DDDDDnnDDDnDnnDannnDDDnnnDDDnDDD n D D D D D D D ^o«^«^^ D D n /^♦T k% D D n > al %4f S& m D D * m\a iff ^ D D •9 ^^^^^S ^ D D D ^"^^S^^** D D D D D D D D D D UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS D D D D LIBRARY D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D n D D D D D D D D a O D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D □ D D D D D D D D D D D D D aDDnnnDnDDDnDDDaDnDnnDDDDDDaaDaD m'i OtJ^. '^ 6"^^ './ylyCyC^ ^^^^-C^ v V, THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE, BOTANY, AND ALL USEFUL DISCOVERIES AND IMPKOVEMENTS IN RURAL AFFAIRS. " Je voudrais echauffer tout I'univers de mon gout pour les jardins. II me semble qu'il est impossible qu'un mcchant puisse I'avoir. II n'est point de vertus que je ne suppose a celui que aime a parler et a faire des jardins. Peres de famiile, inspirez a jardinomanie a vos enfans." — Prince de Ligne. VOL. XXVI. 1860. (vol. I., FOURTH SERIES.) Edited by C. M. H O V E Y. AUTHOR OF THE "FRUITS OF AMERICA." BOSTON: PUBLISHED BY HOVEY AND CO., MERCHANTS ROW. 1860. Ma7 V. 1^^ * HENRY W. DUTTON AND SON, PKINTEKS, 90 Washington Street, Boston. CONTENTS. ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. GENERAL SUBJECT. The Progress of Horticulture. By the Editor, 1 The Cactus Tribe. By Wilson Flagg, 14 Diseases of Vegetation. By Agrlcola, 55 The Mallows and Banana Tribes. By W. Flagg, 73 Notes of a European Tour. By Hon. J. S. Cabot, ... 58, 203, 252, 353, 440 Motions and Sensibility of Plants. By W. Flagg, 104 The Mimosa Form. By Wilson Flagg, 164 Funereal Characters of Trees. By WUson Flagg, 196 The Planting of Rural Cemeteries. By Rev. A. D. Gridley, . . . .200 Medical Properties of Plants. By W. Flagg, 245 Treatment of Landscape. By W. Flagg, 293 The Heath Form. By Wilson Flagg, 309 Dressed Grounds. By AVilson Flagg, 374 Country Seat of Thomas Lee, Esq. By W. Flagg, 390 EngUsh Stvle of Landscape. By Fair Play, 393 The Lily Form. By Wilson Flagg, 403 English Style of Landscape. By W. Flagg, 438 Plants and Plant Houses. From the Gar- deners' Chronicle, 459 Spontaneity. By Wilson Flagg, . . 484 New York Central Park. By the Editor, 529 The Old and the New. By Wilson Flagg, 534 HORTICULTURE. Grape Culture in New England. By the Editor, 49 Allen's Hybrid Grape. B. J. F. Allen, 66 Fruit Culture in the West. By the Editor, 97 Report on Grapes at Chiswick. By the London Horticultural Society, . . 108 Maxatawny Grape. By Dr. W. D. Brinckle, 115 Notes on Pears. By Hon. J. M. Earle, 131 The Small Fruits. By the Editor, 145 The Granite Beauty Apple. By the Editor, 149 How to Raise Seeds. By M. Charles Ap- peUus, . 154 Dwarf Apples. By the Editor, . . .193 American and English Fruits. By L. E. and P. J. Berckmans, .... 211 The Advantages of Inarching. From the Revue Horticole 223 The Culture of the Vine. By the Editor, 241 American Fruits in England. By T. Rivers, 261 Orchard Houses. By the Editor, . . 289 New Mode of Pruning the Peach. From the Revue Horticole, . . . .298 Something about Strawberries. By the Editor, 337 Our Native Fruits. By the Editor, . . 385 Note^ on Dr. Kirtland's Cherries. By F. R. Elliott 400 Hints upon Grapt Culture. By the Editor, 483 Treatment of the Orchard House. By James Walsh, 448 Strawberries and Strawberry Culture. By R. R. Scott, 450 Autumn Planting. By the Editor, . . 481 Orchard Trees in Belgium. By M De Jonghe, 492 American Strawberries in France. By Fer- dinand Gloede, 497 Descriptions of Select Varieties of Pears. By the Editor, 500 Augustus Dana, Moore's, Oswego Incomparable, Le Breton. Black Currant Culture in France. From the Gardeners' Chronicle, . . .541 The Oporto Grape. By E. Ware Sylvester, Lyons, N. Y., 552 Pomological Gossip, 19, 62, 116, 152, 215. 261, 305, 363, 395, 508, 545 ARBORICULTURE. The New Coniferous Trees. By the Editor, 313 Evergreens in Flower Gardens. From the Gardeners' Chronicle, .... 365 Arboricultural Notices, . . 20j 275, 313 FLORICULTURE. The Farfugium Grande. By the Editor, 24 Ornamental Foliaged Plants of the Lawn. By F. L. Harris, . . .71 The Picturesque Begonias. By the Editor, 131 Annual Flowers. By the Editor, . . 159 The Yuccas. By the Editor, . . .169 Notes on Chinese Plants. By R. Fortune, 180 Cultivation of the Fuchsia. From the Gardeners' Chronicle, .... 268 The Brugmansias. By the Editor, . . 273 Yucca stricta. By the Editor, . . . 371 Oxalis Bowei. By the Editor, . . . 415 The Pampas Grass. By the Editor, . . 465 The Cultivation of Hyacinths. From the Illustrated Bouquet, .... 512 Floricultural Notices, 27, 173, 227, 279, 318, 407, 467, 516, 554 IV CONTENTS. LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. TREES AND PLANTS. fis- page. 6. Brugmansia arborea, . .•' . . 274 3. Begonia Hex, 132 19. Oxalis Bowiei, 416 20. Pampas Grass, 466 1. Farfugium Grande, . . .25 4. Yucca ensifolia, 371 18. Yucca stricta, 372 OPERATIONS. 5. New Mode of Inarching, . . . 226 7. First Pincliing of the Buds of the Peach, 301 8. Second Pinching of the Buds of the Peach, 301 9. Third Pinching of the Buds of the Peach, 302 10. Fruit Spurs of the Peach, re.'iulting from this Mode of Pinching, . . 302 11. Young Buds (Bourgeons Anticipes) of the Peach, just at the proper time to Pinch, 302 12. Spur of the Peach (Anticipe) resulting from the Buds pinched too late, 303 Js- page. 13. Spur (Anticipe) of the Peach dried up, rebulting from pinching too late, 303 14. Spur (Anticipe) of the Peach, resulting from pinching the Buds at the prop- er time, 303 15. Little Spur (Anticipe) of the Peach, re- sulting from pinching the Buds (Ant.) and the incision, . . . 304 16. Spur (Anticipe) of the Peach, bearing flower buCs only, .... 304 17. Spur (Anticipe) of the Peach, as in Fig. 16, deprived of the flower buds, and submitted to the incision, . . 304 FRUITS. GR.4.PES. 2. Allen's Hybrid Grape, . . .70 25. The Oporto Grape, . . . .553 PEARS. 21. Augustus Dana Pear, .... 501 22. Moore's Pear, 503 23. Oswego Incomparable Pear, . . 505 24. Le Breton Pear, . . ' . . .507 LIST OF PLANTS. In the body of the Magazine, a few en-ors occur in the spelling of the botanical names, the capitalizing the generic and specific names, their derivation and accentuation ; these are all corrected in the following list of plants : — List of Annuals, 161 Lists of new Begonias, . . 227, 285, 407 Lists of Fuchsias, . . . 281,270 List of new Dwarf Nasturtiums, . . 281 List of Pyrethrums, . . . • . 283 Lists of new GlatUoli, .... 408, 429 List of German Ciiina Asters, . . . 326 List of Oruamental-foliaged Plants, . . 71 Lists of fine Roses 417,418 List of Caladiums, 518 List of premium Roses, .... 333 Lists of premium Plants, . . . 285, 473 List of new Phloxes, .... 429 List of Prize Dahlias for 1860, . . .563 List of Roses that stand Gales of Wind, . 563 A^bies bracteita, Kas'mpferf, Nordmauidna, Pinsapo, Abelia tritlora, .ilcicia armita, dealbita, Drummondn', lophintha, Adansoui'a digitita, ^'sculus fliva, rubioiinda, Whittlej;, Agassizf'a suavis, A^give filifera, Gillies/i, Alocasia metaUica, .(Uthas^a frutex, Amblyolepis setfgera, Amphicome Emod/, Anandssa variegita, Aphanostephus ramosis simus, ArMia reticulAta, Arauciria excclsa, inibricita, jlspidistra lunata, j4splenium obtu.siloba, Astelia Ounninghimif, Berberis Beili'tj Darwinii, 228, 278 184 473 278 520 186 523 559 185 73 23 23 23 175 413 412 558 74 176 228 522 175 285 522 314 285 285 412 285 277 Begonia Duchesse de Bra- bant, frigida, fuchsioides, hypargyrea, margaritacea, Marshillii, nivosa, picta, Hex, 132, sanguinea, splendfda argSntea, spleudida, Xanthina, Bertholletid excelsa, iJlechnum corcovadense, pectinatum, Bougainvillea spectibilis, Brugmansia arborea, humilis, Bryophyllum proliferum, Caldiliurn Baraquinfi, .517, Belleyme/, blcolor, Chantin^, marmoritum, Neuminntt, PerrieriJ, splendens, thripedestrum, Troubjtskoyi, 517, 517, Calceoliria flexuosa, 32 Oalla iEthiopica, 71, 72 Oallistemon amfe"'nus, 415 Callirrhoe digitita, 173 involucrata, 173 I pedita, 161, 173 Callixene polyphylla, 559 Camell/a reticulita, 181 1 tricolor imbricita plena, 228 I susanqua, 31 C4nna Warscewict;/, 71, 72 Cosmidium Burridg), 162 Ceauothus oreginus, 412 velutinus, 414 Cfedrus atUntica, 317 Deodira, 313 Oestrum aurantiacnm, 185 Cereus giginteus, 174 Cerinthe gymn^ndra, 161 major ii. lutea, 162 Chania;batia foliolosa, 321 Chama3cyparis variegita, 370 Cheirostemon platanoides, 74 ; Chioninthus virglnica, 22 Chloris radiita, 162 Chrysanthemum Burridg- idnum, 162 Chrysanthemums, 567 Ohysis bractescens, 557 Cliinthus Dampifen, 280 CONTENTS. Clematis patens atropur- piirea, violicea. Coliininoa erj throphie^a, Coryilalis spet'iosa, striota, Cryptomeria Ldbbri, Cupressus Govenidna, Lambertidna, Lawson(d«a, 313, 316, Macnabidna, torulosa, Cyanophyllum assamicuni, 408, magnificum, 408, Dacrydium Franklinj'i, Ddnnnara Brown; J, Datura arborea, earthaginensis, Wiirht/f, Dianthus Heddewlgi", 229, lasciniatus, 177. Verschaffelti'/, Dieffenbdich('a maculita, Dicksoni'a antirctica, Dicranooephalus Wallichi'i, Didymocarpus primulajfo- lia, Dioscorea discolor, zebi-ina, Dipteracanthus afflnis, Hfrbst/f, Dissotis Irvingidna, Dracre^na caeriilea, temiinilis, Drcico, Efica, ctirnea, vulgaris, Willmoredna, Erythrina crista giUi, Eucharis amazonica, Eugenm apiculita, £uonymous latifolius, £upat6riu;n adenophorum, Berlandien, Exochorda racemosa, i^igus Cunninghimu', Farfagium grinde, 11, 24, 72, 182, Fenzlf'a dianthiflora, Fourcroya tiiTO-viridis, Fuclt-(a Solferino, Gaill4rdia amblyodon, Grirrya eUiptica, Gazania pavonia, rigens, splendens, 179, uniflora, 179, Gesnera cinnabarina, Ginkgo biloba, Grevillea robusta, Gutierrezia gymnosper- moides, GymnogTcininia chryso- philla, Gymnopsis uniseriilis, Gynerum argenteum, Helichrysum branchyryn- chimn, Heterocentron mexicinum, -ffippophae rliamnoides, HoT^ni'a dulcis, How4rd(a caracasensis, Hoya Cuming/dna, variegita, Hiimea elegans, Ifypericum Kahaidnum , Ipomae^a hedericea, Jasmlniun nudiiiorum, Junipcrus uiexicJoia, 278 oblouga, 278 tauiariscifolia, 370 KeiT/Vj japonica, 174 Largurus ovitus, 163 Lapagi'ria rosea, 323 Z-arix Grifflth;/, 278 Lavateiff arborea, 74 marltima, 74 olbia, 74 Liboc^drus chilensis, 278 Doni'd;in, 278 Lilium BrowniV, 285 Llndhcimera texina, 163 Liuum pubescens, 179 Llivea cordifolia, 319 Litt8e"'a geninifera, 522 Lomitia ferrugiuea, 522 Lonfcera fragrantissima, 521 Lupinus Hartwegn', 163 Mahoui'a aquifolium, 23 Magnolia acuminita, 21 auriculita, 21 conspicua, 21 glaiica, 21 macrophylla, 21 Soulangedrea, 21 speciosa, 21 tripetala, 21 Nobertidma, 21 Milus persica sylvestris, 559 MarAnfca fasciita, 473 zebrina, 473 Maxillciria Harrison?, 286 Mimosa piidica, 164 Miisa paradisiica, 78 sapientum, 7** Nephrodlum molle, 285 Nevinsa alabamiensls, 174 CEbothera bistorta Veitch- idna, 163 Drummondf nina, 163 OMea ilicifolia, 277 Oncidium flcxuosa, 285 Ouvirindra fenestrita, 228 O^xalis B6\fie(', 415 PanrfdniM jay4mciis va- riegitas, 473 Pavia rubra, 23 Pavonia W ightn, 174 baccliarifolius, 176 granditlorus, 176 Pennisetum longistylum, 163 Torreyr. 176 Petunia InimltAbilis fl. pi., 556 Philodendron pertiisum, 522 Picea nobilis, Nordmannf'drta, Piusapo, Pinus Bentliam7'd?ia, excelsa, Fremont(dna, Gerard/drea, Llaveanrt, Lindleydrta, monticola, muricita, radiata, Plerdma eli'gans, Poggendorfia rosea, Prunus triloba, Pteris aspericaiilis, argyrea. 313 313 315 278 277 278 278 277 278 278 278 278 375 408 182 469 283,409 cretica var. albo lineita, 559 tricolor, 408, 472 Pyrethrum atrosanguine- um, 282 Charles Baltet, 282 Pyrethrum Duchess of Bra- bant, 282 roseuui, 282 Qutrcus Bambusajfolia, 183 fastigiita, 22 purpurea, 22 iJeseda odorita, 374 ivliododendron Dalhousj'cr, 227 Fortun/, 184, 278 onini guttitum, 414 ponticum, 277 Rhyncospermum jasml- noides, 285 Richirdia hastita, 412 ■Silix rosmarinifolia, 23 Salvia cacalsefolia, 5£5 Sambucus var. aiirea varie- gata, 21 argentea varlegita, 21 lasciniita, 21 Saponiria calibrlca, 188 Schoniburgkia Lyons/, 322 Scolopendrium vulgaris crlspum, 285 ScuteUirla incarnata Triinj, 557 Sequoia semper^irens, 278 Skinmiia japonica, 279 Solandra graudiflora 326 •Solinum capsicistrum, 28, 235 dulcamira, 29 esuriile, 29 lasciniitum, 29 lycopersicum, 29 Melongfena, 29 muricitum, 29 quitoense, 29 tuberosum, 29 Sop/wra japonica, 21 Spergula pilifera, 521 Spirae^a callosa, 521 canescens, 621 DougUs/i, 30 Fortun/f, 410 Nobledwa, 321, 467 Statice Bonduelli, 163, 283 Bourgae^i', 31 brassiceaefolia, 411 Stephanophysum Balkie?', 179 Syringa oblita, 183 Tacsonia lae-^vis, 176 Til m ara-x afrlcina, 23 gallica, 23 Taxus bacc3i.ta variegita, 317 cuspidata, 184 Theobronia cacao, 74 Theophrasta glaiica, 522 Tujja aiirea, 317 C'raig/d/ia, 473 Doiinidna, 522 gigantea, 278 Hoveyi, 370 Thujopsis borealls, 41, 313, 317 Tilia americina, 21 TilUndsm gr4ndis, 285 Torenm asiatica, 323 hirsuta, 411 Torreya grandis, 185, 278 myristica, 278 Tradesc4ntia Warscewic- zidna, 557 TremAndra vertlcillita, 285 Trltoma uvaria, 13 72 uviria grandfflora, 280 Tritonia aiirea, 13^ 27 i/'knus campestrls vimi- nilis, 23 crispa, 22 superba, 22 VI CONTENTS. Vanda gigdntse, 558 Washingtonfa gigAntea, 315 filamentosa, 170 saiivis, 418 Withering/a pogonAndra, 413 fl^ccida, 172 Verdnica Andersonf, 185 Yucca aloeifolia varieg^ta. 622 glaucescens, 170 yibiirnum hirsutum, 278 angustifolia. 172 Parmentifen, 280 macrocephalum, 521 ensifoUa, 171 stricta, 371 Vriesia psittacina, 178 LIST OF FRUITS. APPLES. Belmont, 474 Broadwell, 474 Oalville Blanc, 60 Cornish Gillitlower, 117 Danvers Winter Sweet, 101 ISgyptian BeUe, 551 Fallawater. 101 Golden Russet, 101 Granite Beauty, 65, 151 Indiana Favorite, 63 Jersey Sweet, 117 Jonathan, ' 101 Reiser, 102 Liberty, 102 Magnum Bonum, 474 Newtown Pippin, 117 Ohio Seedling, 474 Peck's Pleasant, 101 Primate, 397 Pryor's Pearmain, 474 RamsdeU's Sweet, 117 Rawle's Janet, 102 Rhode Island Greening, 6 Ribston Pippin, 116 Rome Beauty, 101 Roxbury Russet, 6, 101, 123 Shiawassee Beauty, 64 Smith's Cider, 102 Spitzenberg, 6 Tolman's Sweet, 101, 117 Tompkins County King, 566 Twenty Ounce, 101 WethereH's U'hite Sweet, 474 ■\N inter Rambo, 6 BLACKBERRIES. Dorchester, 430 Lawton, or New RocheUe, 263, 430 CHERRIES. Black Hawk, Brant, Caroline, Dacotah, Delicate, Doctor, Favorite, Hoadley, Joe. o-Sot, Kirtland's Mary, Kirtland's Mammouth, Lincoln, Logan, Ohio Beauty, Osceola, Powhattan, Red Jacket, Rockport, CURRANTS. Gloire des Sablons, La Versaillaise, Perleo, List of 37 varieties, New Sorts, 401 401 400 402 400 400 400 400 401 402 400 395 401 400 402 401 401 45^ 550 54() 54(i 547 546 GRAPES. Alicante Preta, 114 Allen's Hybrid, 66 Alvey, 552 Barbarossa, 114, 234 Bidwell's Seedling, 112 Black Hamburgh, 110 Monukka, 114 Bloom, 510 Blussard Noir Tardif, 114 Buckland Sweetwater, 390 Burchardt's Amber Cluster, 112 Prince, 113 Concord, 98 Delaware, 20, 98, 123, 137 Diana, 54, 98 Dutch Hamburgh, 110 EUzabeth, 62 Fleming's Prince, 113 Frankenthal, 111 Gros Kouge de Provence, 113 Golden Hamburgh, 111, 234, 325 Hartford Prolific, 54, 98 Ingram's Hardy Prolific; 399 Jennings, 54 Labe, 63 Logan, 100 Long, 123 Marion. 100 Marion Port, 100 Maxatawny, 19, 115, 267 Miles's, 510 Mill-HiU Hamburgh, 111 Morocco Prince, 118 Muscat Hamburgh, 7 Muscat Noir de Jura, 114 Mustang, 98 lEillade Precoce, 112 Ontario, 509, 566 Oporto, 552 Pause Jaune, 113 Perkins, 54 Pope Hamburgh, 111 Prune de Herault, 115 Rebecca, 610 Rouge de RoUe, 115 Savignon Blanc, 112 Sideritis, 114 Trentham Black, 7, 307 Union Village, 100 Victoria Hamburgh, 111 Ward's Early Muscadine, 112 West's St. Peters, 234 Williamsport, 652 PEACHES. Coolidge Favorite, 430 Crockett's White, 551 Griffith's Mammoth Mela- ciitoon, 122 Hale's Early, 403 Lilt." Crawford, 381 Petit Pavie d'Ounons, 152 Susquehanna, 122 PEARS. Abbot, 93 Adams, 93 Adele Lancelot, 218 Adolphine Richard, 218 Aglae Gregoire, 19 Augustus Dana, 500 Baron Demain de Lennick, 218 Bartlett, 103 Barbancinet, 126 Belle d'lxeUes, 218 Bergamotte Reinette, 219 Beurre Antoine, 126 Auneniere, 126 Boisbunel, 218 Bosc, 93 DAnjou, 126 de Cercle Practique de Rouen, 219 de Fevrier, 153 Derouineau, 126 de St. Arnaud, 219 Hardy, 94 Langelier, 94 Nantais, 126 Noisette, 127 Paimpol, 127 Preble, 127 Bon Chretien d'Ete, 88 Bonne d'Ezee, 127 Bezi de Mai, 19, 153 Calabasse Monstre, 127 Clark, 187 Clement Bivort, 219 Commisare Delmotte, 19 Comte de Flaudres, 127 Cornwell, 64 Cumberland, 508 Dana's Hovey, 266 De Bavay, 128 Delices de Jodoigne, 128 de Louvenjoul, 128 Doctor NeUs, 219 Douillard, 129 Doyenne Boussock, 93, 128 du Cornice, 128 des Haies, 219 Cercle practique de Rouen, 219 de Saumur, 128 Due d'Orleans, 94 Duchesse d'Aremberg, 129 d'Angouleme, 103 Dunmore, 87 Durandeau, 129, 509 Easter Beurr6, 103 Esperine, 129 Figue d'Alencon, 130 Florent Scourman, 219 Fondante de Mars, 219 Gansel's Bergamot, 87 Seckel, 130 Olout Morceau, 94 Golden Beurre, 103 Helen Gregoire, 220 Henkel, 509 Jean Baptist Bivort, 220 CONTENTS. TU Kingsessing, Kirtland, Laura de Glymes, Le Breton, Le Cure, Lewis, Louise Bonne de Jersey, Bonne de Prin temps, Madame Verte, Merriam, Moore's, Negley, 266, New Seedlings, Orpheline Colmar, Oswego Incomparable, Passe Crassane, Poire du Congress Pomol- ogique. Prince Albert, Reynaer Beernaert, Rousselet Aelens, Saint Germaine VanqueHn, Saint Ghislain, Saint Vincent de Paul, Schuylkill Seedling, Sheldon, Swan's Orange, Spanish Bon Chretien, Thooris, Truckhill Bergamotte, Uvedale'S St. Germain, Vicar of Winkfield, ■Waterloo, Williams Bon Chretien, Winter Beurre, Winter Nelis, 94, 130 List of Premium Pears, 510 103 List of Pears approved by 130 the Congress of Lyons, 215 506 List of Pears to be grown 103 as Espaliers on a wall. 217 223 103 PLUMS. 222 Jaune Hative, 426 221 93 RASPBERRLES. 503 Kirtland, 223 397 StoeTer, 124 551 220 STRAWBERRIES. 504 Admiral Dundas, 306 222 Austin Seedling, 217, 308, 363, 470 499 220 Ajax, 37 19 Bartlett, 397 220 BeUe Bordelaise, 37 220 Bonte de St. Julien, 306 382 221 Brighton Pine, 382 499 130 British Queen, 38 220 Burr's New Pine, 379 551 Captain Cook, 38 131 Charles Favorite, 499 93 Comte de Paris, 38 94 Crimson Cone, 379 221 Cutter, 381 397 94 Due de Malakoff, 306 3S2 94 Duchess de Trevise, 38 94 EUza, 38 93 ExceUente, 38 87 Exhibition, 38 131 Felton's Great Seedling, 329 102 Filbert Pine, 38 Fill-ba«ket, Harlem Orange, Highland Chief, Hooker, Hovey's Seedling, 500 38 380, 499 152, 364, 382. 499 ' 498 382 306, 382 381 38 500 382, 423 Jenny Lind, La Belle Bordelaise, La Constance, Lady of the Lake, La Reine, Marylandica, May Queen, Marquise de la Tour Mau- bourg, 38 Monroe Scarlet, 499 Ne Plus Ultra, 39 Omar Pacha, 39 Prince's Eclipse, 379 Prince of Wales, 39 Princess Royal of England, 39 Pyramidal Chilian, 379 Scott's Seedling, 379, 382, 395, 499 Sir Charles Napier, Sir Harry, Sir Walter Scott, Stirling Castle, Triomphe, Triomphe de Gand, TroUope"8 Victoria, 300 Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, 39, 509 Wilson 's Albany, 306, 382 Wizard of the North, 297 Wonderful, 306, 382 306 39 39 379 LIST OF VEGETABLES. Beets, 477 Cabbages, 477 Carrots, 477 Cauliflowers, 189, 477 Chinese Yam, 189, 233 Com, 477 Peas, 477 Alliance, 36 Batfs Wonder. 35 Beck's Prizetaker, 35 Burbidge"s Eclipse, 35 Carter's Victoria, 36 Climax, 36 Competitor, 37 Denyer's Prolific Green Marrow, 36 Dickson's Favorite, 34 Peas, Dillistone's First Early, 33 Early Dwarf Branching Marrow, 34 Early Pea A., 34 Excelsior Marrow, 34 Fairhead's Excelsior, 37 Flack's Victory, 35 Garbutt's Amazon, 35 Harrison's Glory, 35 Harrison's Ferfection, 34 Leicester Defiance, 35 Lord Raglan, 37 Lynn's Prolific Wrink- led, 36 Monarch, 37 Ne Plus Ultra, 37 New Green Marrow, 34 Peas, Paradise Marrow, 34 Ringwood Marrow, 34 Sangster's No. 1, 33 Stradsett Marrow, 35 Sutton's BerkshireHero, 36 Tall Green Mammoth, 37 ■Veitch's Perfection, Potatoes, Blanchard, Margolin, Rhubarb, Prince Albert, Squashes, Hubbard, Mammoth, Tomato, Porno Lesteriano, 5,478 186 186 79 80 477 42,477 478 477 477 LIST OF CORRESPONDENTS. Agricola, Allen, John Fiske, Berckmans, L. E., Berckmans. P. J., Brinckle, Dr. W. D., C. G. P., S., 58, 203, 252, 353, 237, Cabot, Hon. J Dewey, D. S., Earle, John Milton, Editor, 1, 19. 20, 24, 27, 49, 62, 97, 116, 145, 149, 152, 159, 169, 193, 227, 231. 273, 275, 279, 289, 305, 318, 337, 363, 385, 395, 407, 415, 433, 465, 481, 500, 516, 529 Elliott, F. B., .... 366; Fair Play, 55 - Flagg Wilson, 14, 73, 104, 66 ' 309, 347, 390 211 Fortune, R., 213 G. W. H., 115 Gloede, F., . 426 Gridley, Rev. A. D 440 Harris, F. L., 511 Hewson, S., . 124 Jonghe, M. De, 131, L. E. B., 241, , Prince, William R. & Co., 371, R. R. S., 508, Scott, R. R., . , 554 Sylvester, E. Ware, 400 Rivers, T., . 393 I Walsh, James, 164, 196, 245, 293, 403, 438, 484, 534 180 42 306, 497 200 71 238 492 267 471 329 450 552 263 448 GENERAL INDEX. 234 in Hart- Agriculture, A Department of, Lectures on, . A New Chinese Fruit, • Annuals, .... Apple Trade, The Golden Sweet, ford, Ct., Apples, Dwarf, Eastern, .... Arhoricultural Notices, Asters, German China, Autumn Planting, Bartlett, Enoch, Death of, Begonias, The Picturesque, . Black Currant Culture in France, Books, ReTiewed, — Bright on the Grape, Transactions of Mass. Ag. Society, The Orchard House, Culture of Fruit in Year Book of the Farm and Garden, Brugmansias, The, .... Bulbs, Cape, Cactus tribe, The, Caladiums, Cauliflowers, Dutch Method of raising, Cemeteries, The Planting of Rural, Cherries, Dr. Kirtland's, Notes on, Chrysanthemums , Crops in Wisconsin, Currants, Dahlia Shows for 18G0, Daisy, Yariegated, Ernst, A. H., Death of European Tour, Notes of, 58, Evergreens in Flower Gardens, Ferns and Lycopodi Floricultural Notices, 27, 173, 227, 279, 407, 516, Flowers, Annual Foliage, Not one drop of Water for, French, Hon. B. V., Death of. Fruit Culture in the West, . Orchard, Great, Fruits, American in England, American and English, . and the Season at the South, Our Native, The Small, Fuchsia, Cultivation of the, . Grafting, New Mode of, Grape Culture in New England, Hints upon. Vine, Ringing the Branches of, Grapes, Report on at Chiswick Grass, The Pampas, Grounds, Dressed, Heath Form, The, . Horticulture. The Progress of, Horticulturist, The, Horticultural Operations : 203, 252, 353, January, 47 «Tuly, . February, 94 August, March, 142 September, April, 190 October, May, 239 November, June, 287 December, Hyacinths, Cultivation of, Inarching, Advantages of. Landscape, Treatment of, English Style of, . Lily Form, The, . Mason Hon. Judge, Mallows and Banana Tribe, The, Medal, The Grand Gold, Mignonette, Tree, Mimosa Form, The, Mushroom Growing, Nurseries, Visit to Hovey & Co.'s, Nursery Catalogue, &c., Enterprise, Obituary, Orchard Houses, . Treatment of. Orchard Trees in Belgium Park ,New York Central, Patent Office, Seeds and Cuttings from, 136 42 560 ,235 511 103 123 '.:0 326 481 334 131 541 231 232 ,233 232 273 424 14 516 189 200 400 552 377 545 563 227 189 440 365 279 318, 554 159 424 237 97 565 261 211 266 385 145 268 186 49 423 80 108 465 347 309 1 41 335 283 430 479 526 567 512 223 293 393, 438 403 41 73 82 374 164 187 376 427 564 334 289 438 492 529 138 116, 81, Peach, new Mode of Training the, . 298 Pears, New, 217 Descriptions of Select Varieties, . 500 Fine, at the Annual Exhibition, . 510 New Seedling, . . . • 551 Notes on, 124 Special Prize for Bartlett, . . 377 Peas, their Synonyms and Qualities, . 33 Plants and Plant Houses, . . . 459 Bedding, at the Royal Bot. Garden, 374 for Winter Decorations, . . . 186 Medical Properties of, . . . 246 Motions and Sensibility of, . . 104 Native, new or recently introduced, 173 Notes on Chinese, .... 180 Ornamental Foliaged for the Lawn, 71 Plums, New Mode of distinguishing, 425 Pomological Gossip, 19, 62, 116, 152, 215, 261, 305, 363, 395, 508, 545 Rhubarb, raising from Seed, . . 79 Rose Exhibition, National of Great Britain, 417 History and Cultivation of the, Fortune's New, Isabella Gray, Hardiness of, • Salt for Roads, .... Seeds, How to raise. Society, American Pomological, . American Institute, Belmont Farmer's Club, Brooklyn (N. Y.) Horticultural, Connecticut Grape Gi-owers, . Cincinnati Horticultural, Essex North Horti-Agricultural, Fruit Growers of Western NewYork Genesee VaUey Horticultural, Hartford County Horticultural, Illinois State Horticultural, . Kentucky Horticultural, London Horticultural, . Missouri Fruit Growers, Merrimec Horticultural, New York Horticultural, New York State Agricultural, Ohio Pomological, . Pomological of Lyons France, and Hort. of South Illinois, Progressive Gardeners, St Paul (Minesota) Horticultural Mass. Horticultural, 43, 137, 142, 238, 332, 381, 427, 471, 525 Election of Officers, . . 525 Finance Committee, Report of, 46 Fruit Committee, Report of, Opening of the New Hall, President's Address, Rose Exhibition, Sale of the Estate of Strawberries, Report on, . 382 Thirty-Second Annual Exhibition, 472 Spontaneity, 484 Squash, the Hubbard, in New Hampshire, 42 Strawberries, American, in France, 303, 497 and Strawberry Culture, . . 450 40 422 423 236 154 330, 511 427. 522 329 140 141 141 139 , 83, 378 567 237 189 140 41 83 140 140 566 566 213 82 141, 330 237 284 332- 41 but little valued, in Connecticut, in Washington, D C , Notes on. Grown for Trial at Chiswick, 37 306 328 337 82 534 390 565 196 313 65 561 241 275 233 189 169 518 new French, old ones, under new names, . something about, . Testimoniitl to Mr. John Johnson, The Old and New, Thomas Lee, Esq., Country Seat of, Trees, Apple, Root-grafted, Funereal Characters of, the New Coniferous, Vegetation, Diseases of. Vine Borders, .... Vine, The Culture of, . Winter of 1859-60, in Great Britain, Yam, Chinese, .... Cultivation of, ... Yuccas, The, Zinnias, New Double, 152 307 426 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. THE PROGRESS OF HORTICULTURE. The progress of horticulture during the last twenty-five years has not only been recorded in our pages, but its annual advancement has been so fully detailed that the young ama- teur or zealous cultivator has but to turn to our yearly summary to trace its regular progress during a quarter of a century. Early impressed with the idea that it was well to review from time to time what had already been accomplished, we have selected the commencement of a new volume as a fitting occasion to do so ; and though to some extent a recapitulation of the results of the year, it has enabled us to bring more prominently before our readers many important topics — to discuss others which should receive attention — to combine the experiences of the year, and, from them, to draw such infor- mation as will have a bearing upon future operations, or in any way aid in extending a more complete knowledge of the art and practice of horticulture. We think we have not mistaken the wishes of our readers, or at least of all who truly estimate the importance of horticultural science, in continu- ing our summary of the progress of the year. The country has not yet fully recovered from the depression of the last two years. Though there is a return to more activ- ity in the planting and cultivation of fruit trees, there has not been that zealous and enthusiastic devotion to liorticultu- ral pursuits and rural art generally which prevailed a few years ago. In some parts of the country this change has been less than in others, and gardening generally may be said to be in a flourishing condition ; but improvement on an extend- ed scale — tlie formation of large gardens — the planting of VOL. XXVI. — NO. I. 1 *Z THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. collections of trees — the construction of conservatories and forcing-houses, and the higher departments of culture, have not engaged the attention of tlie people as in former years. This state of things will undoubtedly soon wear away, and a return to the usual prosperity of the country will bring with it increased attention to all departments of gardening. We give, as heretofore, a brief account of the peculiar and rather unfavorable season just brought to a close. January was a rather cold month. It was moderate for the first week, with a snow storm on the 4th, which fell to the depth of 10 inches. On the 10th, the temperature suddenly fell to 4° below zero — a bitter cold day — the mercury only zero at noon, and 6° below at night. The 11th it fell to 14° below zero, the coldest morning but one for twenty-five years. On the 14th, it was mild again, with rain ; and the remainder of the month was moderate, without snow. The month of February was milder, and with but little snow. On the 9th it rained, with the temperature at 40°. The 11th it was colder, the mercury falling to 7°. From the 15th to the 21st, it was mild again, with cold rains. The remainder of the month was cool, with four inches of snow on the 26th. March opened cool, but was immediately followed by a warm rain on the 4th, and on the 6th, the song sparrow, the harbinger of spring, made his appearance. Continued mild weather followed, with warm rains on the 12th, 15th, 18th, and 25th, wlien all snow had disappeared and the ground was quite dry ; the few remaining days were mild, with only white frosts. The month of April was cool. The first week the tem- perature fell below freezing every morning ; cold rains suc- ceeded, with a light snow on the 15th, and frost again up to the 20th. The remainder of the month was variable, with cold rain, and frost on the 29th. Vegetation made but little progress up to the close of April. May commenced more favorably. On the 2d, the tempera- ture reached 75°, and, on the 8th, the very unusual altitude, at tills period of the year, of 90°. Vegetation made a rapid start, and summer seemed fairly set in, peaches, cherries, JANUARY. 6 pears and plums being in full bloom ; but on the lOtli, it be- came cool again, with chilly rains, and on tlie 16th, the tem- perature fell to the dreaded point of 32°, with a white frost so thick and heavy as to appear like snow ; even the ground was frozen stiff in many places. Such a frost, so late in the season, could not otherwise than prove injurious to all fruit trees. The remainder of the month, with the exception of three or four days, continued cool. June was scarcely more favorable tlian May. The first two weeks were cool and rainy, witli a slight frost in many locali- ties on the 11th, and an average temperature at sunrise of less than 50°. The 14th was warmer, witli the tempera- ture at 88°. It was, however, cool again from the IStli to the 25th, .with heavy rains. The 29th was the only really warm day of the summer, the temperature being 98°. Up to this period there had been an abundance of rain. The month of July was exceedingly variable, with great alternations of heat and cold, and witliout rain. On the 4th, the temperature fell to 58°. The 8th was warm again (96°), and the week ending on the 17th was the only warm weather of the season, the thermometer ranging from 90° to 94° at noon. The remainder of the month was cool and very dry. August commenced more favorably, being warm but with- out rain : on tiie 14th, the temperature was 90°. A change now set in, and on the 17th the thermometer fell to 44°. On the 25th, a heavy rain fell, the first to thoroughly wet the ground since the 20th of June, a drought of full nine weeks. The remainder of the month was very cool, with easterly winds and light showers. The month of September continued cool. On the 7th, the temperature fell to 39°, unusual so early in the autumn ; succeeding this it was warmer, accompaiiied by strong west- erly gales, which did great damage to the fruit. On the 16th, the temperature was only 32°, with a white frost, wliich in- jured all tender vegetation. Easterly storms, with high wind, succeeded ; on the 27th, it was warmer, but the montli ended cool. After so much cool weather, a warm and pleasant October was anticipated ; but the result did not verify it. The 4th 4 , THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. was the only warm day, witli the temperature at 75°. The 11th, the thermometer fell to 30°, with a heavy frost. On the 15th it was 28°, and the remainder of the month was cool, windy, frosty and unseasonable, ^reminding one of the last of November. It was the coolest October for many years. November was the only month of the season which ap- peared of more than average warmth. With the exception of two days, the temperature fell as low in Octol)er as in November. The 13th was warm — easterly winds succeeded, with a light snow on the 21st, which, however, soon disap- peared. The few remaining days were mild and pleasant, and favorable for all gardening operations. December inaugurated a change, and, as if the autumn had already been too prolonged, cold weather set in on the 4th, with a snow storm, and the tliermometer at 22° ; the 7th was showery and very warm, with the temperature at 60° ; but on the 9th it fell to 8°, and the following week was cold. On the 13th it was 10° ; three inches of snow fell on the 14th, and on the 16th, the temperature was 8°, so that, as we close our article, the winter seems fairly commenced, the ground being well protected with snow. The characteristics of the year may be summed up as fol- lows : — a variable winter, a wet and cold spring, a dry and cool summer, and a windy and frosty autumn. Every month in the year has been attended with frosts of greater or less se- verity, and September and October were accompanied with frequent and heavy gales. The effect of such a season could not be otherwise than unfavorable for fruit of all kinds.— Peaches were an entire failure in New England, and indeed in a portion of the peach region at the West. Pears were considerably below the average crop, owing undoubtedly to the late and severe frosts. Apples in some parts of the coun- try gave but a meagre crop, while in others the yield was abundant. Strawberries suffered much from the open win- ter, but the cool and rainy June made up in part for this loss. Currants, scarcely ever failing, were not so plentiful as usual ; in some localities the frost of May severely injured the young fruit. Quinces, usually a very reliable fruit, were so scarce as to command the price of tlie best pears. Grapes JANUAEY. 5 suffered less from mildew tlian usual, and, notwithstanding the cool season, ripened their fruit more completely than they have done for two or three years. But while the season has thus been unfavorable to the crop, trees of all kinds appear to have made a fine growth, and ripened up their wood better than usual ; this has probably been caused by the abundance of moisture in May and June, which gave them a good start, and the drought of July and August, which checked the growth and matured the wood ; while the cool weather of September and October prevented that prolonged growth which often continues, to the injury and sometimes loss of the trees. The prospect now is, that the ensuing season will be more than usually fruitful, thus making up in a degree tlie scanty yield of the last. HORTICULTURE. Pear culture has lost but little of its interest. In the West, wliere it is comparatively a new fruit, the experiments of prominent cultivators have been highly favorable to the growth of dwarf trees. The Cincinnati Horticultural Soci- ety have discussed the subject at their meetings, and the evi- dence addviced in their favor, together with the exhibition of splendid specimens raised on such trees, have done much to dispel the prejudice which liad begun to prevail among tliose who listened to the opinions of the writers who have so zealously denounced them as an utter failure. But the in- spection of the fruit is the best proof of their importance, and column upon column of objections will have little weight against the evidence of our own eyes. We doubt not those who worked so industriously to invalidate the claims of dwarf pears, have written out, and henceforth we shall hear but lit- tle on this subject. Our own views we have reaffirmed in an article in our last volume, (p. 193.) A variety of opinions have been expressed in reference to the varieties of apples suited for general culture, and we have made the subject one of especial attention, (p. 49.) It has been urged by some, that our Eastern apples were not suited to the climate of the Western States ; but from all the evi- dence that we can get, this does not appear to be correct : on 6 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. the contrary, the Eastern apples seem to be the only varieties that can be cultivatej^ to a good profit. A recent writer in the Ohio Farmer substantiates this. In speaking of apples for the West, lie says : " One thing I have observed to be no- torious, which is, that New York State apples, both dried and green, are equally sought after, at better prices, than Ohio apples. Even Michigan apples sell better and at better prices. Ohio is my native State, and previous to coming here (Mil- waukee) I supposed we were, par excellence, in the apple line. But I find the State has nothing to do with it, but the producers are to blame in not having- the proper kinds, at least for this market. * * * I would advise those who intend setting out an orchard, to plant 400 R. I. Greenings, 300 Spitzen- bergs, 100 Winter Rambo, 100 Roxbury Russets, 100 Bald- wins, and, if you wish to make a large orchard, to add a few more Greenings." Yet the Greening, the Russet and Bald- win, the three popular apples, were, on motion of Mr. Bate- ham of Columbus, at the last meeting of the Pomological Society in New York, voted as unsuited to Southern Ohio, and in a list of the best six apples for general cultivation in Ohio, recommended by the committee from that State, not one of the above are named, but their places filled with White Pip- pin, Rawle's Janet, Winesap, &c., good apples enough, but unsaleable in the market. The cultivator may grow as many varieties as he pleases for his own use, but when he raises for the market, he must supply such as the consumers want — otherwise there can be little profit in the crop. We think when this subject is fully considered the prejudice against Eastern apples will disappear. The Grape continues a prominent fruit. At no period has it engrossed more atteiition. The new varieties are so numer- ous that cultivators can scarcely recollect them. What pro- portion of these new sorts will ultimately be found wortliy of preservation it is impossible to say, but probably only a limit- ed number. A good many qualities are demanded in a new grape, and by the possession of these qualities their merits must be judged. If it takes the public as long to find them out as it has the Diana, it will be a long time before they find a place in our gardens. In 1844 we first brought the Diana JANUARY. i to the notice of cultivators, and it is gratifying to know that after sixteen years onr opinion of its qualities is generally acknowledged. We then stated (Vol. X. p. 243) it would prove " a more valuable variety than any we possess." The recent action of the fruit growers of New York substantiate this. It is our object to record every new grape of any merit ; but we are willing to confess that if all the native grapes are truly meritorious, we have been sadly negligent of a duty we have ever made it our first effort to perform. Of the one hundred and fifty American grapes offered for sale by some of our cultivators, we have no knowledge of one quarter of the number. The production of seedlings, or the introduction of acci- dental varieties, is a meritorious object ; but the mere multi- plication of names only serves to confuse. That these may be increased indefinitely there is no doubt ; yet, unless they possess some excellences which should entitle them to notice, it is hardly worth while to recommend them to trial. It is better to throw them aside altogether, that attention may be directed to those which appear really deserving, that these may be the more rapidly tested. Even zealous amateurs, fond of making collections, care little for varieties which are but the slightest remove from our wild grapes. While our cultivators are so busy with the improvement of our native grapes, European cultivators are no less enthusi- astic in the production of new exotic varieties. Already two of the most noted have been introduced and fruited in our collections. There are several more of reputed excellence, two of which, the Muscat Hamburgh and Trentham Black, have been added to our gardens ; the first a black grape, with a rich Muscat flavor, and both good growers, fine setters, and abundant bearers. We doubt not they will be great acquisi- tions to our limited supply of foreign grapes. Other sorts are named in European journals and catalogues, some of which we have noticed in our Pomological Gossip. Twenty-five years ago, we urged upon the attention of all who love the Peach, its cultivation in pots, giving the details of our own experience, and showing that in no other way could this delicious fruit be produced with any certainty in 8 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. our variable climate. After so long a period, this simple mode of culture comes to us from the English under the name of orchard houses, and we learn that this new mode of grow- ing fruit, which has attracted much attention in Great Britain, is prevailing to some extent with our own cultivators. We are pleased to know that this is so. For though orchard houses, for the growth of fruits in general, can be of compar- atively little value with us, the culture of the peach, the fig, the nectarine, the apricot and the grape in this manner be- comes of the greatest importance to all who would have an annual crop of these fruits in our uncertain climate. It should be recollected, if it is not, that many sorts of pears are quite as uncertain a crop in the climate of Great Britain as the peach is here. Mr. Rivers lias stated that, for several STiccessive years, the Marie Louise and some other kinds have failed to fruit in consequence of late spring frosts. Orchard houses, therefore, in that country are indeed a real treasure. But here, where our climate is so favorable for all the hardy fruits, though desirable appendages to every good garden, they are not the desideratum they are in England. Notwithstanding we have, in every volume of our Magazine, given numerous articles upon the culture of the Strawberry, which will guide the amateur in the raising of this delicious fruit, we have thought the subject still far from being ex- hausted ; more especially its cultivation on an extended scale, as well as to a higher degree of perfection. No fruit yields more generously, even under bad treatment, and hence, few cultivators give it ihat care which it so well repays. We have consequently thought we could not do a better service than to give the thorough mode of culture adopted by the gardeners who supply the Boston and London markets. Mr. Underwood's report of the Belmont Faimers' Club (p. 117) supplies the former information, and Mr. Thompson's account (p. 506) of the celebrated Bath growers, the latter. Though somewhat different in treatment, they both lead to the best results. We need not refer to the new strawberries which have been introduced, as these will be found under our Pom- ological Gossip of the year. We should not close this portion of the year's progress in JANUARY. y horticulture "without adverting to the introduction of some new vegetables of more than ordinary merit. The first of these is the Hubbard squash, which, from the more abundant supply of seed, has been distributed over tlie whole country, so that a fair opportunity has been had to test its quality. On all sides, we have but one report, which is, that it gives tlie very highest satisfaction, being superior in quality to the Marrow, keeping much longer, improving with age, and, in fact, supplying the place of the sweet potato. It is un- doubtedly one of the most valuable additions to our finer vegetables. The Pineapple Short-top beet, introduced for the first time, is a most superior variety, as sweet as the Bassano, of the deepest blood purple, and with a top no larger than a raddish. The Frogmore Protecting broccoli is a new and superior white variety, extremely hardy, very dwarf in growth, its outer leaves closing over the large head of flowers and protecting it from the action of severe weather. The striped purple Egg plant, also new, is as tender and fine flavored as the purple, and very ornamental in its growth. All these are acquisitions of great merit. We are glad to find the Chinese potato more appreciated. What we have said of it before, Ave repeat now, that it is a most delicious vegetable, easy to grow, producing a sure crop, and deserving the attention of all cultivators. As a market product, we do not doubt it will pay well when its merits are fully known. Under the most ordinary culture, our crop has been four or five bushels from four or five rows a hundred feet long, some of the tubers weighing a pound. We do not think its excellence has been in the least over-estimated. FLORICULTURE. That there is an evident increase in the taste for new and rare plants, the superior specimens exhibited at our Horticul- tural Societies abundantly testify. A few years since, these exhibitions comprised only large plants, more remarkable for the space they occupied than for any other merit. Now the demand is that they shall possess some ornamental properties, either in flowers or foliage, and even more skill in their culture. An ill-shaped, straggling plant finds few admirers ; 10 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. but a neatly-trained specimen becomes the centre of attrac- tion. This is the effect of a higher degree of skill among our gardeners : just so long as nothing remarkable is produced, we remain satisfied with what we have ; but when it has been shown to wliat perfection good culture may be carried, the public taste is improved, the mediocre specimens no longer please, and only plants which exhibit skill attract the eye. Not many years ago, the pelargonium was a long, lean, lank object, with a few flowers at the top ; now they are large, broad, compact bushes, studded with blossoms. The fuchsia, from a straggling olject, has become a fountain of foliage and flowers ; and the Chinese azalea, till recently a broad, irreg- ular bush, has now become a pyramid or cone of the most faultless shape, presenting such a dense mass of flowers as to completely screen the foliage. Other plants have gone or are undergoing the same change ; what has been accomplished with one thing may be done with another. The result of these improvements is, that our conservatories have been ren- dered not only doubly attractive from the collective effect of such specimens, but from their great individual beauty, which at all times render them the most pleasing objects. The introduction of the ornamental and variegated-foliaged plants, — now so much sought after in European collections, — just at a period when more novelty in the popular flowers was needed, has not only directed attention to the cultivation of these truly beautiful objects, but to fine specimens of plants generally. For though so ornamental of themselves, their novelty is heightened in contrast with beautiful flowering plants. The introduction of the former into small collections, where the extent of glass does not admit of separate depart- ments for special purposes, greatly enhances the general effect by breaking up that sameness which results from the use of flowering plants alone. The Continental collections are famous for their rich specimens of ornamental-foliaged plants, which have been gathered from all parts of the globe by the indefatigable botanists who have been sent out espe- cially to search for such objects. It is through them that most of the fine Marantas, Dracaenas, Begonias, Caladiums, &c., have been introduced. JANUARY. 11 There is but one objection to these beautiful plants ; that is, they require, most of them, the high temperature of the hothouse, with an abundance of moisture, to grow them in perfection, which renders them unsuitable for general collec- tions. In our climate this does not apply so much as it does in British collections ; still, the hothouse is necessary for some ; but there are others which in winter, — that being the period when many require rest, — may be kept in the warmest part of the greenhouse, and grown in the summer when the tem- perature of the latter is sufficient to bring them to perfection. English cultivators have already perceived this, and their efforts are now directed to tlie introduction of such as may be easily grown in ordinary collections of plants ; the Farfugium grande, one of the most striking of all, is one of these, the Striped Yucca another, and the variegated-leaved Agapan- thus a third. What we need for the information of amateurs is a list of all the best, with hints in regard to their proper treatment. This we intend to give, and shall commence with the Farfugium in our present number. We have referred before to the improvement in the Gladi- oli, and have briefly described many of the best ; but a flower which has now become so popular, and which, in fact, is one of the most brilliant our gardens contain, deserves more tlian a passing notice. That so much splendor could be worked out of the old gandavensis, shows the remarkable results of hybridization, and the riches in store for tlie intel- ligent cultivator who is ready to experiment with other plants. The Liliums would no doubt afford like results. Certainly the Japan lilies have shown what careful hybridization will accomplish, and their further improvement is well worthy the attention of all who appreciate this most splendid of hardy bulbs. It is to the labors of Truffaut, Souchet, Verdier and other French cultivators that we are indebted for the new Gladioli. What they have done, others can do ; and as the seedlings are easily raised, our cultivators should not remain content with the possession of foreign varieties alone, but try their own hand in the growth of choice varieties. The Hollyhock, from one of the most common and almost discarded garden plants, has arisen to one of the greatest im- 12 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTUEE. portance, disputing with the dahlia the most prominent posi- tion. It is another triumph of special attention to a single class of plants. The English, here, have done all that has been accomplished. In the place of the irregularly-formed and muddj-colored flowers, we have now perfectly double and clear tinted blossoms, forming dense spikes of the great- est splendor. No plant can be introduced to the garden more conspicuous than the hollyhock, and its easy culture and free blooming qualities should render it one of the most popular of flowers. We cannot pass over, in our annual summary, some notice of that shrub, par excellence^ the Rhododendron. Though seen more frequently in our gardens than formerly, it is yet far from being generally known or generally cultivated. We omit no opportunity to give all the information in our power in regard to its culture, and, as especially valuable, we may refer to the series of articles on its growth, in our last volume. They comprise the experience of the best cultivators in Great Britain, where the rhododendron is so extensively planted, and where the most hardy kinds have been produced. With what we have published in our previous volumes, there is nothing wanted to enable everybody to cultivate this most su- perb shrub in the highest perfection. The Kalmia, and par- ticularly the Hardy Azalea, are fitting companions to the rhododendron, requiring tlie same soil, culture, and general management. Though perhaps less effective from its decid- uous character, the azalea, in its many-hued and often dazzling colored blossoms, merits no less attention than the rliododen- dron. We look forward to the time when all these will be more extensively cultivated than any other flowering shrubs. We might refer to other plants whicii deserve especial no- tice ; but a reference to our volume for the year will best supply what would be in part a repetition here. Tlie Chinese Azalea, the Pelargonium and the Rose do not command that attention their great merits deserve. The two former are magnificent conservatory plants, displaying their blossoms from January to July, and when seen in the perfection that skilful culture can achieve, we know of no plants which so well repay all the care that may be bestowed upon them. JANUARY. 13 Among the more important acquisitions of the year are the Tritoma uvaria and Tritonia aurea, both half liardj plants, which flower abundantly during the summer in the open ground. The Pampas grass has bloomed for the first time, and proves to l)e a very ornamental object. The Lilium giganteum is also a noble plant. The Bouvardias, the Month- ly Carnations, the Double Petunias and the Bedding Gera- niums have had many superior acquisitions, all of which enthusiastic amateurs will eagerly add to their collections. For a more extended notice of these and other plants, our Floricultural Notices of the year may be consulted with great interest. ARBORICULTURE. Renewed attention has been directed to the cultui-e of ornamental trees by the timely publication of Mr. Sargent's Supplement to Downing's Landscape Gardening. The infor- mation so much needed in regard to the Evergreen or Conif- erous trees is of great value, as showing what number among the increasing quantity of these trees are sufficiently hardy to stand the climate of the Middle States. To New England planters, who have a more severe climate to deal with, the information is less practical, though not without great inter- est, serving at least as a guide to experiments which may lead ultimately to success ; for so limited is our knowledge of many of the species that we know not how to treat them, or whether in many instances it is cold or heat that affects them most. These can only be learned by actual experience, which must be the result of time and close observation. Mr. Sargent has contributed a fund of information, which we hope to aid in increasing througli our own pages. Another work, not without value to American cultivators, is Mr. Gordon's Pinetum, which unfortunately, from its high price, will not fall into the hands of many lovers of evergreen trees. It gives us all the details of the present condition of planting in Great Britain, and the success which has attended the introduction of many of the rarer species : these, with an account of the various localities where they have been found growing, the altitude, &c., will again serve, in a slight de- gree, to give some idea of the probable hardiness of each. 14 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. The introduction of many new seedling trees, accidental varieties, discovered in extensive plantations of young trees, is changing naturally the aspect of our plantations. Varie- gatcd-foliaged plants of many of the most popular and favor- ite trees have been produced, as well as weeping, fastigiate and other distinct forms, unlike the original species. These, scattered sparingly throughout our pleasure grounds, form con- spicuous objects, and add much to the interest of any orna- mental plantation. We shall endeavor to keep our readers informed of all the prominent acquisitions of this character. HORTICULTURAL LITERATURE. We have but little to notice in the horticultural literature of the year. The principal works have been Sargent's Edi- tion OP Downing's Landscape Gardening ; American Weeds and Usepul Plants, by Dr. Darlington, exceedingly inter- esting ; and Farm Drainage, by H. F. French. The Trans- actions of the New York Agricultural Society for 1858, pre- pared by Col. Johnson, the indefatigable Secretary, are more than usually interesthig, containing another paper from Dr. Fitch, on the insects injurious to vegetation. The Agricul- tural Journals continue to maintain their accustomed excel- lence in all departments of culture. THE CACTUS TRIBE BY WILSON FLAGG. One of the most singular of all the vegetable tribes which are designed to adorn or to disfigure the surface of the earth, is the Cactus. Like most other extremely succulent vegeta- bles, the plants of this family are found in abundance and perfection only in warm climates, and in countries which are devastated a great part of the year by drought, and deluged by rain during the remainder. It is remarkable that in such countries only do we find the plants characterized by a super- abundance of sap. It seems indeed to be a provision of na- ture, not only for the perpetuity of vegetation, but to supply JANUARY. 15 animals with moisture to quench their thirst, in those parts of the earth, during the dry season, where they must otherwise perish. But lest they should waste these vegetable fountains, the plant that contains them is surrounded with sharp thorns, so that, except in a state of extreme necessity, no animal ventures to suffer the wounds that follow the at- tempt to rob the plant of its juices. The watermelon, though of entirely different botanical char- acters, is another plant which is employed by nature for the same purpose. But as nature, for the preservation and prop- agation of the generality of fruit-bearing plants, designs that the fruit shall be eaten, she has protected the seed by a hard shell, while she has given the fruit a wholesome quality and an agreeable flavor. She, therefore, invites the animals to consiyue the melon, while she protects the vine that yields it by giving it a nauseous smell and taste. Both the cactus and the melon, however, obtain their juices during the season of moisture, and hoard them, as it were, for future use. The melon, having ripened its fruit and its seed, perishes, — and the plant is renewed, on the following year, by the seeds which have been scattered by the animals that consumed its juicy pulp. The cactus does not perish in the drought ; it retains its succulence until its fruit and seed have ripened ; it then withers and sinks into a state resem- bling hybernation, — apparently dead, but ready to start into new life with the arrival of the periodical rains. No where on the face of the earth does the cactus tribe form so important a part of the landscape as on the coast of Peru. This coast, being subject to perpetual drought, receives all its irrigation from the streams that flow down the mountains, which are periodically full and dry, and from excessive dews. No rain falls, at any time, upon this desolate region. It is not remarkable, therefore, that the face of the country should be characterized by sterility. In many parts there is no veg- etation at all of a cliaracter that affords any refreshment to the eye. The principal plants consist of the different species of cactus, which are universal. Here they are periodically refreshed, and dried up, as the streams from the mountains are full or dry. Under the burning heat of the tropical sun, 16 THE MACxAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. where scarcely another plant could live, the cacti thrive in the greatest luxuriance, and seem to say to the traveller — " Man, this is not thy country !" We, who have seen the cactus only in greenhouses, look wpon it as very susceptible of injury from frost ; but some species are found upon all heights of the mountains in Peru, stopped only by tlie line of perpetual snow. Though the Cactacece belong mostly to tropical regions, they are not strictly confined to places of high temperature. The Cactus opuntia is found in the northern states of North America, and two other species are found in Missouri. The banks of the Rainy Lake, lat. 48°, are entirely covered with the C. opun- tia. Humboldt found three species of cactus on elevated plains, in that part of the chain of the Andes that lies within the tropics, between nine and eleven thousand feet above the level of the sea. " The yellow-flowering Opuntia ovallei, which lias a creeping stem, does not descend below 6746 feet, advancing as high as the line of perpetual snow, and even above it, wherever a few masses of rock remain uncovered !" It is worthy of notice, that while the cactus is found in North America as far north as 48°, it does not advance farther than 37° south latitude. This is the more remarkable, be- cause South America is peculiarly the country of this tribe of plants, where it is not found much below Valparaiso. On the same continent, within the tropics, these plants extend far above the mountain elevation that corresponds with the lati- tude of Cape Horn. The most conspicuous subdivisions of this family of plants comprehends the Cerei or Tree Cacti. These are tall and branched, often thirty feet high, covered with thorns, but entirely wanting in foliage. Their stems are commonly an- gular, sometimes nearly cylindrical, generally upright and slender, sometimes creeping upon the ground. They often consist of a single slender stem or shaft, of great height, making a forest of a most extraordinary appearance. The summits of the mountains in Brazil are said to be, in many cases, completely covered with Cerei, as if nature designed to exclude all living creatures from approaching them. The cactus tribe assumes a variety of shapes, and, by these JANUARY. 17 shapes, the different families are distinguished. The Cerci, ah'eady described, have upright columns, single or branched, rising in tall polygonal shafts, like organ pipes, or spreading out in ramifications, like candelabra. Others, as the Melo- cacti, are ribbed, and round or oral, so that the whole plant resembles a vast melon. Such are the species which the Abbe de St. Pierre termed the " vegetable fountains of the desert." The animals, during the dry season, resort to these to quench their thirst, and often perish of the wounds occa- sioned by the thorns that surround the plant. There are other cacti of a vine-like or creeping habit, termed Rhipsa- lides ; others, like the Pereskias, that have foliage, resembling the Euphorbias. The cactus tribe is peculiar to the New Continent : those few species which have spread over the southeast of Asia are supposed to have been introduced. In Peru and Chili, " there are wide plains which, for vast distances, are covered solely by groups of Ccrei, presenting a singular and striking, though cheerless prospect, particularly when, as often hap- pens, some of these columns are dead and still continue to stand, after all their fleshy covering has disappeared, — straight, white, woody pillars, in the midst of the green col- umns surrounding them, frequently adorned and almost con- cealed by a profusion of flowers." " There is hardly (says Humboldt) any physiognomical character of exotic vegetation that produces a more singular and ineffaceable impression on the mind of the traveller than an arid plain, densely cov- ered with the columnar or candelabra-like stems of cactuses," such as are beheld in various parts of South America. Mexico abounds in this description of vegetation ; and one of the most singular features of the landscape, in some parts of that country, is caused by the extensive use of a species of Opuntia for hedges ! That generally employed is the 0. coch- inillifera, on which the cochineal insect is fed. Great quan- tities of cochineal were formerly exported from Mexico, obtained from these sources. The hedges also supplied the inhabitants with a fruit, resembling the gooseberry both in appearance and quality. Tlie gooseberry indeed bears, in many respects, a close botanical affinity to the cactus. It VOL. XXVI. — NO. I. 2 18 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. might hardly be supposed that any species of this tribe of plants could be ornamental to a landscape. Yet such is said to be the effect of some of the Brazilian species. The large branches of the C. truncatus, hanging from the rocks, with a profusion of beautiful crimson flowers, forms one of the orna- mental features of a Brazilian landscape. The flowers of the cactus always seemed to me to contrast disagreeably with the ugliness of the plant, and nature seems in these instances to affect the ludicrous, as if she were to crown a porcupine with a wreath of roses. Another singular fact connected with the cacti is the use to which their wood may be applied. The history of these re- markable plants seems to abound in anomalies. The wood of this juicy and pulpy vegetable is used extensively both for fuel and in the arts. Being extremely light and easy of trans- portation, it is carried up the mountains and used for various purposes in housebuilding. This wood is almost imperishable, and is employed by the Indians for the manufacture of oars, for which it is peculiarly adapted. The cactus is exceedingly grotesque under all circum- stances, assuming a great variety of shapes, from that of a tree-like plant, or from an aggregation of jointed leaves, as in the Opuntia, to a simple globular shape, like a melon. The plant itself, in the latter case, affects the character of a fruit, being succulent and fiill of sap, and yet, at the same time, bearing a profusion of berries on its surface. This tribe of plants constitutes a monstrous form of vegetation, springing from an effort of nature to support vegetable life in regions so arid that it is capable of being sustained only in this and other anomalous forms. The dimensions of different species of cacti present striking contrasts. A species of Echino-cactus has a circumference of seven and a half feet, with a height of four and a quarter feet. This is surpassed by the E. ingens. Another attains a diameter of from two feet to two and a half. Another — the E. visnago, belonging to Mexico — has a diameter of upwards of three feet, with a height of more than four feet, and often weighs 2000 lbs. ; while the Cactus nanus is so small, and so loosely rooted in tlie sand, that it gets between the toes of dogs ! JANUARY. 19 POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP. Popular Pears in Belgium. — M. de Jonghe, whose com- munications we have before noticed, in writing to the Gar- deners' Chronicle, enumerates the following new pears, which are much esteemed among the Belgian amateur pomologists : Commisare Delmotte (Gregoire) — a fine tree, with a close habit of growtli, productive, bearing fruit in clusters of three or four : the fruit is of a dark green at the time of gathering, but becomes yellow in ripening, which takes place from the end of January till March : the skin is thin, the flesh melt- ing, sugary and vinous, without grit. The cells of the core are large, the seeds long, and of a fine nut-brown color. The fruit is not liable to be blown off by the wind, its ripening is easily known, and its flavor very satisfactory. Aglae Gregoire — a variety for which there is a great de- mand. The tree is more handsome but not so hardy as the preceding : the fruit is nearly of the same form and quality, and ripens a month later. Prince Albert is a third variety, also in great demand on account of the fine growth of the tree and the late ripening of its excellent fruit. Bezi de Mai is a variety beginning to come into great re- quest. Of this fruit, M. de Jonghe states he ate the last of the crop of 1858 on June 6th, 1859, and he believes that it will prove a great acquisition. The Maxatony Grape. — This is a new variety which is highly spoken of. We have not seen it, but our correspond- ent, L. E. Berckmans, Esq., the eminent pomologist, has kindly promised us a full account of it for an early number. The Southern Apples. — A pleasant visit from our esteemed correspondent, Mr. Berckmans, now residing near Augusta, Georgia, has enabled us to gather some information in regard to tlie Southern seedling apples, which have been so highly praised as equal or superior to Northern varieties. Mr. Berckmans informs us that the early varieties of the South, — those ripening there before November, — will undoubtedly be valuable acquisitions with us ; but that the later sorts, which 20 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. require the warmer autumn of Georgia to fully mature, will most probably fail to maintain that superiority which they have acquired in that climate. Mr. Berckmans has kindly promised to send us specimens of fruit another year, that we may judge for ourselves of their excellence. The Delaware Grape. — Just now there seems to be re- newed attention given to the origin of this grape, and quite a variety of conjectures have been made on this point. Mr. Prince contends it is a Swiss variety, and classes it among the foreign varieties, and one writer states that it has been grow- ing in Pennsylvania thirty years, having been originally re- ceived from Italy, and that he can " supply any person who wants cuttings with a cartload for merely the price of cutting." Mr. Meehan states that these grapes are abundant in Dela- ware, and, though not exactly alike, are, in every " essential quality," nothing but the Delaware, and " that the Dela^ ware's home is on the hills and head waters of the Delaware river, and that if the woods and wilds of these localities were searched, many similar varieties would be found, all referable to the same form, which might result in its being considered a distinct species." We can only inquire, is this so ? ARBORICULTURAL NOTICES. Hardy Trees aKd Shrubs worthy of General Cultiva- tion.— Although we have, in our several volumes, described or noticed every new hardy tree and shrub introduced into our gardens for twenty-five years, many of them are far from being generally known or commonly cultivated. In the mul- titude of new acquisitions, some are entirely overlooked, while others require some years of growth before they show their ornamental character, and hence are not properly appreciated. It is one object in this article to bring such of them as are of real merit before our amateur planters, that they may become more familiar with them, and more speedily introduce them into their collections. JANUARY. 21 TiLiA AMERICANA, oiir commoii Linden or Lime. The Eu- ropean Linden is a very common tree, being extensively planted in streets and avenues, and ornamental grounds gen- erally ; yet is far from being so fine a tree as our native spe- cies. Unfortunately we have few large and fine specimens in the vicinity of our cities to show what a grand tree it is : yet we hope it will no longer be neglected, but take the place of the foreign species. Magnolias, both native and exotic, are not often seen in our gardens ; yet they arc hardy and superb trees, easily cul- tivated, the exotic kinds blooming splendidly when only four or five years old. Of our native kinds, M. acuminata, M. auriculata and M. tripetala are hardy and form large trees ; of the exotic kinds, M. conspicua, Soulangedwa, Yohertidna and speciosa are hardy, moderate-sized trees or large shrubs, flowering when only three or four feet high. These should be introduced into every small collection, for nothing can be more beautiful. M. macrophylla is a noble tree, with im- mense flowers, is slightly tender while young, but with size becomes hardy. M. glauca is one of the most beautiful of our native small growing trees, with sub-evergreen foliage and delightfully fragrant white flowers. Everybody should plant one or more of these in their gardens. Sambucds, var. aurea variegata and argentea variegata, two variegated-leaved varieties of the Elder, are, as well as S. var. lasciniata, with curiously cut leaves, each highly orna- mental, hardy, easily grown, and deserving of introduction into every shrubbery or ornamental plantation of small trees. Ginkgo biloba, or Ginkgo tree, is extremely rare, though there are very old and fine trees in some parts of the country. Formerly it was very scarce, high priced in our nurseries, and therefore little planted. But from the more rapid increase of the stock by means of seed, since the introduction of the female plant into France, young trees may be had at moder- ate prices. It should be generally planted, for it is a highly ornamental tree. SoPHORA JAPONIC A. An elegant tree, and extremely rare, though entirely hardy. We know of but one large flowering specimen, (though there may be others,) which stands in the 22 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. Public Garden in Boston. It has been planted upwards of twenty-five years, and is now a large tree with a broad head, and flowers abundantly. Its clusters of white blossoms re- semble the locust. Its foliage is as delicate as the acacia, and the bark is smooth and dark green. As a lawn tree of mod- erate size nothing can be finer. Ohionanthus virginica — the Fringe tree — undoubtedly the most beautiful of all the larger growing shrubs or small trees, with a foliage as large as the magnolia, and long racemes of white flowers, which have the appearance of fringe from their delicate texture. Nothing can be hardier, and when planted in a generous soil which it likes, whether in its foliage or flowers or both, it has few equals and none to surpass it. It should be planted in every garden. QuERCUS FASTiGiATA, or Popkr Oak, a curious variety, growing as pyramidal as the Lombardy poplar. Two trees in our collection, planted about twelve years ago, are now thirty feet high, and not more than four feet in the diameter of their branches. Its growth is compact, the foliage deep green, and the whole aspect very ornamental. As a spiral tree, to break up the sameness of round-headed groups, it is deserving of general introduction. As a single specimen on the lawn, it has a fine effect. QuERCUS PURPUREA, the Purple-leaved Oak. Not so dark and rich in its foliage as its name would indicate, yet suffi- ciently distinct to form a desirable tree. In spring, when leafing out, the young foliage is of a very beautiful purplish hue, which continues till late in summer, when it gradually changes to a very dark green. Associated with -other trees, it is well worthy of more attention than it has hitherto re- ceived. Ulmus superba, the Superb-leaved Elm. Not long intro- duced to our gardens, but a very distinct and beautiful tree, with immense foliage, of a delicate light green. As a lawn tree, it is one of the finest of the elms. Ulmus crispa, or Cut-leaved Elm. A very curious tree, with deep green foliage, deeply cut and crisped on the edges. Its habit is neat, and it does not grow very large. It is a very desirable tree. JANUARY. 23 Ulmds campestris viminalis, so unlike most elms as to be mistaken for some variety of bircli. The shoots are very slender and twiggy, (from whence its name,) and the leaves are not larger than those of the English hornbeam. It grows nearly upright, and attains only a moderate size ; it is a dis- tinct and ornamental variety. Pa VI AS, or Horsechestnuts. Mr. Loudon recommended, many years ago, that every gentleman who had two horse- chestnuts should graft one over with Pavia rubra or J^sculus rubicunda. We would advise the same, or, if no large trees, that Pavia rubra and ^sculus rubicunda, M. Whittleji and M. flava should not be omitted where there is the smallest collection of ornamental trees. Mahonia aquifolium, which Mr. Sargent considers, and very truly, taking it all in all, " the most valuable of all shrubs, deciduous or evergreen," is yet very sparingly intro- duced into our gardens. It should be planted by the quan- tity, where room will permit. As an under shrub, nothing can be finer ; and as single specimens upon the lawn, we have few plants whose glossy green foliage in summer, and gor- geous brown, purple and scarlet coloring in winter, are more attractive and beautiful ; and if we add to this its copious bunches of bright yellow flowers in spring, and clusters of rich purple berries in autumn, few shrubs combine so many fine qualities. It delights most in a half shady situation, and prefers a soil similar to the rhododendron, though it is not particular in this respect. The Rosemary-leaved Willow, (Salix rosmarinifolia,) is a highly beautiful small-growing tree, and, worked standard high, forms a most elegant object on the lawn. Its shoots are slender and reddish colored, and its leaves, which are long and narrow, are thickly clothed on the under side with a silvery down, which contrasts prettily with its upper green surface and ruddy tinged wood. Tamarax africana and gallica are two fine foliaged and pretty shrubs, quite hardy, and profusely covered with spikes of light pink flowers. Both are highly ornamental. Hypericum Kalmianum is one of the very few yellow-flow- ering shrubs which our gardens contain. In habit it is neat, 24 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTURE. with a narrow foliage and an abundance of deep yellow flow- ers, which appear in summer for a long period in succession. It is perfectly hardy, grows in any soil, and is one of the most showy and ornamental shrubs. It should be in every collec- tion. The Euonymous latifolius, or Broad-leaved Spindle tree, has far the largest and showiest berries of the whole group. Its foliage is also large and broad, and the wood purplish- colored, stout and robust. Its berries are of the richest orange scarlet, and the capsules from which they are sus- pended very large and broad. HiPPOPHAE RHAMNO^iDES is a vcry pretty medium sized shrub, with narrow silvery foliage, and a neat pretty habit. It is quite hardy, and a most desirable acquisition to any collection. THE FARFUGIUM GRANDE. BY THE EDITOR. Prominent among the variegated foliaged plants, which have been recently introduced, and conspicuous above all others for its very large, magnificently spotted leaves, is the Farfugium grande. Now rare, and only found in choice collections, it is destined to become one of the most popular plants, and the ornament of every garden. We have in a previous page alluded to this and other fine foliaged plants, and their importance as decorative objects. We need not repeat them here ; still we may again advocate their general introduction to our gardens, more particularly the hardy or half-hardy kinds, which need no other protec- tion than the frame or cellar ; tliese are the plants for the million, for, however so varied in pictorial effect many of the tropical species and varieties are, they cannot be cultivated without the aid of the hot-house or conservatory, and cannot therefore l)ecome general favorites. Not so with the Farfu- gium. In Great Britain it is a hardy plant, and in the milder climate of our country, it may be grown in the open ground, and wc know not but it may prove liardy everywhere ; but JANUARY. 25 ■wherever it does not succeed in this way, it wants but the ordinary protection given to onr half-hardy plants to winter it safely, when it may be planted out to display its mag- nificent foliage in the open border. Yet, as a conservatory plant, nothing can be finer, and no collection should be with- out it. 1. THE FARFUGIUM GRANDE. The Farfugium (fig. 1) was introduced by Mr. Fortune from the north of China. It was sent to Mr. Glendenning of the Chiswick nursery, under the name of a variegated Tussillago. It proved upon blooming to belong to this family, and the name given to it is one of the ancient denomina- tions of the Coltsfoot class. Our engraving conveys but a poor idea of the charming effect of its large, deep green, spotted leaves ; it is but an outline of its general appearance. Dr. Lindley has well described it, " as having very large, round, angular, heart-shaped, evergreen leaves, sometimes more than two feet in circumference, of a peculiarly bright emerald green, copiously blotched with patches of clear ycl- 26 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. low, liaving no apparent relations to the veins. These leaves stapd on woolly footstalks, twelve to fifteen inches long, and form a magnificent tuft of surpassing beauty. The flowers of Farfugium are insignificant ; they stand on a woolly scape shorter than the leaves, and, like that of Coltsfoot, furnished with several spreading scales. Tlie flower heads cluster at the end of the scape, have a yellow ray, and a dirty purple centre." Our specimens of the Farfugium have been exceedingly fine ; grown from small plants, tliey tlirow up ten to twenty leaves as large as those named above, and the appearance of the whole plant was that conveyed in the engraving ; its large leaves overlapping each other, and forming a tufted mass of green and gold, which rendered it the most con- spicuous among many showy plants. Its cultivation is simple. It is increased by division of the roots, and appears to thrive admirably in a rich compost of loam and leaf mould. During its growing state it requires an abundance of water, and so far as the experience of one year goes, a slight amount of shade and a rather cool situa- tion suit it best. It requires frequent shifting and a large pot, to grow it in perfection. As it retains its striking foliage all the year, it forms an admirable plant for the conservatory, in winter, when there is a scarcity of flowers ; for vases, for lawns, or for the verandah, nothing can be more effective. It is also well adapted for the parlor, standing confinement with impunity. And lastly, for decorative purposes, planted out as an edging to beds of scarlet geraniums, salvias, or other tall growing brilliant flowers, it forms an entire new feature in the flower garden, and produces a most ornamental effect. So highly is the Farfugium appreciated by English culti- vators, that at the sale of Mr. Fortune's plants last spring, fine specimens brought the high price of X5 sterling. It comes from the same country as the Dielytra, and should it prove as hardy — and it may — it will become as popular and cer- tainly as decorative, as that now common and much admired plant. JANUARY. 27 FLORICULTURAL NOTICES. • Tritonia aurea. — This fine summer-blooming plant, now attracting great attention, is well worthy of all that has been said in its favor. It is one of that class so valuable to our collections, requiring no other care in winter than to keep it from frost lilce the dahlia or gladiolus. The Cottage Garden thus speaks of the best mode of treating it : — " The old bulbs, with the branching suckers attached, should be taken up and potted, and kept a little moist all winter, and in February the suckers should be taken off and potted, like cuttings round a pot, and be kept growing on all the spring, and be planted out by the end of May. If the old roots have any fresh leaves in February, keep them watered also ; if not, they may be left to rest for six weeks. We treat this plant as an evergreen, and have it in bloom in December." Another writer states, in addition to this, that it forces well. Scarlet-fruited Egg Plant. — A highly ornamental vari- ety of the Egg plant has been introduced to France from Portugal. It attains the height of three feet, with leaves about six inches long. In general appearance it resembles the common Egg plant, but the fruit, which is about the size of a hen's egg, is of a beautiful scarlet. For cooking, it does not possess much value, but, as an ornamental object, its showy fruit renders it conspicuous and highly attractive. — The Revue Horticole gives an engraving of the plant. New Helianthus. — A new variety of the Helianthus has been introduced by Messrs. Jones, of Chatliam Four Corners, N. Y., which is said to be an annual of great beauty, having a deep golden border, with a green centre from the crown of the plant. Those who have seen it, pronounce it a very de- sirable acquisition, and the most beautiful of all the Helian- thuses. Whether a new species, or merely a variety, is not stated. It grows about as high as the dahlia, and each plant produces ten to twenty flowers at one time, lasting ten to twelve days. Dr. Kane Rose. — Mr. J. Pentland, of Baltimore, has raised a new seedling rose, which he calls Dr. Kane. It is 28 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. very large, of a sulpliur yellow, and of the most exquisite fragrance and most constant bloom. It is also much hardier than Solfaterre. SoLANUM CAPSiCASTRUM. — This pretty plant, which we have had in our collection for two years, is attracting great atten- tion among the English cultivators. At a late meeting of the Moral Committee of the London Horticultural Society, Mr. Mackintosh, nurseryman, Hammersworth, produced a little plant, the singular beauty of which excited unusual admira- tion. It formed a compact bush, eighteen inches high, whose dark, dull green leaves retained, in the most charming man- ner, about 200 berries as large as marbles, and of the most brilliant orange color. There is probably no plant in cultiva- tion, says the Editor of the Gardeners' Chronicle, except in hothouses, that can be compared to it for Christmas decora- tions ; and what is important, the berries are so permanent . that the bushes must retain their vivid colors for many weeks. It is further spoken of as follows : — " Solanum capsicastrum, for so the plant is called, is no novelty. Many years ago, it was grown in the Botanic Gar- den, Berlin, having been raised there from seeds sent by the Prussian traveller Sellow, from the Province of Mines, in Brazil ; it also occurs in the Argentine Provinces much fur- ther to the south, as is shown by a specimen from Tweedie, preserved in our own herbaria. It is therefore a greenhouse plant of the hardier class. From Berlin it gradually found its way into the gardens of Europe, where it has been neg- lected till its beauty was displayed by tlie good management of Mr. Mackintosh, who, like a skilful lapidary, knew how to polish the gem which others had carelessly thrown aside. And now it is sought for eagerly, and will soon become one of the most coveted plants in our flower markets, for which it is in every way particularly well adapted. " It is for the last reason, more especially, that we thus di- rect attention to it ; for whatever will contribute to the cheap luxuries of the multitude deserves all the notice that can be o-ivcn it. We have also another motive. Tlie beautiful ber- ries that adorn it are extremely tempting in appearance ; they almost invite a taste, and it is scarcely possible to believe JANUARY. 29 that they will not occasionally be eaten by children. What will be the effect ? As a general rule, all plants allied to Solanum are regarded as poisons ; and such undoubtedly is the Solanum tuberosum, or common potato, if the leaves or berries are swallowed, although the so called " root" is harm- less. The common Bittersweet of our hedges, Solanum dul- camara, has a bad reputation, and so have the berries of the weed called Solanum nigrum. But in the first place, the poisonous qualities of the two last seem to be either much exaggerated, or very uncertain in its action ; for we have the evidence of a very experienced London physician that as much as five pounds weight of the berries of the first have been administered to a young woman in the course of ten days, without the production of any unpleasant symptom ; and those of S. nigrum are regularly gathered in the Island of Ascension for the use of the garrison, who call them Black currants, and eat them in pies and puddings. Many other instances of harmless fruit in the genus Solanum are also recorded. We all know that S. Lycopersicum, or the tomato, is harmless ; so is S. melongena and its varieties, so largely grown for the table under the name of Aubergene or Brinjal. In Peru, the fruit of S. quitoense comes to market under the name of Quito oranges ; another species, S. muricatum, is also eaten : in Australia we have S. esuriale, forming a part of the food of the natives of the River Lachlan, and S. las- ciniatum, known in Tasmania as the Kangaroo apple ; not to mention others. " Whatever unpleasant qualities these fruits may possess disappear with ripeness. It is therefore improbable tliat any danger, or indeed inconvenience, would ensue if a child were to eat a berry or two of the S. capsicastrum now before us, unless the fruit was green, in which state it is not likely to attract attention. Thus the possessors of this charming plant need not alarm, themselves because it is a Solanum, but may cherish its beauty with perfect tranquillity." We have only to add that Mr. Mackintosh was not the first "to polish this gem." We received it two years ago from Mr. Miellez, of Lille, who particularly stated that "it was a beautiful evergreen shrub, covered during all the winter with 30 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. a quantity of beautiful scarlet berries, as large as a cherry." It will be an elegant plant for parlor decoration. 493. Bryophyllum proliferum Bowie. Proliferous Bry- OPHYLLUM. (Crassulaceae.) Madagascar. A greciilioiise plant; growing ten feet liigh ; with green and crimson flowers; appearing in siunniir ; increased by cnttings; grown in light rich soil. IJot. Mag., 18j9, pi. dMI. A singular plant, nearly related to the Crassula or Kalo- santhes, from the Cape of Good Hope, attaining the height of ten feet, and covered with numerous corymbs of flowers, which are tubular, pendent, yellowish green tipped Avitli crim- son. The calyx is large, inflated and acutely 4-lobed. It requires a warm, dry liouse for its successful cultivation, and when ill full bloom is a singularly ornamental plant. (^Bot. Mag-., Nov.) 494. Disso^Tis Irvingia^na Hook. Dr. Irving's Dissotis. (Melastomaceas.) Western Africa. A greenhouse plant ; growin? a foot high ; with purplish flowers ; appearing in spring ; increased by seeds ; grown in loam, peat and sand. Dot. Mag., 1859, pi. 5149. A pretty plant, with hairy stems, and lanceolate three to five nerved leaves, two to three inches long. The flowers are solitary, terminal, about half the size of Plcroma, and of a purple rose shade. It was gathered by the late Dr. Irving and Mr. Barter, botanists to the Niger expedition, both of whom have since fallen a sacrifice to the climate. Like the Pleroma, it will prove a pretty greenhouse plant. (^Bot. Mag-., Nov.) 495. Spir^^a Dougla'sii Hook. Douglas's Spir/EA. Co- lumbia River. A hardy shrub ; growing three to four feet high ; with crimson flowers ; appearing in summer ; increased by layers ; grown in rich soil. Bot. Mag., 1859, pi. 5151. This is a well known species of our gardens, which appears to be rather rare in English collections, for Dr. Hooker states, "it flowered this year in the Royal Gardens at Kew," and also that it has been recently found in California by Lobb. In general habit it approaches our S. tomentosa, but the flowers are of a deep rosy crimson, and the foliage is of a deeper green above. In very severe winters the strongest "unripeiied shoots are somewhat injured ; but it is sufficiently JANUARY. 31 hardy to bloom with us every year in great perfection. {Bot. 3Iag'., Nov.) 496. Ho^YA CuminglOna Decaisne. Mr. Cuming's Hoya. (Asclepiadege.) Borneo. A hothouse plant; growing three feet huh; with yellow and crimson flowers; appearing in sprin° ; increased by cuttings ; grown in light rich soil Bot. Mag. 1859, pi. 5148. In general aspect this new and pretty Hoya resembles the H. picta, but has rather larger foliage, and yellow instead of white flowers, tipped with carmine in the centre. It is a fine acquisition, its yellowish flowers being quite new in this handsome genus. (^Bot. Mag-., Nov.) 497. Came'llia sasa'nqua, var. anemoneflora. Seem. Anemone-flowered sasanqua Camellia. (Ternstromia- cese.) China. A greenliouse plant ; srowin? six feet high ; with yellowish flowers; appearing in winter; in- creased by grafting and inarching ; grown in loam, peat and sand. Bot. Mag., 18)9, pi. 51J2. This is the Yellow Camellia of which so much lias been said, introduced by Mr. Fortune from China. It appears now to be only a variety of the old sasanqua, similar in shape to the well known C. anemoneflora, but with smaller flowers, which are white, with a pale yellow warratah centre. This color, says Dr. Hooker, " is certainly a new feature in this genus, deserving the greatest attention of horticulturists." By this we presume he refers to its importance in hybridiza- tion, by which a yellowish tint may be infused into our seed- ling varieties. This certainly is its greatest merit, for as a flower it is less beautiful than the sasanqua. We doubt not it will prove as deserving of attention as Dr. Hooker suggests. A fine double-flowered camellia, with even the faintest tinge of yellow, would be a great acquisition, and with the skill in hybridization at present so active, we know not what may be the result of experiments judiciously conducted to effect this object. QBot. Mag-., Dec.) 498. Sta'tice Bou'rg^i Webb. Bourgeau's Statice. (Plum- bagineas.) Islands of Lancerotte. A greenhouse plant; growing one foot high; with deep purple violet flowers; appearing in summer; increased by cuttings; grown in light rich soil. Bot. Mag., 18o9, pi. 51j3. A " rare and curious species, which the excellent Bourgeau, 32 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. princG of botanical collectors, has enriched the herbaria of scientific botanists." It is a greenhouse plant, with a winged stem terminated in a diffusely branched raceme of the richest purple and white flowers. (^Bot. Mag., Dec.) 499. Calceola^ria flexuo^sa Ruiz and Pavon. Flexuose Calceolaria. (Schrophularinese.) Peru. A greenhouse plant; growing two to three feet lii?h ; with yellow flowers ; appearing in sum- mer ; increased by cuttings ; grown in light rich soil. Bot. Mag., 1859, pi. 5154. It will be gratifying news to our amateurs and lovers of rich bedding plants to learn that we have at last a beauti- ful calceolaria which will stand our hot sun, and bloom throughout the summer months. Numberless have been the trials with the kinds we already possess to this end, but they have been abandoned as mostly useless. But the C. flexuo^sa, now under notice, is of an entirely different character, with herbaceous stems, large cordate-ovate leaves, and large com- pound panicles " bearing most copious flowers," of a full clear yellow ; the calyces are large, of a primrose green. These calyces (before expansion) are short, four sided, and com- pressed at the angles, but when open they are very large, and composed of four nearly equal, almost cordate, broad, spread- ing sepals. (^Bot. Mag-., Dec.) 500. Gutierre^zia gymnospermo^ides Asa Gray. (Com- positse.) Texas. An annual plant ; growing two feet high ; with yellow flowers ; appearing in summer ; increased by seeds ; grown in good garden soil. Bot. Mag., 1859, pi. 5155. This has already been introduced into our gardens. It is a tall branching annual, with numerous heads of orange- yellow flowers, very showy throughout the autumn. It was found by Mr. Wright, and seeds were sent to Kew by Dr. Gray, of the Cambridge Botanic Garden. (^Bot. Mag., Dec.) 501. Dipteraca'nthus ? Herbstii Hook. Mr. Herbst's DiPTERACANTHUS. (Acanthaccse.) Brazil. A greenhouse plant ; growing three feet high ; with violet and white flowers ; appearing in Sep- fember; iucreiised by cuttings; grown in loam and leaf mould. Bot. M.'ig., 1859, pi. 5156. A very elegant plant from Brazil, which flowered at Kew early in September last, and continued in bloom the two suc- ceeding months. Dr. Hooker refers it provisionally to Dipte- JANUARY. 33 racaiitlius. It forms an erect shrub, with large leaves, green on the upper side and reddish beneath : the flowers appear in terminal panicles, which are conspicuous for the very long slender tube of the corolla, the peduncle and flower being of a beautiful red purple, with the limb, which is composed of five short, equal, trilobed divisions, white. It flowers quite young, and appears to be a very fine acquisition. (^Bot. Mag., Dec.) ®ntucil IJotitts. Peas, their Synonyms and Qualities. — Nothing is more important than to know the correct names and qualities of our increasing variety of garden peas. New sorts are annually introduced, and it is well to know whether they are really new, or only old kinds under a new name. But it is difficult for any individual to attempt this. It is fortunate, therefore, that the London Horticultural Society, which has done this before with the old varieties, has again turned its attention to the subject, and instituted a series of experiments, the results of which are detailed below. Many of the varieties are already in cultivation in our gardens, and all who are in doubt as to a selection, for spring planting, may be enabled to decide better from this Report, taken from the London Horticultural Society's Proceedings. We commend it to the attention of our readers : — The following are the results of a series of examinations undertaken by a sub-committee of the Fruit and Vegetable Committee of the Horticul- tural Society, for the purpose of ascertaining the correct names and the quality of the varieties of peas ; a considerable collection of kinds, ob- tained from various seedsmen, having been grown, under the same circum- stances for this purpose, in the Garden of the Society at Chiswick in the past summer. Class L Seeds smooth or indented on the Surface. § 1. Seeds White. Sangster's No. I. (Lee.) Syn.: Daniel O'Rourke (Lee), Dunnett's First Early (Carter &l Co., Sutton & Sons, Minier & Co.), Carter's Earliest (Car- ter &, Co), Veitch's First Early (Veitch & Son, Exeter), Early Pea B (Wrench), Early Pea C (Wrench). The above were all sown March 24 ; they came in flower June 1 ; and were fit for use June 16. Height, 3i to 4 feet. Pods, averaging 6 to 8 on a stem, short, straight, round when full, containing 5 to 6 peas. The best very early pea. Dillistone's First Early (Hurst & M'Mullen). Sown March 24; in flower, June 1 ; fit for use, June 16. Height, about 3 feet ; habit slender. Pods, 6 to 7 on a stem, straight, cylindrical, scarcely so large as in Sang- VOL. XXVI. — NO. I. 3 34 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ster's No. 1, containing' 5 to 6 small peas. It was considered to be the same as Prince Albert, or Early Kent. Early Pea A (Wrench). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 1 ; fit for use, June 18. Height, 4 feet. The Committee decided that this was the same as the Early Emperor. The dried peas of this and the preceding sorts are very similar. Tom Thumb (Paul & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 4 ; fit for use, June 20. Height, 1 foot. Pods, 5 to 6 on a stem, short, a little flat- tened, containing 5 to 6 peas, which are rather larger than those of the Early Frame, from its dwarf habit, it is very eligible for forcing in frames. This is the Pois Nain Hatif extra of the French. Ringwood Marrow (Nutting & Sop). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 6 ; fit for use, June 25. Height, 4 feet. Pods, about 7 on a stem, nearly straight, well filled, containing about 6 large peas. Dickson's Favorite (Nutting & Son). Syn. : Dickson's Early Favorite, Torwoodlee (Lawson &. Son). Sown, March 24; in flower, June 11 ; fit for use, June 28. Height, 5 feet. Plant of vigorous growth and very prolific. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, long, round when fully grown, curved, hooked at the extremity, but not so much as in the Auvergne, to which in many respects it bears much resemblance. The pods are remarkably well filled, containing from 8 to 10 peas of medium size, round, and very white. It is highly deserving of cultivation as a second early pea. Excelsior Marrow (Carter & Co., Fraser, Richardson & Goad). Syn. : Knight's Excelsior (Sutton & Sons, Nutting & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 11 ; fit for use, June 28. Height, 5 feet. A strong grower, with broad foliage. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, large, round, slightly curved, containing 8 to 9 middle-sized peas of good quality. An excellent variety. Paradise Marrow (Nutting & Son). Syn.: Early Paradise Marrow (Minier & Co.). Sown, March 24; in flower, June 11; fit for use, June 30. A strong grower, 5 feet high. Pods 10 to 12 on a stem, large, round, slightly curved, containing 8 to 9 middle-sized peas. Very similar to the Excelsior Marrow, but is scarcely so early. Early Dwarf Branching Marrow (Paul & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 11 ; fit for use, June 30. Height, 2 feet. Pods, about 6 on a stem, nearly straight, flattish, containing 7 to 8 peas of good size and quality. Harrison's Perfection (Carter & Co.). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 6; fit for use, June 30. Stems 3 feet, robust. Pods, 14 to 15 on a stem ; small, straight, containing 5 peas of good size and quality. The only de- fect is, that the pods do not fill well. When growing this cannot be dis- tinguished from Harrison's Glory; but in the mature state the seeds of the former are smooth and white, those of the latter indented, and of an olive color. § 2. Seeds Blue, Green, or Light Olive-colored. New Green Marrow (Fraser, Richardson, and Goad). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June G ; fit for use, June 27. Height, 5 feet. Pods, 10 to 12 on JANUARY. 35 a stem, long, narrow, slightly curved, containing 7 to 8 large peas, which are compressed from being much crowded. A very distinct sort, on account of its long pods, narrow in proportion to their length. In appearance and quality, however, it is not equal to Beck's Prizetaker. Beck's Prizetaker (Carter &. Co.). Syn. : Prizetaker (Hurst &. McMul- len, Nutting & Son) ; Prizetaker Green Marrow (Sutton & Sons) ; Rising Sun (Nutting &- Son). Sown, March 24; in flower, June 11 ; fit for use, June 30. Height, 4^ to .5 feet. Pods 9 to 10 on a stem, roundish, curved or hooked near the end, well filled, containing 8 to 9 middle-sized peas, of a fine green color when young, and mixed olive and white when dry. One of the best varieties for main crops. Leicester Defiance (Minier & Co.). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 11 ; fit for use, June 30. Height, 5 feet. Pods, 9 to 10 on a stem, round, slightly curved, containing 8 to 9 middle-sized peas, mixed olive and white when dry. Very similar to Beck's Prizetaker. Burbidge's Eclipse (Nutting & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower June 14 ; fit for use, June 30. Height, 18 inches. Pods, about 10 on stem, short, flat, and containing 5 to G large peas, of good quality, bluish olive-green and slightly indented in the dried or ripened state. Flack's Victory (Nutting & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 14 ; fit for use, June 30. Height, 2 feet. Pods, 10 on a stem, short, straight, rather flat, containing about 6 medium-sized peas, mixed olive and white when dry, and also indented. Harrison's Glory (Nutting & Son, Carter & Co.). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 6 ; fit for use, June 27. Height, 3 feet, of a bushy, robust habit of growth. Pods, about 16 on a stem, rather short, nearly straight, and flattish, containing 5 to 6 medium-sized peas of good quality ; light olive mixed with white when dry, and also slightly indented. A good variety, but, like Harrison's Perfection above noticed, it has the defect of the pods being frequently not well filled. Batt's Wonder (Batt, Rutley & Silverlock). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 18 ; fit for use, July 5. Height, 3 feet, and of robust growth ; foliage dark green. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, narrow, nearly straight, but exceed- ingly well filled, containing 7 to 9 peas of medium size, which become email, smooth, and bluish-green when dry. This variety withstands drought well, and the pods will hang long before the peas get too old for use. It is an excellent pea for a second crop. Garbutt's Amazon (Flanagan & Son). Sown, March 24; in flower, June 14 ; fit for use, July 5. Height, 6 feet. Pods, 8 to 9 on a stem, slightly curved, roundish, well filled with 7 to 8 large peas, which are mixed olive-colored and white when dry, and slightly indented. Stradsett Marrow (Flanagan & Son). Sown, March 24; in flower, June 14 ; fit for use, July 5. Height, G feet. Pods, 8 to 9 on a stem, straight, broad and flattish, containing 7 to 8 large peas, of a fine green color, but tasteless when cooked ; their skins, moreover, are too thick. Such being the case, the variety cannot be recommended for cultivation. The seeds when dry are mostly light olive, very few being white and they are slightly indented. 36 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Sutton's Berkshire Hero (Sutton & Sons). Sown March 24 ; in flower, June 21; fit for use, July 11. Height, 8 feet, of strong growth. Pods, 12 on a stem, large, long, very slightly curved, well filled, with 7 to 8 large peas, which are greyish-olive, and some yellowish-white when dry. The dry seeds are large compared with most others in-the same state, and com- pressed as well as slightly indented. Dcnyer's Prolific Green Marrow (Sutton & Sons). Sown, March 24 3 in flower, June 20 ; fit for use, July 11. Height, 6 to 7 feet. Pods 10 on a stem, straight, containing G to 8 peas, of a fine green color, but not very sweet ; they are mixed light-colored and white when dry, but mostly white, and they are also indented. Class n. Seeds Compressed and wrinkled on the Surface. § 1. Seeds White. Alliance (Carter &. Co.). Syn. : Eugenie (Nutting & Co., Lee). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 3; fit for use, June 24. Height, about 3 feet, and of strong robust growth. Pods, 10 on a stem, nearly straight, flattish, not very well filled ; peas 5 to 6, large and sugary. Lynn's Prolific Wrinkled (Nutting & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 23 ; fit for use, July 11. Height, 3^ feet. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, small, cylindrical, nearly straight, very closely packed with 6 to 8 peas, •which are rather small and much crowded, their adjoining sides being quite flat, so that the peas in their green state have the form of short sections of a cylinder, and when dry, the ends become depressed. The hilum is marked with a small black speck ; as in the worthless Egg Pea, sometimes called Black-eyed Susan. Carter's Victoria (Carter & Co.). Syn.: Carter's Eclipse (Carter «feCo.), Thome's Boyal Britain (Hurst & McMullen), Buckley's Gen. Wyndham (Hurst & McMuJlen). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 20; fit for use, July 8. Height 6 to 7 feet. Pods 10 to 12 on a stem, very large, very slightly curved, containing 7 to 9 large peas, which are sweet and excel- lent. It continues to bear late ; and the pods and peas are larger than those of Knight's tall white Marrow. This is one of the best late tall peas. §2. Seeds Blue; Green, or Light Olive-colored. Veitch's Perfection (Veitch &- Son, Exeter, Veitch, Chelsea). Sown, March 24 ; in floAver, June 14 ; fit for use, July 8. Height 3^ to 4 feet, of strong robust growth, somewhat branched. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, large, flat, straight, containing G to 8 large peas, which are very sugary and excellent. The dried seeds are large, of a light olive-green color, some being nearly white. It is one of the very best peas for main or late crops. Climax (Carter & Co., Lee). Syn.: Napoleon (Nutting & Son, Lee). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 4 ; fit for use, June 25. Height, 3i feet, somewhat robust in growth. Pods, 10 to 13 on a stem, straight, flat, not very well filled, containing only 5 to 6 peas, which are however large and sugary. Dry seeds light-olive, few being nearly white. Very similar to Alliance, the only difference being in the color of the seeds. Both are of excellent quality as early sugary Marrows, but they are not prolific. JANUARY. 37 Fairhead's Excelsior (Sutton & Sons). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 6 ; fit for use, June 27. Height, 3^ feet. Pods, 12 on a stem, small, straight, not very well filled, containing 5 to G medium-sized Peas, of an olive color when dry. Lord Raglan (Carter &, Co.). Sown March 24 ; in flower, June G ; fit for use, July 4. Height, 3^ feet. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, small, nearly straight, and not very well filled, containing 5 to 7 peas, of a fine green color, but not so sugary as those of Veitch's Perfection and Climax. The dry seeds are light olive. Monarch (Nutting &i Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 18; fit for use, July 5. Height, 6 feet. Pods, 8 to 10 on a stem, large, flat, straight, but containing only 6 large peas of a fine green color and sweet ; dried seeds light olive. Tall Green Mammoth (Nutting & Son). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 18 ; fit for use, July 5. Height, 8 feet. Pods, 12 to 14 on a stem, flattish, nearly straight, not well filled, containing only 4 to 6 peas, light olive and white when dry. Ne Plus Ultra (Lee, Nutting & Son). Syn.: Jay's Conqueror (Nutting & Son), Payne's Conqueror (Hurst & McMullen). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 18 ; fit for use July 5. Height, 7 feet. Pods, 10 to 12 on a stem, large, slightly curved, well filled, containing 7 to 9 large peas, of a fine green color, sugary and excellent ; the dried seeds dark olive, and some white. This is one of the best tall Marrows. Competitor (Charlwood &, Cummins). Sown, March 24 ; in flower, June 14; fit for use, July 4. Height, 5 feet. Pods, 8 to 10 on a stem, large, straight, cylindrical, containing only 5 to 6 peas, but these are very large ; dry seeds of a nearly uniform olive color. Notes on Strawberries Grown for Trial at Chiswick. — The examination of the collection of Strawberries growing at the Garden, at Chiswick, was deputed to a sub-committee of the Fruit Committee, which met from time to time during the fruit season, and tested the qualities of such kinds as were in a condition for examination. The excessively hot dry weather was, however, unfavorable to some of the late varieties which had been planted, and prevented satisfactory notes being taken of them. The sub committee, moreover, thought it desirable that much more com- plete collections should in future seasons be planted out for the especial purpose of obtaining more complete information on the subject. The fol- lowing are the notes and observations made : — Ajax (Nicholson). Fruit large, roundish, deep red ; calyx small, reflexed ; seeds slightly embedded ; flesh pale red, juicy, and tolerably rich. Leaf- stalks hairy, very tall and strong ; leaflets, of which there are sometimes five, very large, broad, widely serrated. Altogether the plant is of extra- ordinary vigor, but a shy bearer, growing too much to leaf in the open ground ; yet it answers well in forcing, its excessive vigor being checked in consequence of the confinement of its roots in the pots. Belle Bordelaise. This is said to have been obtained from the old Haut- 38 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. bois fertilised by the Alpine. It appeared, however, to be exactly the same as the Prolific or Conical Hautbois. British Queen Seedling. Fruit middle-sized, obtusely conical, dark red. In point of flavor, this variety was found to be so much inferior to the British Queen, that it was pronounced to be not worth growing. Captain Cook (Nicholson). Fruit generally roundish ovate, but irregular, red with frequently a green point; flavor scarcely second rate. Habit of the plant rather dwarf. Leafstalks hairy ; leaflets small, oval, sharply ser- rated, glaucous beneath. Comte de Paris (Pelvilain.) Fruit large, roundish heart-shaped ; flesh pale red throughout, firm, and very acid. Leafstalks slightly hairy, the hairs depressed ; leaflets roundish obovate. The fruit was considered too acid for dessert. Duchesse de Trevise. See Vicomtesse H^ricart de Thury. Eliza (Myatt.) Fruit middle-sized, ovate, with a neck, light red ; flesh pale red next the outside, whitish towards the centre, juicy, rich, sweet, and very excellent. Leafstalks hairy, the hairs spreading horizontally ; leaflets roundish-oval, obtusely serrated. A good bearer, ripening about the middle season. It is hardier than the British Queen, and will therefore survive in cold situations where occasionally the last-named sort does not com- pletely withstand very severe winters. It was highly approved when tried in comparison with other sorts. Omar Pacha, as received in the Garden of the Society, proved to be exactly the same as Myatt's Eliza. Excellente (Lorio.) Fruit large, roundish-ovate, pale-red, with numerous small prominent seeds. Leafstalks hairy ; leaflets broad and thin, widely and sharply serrated. A good bearer, but not well-flavored. Exhibition (Nicholson.) Fruit middle-sized, oblong, ovate, or irregular, bright red ; seeds prominent ; flesh dull yellow, and of bad flavor. Leaf- stalks dwarf hairy ; leaflets roundish, rather sharply serrated. A good bearer, notwithstanding which it cannot be recommended, owing to its inferior quality. Filbert Pine (Myatt.) Fruit above middle-size, conical, pale-red on the shaded side, and dull purplish red on the exposed side ; seeds prominent ; flesh firm, solid, and rich, pale, with a pink core. Leafstalks slightly hairy, the hairs depressed; leaflets roundish oval. The quality of the fruit of this variety is variable, but often remarkably good. Fill-basket (Nicholson.) Fruit rather large, roundish, sometimes flat- tened on the sides ; flesh pale red, with a hollow core, and possessing but little flavor. Leafstalks very heavy ; leaflets deeply and sharply serrated, glaucous beneath. Highland Chief. Fruit large, roundish or roundish ovate, light red ; ^esh pale red, soft, rich, and very excellent, with an agreeable mild acidity. I^eafstalks rough and very hairy ; leaflets obovate, coarsely serrated. A ^rst-rate sort. La Eeine (De Jonghe.) Fruit middle-sized, of a longish shape, light red ; flavor good. The variety cannot, however, be recommended at pres- ent, as it apperrs to be a shy bearer. Further trial is therefore necessary. Jkjarquise de la Tour Maubourg. See Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury. JANUAEY. 39i Ne plus Ultra. (De Jonghe.) Fruit large, of a singular oblong form, dark red ; flesh solid, rich, and pleasant. Leafstalks hairy, the hairs de- pressed ; leaflets roundish, obovate, rather widely serrated. Omar Pacha. See Eliza. Prince of Wales (Cuthill.) Fruit middle-sized, conical, bright red ; flesh firm, but rather acid. Leafstalks very hairy, the hairs spreading hor- izontally ; leaflets ovate or obovate, pale green, glaucous beneath. An extraordinary bearer, ripening late. Princess Royal of England (Cuthill.) Fruit middle-sized, conical or roundish ovate, with a neck, red next the sun, pale red where shaded; seeds prominent ; flesh pale red, whitish near the centre, tolerably rich, with an agreeable aroma. Leafstalks hairy, the hairs spreading or hori- zontal ; leaflets rather small, obovate, sharply serrated. An abundant bearer, and worthy of general cultivation. Sir Walter Scott. Fruit large, oblong, pointed, deep red, with promi- nent seeds ; flesh pale, firm, but its quality was not approved. The plant is of dwarf, robust habit. Leafstalks very hairy ; leaflets roundish or roundish obovate, widely but not deeply serrated. Stirling Castle Pine. Fruit large, ovate, dark red ; flesh pale red, firm, but of second-rate quality. Leafstocks rough and likewise hairy, becoming brownish-red when old, resembling in these respects the old Hudson Bay Strawberry, from which it seems to have been bred ; leaflets obovate. Triomphe. This so much resembles the Hudson Bay, as to lead to the conclusion that it is probably a seedling from it. Its aroma somewhat resembles that of the Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, but the latter is in every respect superior to it. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury (Jamin.) Fruit middle-sized or large, conical, deep scarlet; seeds bright yellow, slightly imbedded ; flesh pale red, with scarcely any core ; flavor brisk, rich, and sweet. Ripens early, or about the same time as Keens' Seedling. Leafstalks moderately tall, hairy, the hairs disposed horizontally, but on the scapes and runners they are depressed ; leaflets obovate, obtusely serrated, smooth above, somewhat hairy beneath. The plant is hardy, a free grower, and a very abundant bearer. The Marquise de la Tour Maubourg, and the Duchesse de Trd- vise, proved to be the same as this, in the Garden of the Society. — (Horti- cultural Society^s Proceedings.) Datura arborea. — Mr. Addison states that he has nine plants of this in full bloom in one of his employer's conservatories. I quite agree with him in opinion that too little attention is in general paid to the culture of this beautiful plant ; but I wish to state that it does not require the pro- tection of a conservatory, or indeed any protection whatever, during the summer, to produce in full perfection its noble and graceful flowers. During the last summer we had in diflTerent parts of this garden seven large plants of the Datura, all of them covered with bloom, as fully devel- oped as I ever saw them to be under glass, and they were really the admi- ration of all beholders. One of them in particular, the largest of the 40 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTUEE. whole, and indeed almost to be called a tree, was planted near the house; and produced at one time I should think little short of one hundred flowers. I certainly did not count them ; but they were a gorgeous sight by day, and in the evening "scattered wide their delicatfe perfume," which is peculiarly sweet and powerful. As soon as the danger from spring frosts was over, these plants having been previously prepared in the green- house, were planted out, and continued to produce a succession of flowers and flowering buds, until the sudden frost in October put an end to their glory. But they can be renewed another year, and they are so easily propagated by cuttings, and their beauty so amply rewards the little atten- tion which they subsequently require, that I cannot but express my sur- prise, that in the present advanced state of horticulture so great an out-of- door ornament should be so much neglected. — ( Gard. Chron.) History and Cultivation of the Rose. — Mr. Shirley Hibbard re- cently delivered a most interesting lecture on the Rose. Mr. Hibbard briefly sketched the history of the rose from the earliest times to the peace of 1815, when, he said, the first of the great French rose gardens was laid out by M. Vibert, and the improvement of the rose as a florist's flower com- menced in earnest. The great majority of these varieties had been raised in France during the past forty-five years by MM. Vibert, Laffay, Hardy, Desprez, Prevost, Lacharme, Margottin, Guillot, Granger, and a few other professional and amateur growers. The lecturer enumerated the best roses raised by each, and gave a few historical memoranda of such roses as Annie Vibert, Jules Margottin, Geant des Betailles, Great Western, and others, tracing them to their parentage, and indicating, also, the varieties which had proceeded from them. The seedlings of Geant des Betailles, he said, were sufficiently numerous to constitute a rich collection of extraordinary roses, and they included Lord Raglan, General Jacque- minot, Duchess of Norfolk, Eveque de Nimes, Louis Chaix, and others of the crimson section of Hybrid perpetuals. Passing from the varieties, the lecturer proceeded to the subject of culture, giving an epitome of the treatment of the rose on loam, sand, clay, chalk and peat, with hints on the selection of varieties and the management of stock, as well as the improvement of unsuitable soils. He then treated of propagation, and by the aid of a black-board, explained the various modes of budding on the Briar, Manetti, Celine, and other stocks. His description of the method of striking roses from eyes in the fashion of a grape vine, was particu- larly interesting. The buds were to be taken at the same season and in the same manner as for budding on the Briar, that is from half ripe wood, the buds of wliich had not started. The leaf was not to be secured : nor was the wood to be taken out of the shield, but every bud with its attached bark and leaves was to be planted in pure sand with a little peat under it for the first roots to work into, and then covered with a bell glass. In this way scarce roses would be multiplied readily. The Rector of Horsney proposed a vote of thanks, which was carried by acclamation. — [Gard. Chron.) JANUARY. 41 Gossip of % Pontlj. Sale of the Estate of the Massachusetts Horticultural So- ciETT. — At a meeting of the Society, December 24, it was voted to sell the Society's estate in School Street, adjoining the Parker House, to Mr. H. D. Parker, for the sum of $70,000. The sale, which is considered a good one for both parties, was effected in accordance with a Report of the Committee of the Society, consisting of the President, Joseph Breck, and Messrs. M. P. Wilder, Josiah Stickney, W. R. Austin, E. S. Rand, Jr., C. M. Hovey, and George W. Pratt. The subject has been under consideration for some time, and was known to be in contemplation by many of the members. At a special meeting, Dec. 24, the subject was fully discussed by Messrs. C. M. Hovey, French, Wilder and Stickney, and it was voted to sell the estate, agreeably to the Report of the Committee. The estate measures 30 feet front by nearly 150 feet deep, and contains 5352 square feet. It was formerly the site of the old Latin Schoolhouse, which was purchased in 1843 for $18,000. The building cost about #18,000. In 1854 an additional purchase of an estate in the rear was made for $12,000, making the entire cost about $48,000, at which it has been valued in the Schedule of the Society's property. It is proposed to rent a suitable hall for the weekly exhibitions, until such time as the Society may deem it advisable to erect another building, better adapted to the increasing wants of this old and flourishmg association. The Horticulturist. — Mr. J. J. Smith has retired from the editorial chair of this contemporary Journal, and our old correspondent, Mr. P. B. Mead, assumes the duties of its management. We doubt not, under his good taste and practical skill, it will maintain the same excellence which it has heretofore acquired. Hon. Judge Mason, of Iowa, who made himself so popular with the inventors of the country while he held the office of Commissioner of Pa- tents, has, we learn, associated himself with Munn & Co., at the Scientific American Office, New York. Thujopsis borealis, in the collection of R. S. Field, Esq., Princeton, New Jersey, has proved entirely hardy, and is extremely beautiful. Its size is not stated. Biota pendula, in the same collection, is eight feet high. The London Horticultural Society has completed its arrangements for establishing a new garden at Kensington Gore. The £50,000 in de- bentures have all been taken, and a very large number of life member- ships, which will establish it upon a good footing again. Mr. Nesfield, the eminent landscape gardener, is engaged in preparing a design, worthy of 42 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. the supporters of the new garden, and Mr. Eyles has been appointed super- intendent, and enters upon his duties Jan. 2. Her majesty's commissioners have already begun forming the ground levels agreeably to a plan proposed by Mr. Nesfield, and approved by his royal highness the Prince Consort, who is president of the society. We look forward to great results from the formation of the new garden. It is gratifying to learn that a society, which has done so much for horticulture during the present century, has not been neglected in appealing to the public for support. The Hubrard Squash iiv New Hampshire. — Allow me to compare the result of Hubbard Squash culture in New Hampshire with that of Ohio, as given in your Magazine for December. On a circular bed in my garden, twenty-six feet in diameter, I planted five hills on the 13th of May. The ground had been deeply trenched the previous season, and to each hill was added a shovelful of rich compost. In October I gathered 20 squashes, weighing 421 pounds. The largest weighed 32 pounds, and the next in size 27 pounds,— G. W. H., Portsmouth, M H., Dec. 19, 1859. [We can only say, that Yankee Land — after all — is hard to beat. Ed.] Lectures on Agriculture, to be given during the Agricultural Con- vention, at New Haven, February, I860:— First Week. — Science in its Relations to Agriculture. Chemistry, Prof. S. W. Johnson. Meteorology, Prof B. Silliman, Jr. Entomology, Dr. Asa Fitch. Vegetable Physiology, Daniel C. Eaton. Second Week. — Pomology, Sfc. General Pomology, Hon. M. P. Wilder. Grapes, Dr. C. W. Grant. Berries, R. G. Pardee, Esq. Fruit Trees, P. Barry, Esq. Fruits as Farm Crops, L. F. Allen, Esq. Arboriculture, Geo. B. Emerson, Esq. Agricultural Chemistry, Prof S. W. Johnson. Third Week. — Agriculture Proper. Drainage, Hon. H. F. French, Esq. Grasses and Irrigation, J. Stanton Gold. Cereals, Joseph Harris, Esq. Hops, Tobacco, &c., Prof Wm. H. Brewer. Cultivation of Light Soils, L. Bartlett, Esq. English Agriculture, L. II. Tucker, Esq. German Agri- culture, Dr. Evan Pugh. Agricultural Education and Statistics, Prof John A. Porter. Fourth Week. — Domestic Animals, ^c. Principle of Stock Breeding, Hon. Cassius M. Clay. Stock Breeding in the U. States, Lewis F. Allen, Esq. Breeding for the Dairy, Charles L. Flint, Esq. Horses, Sanford Howard, Esq. Breaking and Training Horses, Dr. D. F. Gulliver. Root Crops and Sheep Husbandry, T. S. Gold, Esq. Pisciculture, John C. Corn- stock, Esq. Rural Economy, Donald G. Mitchell, Esq. Agricultural As- sociations, Mason C. Weld, Esq. An average of three lectures per day will be given from Feb. 1st to the 25th, inclusive, making sixty-six lectures in all. For the accommodation of persons desiring to spend Sunday at home, there will be no lecture on Saturday afternoon or Monday forenoon. Each lecture will be followed by questions and a discussion. Persons attending the lectures Avill have the liberty of introducing other topics beside those of the above list, and thus eliciting information adapted to their own case. JANUARY. 4^ liitssiidjitsctts IJorticnllurnl Socixtg. Saturday, December 3, 1859. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. Mr. C. M. Hovey read an article from the Homestead, in reference to the Boston Pear, contributed by " A Member of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society." On motion of Jo. Williams, Esq., it was voted, that the subject be referred to the Executive Committee, with instructions to obtain the name of the author, and report the same to the Society. The following members were elected : — Wm. Butterfield, W. I. Bowditch, Charles J. Sprague, Joseph Leonard, S. H. Lynde, J. K. Wiggin, and G. J. F. Bryant. Adjourned one week, to December 10. Erhibited. Frdits : From R. W. Ames, Beurr6 Oris d'Hiver and Easter Beurr6 pears, extra fine. From J. A. Kenrick, Cogswell, Hubbardston Nonsuch, Baldwin, and Rhode Island Greening apples. L. Iloar, Hub- bardston Nonsuch. Hovey &i Co., Lawrence pears. PREMIUMS AWARDED FOR FRUIT. Autumn Apples. — For the best, to J. Eustis, for Boxford, $6. For the next, to T. Clapp, Gravenstein, $i. Winter Apples. — For the best, to J. W. Manning, Hubbardston Non- such, $6. For the next, to J. A. Kenrick, Cogswell, $4. Autumn Pears. — For the best, to George Nichols, for Seckel, $5. For the next, to J. F. Allen, for Duchesse, #3. For the next, to H. Vandine, for Marie Louise, $2. Winter Pears. — For the best, to A. J. Dean, for Easter Beurr6, $6. For the next, to R. W. Ames, for the same, $5. For the next, to J. Eaton, for the same, $i. For the next, to P. R. L. Stone, Winter Nelis, $3. Figs. — For the best, to J. F. Allen, variety, $3. For the next, to Hovey & Co., Nerii, $2. Quinces. — For the best, to T. Page, $3. For the next, to J. W. Foster, $'2. Exhibition during the Year. — For the best, to J. P. Allen, $15. For the next, to H. Vandine, $10. Gratuities. — To C. E. Grant, for fine Duchesse pears ; W. Bacon, for Swan's Orange ; Dr. L Mitchell, Seckel, and D.W. Lincoln, Rostiezer, .$•2 each. To Wm. Butterfield and W. H. Pettengell. each, the Magazine of Hor- ticulture, for fine pears. To J. F. C. Hyde, for Mountain Seedling gooseberries, $2. To J. W. Foster, $2, for new currants. To Mrs. 44 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Corey, for Rhode Island Greening apples, $2. To A. W. Stetson, for seedling grapes, $3. To L. Hoar, for Hubbardston Nonsuch apples, $2. To J. J. Mornburg, for fine grapes, the Magazine of Horticulture. To E. Brown, Lynn, for fine collection of apples and pears, the silver medal. [These, in addition to those before reported, constitute all the premiums for fruits during the year.] Dec. 10. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. M. P. Wilder, from the Executive Committee, reported that, as the article in the Homestead did not reflect upon the Society, the Committee be dis- charged from further action. J. F. C. Hyde called the attention of the Society to one of its old mem- bers, Wm. Kenrick, and offered the following vote: — That a Committee of five be chosen to take into consideration the propriety of rendering aid to Mr. Kenrick for his services as a member of the Society. The President, M. P. Wilder, C. M. Hovey, W. R. Austin, and J. F. C Hyde were appointed the Committee. The President, Treasurer, and M. P. Wilder, were appointed a Committee to settle Avith the Mount Auburn Cemetery. Geo. L. Stearns and Ed. Page were elected members. Adjourned one week, to December 17. Dec. 17. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The Committee, to whom was referred the subject of disposing of the Society's hall, made a report, requesting power to sell the same. After some discussion, on motion of C. M. Hovey, it was voted to con- sider the subject at an adjourned meeting, December 24, and that the Recording Secretary give notice in three or more newspapers of the object of the meeting. Mr. C. M. Hovey, from the Committee appointed for that purpose, sub- mitted the following Report : — Tiie Committee, to whom was referred the subject of rendering aid to Mr. William Kenrick, for his services, beg leave to report : — That they have looked through the early history of the Society, and find a debt of gratitude is due to its pioneers, among whom Mr. Kenrick was one of the most prominent. Enthusiastic in his devotion to Horticulture, his labors have ever been directed to the welfare of the Society. As author of the American Orchardist, which passed through several editions, he disseminated a great amount of valuable pomological information, visiting the European and Continental nurseries, and introducing or making known many new and choice fruits. As a member of the Fruit Committee, for several years, his services were of great importance to the Society ; but more especially as aiding in, if not first suggesting a correspondence with the late Dr. Van Mons, through whose liberality so many of his new seed- ling pears were early introduced into our gardens, Mr. Kenrick has rendered a service which can scarcely be repaid. JANUARY. 45 Your Committee find that deserving testimonials hare been properly and justly awarded to those who labored with Mr. Kenrick for so Icng a period in behalf of the interests of the Society, and Horticulture generally, and they think and believe, that though his valuable services should have been recognized before, it is not too late to interpose some fitting memorial which will not only serve to cheer his declining years, but show how highly the members of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society appreciate his de- votion to its greatest interests. They would, therefore, submit the following Resolutions : — Resolved, That, as a recognition of the labors of Mr. William Kenrick in opening a correspondence with Van Mons for the introduction of his new- seedling pears, — as tlie author of a valuable and timely work on Fruits, — as the introducer of many new trees, shrubs and plants, — and for his services as a member of the Fruit Committee for a long period, — a piece of plate, or other suitable testimonial, of the value of two hundred and fifty dollars, be presented to him. Resolved, That the Treasurer of the Society, with the advice of the Finance Committee, be directed to pay into the hands of the President of the Society and Mr. J. F. C. Hyde, the above sum, to be appropriated by them in such way as they may deem advisable, agreeably to this Report. For the Committee, C. M. Hovet. Adjourned one week, to December 24. Dec. 24. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The Committee, to whom was referred the sale of the Society's property, made a Report. After considerable discussion by Messrs. C. M. Hovey, B. V. French, Wilder, Stickney and others, on motion of Mr. Wilder, Mr. C. M. Hovey and George W. Pratt were added to the Committee. The Report was then adopted, and the following votes passed : — Voted, That the Society sell their estate on School Street to H. D. Parker, with the buildmg thereon, at the rate of thirteen dollars per square foot. Voted, That the President and Treasurer be autliorized to execute, with the corporate seal and in the name of the Society, a deed of the said estate, with warranty in the usual form, and acknowledge and deliver the same as the deed of said Society. Voted, That the Committee on the sale of the estate be continued, with power to complete the negotiations with Mr. Parker, and the Treasurer be authorized to receive payment for the said estate by a mortgage or mort- gages for $60,000, satisfactory to the said Committee, and the balance in cash. The Flower Committee presented their Annual Report, which was accepted. The Executive Committee made a Report, appropriating $3000 for pre- miums for the ensuing year. Accepted. Adjourned one Aveek, to December 31. 46 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTUEE. Dec. 31. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The Finance Committee made their Annual Report, as follows: — Receipts for 1859. Balance brought forward from last year, Dividends and interest, .... Rents— Store, $1200 ; new purchase, $1050; hall, $'375, Receipts from Mount Auburn, ... Annual Exhibition, - - - . . Rose show, ----.. Assessments collected this year, ... Assessments, balance from last year, Half taxes returned, ..... Payments for 1859. Cash paid Mount Auburn (one half receipts,) Taxes, ..._.. Premiums and gratuities, . . _ . Salaries, ....._ Printing, binding and advertising, (part last year's,) - Expenses of Annual Exhibition, ... Plate, Winter street design, and legal fees, - Insurance to April 1st, . - - . Mechanics and miscellaneous bills, ... Cash in the treasury, - - - . - Propertt of the Society. Original and new purchase, (valued,) Permanent fund, . _ . . - Lyman fund, ..... (As follows: 53 shares Boston and Worcester Railroad, and $4500 in bonds of the Passumpsic and Connecticut River Railroad ; 6 shares Boston and Maine.) 20 shares Portland and Saco Railroad, surplus invested, - 2,000 00 10 shares Boston and Maine, (cost,) " " - 720 00 Library, furniture and glass, .... 4,000 00 $08,720 14 Cash on hand, ....-- 2,514 14 The Society's indebtedness to Mount Auburn has been reduced by the payment, at the commencement of this year, of $2879 34, leaving a balance of $6129 15, which is to be immediately paid in full. No change has been made this year in the valuation of the Society's property ; the sale of which, although not yet completed, will show an increase of more than twenty thousand dollars. The Committee cannot close this Report without bearing testimony to $107 10 1,048 00 2,625 00 5,758 67 489 75 130 10 700 00 337 00 215 00 $11,410 62 2,879 34 611 10 1,869 50 500 00 732 69 1,094 88 350 00 56 20 803 02 2,514 14 $11,410 62 $48,000 00 4,000 00 10,000 00 JANUARY. 47 the continued fidelity and valuable services of our Treasurer. It is now ten years last June since Mr. Austin took charge of the funds of the So- ciety. How much he has saved for us during that time it would be hard to tell, but we can all bear witness to his vigilant eye to our expenses, and his steady, reliable devotion to the pecuniary interests of this Society. JOSIAH StICKNEY, Boston, December 30, 1859. Samuel Walker. The Committee on Gardens asked for further time to complete their Report. The Fruit Committee made their Report, which was recommitted. The Library Committee made their Report, which was recommitted. Mr. VV. C. Strong moved that a vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. C. M. Hovey for his services as Chairman of the Committee for sixteen years, and that a testimonial of the value of one hundred dollars be presented to him, and that the Treasurer be requested to pay the same. Messrs. Strong, Wight and Austin were appointed a Committee to carry the vote into effeet. James Walsh, Cambridge, and W. S. Ward, Newton, were elected members. Meeting dissolved. lorticuKural ©ptrntions FOR JANUARY. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Since the date of our last the weather has been decidedly cold and win- try, with the temperature 7° below zero just as we close this number, and at least six inches of snow covering the ground ; this has fallen lightly, and forms a good protection to the smaller shrubs and plants. Grape Vines will now become objects of greater attention. In the very early houses, the fruit will now be nearly ripe, and a good temperature should be maintained, though not too high. Besides this, and keeping as dry an atmosphere as possible, nothing more is required until the fruit is all cut. Vines in the greenhouse should be immediately pruned, if it has been neglected ; wash and clean the wood, in order to destroy all insects, par- ticularly the mealy bug, which is often very troublesome. If they break this month, be careful to syringe the wood to promote a kindly growth. Cuttings of vines may now be put in. Root Grafting may be done now, where this mode of propagation is practised. Fruit Trees in Pots may be brought into the grapery or greenhouse for an early crop. Hardy Grapes may now be propagated by eyes, placing the pots or boxes in a very slight bottom heat. 48 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTUBE. FLOWER DEPARTMENT. With January commence the active labors of the year. The first object should be to have the houses neatly arranged, and gay with an abundance of flowers ; renewing such from time to time as have done blooming ; and supplying their place with others for a succession. The next should be to make preparation for securing a good stock of plants for spring and summer use ; and to begin early will save valuable time later in the season. By the latter part of the month hotbeds may be put in operation, which will afford a proper temperature to grow many things not suited to the ordinary green- house. These it is unnecessary to name, as the ambitious gardener will only need the hint to prepare his work accordingly. Camellias will now be in full bloom, and will require a liberal supply of water, and occasional syringing, if strong fire-heat is applied. Now is a good time to prune in straggling plants, and to repot others not in good condition. Pelargoniums will need more attention as the season advances. Keep the plants near the glass ; have all the specimens shifted at once ; top rapid growing shoots, and tie out the laterals so as to form handsome round heads. Air abundantly, and water sparingly. Be careful in keeping only a moderate temperature. Azaleas will soon begin to grow unless kept in a cool house. Water more liberally as the shoots break, and improve the opportunity to tie the plants out so as to form symmetrical specimens. Cinerarias should have attention. Keep the plants near the glass, and water carefully ; thin out the foliage, and allow plenty of room ; fumigate often to prevent the attack of the green fly. Fuchsias, intended for large specimens, should be shifted as they require it, and grown in a warm part of the house, as near the glass as possible. Monthly Carnations, growing rapidly, should be shifted into larger pots. Achimenes and Gloxinias may now be potted, and placed in the warmest part of the house. Amaryllises may be repotted. Japan Lilies, now beginning to grow, should have an airy situation, near the light. Roses should be liberally watered, using liquid manure occasionally. Fumigate often to destroy the green fly. Cactuses may be grafted now. Petunias, intended for flowering in the house, should now be repotted. Hollyhocks, raised from seeds, and intended to flower this season, should be potted off" sing-ly in small pots, and placed on a shelf near the glass. Begonias should now be repotted, and kept in the warmest part of the house. Callas should be very liberally watered. Plants of all kinds should be put in good order, by cleaning off all dead leaves, and tieing up, if they require it, to neat stakes. GRAPE CULTURE IN NEW ENGLAND. The culture of the grape on an extended scale, for the manufacture of wine, has hitlierto received but little attention in New England. Indeed, till within a year or two, it may be said to have been entirely neglected. Naturally enterpris- ing and sagacious as many of our cultivators are, they do not seem to have had much faith in the growth of the grape ; for while they have equalled if not exceeded other parts of the country in the raising of other fruits, they have entirely over- looked the grape, which is destined to become one of the most important products of our farms and gardens. Why this has been so, it is difficult to say ; but we may premise, that it has mainly been from two causes ; first, the general idea that New England was too far north, and the climate too cool to ripen the grape with certainty ; and, second, that the Catawba was the only variety capable of making a good wine : thus virtually abandoning the ground, and leaving it to Ohio and the middle States to reap all the benefit which might result from this important branch of horticulture. Notwithstanding the grape is indigenous all over New Eng- land, growing abundantly in all situations, in valleys and on mountain tops, climbing the highest trees, and running over shrubs and rocks, ripening its fruit in all seasons, few have thought them worthy of cultivation, qr even capable of producing an ordinary wine. It was naturally supposed a grape for this purpose must be of a much higher quality, ap- proaching the foreign varieties, or at least as good as the Catawba. But this has all proved incorrect ; for though it may not be possible to make certain classes of wines from our native grapes, others may be manufactured which, if not quite equalling the Rhenish, the Sherry, the Madeira, and other well-known kinds, will make a wine far superior to the miser- able imitations of those famous sorts, which are so extensively sold and drank, to the great injury of the health, and depreci- ation of the morals, of the people. VOL. XXVI. — NO. II. 4 50 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Three years ago, when, through the politeness of Messrs. Page & Co. of Boston, we had the pleasure of looking through their extensive wine vaults, we were deeply impressed with the importance of grape culture, and thought the subject one which should receive immediate attention ; but it slipped from our memory, and has only now been freshly brought to mind upon reading an account of a meeting of the grape growers of Connecticut, who have formed an association for the ex- press purpose of directing attention to grape culture and wine making, the introduction of the best varieties for that purpose, and the dissemination of such information as will awaken the public to its importance. The remarks of D. Clark, Esq., the retiring president, are exceedingly interesting, as showing the progress already made in Connecticut, where over 200,000 gallons, according to the most reliable statistics, were manu- factured in the year 1858, The quality of the wine had also generally improved since the formation of the society. For- merly sugar was used in the manufacture ; it was now made without it, and at the last State fair these received the first premium. Some of these wines have been pronounced equal to the best Rhenish, and superior to the French. The native grape is generally used for this purpose. Mr. Clark congrat- ulated the society on the increase of grape culture in the State, and believed that the grape, as a fruit and as a bever- age, was now second only to the apple, and will yet become its equal. Such is the condition of vine-growing in Con- necticut. In our own State we know of no similar association for this object. In this respect what has here been done has been accomplished by individual effort. Yet the subject is one which should interest our cultivators deeply, and induce them to form associations for encouraging a branch of indus- try which must eventually be one of vast importance to our people, for Massachusetts has a soil and climate quite as well adapted to grape culture as Connecticut. It only needs the encouragement of our agricultural and horticultural societies, or the organization of associations similar to the one above noticed, to awaken attention to the subject, and disseminate such information as will show the advantages which must FEBRUARY. 51 result from the introduction of grape-growing on the most extended scale. Enough has already been accomplished in the manufacture of wine in Massachusetts to show the profitableness of this branch of industry. Four years ago, Messrs. Page & Co. commenced tlie manufacture of wine from the common wild grape of our woods and pastures ; some thousands of gallons were made by way of experiment, which proved so favorable that they embarked largely in the business the next year. The only trouble had been in readily procuring an abundance of grapes. As there were no plantations of vines on which they could rely for a supply, it was evident they must be gathered from every quarter, and even then it was doubtful whether a sufficient quantity could be obtained to warrant such prepa- rations as must be made if they were likely to be had. But an offer of sixty dollars the ton for our wild grapes was fol- lowed with so many applications to furnish them, that they purchased upwards of seventy-five tons, and manufactured more than twenty thousand gallons of wine. This was sufficient to give an impetus to the manufiicture of wine. The success of these gentlemen was generally known, and also their preparations to go yet more extensively into the business of wine-making. Their wine had been tried and found a very excellent article ; pure juice of the grape, which was more than could be said of mucli of the wine sold in our market. It therefore found ready purchasers, and they laid their plans to largely increase tlieir stock. But already there were other competitors in the field, and when the season of the grape crop came round, they found it diffi- cult to get the same quantity of grapes they had the year before. The last year it fell off still more, the entire quantity of wine manufactured by them not exceeding eight thousand gallons. Others have embarked in the manufacture of wine, which divided the supply, but liow many, and what quantity lias been made the last two years, we do not know. One gentle- man, Mr. S. Allen of Shrewsbury, who sent us a very excel- lent sample of his wine, made, we tliink, about six thousand gallons the last year, and he has informed us that he intends 52 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. to increase liis facilities for the manufacture of more every year. He has ah-eady perceived the importance of using superior varieties, and to this end has collected and. distributed among his neighbors, and made plantations himself, of several wild grapes, remarkable for their early maturity and other desirable qualities, well satisfied that the indiscriminate use of ripe and unripe grapes, of the rough character of our na- tive vine, greatly deteriorates the quality of the wine. We should be glad to name others who have entered largely into the manufacture of wine in our State, for it is probable that the quantity would sum up to nearly the amount stated by Mr. Clark to have been made in Connecticut ; but whether more or less, the instances we have given are enough to show that the subject has already received no small share of atten- tion, and sufficient been accomplished to prove that here, as in Ohio, it will be a profitable investment of capital. To those who are familiar with the progress of grape-grow- ing and wine-making in tlie United States, and particularly in Ohio, where, through the energy and perseverance of Mr. Longwprth, it has now attained such an importance, we need not say that the beginning in both Connecticut and Massachu- setts compares favorably witli that of the first-named State. It is but little more than twenty-five years since Mr. Long- worth turned his attention to grape-growing and wine-making, and now, in the vicinity of Cincinnati, there are more than twelve hundred acres of grapes in vineyard culture, under the charge of about three hundred proprietors, producing in fa- vorable seasons 240,000 gallons of wine. It was not until within a few years and after many trials and repeated failures, that the Cincinnati grape-growers succeeded in making a really valuable and excellent article, which could claim any pretensions to competition with foreign wines. At first, only the native grapes of that region were used ; these gave way to the Catawba and Isabella, the Cape and Scuppernong ; but the first of these has been the variety upon which the reputa- tion of the Ohio wines has been made. So it will be with us in Massachusetts and New England. Our wild grapes will make a very good wine. They are ^f ell enough to begin with, in the absence of better ; but we shall FEBRUARY. 53 not care to stake our reputation as wine manufacturers on such an article, nor be able to compete with the Ohio or for- eign wines until we introduce new varieties of grapes equally as well adapted to the purpose as the Catawba. On neither of these sorts, now held in such repute at the West, can we place any dependence in our northern climate. But we must look to new and improved varieties to obtain certain and sat- isfactory results. This is the point to which we now desire to direct attention. Of the capacities of our soil and climate for grape-growing, there can be no doubt, or of our ability to manufacture a prime wine. Our neglected hillsides and unoccupied uplands are just the locations for the vine, and acres upon acres, now lying waste, may be made to yield a fertile crop. But what we must first have is the proper grapes. We need not occu- py space to show the profits accruing from this species of culture ; they have long ago been demonstrated to the satis- faction of the most sceptical. The most experienced cultiva- tors in and around Cincinnati set down the average. product at 200 gallons to the acre, (often much larger), worth from one to two dollars per gallon. What crop will yield a better return ? Within five or six years, immense changes have taken place in the varieties of our native grapes. Ten years ago, the Isa- bella was tlie only variety thought wartliy of cultivation, un- certain as it is in our climate. But with the introduction of the Concord, a complete revolution seems to have taken place with our grapes. The Isabella is no longer sought after. Mr. Bull, the originator of the Concord, has shown that it yields a larger supply of juice, and a greater quantity of wine to the bushel, than the Catawba or Isabella. As regards the quality, no satisfactory trial has been made. His own exper- iments were incomplete, yet they were sufficient to show that it yields a prime wine with a rich boquet — good judges who tried it pronouncing it superior to that made from the Isabel- la. As a certain and sure crop in our climate, no grape can compare with it. Perfectly hardy, not liable to mildew, or any of the diseases incident to the Catawlm and Isabella, ripening before any danger of frost, and growing vigorously, it possesses preeminent qualities as a wine grape. 54 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. But next to this, what is the grape ? The Connecticut cultivators tell us the Hartford Prolific is valuable. It is early, which is one recommendation. But what its reputation is as a wine grape, we know very little. Its damaging fault of dropping from the bunch as soon as ripe, will be likely to be attended with a fatal loss of the crop. The Diana would undouljtedly take the place of the Catawba in most parts of New England, certainly in all but the more northern. Fully equal in quality to the Catawba, similar in flavor, it would undoubtedly make the same kind of wine which has acquired so high a reputation from Mr. Longworth. Its liability to injury from severe winter is its only fault. These three grapes appear as yet the principal vines for trial in our latitude. We have seen a remarkably early grape grown in Lexing- ton, and called by the raiser the Jennings grape, maturing fully the latter part of August, when it is perfectly black. The bunch is of medium size, and the vine extremely hardy, free from mildew, and productive. What are its merits as a wine grape we do not know ; but with a slight pulp, and considerable of the foxy aroma about it, it is yet so early that we should like to see a trial of it made for wine. The Perkins is similar in color and flavor to the Catawba, but the bunch is only of moderate size ; still, its fine aroma, thin skin, and general resemblance to the Catawba in quality, bespeak for it more attention. So far as our experience goes, it appears to be one of the most reliable grapes, — hardy, pro- ductive, not liable to mildew, and embracing a combination of popular qualities which render it worthy of attention by all grape growers. But the admission made, and we think there can be no doubt of this, that our climate can grow an abundance of grapes, we have but to set about it, and that desideratum of a fine wine grape will be soon produced. Already amateurs and cultivators arc at work, and every year will develop some new acquisition. If the grape for the purpose has not been found it speedily will be. We are not the people when once interested in so important a matter to sit still and see this neglected. No ; on the contrary, a hundred hands will be at work to secure what is wanting, and such is the perseverance of our people that what is needed will be produced. FEBRUARY. 55 111 conclusion, we commend this subject to the attention of all our readers. Ohio, first in the field, is now reaping the benefits of her early appreciation of the enterprise. Let us have no fears that we cannot do equally as well. Timid cul- tivators will advise much caution ; but we repeat again, that where nature planted the wild vine, there can be no doubt of its home. New England, then, is as much the native clime of the grape as any other section, and with that experience which our cultivators are known to possess, we have but our- selves to ask, whether we may lag behind or keep up with the enterprise which has been so laudably encouraged in other States. DISEASES OF VEGETATION. BY AGRICOLA. A FEW years since the Massachusetts Legislature passed an act offering a prize of $10,000 to any individual who should discover a sure and permanent remedy for tlie potato disease. Since the passage of this act, a standing committee " On Diseases of Vegetation," has been appointed, and to this committee has been entrusted the subject of this act. The committee, consisting of Jolin C. Bartlett, Jabez Fisher and Nathan Durfee, have pursued their inquiries with laudable zeal and diligence, and their Reports are excellent specimens of pliilosopliical writing, and prove tlieir author to be a fin- ished writer as well as a logical reasoner. Dr. Bartlett's Report, published in the " Sixtli Annual Report " of the Secretary of the Board of Agriculture, is a model essay on the subject, and should be read by every scientific agricul- turist. From these sources we learn that very little interest has been manifested by the agricultural population on this sub- ject. A general invitation was extended to the farmers to send to the State Department tlie results of their observations and experiments on the potato disease ; and it was hoped that the papers communicated by the various claimants of the prize, which were numerous, " would furnish such a record 66 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. of facts as would enable (the committee) to form some well digested plan of action in their investigation." But they (the committee) discovered neither ideas nor facts of any importance in all these communications ; and they remark : " We are constrained to say, that we do not believe a more degrading record of ignorance of the first principles of natu- ral science can be found than these papers, as a whole, mani- fest ; although we should cheerfully except from this con- demnation a few, which seem to have been written with something of the modesty which always characterizes the cultivated writer." Failing to obtain the desired information from these sources, they prepared and distributed in large numbers, circulars, asking the aid of farmers throughout the United States, in collecting facts upon the subject. But to a large number, distributed in all directions, they received answers from less than thirty ; and these were mainly fj-om applicants for the premium offered by the State. The committee consider this want of interest in so important a subject as somewhat dis- creditable to the agricultural classes of the community. But it seems to us that the committee had raised their expecta- tions too high. It is not to be expected that our farmers should be scientific men ; and without a good elementary knowledge of science, the experiments of any individual, though an excellent practitioner, are altogether worthless, unless they are performed under the direction of a man of science. More knowledge could be obtained, on this point, from horticulturists than from farmers. But what we wish to show, at the present time, is that the method proposed by the Legislature is not the right one for obtaining information on the potato disease ; the only true method is to use measures for instituting a course of experi- ments to be performed under the immediate superintendence of some competent individual. We are pleased, therefore, to see this same measure recommended in a prize essay, by Mr. Wilson Magg, and published in the Transactions of the Essex County Agricultural Society, for 1859. The subject of this essay is a "A Plan of a Series of Experiments for Investigating the Potato Disease." We will pass over the FEBRUARY. 57 details of the course of experiments recommended by the author, and dwell upon one particular suggestion. He recommends to the Legislature, as the best means of obtaining reliable information on this important subject, to pass an act, providing for the appointment of an individual, of good scientific attainments and sound judgment, whose duty it shall be to superintend a course of experiments, to be continued for a series of years. The selection and appoint- ment of this superintendent should devolve upon the com- mittee " On Diseases of Vegetation." They should select a spot of ground consisting of several acres of varied soil and situation, and the experiments should be performed under the general direction of the committee, to whom the superin- tendent should make quarterly or semi-annual reports. The Legislature should make a certain annual appropriation to defray the expenses of the undertaking, and the committee should determine, in consultation with the superintendent, the manner in which it shall be expended. They shall also determine the amount and character of his compensation. The author also recommends that the general diseases of vege- tation should be likewise one of the subjects of experiment. There is no more important subject that can occupy the attention of cultivators than the diseases of vegetation ; and it is a study that deserves encouragement by legislative action. We hope, therefore, that the present Legislature will act upon Mr. Flagg's suggestion immediately. Let this experimental course date with the year 1860. The amount of information which would be developed and made known to the public, during a period of five years, would be of incalculable value. Under a competent individual as experimenter, (who ought to be a ready writer as well as a philosophic observer, that the public may reap the full benefit of his discoveries,) the knowl- edge that would be communicated to the public during this short period would exceed that which would be obtained in fifty years of experiments in the loose way in which it is always conducted by the great mass of those who are con- cerned only in practice. 58 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. NOTES OF A EUROPEAN TOUR. BY THE HON. J. S CABOT. Dear H. — When I last parted from you, you expressed a wish to hear from me during my absence ; entertaining no doubt of its sincerity, I cheerfully attempt to gratify a wish that cannot but be flattering to me. I had hoped that a visit to Europe would enable me to gratify a desire of being able, by a comparison of some vari- eties of fruit, especially pears, when grown in the place of their origin, with the same varieties grown in America, to form some opinion of the effect produced by their transporta- tion to a climate and soil different from that of the place of their origin. For this purpose my visit has not been very well timed, for not only were all the horticultural exhibitions over for the season when I arrived, but I am informed that the season in France has been very unpropitious for pears. Still I have not been wholly disappointed in this particular, for in the markets and fruit shops I have seen specimens of the pears of the season, and have found a quite extensive col- lection of models of numerous varieties of this fruit, that were exact representations of the original, in size, form and color. Judging from what I have thus far seen, I should say that the effect produced by the cause above referred to, was to deteriorate some varieties and to improve others, well aware, however, that the difference observed may have been the result of different causes than those effected by a difference of soil and climate. To particularize somewhat the result of my observation in this respect, I have seen here specimens of the Cliaumontelle, altogether superior in every particu- lar to any specimens of the same variety that I ever saw in the United States ; the same remark applies to the St. Ger- main, tliat, as I have eaten tlicm here, were large, smooth, and very fine, a variety that witli us has been almost wholly discarded as worthless. The Henry IV. and Grand Solid witli us are small ; here I have seen models of tliem that were more than of medium size — actually large. The Gale- FEBRUARY. 59 basse Tougard, according to its model, is here large, smooth and handsome, and this with us is small, and cracks so badly as to be worthless. But, per contra^ I have seen no Duchesse d'Angoulemes or Mons. Le Cures that would in size at all compare with specimens of the same varieties frequently seen in the United States. This last named variety, however, the Mons. Le Cure, is in quality very different from any speci- mens of it that I had ever seen in America ; for while with us, although some of tlie finest specimens, when ripened in a particular manner, may perhaps be thought a good second quality fruit, it is not generally thought anything but a pear for cooking ; while here, as I have eaten it daily for a month past, it is not of first rate excellence, it is true, but a good dessert pear, even the small specimens. I have been told here, that it was only good when grown " en espalier." Tiie Mons. Le Cure is a very common pear in the market, called there the St. Germain ; indeed this name is applied by the market women to different varieties in a way that I have sometimes thought that with them it was a generic name. The other more common varieties in the market for the month past, were the Duchesse, Beurre Diel — always called Beurre Magnifique — and Glout Morceau, universally called d'Aremberg, not differing materially from the same varieties with us. Latterly I have seen a good many Easter Buerres, very good, but not better specimens than are frequently seen in the United States. The price of pears is very high ; in the market the usual price is half a franc each for good specimens of almost any variety ; while that of superior specimens of some varieties is much higlier. For a good specimen of Easter Beurre the price is one franc. These are the prices in the market ; in the fruit shops they are still higher. I see one variety of pear, common in the shops and mar- ket, about which I cannot arrive at any conclusions satisfactory to myself. I refer to a pear called here the Belle Angevine. It is of enormous size, I think the largest pear that I have ever seen ; one was on exhibition that weighed one and a half kilograms, or more than three pounds, and I have seen many nearly as large. It is a very handsome pear, of regu- 60 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. lar pyramidal form, somewhat drawn in towards the calyx, smooth skin ; when ripe, yellow, with one side bright red, almost scarlet. It is a baking pear, but its flesh is very fine grained, not melting or juicy, but tender, with no astrin- gency or much flavor of any kind ; it is probaWy never a dessert fruit, but when ripe I have tasted it, when I thought it not so bad as some that were usually so classed. Now can this be our Uvedale's St. Germain ? I have heretofore sup- posed so, but can the different conditions of soil and climate under which it is here grown account for such differences in quality and appearance as I have stated ? It may be, but I can hardly think so. I do not learn that there are any new pears in the neigh- borhood of Paris, at least, the present year, but have heard of two that are to come out the next. Judging from an opinion expressed to me by one of the largest and most intel- ligent growers here, I judged that the new Varieties, of which Belgium is so prolific, are not held in a very different estima- tion in Prance, from what they are in the United States ; that they require to be tested before entering upon their cultivation. The past season was in France as unfavorable for apples as pears, yet there seems to be no want of them in the market : great quantities of this fruit is grown in some parts of the empire, and I have seen upon the railroad, cars filled with them, loaded in bulk. At the fruit shops and in the market you see some superior specimens of some varieties, but most of the apples that I have seen, seemed to me to be small and rather indifferent. The best apple that I have eaten here is the " Calville blanc ;" this, here, is very fine, tender, juicy, and of very pleasant flavor ; but my experience is of a very limited character. The price of the best apples is very high, for a fine Calville half a franc each. The grapes, as I have seen them, most common in the market, were the Chasselas de Fontainbleau ; they were small, but well ripened, and were sold at one and a half to two francs a pound ; at this time they are higher, I have seen some Black Hamburghs, but they were not of very good quality, for which I was asked four francs a pound ; the sea- FEBRUARY. 61 son, however, for grapes, on my arrival in Paris, if not passed, was fast passing away. It has been very cokl hero ; cokler-it is stated than it has before been since 1840, when the body of the Emperor arrived from St. Helena, the mercury having fallen to 6^° of Fahren- heit ; it has now again become mild, and I notice that notwith- standing the frost, the grass is as green and as fresh as in spring. I find that there are shrubs that with us require protection, that in both France and England are sufficiently hardy to endure the winter on the open ground ; among others, the Aucuba japonica, that seems much used for pur- poses of ornament. I was in England but for a few days, and I have seen but little of it. There appeared to be a tolerable supply of apples in the market, generally of not a very attractive appearance. I saw some good pears, but always found on inquiry, that such came from France or Jersey — in fact also by its position a part of France, though subject to British dominion ; among those from Jersey, were Cliaumontellos, very fine indeed. The only pears tliat I saw grown in England, were some of the Bishop's Tliumb and Swan's Egg ; they were very or- dinary in both quality and appearance. I had not, from what I had heard, been led to expect to find good pears in England. The price in the market of the English pears was at from a halfpenny to a penny each ; of the French, three- pence to fourpence each, according to quality. In the Eng- lish markets I saw some Hamburgh grapes ; the price was one sliilling ninepence per pound ; they were, in comparison with the same variety grown in our grape-liouses, of very indifferent quality. There is one flower of which a very general use seems to be made in both France and England, as a border plant, that we are in a great measure deprived of, in consequence of its blossoming so late in the season, I mean the Chrysan- themum. I noticed that many of tlie gardens and yards in the neighborhood of London were made gay by this flower, even as late as November 10th, after all others had done blooming. It was generally cultivated with a single or but few branching stems, and covered with flowers of a great variety of colors ; it was at this season a great ornament. 62 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. The ivy, too, here running up to the top of church towers, or covering old walls and the sides of houses, green in win- ter, is very beautiful ; pity that it will not succeed with us. But then, perhaps as a compensation, the hardy evergreen trees, as pines and Norway spruces, do not seem to me to thrive here as well as in the United States ; at least I liave seen none tliat for size or beauty would at all compare with many specimens that I have seen at home. I have other sulijects upon which I might write, but I for- bear, because tliat not only is my sheet full, but that I fear that I should become wearisome and tedious. " Enough is as good as a feast," but too much may be worse than none at all. Paris, Dec. 29, 1859. POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP. Elizabeth Grape — a new variety, which is stated to have oi"iginated on tlie farm of Mr. Joseph Hart, near Rochester, N. Y., about fifteen years ago. About that time Mr. Hart planted some raisin seed in a flower pot in the house. This plant sprang up and was grown in the house three or four years, as it was thought it might not be liardy. Afterwards it was planted out, grew rapidly, and is now a large vine, two to three inches in diameter. Neglected at first, it grew a mass of shoots from the ground, but, as soon as pruned, it began to boar, which was about seven years ago, and has fruited regularly ever since. It is described as follows : — Bunches large, compact, sometimes shouldered ; berries large, oval ; skin thin ; color greenish white, Avith a purple tinge in the sun ; very little pulp, juicy, a pleasant brisk acid. The Genesee Farmer, from which we copy this account, states that the above is the history of the grape as received from Mrs. Hart ; but the appearance of the foliage, and the flavor of the grape to one of delicate taste, give almost un- mistakable evidence of its native origin. It is entirely free from pulp, quite hardy, a good bearer, and is much esteemed FEBRUARY. • 63 in its neigliborliood, ^yherc the Isabella and Catawba are cul- tivated. It is curious to see how frequently the origin of many of our native grapes has been attributed to seeds from " raisins." We know of several instances where it has been positively asserted that the grapes sprung from foreign seed, taken from raisins and sown in a pot, which were nothing more than our common Fox grapes. There is undoubtedly the same error here as in the other cases ; for no one can believe a seedling of the Malaga grape would prove hardy in our climate. It is probably a chance seedling of some of our native grapes, and from the above account appears worthy the attention of grape growers. The Labe Grape, introduced to notice by Mr. S. Miller, of Lebanon, Pa. It is a large berry, of a very deep black color ; the bunch oblong, and in shape very distinct from many of the Isabella section, to which it belongs. The flavor is rather sharp, but combined with a peculiar pleasant sweet- ness. Mr. Miller gives the Gardeners' Monthly the following account of it : — Some ten years ago, a man by the name of Hamilton picked up a vine in passing along an alley in Leb- anon, where it had been tlu'own out of a garden, the owner of which of course thought it a worthless fox or frost grape. Hamilton handed it over to Mr. Labe, his son-in-law, request- ing him to plant it, as he had no place for it. Mr. Labe has the vine now ; says he has never known any rot or mildew on it, but every year a fine crop. Such is the account ob- tained from the man who possesses the original vine. Indiana Favorite Apple. — This is the name of a Western seedling, sent by Mr. E. Y. Teas, of Richmond, Indiana, with others, to Mr. J. J. Thomas, and thus described in the Coun- try Gentleman : — Medium in size, oblate, regular, handsome ; whole surface splashed and striped with rich light red on rich yellow ground, and dotted with large yellow russet specks ; stem short ; cav- ity rather wide ; calyx open, in a moderate even basin ; flesh yellowish, a little crisp, with a mild, subacid, agreeable, "very good" flavor. The specimens were furnished by Thomas B. Morse, of Caml^ridge City, who states it is culti- 64 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. vated by P. Marts, who says it came from the seed of the Vandevere pippin — the original tree is about twenty-five years old — a prodigious bearer on alternate years — very hardy — with thick spreading head — fruit keeps remarkably, nearly as long as the American pippin. CoRNWELL Pear. — Supposed to be a new variety, which was brouglit into the neighborhood of Berlin, Connecticut, twenty-five or more years ago, by the " Vermont grafters," who travelled the country, setting grafts for those who availed themselves of their services. It proves the best pear for the soil in that region that has been tried. Its growth is vigor- ous, and it is very productive of fine fruit. Mr. Sheldon Morse, who describes it, says that he thought he at first de- tected the same fruit in the Muskingum pear, but doubts it now. He also learns that Col. Wilder has it in bearing, hav- ing procured scions, and that it was not known in Boston. It is described as follows : — Fruit medium, roundish, smaller ones slightly obovate, greenish yellow, with many dark and purple specks, and much russeted ; stem longish and moder- ately stout, in a very shallow, narrow cavity ; flesh yellowish wliite, tender, melting, juicy, with a spicy flavor, slightly astringent. Ripe September 1st. Origin unknown. — Home- stead. Shiawassee Beauty Apple. — A new Michigan seedling, recently brouglit to notice. As it has been highly spoken of by our friend Mr. Berckmans, who had an opportunity of tast- ing the fruit, we copy the account of it in the Michigan Far- mer, by T. T. Lyon : — " The fruit originated from tlie pomace of a lot of grafted fruit, grown in Avon, Oakland Co., the seeds from which were planted in a nursery in Gahies, Genesee Co. A portion of the trees grown from them were sold,ungrafted,to Mr. Beebe Truesdell, deceased, who planted them in Yernon, Shiawassee Co. Among these was the original tree of this variety, which has now borne full and regular crops for more than ten years, with the exception of two seasons, when tlie crop was tliinned by frost. " The only grafts yet in bearing, of this variety, are tliose of Mr. M. Wilcox ; although it lias been considerably dissem- FEBRUARY. 65 inatccl in the vicinity during the past two or three years. It is locally known as " Nonsuch," but as this name is already applied to several other fruits, at the suggestion of the writer Mr. Wilcox has appended the name at the head of this arti- cle— a name eminently appropriate for so beautiful a fruit. " In texture, juiciness and flavor, as well as in the beautiful whiteness of its flesh, it is much like the well known Fameuse, or Snow apple, from which, when the skin is removed, it is hardly possible to distinguish it ; and, as it seems to be free from the faults of that variety, it may prove a desirable sub- stitute for it. The tree is a strong, rather upriglit grower, until the branches become borne down with the weight of the fruit. The fruit matures in November, and may be kept till February. The following description was furnished by Mr. C. Downing: Size above medium, much depressed, irregular; skin whitish, shaded, marbled, splashed and striped with rich crimson, and moderately sprinkled with light dots ; stalk rather short and small, inserted in a large, uneven cavity : calyx closed, segments erect, sometimes a little recurved ; basin large, open, slightly furrowed ; flesh of a snowy white- ness, very tender, juicy, with a brisk, refreshing, subacid flavor ; quality very good." Can it be possible that this is different from the Fameuse ? On comparing Mr. Downing's description of the Shiawassee with our description of the former apple, in our Magazine, (Yol. XYII. p. 16,) we cannot discover that it differs in the least. The same description would answer for either. Still, they may be unlike, though it seems scarcely possible. Granite Beauty Apple. — Tbis is the name given to a large, handsome and excellent apple sent us by Mr. Z. Breed, Editor of the N. H. Journal of Agriculture, which orig- inated on his farm in Weare, N. H. In general appearance, it somewhat resembles the Minister, but is larger. As we think it a valuable introduction, we shall take an early oppor- tunity to give a full history of it, with a description and an engraving of tlie fruit. VOL. XXVL — NO. IL 5 66 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ALLEN'S HYBRID GRAPE. BY JOHN FISK ALLEN, SALEM, MASS. In the winter of 1843 and '44, an Isabella vine was grown for the purpose of impregnation with European varieties, in the hope of obtaining a fruit that would mature early, and be an improvement upon the hardy kinds of grape which we already had in cultivation. To be sure of its origin, this vine was the only one in the house, and it was forced by fire heat, so that it was in bloom in winter and could not be impreg- nated by bees, or otherwise by accidental cause. The seed was saved with care and sowed in sand and soil brought from distant places, and every precaution used to guard against foreign or any grape seed being in this soil. These seeds vegetated in pots, and were planted in a cold house. In the winters of 1846 to 1849, inclusive, they were slightly covered with hay, and, what would not withstand some freezing, were suffered to perish. In 1848, in the third edition of Grape Culture, page 150, is given the method I used in impregnating this grape, and reference also to the vines produced. At that time the seed- lings, between forty and fifty in number, were growing, and presented such a marked variation of foliage, as to give good hope of success. Had it been otherwise, other trials by crossing would have been made. My method of proceeding was this : when the bunch of fruit approached the time of blossoming, a few of the strong- est buds were selected, and the others cut away, leaving only one fourth of them, and these the strongest and best placed : all but a few of the best bunches were removed from the vine before inflorescence. These bunches were closely watched, and as the buds expanded, or the caps began to rise, in the process of blooming, the anthers were at once clipped off by sharp scissors before tlie pollen had bursted, or had an oppor- tunity to work the pistil, care being had that this pistil received no injury. With a soft, fine pencil brush, the pollen, which had been collected from a variety of European grapes, (sent from France to the late Robert Manning, on account of their hardy character), was applied to the pistil. These varieties of FEBRUARY. 67 grapes were of the Chasselas de Fontainbleau family among the white, and Black Prince and Black Hamburgh of the colored. "When the impregnation was effectual, the embryo grape swelled at once ; when otherwise, it remained as it was. Thus it was apparent, that any seed obtained would produce a hybrid vine. When the fruit ripened it was gathered by myself ; the seed was preserved and planted in soil, in which no other seed of the grape could be already there accidentally. The young vines grew under my care, were shifted and transplanted in pots, and finally planted out Ijy me, and have been pruned and taken care of solely by myself since. Experiments on the vine called Allen's Hybrid, which has proved thus far the best fruit, have been made, and it has been found very good and very early for the forcing-house ; the same in the cold grapery, where its hardy character adds to its value, as the European sorts are, in very severe, cold winters, often more or less injured. The Isabella has proved hardy under glass in cold winters ; the Chasselas has been proved more so than . the Black Hamburgh, and as these two, the most hardy grapes under glass in Massachusetts, are the origin of Allen's Hybrid, it seems apparent that this should be as much so as the Isa- bella. I have never been sanguine that the climate of Mas- sachusetts would allow of our maturing the choicest sorts of the grape in open field culture, and therefore will not say that this grape is worthy of trial in this manner ; but on the walls of our houses, where a front from south, a little east, round by the west, as far as west-north-west, where the Isa- bella and Diana are sure to ripen, so will be this grape. In the Middle and Southern States (and in our cities on the walls) it will be invaluable, growing in the open air ; in the former and everywhere prolonging the season of the grape by its early ripening, coming in ten to twenty days before the Diana and Isabella, when properly grown. To do this it must not be overcropped ; a vine will mature thirty bunches of fruit in four months' time, weighing as many pounds as a vine with fifty bunches will mature in five months, and in the one case leaving the vine strong and able to do the same the following year, and in the other weak and enfeebled, with no power to 68 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. ripen more than a few grapes in straggling bunches here and there on the vines. I have grown this grape in several places in the open air for five or six years ; in the winter I protect it by placing it on the ground and covering with hay. This I do with all my vines, not on the wall of the house or warmed building ; here it is not necessary, as the vines thus placed never fail of a crop. The Allen's Hybrid has passed through these trials with as little, if not with less injury than the other hardy grapes, and we have had the mercury as low as 20° below zero. The Rebecca, with like treatment, and by its side, has been so injured that I doubt its surviving this winter. The fruit of Allen's Hybrid in the open air was not so sweet and delicious as wlien grown under glass, but the cause undoubtedly was that it was from a vine growing in a cold wet soil, a situation that can never produce the richest grapes, as a dry soil and warm, at the ripening of the crop, is an essential in grape culture ; under glass, both in cold grapery and in the forcing-house, I know of no sweetwater grape of the Chassclas family more rich or delicious. It ripens in forcing in the shortest time of any good fruit, four months, and improves by hanging, acquiring a flavor or aroma that does not belong to either of its parents. Many others of this lot of seedlings have fruited, one only being white, and this is quite as late as the Isabella ; several black ones resemble the Black Prince, with the Isabella fla- vor ; some partake of the Black Hamburgh characteristics ; these varieties will require a longer season than we have in Massachusetts to perfectly mature their fruit. I have not tried them on a wall, not having a suitable place. One other, No. 13, not yet named, has ripened fruit for the past two or three years, which promises to be valuable ; it is an oval black, and when first colored, which it does very early, in four months from breaking the bud, it has some considerable of the Isabella pulp and flavor, but by hanging a few weeks both of these injurious peculiarities disappear. The foliage of this is more like that of the Isabella than any of the hybrids. The Allen's Hybrid vine is difficult to increase, as it does FEBRUAEY. 69 not strike roots readily from cuttings or eyes ; as the vine has become older and from other favorable changes, it does strike better now, but the most certain way of increasing it, is by layers ; it thus roots readily. On planting out, it makes small growth, usually, the first year (but I have had exceptions) ; " the second year it grows rapidly, and must be called a strong wood-making vine. It is a great bearer ; the original vine had upon it this last season two hundred bunches, and it was allowed to mature fifty, and on some shoots three bunches ripened without a shrivelled grape ; this was done to test the vine, as I never allow more than one bunch of passable size to remain on a shoot or spur. The position of the original Allen's Hybrid vine is bad, being in a house that fronts the east, and the sun does not shine upon it in the afternoon ; the house has until recently been shaded by large cherry and other trees ; these have been removed, consequently the wood is better ripened, and this is one cause, no doubt, that the cuttings send out roots more readily. It is questionable if Black Hamburghs or Chasselas grapes would have ripened under such circumstances. We have horticulturists and botanists who have from the first doubted the practicability of impregnating the Isabella with the European varieties ; they have said that the species were distinct and could not be crossed; the Vitis vinifera, which is the type of the European, and the Yitis Labrusca ; of this species, are the Isabella, Diana and Catawba, native sorts. We have another variety whose foliage is more like the European ; of this, the Clinton is a specimen. I have contended that it could be done, and we have hundreds of vines in this region, the result of impregnation of American kinds of the grape by the European. A. W. Stetson, of Braintree, and Mr. Ed. Rogers, of Salem, have vines in bearing, the Vitis vinifera worked upon the common Fox grape of Massachusetts. Mr. Allen's Hybrid has been already highly commended by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, who have had the grape before them for three or four years, and the Fruit Committee have pronounced it quite equal to the famous Chasselas grape of Thomery. These specimens have been 70 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. 2. Allen's hybrid grape. FEBRUAEY. 71 raised under glass ; but now that the vine has proved as hardy as the Isabella it obtains a value which few other grapes possess, a rank not surpassed by the Delaware or Rebecca. To the above detailed account of the origin and growth of this variety, for which we are much indebted to Mr. Allen, we have only to add a description, and supply an accurate engraving of the fruit, taken from a specimen furnished by Mr. Allen from the original vino (pig. 2) : — Bunches medium size, about six inches long, and four and a half broad, neither compact nor loose, slightly shoul- dered. Berries quite round, medium size, about three quarters of an inch in diameter, frequently depressed at the end. Skin very thin, pale green, occasionally rose-colored in the sun, semi-transparent, with a thin pale bloom. Flesh very juicy, resembling the Chasselas. Flavor sweet, rich, vinous and brisk, with a delicate aroma. Seeds one to three. Vine moderately vigorous, making strong wood when well established. Leaves rather large, light-green, not very thick, slightly three lobed, nearly smooth beneath. Intermediate between the foreign and native grape, and showing plainly its hybrid parentage. The young shoots are covered with white down, very like the Isabella, which disappears as the leaves expand. ORNAMENTAL FOLIAGED PLANTS FOR THE LAWN. BY F. L. HARRIS, GARDENER TO II. II. HDNNEWELL, ESQ., WELLESLEY. Plants of handsome foliage form a feature in the land- scape of. striking beauty and effect ; and if by the introduc- tion of those of a semi-tropical appearance, during the summer season, we can in any way beautify our lawns, much will be attained. I here mention a few plants especially adapted for this purpose, viz.: Canna "VVarscewiczi, Calla ^thiopica, Farfu- gium grande, Tritoma uvaria, — each of which I treat of separately. 72 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Canna Warscewiczi. — A plant of magnificent foliage, growing to the height of four and five feet, and in the autumn j^roducing spikes of rich scarlet flowers in profusion. In order successfully to grow this plant in the open ground, the making of the border is of the first importance ; this is done by thoroughly preparing the soil to the depth of two and a half or three feet, and incorporating a liberah supply of well rotted stable manure through the Avhole ; having done this, the plants will not suffer for want of water, no matter how dry the season may be. As soon as the season has sufficiently advanced, say from the 20th of May to the 1st of June, select good strong plants, about a foot high, and turn them out of pots. The way I manage them is as fol- lows : in the winter season they require but very little water, and kept in a temperature of 35° to 50°, such plants are better adapted to withstand the sudden changes of tempera- ture after planting out, than those grown in a warmer and moister atmosphere. When frost injures them in autumn cut them close down ; divide and pot for another year. Calla ^thiopica. — This much neglected, because old, is another possessing rare merit for producing effect ; its large foliage and flowers of the purest white, presents an attraction always pleasing. It is generally supposed this plant will not thrive in the open border ; such is not tlie case, for wlien planted in soil similarly prepared as for the Canna, it thrives vigorously and flowers freely. Plants for turning out must be strong, for then they commence flowering almost imme- diately. A fine effect is produced by planting the Canna in the centre of a large oval or circle, at a distance of two feet apart, then two rows of Calla all around the above, at fifteen ijichcs apart ; and, if you clioosc to put a girdle round the whole, do it with Brilliant or Flower of the Day geraniums. Farpugium GRANDE. — This as yet scarce but higlily ornamen- tal plant, with its round leaves nearly eight inches in diam- eter, beautifully blotched with golden yellow, is very desirable as a bedder, but only adapted for shady situations ; easily propagated by division ; delights in a light, rich, loamy soil. Tritoma uyaria. — A very handsome plant, and well FEBRUARY. 78 adapted for planting, en masse. Its numerous orange-scarlet blossoms, produced on stems growing to the height of four or five feet, and the length of time it continues to throw up a succession of flowering stems, makes it a decided acquisition ; rich, deep soil ; by division and seeds. Probably many of my brother gardeners can mention other plants of fine foliage adapted for outside decoration. Will they please inform through the columns of your Magazine. The success of Mr, Harris in the growth of these showy plants has been so complete, that his remarks are deserving of the greatest attention. We have already alluded to the fine efiect of a large circular bed of Callas and Cannas, planted as above advised, near the lawn front at Mr. Hun- newell's, (Vol. XXY. p. 462), and know not when we have seen anything so effective and beautiful. They impart a grandness to tlie grounds compared with which the ordinary bedding plants appear insignificant. We hope to furnish more hints from Mr. Harris on the treatment of other similar ornamental plants, which have been added to Mr. Hunne- well's extensive collection. THE MALLOWS AND BANANA TRIBES. BY WILSON FLAGG. Among the sixteen forms of vegetation, enumerated by Humboldt as giving character to different regions and cli- mates on the face of the earth, the Malvaceae hold an impor- tant place. So insignificant a plant as the Mallows of our northern climate, would liardly be supposed to constitute one of the principal forms of tropical vegetation. But to this extensive family belong not only the true Mallows, the Hol- lyhock, and many beautiful annuals, but also the Lavatera, the Cotton plant, and the Cacao, or Chocolate nut, and above all the celebrated Baoimb tree, the Adansonia digitata. This form of vegetation is not remarkable on the new continent. Here it is represented chiefly by the Mexican Hand-tree 74 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. (Cheirostemon platanoides), and the Cacao, (Theobroma Cacao). The latter, from its name, is by many supposed to be a species of the Cocoa palm, to which, however, it bears no botanical resemblance. This plant has large leaves and small flowers, that spring out from the bark of the trunk as well as from the roots. In the Mexican Hand-tree, the an- thers of the flower are connected together in such a manner as to resemble a hand or claw rising out of the beautiful reddish purple flowers. It is found in Mexico and Guati- mala, where there are three species. The Mallows form within the tropics is characterized by " its thick stem, with launginous, large, cordate or indented leaves and magnificent flowers, frequently of a purple red." In Europe this form becomes quite common, after passing the Alps, where we find the Lavatera arborea, the L. Olbia, L. maritima, and several other species of the Tree Mallows. This genus is represented in our gardens and pleasure grounds by a species of the Althea, the A. frutea, or Shrubby Holly- hock, which was brought originally from Syria. The Baobab tree is well known from the description of travellers, as one of the wonders of vegetation. The most remarlvable peculiarity of this tree is its immense size, com- pared with its moderate height. While its trunk is seldom more than fifteen feet in length, it often has a diameter of thirty-two feet, and a hemispherical mass of branches and foli- age, measuring sometimes one hundred and fifty feet in diameter, and over four hundred feet in circumference. Hence it presents the appearance of a considerable clump or grove of trees, of moderate height. The Baobab is called the Monkey bread-tree, because it forms not unfrequently the residence of a family of monkeys. The blossoms are proportionate to the size of the trees, hanging singly upon their stems, like graceful pendents. The fruit is oblong, approaching sometimes to a globular shape, covered with a green rind, beautifully marked with radiating lines. As it ripens, it turns to a dark fawn color, and is suspended from its branch by a stem nearly two feet in length. The pulp of the fruit is acidulous, grateful and cooling, and is eaten by the natives as a luxury. FEBRUARY. 75 The foliage of this tree is peculiar. The leaves are ovate when the tree is yoiiug ; they soon become trilobate, and finally, as the tree increases in age, they become palmate, with from five to seven lobes, somewhat like the leaves of a horse chestnut. This tree, with its products, is of great service to the inhabitants. Under its immense canopy of branches and foliage, they find shelter from the heat of their burning clime, and its products are used in medicine, in the arts, and in cookery. Many of these trees are believed to.be more than one • thousand years old ; indeed, their hollow- ness, after a certain age, proceeding from the gradual decay of the interior of the trunk, renders it impossible to calculate their age with certainty. But this very circumstance seems to endow them with immortality, as the trees are always renewing themselves in the circumference. In these cavities, which are very capacious, the negroes sometimes resort for conversation and amusement, and sometimes occupy them as dwellings. But one of the most lingular facts connected with the history of the Baobab, is the use made of its hollow trunk as a sepulchre, in which their poets and musicians are buried, and then enclosed. This class of men are held in superstitious reverence, and here they suffer a sort of embalm- ment, and their skeletons or mummies are frequently dis- covered by travellers. The Silk Cotton trees (Bombacaae) in their valvate calyx and columnar stamens, are, with respect to their inflorescence, clearly allied to the Mallows. These trees are remarkable for the swelling of their trunks, from the excessive devel- opment of their pith, causing them to resemble immense casks, often thirty or forty feet in height. All these singular trees, belonging to the Mallows form, give character to tropical vegetation in many parts of the globe. The true Mallow, which is an herbaceous plant, is one of the Five Emollient Herbs of the old Pharmacopias, which were written when it was customary to arrange natural as well as artificial objects in assemblages of Five. From ob- serving that we are endowed with five senses, five fingers on each hand, and five toes on each foot, this number became quite important and significant in the old scientific classifica- tions. Hence the Five Orders of Architecture. 76 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. It might be further remarked in this place, that the name of a })lant often suggests an idea of the vahie in which it was originally held. Tims Theobroma, the generic name of the Chocolate tree, signifies literally, tlie food of the gods, or the bread of heaven, and shows the high estimate placed upon the fruit of this tree, when it first became known to the civ- ilized world. THE BANANA TRIBE. The plant which, in the tropics, siipplies those wants of the human race which are supplied by the cereals at the north, is the Banana, — another of the characteristic forms of tropical vegetation. The banana has always from the earliest ages attended the progress of man at the south, and affords an important part of his subsistence. It has always been cultivated by all nations in. the torrid zone, to supply them with the farinaceous part of their diet, like wheat, maize and other corn-producing plants at the north. It was cultivated in America prior to the discovery of this country by Colum- bus, though it is believed not to be indigenous to the new continent. Wild bananas, however, are sometimes found in the forests of South America, produced probably from the ripe seeds which were scattered by the birds that feed upon their pulpy fruit. The value in which these plants were held by the natives of Africa, is proved by the fact, that the original African slaves brought them with them to the West Indies, for cultivation. They are also found in the vicinity of the old missionary stations in South America. Capt. Mayne Reid thus describes the appearance of one of these plantations, in the course of the narrative of one of his romances : — " The very thought of our necessity caused me once more to glance over the forest, and I continued to scan it on all sides. My eye was again arrested and fixed upon a point where I saw there existed a different vegetation from any that could be seen elsewhere. There was a small valley about five hundred feet below us. It was a sort of table valley, and the stream along which wo had been trav- elling, ran through it, afterwards dashing over a fall to join the river below. In this valley I saw huge, broad leaves of a FEBRUARY. 77 bright yellowish green. I knew them at once to he the leaves of the great 31usacecc, either Plantains or Bananas. These are the certain signs of some settlement, or where one has existed. It miglit be some deserted Indian ' Chacra,' or it might be the grounds of an old mission." In another place the same plants are more particularly described : — " Before them towered the great Miisacecc — — plantains and bananas — their broad, yellow-green and wax- like leaves sheathing their succulent stems, and bending gracefully over a length of twenty feet. But beautiful as were the leaves of these giant plants, more attractive still to the eyes of our travellers were the large clusters of fruit- pods that hung from beneath them. Each of these would have weighed nearly a hundred weight ! There was food for hundreds. These plants grew by the water's edge, in a damp soil, their natural habitat, and their leaves drooped over the stream." Along the river's banks and by the side of their cottages, the inhabitants plant bananas, which require a great deal of moisture ; but in return for the artificial irrigation which is bestowed upon them, they afford a delightful shade and produce their fruit every month of the year. The leaf of the banana is said to resemble a long broad girdle, and this un- doubtedly procured it the name of " Adam's Fig Tree." This plant has a wide spreading and herbaceous stem, rising to only a moderate height, in proportion to its size, a^^d sur- mounted with striped, large and oblong shining leaves, of a thin and delicate texture. A spike of flowers springs up from the centre of these leaves, the flowers arranged in whorls. Many species produce flowers of exceeding beauty. In the suburbs of Canton the hedges are made of banana plants, combined promiscuously with oranges and myrtles. Humboldt is warm in praise of the beauty of this 'tribe of plants. He remarks : " While the cereals spread by culture over the northern regions, in monotonous and far extending tracts, add but little to the beauty of landscape, — the in- habitant of the tropics, on the other hand, is enabled by the propagation of the banana, to multiply one of the noblest and most lovely of nature's productions." He regards ban- 78 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ana groves as forming one of the characteristic features of humid regions in the torrid zone. There is but little difference between plantains and bana- nas ; both being distinguished by their large girdle-like leaves. The fruit of the plaintain is less agreeable than that of the banana ; and the former is usually cooked, while the latter is eaten in a raw state, being less farinaceous, and more like a pear or a peach. This fruit is supposed to have been the original food of the human race ; and the idea seems probable when we consider that it requires not the art of the cultivator to bring it to perfection, like the most of our northern fruits. It comes from the hand of nature in a per- fect condition, and unlike our fruits, its properties are of such a character as to sustain human life without the addi- tion of other food. From this supposition probably originated the name of one of the principal species, Musa paradisiaca — that is, the Plant of Paradise. From the name of another species, M. sapieritum — which signifies "of wisdom" — it may have been considered identical with the " Tree of Knowledge," whose fruit was so fatal to the happiness of the first inhabitants of Eden — to say nothing of its theo- logical influences in after times. Names of a similar char- acter have been given to other genera of this family of plants. Tiius the seeds of the larger Cardamom — the Amomum verum — are called " Grains of Paradise," being probably associated with the same sacred legend. Musa Cavendishii, the latest addition to this tribe, and the most valuable to our cultivators on account of its dwarfish habit, was named in compliment to the late Duke of Devonshire, in whose collec- tion it first fruited. The Scitamineae are a family of lower growing plants — a sort of dwarfish bananas. To this family belong the ginger and the* tumeric. They are about one foot in height ; the flowers are included in a spathe ; they have a tubular corolla, and bracts of a bright orange tint, making a very elegant and showy appearance. Those plants of this family which arc cultivated in greenhouses are described as having " reed-like stems, long broad leaves and showy flowers, which are usually fragrant." FEBRUARY. 79 Cnuviil Eoticts. » Raising Rhubarb from Seed. — Specimens of two sorts of seedling Rhubarb were exhibited to the Horticultural Society in July last, by the Rev. Charles Mackie, Qaorley Rectory, Andover, Hampshire, accompanied by the following communication: — " As Rhubarb is a plant which produces seed very freely, almost the whole of which will germinate, it is impossible, with the largest space of ground, to have the whole of them planted out so as to put the qualities of the seedlings to the test. As the readiest way of ascertaining which of them are most likely to repay the trouble of culti- vating, I have found it a most excellent plan to sow the seed in pots as soon as it is gathered. These being kept under cover during the winter months, not so much as a protection to the plants as for the sake of pre- venting the pots from being injured by the fiost, the young plants will be found to vegetate very early in the spring ; showing from the first a differ- ence of character, not only as to precocity, but in other respects also, as to growth and habit. Even at this time, therefore, some may be selected as the subject of experiment, and planted out; but the preferable plan, I think, is to allow the whole to remain in the seed-pots till the end of the season, when the difference of character is more decidedly marked. Those of the earliest and strongest habit will then have gained greatly on the others in point of size, and will otherwise show the qualities which should determine the selection as to which are most likely to reward the cultivator by turning out a new and valuable variety. The qualities in question I hold to be, chiefly, a stalk that is thick, succulent, and of a red color ; and a leaf that is round in shape, smooth on the surface, and of a fleshy tex- ture. In this way, the plants which make the best promise may be selected ; but my remarks as to subsequent treatment apply equally, if not more, to the best of the varieties already in cultivation. The mode which I pursue is this : — Having chosen ground with a warm aspect, I have the soil dug out down to the subsoil, which, in the instance now referred to, is chalk at no great depth, say from eighteen inches to two feet. The space so dug out is about two feet in diameter. Of the earth dug out, I reject the lower and poorer portion, mixing the rest with leaf mould, and with fresh soil of as good a quality as I can procure. The soil thus improved I further enrich with guano, superphosphate of lime, soot, and bone-dust : all, or as many of them as I can at the lime command, not forgetting some well-made stable manure. The whole of these being thoroughly incorpo- rated with the soil, I place at the bottom of the hole, above the subsoil, a layer of bones of a considerable size, over which is put some of the mix- ture to a depth of six inches, then a few more bones with more earth alter- nately, till the hole is not only filled up, but there is a hillock, say of one and a half foot above the level of the ground. In the centre of this I make an opening and fill up with leaf-mould, or any other good unmixed earth, for the reception of the plants, in order that the roots may not touch the 80 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. richer soil until they are in a growing state, before which they might be injured by the strength of the manure. As a proof how well this has answered with myself, I may state that soon after the Prince Albert Rhu- barb was introduced, now, I should imagine, at least twelve or fourteen years ago, I had three small plants of it, which I treated in the manner here recommended. Though put in at a distance of six feet from each other, they now appear like one large plant, the heads being joined together, and the crowns of the roots approaching very near. As a further proof that they have not otherwise degenerated in that length of time, I may mention that last year I sent a leaf taken from one of them to a very intel- ligent practical gardener in the neighborhood, with a request that he would measure it, and let me know the size. His answer when he had done so was, that it was fourteen feet six inches in circumference, the largest Rhubarb lea/ he had ever seen, though he had certainly seen them with a thicker stalk. I may perhaps also be permitted to state that of the two sent, the one marked No. 2, was raised from seed grown in 1856. It was sown with others in a small pot, in which it remained till the month of October, 1857, when, thinking it promised well, it was planted out, being at the time not much larger than my hand. In the spring of last year it took a very early, and made a very rapid growth, so that in the course of the summer, the leaves covered a space of ground nine feet in circumfer- ence. This year it was also very early, and has increased proportionably in size. All this, it is to be remembered, is in a situation where the soil is naturally shallow as well as poor, and on that account by no means favora- ble to the growth of the plant. The above observations are, of course, not expected to be of use to the professional cultivator, but may perhaps be of some service to the amateur, who may be desirous of ascertaining how new varieties may be obtained, or the established varieties may best be grown, without either going to any great expense or having much ground to spare. By treating them in the way described, and allowing them ample room, say six feet at least from plant to plant, (but it were better to give them more), and by giving every season a top-dressing of a mixture of the same as that recommended in planting, to be carried down by the winter rains, he will ensure himself a supply of this most excellent and wholesome esculent, fro.-n the setting in of spring till nearly the end of autumn." — (Gard. Chron.) Ringing the Branches of Grape Vines. — This operation, from which favorable results were expected, will doubtless have received atten- tion from many grape growers during the past summer, and I think the piesent may be considered a suitable time for those who have been tempted to put it to the test, to communicate their experience respecting its merits, especially as some doubts are now arising as to its utility under glass. Having tried it here on a small scale last year, and from its not having been attended with satisfactory results, I resolved upon giving it another trial, from seeing in the spring an article relating to its advantages when properly carried out. I therefore selected some small bunciies on different FEBRUARY. 81 parts of the vines, and operated upon them in the way recommended, by cutting through the bark with a sharp knife at half an inch apart, and clearing out the piece all round ; this was done shortly before the expanding of the flower — the bark at this stage came off freely and clean. These experiments were all made on Black Hamburghs, three of which were in one house and two in another. The same uniform want of success, how- ever, attended all the cases, viz., want of color ; they nevertheless showed earlier signs of ripening, and of increased size, but the want of color, in my own case at least, is considered fatal to the experiment. If any one has been more successful with vines under glass, I hope they will oblige by giving a clear definition of their mode of operation. — {Gard. Chron.) Gossip of tjje lilont^. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. — The next annual exhibi- tion will be held in September ISfiO, commencing on the 18th and continu- ing open to the 21st. The schedule of prizes for this as well as the weekly exhibitions will be published early in February. New York Central Park. — A report has been made to the commis^ sioners of the Central Park, by a committee appointed last summer. The resources of the board amount to the sum of $12,092,135.39, up to July 1. There had been expended #1,052,989.20 of this sum, leaving still for fur- ther use, $1,039,146.19. This sum is not considered suffrcienl to complete the Park, as the commissioners estimate the cost at #2,618,940. This, ad- ded to the amount already expended, will make the probable total cost of the Park #3,382,874.95. It may be even larger than this. No provision has yet been made for the current expenses of the Park. These are estimated at not less than #165,000 for some years to come, and the committee recommend an application to the Legislature for the passage of a law requiring the board of supervisors to raise a sum not exceeding #160,000 until the year 1861, and #120,000 thereafter. In view of the immense cost of completing the Park as originally in- tended, it is now proposed by the committee to build the bridges and viaducts " of such materials as will best combine solidity of materials and sufficient ornamental effect at diminished cost, and with special view to an economical expenditure ;" also, " that the construction of transverse roads Nos. 3 and 4, be suspended until further order of the board;" and that all plans for viaducts. &lc., " be submitted to the board for reexamination before their construction is commenced." The completion of a grand Park, commensurate with the wealth and wants of our sister city, was so desirable an object that we have hitherto wished to offer no remark in reference to the original plans and their com- pletion. A capable writer in the Gardeners' Chronicle reviewed these a VOL. XXVI. — NO. II. 6 82 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. year or more ago, and concluded by considering the attempt of the design- ers to carry out what they proposed as a "quixotic experiment." We have ever been of the same opinion. A grand Park upon the plan of the London Parks, with splendid drives and open lawns, would have cost but a moderate amount, both in the completion and future maintenance of the same. But to undertake to keep up all the departments of gardens and grounds, flower borders, conservatories, &c., as they should be to possess any beauty, must involve an expense of half a million dollars annually. The cominittee estimate this at $165,000, and that when not half of the ground is cleared or planted. It appears that the cost of keeping the various small parks of the city, in all only 55 acres, amounts to $23,000. These have no flower borders, or gardens of shrubs, and can, of course, be kept at moderate cost ; yet at the rate of keeping these, the expense of maintaining the 703 acres of the Central Park would be $1,006,000, or at half the cost, the sum we have above named, ,$500,000. Is even New York ready to pay this annual sum to keep the Park in the proper condition it should be, to be a credit to the country? We think the designers and the commissioners will see the fatal error they have made in attempting too much. The Grand Gold Medal, of the U. S. Agricultural Society, was awarded to the Hon. M. P. Wilder, at the late annual meeting in Washing- ton, for his past services in aiding to establish the Society in its present flourishing condition. Testimonial to Mr. John Johnson. — A number of gentlemen inter- ested in the agriculture of New York State, have presented a testimonial of their approbation of the services of Mr. Johnson, of Seneca Co., N. Y., in agricultural improvement. The testimonial consists of a massive silver pitcher and pair of goblets, embellished with appropriate agricultural em- blems. These were forwarded to Mr. Johnson by H. S. Orcutt, of the N. Y. Tribune. Sotietits. POMOLOGICAL and horticultural society of southern ILLINOIS. At the meeting held at Tamaroa, Dec. 21, 1859, the following officers were elected : — President, J. M. Hunter, Ashley, Washington County. Vice Presidents, S. B. Chandler, Centralia ; Dr. S. S. Condon, Jones- boro'; B. L. Yates, Tamaroa, and Dr. Kellogg, Ashley. Corresponding Secretary, Charles Kinnicott, Sandoval. Recording Secretary, H. C. Freeman, South Pass. Treasurer, B. G. Roots, Tamaroa. FEBRUARY. 83 FRUIT growers' SOCIKTT OF WKSTERN NEW TORK. The annual meeting of this Society was held at Rochester, N. Y., on the 4th and oth of January. The following officers were elected : — President, Col. B. Hodge, Buffiilo. Vice Presidents, J. J. Thomas, Union Springs ; W. H. Smith, Syracuse ; W. R. Coppock, Buffalo. Secretary, C. P. Bissell, Rothester. Treasurer, W. P. Townsend, Lockport. The Society voted to hold its next or summer meeting at Buffalo. MISSOURI FRUIT GROWERS ASSOCIATION. This Association held its second Annual Meeting at Jefferson city, on the 29th and 30th of December last. The interest in fruit culture here, partic- ularly the grape, is rapidly increasing. The Association is felt to be an institution that the fruit-grower cannot afford to do without. The officers for the current year are as follows : — President, Norman J. Colman. Vice Presidents, Dr. A. W. McPherson, Prof. G. C. Swallow, Gen. M. Horner, Dr. McGuire, E. Burden, W. C. Price, John Dedrick. Corresponding Secretary, Dr. L. D. Morse, Allenton, Mo. Recording Secretary, William Muir. Treasurer, Dr. C. VV. Spalding. P;iss;icl)usctts IJorticuIturnI Soddj, ^' Saturday, January 7ih, 18G0. — The quarterly meeting of the Society was held to-day. President Breck opened the meeting with an address appro- priate to the occasion. We regret we have not space to give it entire to our readers ; but the concluding portion, which refers to one of the most important acts of the Society, will interest so many friends of horticulture throughout the country, that we make no apology for its insertion : — "The prominent event of the year is the sale of the Society's buildings, which was consummated the present week. The disposition of this prop- erty was a subject of long and careful deliberation by the Committee, before it was laid before the Society. It is conceded by all who have any experience in the valuation and sale of real estate, that the price obtained was a very liberal one. We shall leave this spot with feelings of deep reg-ret, for here we have enjoyed many pleasant meetings ; this is the place where we have first seen many new fruits and flowers, where we have acquired much horticultural knowledge, and where, for many years, the associations have continued satisfactory and pleasant. Although we shall be deprived of a permanent home for a season, yet we hope that not many months will elapse before we fhall again find ourselves more comfortably established in more extensive and well-lighted apart- ments, with ample room for our valuable library, social and business meet- 84 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ings, Avith.all the conveniences and comforts which the rank, standing, and wealth of our Society demand. The general impression is, that the Society have made a good sale, and that the purchase money is safely and well invested. There will be no necessity for any haste in the purchase of another site on which to establish ourselves. I hope no hasty action will be taken on the subject, but recommend that the Society take time, and wait patiently for a favorable opportunity, which, no doubt, will present itself in the course of a few months, or in a year or two. The committee who have in charge the subject of obtaining rooms for our library, business meetings and exhibitions, for temporary accommoda- tion, will, no doubt, be able to find a suitable place before the first of April. In a few days the debt to Mount Auburn will be cancelled, when we shall be free from debt, with a capital of over $90,000 well invested, and an additional and perpetual income of from #4000 to $5000 from Mount Au- burn. The amount to be received this year will exceed the last named sum. It is obvious then that the pecuniary position of the Society is most satisfactory. During the year 1859, there have been added to the Society eight life and thirty-eight subscription members, making a total of forty-six ; while, in the same time, two life members and five subscription members have died, and thirteen have ceased to be members on account of the non- payment of their assessments, leaving a net gain of twenty-six. The present number of life members is 225, and of subscription members 315 — making a total of 541. Now, gentlemen, with our wealth and number of efficient members, much will and should be expected from our Society. It must be our study to know what will best promote its usefulness. Need I say that the first thing to be done auiong us should be to study the things that make for peace. There must be united and harmonious action among us, or we shall make a retrograde movement, and the accumulation of wealth and the increase of members will all be in vain. Let us begin the new year with a firm resolve that henceforth a spirit of union and concord shall be fostered by each one, forgetting ourselves and self-interest, for the sake of the prosperity and general good of the Society. Gentlemen : Before I sit down, I cannot refrain from alluding to the sud- den decease of our venerable friend, Josiah Bradlee, Esq., whose loss we this day mourn, from wliom we have received repeated favors, in common witli many other associations, scientific and charitable — who has been one of the pillars of this Society, and whose memory we shall delight to cherish. Before the adjournment of this meeting, I hope some of the mem- bers will be prepared with resolutions appropriate for this solemn event." On motion of C. M. llovey, a committee, consisting of the President, Vice Presidents, and CjI. Wilder, were appointed to prepare resolutions upon the death of the late Josiah Bradlee, an honorary member. C. M. Hovey presented the report of the Library Committee, which was accepted, and $400 appropriated for tiie year. The Garden Committee submitted their annual report, which was accepted. FEBRUAKY. 85 On motion of J. F. C. Hyde, the sum of two hundred and fifty dollars was voted to Wm. Kenrick. agreeably to the report submitted in December. Hon. M. P. Wilder, from the Committee to act in connection with the Natural History Society, in reference to procuring a grant from the Com- monwealth of a portion of the Back Bay lands for the erection of a structure for the accommodation of these and kindred societies, reported progress. He read an able memorial to the Legislature on the subject, in behalf of this Society, which was unanimously adopted and ordered to be published in the Transactions. Messrs. E. S. Rand, Jr., and B. V. French were added to the Committee for that object. Prof. Jenks of Middleborough read a very interesting translation of the observations made by Mons. Provost, of the Imperial Zoological Society of Paris, with reference to the food and migratory habits of birds. The thanks of the Society were voted to Prof. Jenks, and his communi- cation ordered to be printed. Messrs. Rand, Wilder and Wight were also appointed a Committee to ascertain in what manner the Society may aid Prof. J. in his important labors. On motion of C. M. Hovey, a Committee of Arrangements for the next annual Exhibition was chosen, as follows : — J. S. Cabot, E. S. Rand, Jr., D. T. Curtis, W. R. Austin, F. L. Winship, P. B. Hovey, R. M. Copeland, C. H. B. Breck, A. C. Bowditch, G. W. Pratt, E. A. Story, and W. H. Spooner, Jr. On motion of W. C. Strong, the sum of seventy-five dollars was voted to the Chairman of the Flower Committee for his services for 1859. A. C. Washburn and H. B Taylor were elected members. Adjourned for one week to Jan. 14th. Jan. \ith — An adjourned meeting of the Society — the President in the chair. Capt. Austin, from the Committee to settle with Mount Auburn, reported that they had attended to that duty, and submitted the following statement : Sales of lots for 1859, $26,059 79 Less expenses of Superintendent, _ _ - 1,400 00 24,659 79 Society's proportion, one quarter, - _ . 6,104 95 This amount, together with $'367.75 interest, had been paid to the Mount Auburn Cemetery for the note due them for the Society's proportion of the new purchase, agreeably to the arrangement made in 1858. E. S. Rand, from the Committee appointed to prepare resolutions upon the death of the late Josiah Bradlee, reported the following, which were accepted and entered upon the Society's records : — Whereas, in the wise providence of God, there has been removed from among us, after a long and active life, and in a good old age, Josiah Brad- lee, Esq., one of the oldest members of this Society ; therefore, Resolved, That though well aware that this sad event could not long be deferred, we still cannot but mourn the loss of one who has been so warm a friend and benefactor of tliis Society — the remembrance of whose pleas- 86 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ant smile and cheering voice, as well as lielping hand and wise counsel, will long live among us and be treasured in our hearts. Resolved, That the Secretary, in communicating these resolutions to the family of the deceased, be instructed to tender the expression of our deep and heartfelt sympathy. On motion of C. M. Hovey, the Committee of Arrangements were re- quested to fix upon the time of the next annual exhibition, and report to the Society on the first Saturday in February. On motion of P. B. Hovey, it was voted, that seventy-five dollars each be paid to the Chairmen of the Fruit Committee and Vegetable Committee for the year 18(30. Amos Binney was elected a member. Adjourned three weeks to Feb. 4th. The Reports of the several Committees are of such length that we have no space for them entire. With the exception of Mr. Cabot's report on Fruits, they contain but little that has not appeared in our monthly reports. Mr. Cabot's is principally devoted to the prominent question of raising pears for profit, which he discusses at some length, and in a manner so interest- ing that we extract this portion of it for the benefit of our readers and culti- vators of the pear : — As so many cultivators, in the vicinity of Boston, make of the pear an object of engrossing attention, or of paramount importance, remarks of a somewhat more extended character in relation to this fruit seems called for on the present occasion, by this circumstance, than is felt to be neces- sary with respect to other species, that, equally valuable, are not so much objects of general interest. The pear is a delicious fruit, and in some respects justifies the preference it appears to enjoy; indeed, there is no fruit superior to a luscious, juicy, melting pear, and none that is more generally esteemed ; and yet, for New England cultivation, in actual value and real importance, it must, it is be- lieved, yield precedence to the apple, especially as this last must be re- garded as a product not only of horticulture, but of agriculture. Although it is a fact generally understood, yet, as it seems necessary for the present purpose, a repetition of it will perhaps be excused. At the close of the past and commencement of the present century, an impression exist- ing that most of the varieties of the pear then generally cultivated were so infected with the vices and diseases incixlent to a very prolonged existence as to be fast becoming, if not already unfit for farther propagation, that an attempt was resolved on for the resuscitation of the species. The pioneer in this attempt, if not the originator of the idea, was Dr. Van Mons of Belgium, who, acting upon a theory established in his own mind as the just deduction from acknowledged principles, or the result of his own conclusions, believed that by raising seedlings for several suc- cessive generations, from the hardy wild pear, he should in the end pro- duce new varieties, that, free from disease, would produce fruit of superior quality. FEBRUARY. 87 To an attempt at a realization .of his idea Dr. Van Mons devoted his time and energies, prosecuting it with a patience and perseverance almost without a parallel, until in from the sixth to the eighth generation in regu- lar successive descent of his seedlings he attained to a confirmation of his theory and the fruition of his hopes and expectations, in the production of numerous varieties of new pears, that for quality are, down to the present time, considered as standards of excellence. The success that attended the efforts of Dr. Van Mons naturally caused much excitement with horticulturists, and induced similar attempts on the part of others, who thus became his associates and co-laborers, most of these however contenting themselves with the sowing promiscuously the seeds of varieties already improved, in some instances, perhaps, of those recently originated by Dr. Van Mons, and thus unawares carrying out his theory. This object, so successfully prosecuted in Belgium and France, was not wholly neglected in the British Islands, where Mr. Knight, the then Presi- dent of the London Horticultural Society, distinguished himself by pro- ducing several new varieties of fruit of different species. The method of raising seedlings adopted by Mr. Knight may be considered directly the reverse of that pureued by Dr. Van Mons, for Mr. Knight depended for success upon the artificial cross impregnation of one variety with another, selected for the purpose. Altko-gh Mr. Knight succeeded in producing some varieties of pears that he deemed worthy of propagation, yet none of them are now held in much estimation ; indeed, so far as is now remem- bered, with the exception of the Williams's Bon Chretien, or Bartlett, the Gansel's Bergamot, and perhaps the Dunmore, there are no pears of English origin that are held in much account in the United States. The interest created by the production of these ' new fruits naturally led to their early introduction into this country, and, so zealously and unin- terruptedly has efforts for this purpose been prosecuted, that there may now be found in the different collections round Boston almost every variety of the pear that has been thought worthy of propagation. In addition to those of foreign, the collections of this country contain, too, many of domestic origin, such in most cases having been the result of chance or accident, though the raising of new varieties from seed has not been here wholly neglected or unrewarded, as is evinced by the marked success of Mr. Francis Dana of Roxbury, in originating new kinds. From this it may be inferred, as is the fact, that the cultivation of the pear in this vicinity has not been confined to those whose qualities have been thoroughly tested and approved, but embraces a wide range of varie- ties, without much regard to the character of the tree for vigor and har- diness. Heretofore an opinion has prevailed that on the seaboard, at least of Massachusetts, and perhaps New Hampshire, the soil and climate were eminently suited to the pear ; that, although in reality an exotic, it having never been found as indigenous in any part of the United States, yet it had become so completely acclimated that it might be treated as a native, and that here, while the tree obtained a healthy, vigorous growth, the warmth 88 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. and brightness of the summer, and especially the alternation from the ex- treme heat of the day to the coolness of the night in the latter part of that season, was calculated to the production of the fruit in its most perfect development and highest flavor. That these flattering expectations with respect to the fruit were not unreasonable there is abundant evidence, for certainly no pears of higher flavor and more beautiful appearance can be produced than those yearly shown at the exhibitions of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society. But, with respect to the former, the adaptation of our climate to the tree, some misgivings, or rather, perhaps, some disappointment in many cases begins to be manifested, at the failure of what was felt to be but reasonable antici- pations with respect to this cultivation. Whether this disappointment is the effect of accidental causes, temporary in their character, and such as may be remedied or removed, or whether it arises from such as are inherent to the climate and situation, and thus impossible to be eradicated or con- trolled, is a question that is not yet capable of a definite solution, and can- not be, until the cultivation has been tested under all the conditions that, it may be, are necessary and essential to success. If this is a matter that may be deemed in suspense, a difference of opin- ion will probably continue to exist as long as any uncertainty endures, such opinions taking their hue and coloring from the character and disposition of the different individuals. And while the sanguine and confident find a cause for a partial or total failure in C2:m accidental circumstance, or some peculiarity of the year, the less confident and desponding will be apt to consider such peculiarity but the customary concomitant of the season, and find therein a fatal and insurmountable obstacle to success. If any delu- sion upon this subject has existed the sooner it is dissipated the better, for a continuance in error is always to be deprecated. The introduction of the pear into this country dates from its earliest set- tlement by Europeans. There is now a pear tree in the town of Danvers that, according to reliable tradition, was planted by one of the earliest governors of the Colony more than two hundred years ago, and, although but the remains of what it once was, it has this year produced fruit. Old pear trees, to ascertain whose age accurately, in most cases, no exact data exists, yet, whose planting must, from their size and appearance, cer- tainly date back to a period more than a century ago, may be found scat- tered about, especially in the gardens of the older towns, as Salem, Med- ford, Cambridge, and Roxbury ; those in Boston, where, otherwise, such would be no doubt most numerous, having been destroyed as the land was wanted for building or other uses. These trees are of course of the older, and, as is believed, of the more hardy varieties, as the Bon Chretien d'Et6, whose not very distant removal from the wild pear is indicated by its numerous stony concretions, the Orange, the Autumn Bergamot, and others of similar character. Such facts seem to lend confirmation to the opinion of the peculiar adap- tation of the soil and climate of this vicinity to the pear, and tends to fortify the position of those who maintain it. These may ask, if there are abun- FEBRUARY. 89 dant instances, as are afforded by these old trees, of the pear continuing to flouri.sh and to produce fruit for more than a century, in what are unreason- able the most glowing anticipations respecting its culture that have ever been indulged ? Has the soil deteriorated? Has the climate become more rigorous and inclement ? Certainly not ; the soil is as fertile as formerly, and if in some places it has become exhausted of the essential elements, there is abundance of it even yet virgin to the pear, and the climate, in- stead of having become more rigorous, has, if anything, been somewhat ameliorated, though it has probably undergone but little change of any kind, unless it may be that the average quantity of snow has diminished. But, while it is not denied that the soil and climate is as propitious as formerly, it is believed that the character of the tree, in the modern varie- ties, has been essentially modified and changed by cultivation ; that most of the fine varieties of recent origin are less hardy, have much less powers of endurance than the old varieties, of which those ancient trees consist. Although in but few, if in any cases, it has yet approached it, Dr. Van Mons seems to think there is a point beyond w^hich cultivation cannot be carried, when the individual would be incapable of propagating its kind, its seeds would be abortive, and when the next stage must be death. The pear, in its wild, and what may be considered as its normal state, is a shrubby, thorny, slow-growing tree, with rather small foliage, of close? compact, hard wood, coming late into bearing, that, in its cultivated or ab- normal state, seems to undergo a complete transformation, and to become converted into a rapid-growing tree, generally free from thorns, with large foliage, not very compact or close-grained wood, coming early into bearing- The fruit of the wild pear is small, hard, astringent with many stony con- cretions, and can hardly be considered as edible; while that of the cultivated tree is the delicious fruit so generally held in high estimation, becoming, in the last stages of high cultivation, a mere mass of pulp, filled with rich juice, entirely free from all stony concretions, even at the bottom of the stem. It is only as the tree recedes from its type that the change occurs in the fruit — and the farther this remove is effected the greater is the change that takes place, in both tree and fruit. Dr. Van Mons thought that the time would come when pears, reproducing themselves by seed, or being all good when raised from seed, would be propagated in no other way, and that grafting and budding would be entirely dispensed with. And he consid- ered that he had ascertained, in his own experience, that the farther his system of raising successive generations of seedlings was carried, the sooner the trees thus produced came into bearing. How this great change in the tree has been brought about it is not easy positively to say. Dr. Van Mons believed that it was effected by no other agent than cultivation. That, although a wild pear would, when left in its natural state, continue always to produce its like from seed, yet if it was removed and subjected to the influences of cultivation, that the fruit would be thereby affected ; that by sowing the seed of fruit in this disposi- tion to change, a new and improved variety would be produced, and that by 90 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTUEE. prosecuting this .system, that is, planting seed of this seedling, and so on, for several successive generations, that the highly improved varieties, such as are now in cultivation, would be obtained. And in his own practice, and by the success that attended it. Dr. Van Mens seems to have estab- lished the truth of his theory. Yet, it is possible, that he did not take suffi- cient account of a possible action of one agent in bringing about this change, that of hybridization produced by the winds or insects, that in a country like Belgium it would seem to be impossible to wholly avoid. If this supposition is correct, may it not be that the disease, as the canker or cracking of the bark and fruit, to which some of the new pears are sub- ject, lias been inherited from the old diseased varieties, in consequence of this hybridization ? But if cultivation has produced such favorable effects upon the fruit, and brought about this great improvement in its quality, its influence upon the tree has been of a much more questionable character, tending rather, as is believed, to the injury of its constitution, and bringing about a precocious- ness in bearing that has been obtained at the expense of its hardiness and its longevity. The system of Dr. Van Mons, as practised by him, seems to have for its object the enfeebling of the tree, as, by planting the seed of immature fruit, and in promoting a rapid growth, by enlarging the sap vessels, and forming their whole vegetable tissue of imperfect matter, or, if this en- feebling was not the object, such seems to have been the effect. All culti- vation of a tree puts it into an artificial condition, and a change so complete in its habits seems naturally an incident to disease, even when this cultiva- tion is conducted with a view to the duration of the tree. But when, as is usually the case, this cultivation is directed solely to the production of the finest fruit, in the greatest quantity, without much regard to the tree, the supposed tendency to disease must be greatly increased. If the views here suggested are correct, then the fact that pear trees of the older viirieties, whose cultivation had not been carried to so high a point, have here lived, flourished, and borne fruit for a century, affords no conclusive evidence of the adaptation of our soil and climate to the modern improved varieties, and that such would thrive under similar treatment and in like conditions for anything like the same period ; but, on the contrary, goes to show that instead of the treatment suited to a hardy indigenous tree, the latter will require that adapted to a somewhat tender exotic, in order to insure its existence and the production of its fruit in a perfect state. The seaboard of Massachusetts, and perhaps New Hampshire, is proba- bly the northern and eastern limit, beyond which the finest varieties of pears of modern origin cannot be cultivated, unless under peculiarly favora- ble circumstances, with much hopes of success, and indeed here this culture will demand the exercise of skill and judgment to overcome the obstacles with which it is attended. These obstacles grow, in a great measure, out of the character of the climate, its great extremes in opposite directions, of heat and cold, and those sudden and violent alternations from FEBRUARY. 91 one to the other to which it is liable. In Belgium and France, that seems to be the paradise of the pear, the temperature is more equable, without such great extremes of heat or cold, and is, on that account, it is believed, more congenial to this tree. In addition to the injurious tendency of the great difference in tempera- ture, to which the tree is here subject, another difficulty with which it has to contend, arises from the seasons of great and long-continued drought, as well as of excessive rain, that occasionally occur. What is the moral to be drawn from these conclusions, assuming Ihem to be correct? That we must abandon the cultivation of the pear? By no means. On the contrary let every man that owns a plat of ground suited to the purpose plant pear trees, according to his ability, to such an extent as to secure, as far as he can, an abundant supply for his family and less fortunately-situated friends — and let the owners of more extensive grounds appropriate a portion of the same, if by soil and exposure adapted to the purpose, to the raising of pears for the market, but let them in eacii case remember, that, to obtain success, something more is necessary than merely to plant the tree, and then abandon it to nature, subject, unaided, to all the influences of the seasons, but that this calls for the exercise of skill, unre- mitting attention, and the employment of every possible means to counter- act and guard against the evil influences, growing out of the rigor and vicissitudes of our climate. But, after all, the question in relation to this subject, of the most in- terest to cultivators, is, does, and if it does not, can the cultivation of peara be made to pay ? For, although with amateurs, or those who pursue it for a recreation, or as an object of interest, the matter of profit or loss is a con- cern of no great moment, yet, with most who devote themselves to it, it is of great consequence, and no species of cultivation can or should be ex- tensively, or for a long time pursued, that does not afford a fair remuner- ation. In the Report of the Committee of the last year, this question was some- what considered, and an opinion, guarded, to be sure, and somewhat quali- fied, was expressed, that thus far, if some few cultivators had, under pe- culiarly favorable circumstances, been successful, that, taken in the aggre- gate, the growing of pears had, in this vicinity, been attended with positive loss — but that, under proper and essential conditions, particularly with a suitable regard to varieties, it might be made moderately remunerative. Nothing has since occurred to induce a change of this opinion, but, on the contrary, it has the rather become strengthened and confirmed, though no more positive proof of its correctness can be adduced than was then offered. In the absence of all reliable statistics, or accurate data, from Avhich it would be an induction — opinions, let them be as they may, on a subject like this, naturally represent, or at least take their hue and coloring, from the personal experience of the individual, or are the result of information derived from, or of the experience of those with Avhom a familiar inter- course exists, never, perhaps, in any case, entirely reliable data, upon which to found it. 92 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. The same rules and principles that require to be attended to in other species of culture are applicable to that of the pear, as the selection of a suitable exposure, the proper soil, the rendering it sufficiently fertile, to- gether with the necessary amount of manipulation, and, especially if the view here presented of the character of the tree of modern varieties is cor- rect, the influences of the great variations of temperature in this climate, with a range of 110° or more in the thermometer, so far as they can be guarded against or controlled. Should these and such other conditions as will in each case suggest themselves to the judicious cultivator be complied with, and especially with a careful selection of varieties, there is reason to expect as fair remuneration for labor and capital in the cultivation of the pear as in the culture of any other fruit. As in agriculture, so in horticulture, an exclusive devotion to any one particular species of cultivation cannot be considered prudent or judicious, and the cultivator should adopt the raising of pears as one of the branches of his business, and not let it occupy his whole attention. Opposite views to those here presented, with respect to the character of the pear tree, the profits attending its culture, and its adaptation to th's part of the country, have no doubt many and able advocates, who sustain their opinions by facts and arguments that cannot be wholly denied or confuted ; personal interests dictate the wish that such should be found in the end to be sustained by experience ; but, as at present, such are believed to be erroneous, and that the expectations expressed are too sanguine to be ever realized, the expression of an honest opinion of a different character has been felt here to be a duty. One proof, by which some who maintain that great profit is to be easily derived from the cultivation of pears, sustain their opinion, is the great price occasionally received for a few dozen of the fruit, — the sum obtained from the product of a single tree, and the price that they bear in the market when offered in considerable quantities. Now such facts are, it is believed, as arnuments in fa.v or of a. general and extensive cullivntion of the pear, entirely fallacious, and, as facts bearing upon this question, of no importance whatever, indeed, that when analyzed they will have an opposite tendency to that intended. Price is the result of supply and demand, and is high or low according as one or the other is in excess. The high prices occasionally obtained, then, proves the inade- quacy of the supply, and when the vast number of pear trees planted in this vicinity during the past fifteen or twenty years is considered, that the supply is inadequate proves perhaps as much the precariousness of the crop and the want of success that has attended the cultivation, as it does any- thing else. Besides, let the supply be what it may, the quantity to be sold at extravagantly high prices is very limited, and to commence an extended cultivation under the expectation of obtaining such prices, would not be much more judicious than for a farmer to devote himself to a crop that, unless at famine prices, would not afford a remuneration. It will of course be understood, that what is here said with regard to the FEBRUARY. 93 profit attending the growing of pears, is intended to have reference only to cases where that is made a business demanding the employment of capital and labor, and not to instances of a few trees of some hardy variety or varieties demanding but little care ; and, where the expense is merely the first cost of the tree, and perhaps the annual value of the land they occupy, leaving nearly all their produce to be considered as profit. And so, too, it will also be understood that it is intended that these remarks shall only be considered as applicable to the vicinity of Boston. Of the adaptation or unadaptation of the pear, to other and perhaps distant parts of the country, and of the profit or loss attending its cultivation in such, no personal knowledge is possessed, neither has any opportunity for forming an opinion upon either of these subjects been afforded, and none is therefore expressed. In a country, so extensive as the United States, with such a diversity of soil and climate, it can hardiy fail to happen that different sections will require diflferent objects of cultivation ; that what succeeds in one may fail in others, and that this applies to pear as well as to other cultures. It is apparent that in the preceding remarks great stress is laid upon a selection of varieties for cultivation. There is, it is believed, nearly or quite as much difference in the constitution, hardihood, and vigor of pear trees as of animals. While some are of hardy, vigorous, strong growth, others are weakly, and of feeble, slender habit, and this difference manifests itself in the first stages, and continues through all the periods of existence. In a climate like this, subject not only to such extremes, but also to such sudden alternations of temperature, as well as to such excess or deficiency of rain, it is important to select varieties, that, from their habit, will be most probably able to resist its vicissitudes. The character of the fruit too is also to be considered in making this selection; some pears of superior quali- ty are so disposed to blight and crack as to be worthless ; while others that are perhaps inferior to the best in quality, yet being always smooth and handsome are desirable. As has been before said, this is not an occasion to attempt a treatise on cultivation. Yet, to name a few varieties, that, judging from past expe- rience, will be, it is thought, most likely to give satisfaction, may not be out of place. And first upon the list is placed that universal favorite, the Bartlett, that, although injured the past winter, has usually seemed to thrive in almost all places, and under almost all circumstances; and then the Golden Beurr6 of Bilboa, that seems hardy, is a good bearer, and in appearance exceed- ingly attractive, from its golden-yellow color ; the Doyenne Boussock, a variety extensively cultivated in Belgium, desirable for its size and beau- ty, strong and vigorous on its own roots, but not suited to the quince. The Due de Brabant or Waterloo, a strong growing tree, and large fruit; the Louise Bonne de Jersey, and the Swan's Orange, an American variety, an exceedingly beautiful tree, with large fruit, of good, if not the best quality ; the Merriam, the Adams, the Abbot and the Shel- don, all of native origin, and the Beurre Bosc, a fine tree, and very fine * fruit — that may, as Autumn pears, all be safely recommended for cultiva- 94 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. tion. To these should be added, perhaps, the Beurre d'Anjou, the Beurr6 Hardy, and Due d'Orleans, not yet thoroughly tested, but giving promise of being adapted to the purposes of American cultivators. Of the Winter varieties, among the best may be placed the Winter Nelis, not a handsome tree, but a good bearer, a universal favorite, and generally succeeding. The Beurre Langelier, and Glout Morceau, both very fine pears, and fine trees, and Vicar of Winkfield. This last, how- ever, to be recommended for the exceeding beauty and vigor of the tree and its bearing property, rather than for the quality of the fruit, that although large, and when carefully ripened sometimes good, is more gen- erally very indifferent. The Easter Beurr6, the best of the very late-keeping varieties, in favorable situations, and the Columbia, a strong, vigorous, American variety, but whose large fruit is exceedingly apt to be blown off by the winds, in sheltered places, may also be worthy of attention. In cases where not much attention can be bestowed on their cultivation, in the open country, in exposed places, the coarser varieties, those suitable for cooking only, are probably those that, as a matter of profit, will give the most satisfactory results, are perhaps the only ones that will at all do so, such varieties as the Truckhill Bergamotte, Uvedale's St. Germain, Spanish Bon Chretien, Vicar of Winkfield, and others of similar character. Reports to the Society from its several Standing Committees, except the Award of Premiums, are customarily, if not necessarily, prepared by their respective Chairmen, without much consultation with the other members. This has been the case on the present occasion ; and although a desire and intention has existed to give, when such had been expressed, upon all matters of doubt, where a difference of opinion had occurred^ the opinion of his colleagues rather than his own — yet, as such expression has rarely been made, no one of the Committee should be considered responsible for the sentiments herein advanced, when such do not commend themselves to the judgment, but the Chairman. JOSEPH S. CABOT, Chairman. portitnltural ©ptrntioirs FOR FEBRUART. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. The last of December and early part of January were unusually cold, with the temperature from xero to 8° below, on four or five days, and a fortnight of such uniform cool weather rarely occurs ; but a change set in about the 10th, and since then it has been very mild, with but little severe frost. The snow has nearly disappeared, and the weather more like the last of March than midwinter. Grape Vines in the early and forced houses will now be fully mature, FEBRUARY. 95 and if a moderate temperature is maintained, with a dry atmosphere, they will hang for a long time. Vines in the grapehouse and grapery will begin to break with the warm sun of February. As soon as this is perceived they will require attention. Syringe freely every morning and evening in good weather, and maintain a genial atmosphere at all times. Begin with a moderate temperature, particularly during the night. Air freely, but cautiously, as the vines advance into leaf, and close early in the afternoon. Vines in pots, now swelling their fruit, will be benefited by a liberal supply of liquid manure. Vines may now be propagated by eyes or cuttings. Scions of fruit trees may be cut this month. Prumng may now be begun, where there is much to do ; it will save valuable time later in the season. Root GraftixNg may now be completed. • Grafting may be commenced the last' of the month, if the weather is not too cold. Cherries succeed best when the work is done early. Strawberry, Raspberry, Currant, and other fruit seeds may now be planted in pots or boxes in the greenhouse or hotbed. FLOWER 1)EPARTMENT. The conservatory and greenhouse should now be in their greatest beauty neat, clean, well arranged, and gay with azaleas, camellias, carnations, cinerarias, primroses, &c., &c. As the days become longer, -and the sun more powerful, opportunity should be taken, especially in mild weatherj to air liberally that a healthy and stocky growth may be maintained. Now is the period, before out-door operations require attention, to complete every- thing in the house. Camellias done blooming, as well as many other plants require a good heading in, if fine specimens are wanted. Azaleas should be tied into neat pyramidal or conical shape. Roses, and others climbers, pruned of superfluous wood, and everything likely to need potting before spring, should be now shifted. Orchids which have been kept cool and dry, to give them a period of rest, should now be brought into heat and a moist atmosphere. Hotbeds should be made in order to forward many things, particularly bedding plants, and young cuttings just rooted. Pelargoniums will now become prominent objects of attention, wherever there are fine-blooming specimens. As the young shoots break and extend their growth, the new branches should be neatly tied out in order that the light and air may mature the growth. Water rather more liberally, keep cool, and air freely. Fancy varieties may have a higher temperature than the large-flowered sorts. Young stock should all be repotted immediately. Azaleas will begin to bloom; gradually increase the supply of water and syringe occasionally in good weather. Young stock, intended for specimens next year, should be repotted and forwarded in a close rather moist temperature ; nip off" all shoots, to form a compact head. Camellias will begin to grow the latter part of the month. Prune all such plants as require it immediately, and give M'ater and syringe freely to insure a vigorous growth of young wood. Repot young stock. Cuttings may be put in. 96 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Gloxinias and Achimenes should be repotted and placed in bottom heat, if possible. Amaryllises should be shifted and placed in the stove or in a slight bot- tom heat; a good fibrous loam, leaf mould and sand is the proper soil. BouvARDiAS may be propagated from cuttings, placing them in a brisk bottom heat. Rhododendron and Hardy Azalea seeds should be sown in boxes or pans, filled with sandy peat. Cyclamens, which have filled their pots with roots, may be shifted. Monthly Carnations, growing freely, may be repotted; put in cut- tings, or layer the strong shoots around the pot, if new stock is wanted. Verbeneas, Petunias, and other bedding plants, should be propagated from cuttings. LiLiUM giganteum should be repotted as soon as the bulbs begin to start into growth. Japan Ijilies, now beginmng to grow, should have a cool situation near the glass. Fuchsias should be repotted in good, rich, light soil, and be well headed in so as make handsome pyramids. Heaths should not be allowed to get pot-bound ; shift all that require it immediately. Seeds of various annuals may be planted, such as Petunias, Datura, Stocks, Cobsea, &c., &c. Lantanas should be started into growth, and cuttings put in. Place in a brisk bottom heat. Ixias and Sparaxis, in small pots, may have a shift into a larger size. Calceolarias, intended for large specimens, should receive their final potting the last of the month. Give an airy situation near the glass. Deutzia gracilis, for blooming in pots, may now be brought into the house. Pansies, Carnations, and other plants, in frames, should be aired in good weather. FaRkugium GRANDE should uow recoive a shift into larger pots. Begonias should be kept in a warm and close part of the house. Water liberally if a good temperature is maintained; otherwise keep them rather dry till late in the season. Tritoma uvaria may now be increased by division of the roots. Keep in a cool temperature, and rather dry, till well established. Gladiolus seeds, sown now, will make larger bulbs than if planted later in the season. Roses may be repotted, if growing vigorously. Fumigate, to keep down the green fly. Cactuses should be sparingly watered. Now is the best time to graft the showy kinds on the Cerus triangularis, to make large specimens, or standard plants. Insects should be looked after. Fumigate often, to destroy the green fly; and use sulphur to destroy the red spider. FRUIT CULTURE IN THE WEST. The Western States are making rapid strides in pomolog- ical progress. Where, but a few years since, the broad, verd- ant, and ahnost interminable prairie spread out, now may be found flourishing orchards and fruitful gardens. Not only have hundreds of individuals largely embarked in the culti- vation of fruit, and proved the capacity of the soil and climate for their profitable growth, but horticultural societies have been organized in all the principal cities, and State associa- tions formed, whose object it is, through cooperation, to foster , and encourage the cultivation of fruits, and disseminate in- formation which shall tend to the most successful results. Ohio was the first to engage in the great work, but other States have imitated her example, and now each are zealously inter- ested in the subject. The agricultural papers have been filled with the reports of the proceedings of the State societies, and the information which has been developed shows with what energy the members have engaged in their labors. Fruit culture in Ohio dates back to a very early period : as long ago as 1796, Israel Putnam, who emigrated to Ohio, returned to New England partly to procure apple scions, and he succeeded in introducing about fifty of the finest of our Eastern apples. Up to 1816, Mr. Putnam and A. W. Putnam his brother were the only nurserymen in Ohio. Oth- ers then engaged in the business, among whom was Mr. Dana of Belpre. In 1824, Mr. Silas Wharton established three or four nurseries at various places, and offered for sale upwards of EIGHTY sorts of apples, and more than fifty of pears, nearly as many as our largest New England collections contained at the same period. Ohio was therefore early supplied with excellent fruits, the results of which are now apparent in the fine collections which still may be found in various parts of the State, and in the early establishment of the Cincinnati Horticultural Society and the Ohio Pomological Society, both of whicli have done so much towards mtroducing to notice VOL. XXVI. — NO. III. 7 98 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. the many native fruits, the product of seed carried out by the early settlers of that region. The Transactions of the Ohio Pomological Society, at its ninth session, held at Columbus, on the 7th, 8th and 9th of December, now before us, contain not only a very inter- esting account of the doings of the society, but are accompa- nied with memoirs of the pioneer fruit growers of the Ohio valley, from which we glean the above information. As an exposition of the state of pomology in the West, we briefly review the proceedings, and note the more prominent fruits of general interest which received attention : — GRAPES. Mustang. Mr. Affleck, of Texas, said this variety was the natural grape there, and the best way to grow other varieties was to graft them on the roots of this. Some German colo- nists in that State had experimented largely with foreign varieties, with a view to wine-making, but with very indiffer- ent results. He had advised them to turn their attention to the native species, and he believed that some of our varieties from the Southern States will be found highly valuable to them as wine grapes. The Scuppernong he believed to be the best of all wine grapes for the South. He was favorably im- pressed with the Diana and the Delaware. The latter is a good grower in Mississippi. He considered Texas an unex- plored field, and believed that excellent varieties of wild grapes may yet be discovered there. Delaware. Mr. Bateham wished to know how much weight was attached to the objection that it was a slender . growing variety. Mr. Campbell, of Delaware, said the objection was a valid one in reference to soils and locations. It was more difficult to propagate and impatient of transplanting ; but little growth can be expected the first year. This latter circumstance had caused disappointment for a time to many persons, who have purchased roots and set them out with care, hoping to see them speedily give promise of affording them luscious fruit in return for the liberal price paid for them. But all he pould say was, wait till the second or third year ; then, if the MARCH. 99 soil is good, the growth will be satisfactory. In low, clayey lands the vines sometimes mildew. He had a vine against the west side of his house, which made shoots twenty feet long the last year, and bore a good crop of fruit. As to the hardiness of the vines, he had left them of all ages exposed to the hardest winters without injury, when plants of the same age, of Catawba, Clinton and Isabella, were killed to the ground. The fruit had never been affected with rot or mil- dew. Mr. Hazeltine corroborated the remarks of Mr. Campbell. Dr. Warder considered the Delaware a feeble or slender grower ; had commonly found it so ; but at Chicago he re- cently saw a vine in well-prepared sandy soil that had grown six feet the first season after planting. Mr. Bateham thought it would prove the grape for the million, but it must liave good feeding. All the speakers agreed that it rooted readily from layers. Diana. Mr. Campbell had fruited this variety and thinks highly of it. Would rank it next the Delaware as a table grape ; not equal to that variety in delicacy and flavor of fruit, nor so early in ripening, but a stronger grower, hardy, productive, large, handsome and good. Its time of ripening- was two weeks before the Catawba. Mr. Heaver took excep- tions to Dr. Grant's remark about the flavor of the Diana " exceeding the Catawba in its best state at Cincinnati," and thought the Doctor had never tasted the Catawba in its best state at Cincinnati. Concord. Dr. Warder regards this as the best hardy grape for common purposes and for every body. Its vigorous growth and hardiness, thriving in all soils and situations, adapt it to the wants especially of careless and lazy cultivators, while the fine size, handsome appearance, earliness, and fine quality of the fruit render it quite valuable for every day use, and profit- able for market. He was at first somewhat prejudiced against this variety, but on further acquaintance he had come to think highly of it. Regarded it as far superior to the Isabella for this climate. [We knew the Dr. was too intelligent a grape grower to arrive at any other conclusion when he expressed his oivn good judgment, which accords, word for word, with 100 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. that expressed by ourselves, when we first recommended the Concord to our friends. We deem it a no small honor to be backed up by our good friend the Dr. — Ed.] Hartford Prolific. Dr. Warder said this grape was gaining in popularity at the East, especially for its hardiness, vigor, earliness and fine quality, adapting it particularly to the New England climate. He considered it worthy of trial. He did not know of any experiments with it in Ohio. Logan. Mr. Campbell thought highly of it, as the earliest dark-colored American grape of good quality. In size, qual- ity and appearance of fruit it resembled the Isabella, but its time of ripening was full two weeks earlier than it, and about the same as the Delaware. This grape was brought to notice by Dr. Thompson, who found it near TTrbana, from whence it has been brought from Logan Co. Marion. Dr. Warder said this variety was introduced to notice by Mr. Longworth ; he did not know its origin. It was a dark-colored grape, of fine quality, resembling the Isabella, but larger, and ripening about the same season. It had not become much known. Marion Port. Mr. Bateham said it was distinct from the last. It is an American variety, brought into notice by Rev. Mr. Shepherd of Marion, first as the " Black German," but its name was chaiigcd to Marion Port, as it is said to make a superior article of wine resembling port. The berries and bunches are smaller than the Isabella, but it is said to be eariier, and hardy and productive. L^NiON Tillage. Mr. Heaver spoke of this variety as do- ing well around Cincinnati, and much approved for its vigor- ous growth, and great size, beauty, and excellence of the fruit. It resembles, in size, color and bunch, the Black Hamburgh. APPLES. Quite a number of varieties were presented for exhibition and trial. Dr. Warder and Mr. Wood were appointed a com- mittee to bring forward the specimens. Few new facts were elicited, but we copy the following in regard to some of the varieties, which show a decided change of opinion as regards their value : — MARCH. 101 Jonathan. Dr. Warder and others from Cincinnati said it was fast coming into favor there. Mr. Bateham said it continued to do well at Columbus. ToLMAN Sweet. Approved by all who like baked apples, [and who does not ?] Danvers Winter Sweet. Pronounced very good. Golden Russet. Several persons said this variety had proved more reliable in certain localities in central and south- ern Ohio than the Roxbury. It was a great and sure bearer. Fallawateb, or Tulpehocken. Very large and handsome specimens ; commended as a good market variety. Dr. War- der said it was a very free-growing and early-bearing variety, but complaint had been made that the trees were rather short lived. Twenty-Ounce, or Cayuga Red Streak. Very large, hand- some, fair quality. Peck's Pleasant. Said to be growing in favor at the North as one of the best and most profitable winter fruits. Dr. Warder had seen it very good in southern Illinois, but pre- sumed it would be only a late fall variety, like the R. Island Greening there. Rome Beauty. Former reports confirmed. Preeminently the market apple of some parts of the State. Tree a fine grower and early bearer. The specimens exhibited were from six barrels of fruit gathered last year from an orchard planted only three years ago last spring, and the trees only one year old (root g-rafted) when planted. Dr. Warder confirmed the report that the fruit deteriorated in color and quality, in most locations, when the trees became large, Tinless pains were taken to prune the trees so as to give plenty of sun and air. Roxbury Russet. Very large specimens by Mr. Kelly, who said this continued to hold its place as second in value as a market fruit in the southern counties. Mr. W. R. Put- nam, grandson of Gen. Putnam, of Belpre, narrated some interesting facts respecting this and other fruits in Washing- ton County. The Putnam or Roxbury Russet, at the head of the list of twenty-three varieties first brought out by his father, was by far the most profitable apple for market pur- poses that had yet been discovered for that region. Mr. Geo. 102 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTUEE. Dana said the Russet had been without a rival in that county for more than forty years ; and only one variety, the Rome Beauty, could at all compare with it in value for shipment to the southern markets. He was often asked what three or four varieties of apples he would recommend for extensive planting in his region, and he was always at a loss for the third after Roxb ry Russet and Rome Beauty. The latter va- riety originated in Washington Co., and it is worthy of remark that it is the only seedling variety of much excellence that has ever been produced there, notwithstanding the proverbial excellence of Washington County apples. As far as his ex- perience went, he was inclined to give the Romanite (or Gilpin) the third place as a market fruit. Mr. Bateham inquired whether, within a few years, com- plaints had not been made of the Russet's falling prematurely and becoming specked on the trees ? Mr. Dana, in reply, said such was the case for two or three years before the past and present seasons, and this gave the Rome Beauty the extraordinary run of popularity for the time ; but now the tide seems turning again in favor of the Russet, and the other variety is failing somewhat in certain localities. Rawle's Janet. Mr. Kelly would rank this next or third for his region. Its comparative lack of size was its only drawback. Quality superior to others. Smith's Cider. Former reports confirmed, and more em- phatic testimony in its favor as a certain and profuse bearer, and most profitable market variety. Liberty, considered the best winter variety by Mr. McMas- ters, who was anxious to procure young trees to plant an orchard for market. Mr. Bateham considered it one of the best long-keeping apples known for this section, though not quite first rate in quality. Keiser was pronounced only second rate. Holman only third rate. Belmont one of the best for northern Ohio. PEARS. Winter Nelis. Dr. Warder said it was very good, but the tree a miserable grower. Some had found it to grow poorly on the quince. MARCH. 103 Easter Beurre. Liable to the same objections, but one of the best pears. Bartlett proved first in value as a market fruit, was a good grower, early, and a sure bearer, especially as a standard. Mr. Heaver said as a dwarf it had done well with him, only it needed a year or two of rest after bearing a full crop, as it was disposed to overbear. The first crop of fruit on a young dwarf should be picked off. [This is good advice.] Louise Bonne of Jersey. Pronounced the second best market variety, especially as a dwarf ; growth fine and very productive. KiRTLAND. Mr. Heaver said this was not so generally known as it deserves to be. He thinks highly of it ; it ripens two weeks earlier than the Seckel ; thrives both as a standard and dwarf. Duchess of Angouleme. There was some difference of opinion in regard to this. Mr. Hazeltine had found it reliable and good. Dr. Warder had not found it reliable, but would have it for its large size and good quality. Golden Beurre of Bilboa. Dr. Warder considered this a glorious good pear, deserving more popularity than it had had. Thought it the best substitute for the White Doyenn^. Does admirably around Cincinnati. Le Cure, or Vicar, was approved by some, but others had not succeeded in ripening it satisfactorily. The report closes with some very interesting memoirs of the pioneer Fruit Growers and Nurserymen of the Ohio Val- ley, gathered together by the President, Mr. Ernst, and R. Buchanan, Esq., during the continued ill health of the former gentleman, who, we regret to learn, has been confined to his house for many months. The whole is very interesting, as giving a complete history of fruit culture in this region, and contains much incidental information relative to the names and early history of several fruits. These memoirs have brief notices of the Putnam brothers, Zebulon Gillett & Son, Silas Wharton, J. Hampton and John Osborn of Indiana, Wallace Brothers of the same State, Sigerson Brothers of St. Louis, Reuben Ragan of Indiana, Joshua Lindley of Ken- tucky, Myers & Sons, John Chapman alias Johnny Appleseed, 104 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. (see his history in our Magazine, Vol. XII. p. 133, furnished by Mr. Humrickhouse,) Prof. Kirtland, A. H. Ernst, N. Long- worth, Lewis Sanders of Kentucky, and many others not so well known to pomologists, but who actively engaged in fruit culture, and aided in disseminating a taste which has led to the present advanced condition of fruit culture in the West. MOTIONS AND SENSIBILITY OF PLANTS. BY WILSON FLAGG. BuFFON believed that there was no precise boundary be- tween the animal and vegetable kingdoms ; that their extremes met and melted into each other, like light and darkness at that point which we call twilight. If their distinguishing marks, however, cannot be precisely defined, they are gener- ally well understood, and the animal and the vegetable have, after all, but little resemblance to each other. The power of locomotion, or motion from place to place, is considered pe- culiar to animals ; but this is not a uniform distinction. There are certain animals that do not possess this power, as many of the Crustacea ; while, on the other hand, there are some plants that seem to be endowed with it. There is a species of Spleenwort, called the Walking Leaf, (Asplenium rhizo- phyllum,) that advances from place to place : but it will be observed, that there is no actual locomotion in this case. The plant strikes root at the extremity of its fronds, and gives rise to new plants, each of which is a few inches in advance of the one from which it was produced. Hence, in the course of a few seasons, this plant might seem to have walked over a whole field. There is this remarkable difference between the motions of plants and those of animals ; — while those of the latter are voluntary, the former are evidently unattended either with volition or consciousness. Dr. Darwin, however, contends for the theory of vegetable spontaneity. He remarks, " that as the sleep of animals consists in a suspension of voluntary motion, and as vegetables are likewise subject to sleep, there MARCH. 105 is reason to conclude that the various actions of opening and closing their petals and foliage may be justly ascribed to a voluntary power ; for, without the faculty of volition, sleep would not have been necessary to them." It is true that the motions of plants towards the light bear resemblance to those of animals ; but it is probable that they are the result of a sort of vital affinity, and attended with no more volition than the movements of a needle towards a loadstone. The Hedysarum gyrous, called the Moving plant, affords one of the most remarkable instances of vegetable motion. When exposed to the light of the sun, the leaves of this plant are never still. Some are rising while others are falling, or moving in a sort of rotary course. These motions are most apparent when the air is still and warm, and bear some resem- blance to animal respiration. They are evidently produced by the action of the sun's rays, for they continue without ceasing, until the solar influence is withdrawn. During the night, and in cool, cloudy weather, they are motionless. In the Marchantia polymorpha, or Brook Liverwort, some yellow down proceeds from the pollen-bearing anthers, and^ moves spontaneously in the anther, while it drops its dust-like atoms. This seems to be a motion provided by nature for the purpose of strewing its seed, like the snapping of the pods of the Balsam, when its seeds are matured. Dr. Darwin enumerates several curious instances of sponta- neous motion in the organs of the flowers of different plants. In a species of Collinsonia, having two stamens and one pointal ; the two former stand widely apart, and tlie pointal may be seen to bend itself into contact first with one and then with the other. The pointals in Nigella (Jack in the Bush) are very tall compared with the stamens, and, bending over in a circle to them, give the flower a resemblance to a regal crown. The pointal of the Epilobium angustifolium (Rose- bay willow herb) bends down amongst the stamens for several days, and after a while becomes upright again. In the Kal- mia the ten stamens lie round the pistil, like the radii of a wheel ; and each anther is concealed in a niche of the corol, to protect it from cold and moisture. These anthers rise separately from their niches, and approach the pistil for a 106 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. time, and then recede to their former situations. Many other remarkable cases of a similar character are enumerated in the " Botanic Garden." Such motions are too slow and gradual to be perceived, except by the closest observation ; but those of the Dionsea muscipula, so often described, may be easily seen. The leaves of this plant are jointed, and furnished with two rows of prickles. Their surfaces are covered with minute glands, that secrete honey and allure the approach of flies. When the insect alights on these parts, the two lobes of the leaf close together and confine the insect in their embraces. The same motion may be produced by touching the parts with a straw or a pin. A similar contractility is observed in the flower of the com- mon barberry. In the fully-expanded flower, if the inside of the filaments be touched with any pointed object, they will suddenly contract and draw themselves up towards the stigma. Here is evidently something analogous to sensibility. But the most remarkable cases of vegetable sensibility and motion are found among the Mimosas, many species of which are sensitive. It is this quality of the plant which has caused it to be designated a's the emblem of purity. This property has given origin to several interesting fables and notions. It was formerly believed tliat it Avould bear the touch of chaste per- sons without shrinking. Frequent handling is very injurious and finally destructive to it. There seems to be some resemblance between the irritabil- ity of the sensitive plant, and that of the muscles of an animal which has been suddenly deprived of life. When a slight irritation is applied to the muscles of its dead body, they will shrink and contract as if still endowed with sensation. " Naturalists have not explained the immediate cause of the collapsing of the sensitive plant. The leaves meet and close in the night, during the sleep of the plant, or when exposed to much cold in the day-time, in the same manner as when they are affected by external violence, folding their upper surfaces together, and in part over each other, like scales or tiles, so as to expose as little of the upper surface as may be to the air ; but do not indeed collapse quite so far, since it MARCH. 107 has been found that when touched in the night, during sleep, they fall still further, especially when touched on the foot- stalks between the stems and the leaflets, which seems to be their most sensitive or irritable part. Now as their situation, after being exposed to external violence, resembles their sleep, but with a greater degree of collapse, may it not be owing to a numbness or paralysis consequent on too violent irritation, like the fainting of animals from pain or fatigue ? The writer kept a sensitive plant in a dark room till some hours after day-break. Its leaves and leafstalks were collapsed, as in its most profound sleep, and, on exposing it to the light, above twenty minutes passed before the plant was thoroughly awake and had quite expanded itself. During the night, the upper or smoother surfaces of the leaves are appressed to- gether. This would seem to show that the office of this sur- face of the leaf was to expose the fluids of the plant to the light as well as to the air. Many flowers close up their petals during the night." The sunflower is often mentioned for its property of turning to the sun ; but it has no such property, except as applied to its florets. The sunflower follows the course of the sun by nutation — that is, by a general turning of its florets in the direction of the sun, and not by twisting its stem. The name of sunflower was undoubtedly given to this plant from the resemblance of its flower to the disk of the sun, as anciently represented in simple engravings. There are many other plants which exhibit more of this property than the sunflower, and nearly all species, when confined in a room, turn the shining surface of their leaves and bend their recently-formed branches to the light. In no other flower is this tvrnsole quality so apparent as in the tricolored violet, or pansy. When a bed of pansies is covered with blossoms, on a clear, sunny day, all the flowers may be oljserved turning in one direction towards the sun. Thus they will all face the east in the morning, and the west in the afternoon. After sunset the petals are partially folded together. It is the brilliancy of these flowers that makes the uniformity of their direction so apparent to the observation. Among the gems of poetry that lie buried in the dust oi 108 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. old book-shelves, I discovered the following verses, which describe the habits of the pansy so fancifully and yet so truly, that I may be pardoned for quoting them in this place. They are too good to be generally appreciated ; but I do not fear to place them before the readers of Hovey's Magazine : — THE PANSY. By C. S. Edgeworth, (1800.) When the young Spring her feathered train recalls, And when the bee rebuilds its honeyed walls : When gentle April sheds her genial showers, And vernal zephyrs breathe on budding flowers; — Tufted in grassy rings, where fairies play, Pansies, half seen, their rainbow robes display : Like pigmy peacocks spread their purple plumes, Shedding at once a season of perfumes. A jetty star protects their ivory breast, And velvet saffron forms their decent vest. But when gray Autumn calls his brother winds. Gathers their forces and their wrath unbinds ; Bids dark November's threat'ning tempest roar. And warns the ant to hoard her winter store ; — Void of all shape, all color, all perfume — Pale is the jetty star and purple plume ! Resigned, the florets feel the blast of death, — But ere they perish by the winter's breath, They hide, instinctive, in funereal snows. The treasured capsules which their young enclose. Round their cold tombs the infant fondlings lie. To bud and blossom where their parents die. REPORT ON GRAPES AT CHISWICK. BY THE LONDON HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. The following notice of several varieties of grapes, both new and old, will be read with interest by many cultivators of this delicious fruit. It is well known that unusual interest has been manifested in the culture of grapes and the produc- tion of new varieties among the English grape-growers the last few years. Many excellent new sorts have been produced, and many old varieties brought out under new names ; and MARCH. 109 some Tery gross errors have been committed in the latter class. It will therefore be interesting to know what is thought of some of these reputed new kinds, by amateurs and cultiva- tors who are able to decide upon their merits. This report furnishes this information. For although we cannot admit that vines' two years planted will show the true character of the fruit, still a near approximation may be made to the truth, and, as such, we place much confidence in this report. The knowledge obtained will save the necessity of obtaining such grapes as one already possesses, while it will give a fair esti- mate of the value which other really new and distinct kinds possess. — Ed. The vines which now occupy the large conservatory arc growing partly in an outside, and partly in an inside border. The largest of them, which are chiefly those in the outside border, were planted in August, 1857, so that they have had but two seasons' growth. Many of those which were planted in the inside at the same time were replaced by more suitable varieties during the autumn of 1858 and spring of 1859. The outside border was prepared in the end of July, 1857. It is four feet wide and about two feet deep, including drain- age, the latter consisting of several inches deep of brickbats and rubbish, so that the depth of prepared soil is about eighteen or twenty inches ; it consists of Wimbledon loam, and chopped turf, obtained from the surface of the van-ground, a little charred earth, and a small quantity of manure. These outside borders have had no water, except the rain which fell on them. The inside ones, being very shallow, required the earthen pipes placed at intervals along them to be filled two or three times a week during the hot weather ; and through- out that period, and until the grapes began to color, the whole of the inside area was watered two or three times a day, the evaporation from which contributed to cool and moisten the air of the hoiise. It may be proper to mention that the conservatory at Chis- wick is elevated on a terrace about two feet above the general level, and the outside borders are of course on this elevated surface. This arrangement, which entirely prevents the 110 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. pressure and accumulation of superfluous moisture in the soil, is one to be highly recommended in the formation of vine borders. The curvilinear span-roof and exposed position of the house, both favorable to the free admission of light, have also no doubt had an influence on the ripening of the crop. The treatment throughout has been that of an ordinary vinery. During the months of July, August, and September, the range of temperature was as follows : — July : morning, 60° to 73° in lower part, 60° to 74° in upper part. u noon. 83 to 105 do. 88 to 109 do. Aug.: ; morning. 52 to 67 do. 50 to 68 do. (( noon. 70 to 99 do. 70 to 104 do. Sept. : ; morning, 52 to 63 do. 50 to 60 do. u noon, 70 to 85 do. 70 to 92 do. During the season of 1858 the vines had an attack of mil- dew. In autumn they were carefully done over with flowers of sulphur and loam. Notwithstanding this, the mildew again made its appearance in the present season, although two pounds of sulphur were early distributed in the air of the house. On the 17th of March, 8 lbs. were applied to the shoots and leaves with a sulphurator ; 4 lbs. more on the 21st of May ; 14 lbs. June 9th ; and 7 lbs. June 12th — making in all 33 lbs. between the 17th March and 12th of June. The result was that the damage done was slight. The vines were examined by the Fruit committee on September 20th ; and subsequently by a sub-committee for the purpose of complet- ing the report : — Black Hamburgh. — Bunches moderate-sized, shouldered ; berries roundish-oval, sometimes roundish, black with a fine bloom ; skin very thin ; flesh tender, melting, and very richly flavored, both sugary and piquantly vinous. Leaves sharply serrated, the ribs of the under surface covered with cobwebbed tomentum, and having bristly pubescence in their axils. This is the true old Black Hamburgh, and though smaller both in the bunch and berry than other varieties, it is decidedly the best in quality. Warner's Hamburgh, the Hampton Court, and the Richmond Villa Hamburgh are synonymous kinds. Dutch Hamburgh, from Messrs. Lee of Hammersmith ; the same as Wilmot's Black Hamburgh, from Mr. Wilmot of MARCH. Ill Isle worth. Bunches medium-sized, compact, not much shoul- dered ; berries large, roundish-oblate, indented as if ham- mered on the surface, and often so much so as to appear mis- shapen, black, covered with a thin bloom ; skin thick, adher- ing closely to the flesh, which is coarse, firm, and hollow around the seeds. Leaves roundish in outline, the serratures of the lobes coarse and bluntish ; the veins of the under sur- face clothed with cobwebbed tomcntum, and having tufts of bristly pubescence in their axils. This differs from the Black Hamburgh in liaving larger berries, more decidedly round, and marked like a hammered bullet ; the flesh is much firmer, but not so juicy nor so rich and sugary ; the leaves are also less pubescent. Frankenthal. — To this must be referred the Pope and Victoria Hamburghs, and the Black Tripoli of Welbeck. Bunches large, strongly shouldered ; berries roundish, fre- quently oblate, and rarely roundish-oval, somewhat indented or hammered-like, but less so than the Dutch Hamburgh, black, covered with a thin bloom ; skin thick, adhering to the flesh, which is firm and often hollow around the seeds, of which there are generally two, sometimes three. Leaves with bluntish serratures ; the main ribs have only a slight covering of cobwebbed tomentum, but are covered through their whole length with bristly pubescence. It is a fine-looking grape of vigorous growth, but less rich and highly flavored than the true Black Hamburgh, though superior in these respects to the Dutch Hamburgh. Mill Hill Hamburgh, from Messrs. Lee. The same as the Dutch Hamburgh. Pope Hamburgh, from Messrs. Lee. The same as the Frankenthal. Victoria Hamburgh, from Messrs. Lee. The same as the Frankenthal. Golden Hamburgh, from Mr. Veitch of Chelsea. Bunches large and well-shouldered ; berries large, oval, or sometimes roundish-oval, pale yellow, or, when highly ripened, pale am- ber ; skin thin ; flesh tender and melting, very juicy, rich, sugary and vinous. Leaves not deeply lobed, their serratures sharp ; the upper surface smooth, the lower nearly so. This 112 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. proves to be a fine-looking, free-bearing, richly-flavored grape, in every respect of first rate quality. Burchardt's Amber Cluster, received as Burchardt's No. 10, from M, Bnrchardt of Landsberg, on the TVarta. This grape, which was sent to the Society without name, resembles the Muscadines in quality, but has oval berries like the Clus- ters. Berries middle sized, decidedly oval, amber-colored, or yellowish white ; skin moderately thin, flesh very sugary and rich. Leaves roundish, dying ofi" green and pale yellow, like those of Reeves's Muscadine ; in the latter, however, they are very pubescent or woolly ; while in Burchardt's they are but slightly downy, with tufts of bristly pubescence in the axils of the veins. It is earlier than the Royal Muscadine, and this property, combined with its good quality, will render it a first-rate early white grape. It appears to be well deserv- ing of trial for early forcing purposes. Q^]iLLADE Precoce, from M. Leroy of Angers. Bunch small, longish, loose ; berries about the size of those of Royal Muscadine, roundish, or but slightly oval, rose-colored. Savignon Blanc, from M. Dunal, Montpelier. Bunches and berries about the size of those of the White Frontignan ; berries oval, yellowish-white ; skin thick ; flesh sweet, but not so rich as that of the White Muscadine. Leaves roundish, open at the base, not deeply lobed, pubescent or bristly above and beneath. A wine grape. Ward's Early Muscadine, from the late G. H. Ward, Esq., Northwood Park, Cowes, Isle of Wight. Bunch long, rather loose ; berries round, about the size of those of the Royal Muscadine, and of the same color and flavor. It differs from that sort in the bunches being longer ; and the leaves also are very different, being deeply lobed, very downy on the under, and slightly so on the upper surface. Bidwill's Seedling, from Mr. Pince of Exeter. Bunches and berries nearly as large as those of the Black Prince ; berries small, round, bluish-black, with a fine bloom ; skin, rather thin ; flesh tender, melting, and very juicy, but some- what acid, and having a disagreeable earthy flavor. Leaves resembling in form those of the Black Hamburgh, but with a lengthened terminal lobe, and differing from that variety and MARCH. 113 from the Black Prince in being quite smooth above and below. Burchardt's Prince, received as Burchardt's No. 7, from M. Burchardt, Landsberg, on the Warta. Bunches long, tapering, about one foot in length, larger than those of the Black Prince, which in their long, tapering, slightly shoul- dered form tliey resemble ; pedicels remarkably thick and strong ; berries round, scarcely so large as those of the Black Hamlnirgh, compared with which it is later, roundish-oval, black with a thick bloom ; flesh firm, juicy, melting, rich and vinous. Leaves open at the base, not deeply-lobed, nearly smooth above and below. A good hanging variety, but re- quires more heat. Fleming's Prince, from Mr. Fleming of Trentham. Bunch large, loose, long, slightly shouldered ; berries oval, larger than those of the Black Prince, to which they bear consider- able resemblance ; skin very thin, bluish-l^lack, with a copious bloom ; flesh tender, juicy, remarkably rich, and very sugary. An excellent grape, but requires a little more vinous piquancy and firmness. Morocco Prince, a seedling between the Black Prince and Black Morocco, received from Mr. Buck of Elford, near Lich- field. Bunches about the size and form of those of the Black Prince ; berries also similar in size, oval, bvit with a thinner skin, which is tough and membranous, reddish-black, with a thin bloom ; flesh firm, juicy and melting, rich, sugary and vinous. Leaves very deeply lobed, open at the base, rather sharply and deeply serrated, pubescent beneath, slightly so above. A useful late grape, and hangs well, but in this in- stance has apparently not had sufficient heat. Panse Jaune, from M. Van Houtte of Ghent. A fine large oval or somewhat ovate berry, of a rich pale yellow color, like a well-ripened Muscat of Alexandria ; flesh rather firm, sweet but not rich. Leaves deeply lobed and sharply serrated. Gros Rouge de Provence, from Dr. Neill. Bunch long, tapering, loose ; berries small, slightly oval, black ; skin thin ; flesh juicy, vinous, with a Frontignan flavor. Leaves convex, deeply lobed, slightly pubescent. This variety possesses little merit, having the bad property of setting badly. VOL. XXVI. — no. hi. 8 114 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Muscat Noir de Jura, from Messrs. Baumann of Bolwiller. Bunch long and tapering, slightly shouldered, larger than that of the Black Frontignan grown under the same circum- stances ; berries about the size of those of the Black Prince, slightly oval, black ; flavor resembling that of the Violet Frontignan, being only slightly musky ; leaves convex, deeply cut and serrated, nearly smooth. Later than the common Muscat Noir or Black Frontignan. Alicante Preta, from Mr. Veitch, British Consul at Ma- deira. Very like the Large Black Ferral, and not suitable for conservatory temperature. Black Barbarossa, from John Rigden Neame, Esq., Rush- ett, Faversham, Kent ; sent under the name of Gros Guil- laume. Bunch very large, strongly shouldered, compact ; berries large roundish oval ; skin black, thin and membranous, covered with a thick bloom ; flesh greenish white, melting, juicy and sugary. Leaves large, open at the base, more deeply lobed than those of the Black Hamburgh, smooth above and below, without bristles on the ribs ; the serratures sharp. A valuable late grape, hanging well after ripening. SiDERiTis, from J. R. Neame, Esq. Bunches very large ; berries of the largest size, roundish-oval or oval, frequently with a sutural depression, reddish black, unequally colored ; flesh firm, but hollow around the seeds, and with a deficiency of juice and flavor. Leaves large, sharply serrated, smooth above and below ; shoots red. A very strong grower. Black Monukka, from the late Mr. Johnson, gardener at Hampton Court. Bunch nearly tbe size of that of the Black Prince ; berries rather small, of a peculiar oblong-ovate shape, stonoless ; skin black, thick ; flesh firm, breaking, sweet, but not rich. Leaves deeply lobed. This grape does not appear worthy of cultivation. Blussard Noir tardif, from Messrs. Baumann. Bunch small and rather loose ; berries middle sized, slightly oval ; skin black, tolerably thin ; flesh juicy and sweet. Leaves deeper lobed and more sharply serrated than those of the Hamburgh, the lobes open at the base and overlapping above ; veins on both sides somewhat bristly ; young shoots very brit- tle. A very strong grower, and rather earlier than the Black MARCH. 115 Hamburgh, but a bad bearer, aud not so Taluable a grape. It is very similar to, if not identical with, the B. Hamburgh. Prune de Herault, from J. R. Neame, Esq. Bunch about the size of that of the Violet Frontignan ; berries about the same size, somewhat oval, bluish-black with a fine bloom ; skin adhering closely to the flesh, which is firm and richly flavored. Leaves deeply lobed, unequally serrated, their ribs covered with bristly pubescence, and the whole under surface clothed with thick tomentum. EouGE DE RoLLE, from the same. A small, black, sweet wine grape, too small to be admitted into vinery culture. MAXATAWNY GRAPE, BY DR. W. D. BRINCKIE'. In 1843 several bunches of grapes, growing at Maxatawny, Berks Co., Pa., about twenty miles above Zciglersville, Mont- gomery Co., Pa., were sent to a friend residing at Eaglesville, Montgomery Co., Pa., six miles above Morristown, Pa. The seed of all these grapes were planted at once, only one how- ever vegetated during the following spring. . This plant, after remaining three years where it had come up, was removed to near the summit on the north slope of Camp Hill, Montgom- ery Co., Pa., where it still stands, and is in a flourishing condition. Tlie only protection it has is a dwelling-house on the west side of it, about five feet from the vine. It has been permitted to run wildly over a plum-tree growing near it. Specimens of this fine grape were received by me in Septem- ber, 1858, from Peter Craus, Esq., of Springfield township, Montgomery Co., Pa., (post-office address. Mount Airy, Phila- delphia,) who deserves the credit of bringing this valuable grape into notice. He has a number of vines growing from wood taken from the original vine, and, during the next ivin- ter, will have a large supply of the wood, which he will take pleasure in distributing, without cost, amongst those wishing to grow it. Bunch, five inches long, loosely formed, usually not shoul- 116 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. dered, and occasionallj quite compact ; berry, greenish white, sometimes with an amber tint, when fully ripe, roundish oval, 11-16 of an inch long, by 10-16 wide ; flesh, tender, not pulpy: flavor, saccharine and delicious; quality, "best;" maturity, eaten 23d September. The original vine bore one and a half bushels of grapes in 1858. During the past season specimens, even finer than those I received in 1858, were sent to me. My friend, L. E. Berckmans, Esq., has seen the fruit, and fully agrees with me in regard to its excellence. POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP American Fruits in England. — Oh ! fie, Mr. Rivers, that you should drop your well-known signature of " T. R." and send such a communication to the Gardener's Chronicle under the anonymous " Pyriis.^' All our pomologists know you caniiot plead ignorance of the subject, and must, therefore, attribute your remarks to prejudice, and a kind of glorifica- tion of the " Britishers" over us benighted " Yankees," which we, in our kindly feelings, thought you, of all English nurse- rymen, quite free from. Our readers must hear as briefly as possible, for we have no room for the whole of the hyfalutiu paper. Enough, however, is as good as a feast. " There is, perhaps, no quarter of the world where the apple is cultivated that produces such fine and perfect fruit as a portion of the United States. It is strange that such an inhaljitant of the Old World should have been so perfectly acclimated in the New, and to have such a tendency to ' make itself good,' for, from our European sorts, many, doubtless of inferior quality, when introduced about two hundred years ago, have sprung numbers of the finest sorts of apples in the known world. The great peculiarity in American apples is their tender, juicy, delicate, half-melting flesh, rich, sugary and agreeable, without, however, any decided aroma, at least as far as I have tasted, like our Ribston pippin, when grown in Kent or Sussex, and some other English varieties. These MARCH. 117 have perhaps more piquancy, but the flesh is hard and breaking, requiring, like the Cornish Gilhflower, iron teeth and a stomach of leather. American apples are, on the con- trary, ' old men's fruit,' and a large Newtown Pippin can be eaten with as much comfort as a melting pear. I can imagine no apple more agreeable than the Mother, the North- ern Spy, the Melon, and the Reinette du Canada. The American kitchen apples are remarkable for their crisp juicy flesh, neither too sweet nor too acid, but of the exact quality for pies and puddings. The Rhode Island Greening and the Baldwin are two excellent examples of this class of apples." This is pretty well for a beginning, only we can fancy a smile steal over the countenances of our readers when Mr. Rivers talks about the want of aroma of our apples as com- pared with the Ribston pippin ! and classing the Baldwin as an " excellent example" of our kitchen apples ! ! Mr. Wilder's project to erect a monument where the original tree stood will fail if it only commemorates such a fruit. " There is also a class of apples quite peculiar to the States, viz., sweet apples, ov pig feeding ^'Q'^Iq^. These have scarcely any trace of acid, even when grown in England, but are of a luscious, rather dull, sugary flavor. Pigs thrive upon them, and they are grown largely by the farmers for autumn feed- ing. The Jersey Sweet, Tolman Sweet, Ramsdell's Sweet, and hundreds of seedling sweeting apples are planted to ' please the pigs.' But few of the American apples can be grown to advantage in England. Cobbett, when he imported his American Locust and apple trees, used to obtain some specimens to sell his trees by from trees trained to a south- west wall at Kensington, and most magnificent apples they were, quite enough to make his admirers American apple tree mad, as they tlien were. This, however, is sufficient to re- mind us that American apples should be cultivated in a warm English climate, like the neighborhood of London, and be grown either trained to walls or in some very warm situation. The peculiarity of the American climate in bringing apples to such high perfection is very remarkable. The neighborhood of Rochester, in the western part of the State of New York, is a great fruit-growing district. It is also a great tree-manufactur- 118 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. ing place, for it is said that there are 10,000 acres iTnder nurse- ry cultivation just around Rochester. Well, Rochester is just about in the latitude of Toulouse in France, the most favora- ble fruit-growing district in Europe, but how inferior 'are the apples of France to those of America ! And yet the summer heat of most seasons at Toulouse would not exceed that of Rochester. But we can go further north in Europe and take Belgium and Holland — the latter, one would think, approach- es to the American shore of Lake Ontario in a moist and warm summer temperature. Hard, dry and poor are nearly all their apples. America must, therefore, take rank as a jfirst-rate apple country, which, by the way, is the only fruit that grows to perfection, except the peach, when properly cultivated." Is Mr. Rivers serious ? If he had said nothing about our ^'- pig feeding apples" this would have read very well ; though we are certainly in an unfortunate country, as extensive as ours, that " the apple should be the only fruit that grows to perfection." "Pears," Mr. Rivers says, "are cultivated very largely in the United States, but the cultivator is always in a deadly warfare with a host of enemies, ' frost blight,' ' insect blight,' ' frozen sap blight,' ' fire blight,' (vide Downing) would so alarm English gardeners that they would cease to cultivate the trees. Some good pears are undoubtedly grown in America, but they do not generally approach in size and quality to the same kinds grown in Europe. We have re- ceived one very high-flavored pear from the States, the Seckel ; but its flavor, however, in the opinion of many, is too musky, and it is too small. There are between 100 and 200 ' American' pears, i. e. sorts that have been raised from seed in America, now offered for sale by the American nurse- rymen. Some of them may be better adapted to the climate than European sorts, and so be gradually improved. A few new kinds offered last autumn at Boston are highly eulogized ; these have been raised from seed by a Mr. Dana, — one is called ' America,' and another ' Hovey.' Their price would lead one to think they are dear if not good, as they are |5, or 21s. each." MARCH. 119 Not quite so good as the apple talk. We have not room to comment fully upon this, but we might say to Mr. Rivers that there are two opinions in regard to the question, whether pears in this country do not ' approach in size and quality the same kinds grown in Europe.' Mr. Rivers thinks new pear trees at |5 each are dear, if not good. Undoubtedly ; for we have vivid recollections of paying 21s. each for Bcurre Lange- lier pear, Stanwick nectarine, Josling's St. Albans, Bowood Muscat and otlier grapes, and even 5s. for a pear raised by an English nurseryman, called Rivers' Winter Bcurr^, nearly the same price of the American pear, (12) and not quite equal to it either. But hear what Mr. Rivers says about our fine pears, which we really think very good, almost as good as Knight's Monarch. " It is remarkable to find how ill-suited an English climate is to American pears, (except the Seckel.) I have eaten of the following kinds, all of whicli have a good character in their own country, and have found all inferior, and, in some instances, what little boys call ' nasty,' — Buffum, Oswego Beurre, Oswego Incomparable, Kingsessing, Howell, Sheldon, Bloodgood, Brandywine, Dearborn's Seedling, Swan's Orange, Osband's Summer, Lawrence and Andrews. It is remarkable that, although the English climate is not nearly so bright as that of America and France, it should produce the Jinest and richest pears known. In the latter country some specimens are occasionally grown larger than the same kinds in England, yet they are never so rich in flavor. There are three kinds of pears, peculiar to Great Britain, which I fully believe are unmatched in Europe or in America, viz., Gansel's Bergamot, grown on a wall in the north of England ; the Chaumontelle, grown in Jersey, and Knight's IVIonarch, cultivated as a wall pear." Shall we say any more ? Is this not truly rich ? Hide your heads, oh ye Beurre Diels, Winter Nelises and Easter Beurres, Knight's Monarch towers above you all. " What is the matter with Mr. Rivers's soil. We hope it has not grown as sour as we fear its proprietor has ? There can be nothing but chalk left. Mr. Thompson, years ago, classed the Dear- born's Seedling, as raised in the London Horticultural So- 120 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ciety's Garden at Cliiswick, as " first quality," and " allied to the White Doyenne." Has it really become a nasty fruit ? And yet this is about as poor as any of the lot Mr. Rivers names. Really, Mr. Rivers does know better. If the Seckel is the best pear in Great Britain, as it has been proved to be, having taken all the prizes at the great London Fruit Exhibi- tion, two years ago, as the very best pear, others will be just as true to their character, when properly cultivated and prop- erly ripened. Here is the mistake, they are allowed to hang too long upon the tree. Let us have fair experiments, and, if they fail, then we will cheerfully acknowledge it. And what will the native-locality theorists say to Mr. Rivers's remark, that not even France and Belgium can grow their own pears " so fine and rich" as the glorious climate of Great Britain? If true, it quite upsets this very generally received notion by some of our pomologists. What does Mr. Berckmans say to this ? Will not the Georgia pears, if Yankee pears do not, equal those raised in England ? As to all the blights which Mr. Rivers scares up as so many bugbears in thQ way of American cultivators, which are, after all, but two, " insect and fire blight," we know nothing of the latter in New England. It is terrible in New York, but aside from this the pear has less enemies than any other fruit. To read English gardening works we should say, what they call the American blight does more damage to the apples there, than the fire blight does to the pears here. Mr. Rivers then goes on to speak of the peaches and plums, the former being subject to the yellows and the borer, and the latter to the black knot and curculio, so that this country is not a " paradise for the peach tree as some imagine," and thti " plum cannot be cultivated with any great success." " Our American grapes are generally distasteful to Europeans from their peculiar foxy smell and hard pulp in the centre of the berry." Did Mr. Rivers ever hear of a Delaware, a Rebecca, a Concord, or a Diana grape ? We think they are pretty nearly as good as an Esperione, a Black Cluster, or Miller's Burgundy, the famous out-door grapes in the grand climate of Great Britain. " Strawberries are grown to an enormous extent in the MARCH. 121 ' States,' and some of the American sorts (their name is legion) are highly prized. The best and most popular is, perhaps, Ilovey's Seedling. In England, however, it is not to be compared with the British Queen ; it is without that fine aroma peculiar to that queen of strawberries, which I have reason to think is never eaten in perfection out of England. * * * Peabody's proved both here and there to be a variety of the old Scarlet strawberry, not large, with a very long neck, and a most unfruitful habit, — in short, worthless." " The Americans are very fond of blackberries, and have two or three kinds that are very popular. Tlie Lawton or New Rochelle seems to be the favorite. This succeeds pretty well in England, and produces fruit of the same size, but rather more conical than our hedge blackberry. It ripens a month earlier, but has no peculiarity in flavor, which is sweet and dull, quite calculated to please children, wlio, in this country, are our principal blackberry eaters." Mr. Rivers says we plant apples " to please the pigs," while in England they plant blackberries to " please the children." Brother Jonathan has children of a larger growth, who love blackberries quite as well as the English children do, at least so we judge from the sale of the berries. Now this is all bosh. Mr. Rivers knows that tlie liedge blackberry of Great Britain bears no comparison in size to the Lawton or the Dorchester, and this is a gratuitous fling at these varieties, because a rival house in London are intro- ducing both these valuable fruits to the notice of English cultivators. Fie, fie, Mr. Rivers. Mr. Rivers grows eloquent over the glorious English climate and English fruit : — " It will, I think, be seen, from this slight sketch of Ameri- can fruit growing, that although we grumble about our spring frosts and cloudy summers, we are able to grow the finest fruit in the world, with fewer drawbacks on our fruit culture than our cousins over the water meet with, who are apt to boast of their country, their climate, and their productions. What would our gardeners say if they were prevented from cultivating with success such charming fruits as the nectarine, the apricot, and the plum ? Still, with all the hindrances to 122 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. plum culture wliich the American fruit growers experience, they have sent us some really good varieties, among which the Jefferson takes the front rank." It must strike our fruit growers as very remarkable that Mr. Rivers should labor so hard to introduce orchard house culture in a country " able to grow the finest fruit in the world." But Mr. Rivers does admit one thing, that we can send the " Britishers" good fruits if we cannot grow them. The Seckel pear, the Jefferson plum, and the Melon apple, are each delicious. Where will he find English fruits of the same class equal to them ? It is no small thing " to boast" of that we have raised a single fruit wliich our transatlantic friends think worthy of even noticing, much more cultivating — but it is really curious that a country that can do this should be able to go no further. Mr. Rivers appears to have gone back to the opin- ions of seventy-five years ago, when it was thought that nothing good could thrive only on British soil. We do hope for better things. We are at least satisfied with our progress in fruit culture. Susquehanna Peach. — This fine peach, which was named, described and distributed by Dr. Brinckle five or six years ago, proves to have been a variety well known and cultivated around Harrisburg, Pa., under the name of Griffith, Griffith's Mammoth, and Griffith's Mammoth Melacatoon, under which latter name it was enumerated in Mr. D. Miller's Catalogue in 1849. When Dr. Brinckle named it he supposed it was a new variety, and called it the Susquehanna. Certainly no complete description had been published in any pomological work or magazine, and therefore he had the right to name it. Mr. Miller subsequently had some correspondence with Dr. Brinckle in regard to the alteration of the name, thinking at first it was not right, but he afterwards changed his opinion and introduced it into his Catalogue as the Susquehanna, with G. M. M. as a synonym, and he now asks if he was not justified in doing so? He thinks he was, and so do we. We only note this instance of describing and naming a fruit, to say that the Harrisburg cultivators have a proper apprecia- tion of the principles recognized by all intelligent pomologists MAECH. 123 in the nomenclature of fruits. Not one of them, we venture to ' say, will assail Dr. Brinckle with scurrilous epithets for doing as he did. The Gardeners' Monthly, in noticing this matter, truly says, " had Dr. Brinckle understood previously to his naming it, that it had been distributed under another name, we are well assured he would not have sent it out as Susquehanna." Precisely so, but pomologists have not the time to hunt up every local name of a new fruit ; they go to the true source — pomological works — and if the fruit is not described and named there it has no real existence, and he who first de- scribes it has the right to place it upon record under such name as appears to him the most appropriate and correct. The Long Grape. — This is a southern grape, which has lately attracted some attention. It belongs to the varieties of V. Eestivalis. Mr. N. White, of Athens, Ga., says it is never used as a table grape, and as a wine grape he doubts if it will do. It ripens late, and will not probably mature in the open air north of Philadelphia. The Delaware Grape. — Dr. Grant, in his recent lecture on tlie grape at Yale College, is reported to have stated that the " Delaware was as much better than the Diana as the latter was better than the Catawba." We can hardly believe the reporter understood the Doctor correctly, and are inclined to think he meant better for general cultivation. If he meant anything else, he certainly is in error. No pomologist, that we are aware of, ever considered the Diana superior to the Catawba, when the latter is fully matured. In Cincinnati, and further south, the Diana, good as it is, must yield the palm to the Catawba. We hardly think it advisable to praise the quality of the Diana at the expense of such a well-known grape as the Catawba. Eastern Apples. — Our old Eastern apples, after all, are not such unprofitable fruits as some of our Western friends would have us believe. L. F. Allen, Esq., and other pomolo- gists present at the lectures at Yale College, acknowledged the " old fashioned varieties of the apple," the Baldwin, Rhode Island Greening and Poxbury Russet, to be the safest, the most productive, and the most profitable for the orchard. 124 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. Stoever Raspberry. — Dr. Brinckle describes, in the Horti- culturist, a new native raspberry, under this name. It was found growing wild, in August, 1858, near Lake Dunmore, in Vermont, by Mr. Jefiferson F. Stoever, and removed to his garden at Taconey, near Philadelphia, in the fall of the same year, where it fruited in 1859. Being a native of the north- ern part of the United States, Dr. Brinckld thinks " it will probably be better adapted to the exigencies of our climate than most of the large varieties." The berry is very large, full three-quarters of an inch long by one and one-eighth inches wide ; roundish-conical in form ; of a rich crimson color, and of good flavor. It appears to be a perpetual variety, as the specimens sent to Dr. Brinckle in September last, by Mr. H. A. Dreer of Philadelphia, contained green and ripe fruit in all the various stages of development. NOTES ON PEARS. No. II. BY HON. JOUN MILTON EARLE, WORCESTER, MASS. In the number of this Magazine for March, 1858, an article was published embodying selections from notes, of new varie- ties of pears, which I had fruited during a few of the preced- ing seasons. My object was, to contribute my share towards that mass of information, the result of observation and expe- rience, which is necessary as a reliable basis for judgment in making selections of varieties worthy of cultivation. Further observation has enabled me to correct some of the opinions entertained respecting varieties then noticed, and to add some facts in relation to other kinds. In the mass of new kinds of pears produced in Europe within the last thirty years, which are classed as of the best quality, now numbering something like a thousand varieties, a large proportion of them will never be of niucli value to us, in our present state of culture, except to amateurs, who do not regard the expenses, so that they obtain a superior fruit. For general cultivation, several requisites are desirable, such as vigorous growth, hardihood, productiveness, and adaptation MAECH. 125 to a variety of soils, in the tree, and size, beauty, fine flavor, and good keeping in the fruit ; and, just in proportion as these qualities prevail or are deficient in any variety, is its value for cultivation increased or diminished. Some of the very best fruits are unworthy, in consequence of such defects. The White Doyenn^j cracks and blasts; the Gray Doyenne is feeble in growth, not hardy, and requires peculiar soil and culture ; the wood of the Wredow, Gansel's Seckel, and Van Mons Leon le Clerc, all first class fruits, canker so badly as to make them outcasts ; and the Beurre d'Aremberg, the best of all winter pears, gives indications of having to be, at no distant day, placed in the same category. The Colmar d'Aremberg, which, with good culture, on a deep warm loam, in a sheltered situation, with the branches well shortened in, is one of the most magnificent and delicious of fruits, is, un- der ordinary circumstances, almost worthless, and quite so as a dessert fruit. The Beurre Benoist, Delices d'Hardenpont of Angers, and some others, arc delicious fruits, but tlie trees are so delicate and feeble as to require the best of soil and extra care in the culture. • Others, again, do well in particu- lar soils and expositions, or in favorable seasons, but fail under different circumstances. The Bartlett is one of tlie varieties that combines the great- est number of desirable qualities. Its prominent defects are, that it perishes almost immediately after ripening, and the tree is rather tender when young. It is found, that vigor of growth, productiveness, long keeping, size, and beauty, com- bined with tolerably good quality, are more desirable for profit than superior flavor with deficiency in one or more of these requisites. Thus, tlie Buffum, though only of second quality, is, in consequence of the vigorous growth and size of the tree, its great and constant productiveness, its reasonably good looks, and keeping qualities, one of the most profitable of fruits. Tiic Vicar of Winkfield, the Catillac, and even the old Iron pear, the first only a second rate dessert fruit, and the others only cooking pears, are, nevertheless, profitable for cultivation, on account of the hardihood, vigor, and pro- ductiveness of the trees, the size and beauty of the fruit, with the long period during which they may be kept in the mar- 126 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. ket. We may reasonably hope among the kinds with wliich we are now but partially acquainted, to find some that com- bine all these desirable qualities, in a greater degree than they are found in most of those now cultivated. In the hope of aiding in this inquiry, the present article is prepared. Barbancinet. This variety appears to be tender, and the wood inclined to disease. It cannot be recommended with- out further trial. Beurre Antoine. Tree a very good grower on pear or quince, and an early and free bearer. Fruit large, long, pyramidal, dull green, sometimes with a warm cheek, and a slight bloom upon the skin. Flesh very tender, melting, and pretty good. It soon decays. September. Needs further trial. Beurre Aunemere. Under this name, I received a tree from France, which has come into bearing quite young, before it had made any very appreciable growth. I am therefore unable to say what its character for vigor of growth may be. The fruit is full medium size, pyramidal, slightly pyriform, yellow, with a fine red cheek, and very handsome ; flesh tender, melting, juicy, and sweet, with a fine aromatic flavor. It is a first rate fruit, ripening in the last half of August, and has no superior in its season. There is some doubt as to the identity of this fruit, as the European authorities say that the Beurrd Auneniere ripens in October. This answers well to the description of the " Coloree d'Aout," of Van Mens, both in its general character and time of ripening. Beurre d'Anjou. This pear is becoming so well known that a notice of it seems hardly necessary. I may say, how- ever, that the good growth and fair productiveness of the tree, and the size, beauty, and excellence of the fruit, recom- mend it as one of the best for general cultivation. November. Beurre Derouineau. Further trial proves this pear to be unworthy of cultivation. Beurre Nantais. Tree very vigorous, on either pear or quince, forming a fine pyramidal head, and coming promptly into bearing. Fruit very large, long, somewhat pyriform ; skin a fine yellow, flesh melting, juicy, sweet, with a very agreeable, but not high perfume. The many good qualities MARCH. 127 of this fruit recommend it for general cultivation. September and October. Beurre Noisette. Tliis is a very vigorous grower, both on pear and quince. Fruit medium to large, obovate ; skin a fine yellow, dotted with brown, calyx open, with but little depression, flesh tender, melting, sweet, spriglitly, and very good. Beurre Paimpol. Tree vigorous and handsome, and an early and very free bearer. Fruit full medium size, tur- binate pyriform ; skin green ; flesh remarkably tender, and juicy, sweet, and good, second rate, always ripening well on the tree or in the house. This gives promise of being a profitable market pear, ripening through the whole month of September. Beurre Preble. Tree a fair grower ; fruit rather large, vinous, aromatic, and very excellent. It has the merit of keeping well when ripe. Bonne d'Ezee. [Bonne des Zees.] This pear, which has been highly recommended, is somewhat liable to crack, and the wood to canker on a stiff soil. Perliaps on a warm, light and rich soil it might do better, but it cannot be recom- mended. Calebasse Monstre. [Carafon. Calebasse Carafon.] I have been most agreeably disappointed in this fruit. Tree a good grower on pear root only ; fruit very large, melting, juicy, and very good. It promises to be a productive and profitable variety. Clark Pear. This is apparently identical with the Church pear, recently described as a new variety in various publica- tions. It continues to sustain the good character given of it in my former article. CoMTE DE Flandres. Further trial confirms my favorable impressions of this fruit. The tree is a pretty good grower on the pear root, but ought to be cultivated in the pyramidal form, and in a warm soil and a sheltered position, when it bears young and very freely. The fruit is large and hand- some, highly perfumed, and excellent. Comte de Paris. In my former article I expressed the opinion that this very productive and excellent pear would not be worthy of cultivation, on account of its tendency to 128 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTURE. quick decay. That opinion has been much modified, by finding, that, if seasonably gathered, it keeps pretty well, and is one of the finest pears of its season, which, here, is early in October. De Bavay. This variety requires a warm mellow loam and good culture, when the tree is vigorous and productive. Fruit good sized, pyramidal ; stem long and rather stout ; flesh coarse and somewhat gritty about the core, melting, juicy, and good. October. Delices de Jodoigne. Tree moderately vigorous, and productive when it comes into bearing, which is not so early as many other kinds. Fruit turbinate, with a red-brown cheek ; flesh crisp or half melting, sweet, juicy, very beauti- ful, and good. Delices de Lodvenjoul. Under this name I have received trees wliich appear to be identical with the Jules Bivort of my former article. The tree is a very good grower on pear root, but does not do well on the quince. It bears early, and is very productive ; the fruit of good size, very handsome, yellow, with a red cheek ; flesh melting, juicy, very sweet, aromatic, and excellent — first rate. It is one of the best varieties for general cultivation. October and November. Doyenne Boussock. This is one of our most valuable pears for general culture, on the pear root. On the quince it soon exhausts itself, and becomes decrepit. For size, beau- ty, and general excellence, it is a fit successor to the Bartlett, and is not excelled by any pear of its season. Doyenne de Saumur. This is a productive, beautiful, and excellent fruit, rather small, obovate, inclined to pyriform ; skin bright straw yellow, sprinkled with dark glandular dots ; calyx open in a small depression ; flesh sweet, melting, juicy, musky, and excellent. Doyenne du Comice. This splendid fruit was raised in the garden of the Committee QComice, Fr.) of the Horticultural Society of Angers in France — hence its name — and was first put into the market in 1851. The tree is of more than aver- age vigor, and succeeds on both pear and quince. It makes long upright shoots, which require annual cutting in while young, to improve the form of the tree, which is very sym- MARCH. 129 metrical, when so managed. It comes sufficiently soon into bearing, and gives promise of being quite productive. Fruit large, pyramidal; skin fine golden yellow with a red cheek ; flesh tender, buttery, juicy, sweet, and rich, with a delicious and unexceptionable flavor. This pear lasts through the whole of October and November, and will keep without de- caying for six or eight weeks after it is in good eating condi- tion. It is unquestionably one of the most valuable of pears, and deserving of general culture. DouiLLARD. [Alexandrine Douillard.] Tree vigorous and productive, coming early into bearing. Fruit rather large, turbinate ; flesh melting, juicy, and finely perfumed — very good, or best. Three years' fruiting of this variety has left upon my mind a very favorable impression of its merits. DuCHESSE d'Aremberg. Tree a very vigorous grower and early and free bearer ; fruit large, pyriform ; skin dull green, flesh coarse, tender, juicy and good — second rate. September. This, from its hardy and vigorous character, might probably do well in situations where the finer and more delicate varie- ties do not succeed. Durandeau. [De Tongres.] This is another noble and beautiful pear. It was raised by M. Durandeau, at Tongres in France, and was first put into the market in 1851, the same year with the Doyenne du Comice. It is called some- times by the name of its cultivator, and sometimes by that of the town where it was raised. In England it is called Durandeau, and I have given that name the preference, as being most euphonious. The tree is moderately vigorous on the pear root, but is rather tender and weak on the quince. It forms a handsome pyramid, and bears young and abun- dantly. Fruit very large, pyriform, much swollen out ; skin delicate, covered with a fine golden russet, tinged with red when fairly exposed to the sun ; flesh fine, buttery, very juicy, vinous, sprightly, and deliciously perfumed. It is a pear of the highest quality, which, with its size and beauty, must make it a general favorite. It ripens in October, and keeps some time. Esperine. [Beurre Sprin?] Tree of medium vigor and apparently very productive. Fruit of good size, pyriform, VOL. XXVI. — NO. III. 9 130 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. flesh fine, melting, juicy, sweet, and very good, ripening in October. The quaUty is sometimes variable on young trees. FiGUE d'Alencon. [Figue, Bonnissime, Figue d'Hiver.] Tree vigorous and very productive. In warm, deep, mellow soil, it is one of the best of pears, large, irregularly py- ramidal, skin green, generally more or less spotted with patches of russet, which sometimes covers the whole surface ; flesh very melting, juice abundant, vinous, sprightly, and ex- cellent. Ripe from the last of October to December. If kept in a warm room, it does not last long after it is ripe. Gansel's Seckel. Since my former article, the wood of this exquisite pear has cankered so badly as to prove it un- worthy of general culture. Whether it is worth retaining as an amateur's fruit, must depend on further trial. KiNGSESSiNG. This is a valuable native fruit, raised in the vicinity of Philadelphia. Tree vigorous and healthy, but tardy in coming into bearing. Fruit rather large, pyriform ; flesh fine, tender, melting, juicy, sweet, brisk, vinous, fine flavored, and excellent. A first-rate fruit, giving promise of being worthy of general cultivation. September and October. Laura de Glymes. Tree of moderate vigor, on pear root only ; productive ; fruit medium size, obovate-turbinate, skin of a bright russet color, flesh half-melting, juicy, and well- flavored. Handsome and very good. October. Saint Ghislain. This pear, though it has been known for some fifteen or twenty years, has never received the attention to which its merits entitle it. The tree is a very thrifty and erect grower, always forming a beautiful head, but is im- proved in shape by shortening in, when young. It accommo- dates itself to a variety of soils, and bears neglect better than almost any other kind. It does not fruit early, but when it commences it is a constant and very abundant bearer. Fruit medium size, turbinate, bright lemon yellow, sometimes with a blush ; flesh tender, half-melting, or melting if ripened in the house ; juice abundant, sweet, brisk, and sprightly, and of excellent flavor. It is a first-rate fruit, ripening well either on the tree, or in the house, through nearly the whole of September, and keeping better when ripe than most pears of its season. MARCH. 181 Sheldon. A capital American variety. Tree of vigorous, healthy, and upright growth, slow in coming into bearing, but productive afterwards ; fruit large medium, varying from oblate or bergamot shape to conic ; skin green, covered with a dull russet, and often bronzed toward the sun ; flesh melt- ing, juicy, sprightly, vinous, and very high flavored. The only objection to it, is the excess of aroma, which is offensive to some. But for this it would rank as the compeer of the Doyenn^ du Cornice and the Durandeau. Winter Beurre, (Rivers's.) This is a seedling from the Easter Beurre, raised by Thomas Rivers of Sawbridgeworth, England. Tree, vigorous and very productive on either quince or pear, and coming quickly into bearing. Fruit, large, pyriform ; skin, green, sometimes bronzed toward the sun, becoming yellowish as it ripens ; flesh, melting ; juice abundant, vinous, and piquant. For the first two or three years of fruiting, it was so austere that I was apprehensive it never would be a good dessert fruit, although it always ripened well. But, the present season, although grown as a standard on a stiff compact soil, it has been very rich and good, almost equalling the Beurre d'Aremberg. This improvement I at- tribute to the better development of the tree by age. When the tree is grown as a pyramid, on a deep, mellow, warm loam, it will probably prove not only a profitable fruit, but a very good one for the dessert. THE PICTURESQUE BEGONIAS. BY THE EDITOR. No tribe of plants has risen more rapidly in popular esteem than the Begonias. The older species are well known green- house plants of no remarkable beauty, but from their easy culture and their winter-blooming, free-flowering habit have found a place in most every collection of plants. Later years have witnessed the addition of more conspicuous and bril- liant sorts, like the B. fuchsoides, but, with all the attractions 132 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. of such showy flowers, they have failed to become especially desirable above many other plants. But the introduction of the ornamental-leaved, or pic- turesque species, awakened universal interest in their cul- tivation. The crimson red leaves of the B. sanguinea and the coppery green and grayish foliage of the zanthina formed agreeable contrasts in mixed collections of plants, and a riG. 3. BEGONIA REX. taste for such conspicuous forms and colors brought them more into notice. The ornamental effect of large specimens of these comparatively showy species was soon generally appre- ciated, and hybridization brought to the aid of the cultivator to increase tlieir novel forms. Collectors in tropical regions where other species of Begonias had been found were upon the lookout for others of equal beauty, and, as in most in- MARCH. 133 stances where attention is directed to a particular object, tliat object has been accomplished. The result of their labors was the addition of several remarkable species, among them the noble B. Rex, which at once elevated the class into regal order, and placed them tacitly, if not by acclamation, at the head of ornamental-leaved plants. We have already alluded to the great beauty of handsome- foliaged plants, and we need not repeat it here. They have become indispensable additions to every collection, and a plant must be very attractive in its flowers, which shall claim the admiration accorded to some of these species. Cissus dis- color for a time reigned queen of this class ; but, though still ex- tremely beautiful, it stands far in the rear of the Begonia Rex. As decorative conservatory plants, during both summer and winter, the Begonias will hold a prominent place ; affording a charming novelty with their crimson-tinted, silvery-zoned, crimson-edged, emerald-hued, and snowy-spotted leaves, and ornamental witli their yellow and pink flowers. Begonia Rex, (fig. 3,) which, as we have remarked, cre- ated the furor for this tribe, was introduced from Assam, where it was found by M. Simon, who sent it to Europe. It was purchased in London, at auction, by Mr. Linden, and sent to his establishment on the Continent, where it flourished and attracted universal admiration. It was from thence sent back to London, and in 1858 fine specimens were the cyno- sure of all eyes at the popular exhibitions of plants. It far surpassed in beauty anything then known in the genus Bego- nia. Its immense leaves, eight or nine inches long, of a dark- purplish green, reflect a metallic lustre, and this is rendered still more effective by a broad silvery zone, extending quite to the point. In addition to these striking colors the surface of each leaf has a bullated or embossed appearance, from an apparent fulness between the intervening veins. The under surface is of a subdued-purplish shade and light green opposite the paler parts, with conspicuous purple veins. Our engrav- ing gives a very excellent representation of the plant. As the Begonia is easily reproduced from seeds, enthusiastic continental as well as English cultivators have already pro- duced many singularly ornamental specimens by hybridization 134 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. between the B. Rex, and other picturesque kinds. In fact the number is increasing so rapidly that the variety will be as numerous as some of the popular classes of flowers. Some of them have already been noticed under our floricultural head, and others, of prominent beauty, we shall endeavor to describe. For the present we name a few which have been conspicuous at the exhibitions, and which are considered among the finest in cultivation. B. splendida. Highly ornamental, of vigorous habit, twelve to eighteen inches high, with large foliage, diversely oblong ovate. The most remarkable feature of this species consists in the exquisitely rich crimson tint displayed in the early growth of the leaves ; this arises from the brilliantly-colored hairs with which they are clotlied. The veins of the leaves beneath are also, when young, covered with similar hairs. B. splendida argentea. A very ornamental plant, with large elegantly-marked leaves, obliquely heart-shaped ; their entire surface, except that traversed by the veins, is of an unbroken silvery green, richly-tinted or bronzed with an under coppery crimson hue, deepening towards the margin, and sprinkled over with short crimson velvety hairs. The under side is of a uniform rich crimson, with strong veins set with crimson hairs. B, picta. Of a neat dwarfish habit, compact, six to twelve inches high. The leaves are obliquely heart-shaped, having a velvety surface of a dark olive-green, finely relieved by a band of light-green encircling the broad central dark-green space, and having a very conspicuous rich crimson marginal belt. The under side has a broad central blotch of crimson, corresponding with the position of the dark green of the upper surface. These are kinds we have grown in our collection the last year. Of very showy and beautiful varieties, just introduced, we name the following, some of which have already been described in our Floricultural Notices : — B. Grandis, Victoria, Amabilis, Mad. Wagner, Marshalli, Rollisoni, Picturata, Mi- randa, Isis, and others. These are all very showy varieties, with singularly marked foliage, and of the general habit of B. Rex. MARCH. 135 Begonias are of easy cultivation ; requiring only a proper degree of heat and moisture at the right time, and a tempera- ture which shall keep them in active vegetation during their season of growth. The species and varieties are divided by some writers into three groups, viz.: — 1. The picturesque- leaved ; 2. The summer and autumn blooming ; and 3. The winter and spring blooming. As we have only now to deal with the former, our hints refer to that class, though, as far as soil, &c. are concerned, they may apply to all. The soil which Begonias appear to delight in is a well-de- composed friable loam, leaf mould, well decayed, and peat or heath soil, in the proportion of about one half loam, one quarter leaf mould, and one quarter heath soil, and pure white sand. The loam should be rather coarse, not sifted on any account, and when too compact or tenacious should have a small quantity of broken charcoal intermixed, so as to give a free open character to the whole, that the water may pass off readily. In potting, care should be taken not to press the soil too firm. Water very sparingly after repotting, until the plants recover somewhat, when it may be given more freely. As the growth is rapid when the plants are in a proper temperature they will require frequent shifting. Young specimers, now in four or six-inch pots, will require shifting in a month or more, and again after about the same interval, though this must, of course, be governed by the growth and other circumstances. In June or July they may have the last shift foi the season, which should be into ten or twelve- inch pots. In very sunny weather a slight shade should be given to the plants, otherwise their delicate foliage will be likely to be injured in their rich tints. Until May they will require the aid of a warm house to make good speci- mens, after which they may be removed to the conservatory, where they can have an abundance of room, in order to develop their fine foliage, that being the object in view, rather than flowers. On the approach of winter water should be gradually with- held, until the plants go i;ito a state of rest, when they should be kept ii the warmest part of the greenhouse, if not the 136 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTUEE. convenience of a hothouse, until February, when their growth will commence again. Begonias are readily propagated by the leaves and by division of the roots ; the latter being the safest and easiest, except when the object is to get numerous plants. Just after the specimens have begun to grow they should be turned out of the pots, divided carefully, and repotted, withholding water for a few days, until the wounds are healed, when they may be submitted to the ordinary treatment of other plants. Where there are the conveniences of a hothouse, by proper treatment they may be grown throughout the winter, and form conspicuous objects at that season. iossip of i\t Pontlj. A Department of Agriculture. — A writer in the Philadelphia North American, presumed to be Mr. D. Landreth, urges the formation of " a de- partment of agriculture" as an established and regularly organized branch of governmental administration, either under the Department of the Interior, or as an independent organization, one of equal influence with the other departments. The arguments he brings to support this are incontestable, and indeed unanswerable. There is no doubt of the importance of the measure, provided it could be carried out according to the v:ews of the writer, and wishes of every friend of agriculture. " The individual who should preside over the office of agriculture should be no ordinary person. We may pick up a thousand men in each State in the Union who might creditably conduct the affairs of the General Post Office, or of the army and navy in time of peace ; but the head of an agri- cultural bureau should be one of more than ordinary capacity and acquire- ment. He should be a botanist, well read in the vegetable products of every clime. He should be skilled in the arts, to know tie applications of vegetable products as applied in medicine, manufactures and mechanics. He should be a chemist and geologist, that he might the more truly under- stand and correctly commend processes for the amelioration and fertilization of soils. He should be a man of broad and comprehensive views, lest he make the blunder of largely expending the public funds in the importation of articles unsuited to the condition of our people ; e. g. the sending of a special agent to China for plants and seeds of tea, which when procured cannot be turned to profit, simply because men will not pick tea leaves at sixpence a day, when a shilling may be made at cotton, or corn. Water may be forced up hill, but labor invariably follows its own pr»per channel, MARCH. 137 and though we import celestials, as the official savans have, it is said, recommended, they would find here more profitable occupation than pick- ing tea leaves. Even the admitted skill and inventive genius of our peo- ple will fail to devise a plan to dispense with the human hand in that par- ticular— unless indeed each plantation be made to revolve on its own axis, or ' endless chain,' and successively present the plants to automaton leaf-pickers." This is all very true. We would urge with all our power the establish- ment of a Department of Agriculture, if we thought any real good would come from it. But this will not be. The office will be given to politi- cians, and not to " the individual" who should preside over it. He will be appointed for the service he has rendered to his party, and not to the cause of agriculture. Such, at least, we fear will be the fate of the Agricultural Department at Washington, and the great body of farmers, who compose so large a portion of our population, will go through the same farce, as usual, of throwing up their hats, to the man who shall deliver the most grandiloquent agricultural address, tracing the progress of agriculture to remote ages, ending in a general glorification of the great intelligence of our agriculturists, and take it for granted, that the display of so much knowledge fully entitles him to the important position at the head of gov- ernment. Was there the least hope that the appointment would be made of a fully competent individual, we would most cheerfully recommend Mr. Landreth's plea. As it is, we think the less ofiices of the kind the better for the prosperity of- the country. Amrrican Pomological Society. — The next and Eighth Session of this Society will be held in Philadelphia, on the 10th of September next, continuing three or four days. Massachusetts Horticultural Society. — The Society, having sold its Hall in School Street, have taken new rooms on Washington Street, at the corner of West, known as Amory Hall. The Society will occupy their new premises on the first of April. The Hall is larger than the old one, and the library and meeting room, large, airy, convenient and pleasant. The situation is a central one, and the Society may congratulate themselves upon having secured such desirable premises. The new Hall will be repainted, and put in complete order by April. The Delaware Grape. — The Gardeners' Monthly thinks we did not quote accurately in our remarks on this grape in our January number. Now we are generally very careful to do this, never wishing to make any one say what he did not. Mr. Meehan states that he is made to say that the Dela- ware grape "is abundant in Delaware;" when he only said, "varieties of the Isabella abound in Delaware." Our readers must judge whether we were correct or not. Here is the original document: — " While making some botanical trips on the upper portion of the Dela- 138 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. ware, some years back, we recollect a casual notice of a grape which we have often thought had a strong resemblance to what later years had taught us to call the Delaware. * * We have tried to put others on the track to get them ; but though we have got the grape from near a score of localities, on close investigation we cannot assure ourself with confidence that they are entirely wild. One thing, however, is remarkable — none of the grapes are exactly the same. Some have bunches loose, some compact, some shouldered, some with short bunches and some above the average in length ; but yet in every essential quality they are Delaware and nothing but Dela- ware." Is anything said here about the Isabella? Seeds and Cuttings from the Patent Office. — A circular has been issued giving the following reason why the distribution of seeds will be dispensed with during the present year : — " Owing to the reduced appropriation made by Congress for agricultural purposes for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1860, the office has been com- pelled to reduce its expenses and confine its action to a more limited sphere than heretofore. In doing this, it was found necessary, either to decline purchasing for distribution the usual varieties of garden and field seeds, or to abandon the experiment of propagating the tea and various other foreign plants and grape cuttings, for which orders had been given. The expenses which had already been incurred in their procurement would hardly justify the office in throwing them aside. It was accordingly deemed advisable to apply the remainder of the funds solely to the procuring of information and preparing the materials for the Agricultural Report, and to the propagation and distribution of such varieties of foreign seeds and cuttings as had been already engaged. These were of sucli a nature, that if they had been dis- tributed throughout the country immediately upon their receipt, the proba- bility is that very few of them would have reached their destination in a fit state for propagation. The tea seeds, more particularly, arrived in such a condition that it was of the utmost importance to plant them at once. For this purpose, large propagating houses were erected upon the Government grounds, north of the canal, between 4i and 6th streets. These structures now answer well the purpose for which they were intended, as is exhibited by the fact that we have ready for distribution over 30,000 well-rooted tea plants ; 12,000 foreign and domestic grape-vines ; 900 rooted seedless pome- granate cuttings, and various foreign medicinal and ornamental plants. These will be ready for distribution during the present winter and the en- suing spring." We hardly know which were the wiser policy for the Goveanment. The distribution of the tea plants will, we are fearful, be the last that will be heard of them. As to the distribution of foreign grapes, especially the Zante varieties collected by Mr. Parsons, they will be equally as fruitless ; and as regards the seedless pomegranates, we very much doubt any great results. The distribution of seeds, upon the plan heretofore pursued, gave but little satisfaction, and the distribution of the cuttings will afford even MARCH. 139 less. It seems to be the fate of the Agricultural Department to take hold of impracticable objects. Death of Mr. A. H. Ernst. — We regret to record the death of our old correspondent and friend, A. H. Ernst, which took place at Cincinnati, on Monday, February 13, in the 64th year of his age. The lateness of the month compels us to defer a notice of Mr. Ernst till next month. Socidin. ESSEX NORTH HORTI-AGRICULTURAL. At an adjourned meeting of the Essex North Horti- Agricultural Society, Newburyport, Mass., the following officers and standing committees were elected for the ensuing year : — President, E. G. Kelley, M. D. Vice Presidents, A. W. Miltimore, William Ashby. Corresponding and Recording Secretary, A. Horton. Treasurer, W. W. Caldwell, Jr. Committee on Fruits, C. M. Bayley, A. B. Muzzey, Nicholas Johnson, Moody Ordway, Joel Lake. Committee on Flowers, Mrs. A. W. Miltimore, Mrs. E. G. Kelley, Mrs. S. J. Spalding, Mrs. George W. Hill, Miss Mary Bartlet. Committee on Vegetables, Daniel Adams, William Bricher, William Huff, D. Thurston Colman, George Thurlow. Dr. Kelley, Dr. Howe and George W. Hill were appointed a committee to revise fhe constitution and by-laws of the society for publication, with a list of the members. The Treasurer reports that 129 new members have been added ; that $226.79 have been paid for incidental expenses and premiums, and that $354.36 have been added to the cash funds of the society during the year. ILLINOIS STATE HORTICULTURAL. The annual meeting of this Society was held at Bloomington, 111., on Tuesday, Jac. 10, and continued in session five days. Discussions upon the cultivation of Evergreens, Orchard-culture of Fruit Trees, treatment of Strawberries, Currants, &-c., together with addresses from the President, C. R. Overman, on the objects of the society ; on insects injurious to vege- tation, by Mr. B. D. Walsh, and on the growth of plants, by Dr. Warder, occupied the whole time. The meeting was well attended, and great inter- est manifested in its proceedings. The following officers were elected: — President, Samuel Edwards of Lamoile. Vice Presidents, L. Montagu, 1st Congressional District; J. W. Wake- man, 2d do. ; R. W. Waterman, 3d do. ; N. Overman, 4th do. ; M. Scar- 140 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTUEE. boro', 5th do.; J. A. Hilliard, 6th do.; M. Hosletter of Decatur, 7th do. C. A. Montrose, 8th do. ; G. H. Baker, 9th do. Corresponding Secretary, J. T. Little of Dixon. Recording Secretaries, T. Stau, Alton, and H. C. Freeman, La Salle. Treasurer, S. G. Minkler, Kendall Co. KENTUCKY HORTICULTURAL. The following officers of this Society, for 1860, were elected at the an- nual meeting: — President, Thomas S. Kennedy. Vice Presidents, Lawrence Young, Arthur Peter, Dr. J. A. Moore. Treasurer, James Buchanan. Recording Secretary, Ormsby Hite. Corresponding Secretaries, W. D. Gallagher, Charles A. Page. Executive Committee, A. G. Munn, C. C. Cary, Jos. Serib, Dr. W. Allen, J. W. Walker, H. S. Duncan, Ed. Wilson. The Society meet every Saturday at Louisville, and propose holding a grand flower and strawberry exhibition next spring. — Valley Farmer. MERAMEC HORTICULTURAL. The first annual meeting of this Society was held in the house of Judge Uppel, State Road, Mo., Dec. 1, when the following officers were elected : President, Dr. A. W. McPherson, Allenton. Vice President, Charles Paffrath, Sunhill, Melrose. Recording Secretary, Wm. Muir, Laborville, Melrose. Corresponding Secretary, E. Vaughn, Allenton. Treasurer, Wm. Harris, Allenton. Executive Committee, Dr. L. D. Moore, T. R. Allen, Herman Steines. BROOKLYN (n. Y.) HORTICULTURAL. The following officers were elected for the year: — President, John W. Degrauw. Vice Presidents, John Maxwell, James Hazlehurst, W. C. Langley, J. S. T. Stranahan, S. J. Eastman. Treasurer, J. W. Degrauw. Corresponding Secretary, Jas. Hazlehurst. Recording Secretary, Edwin Scott. At a late meeting the Society reported a schedule of prizes, and voted to hold a spring exhibition on the 11th, 12th and 13th of April, and one in the fall, in September, on the 19th, 20th and 21st. The time for the June exhibition was not decided upon. NEW YORK HORTICULTURAL. The following officers were elected for 1860 : — President, John Groshen. Vice Presidents, Peter Cooper, Henry A. Heiser, Henry A. Hurlburt, James E. Cooley, H. M. Schieffelin. Treasurer, James Knight, M. D. MARCH. 141 Recording Secretary, George H. Hansell. Corresponding Secretary, Thomas Hogg. The Society intend to make application to the Legislature for the appro- priation of $300 now given to the American Institute, believing that they can disburse the amount to more advantage. CON>ECTICUT GRAPE GROWERS' ASSOCIATION. The annual meeting was held Tuesday, Jan. 10th, when the followinsf officers were elected: — President, Col. D. S. Dewey, Hartford. Secretary, Mason C. Weld, Hartford. Treasurer, R. S. Phelps, Windsor. An able paper was read by D. Clark, Esq., the retiring President. After a trial of several native wines, the meeting adjourned. PROGRESSIVE GARDENERS SOCIETY. A Society under this name has been recently organized in Philadelphia, the purpose of which is mutual improvement in the branches connected with the profession of horticulture ; the elucidation of doubtful points in relation to the culture and treatment of trees, plants, and garden crops gen- erally, and the dissemination, by means of essays and other similar chan- nels, of reliable information, on the various operations of gardening. The majority of the members being professional gardeners, actively engaged in the pursuit of their calling, it is assumed that the facts and deductions which may be brought out will be legitimate and useful. At the meeting on the 30th of January, the rules for the guidance of the society having been fully discussed and adopted, and a number of members enrolled, the society proceeded to an election of officers, when the follow- ing result was announced, (the President to be appointed at each meeting from the roll of members, each member in rotation being eligible :) — Treasurer, John Gerney, 236 Chestnut, below Third. Secretary, R. Robinson Scott, 627 Market, below Seventh. CIISCINNATI HORTICULTURAL. The Annual Meeting of the Society was held Saturday, February 7, — President Hazletine in the chair. The Treasurer, Wm. Stevens, submitted his Report, showing a balance of $52.96 in favor of the Society. The meeting then proceeded to the elec- tion of officers, resulting as follows : — President, William Orange. Vice Presidents, Wm. Stevens, J. P. Foote, and F. G. Gary. Recording Secretary, E. J. Hooper. Corresponding Secretary, E. P. Cranch. Treasurer, Robert Clarke. At the meeting, Jan. 14, President Hazletine delivered his valedictory address, from which we learn that two hundred and fifty new members have been added the last year, making the total number about six hun- 142 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. dred. The old floating debt of 1857 and 1858 has been paid off, and there are no outstanding liabilities. Wm. Orange, Esq., the President elect, then delivered his inaugural address. — Cindnnatus. ^assiitljusttts porticulhiral Sorixtj. Saturday, Feb. 4, 1860. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. The Committee, appointed for that purpose, submitted a report, au- thorizing the Treasurer to pay Prof. Jenks a sum not exceeding $25, as he may require, for contingent expenses, to prosecute his labors on the food of birds — also, the further sum of §75 for the current year. The Committee of Arrangements reported upon the time of holding the next Annual Exhibition, and it was voted that it be held on the 18, 19, 20, and 21st of September next. A letter was read from Wm. Kenrick, acknowledging the Society's donation of $250. The Librarian was authorized to send Reports of the Proceedings of the Society to such Life Members as do not call for them. Adjourned two weeks, to February 18. Feb. 18, 1860. — An adjourned meeting of the Society was held to-day, — the President in the chair. Capt. Austin, from the Committee for that purpose, made a Report that Amory Hall could be leased for a moderate rent, and asking power to con- clude arrangements for the same. The Report was accepted, and Capt. Austin, C. M. Hovey and Jos. Stickney were appointed a Committee to make all necessary arrangements, agreeably to the above Report, for the occupancy of the Hall on the first of April. Adjourned two weeks, to March 3. iartitultural operations rOR MARCH. FRUIT DEPARTMENT. Febroart was a cooler month than January, and with more snow ; still it could hardly be called a cold month. The thermometer fell below zero but once, which was early in the month, (the 2d.) Since then it has been variable, reaching the high point of 60° as we write, with a heavy south- erly rain. Grafe Vines, in the grapery and greenhouse, will now be growing ^ MARCH. 143 rapidly, and with the advancing warmth of the season will require more attention. Syringe in good weather till the buds show signs of blooming, when it should be discontinued altogether. Tie in the laterals as they advance in growth, and stop the strongest if extending too rapidly. Keep the house well damped after the fruit is set, and air more freely. Cold Hodses should be well ventilated, to prevent any root action or starting of the vines, which will be rather injurious before April. Vines in the open air may be pruned. Cuttings or eyes of foreign grapes may now be put in, placing them in a gentle hotbed to accelerate their rooting. Scions of all kinds of fruit trees should be cut this month, preserving them in moss or soil in a cool cellar or shed. Pruning may be pushed on now as rapidly as possible. Grafting may be commenced this month, as advised in our last. Currants and Gooseberries should be carefully pruned. Fruit Trees in pots may be brought into the house for early fruiting. Those already well advanced should be freely watered. Insects should be looked after. If mild weather the last of March the canker worm grub will begin to run. Bark lice and scales on pear and apple trees should be destroyed by washing with oil soap or potash water. FLOWER department. As the season advances all plants partake of the invigorating influence of the warmth. Everything shows signs of active growth ; such as appeared entirely dormant now begin to swell their buds. To assist in this is the object of the gardener. It is the season, therefore, for repotting many things preparatory to their growth for the year. Indeed, in a well-ordered collection, every plant should be looked over, and put in order. If done early it will not only save valuable time, but will aid materially in forming larger and better specimens. Pelargoniums will now begin to show a vigorous and healthy growth. Continue to tie out into neat shape, and encourage large plants intended for specimens ; also, look after young stock, watering more freely, and fumigating to keep down the green fly. Keep the house rather dry, watering in the morning rather than evening. Pinch off" the tips of plants intended for late blooming. Give abundance of air in all good weather, and plenty of room to the plants. Azaleas will now be in their full beauty. Water more freely, and if a sliglit shade can be given in the middle of the day it will prolong the beauty of the flowers. Young stock should be repotted and grown in a rather close warm house. Camellias, now commencing to grow, should have a slight shade from the hot sun. Syringe often, and water freely. Inarching may yet be done. Calceolarias will need another shift into larger pots. Begonias, growing freely, may be repotted soon. Gloxinias and Achimenes, started into growth, should be potted off in a rich light soil. Bulbs for a succession may be potted. Fuchsias should be encouraged in their growth. Keep in a rather close 144 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. warm house. Syringe often, and water rather freely. Young plants should be repotted. Roses, intended for fine plants for turning into the ground in May, should be repotted. Tuberoses may be started into growth by potting and placing in a good hotbed. Heaths, done blooming, should be removed to a cool frame, where they can be protected from frost. OxALis, done blooming, should be placed away on a dry shelf under the stage. Cinerarias, for late blooming, should be repotted. Fumigate to keep down the green fly. Pansy Seeds, sown now, will make fine flowering plants in June. Annual Seeds, of many kinds, may be planted and brought forward in the greenhouse or hotbed. Stocks, Globe Amaranths, and many other things, should be sown immediately. Monthly Carnations may be propagated from cuttings, for a stock for early winter blooming. Hollyhocks may be propagated from cuttings. Well-established young plants should be removed to a cold frame. Vereenias, Petunias, and other bedding plants, may be removed to a frame the last of the month. Rhododendrons may be grafted now. Chinese Primrose Seeds may be planted now. Auricula, Polyanthus, and many other seeds, vegetate more readily if planted now, than later in the season. Gloriosa Planti should be repotted and forwarded in a brisk bottom heat. Petunias, Verbenas, and other showy plants, intended for large speci- mens, should be repotted and tied out into handsome shape. Vallota purpurea should be repotted. Japan Lilies, growing well, will require to be repotted towards the last of the month. Erythrinas should be started into growth for early blooming. vegetable department. If the directions last month to prepare hotbeds have been attended to they will now be in readiness for planting. Tomatoes should be sown immediately. Egg Plants should be planted. Cucumbers and Melons should be sown. Lettuce, Radishes, and similar vegetables, should be got in. Broccoli, Cabbages, Cauliflower and Cblery may be planted. Peas may be sown as soon as the frost is out of the ground. Trench and prepare ground for planting as soon as the weather will admit. THE SxMALL FRUITS. The cultivation of the small fruits is just beginning to attract general attention. In the eagerness to possess the larger kinds, — something that has size and of showy appear- ance, more particularly the pear, which has now become one of the most popular as it is one of the most delicious fruits, — the currant, the gooseberry, the raspberry, the straw- berry, and even the grape, have been much neglected. Per- haps we should except the strawberry, as it has for twenty-five years been pretty prominently before the public, and in that time has been raised to an importance which it could by no means claim, before the introduction of Hovey's Seedling, the first of the American Seedlings to attract the least attention. Still, its cultivation has been more confined to amateurs, who have kept up this interest by the growth of new varieties, and a desire to test the many novelties wiiich have, during tliat period, been brought before the public. Its growth is far from being as general as it should be, for no one who pos- sesses the smallest spot of ground should be without it. There are thousands of our people who never knew the luxury of a feast of good strawberries. The small fruits are far more important than has generally been supposed ; and the best evidence, both of their value and their neglect is, tliat they are yearly becoming scarcer in our markets, and command a higher price. Even our most common wild fruit, the whortleberry, commands from ten to twenty cents per quart, when twenty-five years ago they could be had in abundance from four to eight. The wild blackber- ries and raspberries, which formerly reached our markets in quantities, are now bouglit up in advance for the manu- facture of jams and jellies. And the currant, heretofore plentiful enough, is coming rapidly into demand, for the manufacture of wine, and even the blackberry, for the same purpose ; so that, ere long, unless the cultivation of each of these fruits is greatly increased there will be a very scanty supply in comparison with the demand. VOL. XXVI. — NO. IV. 10 146 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTUEE. For many years our cultivators remained apparently con- tented with the Isabella grape, reaping often only half a crop of indifferent fruit. Even the Diana failed to receive the attention which the addition of such a delicious variety should naturally awaken ; and it was not till the introduction of the Concord that grape culture assumed an importance and became a branch of trade which no one could scarcely have conceived half a dozen years ago. It settled the question that we could have good grapes as surely as we could have good pears or apples ; and henceforth it was not consigned to some out-of-the-way part of the garden, where it might extend its straggling shoots, but became an object of solicitude and interest. The zeal too of our intelligent cultivators was aroused, and it will not be allowed to flag till grapes are pro- duced as certain of a crop, and as delicious, too, as those of Eshcol, or the famous golden clusters of Thomery. The gooseberry, too, the cottager's fruit of Great Britain, as well as an important addition to palatial gardens, has been to us comparatively a worthless berry ; for under our drier climate it has been subject to attacks of mildew, which has nearly banished it from our gardens. By the accidental pro- duction, alone, of one single variety, the Houghton's Seedling, has it found any great claim to our attention. Tliis, indeed, was a fortunate circumstance, for it showed that the same intelligence brought to bear upon this would accomplish the same results it has in other fruits. But after so many inef- fectual attempts to produce gooseberries, cultivators were cautious of its introduction into their gardens, till time, which accomplishes so much, proved that this was a reliable variety ; and now, after a period of twenty years, it is not only becoming a popular and esteemed fruit, but other varie- ties have been raised from it, of equal or greater merit, show- ing that efforts, directed to the culture of this neglected berry, will produce varieties quite as marked as those which have made it so prominent a fruit in England. The raspberry, after a hundred years of culture, begins to show signs of im- provement, not only in size of berry, but in everbearing quali- ties ; and the blackberry, so slow of amelioration that only two or three varieties have shown qualities worthy of extended APRIL. 147 cultivation, will undoubtedly be no exception to the general law of improvement. When it is considered how easily most of these fruits are raised ; how quick are the returns after planting ; how great the certainty of the crop ; how well their adaptation to the smallest garden, and above all the great hardiness of most of them, it is a matter of some surprise that they have not re- ceived more attention. Unlike the large fruits, they do not require much garden room to grow, nor a long time to arrive at a bearing age. But eminently fitted for the smallest spot of ground, even where many other kinds would not succeed, they yield their rich and refreshing fruits immediately, in succession, and during the season of the year when there are few others, and when they form so healthful an appendage to the dessert. The trying nature of our northern climate, occasionally so severe as to injure hundreds of our fruit trees, and often destroy the crop, has directed attention to the more extended culture of the small, perfectly hardy, or certain fruits. If the peach and cherry crop fail, we can still have an abundance of strawberries and raspberries. If the apples and pears do not, from any cause, afford their annual product, we can still have a good supply of currants and blackberries. So that in a well-arranged and complete garden, combining all the small with the large kinds, there need l)e no time when it will not yield a good supply of the best fruits. Such winters as that of 1856 and 1857, though they might mako large gaps in our standard or dwarf pears, leave the currant and strawberry unharmed ; and though, most fortunately, these occur only at remote intervals, yet, tliat they have eome, and may came again, should caution us not to neglect the " little things'* which are not only delicious fruits, but may .-afford us a great deal of gratification, wliile the larger kinds are recaverlng from causes beyond our control. If what we have urged is canect, and we think, we have not overdrawn the account, the small fruits are hereafter to hold a more prominent place in our gardens, and to receive much more attention in their cultivation. Like the larger fruits they need but well-dfe'^ated. care aiid proper. attention 148 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTURE. to render them as much superior to the average product, as generally seen in most gardens, as the pear or the ap- ple is superior from the increased care and skill devoted to their growth. It was not our intention to speak of the culture of the small fruits at this time. In our previous volumes will be found many excellent articles upon their treatment, and others we intend shall appear. But we may again refer to the great importance of their improvement by the production of seedlings. The grape has already, in a short space of time, had many and noticeable accessions, both among the exotic and native kinds ; the currant has made a rapid advance in that very large and excellent sort the Versaillaise, showing that nothing but an energetic and zealous determination to accomplish an object is wanting to still further improve this fruit. The gooseberry is in the very infancy of amelioration. The Roaring Lions and Crown Bobs, whose remarkable weights have been so often chronicled in the gardening Journals of Great Britain, were produced, after long-continued efforts, from a berry no larger than Houghton's Seedling ; and the same labor, judiciously bestowed upon this variety, will give us fruits rivalling the almost fabulous size of the above kinds. As regards culture there is a good deal to be learned. To enter most gardens, and see the ill-shaped, stunted and decrepit currant and gooseberry bushes, one would think they were as useless as so much dry brush, the lean stems too weak to support even the moderate crop of impoverished berries. How can one feel an interest in such fruits ? The raspberry and blackberry are allowed to throw up their numerous suck- ers, choking each other, and yielding only a small crop of indifferent berries ; and the strawberry, in five cases out of ten, is nothing more than indiscriminate beds of weeds and plants, each struggling for existence. The remedy for all this is, the same care given to these as to the more showy fruits, viz., good trenched ground, a liberal supply of manure, a courageous application of the pruning knife, and little skill in training. This done, in prop- er season they no longer fail to yield an abundant crop of the finest fruit. And it should be remembered that though these APRIL. 149 will grow and bear in the most neglected and out-of-the-way place in the garden, where they are too often placed, they flourish just in proportion as they are treated as well as their more pompous looking neighbors. Finally, in making plantations of these fruits, begin with the impression, at least, that they are really worthy of good culture, and will well repay it. Select only the largest, best flavored and hardy sorts of each, unless, as an amateur, you desire to make a collection. Procure only moderate-sized, healthy bushes, and not old plants, because they can be had cheap. Prepare the land well. Set them out carefully. Prune them skilfully, and let their after-treatment be of the best kind, not slighted because they are small, and the result will be that they will give a yearly supply of excellent fruit, which the cultivator of the smallest spot of ground may be proud to gather, and the possessor of the largest garden be unwilling to lose. THE GRANITE BEAUTY APPLE. BY THE EDITOR. In a recent nimiber we noticed this new apple. We are now enabled to give a more complete account of it, with an engraving of the fruit. Pine specimens of the fruit were sent to us in January, by Mr. Z. Breed, editor of the N. IT. Journal of Agriculture, with the following account of it, and a request that we should give it a trial and judge of its merits : — I send you to-day a seedling apple that originated on my farm. I call it the Granite Beauty. It has half a dozen local names. The fruit is now in its prime — does not keep so well as the Baldwin, but, with care, will keep till March. The tree is hardy, will grow in any soil, inclines to spread its branches and form a handsome top, and, what is best of all it bears every year. No orchard is considered complete liere unless it contains a good share of these trees. A good fruit grower here says he would sooner do without the Baldwin 150 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. than the Granite Beauty. For the retail trade, I have sold them at one dollar per bushel, when Baldwins were selling for one dollar per barrel. I could send you any amount of testimony in its favor. If you think well of it, I will give you its history. I believe the fruit worthy of general culti- vation— indeed I know it is, and will take the responsibility, as the conductor of a public journal, to recommend it. I should be pleased to submit them to a convention of fruit raisers, if there should be one this winter. — Yours truly, Z. Breed. Mr. Breed subsequently published a history of the apple in his journal, from which we extract the following : — " Years ago, soon after the first settlers located upon the ftirm we now occupy, they paid a visit to their friends in Kittery (now Elliott), Maine, on horseback, that being the only means of conveyance then in vogue. When about to return home, Dorcas (for this was her maiden name — she was now Dorcas Dow, formerly Neull) needing a riding whip, she was supplied by pulling from the earth, by the side of the road, a little apple tree. With this she hurried her patient and sure-footed horse towards her wild-woods home in Weare, then Halestown. An orchard being in " order" about tliat time, the little tree was carefully set and tended, and when it produced its first fruit it was found to be excellent, and Dor- cas-claimed it as her tree. When nephews and nieces grew up around her, the apple was called the Aunt Dorcas apple, from the claim she had upon it. As she grew older and the grand-children grew up, it took the name of the Grandmother apple. In another part of the town it was called the Clothes- yard apple. Believing it to be mostly of a distinct name, we call it the Granite Beauty. The old tree has long been gone, but young trees are plenty in the vicinity." The Granite Beauty (fig. 4) is a large and very beautiful apple, with a yellow skin, distinctly and boldly splashed, and striped with bright red. Its flesh is very tender, and it abounds in a rich, refreshing, and well flavored juice. It approaches the Minister somewhat in general quality, but the flesh is firmer, though not so much so as the Baldwin. Taking APRIL. 151 all its merits into consideration, we think it will prove a pop- ular fruit. Our description is as follows : — Size, large, about four inches in diameter and four deep : Form, roundish, broadest about the middle, ribbed, and slightly oblique at each end : Skin, fair, smooth, with an oily touch, having a clear, pale yellow ground, distinctly and thickly splashed and streaked with vermilion on the sunny ^5e I v'(('iiiA 'ill >P i^^lB 4. .iAjJii JM J iri 4. GRAN'ITK BEAUTV APPLE. side : Stem, short, about half an inch long, slender, oblique, and inserted in a small, moderately deep and prominently ribbed cavity : Eye, rather large, closed, and moderately sunk in a medium-sized and furrowed basin ; segments of the ca- lyx short, greenish, and little wooly : Flesh, yellowish white, fine, crisp and tender : Juice, abundant, with a pleasant ad- mixture of sweet and acid, and well flavored : Core, large, somewhat open : Seeds, medium size, plump and very light brown. Ripe from December to March. 152 THE MAGAZINE OP HORTICULTURE. POMOLOGICAL GOSSIP. Strawberries "but little valued." — Our friend Thomas, of the Country Gentleman, in noticing the Hon. Mr. Cabot's report on fruits to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, says that " the general favorites around Boston appear to be Brighton Pine, Boston Pine, and Hovey's Seedling. In many other places, most of these are but little valued^ What the most of the three is, Mr. Thomas does not state. The infor- mation might be useful to amateurs making new plantations. Hovey's Seedling Strawberry in Minnesota. — A corre- spondent of Neoca, Minnesota, in a note to us, says : " I write you from this most northern State to add my praise, with the many others, of your seedling strawberry. It has produced a greater quantity and better quality of fruit than any one. I have twenty varieties and it is better than any of them. Burr's New Pine comes next. — Yours respectfully, Rockwell Thomp- son, Neoca, Minnesota." Large Crop op Hovey's Seedling. — Mr. Samuel Rolfe, of Portland, Me., gives us the following account of his crop: — " In a bed eleven by fourteen feet, he Yi\\sQ(\. forty-tivo quarts ; and on one plant, three hundred and forty berries. The vines were planted two years previously, and were fertilized with the Boston Pine." This is at the rate of nearly four hundred bushels to the acre. A New Peach, the Petit Pavie d'Ounous, is described as follows in the French journals : It forms a little shrub, the principal merit being its lateness. The fruit (apparently about the size of the Rosanna) is nearly spherical, and marked on one side, or sometimes on both, with a broad, shallow fur- row ; at its end is a small ratlier inconspicuous nipple. The fruit stalk is short and slightly sunk. The skin, which is yellowish white, is very freely dotted with rose purple, so closely indeed round the hollow for the stalk, and sometimes on the sunny side, as to produce the color of Bishop's purple. The flesh is firm, and occasionally a little stringy, clings firmly to the stone, white, streaked and marked with rose near the stone. The juice is copious, sapid and subacid. In the val- APRIL. ' 153 ley of the Ariege it is in perfection in the month of October, and is there much esteemed. Altliongh it is likely that a late peach, from the hot valleys of the eastern Pyrenees, -will ripen out doors in this country, it may be worth trying this little variety in the orchard hoiiscs of the curious. The Gardeners^ Chronicle translates this from the Revue Horlicole. It would probably pi-ove a desirable variety in our warmer climate. Beurre' de Fevrier Pear. — This is a February pear, orig- inated in Rouen, and highly spoken of by Mons. Dupuis. The fruit is about the size of a large Swan's Egg, green, changing to yellowish when ripe. The flesh is described as greenish white, very delicate, melting and buttery ; the juice abundant, sugary, subacid, slightly perfumed, and very agree- able. It is as good as a Beurre d'Aremberg, ripens in Feb- ruary, but requires gentle handling in consequence of the tenderness of the flesh. Tlie tree is a great bearer, and par- ticularly well suited to pyramidal training. Bezi de Mai Pear. — We noticed this pear in a recent number. M. de Jonghe, the raiser of it, sends a descriptive notice of it to the Gardeners' Chronicle, from which we copy the following, which will be interesting to our pomologists : — The tree has now borne for four years. The seedling, when it first fruited, was eleven years old. The fruit gath- ered from the 23d of September to the 20th of October, all ripened exactly in May following, and even those which were blown off were so fine that they suffered no injury, but ripened with the rest. The flesh is as buttery as the Easter Beurre, and as close as that of the Glout Morceau, and free from grit. The fruits, like those of all hardy varieties, set well. In the end of May, 1857, 1858 and 1859, I obtained clusters of three, four and five fruits, and in the end of July, or in August, of a strong wind like that of the 25th July, 1857, the large fruits, which were not supported by leaning against the branches, did not hold on. This is a drawback to the culture of this variety as a high standard. It would therefore be necessary to cultivate it as a dwarf, either on an espalier or against a wall, where it would attain a large size. Very for- tunately, however, the variety forms very fine dwarf pyramids even the first year, on either pear or quince stock. I know 154 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. few varieties which work better with the quince, and form on it, as well as on the pear stock, such handsome pyramids." We presume it has not yet been introduced to tlie trade, though it will no doubt soon find its way into our collections. HOW TO RAISE SEEDS, We translate, says the Gardeners' Chronicle, in winch the following highly instructive paper appears, from the Journal de la Societd Imperiale d'Horticulturc, the following notice of a memoir on this subject, publislied in German by M. Charles Appelius, an extensive and very experienced seeds- man at Erfurt. We commend its most careful perusal to all cultivators ; it at once shows how important is experimental knowledge in every department of horticulture. For want of such informa- tion complaints are constantly made of the vitality of seeds sold by our seedsmen, and though we are well aware that poor seeds are too often disseminated, it shows how the good may be ascertained and the bad rejected. But more than this ; it shows that even the best of seeds, when improperly planted and badly managed, fail to give satisfaction. Nothing that we could give to our readers possesses more interest than this article : — The German author tells us that the first and most essential condition required to ensure the success of all seedlings is to use seeds capable of germinating. Now the goodness of a sample can only be proved by the numl)er of seeds whicli, out of a given quantity, grow and become plants. Yet too often its value is determined by the specific weight or the density of the seeds. This method is no doubt good, but not infalli- ble ; besides, the weight of the same kind of seed may vary from year to year, according to the manner in wliich it is grown ; it may even vary upon the same plant ; it does so particularly in an ear of maize, the grains situated in the centre of the ear of that plant having a greater specific grav- APRIL. 155 ity than those above or below. Now the latest experiments of Dr.vHellriegcl go to prove first, that, in accordance with the general opinion of cnltivators, the best formed seeds have tlie greatest specific gravity ; and, in the second place, that the heaviest seeds prod nee the strongest plants. Every one knows that in order to ascertain the specific gravity of seeds quickly and easily, it is the custom to throw them into water, and to collect as the best those which, from their greater weight, fall to the bottom, whilst those which float are rejected as bad. However, too much confidence must not be placed in this method of proving seed by water. It may frequently mislead, particularly in the case of seeds, in which the specific gravity differs little from that of the fluid. For example, those of Cucurbitaceous plants, which are produced during cold seasons, float upon water, and nev- ertheless germinate very well. It is known too, says M. Ap- pelius, that the seeds of these plants which have been kept a few years produce plants bearing more female flowers than younger plants ; that is to say, the plants are more prolific than those raised from seeds gathered in a cold season and planted shortly after they have ripened. Good seeds of the melon and gourd lose weight as they grow old ; at first they will sink in water, and Ijy the sixth year half of them will float, without having become bad. We conclude therefore, in this case as in many others, that trial by water is not a sure test. In general, the heaviest seeds are those which contain the most starch, such as those of Cereals and Leguminous plants, &c. The specific gravity of oily seed is often nearly the same as that of water, although in some cases they are heavier ; as, for example, those of cabbages. The lightest seeds are those of Umbelliferous plants, such as carrots, parsnips, chervil, anise-seed, &c., and of Composites, such as lettuces, scorzo- neras, &c. In the first of these families the lightness of the seeds arises from the presence of an oil in the case which en- closes the seed, and of air in the last. With a few exceptions all shining seeds are heavier than water. Many cultivators, before buying seeds, test them by making them germinate upon damp blotting paper, at a temperature 156 THE MAGAZINE OF HOETICULTURE. of 59*^ to 72°. This process is convenient and tolerably sure for the kinds which are quickly raised, such as clover, peas, and cereals, but does not answer for those which require a long time to germinate. For these the best practical plan is to grow a sample in a pot. But even this test will not always give a strictly correct indication of the germinating power of seeds, since the result depends, all other circumstances being equal, upon the care taken in sowing, the temperature of the air, the depth at which seed is sown, and the time of year, &c. Thus the pips of apples and pears almost always germinate badly and in very small quantities when trials are made of them in pots soon after they are ripe, whilst they answer per- fectly if tliey are sown at the end of October or in March in beds in the open air. For this reason it often happens that a sample is pronounced bad, when in reality it is excellent. This is the case with the generality of woody plants, the seeds of which come up the first year, conifers excepted. The soil which is used to cover the trial seedlings also con- siderably affects the result. If, for example. Rye-grass seed (Lolium pcrenne) is sown in soil which retains moisture with average tenacity, and is buried one inch below the surface, seven-eighths of it grow in 12 days ; if two inches, seven- eighths also grow, but in 18 days ; if three inches, six-eighths in 20 days ; if four inches, four-eighths germinate in 21 days ; at five inches, three-eighths in 22 days ; and at six inches, the proportion of the seeds which germinate is reduced to one-eighth in 23 days. On the other hand, when rye-grass is sown and simply harrowed in, it germinates, almost without exception, in 5 days. M. Appelius's pamphlet contains, in the form of a table, the length of time necessary to germinate the seeds of many plants at a temperature of 52° to 54° in the sun, and of 54° to 64° in the open air. We copy this useful information, though not in a tabular form : — Germinates in 2 days : Garden cress. Germinate in 3 days : Spinach, orache. Germinate in 4 days : Cabbages, field turnip, rape-seed, let- tuce, buckwheat. APEIL. 157 Germinate in 5 days : Camcline, peas, endive, millet, flax, poppy, melons and gourds, turnip, rape, rye-grass, mustard. Germinate in 6 days : Lupine, lentil, spurrey, horseradish, radish, onions (often also in 15 days,) leeks. Germinate in 7 days : Rye, barley, oats, maize, sorgho, cat's- tail grass, Phalaris arundinaeea, broccoli, Anethum gra- veolens, carthamus, beans, beet, milfoil, rocket. Germinate in 8 days : Wheat, Festuca pratensis, Festuca rubra, cummin, marjoram, thyme. Princess Kidney beans, Cattle cabbage, chicory. Germinate in 9 days : Marrow-fat peas. Germinate in 10 days : Cynosurus cristatus, agrostis, serra- dilla, vetch, sabre and some other kidney beans, sugar beet, giant hemp, tobacco, chervil. Germinate in 12 days : Tall oat grass (Avena elatior,) mead- ow brome grass, carrots (frequently in 20 days,) tomatoes, seakale, scorzonera, common celery and turnip-rooted celery (the latter frequently in 20 days,) savory, (Satureia hortensis,) basil, stocks. Germinate in 13 days : Anise, fennel, meadow-grass (Poa.) Germinate in 14 days : Burnet, sun-flower (Helianthus an- nuus,) artichoke. Germinate in 15 days : Clover (red and white,) balm (Melis- sa officinalis). Germinate in 16 days : Foxtail grass, Holcus lanatus, laven- der, purslane, sorrel. Germinates in 17 days : Aira csespitosa (?) Germinate in 18 days : Festuca duriuscula, teazel. Germinates. in 19 days : Aira flexuosa. Germinate in 20 days : Avena flavescens, Molinia ccerulea, Bromus mollis, Madeira onions, mulberry, common sage, capsicum. Germinate in 21 days: Sweet vernal grass, parsnip, cow-par- snip, parsley, woad, asparagus. Germinate in 27 days : Potatoes. This table shows plainly, says the German author, that those seeds which are lighter than water require a longer time to germinate than those which are heavier. A tolerably large number of seeds come up slowly and 158 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. even with difficulty ; they are generally those which have a thick, tough skin. In this case it is a good plan to soak the sample in hot water from 167° to 185° for four-and-twenty hours, and not to sow it until after it has been prepared in this manner. Their germination may be assisted by notching or removing the skin round tlie hilum, but that is a more deli- cate operation than the first, because care must be taken not to injure the embryo. Unless one or the other of these methods is adopted, it will generally be one or two years before such seeds come up. The seeds of palm trees usually grow very well, placed on damp sawdust, the germinating end downwards, and kept in a damp warm atmosphere. The spores of ferns and the seeds of orchids, which are very minute, come up readily, if they are scattered on pieces of peat placed in a pan with water. For hardy plants M. Appelius recommends as by far the best plan to sow them in lines. In his opinion, the reason of the frequent failure of seeds in gardens is, that they are sown in earth too dry, and buried too deep. Besides, if care is not taken to press the earth lightly together before sowing the seed, heavy rain falling directly after will force some of the seed deeper in, and so occasion greater inequality in germination. For perfectly hardy annuals, the best plan is to sow them late in the autumn, or at least very early in the spring ; if the seeds are not in the ground before April you run the risk of seeing them flower very late and very badly. Seedlings which are obliged to be raised in hotbeds or under frames cause much disappointment, and consequently com- plaint of the quality of the samples. M. Appelius does not hesitate to say, in that case, the want of success arises more often from bad management than from the badness of the seeds. In his opinion it is a mistake to sow many kinds of flowers in liigh bottom heat, such as stocks, asters, phlox, heartseases, petunias, &c., which do far better in a very gentle hotbed, and produce stronger plants less likely to die off. On the other hand it must not be forgotten that the dung with which a hotbed is made, after it has given off its first heat, ab- sorbs the moisture from the earth with which it is covered ; APRIL. 159 that the surface of this earth under the frame generally slopes towards the south, and the greater part of the shower from the watering runs down this incline, the end of which is that tlie earth, in which the seeds are embedded, is often too dry or at least it is so with that next the back of the hotbed. In this case, says M. Appelius, if you sow those seeds which ger- minate slowly and require constant damp, such as phlox and heartsease, at the bottom, or in the front of the bed, and those which grow more readily at the top or back, the result will be good ; but it will be quite the contrary if the reverse is done. Finally, the success of seedlings raised under frames depends principally upon the regulation of the moisture. And this precaution, and one of the utmost importance in this case, is not to sow too thick j a plant raised among a lot of crowded seedlings is very apt to die before it has made its fourth leaf. This seldom happens if, on the contrary, seeds are sown thin, and a little powdered cliarcoal mixed with the earth. ANNUAL FLOWERS BY TUB EDITOR. Annual flowers are every year becoming more and more popular ; the ease with which they may be raised, the slight expense of the seeds, and the profusion of flowers which a well-selected assortment produces from May till late frost, render them the plant for the million. It is gratifying to notice a change in the popular taste. For a time verbenas, geraniums, petunias, and other showy bedding plants have usurped the space wliich annuals former- ly occupied. Without in the least detracting from the beauty of these truly brilliant objects, it is unnecessary to say that for variety, as well as abundance of bloom, the annuals must still hold an equal, if not greater value. For where, indeed, is to be found, among bedding plants, anything more showy in summer than the portulaca, more magnificent in autumn than the asters, or more fragrant at all seasons than ten-week stocks ? 160 THE MAGAZINE OF HORTICULTURE. A -writer in the Florist, in advocating tlie cultivation of annuals, thus alludes to their importance, and their proper mode of cultivation : — " A second reason why annuals are becoming more generally grown, is the ease with which they are raised, and the very small amount of trouble their cultivation entails, compared with the other section. The yearly propagation required with geraniums, verbenas,