose-colored flower named Mount fitchet, not marked with the Exhibitor's name. Louis Philippe, also from Mr. Turner, is likewise a very fine flower of a deep claret color. Mr. Bragg had several beautiful fancy varieties — Fancy Boy, Star, and Mrs. Edwards. Our correspondent, who keeps us informed of all the "crack" flowers, writes us that the following are all he can recommend as first rate : — Andromeda, Collinson's, Primrose, tipt with carmine, very fine. Received five prizes. Scarlet Gem, Turner's, very first rate, six prizes. Lady of the Lake, white, with carmine tip, very beautiful, _/o«r prizes. Victoria, Bushell's, Hght rose, very fine. Hon. Mr. Herbert, Brown's, salmon color, first rate. Queen of Sheba, Wilkinson's, — the finest white in the world. Captivation, Brown's, chocolate, mottled with puce. Louis Philippe, Turner's, dark puce. Golden Fleece, Union, fine light orange. Yellow Standard, Keynes's. The most beautiful yellow ever yet seen. Berryer, Turner's, darkest flower, very beautiful. The " cream" of ihe fancy flowers of this year, he informs us, are Essex Goldfinch, Mimosa, Narcissus, Prince de Joinville, Punch, Gaiety, Her- mione, and Multicator Admirabilis. From this list, the amateur may gather all the desirable information to be obtained in regard to the dahlia. — Ed. VOL. XII, NO. XII. 62 490 Foreign Notices. FRANCE. The Cercle Generale d'Horticulture, of Paris, has again taken the lead of the Royal Society, by holding an extra show for fruit and dahlias, at the Grand Gallery of the Luxembourg Palace, on the 25th September and three following days. The exhibition was well attended, considering that Paris, like London, is at this moment half empty. The fruit consisted principally of grapes, pears, and pines ; many of the specimens were equal to any thing ever produced here. The great fault in Paris, and indeed throughout France, is, that societies offer prizes for too much, namely, for the largest collections ; on the contrary, were they to define the exact number of fruits or flowers, the collections, although less numerous, would appear to much greater advantage, and be more fairly judged upon their intrinsic merits. At present it is evident that a small collection, however fine, stands no chance against a cart-load of rubbish, and, as a consequence, very many amateurs are deterred from sending at all. The experimental gardens of the Luxembourg have been long celebrated for a collection of vines, the most complete and extensive in the kingdom ; and on this occasion Mr. Hardy, the chief gardener, exhibited somewhere about one hundred varie- ties, all of which were grown in the open air. Among them were natives of France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Persia, Syria, &c., and all, or nearly so, at maturity, without any artificial appliances. The berries of some were enormous, especially Damas Blanc, Muscat real, Mal- aga, Romanza, Ribier, Ribier de Calabre, Balkin, Gros Guillaume, Corni- chon, and Syrian. The Frankenthal (Black Hamburgh) were very nearly if not quite as large as those usually grown under glass in Holland or Eng- land. The most handsome specimens were Raisin Prune de Herault, a round, black grape ; Rouge de Rolle, larger than Black Hamburgh ; Mira- cle, black, very large bunches ; Raisin Prune blanc de Naples, like the Fontainebleau but more yellow ; Muscat de Sardaigne, large white ; Ro- manza, much larger than Black Hamburgh ; Sideritas de Smyrne, large rose color ; Chasselas Napoleon, finer than C. de Fontainebleau ; Cabral, a large sea-green colored kind ; and Rosse Panse, a long white. In M. Bar- bot's collection there were splendid specimens of Gros Guillaume, Gromier du Cantal, Gros Ribier de Maroc, Superbe de Decandolle, Trousseau, Gros Damas, Muscat d'Alexandrie, Chasselas Dore, Frankaenthal, Cornichon, and Chasselas Violet. There was also a large basket of Chasselas de Fon- tainebleau from M. Berger, of that golden waxy color for which they are so renowned, and which alone was worth going far to see. M. Dupuy Jamin had a large collection of pears ; among the finest were the following : — Passe Tardive, Beurre Gris d'Hiver Nouveau, Belle Angevine, Bon Chre- tien d'Espagne, Beurre Aurore, Gros Givet, Belle de Berry, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre de Lombardy, Bergamotte de Pentecote, Saint An- dre, Doyenn6 d'Estrekemann, Souvenir de Boulogne, Beurre d'Aremberg, Bon Chretien Turc, Napoleon d'Hiver, Bergamotte d'Austrasie, Belle de Flandres, St. Francois, Calabasse Royale, Bergamotte de Bruxelles, Bon Domestic Notices. 491 Chretien Napoleon, Catillac, and Leon le Clerc. Messrs. Jamin and Du- rand exhibited 100 varieties, and among them noble specimens of Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurr6 Incomparable, Belle Angtvine, Bon Chretien Napo- leon, Leon le Clerc, Bon Chretien d'Hiver, Beurr6 Gris Dor6, Colmar d'Aremberg, Catillac, Colmar Van Mons, Belle Alliance, Beurr^ Bosc, Limon, Beurr6 de Sterkmann, Rosaline, Triomphe de Jodoigne, Philippe de France, and Josephine. M. Goutier contributed six finely grown pines. {Gard. Chron., 184Q, p. 694.) Art. IL Domestic Notices. Van ZandVs Superb Peach. — Mr. Prince, in speaking of Van Zandt's Superb Peach, says, "there does not perhaps exist, at present, a single tree of the true variety, except in our specimen orchard and nursery grounds." I should like to inquire of Mr. Prince if he seriously believes all the " Van Zandt's Superb Peach" sold by himself and the other nurserymen of Flushing for the last ten years or more, to be "spurious;" — unless they have been, I can assure him there are hundreds and perhaps thousands of the true variety, besides those in his nursery. This is a Flushing Peach, and the nurserymen there have cultivated it and sold it extensively, and if they have been deceiving the public, as Mr. P. intimates, it should be known. — Yours respectfully, P. B., Rochester, November, 1846. Fancy Dahlias. — Have you seen any Fancy Dahlias superior to Harle- quin, Viscount Ressegeur, and Oddity? These, I think, are unsurpassed. Harlequin stands first for form. I have never seen any thing to beat it. Yours, P. B. [Punch, Columbine, and Isis, in their way, are superior to either of the above, though they are certainly very fine. — Ed-I The Dix Pear. — A profitable Tree. — A neighbor of ours, who resides but a few rods from us, and in whose garden stands the Dix pear, which we have already noticed, in our description of this variety, (p. 181,) has recently harvested the crop. After the high winds of autumn, and more particular- ly the gale of the 13th of September, he gathered, about the 1st of Novem- ber, two barrels of pears. These were intended for his own use ; but a dealer, who had seen the pears upon the tree, and knew something of their value, made him the tempting offer oi fourteen dollars for one barrel. Hav- ing so large a quantity, he reluctantly consented to let them go. Some weeks subsequent to this, in conversation with the person who purchased them, we inquired how much he gained by his purchase ; he stated that he had sold tiventy-five dozen at five shillings per dozen, and eight dozen at about seventy-five cents per dozen, the latter being of the smallest size, the barrel netting upwards of twenty-three dollars ; the whole having been sold to retail dealers in Boston, Jconituni Hdllerj 369 A'rnica angustifolia 90 pyrenaicum 369 ^s|)l^nitim 34 speciosum 369 Astrapse'a Wallichi* 124 Actiiiella grandifldra 88 Azdlea Indica Copeij 156 Torreyrijia 88 Daniels/nria 234 271 j^^^schyiidiitliusi piilcher 311 dark cherry 156 A^ridts odordnim 310 Gledstan^su' 217 235 Agapamhus umbellEttus 197 Leucomegestre 217 Agdve americAna 267 lilacina triumplians Ai/dntus ghinduldsa 186 234 AlaiiiAiida cathirtica 312 lili(16ra 234 Alstromae'ria acutildlia 207 ledifolia 156 Amaryllis Helladonaa 410 Mazeppa 234 Jme/anchier Botrydpium 86 orange pink 234 Ain6rpha canescens 88 pha-nicea 103. 156 Anisocina acaulis 87 41ba 103 AmphipAppus rremuntu 87 seedling white 217 Jnagiillis Marryattj'i 45 Smith's lulgens 217 Andromeda Cutesba;j 42 Smlthn' 157 spenidsa 42 triumphans 217 tttragona 317 variegdta 197. 217 234 Several new and fine Pelargoniums enu- merated, . . . 236. 272. 317. 318 Several fine varieties of Lilacs, . . 236 List of fine Heaths, .... 313. 314 List of the best Hyacinths, Tulips, and Narcissuses, for forcing, . . 400. 402 List of the finest Tansies, . . . 407 List of new and rare plants found by Mr. Fortune, in China, .... 447 List of the finest Dahlias for 1846, 459. 488. 493 Azdlea indica Youngi 234 Letitias 27 Ludovlcre 28 pontica, 20 var. 234 Taylor's nosegay 42 red 42 several hardy varieties 15 sinensis 157 Babingtdni'a camphorismas 271 Balsamhorlza 87 Bark^rm Lindleydwa 316 Beauin6nt(« grandifldra 317 Begonm obliqua 237 Berberis actinicdntha 26 cuneAta 317 purpurea 42 Bitula grandifldra 90 occidenlAlis 90 Bignon/a fiaxinifolia 24 grandifldra 493 B61dort frdgrans 27 Bordn/adenticulita 312 vimindlis 271 Biiddlea Lindleyona 370. 448 Cdctus heptdsonus 285 Calandiinm umbelldta 316.349 Calceolarias, 12 var. 236 Callidchyris Frcm6ntu 88 Cani6Iliajap6nicavar. Al- exina 283 Abby Wilder 108. 157. 479 candidissima 283 Chalni6r(j perftcta 281 Donckela^riz 157. 283 Duchess of Orleans 109 506 LIST OF PLANTS. Camellia japonica Emily 281 Lady Henrietta 283 Lady Hume 108 Lord Ker 234 Ldvfii 283 Marguerette deGuil- loii 234 mtiii&ta 234 Napoleon 283 P^pperj 281 Perzio 234 Pi6rcei 244 Preniland 234 tricolor 283 Van Buren 243 Wilderi 108. 157 479 new seedlings 109.234 new varieties 243 Camp4nula Barrallifirj 207 fr^gills 207 griiidis 303. 346 349 grandiflira 349 hirsuta 207 pyramidilis 347 349 C4rex atrita 90 p&nica 90 Cattlfiya granulosa 316 Harris6nn 369 intermedia 372 C6drus Deoddra 15. 45. 202. 333 Lib^ni 47 Cedronilla mexic^na 482 pallida 482 C'6rasus padus 86 semperrt6ren3 86 Cerbera Tlieveta 23 Cercoceirpus parvifolius 89 Cireus caespitdsus 65 cisruleacens 269 cyllndricus 269 extinsis 269 glaucescens 242 grandiflora 24 serpentlnus 285 specioslssimus 315 triangularis 24 new seedlings 276 Cistrum diiirnum 331 Chfenustonia polydnthum 449 CliamffiVops humilis 124 Chara polym6rpha 66 Chimon^ntlius virglnica 285 Chirlta zeylinica 316 Chlorse'a vir6scens 30 Clarki'a pulcUella 162 ilba 162 Clematis Hendersdnti 322 Siebilda" 235 . 322 Cle6me iniegrifdlia 88 Clerod^ndron fillax 311 Kteniprerj 202. 311 paniculitum 311 spl6ndens 312 . 334 squam^tum 312 Olivia nAbilis 316 Coleoniiiia pulclirum 311 Combritum purpiireum 104. 236 (;onvalUria stellita 94 Corrse'a GrevlUii 207 Corypha umbracaullfera 204 CrAssiila, seedling 274 Crinum amibile 316. 492 Crdwea sallgna 312 Cryptoniiria japonica 316 Cilphea cordAta 302 Fraiiclsia acumindta 312. 449 strigilldsa 450 Fremonti'a 93 Cupressus Lambertii 317 Fuchs/a affinis 331 thurll'era 317 E'ppsj'i 124 tortul6sa vlridis 317 formosa ^legans 42 Cyprip^diuin inslgnis 370 fiilgens 124 specldbile 316 micrAntha 302 Cyrtdnthus obUqua 212 radicans 331 Cyrtoceras refl6xum 311 Stormintii 202 Cyrtopodium punctitum 313 6 var. 271 Z>apline Auklaiidu 317 Fiinkj'a japonica 372 Datura arbdrea 22 Gaillird/a corondta 322 Dichoriz4ri(lra ovatifdlia 316 plcla cocclnea 322 tliyrsil'dlia 316 sangulnea 322 Dlcranum sp. 34 Gardenia llorida 28 271 I>i(itis laiidta 89 Stanleynna 25 28 334 Dlplacns punlceus 271 Whitfi'eidm 29 7)odec4theon denrdtiim 90 Gaiira Lindheiniirtj 64 Dracocephalum gracile 316 tripitala 64 grandifl(irum 482 Geranium Freniontu' 89 Echinocactus Eyriisit 285 G6snera elegans 334 Lindheimiru' 65 Gerardjdna 25 451 sespitlnus 65 schenWia 334 i;'gletes arkansAna 64 zebrina 25 .45 451 £le4gnus arg^ntea 90 Gllia pulch^lla 89 E'pacris granditldra 311 Gladiolus belvidirus 366 Epipliyllum Ackermanjt 316 Christianus 322 aurantiacuni 316 floribundus 366 specidsa 315 gandavensis 323 Eremostdchys lascinidta 30 natal^nsis 366 jErlca Ail6n/a 162 several sp. and var. 6 ampulldcea 271 Gloxinia Cartdnt 316 .321 Bergidna 312 I'ormdsa 24 cifTra 197 macrophylla variegata Cavendishn 311 34 274 curvifldra rubra 236 rubra 321 declindta 162 tubifldra 321 eiegans 162 violacea 449 gemmif'era 311 two seedlings 321 hyemdlis 204 228 Gomplirena globosa 23 Lambirtu 207 Goodin/a granditlAra 316 Macnabiftjia 204 i/edychium Gardnerjdnu/n metuliefldra blGolor 311 371 Murrayrinum 163 HelianthlUa unilldra 90 purpurea 205 Ilelidntluis divaricdtus 478 retorta 205 ferruglneus 478 major 162 . 205 gigdnteus 478 riibida 236 tuberosa 421 477 rup^stris 162 . 205 fl'iblscus Canieront 207 Saviledna 162 . 271 Jerrold/djiMS 349 taxifldra 124 Rosa sinensis 22 triceps 124 . 162 sinensis 24 tricolor 271 Hoya carndsa 24 ventric6sa alba 236 Hydrangea jap6nica 236 purpurea 310 /'lex ciliata 317 supirba 286 latifdlia 317 vestita 162 madev^nsis 317 vulgaris alba plena 42 specidsa 317 variegdla 42 Indigotera decdra 480 Eriogonum, 2 sp. 89 I'n^a HarrUit 207 sssspitdsum 89 Iponiae'a Horsf411/ffi 104 parvifldrum 89 Ledru 236. 257 318 . 365 EriostSmon buxifi&Iiiim 311 Ipomupsis elegans 366 Erythrhia Crista gilli 23 . 408 Ix6ra cocclnea 312 Eschscholtzia cricea 94 odordta 25 £u6nymus fimbriitus 317 yasniinum azoricum 23 variegitus 246 granditl6rum 22 £uph6rbja jacquinip/fdra 24. niultifloruni 22 104. 153 . 227 revolutum 22 splindens 24 Sumbac fl. pi. 22 Eurdta ceratoides 89 Jdtropha muliifida 23 landta 89 yunlperus alp'ina 317 Fagopyrum cymdsum 481 daiirica 317 Flcus elAsticus 24 excilsa 317 Fissedens hynliua 32 pendula 317 obtusit'61ia 32 squamita 317 LIST OF PLANTS. 507 Justlr/a caniea 334 Mac Uonii^ll/j 334 Kklmin angiistifdlia ri!ibra 42 glauca 15. 42 stricta 15 \ superba 15 I latifdliii 14. 42 I Kenn^d/a raceiii